Chinatown Alleys
Chinatown Alleys
4.5
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Top ways to experience Chinatown Alleys and nearby attractions
The area
Neighbourhood: Chinatown
As the oldest in North America, San Francisco's Chinatown is an exotic experience. A unique neighbourhood decorated with colourful shops, historic streetlights, hanging lanterns, and pagoda roofs awaits behind the stone-carved dragon gates. Feast on dim sum at the tea houses, or meet the locals who gather at historic Portsmouth Square to play chess or practice Tai Chi. Fish markets, produce stands, tourist shops, jewelry stores, fortune tellers, temples and restaurants come together to create a world unto itself in this historic neighbourhood.
How to get there
- Montgomery St • 6 min walk
- Montgomery St • 6 min walk
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Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
3,964 within 3 miles
Attractions
1,094 within 6 miles
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4.5
15 reviews
Excellent
9
Very good
5
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1
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0
Terrible
0
nickfranklin100
Manchester, UK1,147 contributions
Jul 2019 • Couples
Chinatown is located in the centre of downtown San Francisco. Pics taken today - 9.7.19. We ate at one of the oldest Chinese eateries that has been featured in the Netflix TV Show - TALES OF THE CITY. It’s open until the very early hours. $30 for x2 starters, X2 mains, rice and a Pepsi. So pretty reasonable. It’s called SAM WOOS and has been serving the appetite of San Fran for a cool x100 years. It is opposite a park which was being tidied up - it needed it. The streets are full of restaurants, massage, high schools and places of worship. It feels pretty run down in daylight - but at night the neon signs, festoon lanterns etc make this area of San Fran quite pretty. Hi and have a mooch. Be warned - at night time / like much of San Francisco Centre there is s homelessness epidemic. So expect tents and beggars everywhere.
Written 9 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dunadan
Lynnwood, WA2,418 contributions
Nov 2019
The alleys in Chinatown are so well-known that there are bronzed relief maps detailing all of them embedded in the ground throughout the district. There are some great finds to be had in some of the alleys (fortune cookies, anyone?) and lots of other hidden gems awaiting your discovery. If you are in the area, whether shopping for cheap souvenirs, eating some great food, or taking a tour, be sure to turn that corner down a narrow lane and see where it leads to--it's an adventure!
Written 14 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
misopiso88
Seattle, WA24,842 contributions
Feb 2019 • Family
I spend a lot of time in Chinatown, NYC so it was fun to explore Chinatown, SF. Beautiful architecture and some cool urban art. Highly recommend!
Written 7 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deki077
Napa, CA20 contributions
Dec 2017 • Family
Chinatown is historical part of San Francisco with shops and restaurants and Dragon gate ofcourse.
First imigrants from China come to California, specily to San Francisco, and start working like fishermans, miners and little by little they build a Chinatown.
Very nice
First imigrants from China come to California, specily to San Francisco, and start working like fishermans, miners and little by little they build a Chinatown.
Very nice
Written 26 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
StephenCross
Dublin, Ireland31,546 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Chinatown and Grant Avenue has a lot of streets and alleyways dunning off in every direction. Shops and authentic restaurants.
Written 5 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karon R
Keller, TX230 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
The alleyways definitely give authenticity to the Chinatown experience. Love the murals, lanterns, locals taking a break, etc
Written 26 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas V
Oakland, CA18,484 contributions
Sept 2021
Chinatown is more than just a tourist attraction. It's important city history and these alleys show how immigrants have always lived in town. And the area is culturally important. Plus it's a neighborhood.
Written 20 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dan W
Portland, OR1,931 contributions
Oct 2019
Take the time or perhaps take a Cityguide tour and explore the back alleys of San Francisco's Chinatown. They are full of history, murals, interesting sights and smells and off the beaten path opportunities to shop.
Written 11 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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