Korean Cultural Center
Culturally, Koreatown retains much of its heritage with authentic food, noraebang (karaoke) studios and distinct signage filled with Korean script. But at the same time, it has boomed into an area of modern lofts and savvy restaurants with clear appeal to the non-Korean population.
Here’s an example: The Prince, a Korean-owned restaurant and lounge, serves up an all-Korean menu and soju, a Korean liquor, but its décor remains authentically American, with pre-war style banquets and a horseshoe bar. Within walking distance you’ll find modern shopping malls selling kimchee and bulgogi dishes in a food court, while down the street is a dive bar with a pirate motif serving up Hite, a Korean beer.
Everywhere in Koreatown, you’ll see the intersection of Korean and American culture, a characteristic that has over the years attracted more and more visitors, hipsters and partiers of all types. There’s no doubt that “K-Town” is fast becoming another major multicultural center in Los Angeles — and one of the city’s top destinations.
It wasn’t always like this. When Hee Deok Lee, the Korean immigrant who founded LA’s Koreatown in the 1970s, opened his modest grocery store on Olympic and Harvard, the area was known as the Wilshire Center. Back then, the area’s attempts to be recognized as the gathering place for Koreans appeared in neon signs that boldly read “Koreatown.”
Today, visitors easily recognize the distinctive Korean script on the signs that hang on the vast number of Korean-owned storefronts. In major guidebooks to Los Angeles, Koreatown has achieved must-see status with its collection of dining, shopping and cultural sights. It’s not so much mini-Seoul as it is its own mini-city, offering attractions ranging from cultural awareness projects like the Korean American Museum to karaoke studios with private rooms and bottle service. Whether you’re visiting during the day or at night, there’s always something fun to do, and you’ll experience a major part of LA’s rich cultural heritage.
Koreatown Guide
Koreatown Nightlife
Check out the best bars and karaoke joints in K-Town.
Shopping in Koreatown
Experience shopping centers with K-Town flair.
Cultural Sights in Koreatown
See Koreatown's cultural centers, museums and spiritual havens.
