Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Historic L.A. food sites: In Old Chinatown

Today's historic L.A. food photo from the L.A. Public Library photo collection shows a rather charmingly ramshackle restaurant in China City called Chung Dat Loo. A photographer named Harry Quillen seems to have photographed dozens of restaurants just after China City and New Chinatown were built in the late 1930s and early 1940s. China City was apparently located on North Spring Street, but unlike New Chinatown, much of it burned down, perhaps because it was so charmingly ramshackle. Streets in China City, which was built by the developer of Olvera Street, included Lotus Pool Lane and Passage of One Hundred Surprises. I can't find anything about Chung Dat Loo, but to see a menu from Chinatown's Forbidden Palace restaurant circa 1946, click here.

5 comments:

Ellen Bloom said...

I'll have the Deep Fat Fried Chicken (pickled) for $1 and a Picon Punch for $.55 please.
Excellent find!

Pat Saperstein said...

I think I'll go with an Apricot Sling to drink, sweet pea chop suey and walnut squab!

Scott said...

What's a "French 75"?

It costs twice as much as the other cocktails, and there's a minimum order of TWO of them!

Get ready to get hammered with your Egg Foo Yong!

Anonymous said...

French 75:

Combine 1 1/2 packets sugar, juice of half a lemon, and two shots gin in a shaker full of ice. Shake well, then pour into a tall glass or flute and top with champagne. (If possible, ice the glass ahead of time.)

Garnish with cherry or orange slice.

Anonymous said...

I'll take that "Chicago Fried" Chow Mein and a Bronx, please. Boy, looks like they mixed a mean drink there. . . .