Canada’s Oldest Chinatown: A Hidden Gem for Day Trips

Head to Fisgard Street in Victoria, British Columbia, where a striking red and gold gate flanked by two stone lions marks the entrance to Canada’s oldest Chinatown. This vibrant gateway, known as the Gate of Harmonious Interest, leads into a historic neighborhood that emerged in the mid-1800s as gold seekers from Australia, Mexico, and notably China flocked to Victoria. By 1911, the city had welcomed over 3,000 Chinese immigrants.

Once the largest Chinatown in Canada until the 1910s, when Vancouver claimed that title, it is now one of the smallest, spanning just three city blocks. However, in 1995, Canada officially recognized its significance by designating it a national historic site.

There’s much to explore in this area, from Canada’s narrowest street and enticing window displays of Hong Kong-style roast meats to a museum that recounts the journey of Victoria’s earliest Chinese immigrants. Here’s a guide to the best places to eat, shop, and sightsee in Victoria’s Chinatown.

Must-Try Dishes in Victoria’s Chinatown

Delicious Appetizers at Don Mee

Continuing the traditional practice of serving baskets of steamed, baked, or fried bite-sized appetizers on push carts that navigate between tables, Don Mee has been a cornerstone of Chinatown since 1923. While the menu includes favorites like baked barbecue pork buns and rice rolls, the shrimp dumplings and sticky rice are particularly popular. Enjoy your meal at a round table, accompanied by steaming cups of oolong or chrysanthemum tea.

Steamed Buns at Wah Lai Yuen

Pastries and buns, whether steamed, baked, or filled, are essential to Hong Kong’s culinary scene. Grab one at Wah Lai Yuen for a quick afternoon treat or pick up a box to stock your kitchen for days to come.

Be sure to try their signature cocktail bun, a delightful combination of shredded coconut, sugar, and butter wrapped in a soft bun, or the popular barbecue pork bun, bursting with meat encased in a golden crust. The golden-yellow egg tarts with their flaky shells, especially fresh from the oven, are not to be missed.

Hong Kong–Style Roast Meats at Loy Sing

Just look at the whole chickens and ducks showcased in the large window of Loy Sing: this restaurant knows how to prepare meat. This cash-only spot on Fisgard Street is famous for its siu mei, or Hong Kong–style roast meats, featuring barbecue pork, soy sauce chicken, and roasted suckling pig and duck, with barbecue pork being the standout for its caramelized glaze and delightful balance of sweet and savory flavors. These juicy meats are typically served over rice with bok choy for an affordable lunch or dinner, or as a side dish.

Dumplings from Dumpling Drop

Established in 2018, Dumpling Drop is one of the newer gems in this historic neighborhood. Originally an Instagram-only venture where followers ordered packs of 20 frozen handmade dumplings via direct message, it has since transitioned to a physical storefront on Pandora Avenue with seating options. Unlike traditional steamed or pan-fried dumplings, those from Dumpling Drop are deep-fried, offering a crispy exterior with a juicy filling. With flavors like pork belly, spicy ginger beef, and lemongrass chicken, these frozen dumplings often have lines out the door, so be sure to grab a few packs on your way out.

Shopping Destinations in Victoria’s Chinatown

Victoria Dragon Village

Part souvenir shop, part home goods store, Victoria Dragon Village features a diverse array of products. Lucky cats and red paper lanterns adorned with yellow tassels sit alongside porcelain dishware, mah-jongg sets, and elegant tea sets in this cozy shop on Fisgard Street. With a constantly changing inventory, it’s a delightful place to find unique trinkets for your home, kitchen essentials, or simply to enjoy a leisurely stroll through its winding aisles.

Silk Road Tea

Known for its exceptional selection of organic teas, Silk Road Tea has been beloved by locals since it opened in 1992. One room in the shop offers a tea tasting bar, while the other showcases a variety of teas and teaware, including strainers, tumblers, and beautiful cast-iron teapots.

Be sure to try the popular Angelwater tea, a fragrant blend of spearmint leaves, lavender blossoms, and rose petals. This subtly sweet and minty tea is also featured in a signature cocktail crafted by the local bar Clive’s Classic Lounge.

Things to Do in Victoria’s Chinatown

Stroll Down Fan Tan Alley

Regarded as Canada’s narrowest street, Fan Tan Alley is an iconic part of Chinatown. This 240-foot-long alley varies in width as it extends south from Fisgard Avenue to Pandora Avenue. At its widest point, it measures six feet, while at its narrowest, it shrinks to just 35 inches.

In the late 1800s, Fan Tan Alley was the heart of the neighborhood's entertainment scene, featuring gambling houses and opium dens that attracted Chinese fortune seekers during the gold rush. While opium use was legal, gambling was not. Today, these venues have been replaced by a variety of boutiques and shops offering clothing, jewelry, and vintage records.

Discover the Chinese Canadian Museum

Open from Thursday to Sunday, the Chinese Canadian Museum in Fan Tan Alley showcases historical photographs and artifacts that celebrate the heritage of Victoria’s earliest Chinese immigrants. With two exhibitions, First Steps: Chinese Canadian Journeys in Victoria and Gold Mountain Dream!, visitors can explore the challenging journey to Victoria and learn about the community’s influence on Chinatown and beyond, highlighted by stories of resilience and achievement since the 1850s.

Join the Chinese New Year celebrations

This lively 15-day festival typically occurs between late January and late February, based on the lunar calendar, and is one of Chinatown’s most exciting events. Homes and businesses are adorned with bright lanterns and red paper decorations, symbolizing prosperity. Experience the vibrant lion dance as it moves through Chinatown, collecting red envelopes and showering good fortune on spectators by tossing and spitting lettuce at them.