Chinatown is really a world of its own my only comment from a tourist's standpoint is that I had a hard time finding a public bathroom outside the restaurants (none of the stores had them). The only one I actually found was at the Chinatown McDonalds. I know it sounds inconsequential, but man when you gotta go it's pretty important!

Be sure to have a wonderful dinner in North Beach. My daughters and I just enjoyed a Birthday dinner at Pinnochio's; calamari fritti, caprese, prosecco, amareto della valpocelloca, and salmone with lobster sauce. So good! A beautiful spring evening.

Have a great time in SF. It's a special place.

Count me in as one who loves all your separate posts. A word about Dottie's True Blue Cafe - make sure it's open! We made a special trip there one morning (Tuesday? Wednesday?) and found it closed. We ate breakfast at the Monaco instead. Nice atmosphere, good breakfast but expensive and the staff seemed indifferent.

There was some mention of Chinatown in the link I put on your question about maps & guides (I think) below the part about the Filbert Steps, but I don't know if there was much info there... and I'm too tired to check now.

Thanks CHATNOIR for asking - I am just beginnning my own research for a SF trip in August and I know nothing about the place. If people are sick of seeing posts about whatever----maybe they should go to another state's listings and learn something new they don't already know.

I don't see that anyone is sick of seeing certain questions...some get asked often, it's true, but you can't always use old posts, as some of the info may have changed. Furthermore, I, too, thought the multiple posts were odd, until I realized that 1)I liked being able to ignore the bits I couldn't help with and answer the ones I could, and, 2) the multiple posts seem to have helped thwart the resident nutjob. And lastly, ChatNoir, as I said, I'm a planner, too, and think it's great to have a loooong list of stuff to see and do; when I get on the ground, I prune as necessary. Have a great trip!

I have been amazed and delighted at how much great info the kind folks on this board provided me. And, so far at least, no uglyness or putdowns like on the European Board. Knock on wood!

Do go to the Fortune Cookie factory. For some reason I'm thinking it's on Jackson. I do know it's in an alley.

Go to Chinatown during the day. It tends to close in the early evening.

Wander.