Stockton Street Chinatown Markets

The Stockton Street markets form the working-grocery spine of San Francisco's Chinatown, in California, stretching along Stockton Street north of Broadway and through the blocks around Clay and Jackson streets. Unlike Grant Avenue, which caters to tourists with souvenir shops, Stockton Street serves residents who shop here daily. The goods sold include fresh vegetables and fruit stacked on the sidewalk, live fish and shellfish in tanks, roast duck and barbecued pork, tofu, noodles, dried mushrooms, medicinal herbs, tea, dried seafood and baked goods such as egg tarts and pastries. The ratio of authentic to tourist goods is heavily weighted toward the genuine, and prices are low, which is why the street is considered one of the best places in the city to see everyday Chinese-American commerce. Most vendors speak Cantonese or Mandarin, and English may be limited, but prices are generally marked. Bargaining is not customary at set-price shops, though friendly negotiation over produce by the bag is sometimes possible. Cash is strongly preferred and often required, so visitors should carry small bills. No tourist tax refund applies to food. The atmosphere is crowded, loud and fast, particularly on weekend mornings when sidewalks fill and shoppers jostle around produce stands, and visitors should be ready to move with the flow. Food options on site include bakeries, dim sum counters, noodle shops and takeaway stalls selling buns and pastries, which can be eaten on the go. Must-visit corners include the herbal and tea shops, fish markets with live tanks, and the many bakeries selling egg custard tarts. Most shops close by about 6:00 PM, so the best experience is in the morning and early afternoon. The street is steep in places and runs along the Muni bus corridor, with the Chinatown subway station nearby.