Chinatown

Chinatown has authentic Chinese food and culture in a crowded, touristy area. Safe during busy daytime hours but watch for pickpockets and be prepared for language barriers. Gets quiet after dark.

Chinatown is touristy but in a charming way, and the food is legitimately good if you know where to go. Grant Avenue is all souvenir shops and crowds, but Stockton Street is where locals actually shop and eat. It's generally safe during the day because there are always people around, but watch your bag in the crowds - pickpocketing is definitely a thing here. The language barrier is real - lots of older folks speak only Chinese, so don't expect much English outside the tourist areas. Portsmouth Square is sweet, with old Chinese men playing chess all day. It gets pretty quiet at night when the shops close, so it's more of a daytime destination. The authentic dim sum places are worth seeking out, just be prepared to point at what you want if you don't speak Chinese.