San Francisco Chinatown Food Tour: 5 tastings, 3 hours

Five tastings in three hours, from fortune cookies to handmade dumplings

A guided food tour of San Francisco Chinatown where you taste five different dishes over three hours, with three tastings seated inside restaurants and two on the street. A local guide shares stories about the neighborhood's history and culture as you walk between stops. Minimum two people per booking. Vegetarian options available with advance notice.

Step-by-step itinerary

Chinatown food and culture tour

• Meet at Portsmouth Square park
• Visit Old Cathedral of St. Mary
• Explore Tin How Temple
• Tour fortune cookie bakery
• Taste buns at New Hollywood Bakery
• Enjoy handmade noodles at Xian House
• Sample dim sum at local favorite
• Try Hong Kong-style egg tarts at AA Bakery

The experience

The tour starts at Portsmouth Square, the one-block park bounded by Kearny, Washington, Clay and Walter Lum Place, and moves through the neighborhood on foot. Your guide leads you to five different food stops (some you'll sit down for, others you'll eat standing in front of the establishment), and talks through the stories of Chinatown as you go. Three of the tastings add up to lunch, so you're eating a real meal, not just sampling bites.

You'll taste handmade noodles and dumplings at Xian House, barbecue-filled cha siu buns from New Hollywood Bakery, and Hong Kong-style egg tarts from AA Bakery with their buttery flaky crust. A landmark bakery shows you how fortune cookies are made in a tiny open kitchen. You'll also stop at dim sum spots known for their Hong Kong-style specialties. Between tastings, the guide fills in the history: the Old Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception at Grant and California, the Tin How Temple dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu, the way the neighborhood built itself. The whole walk takes three hours.

Bottled water and a city map come with the tour. The route is wheelchair accessible, and all areas and surfaces work for strollers. If you need vegetarian options, let them know when you book. You'll need at least one other person in your group. The minimum is two people per booking.

What’s included

• Local guide in English.
• five food tastings (three seated inside restaurants, two on the street).
• bottled water.
• city map.

Before you book

Days and timesSaturday and SundayDeparts at 10:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Sidewalk Food Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to eat lunch while walking: three seated tastings plus two street stops mean you're fed without sitting down for a separate meal.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What exactly do I eat on the San Francisco Chinatown food tour?

You taste five different dishes: handmade noodles and dumplings, barbecue cha siu buns, Hong Kong-style egg tarts, dim sum, and fortune cookies made fresh in an open kitchen. Three of the tastings are eaten seated inside restaurants. Two are eaten on the street in front of the establishment.

How long does the Chinatown food tour take?

The tour runs three hours total, including walking between stops and the tastings themselves. The pace mixes eating with the guide's stories about the neighborhood's history and culture.

Where does the food tour start in San Francisco Chinatown?

The tour begins at Portsmouth Square, the one-block park in Chinatown bounded by Kearny Street on the east, Washington Street on the north, Clay Street on the south, and Walter Lum Place on the west.

Can I do the Chinatown food tour if I'm vegetarian?

Vegetarian options are available on the tour. You'll need to let the operator know at the time of booking so they can arrange your tastings.

What's included in the San Francisco Chinatown food tour price?

The tour includes a local guide who speaks English, all five food tastings, bottled water, and a city map. Hotel pickup and gratuities are not included.

Is the Chinatown food tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible. All areas and surfaces are accessible, and strollers work throughout the route. Public transportation options are available nearby if you need them.