When you think of San Francisco’s Chinatown, the first thing you think of is its reputation as the oldest and largest Chinatown in North America. You might also think about the fact that it is the largest Chinese community outside of China. However, you probably wouldn’t immediately think of it as home to some of the best restaurants in San Francisco, and it absolutely is!
San Francisco’s Chinatown came to life in the mid-19th century as a colony within the young western city for Chinese immigrants. Many of these immigrants were drawn to the United States by the proliferation of jobs available at the time, particularly in the fledgling railroad system. The areas around San Francisco’s Telegraph Hill and North Beach neighborhoods became a home away from home for the city’s sizable Chinese population, who designed buildings and decorated streets in the traditional styles of their native country. Over the decades, the emphasis on maintaining cultural roots through architecture, Chinese businesses, and traditional Chinese parades and festivals has helped keep the area a vibrant, unique, and exciting part of the city as a whole.
As Chinatown developed over the years, so did its reputation for being home to some of the best cultural endeavors and exhibits, both Chinese and American, including literature, film, art, music, and , of course, the kitchen. Many of the traditional Chinese restaurants located in the area are as old as Chinatown, including some iconic San Francisco eateries like the Far East Cafe. The Far East Cafe that stands today was built in 1920 to replace the original restaurant that was compromised in the famous 1906 earthquake. One of the most popular culinary destinations in Chinatown, this restaurant serves traditional Cantonese and Szechuan dishes.
Another long-time resident is the Chinatown Restaurant, which opened in 1919. The Chinatown Restaurant is famous for serving traditional Chinese dishes and Mongolian cuisine. It is famous for its dim sum, fin soup, and steamed fish dishes. Famous visitors like Leonardo DiCaprio are frequently seen here.
While many of the San Francisco restaurants in Chinatown are traditional Chinese restaurants, the area is home to some of the most popular nightclubs in the city. One of the most famous nightlife spots is Blind Tiger, located on Broadway, which offers a fun and cool dance atmosphere blended perfectly with an oriental flair. Grant Avenue is home to the Buddha Cocktail Lounge, which offers reasonably priced drinks and food along with a massive Buddha statue located behind the bar. And of course, Red’s Place, Chinatown’s oldest bar, is a must-visit for those who want a taste of a true piece of San Francisco history.
Whether you’re looking for traditional Chinese cuisine, an exotic club atmosphere, or just a bit of General Tso’s chicken while taking in the city views, you’ll find the best of San Francisco dining in heady Chinatown. However, when you do stop for a meal, remember that the neighborhood is a vibrant place steeped in history that has much more to offer than exquisite cuisine. Be sure to stop and admire the grandeur of the famous Chinatown Gate, or the other worldliness of Waverly Place, or the Universal Church of the Buddha, the largest Buddhist church in the United States. You will feel completely transferred from the American Pacific Rim to the intriguing, surprising and strange world of the Far East, and you can be home for dinner. Now who’s ready for some real meatballs?