San Francisco Chinatown
Grant Avenue at Bush Street, 94133
The Basics
Nearly all San Francisco city tours include a stop or drive through Chinatown. For history, check out the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum and Portsmouth Square; alternatively, book a Chinatown walking or Segway tour for insight into the neighborhood’s food and culture. A stop in the area is often combined with a visit to nearby North Beach or a tasty, traditional lunch. Chinatown food tours are especially popular.
San Francisco Chinatown Walking Tour with Optional Lunch
$55.00 per adult
Traveler Favorite
The secrets of Chinatown SF
Great visit of Chinatown with the best guide, who shared the cultural and historical background of the inhabitants of this peculiar neighbourhood.
Filip_K, Jan 2023
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Things to Know Before You Go
This is a neighborhood to explore on foot, so wear comfortable shoes.
Chinatown bumps right into North Beach, another favorite San Francisco neighborhood, so it’s easy to visit both in one day.
Grab cash before you go, as many of the small shops and food venues only accept cash or have credit card minimums.
The streets of San Francisco Chinatown are mostly wheelchair accessible, although not every shop and restaurant will be.
How to Get There
Chinatown covers about 24 city blocks in northeast San Francisco between Powell, Kearny, Bush, and Broadway streets. Enter through the Dragon Gate at Bush and Grant, walking north into the crowd to find souvenir shops and eateries. Located in the densest area of the city between Nob Hill, Union Square, and the Financial District, Chinatown is easy to reach by walking, city bus, and the Powell Street Cable Car. Driving is not recommended on the traffic- and pedestrian-heavy streets.
Trip ideas
When to Get There
For shopping, go in the late morning when the shops are open but many visitors haven’t yet arrived. Otherwise, the evening hours offer a lively atmosphere, when locals head to Chinatown for drinks and dinner. To see the neighborhood at its best, visit during Chinese New Year, which falls in January or February.
Chinatown’s Fortune Cookie Factory
For a look at the making of fortune cookies, visit Golden Gate Fortune Cookies Co., in business since 1962. Located on Ross Alley, off Jackson Street, the factory offers a free tour that allows you to watch how the cookies transform from hot, flat dough into their iconic, fortune-stuffed shape.
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