11 listings north of the Civic Center, split between long-standing family businesses and the independent gallery scene that moved in around them.
What is here. Four Arts & Culture listings, almost all artist-run or independent: Charlie James Gallery, Human Resources Los Angeles, the Institute for Art and Olfaction and the Chinese American Museum. Four Food & Drink: Philippe The Original, Yang Chow, Phoenix Bakery and Endorffeine. Union Station sits on the edge, Now Serving covers cookbooks, and the Chinatown Service Center Community Health Center serves the residential community.
How to browse. Come for one specific thing and stay for the galleries. Philippe's and Phoenix Bakery are destination trips in their own right. The gallery spaces keep limited and irregular hours — check before travelling for those specifically.
Related: Chinatown: where to eat, explore and see art · All DTLA arts & culture
A counter-service institution near Union Station, trading since 1908 and one of two Los Angeles restaurants that claim to have invented the French dip. Orders are placed at a row of carving counters, sawdust is still on the floor, and seating is at long communal tables. It opens at six in the morning and serves…