1. On Waverly

1. On Waverly

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San Francisco, CA

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On Waverly

5.0 (39 reviews)
Closed 11:00 am - 6:00 pm

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Looks so familiar
Juan V.

San Francisco's Chinatown has many great places to go shopping. There is an alley which has lots of San Francisco history in Chinatown . Waverly Place has many good places to drink and shop. In October there is a Halloween celebration on Waverly Place called the Chinatown Halloween Festival which has lots entertainment and vendors. One store which stands out for its unique items is on Waverly Place is called On Waverly. On an Autumn stroll on a San Francisco Summer there I attended the Chinatown Halloween Festival and ended up inside On Waverly. I have been here a few times before but now they have so many different items and novelties on display. They have lots of good books from a different POV and perspectives of Asian American and Pacific Islanders. There also have events were authors speak in person about their book. This one of my favorite bookstores in San Francisco. Come grab some food that is "delicious " and full of chef kiss" dishes "on Waverly place most of it's "nutritious" and pick up a book On Waverly that non-Fiction or another that's "fictitious" Come to Waverly place a place that's "monumental" its between the streets of Washington and "Sacramento " and enjoying the oldest and biggest Chinatown North America its "fundamental " then go inside On Waverly and buy a "momento"

Not too sweet
Kathleen S.

This place is a must stop for me when in Chinatown. Such an expertly curated gift shop and it's so amazing to see a gift store that tailors to so many things asian. Bok choy and boba keychains (yes they're as adorable as you would expect) and pineapple bun pins and earrings say what? Also it's such a fun time looking through their sticker collection. So much cute and funny art! Check out the Aiya sticker. You can also find greetings cards here as well as a food section that sells things like chili oil, black sesame butter and tea. Definitely some unique finds you can't find everywhere and would make for a fun gift for a friend or yourself! The book selection also seems very on point. It's so amazing to look at the book wall and see the plethora of AAPI authors and their beautiful books. Prices skew a little on the higher end so you can easily do some major damage here but then there are some lower ticket items so there's something that can be found for everyone. Check out their website for author book signings and other hosted events. I just subscribed to their e-mail list to hear about their in shop events.

Love this Chinese phrase magnets
Mitzi W.

The cutest gift store in SF Chinatown with locally made Asian items. Ornaments. Books. Food items. Cards. This small business is a gem. Kudos to the ladies who opened this store.

4/14/25
Mike C.

When I saw there was a book signing here, I wished that my schedule would allow me to attend but it wasn't meant to be. This would make a great gift for my friend's upcoming birthday. Was I tempted to go online and click that company that starts with an "A"? A little... then my conscience took over. Being in Chinatown and running errands, I walked in and a young lady helped me find a copy (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=24&select=ejb6syQEvLYtGjWXLPPXrQ). Perfect! As I paid, the kind gal offered to gift wrap it for me or wrap it in tissue paper and I told her it would not be necessary as I was combining it with another item as her gift. Big thanks to Madison and Ava in helping me satisfy my shopping list and very nice meeting you. In speaking with them, I shared my history of growing up in the neighborhood and congratulated them on opening a new business here. I need to find some time to browse more when I have time and am in the area. I'm sure there are other great gift items here. Support local!

Colleen L.

This store feels like a trip down memory lane, filled with nostalgia. From books and pins to stickers and adorable stationery, every item is thoughtfully influenced by Asian culture. I especially loved seeing stickers with phrases my parents and grandparents used to say--it was such a heartfelt reminder of my childhood. I picked up a few books for my nieces, it was tough to limit myself because everything is so cute here. If you're looking for a stationery store that screams nostalgia and celebrates cultural traditions, this is definitely a place worth visiting when you're in the City.

Horsiiieeee
Bri W.

From cute historic and children's books to beautiful cards to cool stickers and hilarious keychains, On Waverly is my go-to spot for Asian-themed gifts. I first discovered this local small business in 2025 while exploring Chinatown with a close friend. She picked up the cookie-inspired clips and boba stuffies while I purchased the rice cooker pin. Since then I've found a really cool card with a fierce-looking dragon on it, keychains that embody the essence of street slang, and the "dim sum" kids book along with a children's book that encourages us to embrace our differences and see our commonalities. The dolls are all so beautiful as well. Complimentary gift wrapping is available with a purchase. I see the value in supporting these Asian artists and authors. Corporations make so much profit based on mass production and can offer lower prices however I feel like my heritage and culture is heard at On Waverly whereas in mainstream production, it doesn't seem like Asian represention matters as much. These artists and authors seem to be growing their businesses and I'm happy to support a fellow Asian with my purchases from On Waverly to help them follow their dreams. Value is in the eye of the beholder. Everything I've purchased is valuable to me. Yes, I paid a "pretty penny" for these gifts but it's worth it to me and such a pleasure dropping by to see the latest Asian-themed and Asian-created inventory. I absolutely love the vibes at On Waverly. So welcoming and friendly. Can't wait to return!

Chili oils and butter spreads
Grace L.

The cutest gift shop filled with all kinds of creative and relatable AAPI goodies! After browsing through the adorable stickers, pins, magnets, and more, I feel seen, and I'm reminded of my childhood and always tempted to buy everything. It's cool to see work from local artists whom I've seen at other makers markets in this shop, like prints from Felicia Liang and Evil Mizu. I've bought a magnet of Chinese bakery treats and a 500 piece dim sum puzzle from I'll Know It When I See It. This brand's hot pot, Asian snacks, and mahjong puzzles also make great gifts! Amongst all the touristy souvenir shops in Chinatown, On Waverly stands out as a must visit!

Jennifer C. L.

I fell in love with this place the second I walked in. The place is filled with joyous books for all ages. I personally fell in love with the childrens book section as you enter to the right. The wall is filled from tip to tip of books filled with Asian American culture, ficitonal tales of livelihood, enriching stories of our history's past, and more. I found it nearly impossible to tear myself away from this section of the store, completely absorbed by the vibrant stories unfolding before me as I explored one captivating book after another. I adored how the rest of the store was brimming with charming treasures like stickers, ornaments, plushies, and original art! There are very unique pieces filled throughout the store including even beautiful jewelry! This place seems like a hidden gem tucked deeply in the middle of San Francisco's Chinatown. It was incredible to discover that many of the books had been signed during in-store author events, with these autographed copies available for purchase right on the shelves. What a glorious place to get lost and dive deep into the stories told within the books whlle getting a chance to play with the shiny little things that highlight the isles of the store. There are books for all ages including cookbooks and literary pieces for adults as well. I think I can spend a whole week in here just exploring the texts alone. So much fun filled in every corner.

Jewelry
Rose N.

Omg this store is so cute. It has a lot of carefully curated items. Every item is beautiful. I love the children's books, the scarves, t shirts and jewelry selections. A good place to buy gifts for friends, family, or yourself. Also, there's a great list of local Chinatown places at the counter.

Joeydolls
Monica C.

I love to stop by this heartwarming store whenever I'm in the area. The first time I went in, I bought so many things I got a free tote bag. There's so much care put into displaying and selecting AAPI merchandise. There's an awesome variety of books for adults and children's books (including board books and many of the picture books are autographed). They also carry foodie themed baby, toddler, and child clothing. If you're looking for dolls, they carry both Jilly Bing and Joeydolls! The greeting cards are so cute. The employee behind the counter was so friendly and even gifted my little one a cute kitty boba plushie. It's a great place to buy gifts. Looking forward to my next visit!

Michelle R.

Cute shop located in Chinatown. We stopped by real quick. This place has AAPI merchandise such as books for both adults and kids, cookbooks, pins, stickers, clothes, and etc. Will have to come back here again.

Montage of images from On Waverly
Ed U.

Sisters Cynthia and Jennifer Huie are not only doin' it for themselves but more importantly, the local AAPI community. On the next block of Waverly Place from Mister Jiu's is their inviting corner shop in which they sell quite an array of books, gifts and souvenirs in a bright, youthful setting. A smattering of red chairs indicates room has been allocated for a community space for events like Asian American author signings. The overriding vibe of the merchandise here is an intergenerational energy that ties Chinese traditions to modern interpretations. It's a fun, atypical place to peruse and shop. RELATED - Exploring Chinatown? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2WoF1Z2

Sharon H.

I absolutely loved the concept of the store, and the space. It's open, inviting, modern space with various stickers, trinkets, books, and gifts made by AAPI community members. We bought a few stickers that were funny with Asian/Chinese themes to them. I loved both the adult and children book section, which had tons of books by AAPI authors that both I and my children have enjoyed over the years. Seems they also hold events with book signings.readings etc.

This is the only place that sells this historic cookbook full of recipes from some Chinatown businesses of yore

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26 days ago

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9 days ago

Love the gift and book selection and appreciate their community workshops and author discussions!

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9 months ago

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7 months ago

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6 months ago

I've never been more obsessed with a gift shop than I am with this one. I wanted to buy everything in this store. So many Asian-core items!

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Review Highlights - On Waverly

It's open, inviting, modern space with various stickers, trinkets, books, and gifts made by AAPI community members.

Mentioned in 3 reviews

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City Lights

City Lights

4.4
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0.2 mi
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One of the neatest bookstores in the US. The Poetry room upstairs is wonderful. So much fun…read morehistory here to learn about. And this bookstores has some amazing staff book recommendations with little tags on the bookshelf telling you why they loved that book so much; found some great new finds that way. Dont forget to get your books stamped with their bookstores stamp on the way out!

An amazing bookstore and so glad I asked chatGPT to give me some ideas for a stroll around SF near…read moreUnion Square. Well, ok, this place isnt close to Union Sq, about a mile away, but it was a perfect delicious end destination for a post dinner stroll! I like bookstores and I like eclectic, unique ones. I'll go to Barnes & Noble if I had no other choice, but my favorite bookstores are independent ones and ones where they carry very unique books you can't find elsewhere. This bookstore made my inner little nerdy self so happy. I immediately got lost up front looking at very recent publication by Ai Weiwei. I then wandered onto the main floor and found an entire section of Asian works, which you will not find at B&N. I also found books from Norwegian writers too which I had never seen before, which thrilled me. I then made my way up to their attic floor which is dedicated to poetry and seems I just missed Allen Ginsberg's Howl centennial celebration. Ugh! I then came back down and then proceeded to their basement section and again I was quite pleasantly surprised by the depth and breadth of Asian themed books they had. They had plenty of the Chinese classics in English and found so many different versions of Journey to the West, I was completely overwhelmed. And then, saw an entire section on Africa and I had to fight hard to not pick up a copy of a book titled Prison Letters, which is a collection of Mandela's letters while imprisoned. I ultimately settled on two books by Ai Weiwei as he has continued to inspire me to be proud, to not conform, to be brave, to speak up, to be authentically and unapologetically me, to honor my ancestry and to push boundaries and to fight for what matters. And it just so happens too that my Chinese give name is also Weiwei. I loved coming to this bookstore and it will definitely be on rotation for me when I am in SF again.

Photos
Downstairs
Downstairs
The upstairs location of the bookstore.
The upstairs location of the bookstore.
The bottom floor that you have to go downstairs to.

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The bottom floor that you have to go downstairs to.
Kinokuniya Bookstore - San Francisco

Kinokuniya Bookstore - San Francisco

4.5
(546 reviews)
1.5 mi
$$

Finding a bookstore in San Francisco can be a challenge depending which side of city you are and…read morewhat you are looking for as far as subject matter. There are various bookstores which face the street sidewalks of San Francisco and are easy to enter and exit. There is a bookstore in San Francisco which is hidden from the public side walk and accessible through a mall on the second floor. It's located inside the Japan Center in Japantown and it's called Kinokuyina. On a Spring stroll inside Japan Center I landed inside Kinokuyina. In the land of the rising sun Kinokuyina is a bookstore was founded in 1927 in Japan and turns 100 years next year. This San Francisco location is the first in the USA which opened since 1969. They have other locations such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore,Hong Kong, Taiwan,and the Philippines. Inside you will find lots of books in Japanese Kanji and English Manga. They also sell lots of novelties and t-shirts. This a great international bookstore in San Francisco. It's almost Summer say bye to the month of "May" they have a location in San Francisco another down the road by San Tomas Expressway in "San Jose "they have lots books of "display" from manga to "anime" Come visit they have books for any age "group "you can find magazines with the latest "scoop"so you can stay in the "loop" and you can even find a book like some in SF about "poop"

Compared to the one in L.A., this location is much more organized and the staff seem friendly. They…read morealso have more of the Japanese culture vibes at this location. Like you see more Japanese writing on the walls and signs. They also have a much larger variety of magazines and books here. As with all bookstores, they do sell a lot of plushies and toys here. Saw a lot of Pusheen stuff. There's also a lower level that's dedicated entirely to Manga. And it looks like a pretty huge collection. So I would say this location is maybe 40% reading books, 40% Manga, toys, and gifts and 20% magazines. Or, you can come visit and check it out yourself. There's cute things here worth checking out.

Photos
Studio Ghibli plushies are back (3/10/26)
Studio Ghibli plushies are back (3/10/26)
Moomins!
Moomins!
Kinokuniya Bookstore - San Francisco

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Green Apple Books

Green Apple Books

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3.3 mi
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If your idea of a good time is an afternoon spent rambling around in a 5000-plus foot maze among…read morethe books, then Green Apple Books is for you. What I love here are the carefully curated staff selections that are found everywhere. There are always unexpected finds and books you'd never unearth online all housed in this labyrinth of a store. The tables of discounted and used books upstairs are worth a browse. The atmosphere is welcoming, dusty, and this old Victorian house is perfect for wandering. One of my favorite Sunday rituals: browsing until I find something unexpected, and then heading down Clement for dim sum, some thrifting, maybe a Kamei treasure, a strawberry crepe, and some Asian groceries. A Green Apple visit makes the outing complete. San Francisco still has a few good remaining bookstores, and the selection hidden in the winding nooks and crannies at Green Apple, keep it near the top of my list.

I was walking by when I saw the bookstore. First time here. They had several carts with books on…read moresale. It was hard to go over the books as they were not organized. Once you go inside it is a tight place but cute. They have new and used books , two floors. What I liked were the flashcards in front of books giving a little description and thoughts on books. I felt some new books were overpriced. However their clearance and sale books were a great deal. I got an art book for $6. Service was not personable. I was not greeted even at register when I was ready to pay. The lady just charged me. She didn't offer any bag either. It was a little awkward. I love visiting bookstores. However, this one might be the one least friendly I encountered. Overall they have a good selection of books.

Photos
We are looking for some gifts for the kids. May have found one. Lol.
We are looking for some gifts for the kids. May have found one. Lol.
Bobbing for apples - so fun!
Bobbing for apples - so fun!
Laser cut Green Apple Bookmark - gorgeous details

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Laser cut Green Apple Bookmark - gorgeous details

On Waverly - giftshops - Updated July 2026

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