Monterey Park is in the San Gabriel Valley of Southern California.
Get in
Monterey Park is located about 8 miles east of Downtown Los Angeles and is most easily accessible by car via the 10, 60 or 710 freeways.
Get around
Monterey Park has its own citywide bus system called the SPIRIT. Local area school kids affectionately dub it "the trolley".
See
Known as "Little Taipei" in the 1980s, Downtown Monterey Park (along Garvey Avenue) contains many Chinese businesses and restaurants. These authentic restaurants are often viewed as Monterey Park's biggest claim to fame. Like South Bay area in relation to Little Tokyo, Monterey Park and the surrounding San Gabriel Valley area (plus Rowland Heights further east on the 60 freeway) is the new residential heart of the Chinese community in Los Angeles.
While ethnic Chinese represents more than half of the city's population, incredible diversity exists in the city. Monterey Park is home to families who trace their roots to places as different as Mexico, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. Monterey Park - Asian-American friendly, All-American, and 100% Angeleno!
Do
- Barnes Park, 34.07°, -117.999444°. The main park in the center of the city where many of the big events, like the 4th of July Celebration and May Days are held.
Cultural celebrations
- Chinese New Year Festival. Usually takes place around January or February, depending on when the Chinese New Year falls for that year.
- Cherry Blossom Festival. A Japanese and Japanese American cultural festival that usually takes place in April in Barnes Park.
- Cinco de Mayo Celebration. Around May 5 in Barnes Park. The day features a wide variety of entertainers, including Folklorico Dancers, Mariachis, and other traditional Mexican music.
Buy
- Hong Kong Supermarket, Garfield Ave. Offers Asian snacks, groceries from Taiwan, Hong Kong and China.
- 99 Ranch Market. A Taiwanese-American chain
- Shun Fat, Atlantic (across from Atlantic Times Square).
- Tak Shing Hong, Garvey Ave. Offers Chinese knick-knacks and is recommended for browsing.
- Wing Hop Fung. Tea, Tea sets, bowls and ceramics, Chinese herbs and ginseng of excellent quality.
Eat
This is the San Gabriel Valley, which in Monterey Park primarily means: delicious, authentic Asian food. Asian style pastries and other baked goods from the many bakeries around town (try the mango cake).
- Shaka's Restaurant, 2300 Garfield Ave. Hawaiian restaurant and kind of like "The Max" for Mark Keppel High School students.
- Mandarin Noodle House.
- Gourmet Delight, 501 S. Atlantic.
- Empress Harbor. For dim-sum
- JJ's Cafe. A Monterey Park classic, old school Hong Kong-style cafe.
- Osho Sushi, Chandler Ave. Gorgeous inside, with authentic and super fresh sushi.
- Sushi Sai, Atlantic. Recommended for their salmon skin salad.
Drink
- Ten Ren. Super famous tea shop in Taiwan. Their Monterey Park branch is located across the street from Bank of America close to the intersection of Garvey and Garfield. Everything is good and made to order, so you can specify less sugar, extra ice, etc.
- Beard Papa. Great for freshly made cream puffs. Highly recommend those cream puffs but also the drinks, with great tea and coffee options, and you can add tapioca balls
Sleep
Go next