Tried to call them to come down there and get some information. Woman who answered the phone was…read morevery rude and hung up on me. I called back thinking maybe she didn't speak English that well but the connection ewasn't good. Click. She hangs up again. I call a third time. I say hello. She recognizes my voice and immediately hangs up on me again. No problem. I moved on to another temple. Buddha Blessings.

I drive from Orange County to come here and pray. The on site Monk showed me how to bow. I love…read morethis beautiful temple and the feeling I have being here. Much love

Hands down the most reasonably priced Thai food you'll find in the area! Wat Thai food court is…read moreonly open on the weekends, and it does get quite busy quite early. We arrived a little past 10 and were very fortunate to find a parking spot as the lot was just about completely full (there are attendants that help you out with the parking). Make sure to bring cash, as that's your main method of payment. You exchange your cash for colored tokens at a booth, and use the tokens to purchase food from the different stalls. If you have tokens left over, you can exchange them back for cash. There are so many food stalls and they all look like they have delicious food! I got a picture of my Pad Thai, but also ordered some fried rice and other foods to go. I thought the Pad Thai was very flavorful, and really can't be beaten for $8. There are lots of outdoor benches (covered) where you can sit and enjoy your food, and I also saw a lot of people getting food to go. Felt like an authentic night market. Definitely check it out if you're in the area!

Finally got to visit! Has been on my list for the longest…read moretime and finally had time to head out there. It was great to see so many people in small area form a little community. Parking wasn't bad, people in and out. Also street parking. Don't be confused by the token system! The $ amount is listed on the tokens: $1, $2, $5. Tried what is normally recommended. Pad Thai, Khao Soi Crispy Chicken Noodles, papaya salad, skewers, and Thai tea from Wat Thai cafe. About 15 vendors at the time of visit. Made sure to stop by the temple and did a little prayer. There's quite a few buddhas to pray to, depending on what you are hoping for.

The only place on Western Ave where you can find peace and guaranteed parking…read more Tucked right in the heart of Koreatown -- surrounded by the constant soundtrack of traffic, street vendors, and the aroma of BBQ -- sits a place that feels like it exists in another dimension entirely: the Korean Sah Buddhist Temple. From the moment you step through the gate, the chaos of Western Avenue fades away. The hum of the city drops into silence, replaced by the sound of wind chimes, chanting, and your own breathing slowing down. It's surreal -- a pocket of calm in one of the most energetic neighborhoods in Los Angeles. The Korean Sah Buddhist Temple has been part of the Koreatown community for decades, serving as both a spiritual anchor and cultural touchstone for local residents. It's one of the few Korean Buddhist temples operating within city limits -- not up in the mountains or tucked behind a freeway -- but right here in the middle of the action. The temple grounds are beautifully maintained, adorned with statues, incense burners, and colorful lanterns during festivals. Fun fact: the temple also owns and maintains the parking lot across the street, which might be the single most enlightened thing in L.A. real estate. (Finding parking in Koreatown that doesn't feel like a boss fight? Instant karma.) The monks and staff are kind, welcoming, and always respectful of visitors. Whether you're there to pray, meditate, or just decompress from the madness of the city, they make you feel like you belong -- no judgment, no pressure. The Korean Sah Buddhist Temple is a Koreatown landmark -- serene, genuine, and deeply rooted in the community. It's living proof that peace doesn't require a mountaintop or a retreat -- sometimes it's right here on Western Avenue, hiding in plain sight. If you ever need to unplug, breathe, or just watch incense rise against the skyline, this place will remind you what quiet feels like -- and in Los Angeles, that's worth enlightenment. It's like teleporting from traffic into tranquility.

LOVE the building itself -- it looks like an old movie set straight out of Los Angeles' halcyon…read more"Sheik of Araby" days. (Twenties kitsch at its coolest!) I'm pretty sure that the temple is open to all members of the public, but we were in a hurry in this part of L.A. on our last trip, and, well, Buddhist temple tours just weren't exactly on the agenda that day. Close to lots of good restaurants in Koreatown, though -- so even this bald atheist ended up very happy after we left the temple grounds. (Hey -- no religious bullshit to deal with, but lots of good food and good company. That's my kinda life.)

Nice temple! There's some parking on their lot as well as the street. Staff can speak English and…read moreVietnamese. They have events for Chinese new year.

Absolutely beautiful temple, and this one was welcoming to visitors. I did not feel like an…read moreoutsider here. The people who were here taking care of the place smiled at me and did not hover over me as I looked around. I took photos but I also tried to be respectful, and I said my thank yous to their gods. This place did smell very strong of incense, but was so gorgeous inside and out. They also had a restroom! ALSO WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE WITH RAMPS!!!

Perfect for meditation. I have progressed so much. Very…read moresmall only 12 seats. Hours are posted on their website. No cost but donations can be made. Street parking is almost non existant. 204/754 takes you there on bus. The monk is very welcoming. Ask for Rain and Leo :). Dhamma talks every Sunday at 11am!

Peaceful , friendly , welcoming , insightful! I look…read moreforward to every experience there. Full of friendly faces and calm environment, the monks and partners there will answer all of your questions truthfully and to the best of their knowledge . They may also say "I don't know" and suggest options to discover the answer, and I love that about this Religion. Please wear clothing that covers the knees and shoulders , there is no payment but donations are welcomed. Oh check out the back yard ! Bodhi Tree which is from the sapling of a Bodhi Tree in Sri Lanka . There are also books you can take with you that have Buddhist teachings. Everytime I attend (weekly now) I leave feeling a step closer to the most vibrant and clear self I can be

I have been sitting zazen with this group for about 2 years. They are authentic, open, and…read morehelpful group of people who are very committed to their practice and the center. Zazen is free! And the Sunday Dharma talks at 11 am are also free! The grounds have a mature garden with redwood trees and black pines. Dana is welcome but never asked for. There is plenty of parking on the ZCLA campus. The purple line is about 3-4 blocks away at Wilshire and Normandie. You can walk in the neighborhood just look out for the traffic. The neighborhood is multicultural and a great experience. I can recommend checking out the center and taking some time out for Zazen (seated meditation). See you in the Zendo!

Save your time and money. This place is totally not worth it…read more It was just like someone was putting on a lousy play and no one knew their parts. It was so unauthentic. In addition, this nasty lady came out every two seconds and snapped at people. When she wasn't snapping at people, she was throwing everyone dirty looks. Loving kindness is NOT practiced here.

Koyasan Buddhist Temple is a small temple hidden within Little Tokyo. Our party came here on the…read moreNew Year Day (January 1st) and there was a long line for hatsumode (aka "first visit" - first visit of the year to a Buddhist temple or Shinto shrine taking place on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd day of the New Year). This temple was founded in 1912 and moved to the current location in 1940. This is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in the United States. [Parking]: No designated parking for the temple, but Aiso Parking Garage (101 Judge John Aiso St) is located just one block away. [Waiting line]: The long waiting line is for visitors who want to pray inside of the temple. For anyone who want to buy souvenirs, then they can just walk directly into the front courtyard of the temple as there are separate lines to buy souvenirs. [Hatsumode]: Upon entering the temple, visitor can pay $5 donation for Goma-ki (write your wish and your name on the piece of wood and leave it on the table - it will supposedly be burned during a monthly ceremony Goma Fire Ritual at the last Sunday of each month outside of January). Once each person is done praying, then there's a wooden offering box for donation. No pictures are allowed inside of the temple. [Activities]: Other than hatsumode, the temple had Shusho-e (New Years Day) Service [with Mochi Presentation] on January 1st at 10 AM, New Year's Day Goma Service on January 1st at 2 PM, and Taiko Gohei Blessing Service / Goma Service throughout Jan 1st through Jan 3rd. [Classes]: Outside of hatsumode, the temple offers yoga class, Japanese calligraphy class, dharma class, tea with reverend, etc. throughout the year. [Souvenirs]: They sell omamori (Japanese amulets) , ofuda (talismans), ojuzu (Buddhist prayer beads), incense, arrows, etc. Heck they even sell Hello Kitty and Ultraman omamori. [Admission]: Free admission, but consider paying your respects with a donation in the large wooden offering box. [Conclusion]: This is one of few activities to do on the New Year Day and expect a huge crowd visiting for hatsumode. Our party stayed for approximately 45 minutes (including waiting time) and I definitely appreciate the tradition. Certainly worth a visit for anyone who is free on the New Year Day & would like to experience this annual Japanese cultural event.

I have attended services at this Buddhist temple in Los Angeles. It the most popular Japanese…read moretemple in the city. The New Years service gets thousands of visitors. New Years service at Koyasan temple is gathering place for Little Tokyo.

Returning to LA after attending a couple of ten-day silent retreats at a monastic-run meditation…read moreretreats in Riverside, a couple of friends and I started checking out some of the temples in the LA area. This center is run by a group of Sri Lankan monks on Crenshaw Blvd in mid-city LA. The abbot, the Ven. Walpole Pinyananda is a warm, gracious elderly man, who, though he is often busy ministering to the Sri Lankan community, and writing for various publications; is generous with his time to english-speaking meditators. (He is the author of three books in english, two of which, "Saffron Days in LA" and "The Bodhi Tree Grows in Los Angeles" recounts his experiences as a teaching monk serving the LA community. A third title, "Thus I Have Heard" is a biography of the Buddha, based on a chronological ordering of the Theravada suttas). The Vihara hosts two sits per week, at 7 pm on Tuesday and Friday evenings, and the Rev. Pinyananda leads the sits on both evenings. There is a 20-25 minute period of meditation, followed by a short walking meditation practice and a short discussion of a topic drawn from the suttas each evening. Unless he is busy, the abbot often invites people in for tea afterwards. You can tell the man enjoys teaching.

The Abbott and resident monks as well as guest bhantes are always welcoming visitors of all…read morenationalities and ages whether they are temple donors or not. Very calm, positive, and respectable environment. Great temple to visit anytime!

Excellent community street fair! The dancing, food , music and everything is so much fun! I highly…read morerecommend checking this out next July.

Came here last night for the annual Obon festival what they do is block the side street next to the…read moreTemple for the traditional Obon dances. The parking lot for the Temple has booths set up with traditional foods and games mini carnival style. Of course the food lines were long and some booths actually ran out of food for the night. Saturday it goes from 4 to 10pm and Sun 3 to 9pm. One thing is parking is really bad here cause it's street parking and some areas have limited metered parking also they are using a parking structure about a block away but that fills up fast too and it can get messy in there. Other than parking this festival is a nice time to bring family and friends and enjoy the Japanese traditional Obon dances and foods. Summer time is the time of Obon festivals all over LA and OC you can see the schedules at http://buddhistchurchesofamerica.org/2015-obon-bazaar-schedule/