Ah, Los Angeles. The City of Angels is without question one of the premier cities in America, the film capital of the world, and, of course, one of the best places for everything from fast food to fine dining! If you’re a foodie, LA was made for you, with all manner of different culinary traditions and uncounted five-star restaurants littering the sun-kissed landscape.
Few eating trends are bigger in LA than Asian cuisine. Asian immigrants play a big part in the story of modern California, and that’s especially evident in Los Angeles—a city where they’re embedded in the culture and that features tons of great places to eat, from Little Tokyo to Koreatown. Here are just a few tips to help you find the best Asian food in Los Angeles.
It’s Not Just an “Asian” Restaurant
To begin with, while it’s easy to simply call it “Asian food” as an outsider, that may not be the most search-effective choice. After all, Asia is a pretty massive place—to say the least—and the many different cultures of Asian nations and, indeed, Asian-American immigrants should be noted. China is culturally distinct from Japan, which is itself very different from Korea, and so on. That difference and diversity is beautiful for the world and wonderful for lovers of Asian cuisine. Los Angeles Asian food can thus mean everything from pho from a Vietnamese restaurant to traditional Chinese pork dishes down the street. Learn to see the nuances between these cultures beyond simply labelling them “Asian,” and you’ll likewise be able to sharpen your search and find exactly the kind of national or cultural cuisine tradition you like!
Eating on a Budget
Eating in LA can be expensive, to say the least. If you’re looking for great Asian food on a budget, try those aforementioned ethno-cultural niche spots in LA, such as Little Tokyo for Japanese food or Chinatown for great Chinese dishes at competitive prices.
Asian food in LA is a tasty multicultural tradition that gets better with time!
