In the 1970s, there were many gangs, or Tongs, in Chinatown, with some of the most infamous being the Joe Boys and the Wah Ching gangs. Later that decade, in 1977, members of the Joe Boys—a Chinese youth gang also known as Chung Ching Yee—entered the Golden Dragon Restaurant around 2:40 a.m. and opened fire inside the crowded restaurant. The shooting was meant to target rival Wah Ching members during an ongoing gang feud. However, most of the victims were innocent bystanders, including locals and tourists who were not involved in gang activity. Five people were killed and eleven others were injured.
At the time, youth gangs were often formed because of poverty, language barriers, limited opportunities, and a lack of youth programs for immigrant teenagers. After the massacre, the city increased police efforts against gangs and community organizations expanded youth and education programs to help keep young people out of gangs. Some local stories claim that bullet holes remained in parts of the restaurant’s kitchen for years, though this has not been officially confirmed.
Located: 822 Washington St, San Francisco, CA 94108
Store Hours: Monday-Sunday 11 AM–8 PM
