Chinatown - Los Angeles, CA Area Guide

Originally settled in the late 1800s, the original Chinatown consisted of 15 streets, a theater, and three temples. The Old Chinatown was eventually torn down, replaced by New Chinatown, which was settled in 1938 when a group of residents planned and paid for the community, building it from scratch. As a result, Chinatown is remarkably self-sufficient and offers historic buildings, fantastic culture, arts, and festivals. Chinatown is home to more than 25,000 residents and sees a daily influx of tourists visiting the shops and restaurants.

Once you move to an apartment in Chinatown, be sure to take the Chinatown Walking Tour. This tour uncovers the neighborhood's best-kept hidden treasures, including an art gallery, a temple, courtyards, and plazas.

Annual events and festivals include Chinatown Summer Nights, which takes place in the summer. This event features food, games, Chinese beer, art, and dancing. During the event, museums and other local organizations host workshops, such as cooking demos and interactive dancing.

There are several must-try restaurants in Chinatown. The Golden Dragon is said to have the best Dim Sum in the neighborhood. Giving the Golden Dragon a run for that title is Empress Pavilion. In addition to Dim Sum, this restaurant offers a variety of dishes, ranging from Peking duck to jellyfish. Yang Chow offers a delightful seafood menu (they're famous for Slippery Shrimp) and has been serving the neighborhood since 1977.

One of the great surprises about Los Angeles's Chinatown neighborhood is that it serves much more than Chinese food (although, again, best dim sum). You'll also find Latin, French, Mexican, Italian, and Cajun cuisine -- usually along N. Broadway, the area's main drag.

At Chego, locals love the "ooey-gooey" fries and the chubby pork belly, a rice bowl with radishes, water spinach, Chinese broccoli, and peanuts. An ideal spot for hanging out with friends or picking up a to-go order before a Dodgers game, Chego offers a food truck-like feel that's perfect for transitioning from work to play mode.

The Little Jewel of New Orleans serves po' boys, muffuletas, and parish fair sandwiches straight out of the Cajun playbook. Best of all, you can take home New Orleans classics such as chicory coffee, beignet mixes, and more from the adjoining market.

Philippe the Original has lots of L.A. history contained within its walls. Serving up breakfast and lunch favorites, it has been around since 1918. The signature dish, the French dip sandwich, was discovered by accident when owner Mathieu inadvertently dropped the bun into a roasting pan, which was filled with meat juices. As the story goes, the LAPD officer who ordered that sandwich came back the next day asking for the same thing, and the rest is history.

Nightlife in Chinatown is eclectic and lively, ranging from cocktail bars such as General Lee's to the laid-back Grand Star Jazz Club to dance clubs such as the Fly Ball. Locals also flock to Cabaret Versatile for tasteful French-style cabaret entertainment.

Most people in Los Angeles prefer to drive, particularly if they're traveling to Chinatown. Because it's a small area, with small alleyways leading to shops and restaurants, parking can be difficult and sometimes expensive. If you see a metered spot, it's best to take it, or find a well-lit local lot.

However, because Chinatown is located close to Union Station and the downtown area, it's also one of the easier neighborhoods to navigate by public transportation. The Gold Line serves this area, as local Los Angeles DASH buses.

Hailing a cab is easier the closer to downtown you get, so you may find one on the street if you're lucky. It's always easy to arrange an Uber pickup, however.

Chinatown can be accessed via the 110, 101, or 10 freeways to connect with surrounding areas. Once you're parked, Chinatown's very walkable because it's a small neighborhood. There are a few bike lanes in Chinatown, with plans to add more soon, so cyclists can feel free to travel the streets as long as they're mindful of traffic.

Los Angeles State Historic Park is located within the confines of Chinatown, toward its northern border. Many events take place in this park, including the annual Renegade Craft Fair and Day of the Dead. This 32-acre park contains several historic buildings, including LA's second-oldest industrial building, the Flat Iron Building, which dates back to 1890. The park is ideal for walking or biking the trails, bird-watching, and picnicking.

The Alpine Recreation Center, another park in the area, has great youth programs, such as basketball, volleyball, martial arts, and dancing. A large gym, air conditioning in the summer, and a friendly atmosphere make it a go-to for locals and visitors to the area. Some programs require a small fee to join, but many of the services are free.

From the Renegade Craft Fair, with vendors creating all kinds of craft specialties, to Chinatown Summer Nights, there's always something to do in Chinatown. The culture, food, and music beg to be experienced.

Chinatown's cost of living tends to be a little lower than the city's average, with a typical one-bedroom apartment in Chinatown renting for $1,700. It's easy to walk to the city center, or you can pay around $2 to get there via public transportation.

A beer at a local pub usually runs around $4 to $5, and gas hovers around 12 percent higher than the national average.

Most of Chinatown's shopping can be found along N. Broadway. Small shopping centers, such as Chinatown Central Plaza and Los Angeles Chinatown, host smaller stores with distinctly regional vibes. Many of these small shopping centers are great places to find souvenir items such as fans, incense burners, and Chinese pillows and fabrics. Other boutiques include Ooga Booga and Realm.

For groceries, most locals choose smaller purveyors that have the freshest produce and other Chinese items. LAX-C and Ai Hoa are the go-to places for that hard-to-find spice or vegetable.