Visit Chinatown
Explore San Francisco's Chinatown. Discover the best restaurants, local history, popular things to do, tours and essential info to plan a visit.
San Francisco’s Chinatown, North America’s first and largest, is located next to North Beach and the Financial District. Learn about the community’s history at the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum on Clay St. Near Portsmouth Square, or visit the Chinese Culture Center, which is free. See the latest exhibition in their Visual Art Center or sign up for one of their neighborhood walking tours. Enjoy a mix of local history and flavors with Wok Wiz Tours or get an insider view of daily life and historic landmarks from All About Chinatown Tours.
Why You Need to Visit
San Francisco's Chinatown
The oldest Chinatown in North America, San Francisco's 30 square blocks of tea rooms, Taoist temples, dim sum palaces, dragon sculptures, and pagodas is one of the city's top destinations.
Founded in 1849 during the Gold Rush and rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake, this compact neighborhood is the cultural heart of San Francisco's Chinese community, the largest Asian ethnic group in the city. Nearly a quarter of San Francisco's residents are part of the Chinese diaspora, the highest percentage of any city in the U.S., making Chinatown the unofficial capital of Chinese America and a fully immersive destination for visitors.
Getting There
The most iconic way to reach Chinatown is by cable car, with all three lines connecting from major visitor hubs like Fisherman's Wharf, Union Square, and the Embarcadero. The Central Subway Line also has a Chinatown stop. Many visitors simply walk through the Dragon Gate on Grant Avenue at Bush Street, near Union Square. Chinatown also blends seamlessly into North Beach and the Financial District, and pairs well with a self-guided walking tour that also covers Nob Hill.
What to See in Chinatown
Grant Avenue is Chinatown's bustling main drag, lined with ornate architecture and traditional lanterns. Don't miss Waverly Place and its painted balconies, or Stockton Street for authentic produce and fish markets.
Portsmouth Square, the city's oldest public square, is known as "Chinatown's Living Room," where residents gather for tai chi and Chinese chess. Nearby, Edge on the Square is the Bay Area's first Pacific Islander-Asian American contemporary arts hub, part of the reinvention of Chinatown happening today. St. Mary's Square offers a quieter counterpoint, home to a statue of Sun Yat-Sen, across from the historic Old St. Mary's Cathedral, built in 1854.
The recently renovated Great Star Theater (636 Jackson Street) hosts movies, theater, and Chinese opera. The Chinese Cultural Center (750 Kearny Street) and Chinese Historical Society Museum (965 Clay Street), home to more than 22,000 artifacts, showcase the neighborhood's heritage.
Celebrate Lunar New Year: Every February, Chinatown comes alive with parades, fireworks, and festivals. Check our visitor's guide to Lunar New Year and the latest parade and event details for one of the city's most unforgettable annual celebrations.
Best Restaurants in Chinatown
No visit is complete without dim sum. The Hang Ah Tea Room (1 Pagoda Place), tucked in a back alley, is America's oldest dim sum parlor, open since 1920. The Eastern Bakery (720 Grant Avenue) is known for its mooncakes, and the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory (56 Ross Alley) has baked San Francisco's own invention since 1962. For more picks, see our full guide to where to eat in Chinatown.
For fine dining, Mister Jiu's (28 Waverly Place), helmed by James Beard Award winner Brandon Jew, blends Cantonese tradition with modern California flavor. Empress by Boon (838 Grant Avenue), led by Michelin-starred chef Ho Chee Boon, occupies a historic banquet hall with views over Portsmouth Square.
Things to Do in Chinatown at Night
Chinatown's dive bar scene is legendary: sip a drink from a Buddha-shaped glass at The Buddha Lounge (901 Grant Avenue), or visit Li Po Lounge (916 Grant Avenue), an Anthony Bourdain favorite, for a mai tai spiked with their secret "Chinese Liquor." For something more polished, Moongate Lounge at Mister Jiu's serves seasonal cocktails, while The Lion's Den (57 Wentworth Place), the neighborhood's newest club, offers live music and DJs.
Heart of the City: Chinatown
Learn from the residents and business owners of Chinatown about why this neighborhood is the heart of the city.
Where to Eat in Chinatown
Follow our recommendations for the best eats in San Francisco's Chinatown, no matter your budget, style, or preferred flavors.
SF Like a Local
How I See Chinatown with Linda Lee
Stroll through Chinatown's vibrant streets and explore with all of your senses. Get an introduction from local tour guide and San Francisco native Linda Lee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore More
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Fisherman's Wharf
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SoMa / Yerba Buena
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North Beach
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Civic Center
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Marina
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Pacific Heights
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Japantown
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Fillmore
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Mid-Market
A combination of enterprise zones, high tech, arts groups, retail, and restaurants, Mid-Market is witnessing a boom.
Visit Chinatown
Explore San Francisco's Chinatown. Discover the best restaurants, local history, popular things to do, tours and essential info to plan a visit.
Bayview
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Mission District
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Castro
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Treasure Island
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Trip Inspiration
Learn more about how to make the most of your next trip to Chinatown.
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