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All Reader Reviews of...

The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory

65 Bayard St., New York, NY, 10013
nr. Mott St.
212-608-4170

Avg. Rating

7
Food: 8
Service: 6
Décor: 7
"Recommended"

Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10.

67% would go back.

 Write your own review

Great Place

By JudgeJudy on 11/28/2009

  • Overall Rating: 9
  • Food: 9
  • Service: 9
  • Décor: 9
  • Yes, I would go back!

This is where I go for dessert after a meal across the street at New Green Bo. The choices of flavors can be found nowhere else. and I have enjoyed all of the exotic flavors I picked. DO NOT go to Haagen Daaz down the street. For what they charge for a cone you can buy a pint at the local deli.

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62 out of 124 people found this review helpful.

it's worth it to go

By bluerose on 8/7/2008

  • Overall Rating: 7
  • Food: 8
  • Service: 7
  • Décor: 5
  • Yes, I would go back!

i followed a crowd into this place. there was a long line, though it moved rather quickly. the lychee sorbet was great. the taste was clean, crisp, and not one of those lychee sorbets which taste like they mixed powder and water.

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63 out of 127 people found this review helpful.

Best thing is the location.

By EvieB on 1/6/2008

  • Overall Rating: 3
  • Food: 2
  • Service: 4
  • Décor: 8
  • No, I would not go back!

I was surprised to try their ice cream because I had heard how good it is. I had green tea and black sesame ice creams. The flavors were weak and barely reminiscent of what they were meant to convey. I definitely set out to like this place, but was very disappointed. Skip it and go to Haagen Dazs down the street, where the ice cream is creamy and smooth, not icy. (As much as I hate to suggest going to a chain...)

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147 out of 290 people found this review helpful.

Beware of cake orders

By mh5646 on 7/9/2007

  • Overall Rating: 5
  • Food: 8
  • Service: 1
  • Décor: 5
  • No, I would not go back!

I recently placed a phone order for a custom cake. However, when we went to go pick up the cake, it was nowhere to be found. The manager had the order ticket but no cake. As a replacement, the manager said that he had 2 smaller cakes of the requested ice cream flavors. However, he charged us for 2 cakes which cost more than the original price for the 1 larger cake. Since this occurred 2 hours before our party, we had to pay the additional cost. It seems quite unfair to pay for 2 cakes when it was the store's incompetent service that created the situation. I would have been satisfied if we had paid the original price for the 1 larger cake in exchange for the 2 smaller cakes. However, the poor customer service left us all feeling extremely unsatisfied and angry. So to all of you who are planning to order a cake from there, beware of the store's incompetence and the poor customer service.

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252 out of 488 people found this review helpful.

Mixed experience....

By Choconut76 on 6/5/2007

  • Overall Rating: 8
  • Food: 8
  • Service: 8
  • Décor: 8
  • Yes, I would go back!

None of the 'mentioned' and notable flavors regulars recommend (Lychee sorbet, ginger ice cream, coconut ice cream, green tea ice cream & there were several others) were available. So my group and I spent considerable time deciding. My choice - the mango/papaya sorbet and pineapple sorbet -were extremely refreshing. The pineapple sorbet had large pineapple chunks, while the mango/papaya sorbet was light and flavorful, and a great flavor combination. My friend picked the almond ice cream and red bean ice cream; while the almond ice cream was reminicent of cookies, one must be 'in the mood' for almond to truly enjoy. The red bean was typical; I'm not a fan in general, so will not elaborate. Overall, while lots of choices, the 'notable' selections not being available weakened my ratings.

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250 out of 542 people found this review helpful.

rich, intense flavors

By Lauren Berger (NY MAG) on 9/18/2006

  • Overall Rating: 9
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 9
  • Décor: 8
  • Yes, I would go back!

Whenever I'm in the neighborhood, the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory is a mandatory pit stop. With exotic flavors ranging from black sesami to almond cookie and wasabi, the factory will likely satisfy your every craving. My personal recommendations? Pumpkin pie and coconut fudge. The rich texture and explosive flavor will keep you coming back for seconds and thirds.

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299 out of 625 people found this review helpful.

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