Chinatown Los Angeles

Chinatown Los Angeles, located close to several other fun LA destinations like downtown, Philippe's Original, Olvera Street and Dodger Stadium, is one of our favorite destinations to hit at least a few times a year. OK, sure Chinatown isn't unique to LA, most big cities have their version, but we're here in LA so we don't need to drive to San Francisco to enjoy a little slice of China. Whether just for the fun of it or if you are looking for a rare Asian ingredient for your experiments with Chinese cooking, this is a great place.

This is definitely a family-friendly LA destination as the kids will have fun with the sights and smells and you'll enjoy the history and food. For starters, we like to start with a stroll around the central plaza, originally called New Chinatown when it was build, now it looks like old Chinatown Los Angeles. This is the really Chinese looking section, located between Broadway and Hill Street, between College and Bamboo Lane. Take in the sights and make a wish in the old, falling-apart wishing well.

All around the area are various restaurants and shops. In particular, walking down Broadway toward Cesar E. Chavez Ave, there are a number of funky little shops selling everything from every crappy little piece of Chinese periphenalia and souvenirs you can imagine to real, authentic Chinese foodstuffs.

The markets are a big part of the fun. While most look small and crappy, you'll find all kinds of interesting stuff in there. From fish markets with aquariums full of live fish and shellfish to Chinese herb and tea dealers with every type of weird thing you can imagine. What do they do with all those dried sea cucumbers?

Finally, there is a weird little open air shopping area off of Broadway (it says Saigon Plaza 828 above the entrance). You feel like you are in the far east in a shopping bazaar with all the fun and cheesy vendors selling everything from purses to baby turtles (we keep looking for a monkey each time we go but haven't seen one yet!). Seemingly going miles back into the bowels of the block, you could practically get lost in there.

Chinatown Los Angeles
Centered on North Broadway just north of Cesar E. Chavez Avenue

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