Getting there

See

Museums

Temples & Churches

Parks

Do

Buy

Eat

• Sam Wo, 813 Washington St. (corner of Washington & Grant). Well-known among Bay Area residents, this is a place that people either love or hate - food is cheap, service is terrible, and the conditions are squalid, but for some there is no better restaurant in all of Chinatown. The barbecue pork rolls are a favorite, and the wonton soup is terrific.

• Dol Ho, 808 Pacific Ave (up from Stockton St). For excellent dim sum at a price that's a bargain compared to the touristy joints on Grant, this is a great place to eat. Most, if not all, of the clientele are Chinese, and this is a good thing. (Closed on Wednesdays.)

• Y Ben, 835 Pacific Ave (up from Stockton St). If Dol Ho is too much of a hole in the wall for your tastes, try Y Ben diagonally opposite just up the street for dim sum of similar excellent quality and low prices.

• Bow Hon, 850 Grant Avenue. This restaurant serves traditional clay pot dishes.

Drink

• Li Po's, 916 Grant Ave. at Washington. This dive bar is great to pop into while in Chinatown. Although it has nothing on tap, bottled beer is available. Check out the seedy booths in the back lit by a single red bulb. Or catch a live act in the dimly-lit basement on the weekends.
• The Bow Bow, near the intersection of Kearney and Columbus. Little hole in the wall dive bar, run by the irrepressible hostess/owner, Candy Mama. A 50-something woman originally from Taiwan. She's a spitfire and a complete rock star. She'll end up doing shots with you, sneaking shots into your drinks, force-feeding you endless peanuts and making adorable, incessant conversation. The crowd's an eclectic mix, which makes for great people-watching. Especially when the karaoke is broken out.
• Buddha Bar, 901 Grant Ave. at Washington. Another favorite dive bar in Chinatown, this is a cramped yet lively place that's great for people watching.
• Red's Place, 672 Jackson St. at Beckett St., is the oldest operating bar in Chinatown. It's a quiet place, ideal for conversations.