Chinatown in Oakland suffers from comparison to chinatown in San Francisco which is much larger with many more shops and restaurants. When we needed Chinese slippers, the Oakland shopkeeper said his prices where higher than San Francisco because of the distance coming across the Bay. Of course all the containers come from China through the Port of Oakland. That was the last straw. We go to Chinatown in San Francisco for shopping and food or we get takeout from the Chinese resturant in our Oakland neighborhood.

So much good food and not enough time. Lots of interesting shops and busy daytime crowds. Some good Vietnamese places as well.

It is gritty, but it is a Chinatown. What Chinatown is spotless and doesn't smell? There's a mixture of cooked and raw items for sale and garbaged is not picked up daily. With that said, my finicky 3-year-old ate steamed buns, soft warm bread, noodles, etc. Picked up yummy treats. Be prepared to sit on a stair or public bench somewhere to eat. Taos definitely throws it down.

It is the real thing, not like San Francisco's tourist trap.Tao Dim Sum on Webster between 7th and 8th is outstanding.