Chinatown, San Francisco

San Francisco's Chinatown grew up in the Gold Rush years around Portsmouth Square and is the oldest Chinatown in North America. It covers roughly two dozen blocks between the Financial District and North Beach. Grant Avenue is the visitor street, lined with lanterns, souvenir shops and restaurants. Stockton Street one block west is where residents shop for produce, roast meats and dried goods. The alleys between them hold family associations, temples and small workshops.

It pairs naturally with North Beach, which starts where Chinatown ends at Broadway. Our San Francisco day trip guide links the two. This page goes deeper on Chinatown itself. For the Peninsula side of the story, see our page on Chinese American history in Palo Alto and Stanford.

Getting there from Palo Alto

By Caltrain and the Central Subway

The Central Subway opened in late 2022 and made Chinatown the easiest neighborhood in the city to reach from the Peninsula. Ride Caltrain to 4th and King, 39 minutes on a weekday express and about 50 on a local. The three-zone adult fare is $8.50 through 2026 and $9.00 from January 1, 2027.

The T Third Muni Metro stops right at 4th and King. Ride it north under 4th Street and Stockton Street to Chinatown-Rose Pak station at Stockton and Washington streets, the end of the line. The trip takes about 10 minutes. SFMTA lists the adult fare at $2.85 with Clipper or contactless, good for 120 minutes. Riders 18 and under ride free. Allow about an hour and a quarter from Palo Alto.

The 30 Stockton bus is the surface alternative. It leaves from Townsend and 4th streets beside the station and runs up Stockton Street through Chinatown, then on through North Beach. The California Street cable car also crosses Grant Avenue at the edge of Chinatown.

By car

Take US 101 north and exit toward the Financial District. The drive is about 35 miles. The city-owned Portsmouth Square Garage at 733 Kearny Street sits under the square, with rates listed from about $4 an hour in late 2026. The North Beach Garage at 735 Vallejo Street, listed at $5 an hour and open around the clock, is a short walk north. Rates change by time of day, so read the posted signs.

Portsmouth Square construction

Portsmouth Square, the plaza that serves as Chinatown's living room, is being rebuilt. The old Kearny Street pedestrian bridge to the Hilton has been removed. Expect fences and detours around the square. While its restrooms are closed, SFMTA has opened single-stall public restrooms on the plaza level of Chinatown-Rose Pak station, open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the construction period. Check the SFMTA project page for street closures.

What to see

• Dragon Gate. The gateway at Grant Avenue and Bush Street marks the southern entrance. It is the classic photo stop.
• Grant Avenue. The oldest street in the city, lined with pagoda-roofed buildings put up after the 1906 earthquake and fire.
• Old St. Mary's Cathedral. The brick church at Grant and California dates from 1854 and survived the 1906 fire as a shell. It still holds Mass, so be quiet inside.
• Waverly Place. A short street of painted balconies belonging to family and district associations. Tin How Temple, one of the oldest Chinese temples in the country, is on an upper floor here. Visitors are sometimes welcome. Ask before taking photos.
• Ross Alley. A narrow alley between Washington and Jackson streets known for its fortune cookie bakery and its murals.
• Stockton Street markets. Fish counters, produce stands and herbal shops, busiest on weekday mornings.
• Chinese Historical Society of America. The museum at 965 Clay Street is housed in the former Chinatown YWCA designed by Julia Morgan. It tells the story of Chinese Americans in California and the West. It listed hours of Wednesday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in late 2026.

A walking route

About 1.5 miles with a few short hills. Allow two to three hours including a snack stop.

1. Dragon Gate at Grant and Bush. Walk north on Grant Avenue.
2. Old St. Mary's Cathedral at California Street.
3. Waverly Place. Turn left on Sacramento or Clay and loop through the street of balconies.
4. Chinese Historical Society of America on Clay Street, if it is a Wednesday or Saturday.
5. Stockton Street. Walk north through the markets between Clay and Broadway.
6. Ross Alley. Cut back east between Washington and Jackson.
7. Portsmouth Square. See the work in progress from Kearny Street.
8. Broadway. Cross into North Beach for coffee or keep walking to the waterfront.

If you prefer a guide, local walking and food tours explain the history behind the buildings and help with ordering. You can browse Chinatown food and walking tours that fit a train schedule.

Where to eat

Chinatown has restaurants for every budget. These have current hours on their own sites:

• Z and Y Restaurant at 655 Jackson Street serves fiery Sichuan dishes. Its site lists lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner from 4:30 to 9 p.m., closed Tuesdays. Lines form at weekend lunch.
• China Live at 644 Broadway is a large food hall and restaurant on the North Beach edge, open daily with later starts on weekends.
• Mister Jiu's at 28 Waverly Place offers modern Chinese American cooking by chef Brandon Jew. It serves dinner only, Tuesday to Saturday. Reservations help.
• Bakeries and dim sum counters on Stockton Street and Jackson Street sell buns, egg tarts and dumplings to go. Many are cash only. Bring small bills.

What it costs

Walking the neighborhood is free. Round-trip Caltrain fare for one adult is $17 in late 2026 plus about $6 for Muni. A bakery lunch can cost under $15 and a sit-down dinner $40 to $80 a person. The museum charges admission, so check its site. Prices change, so treat these as estimates.

Safety and practical tips

• Be respectful. This is a home neighborhood for many older residents. Do not block narrow sidewalks for photos and ask before photographing people or shop interiors.
• Carry cash. Many bakeries and small shops do not take cards.
• Watch your bag on crowded Stockton Street and on the T Third at busy times.
• If you drive, use a garage, move bags to the trunk before you arrive and leave nothing visible. Break-ins happen on side streets.
• Go earlier in the day. Many shops close by early evening and the streets get quiet after dark.

A sample half day and full day

Half day

1. 9 a.m. Caltrain from Palo Alto.
2. 10 a.m. T Third to Chinatown-Rose Pak. Stockton Street markets.
3. 11 a.m. Walk the route above, ending on Grant Avenue.
4. 12:30 p.m. Sichuan lunch or dim sum, then the T Third back to the train.

Full day

After lunch, cross Broadway into North Beach for coffee and City Lights, climb to Coit Tower and walk down to the Ferry Building or Fisherman's Wharf. Lunar New Year brings the city's big parade in late winter. If you want to see it at night, compare hotels near Union Square, a short walk from Chinatown.

Frequently asked questions