Local Shopping: Chinatown bargains from turtles to teapots

Here at To Live and Buy in L.A., we know you might not have a lot of cash to spend this holiday. How about getting off the beaten path to find some bargains? 

Through Christmas, we'll take you to neighborhoods around Southern California to show you what's on sale. First stop: Chinatown in downtown Los Angeles.

On a 45-minute stroll on North Broadway, we found good, inexpensive gifts for kids and colleagues. And bonus -- at most shops, sales tax is included in the price. Bring cash, though, because some stores do not accept plastic!

For our top picks, store details, and recommended snack stops, keep reading.

 

Our Chinatown finds:

$3.50 money trees with braided trunks -- wrap the pot in festive paper and voila.

$0.90 "lucky" bamboo -- bunch 10 stalks in a vase to brighten up someone's desk.

$10 bonsai trees. Simple and elegant.

$12 ceramic sake sets (pitcher and 4 glasses). Add a bamboo tray for $5.

$12 beautiful plain wood sake set (pitcher and 2 glasses); comes in a nice box.

$9 teapots (cups $1 each).

$3 notebooks, covered with silk cloth.

$4 eyeglass cases.

$10 embroidered silk scarves.

$5 pair of small aquatic turtles, with plastic terrarium

Where to go:

Scarves, sake sets, eyeglass cases: A&K Gift & Fashion, 730 1/2 N. Broadway

Teapots and cups: Win Sense Trading, 800 N. Broadway #D

Money trees, lucky bamboo: Golden Gifts Trading Co., 711 N. Broadway #101

And if you get hungry along the way, check out:

Ocean Seafood, 750 N. Hill Street, 213-687-3088. Hong Kong-style dim sum and a la carte dining.

Spring Street Smokehouse, 640 N. Spring St. 213-626-0535. Pork and beef ribs, Texas hot links, brisket and more.

What's your favorite shopping spot? Tell us about it!

Update: In a previous version of this post we mentioned where to buy the small turtles. Because we have been made aware that such animals are often sold illegally we have deleted where we found them and wrote this post about what makes them illegal and something that you should probably stay away from.

 

-- Julie Makinen

Photos: (Top) Ken Tran of A&K Gift & Fashion holds a $10 embroidered scarf. (Bottom): A $12 sake set at Tran's shop. Credit: Julie Makinen/Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Mary Ellen]

Julie....
It is VERY IRRESPONSIBLE of you to be promoting buying those aquatic turtles...I guess you are ignorant of the California law which PROHBITS SELLING BABY TURTLES due to SALMONELLA.
Perhaps you might do better research before you start promoting something that is AGAINST THE LAW.
Since 1975, federal law has prohibited the sale of pet turtles with shells shorter than 4 inches. But public health officials say enforcement is spotty.
Since you obviously are unaware of the law here is the link:
www.webmd.com/news/20080124/pet-turtles-cause-salmonella-outbreak
www.fda.gov/cvm/Documents/TurtlesFlier.pdf

[Francine]

Sorry LA Times, I won't berate you but you really should consider the unethical manufacturing, carbon footprint, etc. of these products. If you really want cost-friendly and eco-friendly gifts go to yard sales, vintage shops and flea markets. I know in this day and age, SOME people prefer blind gifts that have no stories and my advice? Get new friends.