China Place Liquor City

With coolers in back and rows of bottles up front—and perhaps, as on our visit, a staffer perched atop a pile of boxes, chowing down on his lunch—this liquor shop has a standard setup and a casual feel. The store specializes, of course, in Asian liquors, and the wine selection is peppered with lychee liquor ($12.99), Chinese wine ($25.99) and sparkling pink sake ($6.99). Perhaps more hard-to-find still: Hello Kitty sparkling rose wine ($28.99). There are also goods that may be more familiar to the typical Chicago shopper, such as Grey Goose vodka and Opus One wines from California.