San Francisco Chinatown is the largest Chinatown outside of Asia and the oldest Chinatown in North America. This neighborhood is one of the most popular attractions in San Francisco, and I couldn’t miss out on the best ramen and shopping in the city.
We Went to Chinatown 4 Times in 7 Days
It’s that good. We kept finding ourselves back there again, visiting the same restaurants and walking the same streets. This 24-block-long neighborhood is one of the top tourist attractions in San Francisco for a good reason.
It’s easy to spend a day here, exploring the streets and alleys, browsing the shops and enjoying authentic Chinese food.
San Francisco Chinatown History
Chinatown is where the village of Yerba Buena, later to be San Francisco, started. Portsmouth Square had the first houses in the city and Grant Avenue was San Francisco’s first street.
The mad rush to dig for gold brought thousands of men to the port town of San Francisco, including many Chinese, who settled in the streets near the bay. During the late 1800s Chinatown was a dense, poverty-stricken ghetto populated by recent immigrants. Later, the entire neighborhood was destroyed in the fire that followed the 1906 earthquake.
After narrowly escaping being moved to Hunters Point, the Chinatown neighborhood was rebuilt by commercial interests.
San Francisco’s Chinatown is the most densely populated neighborhood in California. Almost all the residents are Chinese and speak little English. It is also one of the poorest areas of San Francisco.
Explore San Francisco Chinatown
While some visitors stick to strolling down the picturesque Grant Avenue, others wander through many side streets and alleys to explore the authentic life of the community. We did both and here are some of my recommendations.
Where to go in San Francisco Chinatown
Dragon Gate
The dragons, fish and big lions on this ornate pagoda-topped gate guard the southernmost entrance to Chinatown. The gate is an authentic entry gate like those seen in Chinese towns, and was a gift from Taiwan in 1969. Also known as Gateway Arch, this is the only authentic Chinatown Gate in North America. Traditionally, the gates have three passageways: two small side ones for commoners and a large center passageway for dignitaries.
Old Saint Mary’s Cathedral
Built in 1854 (rebuilt 1909 after the earthquake fire) this beautiful Catholic Cathedral was the first Asian church in North America.
Tin How (Tien Hau) Temple
The oldest Taoist/Buddhist temple in the United States to honor the Goddess of Heaven and Sea, Tien Hau. If you want to see inside the place of worship, a small $1 donation is suggested but not required when you visit the Temple.
Portsmouth Square
This historical birthplace of San Francisco is now an open plaza for residents. It is one of the few open spaces in Chinatown and sits above a large underground parking lot. Portsmouth Square bustles with activity such as T’ai Chi and men playing Chinese chess.
Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory
Since 1962 this factory makes approximately 20,000 fortune cookies in a month. The flat circular cookie dough is pulled off a hot press, after which a paper fortune is attached, and then the dough is reshaped over a steel rod into the final fortune cookie … by hand. Taste a free hot sample, take a picture for $.50, or buy a bag of cookies for $3.50.
Related: San Francisco City Guide for first-timers
San Francisco Chinatown Shops
There are so many different shopping opportunities here – everything from bargains to higher-end items. Even if you’re not looking to buy anything, it’s fun to browse.
Most of the gift shops are on Grant Avenue, but be sure to wander off the main streets to explore the side streets and alleys. Stockton Street is where the Chinese residents shop for groceries and everyday needs. The street runs parallel to Grant Avenue, it has lower prices and authentic atmosphere.
Chinatown Restaurants are the Best in SF
There are over 30 Chinese restaurants in Chinatown! Sadly, we didn’t have the time to try them all, but we kept coming back for more. Here are some of the best ones:
- Hong Kong Clay Pot Restaurant – Plenty of awesome choices at decent prices.
- Good Mong Kok — Take-out dim sum. If you go, order shumai and shrimp dumplings!
- New Moon restaurant — Get a quick stand-up meal at one of those places which have whole roasted ducks hanging in the window.
- Chong Qing Xiao Mian – Here we had awesome Sichuan noodles: pork belly noodles with pickled mustard.
June 10, 2018
I’ll be making my first trip to San Francisco next week so this is perfect timing. I’ll have to hold out on my favorite neighborhood until then!
June 10, 2018
I hope you enjoy your trip! San Francisco is magical!
June 29, 2018
I love San Francisco and especially Chinatown! Best city for dim sum:)
June 29, 2018
I dont live in California, but I SO want to visit now. Great post and photos, loved it!
June 29, 2018
Thank you! I hope you can go soon. It was my first time in California and I can’t wait to go again!