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    On Waverly

    5.0 (44 reviews)
    Closed • 11:00 am - 6:00 pm

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    Huge selection
    Alice M.

    Came in support of a friend who did a book reading here for her books! Beautiful store with so many great books for children and adults alike from local AAPI authors and artists! Lots of cute stickers, gifts, clothing, and stationery too! Love that this store exists! Hard to leave empty handed!

    sticker sheets
    Isabel S.

    I had no idea of what to expect prior to visiting this store, but I think it's very cool to see what they had to offer. I recognized one of the artist's (who I follow on Etsy) artworks here and I definitely had to buy something. There's a lot of interesting works of other artists too and it's not limited to just stickers or prints, I would say there's a versatile range of products. The service here is super chill too. Last thing I want to mention is that it's been almost a week since I came here, so I'm not 100% sure if they still have everything I took pictures of.

    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"

    Outside
    Jean L.

    Happen to have stumbled upon On Waverly over the weekend walking around Chinatown. This is such a cute corner shop with something for everyone. Most items are created/designed by locals/individuals, and not from big companies who mass produce things. Lots of fun trinkets! Staff is friendly. Store is spacious. Parking is as expected in this area, but definitely able to get to this place by foot via public transit or just strolling around the neighborhood.

    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.

    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!

    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.

    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.

    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!

    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!

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

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - On Waverly

    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

    Read more highlights

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    Super cute interesting finds, pretty pricey. Such as $25 for a small cloth tote or $35 for a normal…read moresize shopping tote Calendars, toys, plushes, and oh books of course. A lot of people go for the items more so than books

    This is a long-established Japanese bookstore that has been around since I first came to the United…read moreStates over 20 years ago. My grandmother and my aunt both loved this place. They spoke Japanese and received a Japanese education, so this bookstore always held a special meaning for them. The store carries a wide selection of Japanese books, magazines, Reader's Digest (Japanese edition), and manga. It also offers many adorable Japanese-style plush toys, collectibles, and accessories. You'll often see American teenagers who are passionate about Japanese anime and manga browsing here, which gives the bookstore a lively and welcoming atmosphere. I highly recommend this bookstore to anyone who loves Japanese culture, anime, manga, or simply wants to experience a little piece of Japan. 一家很老的日式書店,我20年前來美國就有的書店了,我奶奶和我大姑姑生前就很喜歡這家書店,尤其她們都會講日文也接受日本教育。這家書店也很多日本的雜誌、包括讀者文摘和日本的漫畫,這家還有很多很可愛亞洲風格的玩偶和飾品。平常有很多愛好日式動漫的美國青少年會光顧這家書店,我強力推薦給喜歡日本文化的各位。

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    On Waverly - giftshops - Updated October 2026

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