With over twenty cultural districts in the Greater Los Angeles area, one can travel around the globe without having to leave Southern California. This itinerary starts with the Asian districts.
Japanese sweets are also a very important part of the community: at Cafe Dulce, you can try a matcha doughnut with a coffee, and grab cream puffs from Beard Papa’s.
Addresses:
Daikokuya - 327 E 1st St, LA, CA 90012
Marugame Monzo - 329 E 1st St, LA, CA 90012
Sushi Gen - 422 E 2nd St, LA, CA 90012
Men Oh - 456 E 2nd St, LA, CA 90012
Things to do
Not only Japanese supermarkets and souvenir stores, the Japanese American National Museum is worth visiting to learn more about Japanese American history and culture. The colorful Home is Little Tokyo mural is also a natural photo stop.
Another popular stop is Koyasan Beikoku Betsuin, a temple with a history of over 100 years, where many visitors come to buy charms and small keepsakes.
Little Tokyo
Little Tokyo is one of Los Angeles’s most distinctive international neighborhoods and a focal point of Japanese culture. The area has a very walkable atmosphere boosted by over a century of history. Little Tokyo began flourishing after World War I, suffered dislocation during World War II, and has been revitalized in the close-knit district we see now. A blend of 19th century commercial buildings and more modern constructions provide a historic walk through time.
In August the district's major annual event Nisei Week takes place. Activities include ikebana, a tea ceremony, calligraphy, Japanese arts, parades, and street performances.
Little Tokyo is one of the best places in Los Angeles to experience authentic Japanese cuisine, like sushi, izakaya, and even karaoke.Little Osaka: Sawtelle
Little Osaka is Los Angeles's version of the divide between Kanto and Kansai in Japan. Just south of UCLA, the Sawtelle area developed into a full-fledged Japanese community and earned the name "Little Osaka" after the eastern Japanese city.
There is an abundance of Japanese eateries and stores, many of which are open until midnight. The area has become a popular late-night stop for college students because of the easy and often free parking.
Food
Menya Musashi is a famous ramen restaurant that opened here in July 2018. It is known for its ramen with large slices of pork belly.
For Japanese-style yakiniku at Manpuku Tokyo BBQ, the beef tongue is a great choice.
International students particularly like Kitchen Story. To complete the meal, you can grab a hand-shaken Taiwanese drink from Coco.
Addresses:
Manpuku Tokyo BBQ - 2125 Sawtelle Blvd, West Los Angeles, CA 90025
Coco Fresh Tea & Juice - 11301 W Olympic Blvd #105, LA, CA90064
Menya Musashi Ramen - 2012 Sawtelle Blvd, LA, CA 90025
Kitchen Story - 2129 Sawtelle Blvd, LA, CA 90064
Koreatown (Ktown)
It is impossible to get lost in Koreatown because the streets are lined with Korean signs.
Koreatown is a highly populated area. There is a vibrant and dense commercial zone. Parking is scarce, but after sundown the entire area is bustling with activity as restaurants and shops stay open late, transforming it into a lively all-night district.
Food
The defining feature of Koreatown is Korean barbecue. Many famous restaurants have branched out to new locations, but diners say there is no substitute for the original. One such restaurant is Kang Ho-dong Baekjeong, known for its high-quality meat (if you don’t mind spending a little).
At Honey Pig, the kimchi fried rice can be as memorable as the barbecue.
Park's BBQ is another upscale name in the neighborhood.
Don’t forget the generous, budget-friendly options for AYCE (All You Can Eat) barbecue, like BCD Tofu House, which is open 24 hours. EMC Seafood & Raw Bar is good, but many diners consider the Koreatown location to be the best.
Kang Ho-dong Baekjeong - 3465 W 6th St, LA, CA 90020
Honey Pig - 3400 W 8th St, LA, CA 90005
Park's BBQ - 955 S Vermont Ave, LA, CA 90006
BCD Tofu House - 3575 Wilshire Blvd, LA, CA 90010
EMC Seafood & Raw Bar - 3500 W 6th St #101, LA, CA 90020
Chinatown
Los Angeles’ Chinatown may be smaller than San Francisco’s, but the weathered, vintage feel of historic buildings makes it just as fascinating. The neighborhood has taken an unforeseen shift in the past few years, becoming more imaginative and increasingly focused on the arts.
There are many layers of history and culture in Chinatown. These include ceremonial gateways, red lanterns, and statues of Bruce Lee and Sun Yat-Sen.
Address: Chinatown Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles' Chinatown links to the historic core of Los Angeles and is one of the largest Chinese community centers on the West Coast.
It is home to the style of architecture from 1970's China and has traditional paifang gateways, red lanterns and shop signs in Chinese letters.
In this area, visitors can eat Chinese food, find unique souvenirs and see dragons and lion street performances during the holidays.
There is ample evidence of the Chinese language and community in the area. Although Chinatown used to be a Chinese enclave, immigrants from many other Asian countries have moved in and the area has come to represent the American respect and appreciation for Asian cultures.
Little Taipei: Monterey Park
Monterey Park was nicknamed “Little Taipei” during the 1980's when a large number of Taiwanese immigrants moved here. Today, Monterey Park is one of the largest Chinese settlements in the Greater Los Angeles region.
Dining
Huge Tree Pastry is a Taiwanese breakfast restaurant and is famous for its soy milk, steamed buns and pork floss rice roll.
If you want soup dumplings and don't want to wait for Din Tai Fung, you can go to Mama's Lu Dumpling House.
Elite Restaurant is popular with dim sum lovers. Though slightly pricier, the meals here are more elaborate and the portion sizes are greater.
For a BBQ experience, the long queues for Dasheng BBQ are a testament to its popularity amongst fans of grilled barbecue dishes.
Location:
Huge Tree Pastry - 423 N Atlantic Blvd #115, Monterey Park, CA 91754, USA
MaMa's Lu Dumpling House - 153 E Garvey Ave, Monterey Park, CA 91755, USA
Elite Restaurant - 700 S Atlantic Blvd, Monterey Park, CA 91754, USA
Dasheng - 331 W Garvey Ave, Monterey Park, CA 91754, USA
Little Saigon
Almost 190,000 Vietnamese Americans are currently living in Orange County, which is home to the most famous Vietnamese population in the country that begins in Westminster, known as Little Saigon, and extends to Garden Grove.
In these two cities, over 30 percent of the population is Vietnamese, making it one of the most dense Vietnamese settlements in the country.
Dining
In addition to a wide variety of Vietnamese cuisine, the area also hosts a selection of trendy dessert shops and cafes. The Loop: Handcrafted Churros is known for its churro ice cream, while Mr Matcha serves popular matcha inspired desserts, and colorful rolled ice cream can be found at Sweet Rolled Tacos.
Addresses:
The Loop: Handcrafted Churros - 9729 Bolsa Ave, Westminster, CA 92683, USA
Mr Matcha - 12926 Main St Unit B, Garden Grove, CA 92840, USA
Sweet Rolled Tacos - 9930 Garden Grove Blvd, Garden Grove, CA 92844, USA
Thai Town
Hollywood’s surrounding area is home to a number of unique cultural enclaves. Just above Little Armenia is Los Angeles Thai Town, the only officially recognized Thai community in the whole country, spanning about 6 blocks. You’ll find that Thai Town has a number of vibrant and extravagant decorations. One of the first things to catch your eye as you enter from the west is Apsonsi, the guardian statue with human and animal characteristics. Also, lining the roads through Thai Town on Hollywood Blvd. are yellow trumpet trees. For a Thai style massage and some relaxation, head to Thai Sabai. \n\nFood \n\nAt Thai Town Plaza, you will find a number of restaurants to choose from, but you’ll have to bring cash if you want to eat at Ruen Pair, which is known for its genuine Thai cuisine. \n\nThe Original Thai BBQ is the place to go if you’re in the mood for some Thai barbecue. You can find some unique Thai potato chips to take home. And after you eat, save some space for mango sticky rice and coconut pudding from Bhan Kanom Thai!
