7 Best Shopping in Chinatown, San Francisco

Tea enthusiasts will feel at peace in this bright, spacious haven for sipping. You'll find more than 400 different varieties of tea here, and the staff is extremely knowledgeable on the health benefits of each and every one.

This family-run shop has been selling bright, fun-shaped kites—dragons, butterflies, sharks—since the 1960s. There's a lot more than kites, too, with feng shui items, art tiles, and even iPhone cases that can go home as local souvenirs.

Nestled in a narrow alleyway, this tiny destination is impossible to find unless you have directions. This is the place to watch fortune cookies being made; the intricate process involves flattening, folding, and pressing patches of dough. You can purchase big bags of cookies in various flavors, shapes, and sizes to take home.

Since 1922, this aromatic shop has been treating the city with its wide selection of ginseng, tea, and other herbs. You might even hear the click of an abacus as a purchase is tallied up. A Chinese doctor (who speaks English) is always on hand to recommend the perfect remedy.

One of the city's leading galleries devoted to emerging contemporary artists resides along Chinatown's main thoroughfare. Jessica Silverman has been instrumental in launching the careers of several artists and constantly puts together interesting exhibitions.

Hand-painted robes, kimonos, formal dresses, and jackets are sold at this second-generation family-owned spot. Chic Asia-inspired gifts and smaller items make great souvenirs.

The store carries woks, of course, but also anything else you could need for Chinese cooking and eating—bamboo steamers, ginger graters, wicked-looking cleavers—plus artistic chopstick holders and accessories for Japanese cooking, including sushi paraphernalia and tempura racks.