On this guided food tour of San Francisco’s Chinatown, you will taste five different mouthwatering delights. Three of the tastings (enough for lunch) will be done seated inside the restaurants and two tastings will be done on the street in front of the establishment.
In between delectable food tastings, your guide will tell fun and interesting stories about the history and culture of the neighborhood. It's a food, and culture walking tour with 5 tastings in 3 hours. Come eat with us!
Tour Options
Chinatown Food Tour
On our Chinatown Food Tour, we will explore the remarkable and historic ethnicity, culture, and foods that define Hong Kong and mainland China. You will taste authentic Canto and Mandarin foods
Itinerary
Admission included15 min
Portsmouth Square, formerly known as Portsmouth Plaza, is a one-block park in Chinatown, San Francisco, California, bounded by Kearny Street on the east, Washington Street on the north, Clay Street on the south, and Walter Lum Place on the west
Admission included15 min
The Old Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception is a proto-cathedral and parish of the Roman Catholic Church located at 660 California Street at the corner of Grant Avenue in the Chinatown neighborhood of San Francisco, California
Admission included15 min
The Tin How Temple is the oldest extant Taoist temple in San Francisco's Chinatown, and one of the oldest still-operating Chinese temples in the United States. It is dedicated to the Chinese sea goddess Mazu, who is known as Tin How in Cantonese.
Admission included15 min
Landmark bakery prepares homemade fortune cookies in a tiny open kitchen, with free tours available.
Admission included15 min
New Hollywood Bakery: (est. 1991): Our favorite light and buttery buns filled with barbecue-flavored cha siu pork.
Admission included15 min
Xian House of Dumplings: Handmade noodles and dumplings in the Chinese tradition
Admission included15 min
Some of the best dim sum options in Chinatown, SF
Admission included15 min
Local favorite known for Hong Kong-style dim sum and Chinese specialties.
Admission included15 min
AA Bakery: (est. 2002): Freshly made, out of the oven, Hong Kong-style egg tarts cooked to a smooth flan-like perfection with a buttery flaky crust.
Highlights
Local guide
Bottled water
City map
Food tasting
What's included
Included
Local guide
Bottled water
City map
Food tasting
Not included
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Gratuities
Traveller Ratings
4.9
151 reviews
5
142
4
6
3
3
2
0
1
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Important Information
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
A minimum of two people per booking is required
Frequently asked questions
How long does San Francisco Chinatown Food Tour take?
San Francisco Chinatown Food Tour lasts about 3 hours. The itinerary has 9 stops.
How much does San Francisco Chinatown Food Tour cost?
Prices start at $99 per person for this San Francisco experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel San Francisco Chinatown Food Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is We will be meeting outside in front of The East/West Bank. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is San Francisco Chinatown Food Tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 12 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Reviews(151)
J
javiermY8633ZK
September 6, 2026
You want traditional Chinese food. This is the right place. Kenric really good guide.
This food tour has been one of the greatest ones that we have ever been to. We love going on food tours and we have some experience and this one, top 3.
- Guide Kenric - he was great, knowledgeable and polite. As the tour was taking place, he would tell us stories about Chinatown, really good ones.
- Food - delicious. Make sure that you either skip breakfast or have a light one. There is a lot of tasty food.
- 6 stops: two sweets, and 4 savory (fried rice, dumplings, dim sum, Cantonese duck, Chinese curry, vegetables…
- There is not too much walking. Three hours fly by.
Operator response
Hi Javier,
Thank you so much for the incredible review! It means a lot to know that your experience with us ranks among your favorite food tours. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words along to Kenric, too! We’re so glad he helped make the experience memorable, and we hope to welcome you back for another delicious adventure soon!
S
SandBAtlanta
July 29, 2026
So much fun!
We had an amazing tour of Chinatown with Kenric. I was impressed by the whole tour but especially his timing. Everything just clicked! I could tell how much time he spent teeing things up and it was perfection. He knows his history but still managed to keep it light, fun and entertaining. Great food, easy walking, it was easily one of the highlights of our visit to SF!
Operator response
Hi,
This review means so much to our team! Kenric is truly an all-star and brings joy and passion to each tour. We're so happy to hear you enjoyed it!
J
Jennifer_B
July 27, 2026
The tour was very...
The tour was very informative, fun and delicious! Jinny was very knowledgeable about Chinatown history and she made it very fun!
Operator response
Hi Jennifer,
We're so happy you enjoyed your Sidewalk Food Tour of Chinatown!
J
Joan S
June 21, 2026
Nice exploration of Chinatown
It was easy to find the group at the starting point. Catherine made a point of making everyone feel welcome. Made a quick trip to a fortune cookie manufacturer and had a tasty sample, still warm from the oven. Next stopped for dumplings that were large and fresh. After that we had Cantonese Duck (differentiated from Peking Duck) and pork belly. Catherine picked up some pork buns and then we hiked up a steep hill to find a spot in a park to eat them. Not sure the park was worth the hike as we perched on a raised part of a piece of playground equipment. But there was a slide that several members of our group tried out. Then we were off to have delicious fried chicken and noodles. This stop was the highlight food wise. Ended the tour at a lovely tea shop where the proprietor’s son did a superb job of preparing multiple types of tea for us to try. Most of us purchased tea, but there was no pressure to do so. Catherine provided a very fresh custard tart, still warm from the oven. The group gelled beautifully and were exchanging contact info at the end. Wonderful way to celebrate Father’s Day!
Operator response
Hi Joan,
Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful review!
We're thrilled to hear that Catherine made everyone feel welcome and helped create such a fun and memorable experience. It sounds like you enjoyed our variety of foods throughout the tour!
We're especially glad the group connected so well and that the tour was a memorable way to celebrate Father's Day. Creating experiences that bring people together over great food and local culture is exactly what we strive for!
Thank you for joining us, and we hope to see you on another tour soon!
J
Jen_H
May 31, 2026
As someone who’s visited...
As someone who’s visited SF Chinatown throughout my life, there’s always something new to discover and this tour was a fantastic way to do that. Sure, I could have gone to the restaurants on the itinerary myself, but nothing beats learning the history and what makes this place special with a group of fun people while eating yummy food. Shoutout to my tour guide Kenric, who did an amazing job bringing these stories to life!
Operator response
Hi Jen,
Thank you for this wonderful review! We’re so glad you enjoyed exploring San Francisco Chinatown in a new way and that the mix of local stories and great food added something special to the visit.
Shoutout to your guide Kenric for bringing the history and culture to life so well. It means a lot to hear that the experience felt fresh and memorable even for someone familiar with the area!
A
ashleighc974
May 25, 2026
Fantastic
Our tour guide Ted was fantastic! The historical information was so engaging. The food was amazing! I didn't expect such large portions and the option to take home if you couldn't finish everything. Can't recommend this tour enough - especially if you get Ted as your tour guide!
Operator response
Hi Ashleigh,
Thank you for the wonderful review! We’re so glad to hear Ted made such a strong impression and that his storytelling helped bring the history to life in such an engaging way.
It’s great that you enjoyed the food and appreciated the generous portions along with the option to take leftovers home. We’re happy the experience exceeded your expectations and left you feeling so satisfied!
Thank you for the recommendation and for joining us!
M
M6935OOalexa
May 9, 2026
Amazing guide, fantastic food
Michael was fantastic! He brought us to places we wouldn't normally go and showed us manybl hole-in-the-wall spots. We loved the entire tour and the food was amazing. We would definitely do it again and do another sidewalk tour.
Operator response
Hi,
It's true... Michael is a fabulous tour guide! We're happy to hear you discovered some gems and enjoyed your tour with us! We can't wait to see which one you choose next!
B
B5087NYbonniep
March 28, 2026
Noodles, Tigers, and Bao oh my!
Kenric was an amazing tour guide and paced the tour really well with stops at places we would have never found on our own. This was a truly enjoyable way to navigate this historical part of the city with my partner and 14 yr old daughter
Operator response
Hi!
Kenric is wonderful and we're so happy you enjoyed our Sidewalk Food Tour!
R
Ron_C
March 23, 2026
Great experience
Mr Wong was an excellent tour guide. We loved the restaurants and food choices. Really enjoyed learning about the history and culture throughout the day.
Operator response
Hi Ron,
We appreciate your kind words! Thank you for taking the time to share!
J
johnmX1654MG
March 22, 2026
No Trouble in Little China
More than food but a great historical tour of Chinatown. Ted was awesome, knowledgeable and humorous. Every stop was well coordinated and the food was amazing. Highly recommend.
Operator response
Hi John,
Thank you so much for this awesome review! Ted is such a star and we are so glad you had a great time exploring Chinatown with him. Amazing food, great stories, and lots of laughs is exactly what we’re going for. Hope to see you again soon!
