Did you know that San Francisco has its own Chinatown? Learn more about one of the largest Chinese communities outside of China.
About Chinatown in San Francisco
One of the hottest areas in San Francisco is Chinatown, a neighborhood full of attractions for tourists, such as stores, restaurants, tea houses and Buddhist temples. A curious fact is that San Francisco’s Chinatown is the oldest in the United States, having existed before the well-known neighborhood in New York. In this sense, with such a long history, the area has become one of the largest Chinese communities outside of China.
While walking around the area, visitors learn more about the history and culture of one of the world’s greatest civilizations.
Stores in San Francisco’s Chinatown
Without a doubt, what you’ll find most in Chinatown are gift stores and oriental goods, with lots of unique items at a great price.
Among the stores in the area, the ones that stand out the most are: Chinatown Kite Shop, a store selling traditional Chinese clothing, which also sells items such as kites, lanterns and souvenirs; the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory, a store known for selling the famous fortune cookies, with a cookie factory inside.
Restaurants in Chinatown
A visit to Chinatown is only complete when you try some of the region’s mouth-watering oriental food. One of the best restaurants is the Hang Ah Tea Room, which for almost 100 years has been serving the most authentic Chinese food at a low cost. It is the oldest Chinese restaurant in the city.
Empress of China is another Chinatown hit, located on the sixth floor of a building on Grant Avenue. The place is nicely decorated and has a varied menu that appeals to everyone.
- Important tip: San Francisco is a city with many tourist attractions, such as museums and tours. That’s why our tip is to always buy your tickets in advance. We buy everything on this website that has the best price.
Other attractions in Chinatown
You can enjoy many interesting activities in Chinatown. One of them is to visit the first Buddhist church in the United States, Buddha’s Universal Church, perfect for meditating, relaxing and appreciating the beauty of the building.
Best of all, the church offers tourists a tour with a guide in both Chinese and English. Located on Waverly Place is one of the oldest Chinese temples in the country, Tin How Temple. It is open every day from 9am to 5pm. All tourists are enchanted by the beauty of the place, decorated with a number of red and gold lanterns typical of China.
Finally, if you want to learn more about the history of Chinatown, take the Wok Wiz Tour, a great tour that teaches you more about the neighborhood and the city of San Francisco. The tour is available with or without lunch and ranges from 35 to 50 dollars per person.
- Important tip: to make the most of your trip to San Francisco, staying in the best areas is essential. So, if you want, check out our article explaining the main areas, the hotels and how you can save a lot on accommodation.
How to save on paid attractions in San Francisco?
San Francisco offers many free and diverse attractions, but there are also paid tours that are not to be missed – such as its incredible museums. To do these, we recommend that you book them in advance, online and with reliable companies – like the one we used on our trip to California. With this company, you’ll be able to visit the most popular places.
And because we always use the same tour company on our trips, we’ve been able to get a special discount for our readers. So, to get access to the discount and already secure tours at a great price, just click here on tickets to San Francisco.
Save money on your trip to San Francisco:
Car: if you are thinking about renting one this is the best website. It compares the price at all rental companies and finds unbeatable prices. You can save up to 30%!
Mobile chip: we always use this chip. It’s electronic (eSIM), you install it instantly and you can use your cell phone’s Internet anywhere in the world.
Hotels: our article on where to stay in San Francisco. You will find out the best areas and how to save a lot on the hotel.
Travel insurance: medical care in another country is very expensive and it is extremely important to take out travel insurance for any trip abroad. This is the website we always take out our insurance on. Reliable and at a good price.
Transfer: do you need one from the airport to the hotel? Find out here how to book and for the lowest price!
