Southeast Los Angeles - Los Angeles, CA

Once a part of South Central Los Angeles, the expanding nature of the greater Los Angeles area eventually shifted the city center to the north. The community of Southeast LA is an active one, establishing the Southeast Los Angeles New Community Plan. This plan, called SELA, aims to make improvements for the next 20 years by preserving neighborhood character, creating new jobs, and improving the quality of life for its residents.

The Kwanza Heritage Festival and Block Parade takes place in Leimert Park Village every December. Another area event, the Nisei Week Japanese Festival, takes place in the Little Tokyo district of Los Angeles. Nisei Week Festival attendees enjoy martial arts demonstrations, various dinners and luncheons, and a Grand Parade.

When visiting Southeast Los Angeles, one of the first things you might notice is the wide variety of food available. A virtual melting pot of ethnic foods, a diverse range of restaurants suit just about any palate.

Take a trip to the Palm Restaurant, a popular downtown Los Angeles eatery. Sitting just one block east of the Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers NBA franchise, you can take in a meal before the game. A few of the most popular menu items include jumbo lobsters, prime beef, and a wide range of robust Italian fare. Try out the restaurant's linguini and clam sauce, featuring white wine, chopped clams, and basil.

Tire Shop Taqueria in Historic South Central is the taco stand residents hit up when they crave a true taste of Los Angeles. Most people eat upright here, as this place has little seating, but locals say it's totally worth it. Order the asada tacos, and enjoy the perfectly seasoned filling blended with avocado.

For more down-home cooking, try the soul food at Carolyn's Kitchen. Serving a variety of soul food dishes, such as hearty meatloaf, crunchy catfish, and many different country sides, the place fills your craving for meals that seem straight from grandma's kitchen.

For night life, take a trip to downtown Los Angeles and Club Mayan. Some of its events include dancing on Friday and Saturday nights to a wide variety of music genres, such as house, electro, Latin pop, hip hop, and others.

The numerous sidewalks and bike lanes make getting around Southeast Los Angeles easy for pedestrians and cyclists. Add to that the plentiful public transportation, including the Metro and Metroline, and residents and visitors can travel with ease.

Getting a cab in Southeast Los Angeles is as simple as hailing one. Failing that, you can use the Uber service. Public parking is plentiful, with lots and parking structures sitting off of Manchester Avenue. Many of these have free hourly and daily parking.

Area Freeways include the 405 to the west, the 710 to the east, the 105 to the south, the 5 to the north, and the 110 Freeway splitting the area down the middle. Easy to access, drivers can reach all areas of Southern California from these freeways.

Southeast Los Angeles houses many parks, giving visitors a chance to get away from work and enjoy the outdoors with their friends, family, and pets. One such park, Franklin D. Roosevelt Park, was authorized by President Roosevelt during the 1930s and remains one of the oldest parks in Los Angeles. Free to use, the park stays open from sunrise to sunset and contains a full range of amenities, including basketball courts, playgrounds, a fitness zone, and picnic areas.

Located in an industrial park, the Augustus F. Hawkins Natural Park contains a Discovery Center, which gives provides classes and workshops for children and adults, all for free. The park also features bike trails and barbecue and picnic areas.

If you own a dog, visit the Arts District Dog Park in downtown Los Angeles. Free to use, you can let your dogs run free while they play in its park-like environment.

Overall, the cost of living in Southeast Los Angeles comes in lower than average when compared to the rest of Los Angeles. The median rental rate for a one-bedroom apartment in Southeast Los Angeles costs much less than in the rest of the city, at about $1,010 per month.

Getting around the neighborhood is relatively easy, with transit from Southeast Los Angeles to downtown costing around $2. A beer costs anywhere from $3 to $4 at a local bar, making spending time out on the town fairly inexpensive. The price of gas, like many areas of Southern California, sits higher, costing about nine percent more than the national average.

The retail stores, boutiques, and specialty shops in Southeast Los Angeles give you many options when it comes to fashion, home décor, and other items you want or need. One such place, Flemming Chalef, offers shoppers a wide variety of fashion accessories, kitchen, and seasonal items. Some of the items available include those from Lucy Lu Designs, Gallerie II, and Design India Imports.

You can head into downtown and visit the Holy Grail, which has a large assortment of shoes, hats, and other apparel to choose from. Shop from such brands as Nike, Adidas, and New Balance. Another area store, Robert Siegel Studio, has a selection of kitchen and craft items for sale. You can find mugs, plates, and bowls in many different colors and designs.

Of course, living in Southeast LA, you have access to an enviable location -- the Fashion District. The tiny shops and boutiques that line these streets have the latest styles and trends from up-and-coming designers. Head to the Santee Alley, situated between Santee Street and Maple Avenue, to find a wide selection of shoes, purses, clothing, and accessories -- many selling at wholesale. The Alley also features several restaurants and coffee houses. Santee Alley is 365 days a year.

Area grocery stores include Food 4 Less, Superior Grocers, and Ralphs. While you can fill many of your food and other grocery needs at these area supermarkets, for fresh produce, look no further than the Green Farm Market, a Latino and Asian produce market and grocery store.