Getting to Chinatown for a meal

Start with the actual restaurant address

Chinatown is a neighborhood, not a single entrance. Save the street address of your destination and check the final walking route before leaving. A restaurant on Broadway, an alley tea room and a bakery on Stockton Street may require different approaches. A nearby landmark can help, but the business address should remain the anchor.

Consider the T Third Street line

SFMTA lists the Chinatown–Rose Pak station at Stockton and Washington streets, served by the T Third Street line. Check SFMTA for current service and any disruptions before traveling. Transit details in an old food article can become outdated; the operator’s information is the better source for the day of your visit.

Allow time for the last few blocks

San Francisco streets can include hills, busy crossings and narrow pavements. Give yourself a buffer rather than planning to arrive at the station at the exact reservation time. If step-free access or limited walking is important, review the route and station accessibility information and speak with the restaurant about its entrance and seating.

If you are driving

Check a current parking map and the garage operator’s information before departure. Do not assume a restaurant’s older validation offer still applies, and avoid planning around an uncertain street space. Keep the reservation details available and let the restaurant know if you will be late. A little arrival planning protects the relaxed part of the meal.

Places to explore