Sutro Project / Chinatown
The oldest Chinatown in North America, the largest Chinese population outside Asia - and a bold break from the tired pastels of San Francisco! A great place to stock up on fruits, vegetables, exotic herbs, swords, and as many trinkets as your heart desires. And a great opportunity to try chicken (or goose) feet :)
Visitors are sometimes afraid of Chinatown - and it's good to be careful with your wallet anywhere you go - but Chinatown is not more perilous than other locations, and locals are generally more concerned about bus slowdowns (especially on the 30 line) than theft.
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinatown,_San_Francisco,_California
