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Step 1
Try to visit on a Saturday afternoon when some of the avenues play host to street markets alive with haggling shoppers and vendors hocking everything from fresh ginger to live chickens.
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Step 2
Have your picture taken by the Chinatown Gate, an iconic archway beckoning visitors on Grant Street.
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Step 3
Stop by Buddha's Universal Church, supposedly the largest Buddhist church in the nation, and a bastion of serenity on Washington Street. The vistas of S.F. and beyond aren’t bad either.
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Step 4
See what’s happening at the Chinese Culture Center on Kearny Street, where interesting art exhibits and live performances of all types can be found.
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Step 5
When shopping, don’t miss the spacious Canton Bazaar on Grant Street, three stories of fantastic figurines, colorful kimonos, paper lanterns and other gift items. The nearby Peking Bazar isn’t as charming, but still offers a vast array of enticing Asian goods.
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Step 6
For some of the best seafood anywhere, check out Great Eastern on Jackson Street, a popular and boisterous favorite serving everything from abalone to octopus to superb Dungeness crab. A more serene atmosphere and incredible views can be found at the Empress of China—a sixth-floor restaurant on Grant serving all the Cantonese classics.
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Step 7
Chinatown’s bars are down-to-earth, timeless haunts frequented far more often by neighborhood locals than tourists. Check out Red’s Place on Jackson Street, the district’s oldest tavern, or the popular Li Po on Grant.
Comments
askapeach said
on 10/22/2009 Great tips on How to Explore San Francisco's Chinatown.