Chinatown in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Hang Ah 香雅
Dimsum Tea House
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, June 12, 2021
1. Hang Ah Teahouse / 香雅茶館 Marker
1920
1st Dim Sum House in USA
(Chinese not transcribed)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Asian Americans • Industry & Commerce.
Location. 37° 47.605′ N, 122° 24.442′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Chinatown. It is at the intersection of Pagoda Place (Hang Anh Alley) and Sacramento Street, on the left when traveling north on Pagoda Place (Hang Anh Alley). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Pagoda Place, San Francisco CA 94108, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on California’s Coast Ranges. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Willie "Woo Woo" Wong (a few steps from this marker); Hang Ah Alley (within shouting distance of this marker); First Chinese Baptist Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Far East Cafι (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Watershed History (North Shore) (about 500 feet away); The Birthplace of a Great City (about 500 feet away); Site of Old St. Marys (about 500 feet away); Spofford Alley (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.
Also see . . .
1. Step Inside 98-Year-Old Hang Ah Tea Room, the Oldest Dim Sum Restaurant in America. Vice website entry (Submitted on June 15, 2021.)
2. Dim sum (Wikipedia). Wikipedia entry:
"Dim sum (traditional(Submitted on June 15, 2021.)Chinese: 點心; simplified Chinese: 点心 ...) is a large range of small dishes that Cantonese people traditionally enjoy in restaurants for breakfast and lunch."
Click or scan to see
this page online
3. Blob Joints: a history of dim sum in the U.S. Sampan website entry:
"Its alleged that the first dim sum restaurant in the U.S. was the Hang Ah Tea Room in San Francisco, which opened in 1920, closely followed later that same year by the Nom Wah Tea Parlor in New York City. Both of these restaurants are still open. However, there were not any newspaper references about dim sum at these spots during the 1920s and 30s. It is possible that dim sum was initially something available primarily to the Chinese community, so they did not advertise to non-Chinese people."(Submitted on June 15, 2021.)
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, June 12, 2021
2. Hang Ah / 香雅 Marker - wide view
The marker is visible here a bit to the left of the restaurant entrance.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 15, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 741 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 15, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
