America’s best Chinatowns - America’s blend of cultures is what makes our country so rich. More than a century of Asian immigration has made the US one of the top countries in the Western world for Chinese and other Asian enclaves. Most Chinatowns in the US today house many cultures other than Chinese, and have changed their names to Asiantown or something similar to reflect their diversity. Check out the list to learn a bit about America’s most iconic Chinatown’s early history, as well as spots you can’t miss while visiting.

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Honolulu, HI - Established in 1900, Honolulu has one of the country’s oldest Chinatowns. Chinese workers came to Hawaii in the 19th century to work on plantations as contract workers, many of whom became merchants after the end of their contracts and settled in the area.

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Honolulu, HI - Can’t-miss spots: Kuan Yin Temple, Sing Cheong Yuan Bakery, The Pig and the Lady, Royal Kitchen, and Little Village Noodle House.

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Boston, MA - Located in the capital’s downtown, Boston’s Chinatown is the country’s third largest, and one of the city’s most densely populated residential areas. The people that originally settled here were brought in from China to break a strike at the Sampson Shoe Factory in North Adams, MA, in 1870, and later moved to the Boston area.

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Boston, MA - Can’t-miss spots: Hayden Building, Mei Sum Bakery, Peach Farm, China Pearl Restaurant, and Gourmet Dumpling House.

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New York, NY - Home to the most densely populated area of people of Chinese descent in the Western hemisphere, the Manhattan Chinatown has an estimated population of 90,000 to 100,000. Facing increasing racism and discriminatory laws on the west coast, waves of Chinese immigrants came to the east coast in the mid-1870s in search of employment. Early immigrants in this region opened hand laundries, and restaurants.

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New York, NY - Can’t-miss spots: Museum of Chinese in America, Yunhong Chopsticks, Tasty Hand-Pulled, Noodles, Nom Wah Tea Parlor, and Jing Fong Restaurant.

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San Francisco, CA - Dating back to 1848, this San Francisco neighborhood is the largest Chinatown in North America and the largest Asian enclave outside of Asia. What is now Chinatown was once the only region within the city where Chinese immigrants were allowed to own property between 1850 and 1900.

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San Francisco, CA - Can’t miss spots: Golden Gate Bakery, Hang Ah Tea Room (the country’s oldest dim sum house), R&G Lounge, Hunan Home’s Restaurant, and Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory.

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Chicago, IL - After Chinese and other Asian immigrants flew from persecution in California, they settled in Chicago, making this Chinatown the second oldest in the US.

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Chicago, IL - Can’t-miss spots: Nine-Dragon Wall, Chinese American Museum of Chicago, Chiu Quon Bakery, Lao Sze Chuan, and MingHin Cuisine.

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Los Angeles, CA - In 1871, Los Angeles became the stage of one of the worst episodes of racial attacks in the west, when about 500 white men killed 19 Chinese men and boys. The episode is known today as the Massacre of 1871. LA’s new Chinatown was established in the 1930s, since the old neighborhood was torn down to make room for Union Station.

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Los Angeles, CA - Can’t-miss spots: Thien Hau Temple, Chinatown Wishing Well, Phoenix Bakery, Golden Dragon Restaurant, and Yang Chow.

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Seattle, WA - The Chinatown-International District of Seattle encompasses the city’s Chinatown, Japantown, and Little Saigon. Chinese immigrants first settled in the Pacific Northwest in the 1850s, but the city incessantly drove them out from the region. Some took refuge with the Native Americans while others came under the protection of white employers and a judge.

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Seattle, WA - Can’t-miss spots: Wing Luke Museum, Uwajimaya Supermarket, Fuji Bakery, Tamarind Tree, and Mike’s Noodle House.

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Washington, D.C. - Chinese immigrants began to settle in this part of D.C. after being displaced from their original location along Philadelphia Avenue in the 1930s by the development of the Federal Triangle government office complex.

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Washington, D.C. - Can’t miss spots: Burma, Full Kee, Szechuan Gallery, Kanlaya Thai Cuisine, and Chinatown Garden.

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Philadelphia, PA - Immigrants of Cantonese descent settled in this area in the mid- to late-19th century, where they opened laundromats and restaurants.

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Philadelphia, PA - Can’t-miss spots: Asian Arts Initiative, 1st Oriental Supermarket, Four Rivers Restaurant, Sang Kee Peking Duck House, and Imperial Inn.

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Houston, TX - Houston’s old Chinatown was established in the 1930s, when immigrants of Cantonese descent settled in east downtown Houston. However the neighborhood known today as Chinatown was established in the 1980s, given that an increasing number of Chinese and other Asian immigrants were settling in southwest Houston.

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Houston, TX - Can’t-miss spots: Night Market Thai, House of Bowls, Niu Jiao Jian Hot Pot, Ohn Korean Eatery, and Okome Don.

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Las Vegas, NV - Unlike older Chinatowns, this neighborhood takes the form of strip malls where you’ll find shops and restaurants. The strip malls were established in 1995 by a Taiwanese American developer.

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Las Vegas, NV - Can’t-miss spots: Harbor Palace Seafood, Sam Woo BBQ, Ranch 99 Market, Chengdu Taste, and Chada Street.

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Monterey Park, CA - This suburban Chinatown was the vision of a young Chinese developer who, in the late-1970s, bought a lot of property in Monterey Park with the intention of developing an Asian enclave outside of saturated Los Angeles. His project worked. Today, the city of Monterey Park has a population that is 70% Asian residents, which is the highest percentage of any city in the country. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Monterey Park, CA - Can’t-miss spots: Mama Lu Dumpling House Mp, Ocean Star, Mandarin Noodle House, and Daw Yee Myanmar Cafe. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Flushing, Queens, NY - This is one of the fastest-growing Asian enclaves outside of Asia. It was established in the 1970s, when Taiwanese immigrants began to arrive in the city following the Chinese Civil War.

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Flushing, Queens, NY - Can’t-miss spots: New World Mall, New World Mall, Tianjin Dumpling House, Peng Shun Spicy Pot, Xi’an Famous Foods, and Chinese-Korean Dumplings and Noodles.

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Locke, CA - The unincorporated community in the Sacramento area was established by Chinese merchants in the early 20th century. Following an accidental fire in 1915 that destroyed the Chinatown in nearby Walnut Grove, residents resettled in this area. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Locke, CA - Can’t-miss spots: Dai Loi Museum, Locke Garden Chinese Restaurant, Locke Art Center, and Al the Wop’s. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Cleveland, OH - First established in the mid-1800s by Chinese immigrants who worked on the railroad, the neighborhood, like many other Chinatowns in the eastern part of the country, served as settlement for those escaping persecution along the west coast. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Cleveland, OH - Can’t-miss spots: Wonton Gourmet, Superior Pho, Koko Bakery, Asia Tea House, Li Wah, and Siam Cafe. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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