The Chinatown Ice Cream Factory is an ice cream parlor in Chinatown, Manhattan, New York City. The business opened in 1977, and is known for their Asian-inspired ice cream flavors. They have also opened two additional locations, in Flushing and the Lower East Side. [1]
In 1977, Chinese-American businessman Phillip Seid and one of his brothers opened Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, selling 45 cent ice cream scoops. [2] [3] Seid was inspired by the success of a nearby Carvel shop, but set out to create flavors that would appeal to the Asian-American market. [4] Early flavors offered included cherry vanilla, coffee brandy, lychee, papaya, red mango, and rocky road. [5] The store struggled in its first decade, and was at times targetted by gangs, as Seid refused to pay them extortion money. [4] In 2002, the business was taken over by Seid's daughter, Christina Seid, [4] who remains the owner as of 2023. [1]
In late 2018, the business opened a store in Flushing, named The Original Flushing Ice Cream Factory. [6] The business opened a third location in the Essex Market on the Lower East Side, opening in 2019 following the market's relocation. [1] [7] [8]
The Chinatown Ice Cream Factor is best known for their Asian-inspired flavors, which have included almond cookie, green tea, lychee, mango, pandan, red bean, taro, Thai tea, and ube. [2] [7] [9] After Christina Seid took over the business in the early 2000s, she introduced new flavors such as black sesame, durian, egg custard, and 'zen butter', a sesame-based flavor. [3] They also serve more typically American ice cream flavors, including chocolate, coffee, cookies and cream, mint chip, pistachio, rocky road, and vanilla. [2] [7] [10]
The Flushing location also serves more Korean-inspired flavors. [6]
In addition to ice cream, the business also sells ice cream cakes. [2]
The Chinatown Ice Cream Factory is an ice cream parlor in Chinatown, Manhattan, New York City. The business opened in 1977, and is known for their Asian-inspired ice cream flavors. They have also opened two additional locations, in Flushing and the Lower East Side. [1]
In 1977, Chinese-American businessman Phillip Seid and one of his brothers opened Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, selling 45 cent ice cream scoops. [2] [3] Seid was inspired by the success of a nearby Carvel shop, but set out to create flavors that would appeal to the Asian-American market. [4] Early flavors offered included cherry vanilla, coffee brandy, lychee, papaya, red mango, and rocky road. [5] The store struggled in its first decade, and was at times targetted by gangs, as Seid refused to pay them extortion money. [4] In 2002, the business was taken over by Seid's daughter, Christina Seid, [4] who remains the owner as of 2023. [1]
In late 2018, the business opened a store in Flushing, named The Original Flushing Ice Cream Factory. [6] The business opened a third location in the Essex Market on the Lower East Side, opening in 2019 following the market's relocation. [1] [7] [8]
The Chinatown Ice Cream Factor is best known for their Asian-inspired flavors, which have included almond cookie, green tea, lychee, mango, pandan, red bean, taro, Thai tea, and ube. [2] [7] [9] After Christina Seid took over the business in the early 2000s, she introduced new flavors such as black sesame, durian, egg custard, and 'zen butter', a sesame-based flavor. [3] They also serve more typically American ice cream flavors, including chocolate, coffee, cookies and cream, mint chip, pistachio, rocky road, and vanilla. [2] [7] [10]
The Flushing location also serves more Korean-inspired flavors. [6]
In addition to ice cream, the business also sells ice cream cakes. [2]