15 Best Chinatown, San Francisco Restaurants for 2024
Are you looking for the best Chinatown, San Francisco restaurants? The Chinatown neighborhood of San Francisco is bustling with culture and creativity, and there’s no shortage of delicious food to try. Whether you’re looking for a hole-in-the-wall bakery or the best Chinese restaurant San Francisco’s Chinatown has to offer, this list has you covered.
With any type of regional cuisine, it can be confusing to know where to begin trying dishes. Chinatown, San Francisco is home to a wide variety of Chinese food from different regions, as well as dishes featuring new takes on old favorites. When you visit this area of the city, keep these options in mind as some of the best restaurants in Chinatown, San Francisco.
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Explore the Best Restaurants in Chinatown, San Francisco
Good food is one of the things that makes a vacation memorable. Food tours in San Francisco are an excellent way to explore all the city has to offer. You’ll be able to experience the best of the best with a knowledgeable guide leading the way. And who knows? Maybe some of these restaurants in Chinatown, San Francisco will even make an appearance on your food tour.
15 Best Chinatown, San Francisco Restaurants
1. Mister Jiu’s
If you are looking for date ideas in San Francisco, the spot for you is Mister Jiu’s. This James Beard award winner with a Michelin star is one of the most highly recommended establishments in Chinatown.
The Vibe
Gorgeous interiors with golden chandeliers shaped like lotus flowers are a hallmark of this restaurant in Chinatown, San Francisco. The airy and elegant interiors will make you feel important, as will their perfectly plated dishes.
What to Order
Try the Taiwanese-style eggplant or delicious potstickers during your visit to Mister Jiu’s.
Mister Jiu’s | 8 Waverly Pl., San Francisco, CA 94108 | $$$$
2. Z&Y Restaurant
Another one of the best restaurants in Chinatown, San Francisco is Z&Y Restaurant. Incredibly popular and known for their Sichuan dishes, this is a great stop for anyone visiting Chinatown for the first time.
The Vibe
You’ll feel transported to China at this vibrant restaurant. Classic prints of Chinese characters on the walls make for a traditional eating experience that pairs perfectly with their spicy dishes.
What to Order
Try the tea-smoked duck or chilled beef tendon for a flavorful dining experience.
Z&Y Restaurant | 655 Jackson St., San Francisco, CA 94133 | $$
3. Good Mong Kok
Good Mong Kok is famous for their dim sum and bao (steamed buns.) You’ll often find a line of customers stretching out the door, but we promise that what’s inside is worth the wait.
The Vibe
This Chinatown, San Francisco Restaurant is much smaller than the others on the list, offering a takeout-only menu and no indoor seating. But don’t let the small space turn you away! This is one of the best-known dim sum eateries in Chinatown.
What to Order
Good Mong Kok is known for their delicious steamed buns, so don’t miss their specialty flavors, like the steamed char siu bun filled with barbecue pork.
Good Mong Kok | 1039 Stockton St., San Francisco, CA 94108 | $
4. China Live
You can’t go wrong with a visit to China Live, a huge complex featuring a tea lounge, multiple restaurants, bar and marketplace. Stop by for a fancier dinner at the Eight Tables restaurant, or simply shop around for spices and condiments in the market.
The Vibe
This restaurant in Chinatown, San Francisco offers a wide array of San Francisco foods. Always filled with diners, you can choose to watch open cooking demonstrations, stop by the dim sum counter or indulge in a cocktail at the speakeasy-style bar.
What to Order
Downstairs in the main restaurant, try the Peking duck sesame pockets, or opt for a fancier night out upstairs at the Eight Tables restaurant and try their Four Seas caviar-filled dumplings.
China Live | 644 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133 | $$
5. R&G Lounge
One of Chinatown, San Francisco’s most successful restaurants, R&G Lounge is a traditional Cantonese seafood restaurant that will keep you coming back for more. Its history of over 35 years has proven it to be a staple in the Chinatown food scene.
The Vibe
If you plan to visit R&G Lounge, definitely make a reservation, as this large restaurant is almost always crowded. Once you’re inside the brightly lit entranceway, you’ll make your way downstairs to be seated and enjoy your meal.
What to Order
Try the salt and pepper crab or honey walnut prawns for a delicious seafood dish at this Chinatown, San Francisco restaurant.
R&G Lounge | 631 Kearny St., San Francisco, CA 94108 | $$
6. Chong Qing Xiao Mian
Another one of the best Chinese restaurants in Chinatown, San Francisco is Chong Qing Xiao Mian. They specialize in noodles from the Sichuan region, but they offer other regional varieties on the menu as well as cold noodles that are perfect for the warmer months.
The Vibe
This Chinatown, San Francisco restaurant features a cozy dining space with red walls depicting images of the food. Other traditional décor complete the effect. The dark wood tables are the perfect backdrop for a bowl brimming with noodles.
What to Order
Spice up your life with the Chongqing numbing spicy noodle dish.
Chong Qing Xiao Mian | 915 Kearny St., San Francisco, CA 94133 | $$
7. Sam Wo Restaurant
This Chinatown, San Francisco restaurant is a classic spot for Cantonese flavors in the Bay Area. Sam Wo Restaurant is also open late, making it a great stop after a night on the town.
The Vibe
The smaller dining tables at Sam Wo don’t reflect on their portion sizes; cozy up in their upstairs dining room and enjoy plates and bowls piled high with generous helpings of their delicious dishes.
What to Order
Try the rice noodles, jook or Chinese doughnuts for a fun treat to end the meal.
Sam Wo Restaurant | 713 Clay St., San Francisco, CA 94108 | $$
8. VIP Coffee and Cake Shop
This Chinatown, San Francisco restaurant is modeled after a traditional Hong Kong tea restaurant, but you’ll find more than just tea and pastry on the menu. Stop by for brunch or lunch and feel transported straight to Hong Kong.
The Vibe
VIP Coffee and Cake Shop has a hometown bakery feel, with dining tables and pastry display cases so you can see your dessert or breakfast items as you choose them.
What to Order
Stop by for a light lunch of noodle soup or try more breakfast-inspired dishes like an omelette or French toast with Hong Kong-style milk tea.
VIP Coffee and Cake Shop | 671 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133 | $
9. New Golden Daisy
This Chinatown, San Francisco takeout restaurant is known for its fried meat, specifically the chicken wings. You may have to wait in line at New Golden Daisy, but the end result will be more than worth the wait.
The Vibe
You’ll love the authentic feel of this Cantonese deli, where you’ll find all of the food proudly on display as you order your takeout. There’s no seating here, so you’ll have to take your delicious meal to go.
What to Order
Locals rave over the fried chicken wings at New Golden Daisy, so grab a carton of these or some of the other delicious smoked deli meats they hang in the shop window. Don't forget egg tarts, too!
New Golden Daisy | 1041 Stockton St., San Francisco, CA 94108 | $
10. Hong Kong Clay Pot Restaurant
Hong Kong Clay Pot Restaurant serves traditional clay pot dishes as well as other Chinese cuisine at an inexpensive price point.
The Vibe
You’ll feel at ease in the homey atmosphere at Hong Kong Clay Pot. The traditional Chinese décor and large portion sizes makes this Chinatown, San Francisco restaurant a perfect place for a lunch break.
What to Order
Try the eggplant and scallop noodles served in a traditional clay pot, or the scrambled egg and shrimp for a different flavor palate.
Hong Kong Clay Pot Restaurant | 960 Grant Ave., San Francisco, CA 94108 | $$
11. City View Restaurant
If you’re looking for things to do in San Francisco, be sure to add a stop at the City View Restaurant to your list. This affordable alternative to high-end dim sum restaurants will leave you feeling satisfied and ready to take on the city.
The Vibe
This Chinatown, San Francisco restaurant features an open dining area with panoramic paintings on the walls. You’ll love the authentic cart-style dim-sum, but remember to order multiple baskets if you’re sharing with a large group!
What to Order
Try the shrimp dumplings for traditional Cantonese flavors, and go for some chicken feet, too, for an authentic experience. Get a variety because the array of choices at this spot make it one of the most fun restaurants in San Francisco for foodies.
City View Restaurant | 662 Commercial St., San Francisco, CA 94111 | $$
12. Hon’s Wun-Tun House
You can’t go wrong with noodles and wontons, which is exactly what you’ll find at Hon’s Wun-Tun House. This long-running Chinatown, San Francisco restaurant is a favorite with locals and tourists alike.
The Vibe
Hon’s Wun-Tun house was established in 1972, and their legacy of delicious wonton soup is unparalleled. Sit at the counter to watch the behind-the-scenes action, or settle in at a table in their intimate dining space to enjoy a warming bowl of soup.
What to Order
Try the traditional wonton soup; you can choose from a wide variety of meats and toppings like beef tendon or pork. They also offer other delicious options like pot stickers and spicy beef tripe.
Hon’s Wun-Tun House | 648 Kearny St., San Francisco, CA 94108 | $$
13. Hing Lung Company
This Chinatown, San Francisco Restaurant takes meat very seriously. Purchase by the pound or stop in for a smaller bite at lunchtime. You can also find Hing Lung Company on third-party delivery sites under the tongue-in-cheek name “Go Duck Yourself.”
The Vibe
You’ll know you’re in the right place when you see duck and pork ribs hanging from traditional metal racks. This takeaway spot is great for a rice plate or to pick up roast meats to use in your home cooking.
What to Order
Don’t miss the famous duck with crispy skin, or order pork with rice for a quick lunch option on the go.
Hing Lung Company | 1261 Stockton St., San Francisco, CA 94133 | $$
14. New Woey Loy Goey
This basement restaurant has been in operation for almost one hundred years, and they’re still serving up huge portions of traditional dishes at incredible prices. Stop by New Woey Loy Goey for all of your favorite Chinese cuisine.
The Vibe
New Woey Loy Goey features a subterranean dining room with a long counter and tables for guests. One of the best things about this Chinatown, San Francisco restaurant is the prices — many of their plates only cost around $10, making this a great stop for lunch or dinner on a budget.
What to Order
Try the traditional Mongolian beef or one of their varieties of chow mein. You can also order family-style meals if you’re dining with a larger group.
New Woey Loy Goey | 699 Jackson St., San Francisco, CA 94133 | $
15. Capital Restaurant
Finish off your visit to the fortune cookie factory in San Francisco with a stop at Capital Restaurant for traditional Chinese flavors like wonton soup, Mongolian beef and honey walnut prawns.
The Vibe
The dining room at Capital Restaurant is often filled with groups eating at traditional Lazy Susans, allowing everyone to get a taste of the savory flavors on the menu.
What to Order
Try their famous fried wings with salt and hot pepper, and add a side of green beans with minced pork.
Capital Restaurant | 839 Clay St., San Francisco, CA 94108 | $
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No matter your budget or plans for your time in the Bay Area, we hope this list of 15 great restaurants in Chinatown, San Francisco has inspired you to push your culinary boundaries.
For even more fun ways to explore San Francisco and beyond, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.
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