A man in Clueless once said, “Everywhere in LA takes 20 minutes.” He was wrong, so wrong. Try an hour.
You may think you know exactly what you’ll find in Chinatown, but there is more than meets the eye in this classic LA neighborhood. It is a perfect spot for the family to soak in culture, food, art and play. And as Los Angeles does best, this neighborhood blends the eclecticism of the city with classic Chinatown charm. With family friendly events all year round, you can always find a reason to visit Chinatown.
At first glance, Chinatown feels stuck in time as the rest of the city transforms around it. But the neighborhood has been experiencing a renaissance, bursting with new restaurants and galleries. For parents looking for a fun outing with the fam, Chinatown is a place with sights, sounds, and delicious smells your kids will never forget.
In many ways the heart of the neighborhood or main artery, Chinatown Central Plaza is a place where you can experience many of the joys of the neighborhood in one spot. Full of unique shops and restaurants, you can get lost for hours in the unending trinkets and tasty delights. Be sure to hit up the wishing well, where dreams can come true for a little pocket change, and take in the lights and lanterns at night, which will wow the whole family.
In Chinatown, a mix of new and old restaurants caters to every palate. Whether you’re hankering for traditional dim sum or looking for the most innovative spring roll in town, Chinatown is a veritable paradise of delicious tastes. With many restaurants open late, and a wide range of cuisines, you’ll be sure to find something particularly pleasing to the palate beneath the paper lanterns and neon lights.
As you can imagine, Chinatown is a dim sum heaven! Several restaurants serve the small, bite-sized portion till the afternoon (1:00 – 2:00 p.m.) for an affordable price per piece. If you are not familiar with this style of eating, basically you will pick the ready to eat dishes from a menu or cart. Shrimp dumplings, barbecue pork buns, spare ribs, egg tarts, sesame balls and coconut pudding are popular options. If you want some of the best Dim Sum in Chinatown, look into going to Golden Dragon restaurant for award winning Dim Sum and even more delicious dishes to please your taste buds. There is enough parking at this restaurant which allows everyone a spot at the door. There are no worries on spending too much money when it comes time to pay; their prices are reasonable and affordable.
Perhaps you’re going to Chinatown with a large group or family members. They will be more than happy to take your party, get everyone ordered, and fed. This is great when you do not want to wait to be seated or fed.
Broadway Street is lined with many stores selling souvenirs, toys, luggage, clothes, accessories and everything you can imagine. It is nearly impossible not to find a great buy. From plastic swords and parasols for the kids to lucky plants and sunglasses (cheap enough that you won’t feel a loss if your toddler gets hold of them) for the folks, Chinatown has it all.