While New York’s Chinatown is very well known, San Fransisco’s Chinatown is the oldest and largest in the country. The country’s oldest Chinatown has a unique and significant history, and while things have certainly changed since 1873, there is one spot in particular that serves as a landmark from over 100 years ago: Sam Wo Restaurant.
Sam Wo Restaurant opened in 1908, and remains an icon of San Fransisco's Chinatown District to this day.
At the peak of the California Gold Rush, it's estimated that over 25,000 Chinese Immigrants arrived at the Port Of San Fransisco. When the 1873 recession brought persecution to Chinese immigrants, they formed Chinatown in the center of the city.
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Around 5:00 a.m. on April 18th, 1906, a massive earthquake rocked the city of San Fransisco. The earthquake lasted less than 60 seconds, but the aftermath was catastrophic.
During the recovery period that followed the earthquake, Chinese entrepreneurs rebranded Chinatown. They transformed the area into a neighborhood of faux-Chinese architecture, hoping to make Chinatown more appealing to visitors and tourists.
Aside from the traditional Chinese fare, guests used to come to Sam Wo to be "verbally abused" by the "rudest waiter in the world", Edsel Ford Fung. This man, who worked at Sam Wo for years, lived from 1927 to 1984, and has become famous for his terrible treatment of patrons.
Today, Sam Wo remains a favorite of San Fransisco's Chinatown. The restaurant's signature BBQ Pork Rice Noodle Rolls are a favorite among locals and visitors alike.
Even though it has since moved from the original building, the historical Sam Wo Restaurant really personifies the idea of “old-world charm”, and is definitely worth a stop if you find yourself in Chinatown. To learn more about the restaurant’s history and see a menu, visit Sam Wo’s website.
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