There is a stretch of central Los Angeles that operates entirely on its own terms. The vibe is denser, louder, more alive at midnight than at noon, and completely indifferent to trends arriving from the westside. Koreatown, East Hollywood, and Thai Town form a corridor of genuine urban energy that rewards the curious and the hungry in equal measure.
Koreatown is one of the most densely populated and underestimated neighborhoods in the city. Beyond the barbecue that made it famous, K-Town runs deep, with late-night dining, karaoke culture, banchan-laden family restaurants that have been refining the same dishes for decades, and a hotel scene that makes it one of the most practical and central bases in Los Angeles.
East Hollywood sits just north, functioning as the connective tissue between K-Town, Thai Town, and the creative communities of Los Feliz and Silver Lake to the east. A neighborhood of independent restaurants, coffee houses, and a layered dining scene that reflects the extraordinary diversity of communities that have made this part of the city their own.
Thai Town anchors the eastern end of Hollywood Boulevard as the only officially designated Thai cultural district on the West Coast.
This guide covers where to eat and the special places that make this stretch of central Los Angeles one of the most culturally alive corridors in the city.
Eat
Antico Nuovo Dinner at Antico Nuovo was delicious expression of rustic and refined Italian food - in a surprising location in Koreatown - within Los Angeles, California ...
Borit Gogae Borit Gogae in Koreatown offers a meal centered around barley rice with an expansive banchan spread for DIY bibimbap ...
doto. restaurant Doto is a casual Virgil Village spot with all-day service, Japanese-inspired food, drinks, and a relaxed patio setting. ...
Found Oyster Found Oyster is a lovely hidden gem of a seafood restaurant, specializing in oysters and wine, in East Hollywood. It also has the potential to get packed unless you arrive by a certain time in the day. ...
Here’s Looking At You A table for four at Here's Looking At You offered exquisite cuisine in a vibrant atmosphere in Koreatown, in Los Angeles, California ...
Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong is a great restaurant for high quality, al la carte ordered Korean barbecue in Koreatown ...
lolo wine bar Lolo Wine Bar in East Hollywood is a cozy, chic spot known for its natural wines, nightly dinner menu, and moody ambiance. ...
Sqirl Sqirl’s minimalist Silver Lake café dishes inventive seasonal breakfast and lunch in a casual setting ...
The Prince The Prince is a popular late-night Korean restaurant and bar in Los Angeles’s Koreatown celebrated for its classic fried chicken, casual vibe, and well-filmed interior ...
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