Home to bubble tea cafes, barbecue restaurants and karaoke joints, Koreatown is an ethnically diverse neighbourhood in central Los Angeles. It was settled by Korean immigrants in the 1960s and has since welcomed large numbers of Latino residents, with fusion-style Korean taco trucks now a staple on its streets.
Things to do in Koreatown
For a retail fix, head to Koreatown Plaza, a three-storey shopping mall where you’ll find a variety of retail stores and Asian-inspired eateries. It’s a great place for picking up Korean beauty and health products, as well as specialty food products that might be hard to find elsewhere. The surrounding streets are home to several Korean barbecue restaurants with coal-fired tabletop grills for a “cook-your-own” experience.
In the far south of Koreatown is Seoul International Park, which boasts a children’s playground, a baseball diamond and walking trails. You can take advantage of the jogging track, utilise the outdoor fitness equipment or relax at one of the picnic tables. Adjacent is the architecturally impressive Korean Pavilion where cultural events are occasionally held.
A few blocks west of Koreatown is the Korean Cultural Center, which hosts cultural activities and exhibitions throughout the year. Historical artefacts and Korean handicrafts are on display in the first-floor museum while the second-floor art gallery hosts changing exhibitions of local and international artists. The on-site library is stocked with more than 17,000 books in both Korean and English, as well as a great collection of DVDs and CDs.
Getting around Koreatown
Koreatown is around 15 minutes’ drive from the centre of Los Angeles and 40 minutes from Los Angeles International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Metro services connect to Wilshire/Vermont Station and buses travel throughout the neighbourhood.