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 colorful streets, temples, restaurants, shops, culture, and traditions that permeate the air will transport you straight to China. Here's a detailed list of what to see and do there so you can discover the neighborhood's must-see sites.

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 neighborhood for two hours and learning about its history, you'll be able to try some interesting 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 can also enjoy a typical dim sum lunch, 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 center 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 convenient multi-level underground parking, so you can arrive by car and park quickly on site.

Chinatown is home to one of San Francisco's most traditional sites: the Old St. Mary's Cathedral. 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 through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you would like to attend Mass: Tuesday through Friday at 12:05 a.m., Saturdays at 5 p.m., or Sundays 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 allowed inside the temple.

This alley was historically used as a garbage dump. 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 neighborhood, 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 colorful shops and restaurants, making this an unmissable stroll to learn even more about the local culture.

Walking through the neighborhood, you'll come across a variety of shops and want to buy everything. There are many things that are very typical and traditional in China, and there is also 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 store 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 store is one of many located on Grant Avenue, the center of San Francisco's Chinatown. Here you'll find special and unique items in addition to the typical tourist-oriented goods.

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

Canton Bazaar

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

Set aside a few hours to browse the store, 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 store and there will be tourists at all hours. But it is still highly recommended as there are lots of deals 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.

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

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

This neighborhood will undoubtedly dazzle you in the light of day, 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 neighborhoods 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 neighborhoods inside out. The mysticism of Chinese culture, its interesting sculptures, and its 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 Chinatown. Walking along it, you'll 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 neighborhood 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 neighborhood'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 are held.

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

Practical information

• Where: 720 Washington St, Chinatown, San Francisco.
• Hours: Tours are held on the second and fourth Sunday of each month at times set by the church.

Chinatown is home to the Chinese Culture Center 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 organization.

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

You can also visit the Him Mark Lai Learning Center, 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 through 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, and of course, I recommend trying them on your walk through this characteristic and emblematic neighborhood.

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 have to try them!
• Salt and pepper crab: This is a very popular dish in the neighborhood 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 flavors: meat, vegetable, fish, 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 the walk around the neighborhood 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.