5 Can’t-miss Chinatowns in the USA: A Journey Through Culture & Cuisine

San Francisco’s Chinatown is the largest outside Asia and the oldest in the USA. After entering the iconic Dragon Gate, wander a maze of streets and alleys lined with pagoda-style buildings and ornate lamp posts. Delve into culture at the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum with exhibits showcasing people and places of the community including Frank Wong’s world of miniatures depicting scenes from the neighborhood. Art fans should check out the Chinese Culture Center’s Visual Arts Center and 41 Ross community art space, both hosting art exhibits and events. No trip to San Francisco’s Chinatown is complete without eating. Michelin-starred and James Beard-awarding winning Mister Jiu’s serves Cantonese cuisine with a California twist family-style. At House of Nanking, order from the list of must-haves or ask the staff to help you create a meal unique to your taste. Fortune cookies were invented in San Francisco. At Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory, you can learn about the local legacy, watch as cookies are made by hand and sample cookies with unique flavors like green tea.

New York City’s diverse mix of cultures encompasses multiple Chinatowns. The city’s largest is in Manhattan, where the lively Deluxe Food Market is the perfect way to start your adventure. Sample an array of prepared foods like dim sum, marinated seafood and Chinese barbecue. Hop Kee restaurant is a hidden gem serving traditional cuisine in a storefront below street level. For a sweet treat, Chinatown Ice Cream Factory is a neighborhood institution offering traditional and Asian-inspired flavors including lychee and black sesame. The Museum of Chinese in America celebrates and illuminates the contributions of Chinese Americans through multimedia exhibits and events. Find residents playing mahjong and practicing tai chi in Columbus Park, an adjacent community gathering place.

In Brooklyn, stroll 8th Avenue in Sunset Park, the heart of the borough’s fast-growing Chinatown, alive with street grocers selling fresh produce and roast shops with hanging cuts of meats. At Xin Fa Bakery, try famous egg tarts with buttery crusts and sweet custard filling. At Park Asia, diners can choose sweet and savory dim sum plates from carts wheeled through the dining room. At Yun Nan Flavor Garden, order the ever-popular Crossing the Bridge noodles – rice noodles, ham and quail eggs served in an aromatic broth. The neighborhood’s namesake Sunset Park is ideal for an after-meal walk. On warmer nights, watch performances of traditional Chinese dances in front of a panoramic view of the Manhattan skyline. Xi Fang Temple is a serene Buddhist temple offering an escape from the neighborhood’s hustle and bustle.

In Queens, the densely populated Flushing neighborhood is home to both a thriving Chinese community and ethnic groups from across Asia. Try pan-Asian cuisine from food carts, stalls and restaurants: Spicy, homemade dumplings from White Bear’s takeaway window are a must. Shop for souvenirs and more at New World Mall, a three-story destination with an Asian supermarket and food court featuring cuisine from Thailand, Korea, Japan and more.

Dating to 1938, Los Angeles’ Chinatown is walkable, compact and colorful. Enter through the ornate East Gate and head to Central Plaza. The heart of the neighborhood features a statue of Bruce Lee and is decorated with red and yellow lanterns. At night, the buildings surrounding the plaza dazzle with neon lights depicting Chinese characters and traditional imagery. Art lovers will appreciate Chung King Road’s preserved vintage storefronts, now home to hip galleries that come alive on opening nights. Far East Plaza features a mix of established and up-and-coming eateries. For comfort foods like customizable noodle soups at a great price, try Kim Chuy. Nearby, Broadway Cuisine’s extensive and authentic Chinese menu has something for every craving. Just outside Chinatown at downtown’s El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, the Chinese American Museum is dedicated to the history and experiences of Chinese Americans in California. See works by Chinese American artists, artifacts chronicling Chinese immigration to the USA and other items such as clothing, costumes and toys.

In Chicago, start at the Nine Dragon Wall, an elaborate public art piece celebrating Chinese folklore, featuring nine large dragons and more than 500 smaller dragons. One of many pieces of art in the neighborhood commemorating Chinese culture, the wall is modeled after a similar piece in Beijing. It’s one of only three replicas outside China. Walk around picturesque Chinatown Square, a pan-Asian cultural center, for food, shops and public art. Spot statues of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals and the “Chinese in America” mural with hand-cut and painted glass from China. Admire the impressive city skyline and Chicago River from Ping Tom Memorial Park. When it’s time to eat, indulge in Hong Kong-style Cantonese cuisine, and Sichuan and Hunan specialties, in Evergreen Restaurant’s friendly atmosphere. Chiu Quon Bakery is the cornerstone of Chicago’s Chinatown and the oldest Chinese bakery in the city. Sample sweet and savory buns, egg tarts and cakes, all made daily. For shaved ice, bubble tea and other Asian-inspired sweets, head to Autea Sweets and Eats. The annual Chinatown Summer Fair is a popular way to enjoy food, art, music and Chicago’s fantastic summer weather.

The only remaining historic Chinese district in New England, Boston’s Chinatown welcomes visitors with its elaborate Chinatown Gate, a gift to the city from Taiwan. Check out murals, interactive installations and replicas of fine art throughout the district on the Chinatown Art Walk. Relax among Chinese-style gardens and landscapes in Chinatown Park, marked by a minimalist, red steel gateway. The Pao Arts Center spotlights the Asian American Pacific Islander community, hosting exhibits and organizing site-specific installations by local creatives and Chinatown residents. Shop for Asian arts, crafts and gifts including fans, lanterns and stationery at Essex Corner. Dining options are abundant: Indulge at Happy Lamb Hot Pot – famous for its eight-hour bone marrow broth and Mongolian hot pots with premium meats and rich broths. Dine on traditional Taiwanese dishes like beef noodle soup and oyster omelets at Taiwan Café. Friendship BBQ Boston serves succulent wagyu beef and lamb on skewers, spicy seafood dishes and Boba tea.