Battle of the 2nd Tier Urban Chinatowns: Philadelphia vs Boston vs Montreal vs Seattle (Int'l District) (crime, compared)
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Which of these inner city Chinatowns is the most vibrant?
Chinatown Philadelphia, Chinatown Boston, Chinatown Montreal or International District Seattle?
Only consider the actual Chinatown (or Int'l District in the case of Seattle) neighborhood; don't compare the Chinese/East Asian offers of the city at-large or metro area.
Having been to all four, I picked Philadelphia's since it seems to have both the size of Seattle's International District and the density of Boston's and Mont conreal's Chinatowns (which are both largely concentrated on one street).
The international district, though largely Chinese, does have quiet a bit of Viet offerings (particularly east of I-5), but it just doesn't seem all that busy and seems semi-industrial.
This isn't about Chicago. This is about Philly, Boston, Montreal, Seattle. Chicago's is most likely on the same level or a little behind. Probably on the same level.
I love Seattle, its actually one of my favorite cities to visit and especially eat, but I was really let down by Chinatown/ID. I was expecting a city with such a large Asian presence to have a much more bustling and vibrant Chinatown. Is there a suburban Chinatown outside of Seattle that has taken its place? Similar to Richmond, BC or Markham, ON?
I have been to all four as well, and I would say Boston's is my favorite, but that may be due to familiarity with the neighborhood and having eaten my way though the majority of the area. It is very densely populated and vibrant and one of the true late night areas in a city that usually shuts down by 2am or earlier everywhere else. Outside of Boston there are two suburban Chinatowns sprouting up (Malden and Quincy) but the Downtown Chinatown has maintained its status as the center or Chinese culture in New England. It is also mainly Chinese, despite having Malay, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese and Korean restaurants scattered throughout.
The other Asian cultures (Vietnamese-Dorchester; Korean-Allston; Cambodian-Lowell; Japanese-Porter Square; Filipino-Quincy) have found their own areas to concentrate in outside of Chinatown.
With that said, Montreal and Philly have excellent Chinatowns as well, I would personally rank Seattle's as last on the list unless as I mentioned above their is another Chinatown located elsewhere that I missed out on visiting.
This isn't about Chicago. This is about Philly, Boston, Montreal, Seattle. Chicago's is most likely on the same level or a little behind. Probably on the same level.
the title of the thread said "the 2nd Tier Urban Chinatowns",,, not "some 2nd Tier Urban Chinatowns" which implies a limited inclusive listing. Which would also imply others not listed are either 1st tier (SF/NYC) or lower. No?
I love Seattle, its actually one of my favorite cities to visit and especially eat, but I was really let down by Chinatown/ID. I was expecting a city with such a large Asian presence to have a much more bustling and vibrant Chinatown. Is there a suburban Chinatown outside of Seattle that has taken its place? Similar to Richmond, BC or Markham, ON?
I don't think suburban Seattle has anywhere with the Asian concentration of Markham, ON or Richmond, BC. There are sizeable Chinese populations in a number of suburbs though; that having been said, I don't know how large and exclusively Chinese the retail sectors are.
People in Seattle will tell you the ID is currently not living up to its potential. It is fairly run down and has issues with crime/vagrancy. It's also one of the less bustling inner neighborhoods in the city. That said, there are some cool Chinese and Japanese restaurants and bars, some of which are open late night (and serve "cold tea" past the 2 am liquor curfew), as well as some cool shops, bubble tea places, and other interesting establishments. However, compared to Boston's (the only other Chinatown on the list I've been to), I'd say it's lacking in energy and not as dynamic or fun.
I love Seattle, its actually one of my favorite cities to visit and especially eat, but I was really let down by Chinatown/ID. I was expecting a city with such a large Asian presence to have a much more bustling and vibrant Chinatown. Is there a suburban Chinatown outside of Seattle that has taken its place? Similar to Richmond, BC or Markham, ON?
I have been to all four as well, and I would say Boston's is my favorite, but that may be due to familiarity with the neighborhood and having eaten my way though the majority of the area. It is very densely populated and vibrant and one of the true late night areas in a city that usually shuts down by 2am or earlier everywhere else. Outside of Boston there are two suburban Chinatowns sprouting up (Malden and Quincy) but the Downtown Chinatown has maintained its status as the center or Chinese culture in New England. It is also mainly Chinese, despite having Malay, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese and Korean restaurants scattered throughout.
The other Asian cultures (Vietnamese-Dorchester; Korean-Allston; Cambodian-Lowell; Japanese-Porter Square; Filipino-Quincy) have found their own areas to concentrate in outside of Chinatown.
With that said, Montreal and Philly have excellent Chinatowns as well, I would personally rank Seattle's as last on the list unless as I mentioned above their is another Chinatown located elsewhere that I missed out on visiting.
Boston has a China Town South of sorts 4 stops down on the Red Line in North Quincy. A large Asian population along with a wide range of restaurants and businesses.
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