20240706_102155The Wiltern Theater in K-Town (July 2024)

Known colloquially as “K-Town,” Koreatown is one of the densest and ethnically-diverse neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Located about 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Downtown LA, this area is, of course, home to a notable Korean-American community with shopping malls, churches, and grocery stores that cater to the population. It’s also a trendy spot with many cafés, bars, and nightlife that attract college students from nearby schools (e.g. USC) to party, especially on the weekends.

K-Town has had a rich and vibrant history. Although Koreans had been immigrating to Los Angeles since the early 1900s, it wasn’t until the 1960s that a huge wave of Korean immigrants arrived and settled in the mid-Wilshire area. A strong community formed throughout the 1970s and 1980s, with churches and other local businesses offering events and gatherings to Koreans for a sense of belonging.

20250517_120349One of the many Koreatown plazas

20240728_091109Koreatown sign

The neighborhood has seen dark times, however– Koreatown was the epicenter for the tense 1992 Los Angeles Riots, in which many Korean-owned businesses were looted and destroyed. The LA Riots was racially-charged, first instigated when a Korean store owner shot and killed a Black teenage girl. Following that, the LAPD beating of Rodney King (a Black man) was when the riots really took off, with tens of thousands of residents taking to the streets between April and May 1992. In the end, over 60 people were killed, 2300 were injured, and over $1 billion was lost to property damage. Koreatown was especially ruined, and even though it’s since rebuilt from the ground up, the neighborhood still faces the emotional trauma over 30 years later.

Today, K-Town remains a bustling area: as it’s situated in central Los Angeles enroute to Downtown, it gets packed with cars and people commuting from east to west, as well as north to south. The neighborhood is densely-packed within its 2.7 squared miles (7.0 squared km), home to tons of high-rise apartments and condos that are built to maximize the sheer number of residents who live there. Even more so, many of these living spaces do not have designated parking, so the streets are filled with cars parked along the curb– K-Town is notorious for horrible parking, so it’s a gamble to find a spot if you don’t time it right.

20240728_104031Parking lots are a rarity in K-Town (including this one)!

Although the neighborhood is named after its Korean community, it’s actually predominantly Latino, who make up 54% of the population– Asians (including Koreans) make up 32%. It’s not uncommon to see many Latino and Asian employees working together at grocery stores, restaurants and cafés, and other local businesses– besides having a Korean Consulate in the area, it also has the Salvadoran and Bolivian Consulates nearby. K-Town is quite ethnically-diverse, with plenty of Latino, Asian, black, and white residents all living together in such a small area.

Koreatown is a hidden gem that tourists don’t really visit; it’s more of a local spot to eat, work, and shop. Growing up, I didn’t visit K-Town often, and it wasn’t until I was in college that I began exploring. The neighborhood is block after block of malls and plazas that offer hundreds, if not thousands, of Korean eateries, and all pretty inexpensive. What I love about Korean cuisine is that it’s simple, but savory and comforting, from steaming sundubu (tofu soup) to hearty and communal KBBQ.

20250517_103409Kal-guksu (knife-cut noodle soup) with banchan

K-Town has also had plenty of trendy cafés popping up, serving up cute pastries and delicious einspänners, which is a cream-topped coffee drink. It started as a trend in Korea, and it has since hit the US. I especially love einspänners, and I particularly love getting the matcha version of it!

20240706_090905Matcha einspänner

As mentioned, Koreatown is popular among college students, as it has a decent nightlife. From karaoke bars to clubs, K-Town has plenty of activities to hit up at night for the youngsters (and the young at heart), as the neighborhood is dense and walkable to get from bar to bar. It’s a matter of ending the night with hangover food at the many restaurants that are open super late, sometimes until 5h00!

The neighborhood isn’t known for many landmarks, but it’s home to plenty of Art Deco buildings that have been preserved from the 1930s, as the area used to be the hosting ground for the Academy Awards. The Wiltern Theater is the most-famous building, built in 1931 and still used for concerts and music venues today– artists such as Madonna and Alvin Ailey have performed here in the past! It’s nice just to stroll down Wilshire Boulevard and take in the historic Art Deco buildings, which are becoming rare in LA these days.

20240706_102146The Wiltern Theater (c. 1931)

20200629_154333The Gaylord Apartments (c. 1924)

As K-Town is in the middle of Los Angeles, it’s heavily-urbanized, meaning it can be noisy and overstimulating. The area has a grittiness to it, but I wouldn’t say it’s dangerous; it’s just crowded and busy. I recommend Koreatown to anyone who visits LA, to check out a local neighborhood, eat good food, and otherwise enjoy the excitement in the urban jungle.

Thanks for reading, and more “Lost in LA” posts to come soon! 🙂

— Rebecca

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Published by Rebecca

Blogger, world traveler, poet, foodie, part-time penguin. Welcome!

45 thoughts on “Lost in LA: Koreatown”

  1. I love the Wiltern! My nude portrait was in a KTown gallery (long closed) for months (part of an exhibit by Austin Young). I really haven’t explored much of that area.
    Here in LB, we have the Gaytonia apts – similar look and identical rooftop signage, so I assume they are/were related.

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    1. Nice! I haven’t been inside The Wiltern, but I imagine it must be beautiful and historic! Perhaps Gaylord and Gaytonia apartments are connected to each other, in ownership and history!

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      1. I had to check… not related (weird!).
        Gaytonia was named for George T. Gayton, the building’s original owner and contractor.
        Gaylord was named for Henry Gaylord Wilshire, the namesake of Wilshire Boulevard.

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  5. I’ve heard and read about LA’s K-Town before, and this post further attests to the appeals of this part of the city. I love the look of those Art Deco buildings, and of course the food. I always appreciate a good kimchi that is part of the banchan.

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    1. Great to hear! LA’s K-Town is lively and steeped in history, culture, and of course, excellent food. I go to K-Town just to eat, especially all the Korean food and cute cafés in the area! Thanks for reading, Bama 🙂

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    1. I thought I’d responded to your comment, but I guess not! Although I wasn’t alive yet when the LA Riots took place, I’ve heard it was chaos and certainly a dark chapter in US history. Thanks for sharing, Tricia.

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  9. An interesting introduction to a part of LA I know nothing about. The old theatre looks wonderful! I’m curious why a Korean drink, einspänner, should have a German name – do you know the reason?

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  10. This looks like a melting pot that’s well worth exploring, Rebecca. It would be a fantastic place to check out local Asian grocers and fill up on instant Korean and Japanese noodles, pastes and dashis. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx

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    1. Yes! Einspänners originated in Vienna and became a trend in South Korea before being brought to the US. So it’s Austrian by origin! Absolutely delicious, especially if you like sweet coffee 🙂

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  13. Thank you for this post Rebecca, I found it really interesting. I knew a little of the 1992 riots but I hadn’t realised K-Town was the epicentre. I can imagine that many still live with the impact of that time today. It’s also interesting to learn about the Latino/Asian (and beyond) community. I would love to visit on a trip – the food looks just up my street 🙂
    I was interested to learn about Einspänner here – it means a “one horse carriage” in German and I think was designed to stop drivers from spilling their coffee in Austria! Lovely to see it reinvented with an Asian twist 🙂

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    1. Yes, you got it! “Einspänner” means just that in German, and in fact originated in Austria. The drink became a big trend in South Korea before making its way over to the US. If you like sweet coffee, then you would love einspänners! K-Town is a fun place to check out and spend some time in, especially for all the delicious food and drink to be had. Thanks for reading, Han 🙂

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  14. Korean food is incredible and this neighbourhood really looks like a great place to sample some new foods or indulge in one’s favourite delicacies. I was gonna ask about the possible German origin of that drink, but then I read Hannah’s comment. Interesting backstory and looks delicious. K-Town definitely seems like a place worth visiting. I’m curious have you ever had a chance to talk to some of the people who experienced the 1992 riots? Are there opportunities in LA to hear the first-hand accounts of those who survived to tell the tale?

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    1. I’ve personally neither met nor talked to anyone who experienced the 1992 LA riots. I can imagine it must’ve been such an intense and deregulating time, although it appeared only to last a month long. K-Town has since been reborn from the ashes (quite literally), and it’s doing well for itself today! Definitely a great place to visit to eat, shop, and café hop!

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  17. The einspanner sounds delicious! And art deco architecture is always a plus. I didn’t realize Koreatown was where the LA riots took place. Looking forward to your other Lost in LA posts! So cool that you are doing some exploring close to home.

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  18. You should come to Garden Grove—there’s a Korean town there. I go to BCD Tofu House all the time! 🙂 Next time, when you come to Orange County, please drop me a line if you like. 🙂

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    1. I’m told Garden Grove (and many pockets of Orange County) have just as many, if not more, Korean restaurants and cafes than in LA! I will definitely hit you up if I make my way over there!

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    1. K-Town is densely-urban and despite the racial tensions in the past, it has come around a lot since then, and today is a thriving community with plenty of great food and activities to enjoy all day (and night) long!

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