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Chinatown Fair Video Arcade - CLOSED
Category: Arts & Entertainment Arcades Arcades [Edit]
8 Mott St(between Chatham Sq & Worth St)
New York, NY 10013
Neighborhoods: Chinatown, Civic Center
(212) 964-1542
- Nearest Transit:
-
Chambers St (J, Z)
Canal St (J, N, Q, Z)
Brooklyn Bridge - City Hall (4, 5, 6, 6X)
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
75 reviews for Chinatown Fair Video Arcade
75 reviews in English
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Review from Omari R.
Manhattan, NY
9/6/2011
Man this place was great. The only real arcade I have seen during my lifetime. Will miss it. But I was wondering does anyone know is the machines are up for sale?
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Review from The Dative Agent C.
Brooklyn, NY
11/11/2011
The volume on the video games always seemed be cranked to 11. It was an aural assault of clashing video game sound effects and soundtracks played by machines packed in close proximity. Check out my blog post about Chinatown Fair, circa 2009. Basically, I recorded the experience on a handheld audio recorder, walking the length of the place, and then returning to exit. Be sure to play the audio!
That said, I have vague memories of going there as a child and playing tic tac toe against the live chicken, which essentially was in a cage rigged to dispense a pellet of food when it was the chicken's turn: the peck to get the pellet simulated the chicken taking a turn. I guess that is before the arcade had moved to its final location and had lost much of its former glory.
http://thedativeagent.... -
Review from Yan F.
7/6/2011
This place had to be one of the last few places that have arcades anymore. It's a shame that it is now closed but then again, people nowadays have computers and Playstations and Xbox's to get their game on. Why would anyone want to play an arcade for a quarter a game anymore? Well, you know what? I do.
From time to time, I like the nostalgic feeling of reliving the days (not that I have actually been around to live it) when the arcades were popular and when there are people who would actually spend time and money to play arcades. Even though I didn't live those days, I do know that people actually leave their homes to do things back in the day. Nowadays, we do everything online and in front of our computers. We started by researching online. Then we did our shopping in front our computers and now we play our games in front of computer too?
I was born and raised in the internet world. There was always internet as long as I have been around but maybe it's because I'm someone from a generation where arcades weren't popular that made me really appreciate it and see the history through those giant arcade machines.
Playing PACMAN with your PS3 controller in your hand in front of your television at home is not the same at going to an actual arcade with a joystick in your hand and commanding the little guy to escape those ghosts. With arcades, the fun starts when you insert that quarter and knowing that you have limited tries before you have to pay again or start over makes you a more advent, eager and better gamer. You no longer have infinite tries as you would if you played at home.
PACMAN is just as an example to illustrate the lost and change of gaming culture---the arcade culture. That is not to say that change is bad or that it was unnecessary. Change happens over time and just like how people evolve, gaming culture evolves along with it. I am not deeming the rise of platform consoles as a negative change and that it should be halted but that it is something that has replaced an old culture that will someday be forgotten if not cherished in some way, shape or form.
As a matter of fact, I think the rise of platform consoles is a consequence or a response to a convenience or need for efficiency. It can be seen that we do not want to hone our skills so we want to have as many tries as we can to complete a game with low costs on one hand. On the other hand, we can say, we want to hone our skills but we need more practice and to have more practice, we want to be able to have infinite tries at something and to have that efficiently, it can no longer cost us a quarter a game but much less.
As arcade places close down, video game stores like Gamestop open up. People no longer want to pay per game anymore so they buy the game and play it as many as they please until they reach a certain goal. Such is the way of life. It is an ever changing process. Now the question is what will replace Gamestop? Online downloads?
This place holds a lot of history not just for me but for the gaming culture. I remember how every time I walked in here, the place reeked of sweat as you see gamers furiously mash the buttons or push their joysticks. Though their expressions might be tensed up, you can see that they cared for the arcade game they were playing even though they might only care about getting a high score or beating the game or just having fun. Whatever the reason is, it was good to know that there was a group of people that cared enough to still play arcades and they might still play it if there was any arcade left. Because as we all know, arcades and their business are dying but it thrives in many of our hearts. -
Review from Randy L.
Brooklyn, NY
7/12/2011
Wow amazing they finally closed down. I remember when it was across the street in the 80's than they moved it to where it's at now. I've had many good and bad memories of that place in the early mid 90's
This is one place i will never forget. a part of my early teenage yrs.
Cheers* -
Review from Melissa L.
New York, NY
4/4/2011
It's taken me weeks to gather myself & write a badass tribute review after I heard this place closed, leaving me idling somewhere between nerdraging and hipster heaven.
Chinatown Fair was the ONLY reason I'd go to Chinatown; I'd make the trek from Astoria just to gloat about how I was an early adopter of MvC3 and SF4 on my Facebook (hipster heaven). For all the bells & whistles that "grown-up arcades" like Dave&Busters & Gameworks has, nothing could take away the authentic feel that CTF had. To all the girls: arcades are supposed to be dark & seedy and full of "weird, smelly" people. It's a nerd sanctuary, a place where (antisocial, passive-aggressive, odorous) gamers go and show off their skills. Going here is the equivalent of taking your man to the mall on Black Friday while you buy yourself some cute shoes. I've been coming here since 2001, and it's been a glorious 10 years with a lot of great memories & free dinners as a result of won bets. The next time I drink a 40, I'll be sure to pour some out for you, Chinatown Fair.
Also: Paul K., touché. -
Review from katrina m.
Seattle, WA
3/25/2011
I cannot believe this place is closed :(
One of the few lingering arcades and now it's gone.
You will be greatly missed...Listed in: Great Activities to the…
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Review from paddy m.
Jacksonville, FL
3/4/2011
Another tribute review.
If you thought this place was:
'seedy'
'scary'
'dicey'
'hilarious'
'weird'
then do us all a solid and LEAVE NEW YORK! You people are part of the cancer destroying the city and turning it into a giant mall designed to make tourists feel welcome.
I played many games here back in the day, drank a few gallons of Olde E, and I was privileged to see the famed dancing chicken, and I seriously loathe Bloomie and his minions for taking the city I love and making it lifeless and dead. -
Review from Jonathan H.
New York, NY
4/26/2011
Alas poor, Bad Dudes. I hardly knew ye.
http://vimeo.com/21675538 -
Review from Rosa C.
3/28/2011
tribute review
TT TT
WHY?!?!?! WHY?!?!?!?!? WHY?!?!?!?!?!?
where will i go?????!!!! come back!!!
..........PLEASE????? -
Review from Natalie B.
Philadelphia, PA
1/13/2011
This is your basic arcade. It looks shady on the outside, is dimly lit inside, and has the basics. The entrance hallways has older games (Pacman, Bust a Move, etc.), leading to some newer games in the middle (Time Crisis II, DDR, a DJ game, Terminator: Salvation), and more older games in the back. It was pretty fun, and their prices are normal arcade prices (25 cents is a token, 4 tokens for DDR and shooting games, 2 for fighting games, 1 for older games). There are two sets of Super Street FIghter IV (I think) set up in the middle, and tons of people flock there to play against each other or watch.
It's not particularly classy (I wasn't expecting it to be), but it has the basics and I had fun. Keep in mind that you don't get tickets to trade in for prizes or anything like that. -
Review from Sally W.
7/9/2011
Oh man, it closed?! Sad. What happened to the Tic Tac Dough Machine with the dancing chicken....don't tell me they ate the chicken??!! There was a chicken in that machine that played Tic Tac Dough with you!!!! That was AWESOME! I remember going here as a little girl and my dad knew the owner....being the little Godmother of Chinatown that I was...that nice man gave me quarters. =-) He was nice to the little Godmother of Chinatown! Too bad. There are not many mom and pop arcades anymore. There is still one in Flushing.
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Review from Jack X.
2/26/2011
Just thought I would write a tribute review as the place has literally closed ten minutes ago...
Chinatown Fair has been on Mott street since as far back as I can remember and is an institution to those who go to arcades... it was also the last arcade in NYC.
I remember many summers and many days when I would end up here with my high school friends, if nothing else but to hang out with a friend who wanted to play a game. It is the only arcade that I will remember ever being my own.
If you imagine NYC in the early nineties mixed in with the TRON arcade room, it would be the perfect image of what this place was... -
Review from Molly T.
Manhattan, NY
12/7/2010
I finally dragged a date down to Chinatown last year to take him to go to the arcade as one of his birthday activities. We played a few of the Capcom fighting games, Time Crisis, Pac-man & of course, Centipede & Galaga.
It's a really small hole-in-the-wall location. It feels like going into a cave filled with unwashed males & dirty arcade games. Kind of awesome, but kind of not.
I hated having to get tokens - that exchange can be a fun part of the arcade experience, but the machine at this place is so old and busted, it barely functions.
Still fun. Definitely an experience. -
Review from Ramon B.
Jersey City, NJ
11/20/2010
I found this place a few months ago as I was trying to get to know chinatown better. I did a double take when I first saw this place because I can't even remember the last time I saw an arcade.
When you go in, you can feel the rise in temperature and see arcades to your left and right, just like the movies. A lot of capcom fighting games, some snk and a few others I'm not sure of since I really haven't looked at them all.
There are several ddr type games that people seems to go their for excersice only. I say that because they pick the longest songs and put them are super hard and manages to smash their feet to the ground as fast as possible.
MVC2 ftw. It is the reason I keep going back.
I've never seem the place crowded but there is usually a lot of people and it would be considered border line crowdedness, yet there is almost never a wait for a game.
Very fun place. I go there almost every saturday since I'm in the area then, and stay for an hour or two.
Definitely an underground type vibe with plenty of competition regardless of the game. I've seen parents bring their kids in their a few times, but they get destroyed, normally, in the games. -
Review from Near M.
New York, NY
12/10/2010
This is the only last "real" arcade place that I can even think of in NYC. When you enter, it looks like a dimly lit nerdy cave hideout and all the hardcore gamers come here. Its pretty awesome since they have the latest arcades with some of the classics. It's pretty expensive but its worth it to come here and chill and get your game on. They have fighting (majority), puzzle, 2D side scrolling shooter, Dance Dance, light rail gun shooter, arcade games here. I have a lot of memories here, I remember one guy lost close to 100lbs buy spending everyday during the spring and summer playing DDR. Anyway, its grungy and if you come here Friday and Saturday nights that's usually when all the hardcore gamers come together and duke it out against each other.
They're usually emo, punk, raver, metal head, nerdy type of people who come here to play against each other or simply hangout. All-in-All this is definitely a place to get your arcade gaming on and bond with other gamers for sure if you're that type of person. -
Review from Chris S.
Brooklyn, NY
11/8/2010
It's an arcade. It's not the greatest arcade ever but it's all we have.
After spending time in Japan this place depresses me now. This is the mecca for competitive fighters. Justin Wong,Arturo,Sanford Kelly and many more fighting game greats throw/threw and will probably throw down here. The owner keeps this place clean but the generation of kids that go here don't appreciate what this place is and what it means so some of the machines get messed up.
It's still a legit place just if you're looking to get on some machines don't ever go there on Friday. -
Review from Michael S.
New York, NY
3/6/2011
Tribute review!
I had been coming to Chinatown Fair since I was 12 years old, any the place never really changed (in the best possible way) It was seedy, where else could you go to gamble on MvC2? It was weird, the aircondiitioning system was like a series of cardboard boxes and fans blowing air in! And if you didnt find the droves of goth kids hilarious then, well, you were probably one of them. Anyway, RIP Chinatown Fair. I was lucky enough to stumble into you a week before you closed, although Capcom vs SNK 2 was unplugged that night :( -
Review from Janet D.
7/4/2010
I was being a cool "tour guide-mom" by bringing my teenage gamer son here for some vintage arcade play. I figured it would buy me enough points to get us through the next day's Ground Zero tour. When we walked into the darkened 100+ degree video cave filled with hordes of sweaty guys, I thought to myself...how in the world am I going to survive the next 30 minutes??? But, then I saw Centipede and Galaga and knew I would have enough distraction to keep my mind off reality for at least a short time...
I followed my son into the core of the hovel...watched him pause, then turn around. "Let's go, Mom...this place smells of obsession." It was just the sign a mother needs that there is hope for her offspring...Listed in: Out-Of-The-Box in NYC
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Review from Paul K.
Brooklyn, NY
9/16/2010
Ah, Chinatown Fair...
This place has a dirty, dingy, almost underground feel to it as soon as you walk in. The lighting is poor, the floors feel sticky, and you are often struck with the urge to just grab a can of deodorant in each fist and go to town on all the swarmy cretins within, John Woo style. Hours later, when you emerge from CTF, blinking at the sunlight as if you just came from a spelunking expedition, you wish you could take a Purell shower.
My kinda place.
It's awesome to see that an arcade can still exist nowadays, and Chinatown Fair is one of the last true arcades in NYC. Screw your Dave & Busters, this ain't no Applebees meets Chuck E. Cheez here. This place is for the gamers.
Some of the most competitive gamers in the world call this place their home, and if you thought you were good at fighting games, think again. When I first discovered CTF back in 2000, I thought I was good at Marvel vs Capcom 2. I had won a few local tournaments at college and I always destroyed my friends. Then I made my way over to Chinatown Fair, where it was quickly made clear to me that I in fact, sucked at that game.
A lot has changed in 10 years, but not really. That's the best thing about CTF. Games come and go but the spirit of the arcade has stayed the same. I rarely have time to frequent the place anymore but I still pop in every once in a while, and it always feels exactly like the last time. -
Review from Arthur Z.
Brooklyn, NY
5/31/2010
This place gets the best review possible. Mainly for the fact that's it's the last standing arcade (that's up to date) in NYC. The competition is huge, and the prices are fine, and fair. Prices of which range from a quarter to a dollar fifty. Often the newer the game, the more it takes to play. This is the only place in NYC you'll get the full arcade experience people, nowhere else, i assure you can accomplish that here.
R.I.P.
Chinatown will never be the same again. -
Review from Samantha L.
Brooklyn, NY
4/8/2010 2 photos
You don't come across good, old school arcades anymore. But as I walked by this old, dirty looking building, you cant help but to be curious and walk in and see what it's all about.
It's dark, and dirty looking, and filled with locals. There's a variety of Capcom games, Marvel vs. Capcom, and Street Fighter. Once you put a token in, you're guaranteed to a decently long game. It doesn't cut you short, or cheat you of your token, and that was a plus for me. You get 4 tokens for $1.00. Older games only require one token, and the newer games go anywhere btwn 2 to 4 tokens.
They have some modern games as well, like DDR, Time Crisis, Boxing, Guitar Hero, and some speed racing games.
Overall, its a great place to hang out and play some games, without the overwhelming feeling you'd get at Dave & Busters and so forth. If you're in the neighborhood, stop by and play a game or two, it's worth it. -
Review from Maritess Z.
Seattle, WA
4/12/2007
Other reviewer was right, yes, totally seedy, dark, kinda filthy, but...it is some of the most fun I've had without alcohol =)
I prefer this place to corporate arcades such as Dave and Busters or even the arcades in the casinos of my beloved Las Vegas, because it looks like a set from an 80's Michael Jackson video, with the hip kids wearing bandanas and flourescent shirts.
My friend who had a crush on me brought me here. It was kind of a fun crazy date thing to do. We played "Dance Dance Revolution" for TWO HOURS.
Kids from around the world were there with their backpacks and lots of local kids were wondering, looking at me, thinking, wow, she really is a total beginner at Dance Dance Revolution.
I liked noticing the kids standing in line behind us, waiting their turn, just so they could show us how the damned game should be played.
Bring a bunch of quarters and your coolest gymshoes and prepare to show them what you're really made of baby! -
Review from scott d.
Arlington, VA
12/21/2009
Thanks to Tracey C. for reviewing this place and bringing it to my attention. It turned out to be a most welcome diversion on a lonely, frigid as fuck night.
One of the problems with the youth of today is exemplified by their ignorance and alienation from the arcade experience. It seems any big multi-player game these days is either consoled-based or PC based, meaning that players are usually separated from each other and in their home. Of course, that gives these lil bastards the balls to mouth off on their headsets and say shit they'd never dare in real life. They don''t know what it's like to wait to play alongside three other kids, and the ritual of placing your quarters on the machine to signify that you got next. And god forbid they should ever have to leave their bubble of constant self-absorption and actually leave the fucking house in order to socialize with other kids.
That is what I love about arcades. They force people to be competitive but respectful as well, since there is no computer of TV screen for anyone to hide behind. This one is really similar to arcades that I had been to as a kid: narrow, poorly lit, aside from the sweet glow of the games, and minimal as fuck otherwise. The game genres are represented somewhat differently than when I was in one of these last. This could be attributable to location, and would also explain why there are so many asian fighting games. There's only one shooter (my faves), Time Crisis 4(?). I do wish there were more, but I'm sure someone somewhere uses this place as an example to explain the correlation between the lack of shooting games in arcades the decline in NY homicides. Oh, and I don't believe I saw any sports games, but they do have some old games from the 80s towards the front.
Not that all the fighting games aren't fun to watch, but unfortunately that seems to be my limit. I watched two kids play each in other in street fighter number whatever. These kids were hittin each other with the Shoryuken! and blue fireballs like crazy. i'd get killed in two seconds and probably get laughed at. The crowd for the fighting games, as well as overall, are mostly youngins. I was definitely one of the oldest people in the room at the time, but I figure we all need to act like fucking kids sometimes to remind ourselves why we need to retain our youth down to the last shreds.
Arcades are one of those things that just seem like they would be so visceral for a genuine NY experience, and this Chinatown hole in the wall conveys such an experience nicely. Plus, it gave me a chance to walk down mott and gawk like a slack jawed hillbilly. Otherwise, I might not have been able to enjoy the spectacle of chinatown's greasy spoons, stores with the delicious looking duck and chicken, appetizing and wonderfully fragrant seafood markets, and the hundred vendors ostensibly selling the same cheap shit. There's some shady shit goin on with these tourist traps. There has to be some shady shit going on at those. How could anyone in NY, China, or points in between ever get paid without it? At least at the arcade the customers know exactly what they're getting. -
Review from Tracey C.
11/16/2009
It's an arcade in the city! Unlike D&B, this place isn't filled with screaming children who have no sense of body space and have yet to learn the words 'please' and ' thank you'. Instead, you get a very calm place to play games before meeting with a group for dim sum.
They have the required old school games, Galaga, Ms. Pac-Man, Centipede, etc. and new/newish games like Guitar Hero and DDR. There are lots of fighting games and if I was a glutton for punishment I would have spent tons of money getting whooped by the pros that still hang here. I'm more of a shooting game person myself and the only one I remember seeing is one I've already beaten.
I do have to give them props. They have a fighting game that has nothing but chick characters! That is so awesome that I can't stand it. It's too bad all of the moves are written in Asian characters and they sort of looked a like* so I couldn't really figure out what my girl's special moves were. Next time I'll bring a translator.
*This was not meant to be a racist Asian joke. They really did look similar. I swear! -
Review from Whitney K.
Brooklyn, NY
12/17/2008
Haters begone! This is the best arcade I've ever been to.
First off, what you won't find:
1. Shooting games
2. Driving games
3. Pinball
4. Stupid gimmick games (I'm looking at you Sega Horse Racing simulator)
5. Carnival games
6. Natural light
What you will find:
1. An insane number of Street Fighter machines including Street Fighter 4
2. Guilty Gear XX Core
3. Multiple Samurai Showdown machines (Samurai Shodown 5... beat em' up game?? Who knew this even existed???)
4. Fighting games
5. Fighting games
6. Crazy fighting games you have never even heard of
6. Sweaty dudes
7. Old school games and not so old school games for $0.25 (Pacman, Galaga, Centipede, Puzzle Fighter, etc)
8. Hilarious DDR masters
9. More dudes
10. Bored looking girlfriends
Like I said, best arcade ever. -
Review from Cat P.
Sleepy Hollow, NY
2/14/2008
I used to be a regular here during my teen years to play Puzzle Fighter, Para Para Paradise, MoCap Boxing, Pump and DDR. This is one of the last real arcades in the city. Some of the best gamers on the East Coast play here, so be prepared if you get your ass handed to you by a 12 year old. As said by other people, it does have a sleazy feel to it.
I recently stopped by just for a few minutes after a 6-7 year drought, but Huey, the old Chinese token guy who always tends to wear old stained t-shirts, still remembered me and gave me a few games on the house. I had a nice moment of nostalgia from my early years.
Just a warning for all the attractive female gamers out there. Huey, is a very nice guy, but sometimes he can get a little too nice if you know what I mean. Beware of him, especially if you're under aged (I'm not kidding either). -
Review from DeShaun C.
Brooklyn, NY
12/11/2009
Arcades are a dying culture around here--most people who play games do so from the comfort of their couches. However, this place really does what an arcade should: provide a unique experience that you won't get at home.
You would be hard pressed to find another place that has this perfect combination of nostalgia, fun, and friendly (or serious) competition.
I know, it's a daunting place. After all, it's got a dirty facade, it's kinda dark and narrow, there are no people in referee uniforms to help you. I know this might be scary, but...it's supposed to be that way.
You see, this isn't Dave & Buster's. This isn't Chuck E. Cheese's. There are no appetizers, no game cards, no bar & grill. This is an arcade, and only an arcade. No ticket redemption junk, either.
I've been coming here since 2001, with my visits peaking around '02-'03. I go a lot less now, as I have to juggle my gaming with the real world, but you know what? It's still an excellent place.
The staff here may appear unorthodox because they don't wear cheery "Hi! My name is Incompetent Worker! Ask me about anything! I'll gladly confuse you!" t-shirts. Personally, I'm glad it's not that way. The machines stay in great working order, for the most part, the games range from classic fighters like Super Street Fighter II, to more recent games like Street Fighter IV and Tekken 6.
I'd suggest coming here midweek if you're looking for a more casual, relaxing experience. If you're looking to play the veteran gamers, the competitive types, then by all means, show up on a Friday night. The crowd here is a little more intimidating, but they don't bite. Some smell...but no biting.
I know I've hinted at this before, but let me be more direct: This is not a family arcade. There are no seats, so small children probably won't like being surrounded by the asses of everyone standing at a cabinet. They DO have some sit-down cabinets for a few games, but for the most part it's stand to play, and pretty much stand the whole time you're there. Also, there's no bathroom, another reason not to bring small children.
If you're looking for a family-oriented arcade, you're going to want to hop on the train to D&B. If you want gaming, uninterrupted and unfiltered (and CHEAP), then Chinatown Fair is the only game in town (I totally meant that pun). -
Review from Jeffrey W.
Brooklyn, NY
12/3/2006
Notice to the timid, easily-frightened out of towners: stay home. Chinatown Fair (or CF to those in the know) is the best traditional-styled arcade left in NYC, after the demise of Faber's Fascination in Coney Island - in fact, it may be the last one standing. And part of its magic is the old school arcade grime that envelops it. Takes your Dave and Busters and shove it.
The game machines are 90% fighters (think Street Fighter, King of the Fighters, Tekken, and Virtua Fighter series), which may turn off those looking for a more varied gaming experience, but most games are worth only one token. The L-shaped floor design isn't very conducive to large crowds - the claustrophobic need not apply. If you're a lover of fighting games, this is your Mecca. My only gripes? In the summer, the air can get a bit heavy in there (to put it kindly) and the owner is a letch.Listed in: Bright Lights, Big City, Geek On!
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Review from Melissa S.
Austin, TX
10/6/2007
This place is sketchier than sketch. I went down here here on a random Monday night and checked it out, because I thought it had Pump It Up, which is the Korean version of DDR. Unfortunately, although it DOES say Pump It Up on the machine, it's not the one I'm looking for :( It has the same pad set-up as DDR machine (ie looks like a plus sign and not an X).
In any case, I highly recommend not being in this area of Chiantown at night, haha. On our way back to the train, we watched as a fight got broken up by the police, and then a walked by a guy who was stumbling around and clutching his face, which was bleeding profusely. Yeahhhh. You won't find me down here at night again. -
Review from Michael P.
Port Jefferson, NY
11/24/2009
I am a bit biased here because I used to be an arcade machine repair person when I was like 18, but I really love this place. It is seriously like going back in time. And no this is not some swank place trying to be retro serving microbrews and stuff, it is 100% authentic here, and besides the games, nothing at all is different than 20 years ago. They do have all the latest games though, and if you like playing fighting games, there are dudes here that will rock you.
This reminds me of when I was a little kid and walked by the dark arcade with a bunch of punk kids hanging out in there that scared me. Then in the late 90s all the "family fun" arcades came out that were well lit, and are basically casinos for children with ticket paying games. This place has none of the above, it is dark, it is on a crappy block, and it is legit. A true gem.Listed in: Authentic Places
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Review from jay k.
Brooklyn, NY
3/9/2008
Good competition.
The DDR machines should have a deodorant vending machine next to them. This place smells terrible when they start sweating up on that DDR machine. -
Review from Tina C.
5/18/2009
I came here with my Cantonese teachers/friends and classmates/friends for a walk-thru. Although video arcade is not my thing but upon entering there is so much energy yet competition as it attracts youngsters after school and weekends. It can be crowded very easily at some games of Street Fighter, BlazBlue, and King of Fighters '98. One can easily dig a hole in your wallet as video games can become addicting. There is a change machine and a arcade staff to assist with change or problems with the arcade machines.
N.B. It is quite dark with very little lighting and monster truck loud from the sounds of the arcade games and crowds cheering on. -
Review from Daniel X.
Brooklyn, NY
11/1/2006
It's dark and it's noisy. I always remember mum telling me that gangsters hung out here when I was a kid, though I always thought that was more because she wanted to keep me away from video games. The place does look rather shady though.
I really don't get the point of arcades anymore. Ever heard of Playstation? -
Review from Joe S.
Queens, NY
7/18/2009
Perhaps the last true arcade, in the purest sense of the word, in Manhattan.
It's not pretty to look at, the smell is horrendous and the floors haven't been cleaned in what seems like a decade, but if you're into playing video games competitively with people who know what they're doing, this is the place to be.
It would be nice if there were a broader range of games here, but the focus is generally on dance/rhythm games and fighting games. Some more shmups would be nice, but hey, what can you do? The crowd is generally a decent mix of people, ranging from business men to goth-loli high school girls (wtf NY?) to professional game players.
Worth checking out if you need a challenge or even to bring that feeling of nostalgia. -
Review from eric w.
New York, NY
3/22/2010
Chinatown Fair Video Arcade is the best of its kind in Manhattan, because as far as I know, it is the only real arcade in Manhattan. This place does not mess around - it's grimy, dark, and looks like a dank cave from the outside. But it has most of the greats in 2D fighting - Street fighter Alpha 3, Marvel vs. Capcom 2, X-Men vs. Street Fighter. They also keep the selection fairly up to date - SF4, and Guitar Hero or some such.
The clientele - students, gamer aficionados, random people from Chinatown, nerds. Sometimes it feels a little shady, but the arcade machines are in decent shape and unaffected by inflation. I do wish though that the arcade had the 2d side scroller classics, like X-Men or Bare Knuckle. -
Review from Chris E.
New York, NY
8/28/2006 1 photo
The only real arcade left in Manhattan (the Port Authority one doesn't count). Depressing considering the fact that the scene is pretty much dead. Still, they have pinball machines, a DDR machine, Ms Pac-man and Galaga and like 7 different varieties of Street Fighter.
Most all the games are priced cheap (25-50 cents). It's open rather late too (later on weekends). -
Review from Sean C.
San Francisco, CA
8/29/2008
Probably the only true arcade left in NYC. First thing first; they have Street Fighter IV. Yes, the new Street Fighter. They imported it from Japan and it's worth the trip alone! Expect a wait of at least 20-30 minutes to play though.
The place is small and cramped with lines of arcade cabinets on both sides. The choices are predominantly fighting games, including Super Street Fighter II Turbo, Marvel vs Capcom, Tekken, and some more obscure Japanese ones. They also have a couple dance games, DDR and Pump It Up (using DDR style pads). A few racing games round things out. No pinball machines are left however.
Expect most games to cost 50 cents to a dollar. The change booth offers water for $1.
The people there are from all walks, races and parts of the city. Those not used to the area or the arcade scene might be a little worried but everyone there came for one reason and that's to play some games with other players. It's the reason we still seek out arcades, for that community aspect, and it's in full force at the CF. -
Review from edgar l.
New York, NY
5/1/2011
I recalled the days of the dancing chicken, playing tic-tac-toe with the chicken, pinball machines, having some young 7 year old kid kicking my butt in street fighter, having to keep track of who's quarter is on the machine to have the next turn, having to ignore the piercing stares of the GS gangs that had hanged out there. It was the best place to be in chinatown. Will dearly miss this place.
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Review from Ryne D.
3/15/2009
When I asked a frequent NYC visitor what places I should visit, this arcade was among his suggestions.
"An arcade, of all places?" This is something you may ask if you don't really know me personally. As soon as I walked into the dank little hallway that constitutes this place, I knew I was in a little sample of heaven.
Big crowds were hovering around Street Fighter IV, BlazBlue, and King of Fighters '98 (really?) People were hopping around on DDR and ITG. I did not find one broken joystick or button (though there were a couple of mis-bannered arcades). Most of the games here I had only played on console, and was amazed to see them in their upright glory.
Couple tips: this ain't a place for your kids (ie not a Chuck E Cheese). Or to hang out at on a first date (ie not a Dave and Busters). No food served, no drinks save for a pop machine and Red Bull dispenser. This is for serious gamers to get on with their bidness. Also, while most of the games take tokens, most of the newer games only take dollar bills, so don't go converting all your cash right when you walk in.
It's tiny, cramped, loud, and I wouldn't have it any other way. -
Review from gary m.
Brooklyn, NY
3/16/2008
this place has a good amount of games, mix of new and old school.
It would have been nice if the arcade cases matched the game because if you don't know the "moves" of the game, you're completely clueless. the people inside are mostly regulars so if you're not really good at a game you'll probably lose to them but this also could mean a good challenge as well. also, the ventilation is terrible so u can really smell the BO, sweat, farts and whatnot.
