Chinatown Local Food Tour in San Francisco

Over the next few hours you'll try moon cakes from a century-old bakery, enjoy a tea tasting experience at a favorite local hangout, savor delicious Chinese snacks from pork buns to Sui Mai and Dim Sum, and sit down for a perfectly-made Peking Duck meal in one of the neighborhood's most beloved restaurants. Along the way, stroll through lively Stockton Street and visit one of the last remaining fortune cookie factories!

San Francisco Chinatown Food Tour Description

Your 3-hour Chinatown tour includes:

• Guided walking tour of the lively Chinatown neighborhood

• A variety of delicious local food and drink stops

• Sit-down meal with Peking Duck

• All food and non-alcoholic drinks included

• Visit one of the last fortune cookie factories

• A passionate local foodie guide

• Maximum group size of 12

Meet Your Guide at the Entrance To Chinatown

Your tour begins at an easy-to-find location at the entrance to Chinatown—the Dragon Gate. A gift from Taiwan, the gate is designed in the style of traditional Chinese pailous. Your local foodie guide will be waiting for you here, and as you begin to explore Chinatown they'll explain the history of this enchanting part of San Francisco.

Head to a Century-Old Bakery

Once inside Chinatown, you'll head to the city's oldest Chinese bakery. Run by the same family since the 1920s, the bakery is famous for its moon cakes along with other Chinese sweets like the popular coffee crunch cake.

Historically eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival, moon cakes are often treated as gifts presented by families to relatives or by business people to their clients. Your guide will explain the symbolism of the cakes and their importance to East Asians cultures, and you'll get to try a selection too, of course!

Sip Local Favorites at a Chinese Tea House

Sit down and relax for a while as you sample savory teas at a local tea house, curated by a true expert. The owner of the shop will present you with a selection of loose leaf Chinese teas dried in the traditional way. It's a perfect place to sip and ponder the feast that lies ahead.

Sui Mai, Pork Buns, and Dumplings

As you stroll through the streets, alleyways, and bustling markets of Chinatown, your guide will lead you to some of our favorite spots for dim sum and authentic classics.

BBQ pork buns, sui mai, rice cakes, scallion pancakes, shrimp dumplings, and more—you'll try the snacks that keep Chinatown moving!

Visit a Fortune Cookie Factory

Did you know that fortune cookies were invented in San Francisco? Many people believe they were, although the origin story of fortune cookies is controversial. Companies across California and even some in China claim that they invented the crunchy sweets filled with a paper message. Your guide will explain some of the theories but no matter who invented the cookie, it is a staple of Chinese restaurants today.

On your tour, you'll visit one of the only remaining fortune cookie factories making the biscuits by hand. See the process up close for an interactive experience not often seen.

Delicious Peking Duck

It's not just snacks on this Chinatown food tour, you'll also have a hearty and authentic sit-down meal to make sure you don't leave the tour hungry! Get to know your group a little better as you enjoy tasty Chinese favorites like Peking Duck, sesame balls, and potstickers, with a cup of tea to wash things down.