China Town San Francisco

Where to Eat, Shop & Other Things to Do in Chinatown

China Town San Francisco is a bustling neighborhood in San Francisco with a lot do to and see. Discover the key to finding some great places to eat, shop and make your way around this unique, yet hectic SF neighborhood.

Overview and History of this Famous SF Neighborhood

Grant Street is the main street in the San Francisco China Town district. Most of the restaurants and shops are right on this street.

China Town starts at the Dragon Gate on Bush Street and runs all the way to Columbus Street. There are a number of smaller shops and restaurants on the side streets, but this is where the heart of this SF neighborhood is located.

Grant Street was built in 1835. It was part of the original town at this location. The original town, called Yerba Buena, initially named this street Calle de la Fundacion.

After the death of Ulysses S. Grant in 1885, the town changed the name of this street in honor of Grant. The name still stands today. It is also still at the center of the action of the city of San Francisco.

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Where to Find a Bargain: Chinatown Shopping

So, what is there to do in China Town San Francisco? There are a number of things to do. However, most people come for the shopping.

All along Grant Street, there are a number of small, family run shops. You can buy a variety of items for a very reasonable price.

You will find traditional Chinese items including clothing and jewelry. In addition, you will find shops that carry a number of other traditional Chinese items.

Along Grant Street, you will also find a number of other cheaper items for sale including popular jewelry, casual clothing and San Francisco souvenirs. My favorite part about shopping in China Town San Francisco is the number of bargains you can find on luggage, purses, backpacks and other essentials.

My recommendation is to take some time to look around before buying anything. You might find the same item for a better price at a shop down the block. It can also be a little overwhelming at first, so you'll want to take some time to find exactly what you like.

It's also usually really crowded along Grant Street. Be patient, take your time and have fun with the crowd of shoppers in China Town San Francisco around you!

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Where to Eat: China Town San Francisco Restaurants

Most of the restaurants in Chinatown are casual places. You can grab a quick bit to eat while shopping and keep moving along Grant Street.

Most of them are also fairly inexpensive. Many are either on Grant Street or just a block or so away.

The menus are typically posted in the window, so you can take a look at the food and prices before entering. I highly recommend stopping into a place for dim sum. These are small plates of Chinese food -- steamed pork, deep fried calamari, steamed seafood -- not the typical meal with a large amount of rice. Dim sum gives you the chance to try a number of different items during your meal and it is easy to share.

There are a number of great places on Jackson Street or either side of Grant Street for dim sum. My favorite is Delicious Dim Sum (752 Jackson St, just 1/2 block west of Grant). It's a small, hole in the wall restaurant but the food is great. It's also really, really cheap. The last time I was there, my lunch cost only around $6.

The great thing about dim sum is you can choose the items you want to eat as they bring them around to you. It's a great way to taste a variety of dishes, but still keep within a budget.

Here are a couple of other dim sum places to try if Delicious Dim Sum is a little too crowded:

• Hang Ah Tea Room: This is another favorite. It is a little different than the traditional dim sum places, but the food is excellent. It is located at Pagoda Place and Sacramento Street.


• Yong Kee: Just down the block from Delicious Dim Sum is Youg Kee. They also have really good dim sum and it is cheap, cheap, cheap! Young Kee is at 732 Jackson Street.

If you are looking for something a little different, you should try Dim Sum while you are in China Town San Francisco.

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Other Things to Do in China Town San Francisco

There are a number of smaller attractions in China Town San Francisco as well. All are fun, quick stops along the way.

One of the stops is the Chinese Fortune Cookie Company. You can watch through the window as the cookie makers add fortunes to each cookie. It is located in Ross Alley, which is off Jackson Street between Grant and Stockton Streets.

There are also a couple of temples that are open to tourists a few hours every day. One is the Kong Chow Temple. It is located at 855 Stockton Street. This temple was built in 1977. However, the alter and some of the statues in this template are the oldest Chinese religious items in the US.

The second is the Tin How Temple. It is located at 125 Waverly Street. This temple is unique and is the longest operating Chinese temple in the US. Both request donations at the door. Neither allows visitors to take pictures inside.

One of the best ways to get the most out of Chinatown San Francisco is by taking one of the scheduled walking tours. There are a couple of options, one is just a walking tour and the second is a walking tour plus lunch. Here is a little more about these two tours:

• Chinatown Walking Tour: This two hour tour starts from the heart of Chinatown each morning at 10am. The guide walks you through the main attractions in the neighborhood while providing a detailed overview of the history that created the charm of this popular neighborhood. The pace of the walking tour is slow and covers less than a half mile during the two hour trip. The tour is $27 for adults and $19 for kids 6 - 17. This is one of the best ways to learn more about this lively San Francisco neighborhood. Book your Chinatown walking tour tickets today!


• Chinatown Walking Tour + Lunch: The walking tour is the same as above, but this also includes staying after for a dim sum lunch at one the most popular restaurants in Chinatown. This tour is around three hours, two hours of walking and one hour for lunch. This tour is $40.50 for adults and $33.25 for children 6 - 17. Find tickets for the Chinatown Walking Tour + Lunch today!

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How to Get to Chinatown

There are a number of transportation options to get to China Town San Francisco. All three cable cars San Francisco run through the district.

Muni buses 1, 30 and 45 all run through or near Chinatown. You can also take a cab from your hotel to Grant Street.

I highly recommend you walk or take public transportation to get to China Town San Francisco. It a very busy and crowded neighborhood, so it is dangerous to drive through. It is also really difficult or expensive to park.

If you do decide to drive, you will want to park at one of the garages in Union Square or in one of the garages in the Nob Hill hotels.

I highly recommend spending some time in China Town San Francisco. There are a number of great places to shop for cheap items. It is also a fun experience to see such a historical place in San Francisco.

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Other Pages of Interest

Here are some additional pages that might interest you:

Fishermans Wharf and Pier 39 San Francisco: No trip to San Francisco is complete without a stroll through Fishermans Wharf and Pier 39 San Francisco. Yes, it is quite touristy, but it is full of action and is in a beautiful location right along the San Francisco bay. Discover the hot spots in this popular San Francisco neighborhood.

Union Square Shopping: Are you looking for a great place to shop? If so, a trip to Union Square is the answer. This lively neighborhood is full of high end shops, galleries and other fun places to shop. The square itself is a great place to grab some coffee and watch the crowds roll by.

Haight and Ashbury District: The Haight Ashbury district takes you back to the 60s. This was the heart of the action during the "Summer of Love". See where it all took place by strolling down this colorful neighborhood in San Francisco.

North Beach San Francisco: Another popular neighborhood is North Beach. The main attractions here are the great Italian restaurants, Coit Tower and the cute shops that line the sidewalks of Columbus Street. It is packed with history too. Learn more about this exciting neighborhood and everything there is to see and do!