French
DeutschChinatown and the Pueblo are neighborhoods in Central L.A., in an area bounded by the 101 Freeway, the 110 freeway and the Los Angeles River. The area around the Pueblo and Olvera Street is the oldest part of L.A. Union Station is in this part of town.
Understand
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See
[edit | edit source]- 1 Union Station, 800 N Alameda St. No trip to Downtown LA would be complete without a visit to the historic train station, built in 1939 with a Spanish mission exterior. The large waiting room and restaurant looks just as it did in the 1940s, which has made it a popular filming location for period films, and the interior courtyards with their bubbling fountains make for a pleasant space to wait for your bus or train.
Chinatown
[edit | edit source]- 2 Chinatown. Centered along North Broadway north of Cesar Chavez Avenue, Los Angeles' Chinatown is unlike those of many other cities in that it has a much more modern appearance, with a mixture of traditional Chinese and modern architecture along wide, busy streets. North Broadway is lined with shops, restaurants, and institutions serving the local Chinese-American population, as well as several urban malls and plazas leading off the street which hold many small shops, restaurants, and stalls.
- 3 Chinatown Gate. An impressive arch which spans over North Broadway near the intersection of Cesar Chavez Avenue, with two striking golden dragons regarding an orb-like lantern.
- 4 Chinatown Central Plaza. A pedestrian mall off Broadway north of College Street that's the historic center of the neighborhood, with lots of touristy shops housed in traditional pagoda architecture with Chinese lanterns strung over the alleyways. A couple of highlights for visitors are an elaborate wishing fountain and a statue of Bruce Lee in combat stance.
- 5 Saigon Plaza. An open-air bazaar off Broadway between College and Alpine Streets with stalls selling bargain goods (be sure to haggle!).
- 6 Los Angeles State Historic Park, 1245 N Spring St (Metro Gold Line: Chinatown station), ☏ +1-323-441-8819. Daily 8AM-sunset. Also known locally as the Cornfield, this expansive public park on the north side of Chinatown opened after an extensive overhaul. The site has a long history, having been used as agricultural land near the original El Pueblo before becoming the first railyard in Los Angeles. A visitor center offers exhibits on the park's history. Outside are fields, a public orange grove, a naturalistic arroyo, and a pedestrian platform which offers an excellent view of the downtown skyline and passing Metro trains. Free.
El Pueblo de Los Angeles
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9 El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument (between Main St and Alameda St north of US 101; across from Union Station), ☏ +1-213-485-6855. This small district is where Los Angeles was founded as El Pueblo de Los Angeles. Today, this touristy district holds a collection of museums and historic buildings sandwiched in a few square blocks centered around the 7 Old Plaza and along 8 Olvera Street, which is lined with Mexican-themed trinket stands and restaurants. Free guided tours led by volunteer docents are led by Las Angelitas del Pueblo.
- 10 Avila Adobe and Visitor Center, 10 Olvera St, ☏ +1-213-628-1274. Daily 9AM-4PM. The oldest house in Los Angeles, built in 1818 and today open as a museum furnished as it might have appeared in the 1840s. The house also holds the El Pueblo Visitor Center, with information on the district and a gift shop selling books, maps, and souvenirs based on El Pueblo. Free.
- 11 América Tropical Interpretive Center, 125 Paseo de La Plaza. Tue-Sun 10AM-3PM; winter mural viewing Nov-Mar 10AM-noon. Visitors can take a look at the restored and controversial mural América Tropical by famed Mexican artist David Siqueiros, complete with its own museum. Free.
- 12 Chinese American Museum, 425 N Los Angeles St, ☏ +1-213-485-8567. Tue–Sun 10AM–3PM. Housed in the last surviving building from Los Angeles' original Chinatown, which was almost entirely demolished to make way for Union Station, this museum has exhibits on the Chinese American experience in the region, with artifacts and a recreation of a Chinese herb shop. Free; donations requested.
- 13 LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, 501 N Main St, ☏ +1-213-542-6200. Mon, Wed-Thu noon–5PM, Fri-Sun noon-6PM. A small campus of historic buildings and gardens with interactive exhibits and films on the Mexican American history of the area. Free.
- 14 Museum of Social Justice, 115 Paseo de la Plaza (facing the Plaza), ☏ +1-213-613-1096. Thu-Sat 10AM-3PM, Sun 10AM-1PM. Housed in the 1925-era La Plaza Methodist Church and operated by the United Methodist Church, this small museum has changing exhibits drawing from the church's extensive historical photo archive. Free; donations accepted.
- 15 Plaza Firehouse Museum, 134 Paseo de la Plaza, ☏ +1-213-625-3741. Tue-Sun 10AM-3PM. This was the original fire station for the City of Los Angeles. Built in 1884, it has been restored to its original condition. The knowledgeable docents offer a peek into Los Angeles in the 19th century. Free; donations accepted.
- 16 Sepulveda House, 12 Olvera St. Tue-Sun 10AM-3PM. A Victorian-style house dating back to 1887, today open as a period museum.
Do
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[edit | edit source]- 1 Philippe's, 1001 N Alameda St (Chinatown, one block from Union Station), ☏ +1-213-628-3781. 6AM-10PM daily. An LA landmark a couple of blocks north of Olvera Street and Union Station is a nostalgic shop with hay and sawdust covered floors. Famous for their 'French Dip' sandwiches dipped in au jus ($4.90), but the real reason to go is the atmosphere and the pastrami — the joint opened in 1908 and the menu still features things like pickled eggs and pig's feet. Coffee is ten cents a cup, but their 60-cent lemonade is even more popular. Expect to line up at any time and the place is mobbed on the nights of Lakers and Dodgers games.
- 2 Scoops Ice Cream, 727 N Broadway Ste 125 (in Far East plaza), ☏ +1-323-739-8675. Tue-Sat noon-10PM, Sun noon-6PM. Very good ice cream shop with excellent ice cream in the Far East Plaza in Chinatown
- 3 Lax-C Supermarket, 1100 N Main St (Dogtown), ☏ +1 323 343-9000. Mon–Sat 8AM–4PM, Sun 8:30AM–4PM. This independently owned Thai grocery store has to be seen to be believed. Expect the cement floors, industrial shelving, large packages, and the occasional forklift of a restaurant supply store in the main store, but the hot food deli area at the front focuses on curry and street food the way it's made in Thailand. The deli has some tables and chairs, but you could also take your treats to the Los Angeles State Historic Park a couple of blocks north. Debit cards or cash only – they charge extra to process credit cards.
Midrange
[edit | edit source]- 4 Yang Chow, 819 N Broadway (at Alpine St, in Chinatown), ☏ +1-213-625-0811. Sun-Thu 11:30AM-9:30PM, Fri-Sat 11:30AM-10:30PM. Be sure to order the slippery shrimp and the dry sauteed vegetables (green beans and asparagus).
- 5 Phoenix Inn, 301 Ord St. Chinese with an emphasis on Hong Kong dishes. No liquor license, but you can bring your own.
Splurge
[edit | edit source]- 6 Traxx, 800 N Alameda St (inside Union Station), ☏ +1-213-625-1999. Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30AM-2:30PM, dinner: Mon-Thu 5PM-9PM, Fri-Sat 5PM-9:30PM (Traxx Bar open Mon-Sat 11:30AM-10PM, Sun 1:30PM-8PM). Fancy-Schmansy restaurant in Union Station. Good food, pricey but the ambiance of Union Station makes it worth a splurge.
Drink
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[edit | edit source]- 1 Aiden Los Angeles Downtown Dragon Gate Inn (Best Western Dragon Gate Inn), 818 N Hill St (2 blocks south of the 110), ☏ +12136173077. Check-in: 3 PM, check-out: 11 AM.