For Mother’s Day, I invited my mom to dim sum in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Since I have a broken ankle and my mother has a walker, we didn’t cover much ground -only about a 4-block radius. San Francisco is a great walking town unless you have a broken ankle or a walker. Then, it’s a little dicey, especially on the hills. I’m not sure who was helping who. But, our fellow pedestrians cleared a path, and Mom and I managed to get around without incurring any further damage.
Our first stop was at Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory. This tiny factory, located down one of Chinatown’s most historic alleyways: Ross Alley, has been turning out fortune cookies since 1962. You can watch cookies being made, stuffed, and folded by hand. And then, you can buy some to go. They sell traditional, X-rated, sesame, and chocolate flavor. Actually, you don’t have to buy anything because they are super generous with their samples of warm cookie “disks” fresh off the griddle.
However, I hope you buy something because this uniquely San Franciscan institution is struggling to stay in business due to Covid.
Another local gem in danger of closing its doors forever is The Far East Cafe. The Far East Cafe is historical. It has been in business for over a century. But this beautiful restaurant with its gorgeous chandeliers and private dining booths came close to going under this past year. Thankfully, the local government stepped in to save them. San Francisco’s board of supervisors contracted The Far East Cafe to cook meals for the elderly and other food-insecure citizens. It was an ingenious relief plan, and I hope it’s enough to help the restaurant weather the pandemic and remain open.
It turns out that the Irish side of my family has roots in Chinatown. My maternal great-grandparents were married in Old St. Mary’s Cathedral. This beautiful church is within the 4-block radius right in the heart of Chinatown. I wish I could tell you that we attended mass since Mother’s Day was, of course, on a Sunday. But we didn’t. I didn’t think about it until I was standing in front of the church taking this picture.
Walking back to the car, I noticed that the Mission District isn’t the only neighborhood decorated with beautiful murals.
San Francisco’s Chinatown is more than a local treasure; it’s an American treasure. It is the largest Chinatown outside of Asia and the oldest Chinatown in North America. But it’s not just a tourist attraction; it is a real neighborhood. And this neighborhood, its residents, and its businesses are under a lot of strain right now. So, whether you’re planning a trip to the Bay Area or San Francisco happens to be in your own backyard, please go. Show your support. We need to protect this neighborhood and our neighbors.
Every year my dear son-in-law takes Paula and I, and their two beautiful children, out for brunch on Mother’s Day. God bless him.
This year the weather in San Francisco ‘s Chinatown was beautiful!
I also have memories of San Francisco and Chinatown. My aunt and uncle lived in San Francisco when I was a child, and I would stay with them occasionally. At the time, my uncle worked for the post office. He would take me there to this “enormous” building and show me around and introduce me to his friends. Then we would take long walks up and down the hills in San Francisco in the fog. And we would stop and get an orange sherbet, still my favorite.
So I love San Francisco and especially Chinatown.
Even though both Paula and I were incapacitated, the four blocks I got to walk were wonderful! The restaurant is beautiful and the food and service were wonderful!
A Perfect day!!!
Thank You!!!