China Town L.A.
China Town Los Angeles:
Living in China Town Los Angeles has been quite interesting. This geographic area that I am referencing is in the East Los Angeles Valley. I spent a lot of my time getting to see the area after my wife and I married and she asked if we could live closer to the asian community since she is from China. It’s so surprising to see how similar it is to mainland China. From the grocery stores, herbal shops, to the restaurants. It’s as if you could walk in to a time machine and not realize that you are in America whilst being inside the shops.
When I spent sometime visiting and working in China for events, I have seen much of the lifestyle and even have observed the details of the architecture and some of the lack of details etc. I have witnessed this very same patten here in the Los Angeles community as well. Western culture typically prides itself on craftsmanship and small details when it comes to aesthetics and construction. I have witnessed this kind of detail to be lacking in eastern culture or at least that has been my observations of mainland China. You can see this carried over to the shops that are here in America as well. Though, I must say that some of the lack of quality in upkeep and detail actually enhances the experience of the community at the same time. It’s as if you can get a feeling of living abroad without leaving the U.S.
A couple eating at a local Chinese bbq
One thing that was very interesting is how the community is very segregated here in Los Angeles. I have met some people in the community that have been here for 20+ years and still have not integrated into United States culture. After visiting the mainland myself, I believe the food scene has much to do with this. The Chinese community doesn't stray too far away from the usual cuisines in mainland China. There is honestly enough of a small asian community in this pocket of Los Angeles where the people have been able to get by without a large struggle in regard to language barriers. Most of the people that I have met generally come from the Guangdong province of China. For those of you that are not familiar with the landscape, that is close to Hong Kong.
Village in China close to Hong Kong
When I was recently in China about a year ago in the Hong Kong region, many of my wife’s family asked me if the food was good in China compared to America. The funny thing is, because the culture is authentic in the community, the food is the exact same as you would eat in mainland China. This was definitely a change from something like a midwest Chinese restaurant or food chain such as Panda Express. The food is good, but it definitely has an American twist. If you are looking for variety then this is the place for the best asian food in Los Angeles. You can find everything from dim sum to the most exotic entrees that the eastern cultures offer. The Chinese bbq in the area is by far my favorite and the bbq pork from the market is always a winner!
The Little Skewer,
Monterey Park CA.
A charming bbq restaurant that provides delicious food as well as a beautiful visual immersion into the old Chinese culture.
If you happen to be in the East Valley of Los Angeles and are curious to experience a taste of mainland China, come and try some of the amazing cuisines that the community has to offer.
If you happen to be interested in going abroad to the mainland, this is a great way to get a feel for what to expect before you make the long flight over the Pacific. Although I would recommend to anyone to go and experience Hong Kong at least once. It’s an amazing city, that still has its charm and beautiful architecture.