8 Best Chinatown Food Tours in San Francisco in 2023

LOOKING FOR THE BEST CHINATOWN FOOD TOURS IN SAN FRANCISCO?

You’ve come to the right place because this post features the Top 8 Chinatown Food Tours in San Francisco. We’ve also included other San Francisco food tours that highlight other neighborhoods close by. 

This historic neighborhood is an important part of the culinary heritage of the city, and it is jam-packed with delicious restaurants and bakeries where you can taste the best food in Chinatown, San Francisco.

Let’s dig in and help you find the best Chinatown tours in San Francisco for your trip to the “City by the Bay.”

Top 3 Picks: Chinatown Food Tours in San Francisco

8 Best Chinatown Food Tours in San Francisco

1. Chinatown Culinary Walking Tour

• ❤️ Best For: A tour that is as informative as it is delicious
• ⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
• ✅ Check Rates & Availability

⌛ Duration: 3 hours | ⏰ Start Time: 10:30 AM | 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Capacity: Up to 15 guests

Prepare to graze your way through Chinatown on this Culinary Walking Tour, where you can sample delicious treats from Cantonese bakeries, dim sum shops, and restaurants.

The local tour guide will also take you to explore the local shops, where you will learn about and sample ingredients used in regional Chinese cuisines.

The tastings vary, but you can expect to taste classics, including Peking duck, moon cakes, and dumplings like siu mai.

This was one of the best food tours. Our guide Cynthia was funny and shared a lot of interesting stories about china town. The food was excellent. I would do this tour again.

– LAVONDA (READ MORE REVIEWS) 

HIGHLIGHTS: Behind the scenes at Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory | Traditional Chinese lunch included | Tea tasting

Unlike most walking tours, you will get to sit down at two different restaurants to share a meal, where you will sample several regional Chinese dishes.

If this is not enough, the tour makes a stop at the Golden Gate fortune cookie factory and finishes up at a tea shop for an informative tasting.

Along the way to more tasty treats, the guide will provide historical and interesting facts about Chinatown and stops to admire the temples.

The tour is scheduled to take three hours, and the walking path is relatively flat for San Francisco, which makes it accessible for most people. 

Prepare your appetite and get ready to experience this neighborhood that is an important part of the culinary history of San Francisco on this Chinatown food tour in San Francisco.

2. Chinatown: Tea & Dim Sum Food Tour

• ❤️ Best For: A best of food tasting tour for first-timers to Chinatown
• ⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
• ✅ Check Rates & Availability

⌛ Duration: 3 hours | ⏰ Start Time: 11:30 PM | 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Capacity: Up to 10 guests

Whether you love tea and dim sum or are excited to try them for the first time, this Chinatown food tour is your chance to taste the best from this historic San Francisco neighborhood.

This three-hour tour will take you on a culinary adventure through the streets of Chinatown, where you will eat a dim sum feast and eat at a restaurant that is over 100 years old.

Not only will you get a San Francisco dim sum tour, but you will also get to visit the Golden Gate fortune cookie factory.

The food at every location was great. And the tour ended nicely with an experience at a tea tasting shop. I would recommend this to anyone visiting San Francisco.

– JIRI (READ MORE REVIEWS)

HIGHLIGHTS: Visit the oldest restaurant and bakery in San Francisco | Instructive tea tasting | A fortune cookie factory tour in San Francisco

The tour takes a one-mile route with seven stops where you will learn about this quintessential San Francisco neighborhood that dates back to the Gold Rush Era.

Along the way, you will be treated to bubble tea, try an egg tart at a traditional bakery, and visit a fortune cookie factory.

The tour also includes a stop at a classic Chinatown tea shop, where you will learn about the techniques, the types of teas, and their medicinal properties.

This is a perfect San Francisco food tour in Chinatown for anyone wanting to experience the best of this delicious and interesting neighborhood in one afternoon.

3. San Francisco Chinatown Food Tour

• ❤️ Best For: A deep dive into the cuisine of Chinatown
• ⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
• ✅ Check Rates & Availability

⌛ Duration: 3 hours | ⏰ Start Time: 10:00 AM | 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Capacity: Up to 12 guests

This San Francisco Chinatown food tour lets you take advantage of the opportunity to escape the touristy parts of San Francisco and experience the real Chinatown.

You will not only get to do tastings at five great restaurants and bakeries, but you will also get to experience a cultural side of this special portion of the city.

Between the stops to taste the best food in Chinatown San Francisco, the group will make stops at a temple and markets while learning about the history and way of life of the people in Chinatown.

Thank you to our guide Kasey and to the hardworking restaurant staff that prepared food for us to sample. Everything was delicious, and Kasey’s historic information was very interesting. Would highly recommend

– WENDY (READ MORE REVIEWS)

HIGHLIGHTS: Five stops for food tastings | Cultural stop at the oldest Buddhist temple in Chinatown | A visit to a famous fortune cookie factory

You will sample plenty of snacks along the way, including a stop at the famous Grant Place for dim sum and Peking duck. 

In fact, the tour makes five stops for food tasting that will provide a great cross-section of the regional Chinese Food in Chinatown San Francisco, from bbq pork buns to Hong Kong egg tarts.

This is a great Chinatown SF food tour, which is just as much about the food as it is about experiencing a historic part of San Francisco.

4. Chinatown and North Beach Walking Tour

• ❤️ Best For: Tasting two neighborhoods in one day
• ⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
• ✅ Check Rates & Availability

⌛ Duration: 4 hours | ⏰ Start Time: 2:30 PM | 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Capacity: Up to 15 guests

This Chinatown and North Beach walking tour is the perfect way to get a taste of these two dynamic neighborhoods in one afternoon. 

This four-hour tour starts in Chinatown, where the group will try out several types of dim sum from San Francisco’s oldest bakeries.

Along the way, you will explore Chinatown and its history and traditions before stopping for a tea tasting.

This tour was great!! Brian was very knowledgeable. He seemed to know everyone. Fun fun fun. I would definitely recommend this tour. In fact, I already have.

– MARY (READ MORE REVIEWS)

HIGHLIGHTS: Two neighborhoods in one day | Tastings that range from dim sum to pizza | Cultural education in two cities

The tour then heads over a few blocks to the Italian North beach neighborhood to try out some world-renowned chocolate and pastries. 

The tasting doesn’t stop here, as the group will make a relaxing stop for some wood-fired pizza after exploring the famous Columbus Avenue. 

Book this SF Chinatown food tour and loosen your belt as you prepare to never stop eating as you taste through two of the most delicious neighborhoods in the city.  

5. Chinatown Food & History Walking Tour – Small Group

• ❤️ Best For: A quick tasting and tour of Chinatown
• ⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
• ✅ Check Rates & Availability

⌛ Duration: 2.5 hours | ⏰ Start Time: 11:00 PM | 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Capacity: Up to 12 guests

Instead of guessing where to eat authentic Chinese food, book this Chinatown Food and History Walking Tour and let the professionals take you out to eat. 

You will not only get a guided lunch where you will get to taste several varieties of dim sum, but along the way, you will learn about the history and culture of Chinatown.

If this is not enough, there are stops along the way for a traditional tea tasting and a visit to a fortune cookie-making factory. 

I’m born and raised in San Francisco and wanted to do this tour for a new look at the city I know and love. Highly recommend this tour for anyone interested in a local’s perspective of San Francisco!

– EMMA (READ MORE REVIEWS)

HIGHLIGHTS: Tea and fortune cookie tastings | Stops at three historic landmarks | Sampling of dim sum 

The tour kicks off at the famous Dragon Gate, with stops at historic landmarks, including Old Saint Mary’s Cathedral and Portsmouth Square.

Whether this is your first time in the Bay Area or if you are a seasoned veteran, this will be an informative and delicious San Francisco Chinatown tour you will remember for a long time.

6. The 10 Tastings of San Francisco: Private Food Walking Tour

• ❤️ Best For: A customized private tour
• ⭐ Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
• ✅ Check Rates & Availability

⌛ Duration: 3 hours | ⏰ Start Time: Flexible | 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Capacity: Up to 8 guests

With this private walking tour, not only do you get a private tour, but you get a customized experience that is based on your preferences and food tastes.

If you are not interested in spending the day with several strangers, you can book this private tour led by a knowledgeable local San Francisco resident.

You will chat with your guide leading up to the tour to discuss what you are excited to taste in the city. 

Had a great time touring the Mission district with our guide, and we tasted a wide variety of delicious foods and enjoyed it a lot.

– CHANTELLE (READ MORE REVIEWS)

HIGHLIGHTS: Customized tour | Private group setting | Eight food tastings are included

They will then put together a customized plan that will include tastings at eight different locations.

If you want to spend part of your time sampling dim sum in Chinatown SF, and finish off with a visit to North Beach for some tiramisu, they can arrange an itinerary.

In fact, many people that have taken this tour end up booking another day to explore the food in a different neighborhood like the Mission District.

Taking a private tour like this one is a great way to connect with locals and experience the cuisine in the city in a more relaxed and intimate tour setting.

7. San Francisco Chinatown Walking Tour with Optional Lunch

• ❤️ Best For: An educational walking tour with a 10-course dim sum lunch
• ⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
• ✅ Check Rates & Availability

⌛ Duration: 2 hours | ⏰ Start Time: 10:00 AM | 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Capacity: Up to 15 guests

This San Francisco Chinatown walking tour is a perfect opportunity to take a deep dive into the cultural dynamics and history of this amazing neighborhood.

This tour goes further and breaks away from the ordinary to give an authentic glimpse of the traditions that are now a part of the daily life of many residents in Chinatown in San Francisco.

You will learn about the unique decorations and the distinct architecture and visit many shops, including places that specialize in Chinese herbal medicine.

Our tour with Jim was fantastic! We learned so much about the culture and history of Chinatown, and he kept our two kids more than entertained. We experienced so much more than we would have on our own – worth every penny!

– CANDICE (READ MORE REVIEWS)

HIGHLIGHTS: Visits to shops that sell exotic ingredients and herbal medicines | 9-course dim sum tasting | A walking tour that is off the beaten tourist path

Along the way, you will stop at an ornate temple and discover many important Chinese ingredients at the local markets.

To cap off the tour, you can choose to add on a special 9-course dim sum tasting at one of Chinatown’s most famous and delicious restaurants.

This is not your typical tour that glosses over the surface, and if you book, you will be treated to a tour that covers the best of Chinatown in San Francisco.

San Francisco Food Tours: Beyond Chinatown

8. Little Italy and North Beach Walking Tour in San Francisco

• ❤️ Best For: A taste of the culinary and cultural heritage of North Beach
• ⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
• ✅ Check Rates & Availability

⌛ Duration: 3 hours | ⏰ Start Time: Ex. 10:30 AM | 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Capacity: Up to 15 guests

Do you love Italian food and culture? If so, you will love this little Italy and North Beach Walking Tour.

This tour has been recognized multiple as one of the best food tours in the United States by Lonely Planet. 

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to walk the streets of North Beach with tastings along the way from historic bakeries, delis, and restaurants.

We had a great time on this tour! Even if you are a local, you will still enjoy it! We learned a lot about North Beach and can’t wait to go back and visit some of the stops. 

– AMY (READ MORE REVIEWS)

HIGHLIGHTS: Visits to a historic deli and bakery | Pizza tasting at Mona Lisa | Sip a cappuccino or espresso at a local cafe

The tour dips into the history of this unique neighborhood, and you will even learn about the beatnik and coffee culture that make this area a draw for locals.

You will get to eat some pizza and taste everything you can imagine that is produced in North Beach, from artisan salami to freshly baked cannolis. 

You will not end this San Francisco food tour hungry, but you will certainly want to visit again to taste more of the delicious food you tasted during the tour.

9. San Francisco Walking Tasting Tour with Secret Food Tours

• ❤️ Best For: A culinary and cultural tour of the Mission District
• ⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
• ✅ Check Rates & Availability

⌛ Duration: 3+ hours | ⏰ Start Time: 1:00 PM | 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Capacity: Up to 12 guests

This San Francisco walking tasting tour combo is an incredible way to experience and taste the Mission District. 

This dynamic multicultural neighborhood is one of the culinary hotbeds in the city, with some of the best Mexican taquerias in the country. 

Two of the tastings that are highlights of this tour include a stop to try one of the famous Mission Style burritos, followed by a queso birria taco that will make your mouth water.

Mark was so energetic and knowledgeable. He was so personable and had wonderful stories to share. The food experiences were unique, and the historical and artistic narrative was amazing.

– DARCY (READ MORE REVIEWS)

HIGHLIGHTS: Eat a Mission-style burrito | Visit the Mission District’s famous street murals | A special “mystery” dish at the end of the tour

The Mission District is also home to some incredible artisan bakers, chocolatiers, and ice cream makers that might just be the secret tour stop.

Not only will you taste many of the best dishes in this neighborhood, but you will also get a tour of the area’s incredible street art and murals.

Prepare yourself for a special experience where you will see the real side of San Francisco away from the touristy spots, with some stunning food along the way.

10. San Francisco Combo: Ferry Building Food Tour and Alcatraz

• ❤️ Best For: A food tasting at the ferry building and Alcatraz in one tour
• ⭐ Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
• ✅ Check Rates & Availability

⌛ Duration: 1 to 4 hours | ⏰ Start Time: 10:00 AM | 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Capacity: Up to 10 guests

If you hope to visit Alcatraz during your trip, why not book this San Francisco combo tour that includes a food tour of the Ferry Building?

The ferry building is a culinary showcase that features many of the best food purveyors and restaurants in San Francisco, all in one large building. 

This includes legendary artisans like Acme Bread Company and Miette Pâtisserie, where you can taste their delicious treats. 

Our host was very knowledgeable, the food was great, and we had a very enjoyable time! We got to learn lots of history of the Ferry Building and learned a lot about the vendors and the local sourcing there.

– NANCY (READ MORE REVIEWS)

HIGHLIGHTS: Explore the Ferry Building farmer market | Tasting of artisan food products and dishes | Ferry ride and audio tour of Alcatraz 

After eating your way through some of San Francisco’s best delicacies, you can board the ferry right outside the building.

You can take in the views of the city on the way to visit Alcatraz, which is one of the top tourist destinations in San Francisco.

Why go through the hassle of booking Alcatraz tickets when you can get two tours in one, and they secure your boat tickets to Alcatraz?

If you want to explore further, you can also check out one of the tours to the famous redwoods near San Francisco. 

FAQs

Is Chinatown San Francisco worth visiting?

Yes, Chinatown is worth visiting and is one of the top cultural and food destinations in San Francisco.

A visit to Chinatown offers up a chance to experience this historic neighborhood that Chinese immigrants founded during the Gold Rush.

Today, Chinatown is an epicenter of regional Chinese cuisines and influences, and visitors can visit the local markets, temples, and amazing restaurants within eight city blocks.

What is special about Chinatown in San Francisco?

Chinatown in San Francisco is special because of its culinary and cultural heritage, which dates back to the Gold Rush.

This San Francisco neighborhood features stunning regional Chinese restaurants and bakeries that range from dim sum houses to traditional bakeries.

Chinatown also features many historic attractions and sites that are a significant part of the history of San Francisco. 

Is San Francisco a foodie city?

Yes, San Francisco is one of the top culinary destinations in the United States, and travelers from across the globe fly to San Francisco to taste the local delicacies.

San Francisco is home to world-class fine dining restaurants that garner the recognition of the Michelin Guide, with several receiving the top honor of three stars.

This foodie city also features culinary specialties that are native to the area, which includes San Francisco sourdough, Dungeness crab, cioppino, and the Mission-style burrito.

What is Chinatown in San Francisco known for?

Chinatown in San Francisco is best known for its bustling street-side markets and its restaurants that feature a diverse selection of regional Chinese cuisines.

One of the top draws to Chinatown is the many bakeries that specialize in baked treats like egg tarts and dim sum dumplings that are sold right from steaming baskets.

Chinatown is also well known for its important part of the heritage of San Francisco, which started with Chinese immigrants that moved to the city during the Gold Rush.

Is Chinatown in San Francisco safe?

Chinatown is just as safe or safer than most neighborhoods in San Francisco and ranks number six in violent crimes of the major areas in the city.

Chinatown is a very safe place to visit if you stay on the main roads and visit during the daytime when there are lots of people around during their shopping or visiting restaurants.

Crime rates in San Francisco are on the high side, but a large portion is property crimes, as San Francisco has a relatively lower incidence of violent crime than most major cities in the United States.

Is Chinatown SF open on Sundays?

Chinatown is always open as it is a neighborhood in San Francisco.

Sunday is one of the busiest days for many restaurants and bakeries in Chinatown, especially those that serve dim sum specialties like dumplings and egg tarts.

While the majority of the shops and markets are open on Sundays, they tend to be slower than on weekdays, which makes it a great time to visit.

Where is Chinatown in San Francisco?

Chinatown is located in the northeast portion of the San Francisco Peninsula, just blocks from the North Beach neighborhood and the financial district.

Stockton Blvd. and Grant Ave. run parallel to each other and run the length of Chinatown. 

Chinatown is just a five-minute walk north of the popular tourist destination of Union Square and a fifteen-minute walk south from Pier 39.

Which cable car goes to Chinatown?

Both the Powell-Mason and the Powell-Hyde lines stop at Washington and Powell St, which is just one block from the western edge of Chinatown.

You can catch a ride to Chinatown on both lines from Market street or Union Square.

If you are coming from the Fishermans Wharf area, you can take both the Powell-Hyde and the Powell- Mason lines depending on which stop is closer.

Wrap-Up: Best Chinatown Food Tour in San Francisco

With several options to choose from, we understand how it can be challenging to pick the best one for you.

After many trips to SF, this Chinatown Culinary Walking Tour is our top choice for the best food tour in Chinatown San Francisco.

Now all you have to do is show up in some comfortable shoes and save your appetite.

For a unique and memorable addition to your trip to San Francisco, book a Chinatown walking food tour in San Francisco, and let the professional guides lead you through this important part of the city.