In April 2012 , the San Francisco Health Department ordered the restaurant closed for rodent activity ( rat feces in the kitchen ) and other food safety and fire code violations . The restaurant closed on April 20 . The restaurant experienced lines out the door on its last day of operation . With Sam Wo closed , late-night dining in Chinatown came to an end , marking the end of a decline that began in 1977 with the Golden Dragon Massacre , accelerated after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake which damaged the Embarcadero Freeway , the main route into Chinatown , and intensified after street sweeping was moved to 2 a.m. , which caused many late-night diners to receive parking tickets
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
Sam Wo