Hang Ah Tea Room – The First Dim Sum House in the United States, San Francisco Chinatown
Tucked into an alley just off Sacramento Street in San Francisco’s historic Chinatown, Hang Ah Tea Room holds a remarkable distinction: it’s widely recognized as the first dim sum restaurant in the United States. Founded in 1920, this unassuming storefront carries more than a century of culinary and cultural history. In this photograph, the iconic red signage proudly announces its status—“First Dim Sum House in USA”—a declaration backed by both heritage and nostalgia.
Hang Ah’s faded neon, handwritten signage, and vintage red brick façade evoke a time when this corner of Chinatown served as both sanctuary and gathering place for newly arrived Chinese immigrants. It’s a rare gem that has persisted through waves of change—wars, social upheaval, urban renewal, and the COVID-19 pandemic—by serving baskets of steamed dumplings and pots of jasmine tea with consistency and care. Walking past its narrow doorway and under its worn green awning is like stepping into a living memory.
Despite its modest appearance, Hang Ah is a San Francisco institution. Long before dim sum became a culinary buzzword across America, this was where families came on Sundays for shrimp har gow and pork siu mai. Veterans of World War II dined here. Generations of Chinese American kids learned to love turnip cakes at its tables. And tourists, decades before Yelp or TikTok, were ushered in by word-of-mouth and the scent of fresh buns wafting down the alley.
The signage alone tells a story: carefully brushed Chinese characters beneath English slogans proclaiming its age and authenticity, all spelled out on glowing whiteboard and weathered wood. Lanterns hang overhead, evoking a festive spirit even on quiet weekday mornings. The muted red of the walls, the decorative green vents near the sidewalk, and the time-worn tile detail all blend into a textured palette that feels distinctly Chinatown.
Hang Ah isn’t flashy. It doesn’t try to be trendy. Instead, it honors tradition while gently adapting. Inside, the menu has evolved slightly to accommodate dietary changes and modern tastes, but the soul of the place remains untouched. Diners still sit elbow-to-elbow, pouring tea and sharing plates, the way it’s always been.
This photo is more than a snapshot of a restaurant—it’s a portrait of resilience, authenticity, and community pride. For those who love San Francisco’s Chinatown not only for its aesthetics but also for its cultural gravity, Hang Ah Tea Room is a beacon. As new waves of restaurants come and go, Hang Ah remains, steaming dumplings since 1920 and feeding the soul of a neighborhood that has given so much to the city it helped build.
Hang Ah Tea Room – The First Dim Sum House in the United States, San Francisco Chinatown
Tucked into an alley just off Sacramento Street in San Francisco’s historic Chinatown, Hang Ah Tea Room holds a remarkable distinction: it’s widely recognized as the first dim sum restaurant in the United States. Founded in 1920, this unassuming storefront carries more than a century of culinary and cultural history. In this photograph, the iconic red signage proudly announces its status—“First Dim Sum House in USA”—a declaration backed by both heritage and nostalgia.
Hang Ah’s faded neon, handwritten signage, and vintage red brick façade evoke a time when this corner of Chinatown served as both sanctuary and gathering place for newly arrived Chinese immigrants. It’s a rare gem that has persisted through waves of change—wars, social upheaval, urban renewal, and the COVID-19 pandemic—by serving baskets of steamed dumplings and pots of jasmine tea with consistency and care. Walking past its narrow doorway and under its worn green awning is like stepping into a living memory.
Despite its modest appearance, Hang Ah is a San Francisco institution. Long before dim sum became a culinary buzzword across America, this was where families came on Sundays for shrimp har gow and pork siu mai. Veterans of World War II dined here. Generations of Chinese American kids learned to love turnip cakes at its tables. And tourists, decades before Yelp or TikTok, were ushered in by word-of-mouth and the scent of fresh buns wafting down the alley.
The signage alone tells a story: carefully brushed Chinese characters beneath English slogans proclaiming its age and authenticity, all spelled out on glowing whiteboard and weathered wood. Lanterns hang overhead, evoking a festive spirit even on quiet weekday mornings. The muted red of the walls, the decorative green vents near the sidewalk, and the time-worn tile detail all blend into a textured palette that feels distinctly Chinatown.
Hang Ah isn’t flashy. It doesn’t try to be trendy. Instead, it honors tradition while gently adapting. Inside, the menu has evolved slightly to accommodate dietary changes and modern tastes, but the soul of the place remains untouched. Diners still sit elbow-to-elbow, pouring tea and sharing plates, the way it’s always been.
This photo is more than a snapshot of a restaurant—it’s a portrait of resilience, authenticity, and community pride. For those who love San Francisco’s Chinatown not only for its aesthetics but also for its cultural gravity, Hang Ah Tea Room is a beacon. As new waves of restaurants come and go, Hang Ah remains, steaming dumplings since 1920 and feeding the soul of a neighborhood that has given so much to the city it helped build.