The Guide to Koreatown in Los Angeles (2024)

FAQs

Is Koreatown in LA worth visiting? ›

Koreatown is known by locals as Ktown, and today, it's one of the most culturally diverse neighborhoods in LA. Extremely walkable, the area is truly a world of its own. If you're looking to discover a part of Los Angeles that is truly locals-only and NOT touristy, Koreatown is an excellent choice.

Koreatown is more than amazing karaoke and good Korean BBQ—as one of LA's most walkable neighborhoods, it's also a great place to stay. But parking can be a pain, and Koreatown gets mixed reviews on safety.

So, despite the fact that the neighborhood is undergoing a long period of gentrification, it remains a largely low-income community of renters. In this sense, Koreatown is a landing place for migrants seeking a new home in the City, and its restaurants are often a pathway into the workforce.

Today, Korean and Latino populations contribute to Koreatown's rich cultural diversity. K-town is also known for having one of the largest concentration of nightclubs and 24-hour businesses and restaurants in the country.

Within about 2 square miles in Koreatown, L.A. diners can find more than 700 restaurants offering everything from Oaxacan cuisine to French fine dining, from the kind of sundubu-jjigae tofu stew championed by Anthony Bourdain to an array of Korean barbecue joints.

As with any urban area, there is always the potential for crime in Chinatown and Koreatown in Los Angeles, but these neighborhoods are generally safe to visit. Both areas are popular tourist destinations and have a strong police presence, making them relatively safe.

Koreatown (Korean: 코리아타운, Koriataun) is a neighborhood in central Los Angeles, California, centered near Eighth Street and Irolo Street.

A: Areas in Los Angeles near Santa Monica, West Hollywood, and UCLA are usually considered safe.

The best place to stay in Los Angeles without a car is in downtown near Little Tokyo. This neighborhood is filled with delicious restaurants and coffee shops, and it's close to a few popular Los Angeles attractions. There are also metro stations and bus stops conveniently located around this area.

Where do Koreans live in LA? ›

As of 2008 the largest Korean ethnic enclave in Los Angeles is Koreatown and the majority of the Koreans have been concentrated around that area. By 2008 many ethnic Korean communities had appeared in the northwestern San Fernando Valley, including Chatsworth, Granada Hills, Northridge, and Porter Ranch.

Another reason Koreatown ranks so highly on the list of LA's best neighborhoods is its reputation for being extremely safe. According to the County Sheriff's Department of Los Angeles, Koreatown is in the state's top 20% of safest neighborhoods. It is imperative for people to feel relaxed and comfortable daily.

Those areas include Boyle Heights, South L.A. and Chinatown. These are all areas in the Los Angeles county that have been reaping the effects of gentrification. Gentrification also includes racial discrimination, segregation, and cast system differences.

These tight-knit urban enclaves have also extended through suburban sprawl into surrounding areas. The largest Koreatown in the US is in Los Angeles, west of downtown and south of Hollywood.

While those 2 million residents are spread across the country, there are certain cities that have larger Korean populations than others. The Pew Research Center reveals that the top five US metropolitan areas by Korean population are Los Angeles; New York City; Washington, DC; Seattle; and Chicago.

Koreatown is primarily a Korean business district, but the neighborhood has experienced an increase in Korean and European traffic as well, and the resident Korean population in the area has grown concomitantly. There was never a formal plan or agreement to create a Korean commercial district in Manhattan.

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The Olympic Market later became a staple location for the roughly ten thousand Korean people living in the LA area. Desiring to establish an official town for his fellow Koreans to call their own, Lee began building “Korean Village”, which set the plans and vision for what we now call Koreatown.

Little Tokyo is actually only one of three official Japantowns in the U.S., which makes this area very special. If you love museums, you'll be very happy here! Be sure to check out the Japanese American National Museum.

How far is Koreatown from the beach? ›

The distance between Koreatown and Long Beach is 20 miles. The road distance is 26.3 miles.