This is the fifth story in a new series exploring the sights, tastes and culture of stops along the newly extended L.A. Metro A Line.
Rebecca Keeler
Special to the Campus Times
When departing from the La Verne station, a one-hour train excursion brings the rider to the lively city of Los Angeles, which has 20 stations. The Chinatown station, located on North Spring Street and elevated over West College Street, is positioned on the edge of the Chinatown neighborhood, and one stop away from Union Station.
Since Sept. 19, 2025, the newly extended Los Angeles Metro A Line that launches from the city of La Verne has made traveling west to the Pasadena area, then going south to Long Beach, a whole lot easier, quicker and more convenient.
The Chinatown station in Los Angeles is within walking distance of multiple high-quality culturally and ethnically diverse businesses, restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, salons and boutiques. Won Kok Restaurant, a family-owned and operated popular eatery that specializes in authentic Chinese cuisine, has served the community for 50 years and is a beloved staple of Chinatown.
Michael Xiao, manager at Won Kok Restaurant, has worked at the business for 35 years. He said he does not know how many customers visit from the A Line; nevertheless, he encourages Metro users to give the restaurant a try due to its proximity to the station.
“Mongolian chicken and beef, peking duck, fried chicken and our steamed sweet buns are all fabulous menu items and definitely our most popular,” Xiao said.
Won Kok Restaurant offers a variety of dumplings, steamed buns, baked buns, sticky rice, pastries, cookies, custards and cakes for about $2. Fried rice, soups, hot pots, chop suey, bean curd and a variety of beef, chicken, pork and vegetable dishes cost around $10. Assortments of chow mein, shang hai noodle and chow fun average around $13.
Alvin Hom, vice president of Won Kok Restaurant, said the eatery is popular and unique for its affordable dim sum to-go and dine-in options.
“Dim sum pork dumplings are my personal favorite dish, and I would recommend dim sum dumplings for first-time customers,” Hom said. Dim sum is a common term used to describe a Chinese shareable dish made up of small portions of steamed or fried dumplings and buns.
Idyllwild resident Nikki Barns said she has been a regular at Won Kok Restaurant for years and appreciates the large portion sizes.
“The barbecue pork steamed buns are my favorite, and I would absolutely recommend this place to others because the food is amazing,” Barns said. “I’ve tried all of their steamed buns, and they’re all so good.”
One block and a two-minute walk from Won Kok Restaurant, Queen’s Bakery is another family-owned and operated business that offers a wide array of Asian breads and desserts. For more than 60 years, Queen’s Bakery has supplied a multitude of sweet and savory traditional Asian treats to customers old and new.
The bakery offers a variety of handcrafted cakes, cookies, custards and breads for about $7.
Tina Wang has worked as a cashier at Queen’s Bakery for three years. She said she has noticed many customers visiting from the Metro A Line specifically to try the popular and authentic Chinese rice puffs.
“Our almond cookies and Chinese rice puffs are very popular,” Wang said. “Those are the desserts I would recommend to first-time customers because they’re nearly impossible not to love.”
Regarding the atmosphere of the area, Xiao, Hom, Barns and Wang all agree that Chinatown is an old-school, lively and gritty neighborhood with many gems and wonderful family-owned businesses worth visiting.
During my trip to Chinatown, a baked curry chicken bun and a pineapple custard bun from Won Kok Restaurant fulfilled my lunch appetite, and a Chinese rice puff from Queen’s Bakery capped off my dessert cravings. I found my various experiences in Chinatown to be nothing short of a scrumptiously unforgettable day.
Other notable businesses within walking distance of the Chinatown station are Wing Wa Hing Gifts & Arts, an Asian decor shop; Coch Collection, a women’s clothing store; and New Vinh Hoa, a gift shop.
Additional information regarding Won Kok Restaurant and Queen’s Bakery is visible on their websites.
Rebecca Keeler can be reached at rebecca.keeler@laverne.edu.
Metro A Line: Before You Board
For rider convenience, below are answers to frequently asked questions about the Metro A Line departing from the La Verne station:
- How often does the A Line operate? Roughly every seven minutes.
- What are the hours of operation for the A Line? 4 a.m. to midnight on weekdays. 4 a.m. to 1 a.m. on weekends.
- Where does the A Line go? 48 stops spanning nearly 60 miles from Pomona to downtown Long Beach.
- How much does the A Line cost? $1.75 regular fare. 75 cents for seniors ages 62+ and for customers with disabilities. Prices are for a one-way trip and include two hours of free transfers when paying with a $2 reusable TAP card.
- How long does it take the A Line to get to the Chinatown station? Departure from the La Verne station to Chinatown takes approximately one hour.
- Is there a monitored metro alert system? There is a regularly updated L.A. Metro rider alert account on the social media platform X. The account can be found under the username @metrolaalerts.
The L.A. metro rail schedule is subject to change due to delays. Visit the L.A. Metro website for more information.
Rebecca Keeler, a senior communications major with a concentration in public relations and a music minor, is a staff writer for the Campus Times.
