San Francisco’s Chinatown is one of the most vibrant and unique corners of the city, as much a must-see for tourists as a cultural center for SF residents. The famous neighborhood is the largest Chinatown outside of Asia and the oldest in North America. It’s packed with legacy businesses, top-notch authentic Chinese restaurants, bountiful markets stocked with ingredients you can’t find anywhere else, and unmistakable landmarks from the city’s storied past. Read on for some of our favorite quintessential activities, restaurants, and things to do in SF’s Chinatown.
1. Dragon Gate
We’ll start with the famous entrance to San Francisco’s Chinatown: the Dragon Gate. The foo dog statues make for an unmistakable photo op upon arrival to the famous neighborhood, having stood as guardians there since 1952. The gate itself, however, was placed in 1969 as a gift from Taiwan.
đź“Ť Location: Intersection of Bush St. and Grant Ave., San Francisco, CA 94108
2. Festivals and cultural events in Chinatown
Depending on the time of year you’re visiting Chinatown, you may be lucky enough to coincide with some of the area’s most popular festivals and community events.
Lunar New Year Festival and Parade
With a legacy dating back to 1851, Chinatown’s Lunar New Year Festival and Parade is one of the most highly-anticipated events on SF’s cultural calendar. Festivities usually include a parade, street fair, lantern festival, and flower market.
đź“… Dates: January-February
Hungry Ghost Festival
The Hungry Ghost Festival is a relatively new event in SF’s Chinatown, but it’s drawn major crowds in the last few years. Festivities include the Ghost King Parade, an art pop-up, a marketplace, and multiple performance stages.
đź“… Dates: August
Autumn Moon Festival
Chinatown’s lively event celebrating the autumn harvest dates back to 1991, bringing nonstop entertainment, food vendors, lion dancing, and all the mooncakes you could wish for.
đź“… Dates: September
Chinatown Night Markets
Chinatown debuted these monthly night markets just last year, and the raucous evening events have since drawn thousands to the neighborhood. Come hungry to sample as much food as possible, and perhaps bring a bag for all the extra food you’ll inevitably want to take home with you.
đź“… Dates: The second Friday of every month at 5:30pm
3. Famous streets in Chinatown
Waverly Place
This two-block stretch of Waverly Place is well-known for its recognizable red lanterns strung across the street against a backdrop of colorful balconies and storefronts. This is where you’ll find popular restaurants like Mister Jiu’s and the adorable gift shop On Waverly.
đź“Ť Location: Waverly Place between Washington and Sacramento Streets, San Francisco, CA 94108
Grant Avenue
Did you know that Grant Avenue was the very first street in San Francisco? Gaze down a long stretch of stacked neon signs, Chinese lanterns, and gorgeous buildings. Stop at the intersection of Grant Ave and California, where you’ll see the famous street corner with Old St. Mary’s Cathedral and the Sing Chong Building, dating back to just after the 1906 earthquake.
đź“Ť Location: Grant Ave between Broadway and Bush Streets, San Francisco, CA 94108
Stockton Street
Stockton Street is a must if you’re here to do a bit of shopping, or if nothing else, then to gawk at the volume of unique ingredients and foods on display. Pick up traditional Chinese herbs, produce, and meats.
đź“Ť Location: Stockton Street between Sacramento and Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94108
4. Must-try Chinatown restaurants
Mister Jiu’s
Mister Jiu’s is the country’s only Michelin-starred restaurant categorized as Chinese, and it’s also one of the more affordable Michelin restaurants in the city. Walk-in diners can order Ă Â la carte, but you should reserve ahead if you want to try the tasting menu.
đź“Ť Location: 28 Waverly Pl, San Francisco, CA 94108
China Live
Chef George Chen helms this sleek restaurant featuring eight specialized culinary stations. Try everything from roasted Peking duck to pan-fried dumplings before visiting Cold Drinks Bar, the restaurant’s Shanghai-style speakeasy.
đź“Ť Location: 644 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133
Empress by Boon
As one of the most beautiful restaurants in San Francisco, Empress by Boon is a wonderful option for authentically prepared Cantonese food courtesy of Michelin-starred chef Ho Chee Boon. Enjoy a wonderful view of Coit Tower while you dine — we recommend timing your visit with the sunset.
đź“Ť Location: 838 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108
House of Nanking
You’ll know you’ve reached House of Nanking from the line out the door, and if you manage to snag a table, you’re in for a treat. Since 1988 they’ve served some of the best down-home Shanghainese food around.
đź“Ť Location: 919 Kearny St, San Francisco, CA 94133
Good Mong Kok Bakery
This tiny Chinatown bakery is a favorite for juicy Cantonese dim sum and baked goods. Some favorites include the barbecue pork buns, siu mai, imitation shark fin dumplings, and sweet coconut buns.
đź“Ť Location: 1039 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94108
5. Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Company
Since 1962, the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory in San Francisco’s Chinatown has been crafting up to 10,000 handmade fortune cookies every single day. Visitors can watch the cookies being baked on a cast iron rotating griddle wheel and even create their own custom fortunes to be placed inside. While the classic vanilla flavor is a favorite, the factory also offers chocolate, strawberry, and green tea cookies, which can be glazed or dipped in chocolate with sprinkles.
đź“Ť Location: 56 Ross Alley, San Francisco, CA 94108
6. Tea tasting in Chinatown
Red Blossom Tea Company
Red Blossom directly imports a quality range of whole leaf teas and artisanal teaware from China’s major tea growing regions. They offer brief in-store tea samplings to help you decide what to take home with you.Â
đź“Ť Location: 831 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108
Vital Tea Leaf
Vital Tea Leaf takes inspiration from modern wine bars with its complimentary in-store tea tastings. Try over one hundred varieties of loose-leaf tea from China and Taiwan.
đź“Ť Location: 1044 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
7. Nightlife in Chinatown
Li Po Cocktail Lounge
Escape to a bygone era behind the red lacquered doors of Li Po, a historic part of the Chinatown nightclub scene dating back to 1937. Order the famous Chinese Mai Tai made with baijiu and take in the interiors that have remained unchanged for nearly a century.Â
đź“Ť Location: 916 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108
Moongate Lounge
This stunning cocktail lounge above Mister Jiu’s serves a creative section of drinks and small plates inspired by the lunar calendar. Snack on dim sum and spicy soups, and sip on delicate herb-infused cocktails that align with the seasons.Â
📍 Location: Mister Jiu’s, 28 Waverly Pl, San Francisco, CA 94108
Buddha Lounge
Buddha Lounge is one of Chinatown’s more divey nightlife destinations, and it’s been operated by the same family since 1952. Visit for $5 beers, fun cocktails, and an eclectic crowd.Â
đź“Ť Location: 901 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108
8. Great Star Theater
Catch a show at this historic theater dating back to 1925, when it was built as a venue for Chinese opera performances. These days it’s the only remaining theater in Chinatown, presenting everything from movies to fashion shows. It even continues to showcase big names in Chinese opera, but right now, you can see SF’s popular raunchy burlesque show The Empire Strips Back.
đź“Ť Location: 636 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94133
9. Portsmouth Square
Did you know that Portsmouth Square is San Francisco’s oldest public square? It was the site of the first raising of the American flag in SF in 1846, later housing California’s first public school, a refugee camp after the 1906 earthquake, and more recently, a food distribution and COVID vaccination site during the Covid pandemic. Locals have a personal connection to the square, often visiting to play card games or listen to live music. The square is due for a $66M remodel with new seating and exercise areas and an 8,000-square-foot clubhouse.Â
đź“Ť Location: 745 Kearny St, San Francisco, CA 94108
10. Chinese Culture Center
The Chinese Culture Center (CCC) arose out of the Civil Rights Movement with a mission to combat xenophobia and racism against Asian American communities. The organization is behind some of Chinatown’s biggest local events and festivals, but you can visit the center any time to catch free rotating art exhibitions. Look for two signature exhibition series: XianRui, which promotes under-recognized artists with Chinese ancestry; and Present Tense, which highlights emerging artists and current trends. Additionally, the CCC organizes art tours of Chinatown, which take visitors through the history of the community as expressed through street art and murals.
đź“Ť Location: 750 Kearny St 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94108