Forbidden Palace, Los Angeles 1943

With its curved roofs, vibrant colors and exotic ornamentation, the Forbidden Palace restaurant would have seemed an adventurous place to eat in Los Angeles in the late 1930s.

The original Chinatown area, which stood where Union Station does now, had been bulldozed and establishments like the Forbidden Palace sprung up in what was called New Chinatown.

Black and white photographs show elegant ladies in hats and gentlemen in suits waiting their turn in line outside for chop suey or barbecue and cocktails, of course. Inside, tables were crammed. and service was brisk.

We’re still searching for information about who owned the Forbidden Palace in the 1930s and will update when we can.