One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Chinatown icon Hop Louie isn't closing — but its kitchen is
A nighttime shot of Hop Louie in L.A.'s Chinatown.
(
Jonathan Clede via Flickr Creative Commons
)
When news broke last week that Hop Louie was "closing," fans of vintage Los Angeles and Chinatown panicked.
Fortunately, the 75-year old joint isn't closing. But its restaurant is. KPCC hasn't been able to get ahold of owner Walter Soohoo but we spoke briefly with his business partner, Bill Ng, who assured us that although the kitchen is shutting down, the bar will remain open.
For most Angelenos, that's fine. Because almost nobody has been coming to Hop Louie for its cuisine.
You come to the iconic joint, with its five-level pagoda entrance, for its dim lighting, divey atmosphere, sense of history and to drink.
But if you're really hankering for its food, Charles Phoenix, L.A.'s fez-wearing ambassador of retro kitsch, will host a last supper at Hop Louie on Monday, August 29.
Show up at 5 p.m. and you can dine on sweet and sour pork and other Chinese American fare with Phoenix and other fans of vintage L.A.
There are no reservations and you may have to wait for a table. Aside from the cost of whatever food you order, there's no fee to get in.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
