'''Artesia''' is a small town about 15 miles southeast of Los Angeles, also known as "Little India" as it's home to the second largest ethnic Indian population in the country, just behind New York City.
There's a similar (lack of) atmosphere to neighboring Norwalk and Cerritos, but it's a great place to pick up an embroidered sari, woof down a tasty malasa dosa, buy the latest pirated "Best of Kareena Kapoor" compilation and catch a recent Bollywood flick on the large screen.
Get in
The 605 Freeway runs through Artesia and connects to the 5, 91, and 105 freeways. South St is the Artesia exit.
Get around
The Little India stretch of Pioneer Blvd only runs for a couple blocks and is easily walkable. If you're varying off of Pioneer Blvd, you'll probably want a car, or catch an occasional bus.
See
Naz 8 Cinemas. 440 E. South Street. ox office opens at 3:30PM M-F, Sa-Su 12PM. 8, Tu $5. ttp://www.naz8.com. An 8-screen cinema complex showing predominately Indian films with English subtitles, and the occasional film from other parts of the sub-continent and East Asia.
Do
East West Ice Palace. pen to public M-F 2:30PM-5:30PM, Sa 1PM-4:45PM, Su 12PM-2:30PM. 9, Skate rental $3.
Buy
Rasa Indian Grocery. A pretty standard and well-stocked Indian grocery store.
House of Spices. They carry every imaginable Indian spice.
Bollywood Music & Video. Well stocked with Bollywood dvds and videos, soundtracks and a small selection of Hindustani cd's.
Bombay Sweets & Snacks. 8526 Pioneer Blvd. Large selection of sweets and savories. They will customize a gift box of your choices.
Dirksen's Appliance. 8725 Pioneer Blvd" phone=(562) 865-0269". Mon - Fri 9am - 5:30 Sat 9am - 4:30 Closed Sun. ompetitive. Located in "Little India", Dirksen's Appliance has been selling and servicing major home appliances for 75 years.
Eat
While Indian food dominates, there are also several Chinese, Vietnamese, Italian and Bangladeshi restaurants scattered around off the main parts of Pioneer Blvd and South St.
Jay Bharat Restaurant. 8701 Pioneer Blvd. 1 (562) 924-3310. (866) JayBharat. nacks $2-5, dosas $4-7, thalis $10. ttp://www.jaybharat.com/. A relatively small but tasty menu of snacks and South Indian specialties, including tasty dosas and uttapam.
Ambala Sweets & Snacks. 8433 Pioneer Blvd. 1 (562) 402-0006. A selection of good dosas and snacks, very popular.
Ambala Express Sweets & Snacks. 8413 Pioneer Blvd. 1 (562) 402-7979. 5. It wouldn't quite qualify as "Little India" if there weren't two near-identically named restaurants on the same block. This one serves typical North Indian snacks and Punjabi staples including a mediocre but cheap thali. The icy mango lassi nearly makes up for the boring food, which is served on styrofoam plates.
Rajdhani. 8525 Pioneer Blvd. 1 (562) 402-9102. One of the finest vegitarian restaurant. Specilizing is Rajashthani/Gujarati style lunch & dinners.
Udupi Palace. 8635 Pioneer Blvd. 1 (562) 860-1950.
Bombay Sweets & Snacks. 8526 Pioneer Blvd. 1 (562) 809-4229.
Ashoka Cuisine of India. 8614 Pioneer Blvd. 1 (562) 809-4229. ttp://www.ashokathegreat.com/. Great Northern Indian and Punjabi food.
Little Dhaka. 8159 Pioneer Blvd. 1 (562) 865-5230. 0AM-10PM daily. 4-8. Tucked away in a minimall, this is the place to pick up some halal meat, or have a quick bite to eat, Bangladeshi style. There's a small selection of authentic fish and vegetable curries and biryani.
Drink
Sleep
'''Rodeway Inn'''. 1854 Artesia Blvd. 1 (562) 402-0070.
Get out