Stockton Street
Stockton Street
4
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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.
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4.0
27 reviews
Excellent
6
Very good
13
Average
8
Poor
0
Terrible
0
AnnetteRM2015
Waikanae, New Zealand109 contributions
Sept 2024 • Solo
Great atmosphere - some tourists but basically Chinese locals - flags of ROC and PRC decorating several buildings. Found some great items - SF souvenirs as well as Chinese arts and crafts. Food markets on one street, shops on the other and cafes and services in between.
Written 19 September 2024
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, CA17,709 contributions
Sept 2019
I'm here every week but around the Union Square part of Stockton St. where one finds department stores and big hotels. On the other side of the tunnel (which is not comfortable for walking) is the heart of Chinatown and definitely worth a visit. Lots of construction here because of the new subway.
Written 12 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.
Rumples
Tucson, AZ11,718 contributions
Jan 2016 • Couples
I often find myself on Stockton Street during visits to San Francisco.This long North/South thoroughfare runs between Market and Beach streets and includes a tunnel that extends for a bit more than two blocks. Buses travel the street regularly and many can be picked up near Union Square -- an upscale shopping district.
As an architecture buff, I always like to go into Neiman Marcus, 150 Stockton, which was the City of Paris when I lived in the SF Bay area. The building went up in 1909 and features a magnificent 2,600-piece glass dome. I've never seen many customers here, though, likely because of the high prices.
I spend much more time walking through Stockton's Chinatown section during the day when sidewalks teem with elderly Chinese out shopping. The area reminds me of busy districts I've visited in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Many of the ground-floor stores, with apartments above, display food items ranging from barbecued ducks with heads intact to live fish and other sea creatures swimming in tanks. Vegetables and fruit fill bins outside many stores. Shoppers chatter in Cantonese and Mandarin. I find this to be a fun place to explore and the most interesting part of Chinatown.
As an architecture buff, I always like to go into Neiman Marcus, 150 Stockton, which was the City of Paris when I lived in the SF Bay area. The building went up in 1909 and features a magnificent 2,600-piece glass dome. I've never seen many customers here, though, likely because of the high prices.
I spend much more time walking through Stockton's Chinatown section during the day when sidewalks teem with elderly Chinese out shopping. The area reminds me of busy districts I've visited in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Many of the ground-floor stores, with apartments above, display food items ranging from barbecued ducks with heads intact to live fish and other sea creatures swimming in tanks. Vegetables and fruit fill bins outside many stores. Shoppers chatter in Cantonese and Mandarin. I find this to be a fun place to explore and the most interesting part of Chinatown.
Written 28 January 2016
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.
Ibadanboy
Nairobi, Kenya5,997 contributions
Jan 2014 • Solo
Stockton Street takes you through the less travelled roads in Chinatown. Make a visit to this part of Chinatown as it is less touristy and far removed from the crowds elsewhere.
Written 11 December 2014
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.
bbb57aolcom
san francisco1,106 contributions
Sept 2014 • Solo
Stockton Street from Columbus to the tunnel is the commercial center of the real Chinatown. It is an interesting walk that you should consider doing....
Let's start with the negatives:
1) nothing touristy here (except maybe Kong Chow Temple --- one of two temples that claim to be the oldest Chinese temple in the US; this temple relocated in the 1970's to this building -- a rather sterile looking building at that).
2) crowded; somewhat dirty; busy
3) not as many interesting building as Grant Street
Now for the interesting part:
1) shopping --- lots of cheap stuff to buy
2) food --- lots of interesting food to try (chinese bakeries; roast pork; roast duck)
3) interesting store fronts selling herbs from around the world.
So if you have the time, your visit of Chinatown should start at the "entrance" near Union Square (Bush and Grant) with a picture of you with the lions under the gate; walk down Grant (stop at old St. Mary's Cathedral at California and Grant); make a detour to Portsmouth Square (bathroom break); finish walking down Grant to Columbus; left on Columbus; one block; left on Stockton and return to Union Square. Make a stop for lunch (great eating places on Jackson and Pacific near Grant).
Let's start with the negatives:
1) nothing touristy here (except maybe Kong Chow Temple --- one of two temples that claim to be the oldest Chinese temple in the US; this temple relocated in the 1970's to this building -- a rather sterile looking building at that).
2) crowded; somewhat dirty; busy
3) not as many interesting building as Grant Street
Now for the interesting part:
1) shopping --- lots of cheap stuff to buy
2) food --- lots of interesting food to try (chinese bakeries; roast pork; roast duck)
3) interesting store fronts selling herbs from around the world.
So if you have the time, your visit of Chinatown should start at the "entrance" near Union Square (Bush and Grant) with a picture of you with the lions under the gate; walk down Grant (stop at old St. Mary's Cathedral at California and Grant); make a detour to Portsmouth Square (bathroom break); finish walking down Grant to Columbus; left on Columbus; one block; left on Stockton and return to Union Square. Make a stop for lunch (great eating places on Jackson and Pacific near Grant).
Written 14 September 2014
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.
Traveler J
Philadelphia, PA2,197 contributions
Jul 2013 • Couples
Stockton and Pacific Street is where you will find Chinatown for locals. None of that touristy stuff on Grant Ave. Sidewalks packed with people and produce and ducks hanging in the window. Visit Chinatown gate and then head over here for the real deal.
Written 22 July 2013
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.
Brad
Hong Kong, China175,298 contributions
Sept 2012 • Couples
During a recent trip to San Francisco we used Stockton Street to walk from Union Square through Chinatown and found this a nice path to use for this city street walk.
In the Union Square area, Stockton is typical of Powell, with lots of shops and dining but it seems to quiet down once you pass Union Square a few blocks in the direction of Chinatown in comparison, perhaps because it has no tourist cable car to ride or perhaps its that dark tunnel that one sees approaching before you just a couple blocks past Union Square.
Within Chinatown, we found Stockton Street to be more enjoyable to visit than the more popular and touristy Grant Avenue. Here we found a scene more resembling to what can be found in the more traditional quarters of Hong Kong. This was nice to see, a real Chinatown with open and crowded food markets, Chinese herb and traditional medicinal products, signs with only Chinese characters and an earful of Cantonese. While not quite the same, it did give us a nice impression and slight bit of homesickness, we don't often feel while traveling.
If you plan to visit either Union Square or Chinatown, you might find yourself on Stockton Street. Definitely recommend visiting the Stockton Street area of Chinatown in addition to or instead of the main area on Grant Avenue, it seemed much closer to the real deal.
In the Union Square area, Stockton is typical of Powell, with lots of shops and dining but it seems to quiet down once you pass Union Square a few blocks in the direction of Chinatown in comparison, perhaps because it has no tourist cable car to ride or perhaps its that dark tunnel that one sees approaching before you just a couple blocks past Union Square.
Within Chinatown, we found Stockton Street to be more enjoyable to visit than the more popular and touristy Grant Avenue. Here we found a scene more resembling to what can be found in the more traditional quarters of Hong Kong. This was nice to see, a real Chinatown with open and crowded food markets, Chinese herb and traditional medicinal products, signs with only Chinese characters and an earful of Cantonese. While not quite the same, it did give us a nice impression and slight bit of homesickness, we don't often feel while traveling.
If you plan to visit either Union Square or Chinatown, you might find yourself on Stockton Street. Definitely recommend visiting the Stockton Street area of Chinatown in addition to or instead of the main area on Grant Avenue, it seemed much closer to the real deal.
Written 17 October 2012
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.
Lillian M
Boston, MA310 contributions
Jun 2019 • Family
Stockton Street from Union Square there is a tunnel with pedestrian walkways. Don't make the mistake and go up the stairs unless you love walking the hilly streets. Easiest passage to Chinatown by foot.
Written 5 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.
chanyu1
california685 contributions
Mar 2019 • Solo
If you want a taste of locals shopping for groceries, come to Stockton St in Chinatown. You will be treated or pushed around by local senior shoppers shopping for daily groceries. There is no order here especially when you need something over the counter like meat. There is no line so you just need to work yourself to the front, to a position where the person behind the counter notices you and hope you get service from him. Everyone's in a hurry and want immediate service so jockeying for position in a non - hostile manner is an absolute must. That's the way it is on Stockton st.
Written 29 March 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.
paull2002
Orlando, FL93 contributions
Mar 2017
Although I do not remember the name of the place we ate, I can say that most of the spots in this area of Chinatown are typically quite good. Gourmet? No. Authentic? Absolutely! Enjoy San Francisco's Chinatown. It's definitely an experience you will not soon forget.
Written 7 September 2017
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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