Best of LA's Chinatown by Metro (Stop #1 of 8)

(Metro Stop #1 of 8)  This guide will take you thru the best of Los Angeles' Chinatown and is the first of 8 guides that will explore the neighborhoods surrounding Metro stops in the Downtown LA area.  We'll visit Old Chinatown Plaza with its famous wishing well, the Empress Pavillion for dim sum, the Bamboo Lane Gallery and of course, shopping.
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CHINATOWN'S HISTORY: LA's Chinatown was founded in the late 1800s and was originally located near Union Station, approximately a mile from its current location, but the residents were evicted to make way for the city's new Art Deco train station.  This original Chinatown had grown to over 15 streets and alleys, had several temples, a newspaper and even a beautiful Chinese Opera theatre, but it's rapid decline in the early 1900's was due to various gambling houses, opium dens and Chinese gang warfare, and lead to the Supreme Court ruling to condemn the area and make way for the new major rail yard and Union Station.

The Chinese community, under the leadership of Peter Soo Hoo Sr., began designing the New Chinatown in the 1930's with the help of Hollywood film set designers.  The main plaza is a Hollywood version of Shanghai and was meant to bring in tourists and boost the economy, but there are still many parts of Chinatown that cater to only its local Chinese community.

 

CHINATOWN METRO STATION:   This metro station (Location "A" on the map below) is on the Gold Line, just one stop north of Union Station in downtown Los Angeles and is located at 901 North Spring Street at College Street.  Before leaving the station, find the feng shui spriral on the ground.  All of LA's metro stations have wonderful pieces of art and themes that run throughout.  After exiting the train station, walk west on College and make a right on North Broadway.  The Old Chinatown Plaza will be one block ahead on the left hand side. 

OLD CHINATOWN PLAZA:  After passing many different shops, restaurants and fortune tellers, you will come to the East Gate of the Old Chinatown Plaza, (photo at top of page and Location "B" on map below).  This plaza has been a favorite tourist spot for over sixty years because of its great restaurants (Hop Louie is in the rear of the plaza), various shops, The Seven Star Cavern Wishing Well (don't forget to make a wish) and the fifty foot tall Golden Pagoda.  If you are here at night, you'll get to see the Gates lit up with beautiful neon and also get to experience one of the various clubs with great music.  My personal favorite is The Firecracker.  Exit the plaza the same way you entered and make a left and continue north on North Broadway.  The Phoenix Bakery will be just ahead of you.

PHOENIX BAKERY:   If ANYONE you know is having a birthday, you must order one of their strawberry cakes!  My best friend demands one every year and for a very good reason!  The Los Angeles Times recently featured this cake in one of their online articles.  They also have a large variety of smaller cakes and pastries for the 'on the go' traveler. http://www.phoenixbakeryinc.com/  Just don't eat too much yet because we are soon heading to Empress Pavillion.  After you exit the bakery, continue north on North Broadway and make a left on Bamboo Lane.  You will find the gallery just ahead. 

BAMBOO LANE GALLERY:  (Location "C" on map below)  There are many different galleries in Chinatown, but I've been especially impressed with the quality of artwork in this gallery.  Exhibits change frequently, so visit their site before the trek. http://www.bamboolane.com/gallery.htm  Continue west on Bamboo Lane and make a right on North Hill Street.  Walk north until you enter the Empress Pavillion plaza.  The restaurant is on the second floor.

EMPRESS PAVILLION:  (Location "D" on map below) This is THE BEST DIM SUM in Los Angeles!  Dim Sum is only served until 3pm and is very very busy, so get there early and expect to wait.  After 3:00 dim sum ends and reverts into a normal 'off the menu' Chinese restaurant.  http://www.empresspavilion.com/  Amazing food!  Next, we are going to walk south on Hill Street for several blocks and turn left on Alpine Street.  Make a left on North Broadway and the shopping center is on your left.

DYNASTY SHOPPING CENTER:  (Location "E" on map below)  You can find everything in here!  There is a great tea specialist on the top floor in the back.  Ask them anything, and they'll select the perfect tea as the cure.

From here, we are going to work our way back to the Metro station.  Continue north on North Broadway and make a right on College. 

Off to stop #2 on the Metro Tour... Union Station!  Stay tuned for more.

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