14 Best Things to Do In Chinatown, San Francisco

Among the many things to see and do in San Francisco, visiting Chinatown is definitely one of them. It is home to the second largest Chinese community in the United States, after New York.

As you venture into the picturesque streets of San Francisco's Chinatown, you'll feel like you're in another city. Its colourful streets, temples, restaurants, shops, culture and traditions that permeate the air will transport you straight to China. Here's a detailed guide to what to see and do there so you can discover the neighbourhood's must-see sights.

In Chinatown, you'll find dozens of streets with a unique charm that is characteristic of its culture, as well as a long list of typical foods to try. That's why you can't miss this tour of Chinatown, which includes tasting typical products. In addition to touring the neighbourhood for two hours and learning about its history, you'll be able to try some Chinese culinary curiosities.

On this tour, you'll learn about the production process of the famous fortune cookie at the traditional Golden Gate Fortune Cookies Co and, of course, you'll get to try them.

But that's not all, as the tour includes visits to tea shops and you'll also get to have lunch with a typical dim sum, a traditional meal from various regions of China that is usually eaten between morning and early afternoon.

Portsmouth Square is a park located in the centre of Chinatown. That's why it's often called "the heart of Chinatown".

Beyond being a large park with several historic statues and many places of interest to see while sunbathing and soaking up the local culture, it has great historical significance.

Key moments in the history of the state of California took place here, such as the first raising of the American flag in San Francisco in 1846, the announcement of the discovery of gold, and even the founding of California's first public school on one of its corners.

In addition, the park covers an entire block, with two playgrounds for children and a convenient multi-level underground car park, so you can arrive by car and park quickly on site.

Chinatown is home to one of San Francisco's most traditional landmarks: the Old Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception. It is a welcoming Roman Catholic mission church that has been served by the Paulist Fathers since 1894.

Practical information

• Price: Free admission.
• Where: 660 California St, Chinatown, San Francisco.
• Hours: Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you would like to attend Mass: Tuesday to Friday at 12:05 a.m., Saturdays at 5 p.m. or Sunday at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.

When you visit Chinatown, you can't miss the Tin How Temple. It is the oldest Taoist temple in Chinatown and even one of the oldest Chinese temples in the United States.

When you visit, you can learn a little more about the history of the place. It is one of many buildings that had to be rebuilt after being destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and subsequent fire. At that time, only the image of the goddess, the temple bell and part of the altar survived.

Practical information

• Price: Free admission.
• Where: 125 Waverly Pl, Chinatown, San Francisco.
• Hours: any day between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Please note that photography is not permitted inside the temple.

This alley was historically used as a dumping ground for rubbish. However, it was later modified to become a picturesque pedestrian walkway that captures the attention of all visitors to Chinatown. Its main charm comes from the Western and Chinese writing of various writers engraved on its walls.

Some of the writers you will encounter on your walk through this legendary alley include Maya Angelou, Kerouac and John Steinbeck.

When you walk down this street, you will definitely feel like you are in China. It is the main shopping street in the neighbourhood, full of businesses and the place where locals do their shopping. Fresh, inexpensive produce and meat are on offer, and you can even buy live seafood.

Everything here is Chinese: the signs, the language, the people, absolutely everything! As you walk along, you'll see colourful shops and restaurants, making this an unmissable walk to learn more about the culture.

Walking through the neighbourhood, you'll come across a variety of shops and want to buy everything. There are many typical and traditional Chinese items and a wide range of prices.

Although you'll probably find the same items or souvenirs in many of them, each one has its own special touches. I'm going to recommend some of the most popular and comprehensive ones.

The Wok Shop

When you walk into The Wok Shop, I guarantee you'll want to take everything home with you! This family-run business is located in the heart of Chinatown and has a huge variety of Asian utensils of all kinds that you won't find anywhere else. It's a very exclusive and distinctive shop with unique products.

One advantage of this shop is that you can go anytime, as it is open every day of the week from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Bargain Bazaar

This shop is one of many located on Grant Avenue, the centre of San Francisco's Chinatown. Here you'll find special and unique items in addition to the typical tourist fare.

The top floor of this shop stands out for its huge selection of collectible items and toys. It's really fun to wander around and find all kinds of unique and exclusive items.

Canton Bazaar

Canton Bazaar is also located in the centre of Chinatown and is a place where you can buy everything. You'll find everything from musical instruments to beautiful tea sets to take a little bit of China home with you. If you're looking for a place to choose the best souvenirs, this is it!

Set aside a few hours to browse the shop, as it has three floors full of the most authentic Chinese items you'll find.

Keep in mind that due to its location and unique charm, it is a very busy shop and there will be tourists at all hours. But it is still highly recommended as there are lots of bargains you won't want to miss.

These buildings were the first to be rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake and are notable for their typical neo-Chinese architecture.

They are easily distinguishable and will instantly catch your eye with their distinctive pagoda roofs. They are a must-see photo stop on your tour.

Balconies in Chinatown, San Francisco

Known as "the street of painted balconies," Waverly Place is one of the widest alleys in the neighbourhood and one of Chinatown's main attractions.

Strolling down this typical street, you will pass by various places, including a religious centre, a laundromat and small food shops. But its main charm, living up to its name, is the striking colours of its historic buildings and houses.

This neighbourhood is sure to dazzle you in the daylight, but let me tell you, it also has its charm at night. That's why I recommend taking this night tour of Chinatown and North Beach, two iconic neighbourhoods in San Francisco.

This experience will fascinate you from start to finish. You'll start right at the entrance to Chinatown, at the imposing Dragon's Gate, which marks the entrance to Chinatown.

In four hours, you'll get to know these two neighbourhoods inside out. The mysticism of Chinese culture, its interesting sculptures and remarkable architecture take on a unique style when evening falls and night begins to descend on the city.

The experience also includes tea tasting and a variety of typical foods.

This is one of the oldest avenues in San Francisco and runs through the entire length of Chinatown. Walking along it, you will take a unique historical tour from Sing Fat Company to Dragon's Gates.

A particularly picturesque and noteworthy feature of Grant Avenue are the red street lamps that line it and accompany you on your walk.

Like many other places, this famous street underwent reconstruction after the San Francisco earthquake and fire. This restructuring helped give the neighbourhood an even more traditional feel. The previous buildings looked like the rest of the city despite its predominantly Chinese population, but now Grant Avenue will transport you directly to China.

In addition, this street is home to the neighbourhood's most photographed and visited attraction, the iconic entrance to Chinatown: Dragon's Gate.

Unlike other similar gates located in Chinatowns around the world, this structure meets the standards of traditional Chinese entrance gates, which feature stone throughout.

This gate was designed by a Chinese-American architect according to feng shui principles regarding its south-facing orientation. At Dragon's Gate, you can also see the wooden plaque hanging from its main arch with golden Chinese words that say, "Everything under heaven is for the good of the people."

Buddha's Universal Church is the largest Buddhist church in the United States and the largest congregation in San Francisco. The building's construction is worth seeing, and you have to visit it to learn about its history.

Your tour of this imposing church will begin in the main auditorium, where you will find the main altar with a mosaic representation of Buddha, the only one of its kind in the world and a true work of art. You will also see the unique bamboo chapel, the library, the rooftop garden and the classroom where various activities take place.

Here's an interesting fact: the site where this church now stands was once a nightclub.

Practical information

• Where: 720 Washington St, Chinatown, San Francisco.
• Opening hours: tours take place on the second and fourth Sunday of each month at times set by the church.

Chinatown is home to the Chinese Culture Centre of San Francisco, which is definitely worth a visit.

It was founded in 1973 as the headquarters of the Chinese Culture Foundation, a non-profit organisation.

Although the centre has changed its style over the years, today you can enjoy contemporary art exhibitions and interventions at the CCC Visual Arts Centre.

You can also visit the Him Mark Lai Learning Centre, which provides education on Chinese-American history and culture, as well as information on the inspirations behind the work of prominent artists.

Practical information

• Price: Exhibitions are free and open to the public.
• Where: 750 Kearny St 3rd Floor, San Francisco.
• Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Before you go, I recommend checking here for information about exhibitions or events that will be available to view that day.

Chinese culture and tradition are accompanied by typical foods, which I highly recommend trying on your walk through this distinctive and iconic neighbourhood.

When I told you about the culinary tour, I gave you a sneak peek, but now I'm going to make you suffer a little more as I list the main delicacies you have to try.

• Char Siu Bao: These are delicious crispy buns filled with barbecued pork. I can't explain in words how tasty they are, you just have to try them!
• Salt and pepper crab: This is a very popular dish in the neighbourhood and is offered by several restaurants.
• Fortune cookies: The best place, without a doubt,is Golden Gate Fortune Cookies Co. As I mentioned before, in addition to trying them, you can also learn how they are made.
• Chop suey: A classic Chinese dish and, of course, a Chinatown staple, you'll find it in various restaurants in the area.
• Dim sum: Depending on the filling, each dumpling has a particular name, and you can find a variety of flavours: meat, vegetable, fish or seafood, or a mixture.

I recommend that you don't eat too much before starting your tour of Chinatown, because whatever you do, you'll find Chinese delicacies everywhere and the chance to try all these delicacies in every restaurant you pass by.

Another tip I have for you is to wear comfortable clothes and shoes so you can enjoy your walk around the neighbourhood without any discomfort.

All this and more is what you can do in San Francisco's legendary Chinatown. Learning about its history, culture and traditions and appreciating the architecture of its picturesque streets and iconic buildings and shops is not to be missed. I have no doubt that you will fall in love with Chinatown.