San Francisco has always had a major relationship with Chinese restaurants. In Chop Suey, USA author Yong Chen notes Rutherford B. Hayes, the first United States president to ever visit the city, made a historic trip to Chinatown in 1880, taking in the sights and sounds of a type of neighborhood that was getting its footing in the country. Fast forward year later and locals Andria Lo and Valerie Luu captured the heart and soul of San Francisco’s — and Oakland’s, for that matter — Chinatown in their Chinatown Pretty book and project.
Whether more than a hundred years ago or on any given Sunday, this part of the city is not just a tourist destination but a living, breathing piece of United States lore. And, thankfully, it’s full of excellent restaurants, too. Now that Golden Gate Bakery is serving egg tarts once again and Z&Y is bringing Beijing-style duck to new heights, it’s a better time than ever to stroll Grant Avenue or take in the sights at Portsmouth Square. Try one of these 17 bakeries and restaurants to catch up on all that history.
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