San Francisco Chinatown restaurant reopens after fatal crash
A San Francisco Chinatown restaurant, New Lun Ting Cafe, has reopened months after a fatal March crash damaged the century-old spot. Read the full story.
Prajakta Sanjay Warwadkar 
SAN FRANCISCO, June 15, 2026 — New Lun Ting Cafe, a century-old San Francisco Chinatown restaurant known to regulars as the Pork Chop House, reopened on Jackson Street over the weekend, nearly three months after a fatal car crash forced it to close. The family-run business held a soft reopening on Saturday after completing major repairs to the damaged storefront.
Neighbors regard the cafe as one of the longest continuously owned restaurants in Chinatown and one of the few low-cost spots left for local residents. Its return marks a recovery point for a block still affected by the March crash that killed one person.
San Francisco Chinatown restaurant returns after deadly March crash
The restaurant closed in late March after a 76-year-old driver, allegedly attempting to park, crashed into the business. A man delivering a carpet was killed, another person was injured and the storefront sustained damage.
The driver has been charged with vehicular manslaughter and has pleaded not guilty. He awaits trial in September.
Community marks the reopening
The Jing Mo Athletic Association performed a lion dance outside the cafe to mark the occasion, a traditional gesture meant to bring good fortune to the owner and staff. Booth seating that many customers remembered has been replaced with tables.
Bucky Wing of the Jing Mo Athletic Association said longtime patrons have built decades of memories at the restaurant, naming roast pork and beef tongue among the dishes regulars return for. "There's only a few of this type now," Wing said, pointing to the dwindling number of similar restaurants in the neighborhood.
A neighborhood staple
Residents described the cafe as an affordable gathering place with deep roots in the community. Mario Grillo, a lifelong San Franciscan, welcomed the news of the reopening.
"It's a staple of Chinatown and San Francisco," Grillo said. The restaurant planned a full reopening on Monday. More on the group that performed at the event is available through the Jing Mo Athletic Association.
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