Walk here from work. Been getting my hair cut here for years now after my former regular guy near Biltmore split during covid. Best spot in the neighborhood. When she's closed, I'm forced to get jacked up haircuts at other places nearby. read more

Kelly is back. It has been 4 months or so since I have had a haircut. Fixed that today. Kelly is the best. I always leave looking better than when I walked in. Thank you. read more

Called in the day of got an appointment in the morning. Kelly the barber has been holding this down for a long time. She's about to have arm surgery 7/25 so I would try to sneak in a haircut before then. She moves with ease and you can tell she has perfected her craft from all these years. She has a keen eye for detail. She honestly could pass as my mom because she has a motherly vibe to her. I'm coming back to see her before the surgery. read more

Kelly really knows her way around a head of hair. She gives a great haircut. A big plus is she doesn't put you through the typical small talk question and answer session one often has to endure at the barber. If you want to sit quietly and get a great haircut this is your place. I don't ever want to go anywhere else. Pro tip: Her prices are inexpensive, for which one gets an excellent efficient haircut. Tip extra generously, and the next time you get a haircut she'll spend extra time on you, hunting down every possible stray hair until she achieves perfection. read more

Went in for a haircut and she didn't disappoint! It's always scary going to a new barber for the first time, but I'm glad I took a risk for this place. I'll be coming back indefinitely! read more

Yay, Kelly is back to work, starting Tuesday June 11. I'm one of Kelly's first customers, and she has cut my hair for over 20 years, and it always looks great, no matter how scraggly it was going in. However, she has to go in for arm surgery and will be out July 25, and maybe a month or so for recovery. Her hours now are Tuesday through Saturday 8 am to noon. Keep posted on her hours on Yelp. read more

She is amazing, she is very quick and skilled, honestly I have paid double the price and not as good cut as she does

What an unexpected gem! I called ahead to check for availability and was told that my time frame worked. I entered on a rainy afternoon during my lunch break and there happened to be no wait. I showed the barber some photos of a prior haircut, and she quickly got to work. 15 MINUTES LATER AND SHE WAS DONE!!! That includes a wash! Normally I'd be apprehensive about any quick cuts, but she put on a clinic for a quick, efficient, and detailed haircut. Normally I wouldn't associate "quick" with "detailed", but this isn't a normal barber. I can't wait for another opportunity to support her. read more

I stopped by for another one if her fabulous haircuts and found these photos. I hope she will feel better soon! This place is quite the gem and no one compares to Kelly!!! My hair needs the professional touch of her precision and handsome cuts so I can't wait for May!!! It seems like forever but it's only a little more than a month until she returns. Sae sang ae ~ Lol read more

Imperial Barber Shop - Kelly will be back in May and I can't wait!!! - Barbers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

I walked in on a rainy Wednesday, expecting no crowd but there was a man before me and two others also came during my cut. Her prices right now is $26 for cut and an extra $3 for shampoo. The lady works quickly and confidently, without being rough and sloppy. I showed her a picture and she went to work. I've been to other quiet barbers ran by old people and sometimes the silence can be a little scary, but she was responsive, just enough to ease any anxieties. read more

Our exchange: Me: do you want me to take a picture so people on Yelp will know you aren't closed down? Her: uhh, sure. That was our entire conversation 5/5 gave me an undercut for 20$ and I made it back to my car in 20 min. read more

Imperial Barber Shop - Barbers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Kelly is great! Really efficient without being sloppy. I have curly hair and she does a wonderful job handling it well. And a great value, too! As long as I'm in LA I will keep returning. ! read more

Kelly always does a great job. Doesn't say much, but you tell her what you want and she does it. Be aware, cash only.

Looks can be deceiving, didn't think much of it at first, but I gotta say the Lady Barber is excellent and very detail oriented at what she does. Would definitely be coming back when I'm in the area again. read more

This really is a hidden gem. Lower prices than most, fast haircuts, and low wait times. Most importantly, the quality of hair cuts are great. read more

Kelly is a great barber. As the other reviews state, she's fast and efficient. Her prices are reasonable; $20 for a haircut, $23 with shampoo. You can't really get close to these prices in the neighborhood. I definitely recommend getting the shampoo, for $3 more it's a nice touch, it feels like a quick head massage that feels quite refreshing on your way out. read more

Imperial Barber Shop - Prices as of Dec 2019. - Barbers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I've found this little gem shortly after I moved to LA and have been coming here ever since. If you're looking for a stylist to chit chat with you about how your weekend was or to ask about your upcoming vacation plans or to pamper you with flattering comments about your new facial hair arrangement, this is not the place for you. My communication with Kelly, the stoic Korean-American owner/barber, consists of three words from her at various parts of the process: "Sit, " "wash?" and "gel?" to which I reply "Thanks," "uh huh," and "sure." Her job description consists of "cuts* damn good hair" and that's it. Her business is the paragon of no nonsense efficiency. It is likely no different than if Robocop from the [curiously out-of-context] movie poster in the back of her shop were to come down and cut your hair himself. Expect your haircut to take 15 minutes (tops) and 20 dollars (including tip). Expect to have your head vacuumed of loose hair particles after you're finished. Expect to wait in line, as this place is walk-in only, with a couple of other dudes from all walks of life, each with a tacit but firm understanding of who is up next. *And by "cuts" I really just mean cuts. As far as I'm aware, Kelly will not style your hair with fancy pomades, hairsprays, molding creams, grooming clays, waxes, mousses, tonics, fibers, or volumizers. At least, I've never seen it done for any other customers. read more

Imperial Barber Shop - Part woman. Part machine. All barber. - Barbers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I arrived a few minutes before 11 a.m. and a guy was just getting a righteous Mohawk finished off, so I was in luck. No appointments here. I was seated in 2 mintues, and withing that time, two other guysshowed up and were sitting behind me. So be prepared to wait. Got a great cut for the price ($14!) and just left a $20 for her. Kim, I believe her name is, did a wonderful job. She's efficient and skilled but not into small talk, as others have noted (I find that to be a definite plus; not interested in banter while being pampered.). It's a nice place, and old-School style barber shop where I wouldn't imagine a woman would want to step into. Who knows, maybe Kim is a marvel with women's styling, but the place has the definite air of a guys place, an old-skool haircut joint. read more

Imperial Barber Shop - Kim cuts my hair. - Barbers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Best barbershop in downtown Los Angeles, quick fast clean up, I alway come here for fast service since I live locally in art district / little Tokyo read more

Imperial Barber Shop - Cock pit - Barbers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The barber is so kind and just as fast as she is good. No chit chat on the phone and stalling like other barbershops that make me wanna just shaved my head bald. Great price, shampoo is refreshing, and she was even so kind to accommodate me and my bike situation as I stopped by with a lock not wide enough to warp around the bike posts out front. And it's right next to a great eatery just one door away "Jist" I'll be bringing my business here again every month. read more

Imperial Barber Shop - Made a friend this time. - Barbers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Kelly is a woman of few words. This is cool: I never have much to say (this is my third lie today). Not lies: I've never had a bad haircut here and I would go once or twice a month for 8 years when I lived and worked nearby. Her prices are reasonable. I never had to wait more than 30 minutes. I have no idea if she take's appointments and I do not care. She is awesome. I am awesome. She washed my hair and shaved my neck. I may be an ape, but I am an ape with a shiny nape. read more

Needed a cut badly and got my first cut with Kelly this morning and left very happy. She easily understood my preferences and was done so swiftly. read more

Just moved to the area, googled nearby baber shop this one came up.. walked over was the first customer of the day. Very friendly, excellent haircut I would highly recommend to anyone. Will definitely be going back there for sure. read more

Kelly is great. Her sweet caring nature is truly on display whenever Joseph walks in. Perfect cut everytime. read more

See all

Over 6 years since that I started trusting Kelly like nobody else in LA for my hair, even now that I live 30 minute away from DTLA. She really is fantastic: careful cut in no time for an incredibly fair price, and a super-nice personality. She closes early in the afternoon, just bear that in mind (3pm) read more

Great haircut for the price. Got a fade that is better than most $50 cuts and here is half the price. Will be going back!

I agree, the post-haircut vacuum finish was something to behold but let it be known that Kelly also gives otherworldly shampoos -- perfect soothing water temp, a pleasantly aggressive massaging scrub and a thorough scalp rinse. Herbal Essence has nothing on 'em when it comes to getting the shampoo treatment here. Fast, clean and cheap cuts with very little chit-chat. Imperial is the new royalty in my barber book. read more

Kelly is skillful, efficient, consistent, and fairly priced. There's often other people waiting, so be prepared to wait, but she finishes each haircut in around 15-20 minutes (a little longer if they want shampoo). Up to the time of this review, it's always been $18 for haircut w/o shampoo. For PARKING, go across the street. It's $1 for the first hour. Great deal. And lastly, it's true that Kelly is more about doing her job than being friendly. She isn't rude, but neither is she talkative. She does recognize her customers so if you come regularly she may be more apt to chat. She is a nice woman and I think her lack of talkativeness is actually due to her being uncomfortable using English. read more

An older Asian lady gave me one of the best haircuts I've received in years and in record time too! I'm guessing they get quite a few lunch time appointments from surrounding businesses because that was the fastest and most efficient haircut I've ever received. She could easily knock out 150-200 cuts in a lunch hour. Maybe. I pointed at a picture in a magazine and sat in the chair. Cut, cut, cut, vacuum, wash. No talk, no chit-chat, no smile. Done and done. I'm coming back this weekend. With a stopwatch. read more

So I walked in this barbershop around 3pm on a Monday afternoon. Shop was empty so she quickly sat me down and asked me how I wanted my cut. I told her briefly how I wanted it she nodded her head and said okay. At this point I was a little skeptical but damn was she good! A couple of quick cuts with the scissors and nice work with the clippers I was done in about 15 min! She trimmed my sideburns with her blade and even shampoo my hair. For 14 dollars + tip she gave me a good haircut that I wouldve paid alot more somewhere else in downtown for the same service. This Korean lady is what Im talking about!! read more

Found this place on Yelp. No one in there except one older Korean ajumma. When I walked in she motioned for me to sit and asked "How?" I told her, she nodded, then gave me the fastest haircut I've ever gotten. She vacuumed my head (with a vacuum cleaner), put gel in my hair (without asking), then said "ok." Those are the only words she spoke to me the whole time. $20. Five stars. read more

I walked in. She said "Two," indicating there were two guys in line in front of me. I waited about 15 minutes, and then she motioned me to the chair. I showed her a picture of what I wanted my hair to look like. She looked at the picture for about 1 second, and in a flurry of scissors, shavers, and clippers, my hair was exactly the way I wanted it in perhaps 10 minutes. Maybe less. And she vacuums it and shampoos it after. Will be coming back. No small talk, no awkward chit-chat, it's all business, and she knows what she's doing. read more

Fantastic place for a haircut. There's only one person that gives a haircut here, so it eliminates any awkwardness waiting for a specific barber, or luck-of-the-draw for the right barber. She is very good and very consistent (!!), which is a rare thing. Ambiance is very relaxing, and it's very clear that cutting hair is a talent for her. Definitely worth the drive to downtown. Tip: If you get her on an off peak time, she'll give you that much more attention, which makes for a REALLY good haircut. read more

Great haircut. Kelly isn't the biggest on conversation, even if you speak to her in Korean. That's ok. As long as she focuses on the cut. Anyone with a warrant.... don't go here. She actually asked if I was a cop. Apparently a lot of cops come here, which isn't a surprise since the police department is right around the corner. I was afraid of a funky cop/military crew cut, but it ended up looking pretty good. The toughest thing about the area? Expect to pay a couple bucks for parking. The meter right out front is $3/hour. Fortunately it takes credit cards. Otherwise a great spot, that I'll definitely go back to if I move towards downtown. read more

Cheap parking across the street in the lot (like $2 for 2 hours, which is REALLY cheap in Little Tokyo), so that was one of the better parts of coming here. Very straight-faced owner, and just to clarify, she is Korean, for those who don't know. So don't try speaking Chinese or something to her, it's offensive. But she's pretty serious and we didn't say a single word during the whole haircut. But it was done very efficiently and I was on my way in 15 minutes. When you leave, say "kahm-sami-da" (it means thank you in Korean). She'll smile and wish you a good day. And it's a sincere smile by that. read more

Five stars from me too. I'm sorry to say I've been paying five times as much for haircuts that aren't as good. This place is a real find. Too bad I don't live in LA (I was there on business), but it is almost worth flying down there. read more

Living Downtown, it's hard to find a hair salon/barber shop that costs anything less than $45. It's ridiculous. My boyfriend is a Marine and is picky about his fades and this place ended up being great! I wasn't there to watch him get his hair cut, but once he got home I could tell how perfect his fade was! The cut looked very natural, gradual --not choppy at all. The bf was very happy with his $14 cut. He also mentioned that the lady shaved the back of his neck, something no other barber shop has done for him before. He left a very, very happy customer. It's one thing to get an awesome fade done. It's another thing that it only freaking cost $14 +tip!!! Apparently this barber shop caters to a lot of LAPD. This place is great for fades, they're cheap and it's not the type of place where you have to call in a week in advance to set an appointment with a specific stylist. This is a straight to the point type of place. read more

I've been going to Imperial Barbershop for over 2 years. Kelly is great. Tell her what you want and she'll do it, probably even better than what you were imagining. She doesn't talk much, but that's completely fine with me. You'll get a great cut with no attitude or pretentiousness. Best of all, she's back from her injury! read more

$14 for a great cut, quick service, and a shampoo. On the edge of Little Tokyo and across the street from Parker Center, this shop is a hit with the LAPD...it almost seems like the official barber. Kelly is the barber here. She's nice but quiet...not a lot of chit chat here. The shop is clean and comfortable. Kelly is a pro and will have you done in no time. The shampoo at the end is a nice perk, especially on a hot day. read more

They are open! Kelly is back! We are so happy to have our favorite barber back! My husband looks like a decent human being now after a few botched attempted haircut by me. read more