Ming Quong

This biz may get the most random biz in Walnut Creek award. It’s a tiny little shop that would have you think you’re on Haight Street, not downtown WC.
I popped in to pick up a card and they have a ton of variety and I’m not taking Hallmark, but more unique options. They also sell so much other random stuff from incense, to Indian style scarfs and jewelry, figurines to candles and tshirts. Random. Not upscale, but for more of the «hippy» spirit and I’m into it.
The Creek is far from weird and Ming Quong is a little weird, and I mean that in the best sense of the word. Stay forever!

I’ve been going to this tiny little store since I was younger for body jewelry. They always have everything I need from plugs to nose and septum rings and even other items like cool lighters and dream catchers. I’m glad this place has been around for so long. It beats going to a pricey piercing shop.

A precious little hole-​in-​the-​wall with many treasures to be found. You will find things like incense, incense holders, Buddha’s, Buddhist deity statues (Tara, Ganesh), tapestries, clothing, gift items, fun little trinkets and such. This is a beautiful store that certainly has something waiting for you…

Cute, interesting little store.
Small & arguably over stocked, but still neat & organized.
Nothing really my style, but I’m sure it’s a goldmine for tie-​dye lovers :)

My advice is to take your time and look thru the store– there are hidden treasures everywhere! Lots of incense, body jewelry, thoughtful gift items, Buddha, clothing, etc. I had to go back a second time and buy more after seeing the store for the first time!

I’ve loved this store since middle school. It’s always had unique and cool items. They have really awesome jewelry and I can always find something to buy every time I go in.

One of the coolest shops in Walnut Creek!
Per the signs around the cozy and visually dazzling shop are signs saying that Ming Quong translates to ‘Radiant Light’. Very fitting — this is definitely a shop for those wandering off the beaten path, who like their goods a little mystical and magical, and who are happy to support local small business owners. The smell of incense wraps itself around you while you shop, and the employees are incredibly gracious and welcoming.
I was dazzled by the many clothes options, and racks and racks of jewelry items. There is also décor, knick knacks, posters, books, cards — you name it, they got it! Everywhere I looked a saw an item that reminded me of a friend, and I was able to knock out some effortless Christmas shopping on an October afternoon. I purchased a necklace charm and selected a chain to match, a jewelry box, a wallet and a scarf, all gorgeous and high quality and it all only rang up at $ 60 total. Ming Quong is an absolute haven for unique gift items, and of course gorgeous gifts for yourself too.
I can’t wait to return, thank you all for your hospitality and kindness!

This is a magical place filled with amazing treasures! Go here, come back and then go again. You will not be disappointed!

Established in 1968 and still around! I have a friend who’s been coming here for 30 years, and took me for my first visit today. Apparently they’ve been written up by the Contra Costa Times as one of the «seven wonders of the East Bay», but to me that sounds seriously overblown. Shops like these are a dime a dozen in Alameda County. Your average mix of cheap knickknacks and hippyish clothing.
There are some gems though. The owner showed me some cool Chinese antiques they had. This is actually a great place to find some pieces for your first alter. I came away with a Himalayan salt candle holder that was a quality piece at a good price.

Now you know that I mostly review eats, but we were waiting for an oil change, and wandered around downtown WC, and came across a weirdly original looking storefont– like a smoke shop, but with Asian American artifacts. The owner was walking down the street like it was Chinatown, but it’s WC. We said hello, she went inside, we went on. Later came back, and saw that it’s two shops in one… the front a jewelry store, the back… like a store you would find on 8^th street in Oakland chinatown, 30 years ago.
The owner has an amazing story of life and hope. She’s written at least two books recounting her life as an orphan, and to see her, and listen to her talk about her life, was amazing… What I would have wanted to do in chinatown Oakland… if I could speak chinese. (she’s fully fluent english speaker, don’t worry).
Well, we ended up buying a bunch of stuff, can’t tell you what but it’s beautiful. what a find.

Lovely, lovely little store that always holds the best treasures. I always get my jewelry from here! Great prices, great selection!

I have been going to Ming Quong for about 18 years (or something like that).
I most recently visited MQ on my bi-​annual trip to the Bay Area. I bought a necklace for my DD that is the smaller version of the necklace I bought for myself 6 months prior.
Both necklaces were in the $ 12-​$ 15 range. They have a really good selection of silver jewelry here.
One notable thing about MQ is that it ALWAYS smells like incense in there. Great if you love incense, not so great if you’re allergic.
They also have some clothing; if you’re into hippie chic, this is the place for you.
I highly recommend this Main Street institution if you’re in the area. If you’re an out of towner, you can buy Walnut Creek postcards here. I have not found them anywhere else in town.

I’ve been shopping in this quaint little «Berkeley style» shop since the 70’s — owner and son are awesome people, can’t beat their extensive jewelry selection, and they always have unusual «funky» clothes and accessories for those of us who like wearing things very few other people have. It’s a small shop, just a block south of the Police station — check it out — especially for inexpensive gifts like earrings or rings.

This is my favorite place to buy cards and I’ve been coming here for at least 15 years. I love to send people funny birthday cards, real funny. Ming Quong has the most outrageous cards and I’m probably their best card customer. People want to know where I buy my cards. One friend reuses the cards I send her, and she sends them to her relatives in Ireland! I now sign her card in pencil! My brother in law in Alaska takes his birthday card to work to show his coworkers. He said that they all have a good laugh, and people come by all day long to see «the card.» You can’t find cards like these in Alaska (there’s a lot of stuff you can’t find there!) When I’m at Ming Quong looking at cards, I always LOL.

I would have given this place 5 stars but they sold off half of the store and that makes me sad. I have been coming to Ming Quong for 20 years and feel like it’s part of my growing up. I love the cards and body jewelry, as well as their earrings and necklaces. The owner is friendly and interesting, though I could do without the head shop smell :)

Almost every girl in middle school or high school in Walnut Creek thinks that this store is their own personal little hidden gem, but think again, kiddies.
Ming Quong is a cute little shop that sells a variety of things (Jewelry, Zippos, T-​Shirts, Postcards, Buddhas, Asian-​ish clothing, and just weird little objects of interest…). It’s a great place to pick up a gift for someone or maybe a little something for yourself. The ring selection is by far my favorite part of the store for me because there’s always something I want! And more likely than not, everything is incredibly inexpensive. And the man who runs the shop is very sweet and helpful when asked. Give it a try!

Ming Quong fix.
It’s Saturday morning and my sister and I are ready for some shopping. We’re in dire need of yet another pair of silver earrings, a great bracelet, some incense, a perfect card, a tee shirt with a cool message, or maybe a poster. We blow dry our long, straight hair, don our bell-​bottoms from the Army-​Navy Surplus on North Main Street and throw on our Bare Trap sandals. We swing our suede purses, made from scraps of leather sold by the bagful at North Beach Leather in SF, over our shoulders. We are ready to spend every penny of our babysitting money at Minq Quong. We are young and life is great.
Our often weekly tradition of frequenting Ming Quong began in high school, continued through college when we were home on vacations, then into adulthood. When my sister visits from the east coast we still, many years later, enjoy a «Ming Quong fix» — just for old time’s sake. There was something magical about entering the tiny shop filled with millions (literally) of cool items and I still love it. The only difference is that now is that I no longer wear «message» t-​shirts and incense gives me a terrible headache.

I was wandering around downtown Walnut Creek car-​less this past Saturday, as my husband had dropped me off for a haircut appointment and then got stuck at work a little longer than expected. On my wanderings, I discovered Ming Quong, which I’d probably would never have discovered had not I read about it on Unilocal.
This is a pretty cute little store, with a little bit of tons of things that are a little «off the beaten path.» There are incense and incense holders, silver jewelery and charms w/​gems, Buddha figurines, and some Chinese «luck» charms to ward off bad spirits and to attract good spirits.
Me, I’m a more practical sort, so I purchased a t-​shirt for my husband and fingerless mittens for myself.
I enjoyed tinkering around the store, but I have to say, the prices aren’t super affordable. And, although the store is super tiny, they seem to have some sort of invisible line of demarcation and have divided the store into two. So, although I only bought two items, they made me ring up the purchases twice — once in the front of the store and once in the back of the store (and since the customer in front of me was debating about something for his son, I had to wait a while to get my 2^nd purchase rung up). My husband’s t-​shirt does smell of incense, as well.

With the recent passing away of Bonanza Street Books (RIP, my favored bookstore!), it makes me doubly glad that places like Ming Quong are still around in Walnut Creek. It just adds flavor to a town that is growing more and more mainstream and more and more commercial. It adds character :)
Sure the store is stuffed to the gills with… well, stuff! which makes maneuvering around a little hard, but you can’t beat the range of products for such a small space! Jewelry for every place on your body, posters, t-​shirts, zippos, scarves, Buddhas, Shivas, incense, books… the list goes on and on and ON! The staff is quite friendly but also unobtrusive so you are free to look around in peace. They’re just a very cute and fun place to shop and I hope they are around for a loooong time :)
p. s. Their hand written door sign says «OPEN :)» on one side and «UN-​OPEN :(«on the other… I think stuff like that is adorable :)

A great place to buy gifts, even if it has decreased more than 60% in size.
They have t shirts, flasks, rings, cards, some very funny Walnut Creek postcards, figurines, and secret candles, which if you don’t know are candles that when you burn them have things in them. (Buy some, they’re awesome!)
The guy at the counter is always very nice and very helpful. I bought a bracelet for my friend and he not only didn’t blink twice when I put his fairy name on it, but offered suggestions and advice.
I always drop by here when I have a birthday body I need something for.
The drawbacks are that if there are more than three customers in the store you literally cannot move without bumping someone and they are closed on weird days. They also aren’t always as knowledgeable about the items they sell as they could be.