While Los Angeles' Chinatown may not be one of the nation's largest, according to the official Chinatown guidebook, it is the first Chinatown entirely planned and built by its Chinese residents. Centered around a pedestrian mall called the Central Plaza, the LA Chinatown has a bevvy of delicious restaurants, nightclubs and cultural institutions. Whether you want some dim sum or wish to see the many Chinatown locales that have appeared in Hollywood blockbusters, LA's Chinatown will have a little bit of something for you.
Along Chinatown's main streets of Broadway and Hill, you will find dozens of Chinese banquet halls, cafes and markets. Many places like ABC Seafood specialize in dim sum (Chinese tapas), while other restaurants focus on baked goods, dumplings and tea. Even if you are not in the mood for traditional Chinese food, Chinatown has options for you. For instance, Phillippe's claims to have invented the French Dip sandwich. In addition, Chinatown has a large selection of Vietnamese cuisine.
Chinatown houses some of Los Angeles' most exciting bars and clubs, many located in Chinatown's Central Plaza. The Grand Star Jazz Club offers live music, DJs and twice a year, an excellent vinyl record fair called the LA Beat Swap Meet. Across the plaza is Mountain Bar, a hipster lounge decorated with comfy couches and beds. Mountain Bar hosts frequent concerts, dance nights and artistic events. Other Chinatown bars and clubs include Roberto's and Hop Louie.
One great way to see many of Chinatown's cultural and historic landmarks is to embark on a walking tour. The official ChinatownLA website suggests beginning your tour at the historic Central Plaza. Built in 1938, Central Plaza remains a vital meeting place for dining, arts and culture. Highlights in the Central Plaza include a five-tiered pagoda and a dragon painted by famed painter and muralist Tyrus Wong.
Other stops that you should consider including on your walking tour are Chinatown's first bank (Cathay Bank), the Taoist Temple on Yale St., the architecturally magnificent Chinese Methodist Church on Hill St and the headquarters of the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California on Bernard Street. For a more detailed tour, consider the monthly Undiscovered Chinatown Tour.
Another unique feature of LA's Chinatown is a small alleyway north of the Central Plaza that contains several art galleries. A few times each month, the galleries have art nights. Many of the galleries are open during the day as well.
For shopaholics, LA's Chinatown has a variety of gift shops, herbal medicine shops and clothing stores. Take a mid-afternoon stroll down Hill St and Broadway to stumble upon many of these intimate shops.
