This is a great record shop located right off of the central Little Tokyo Shopping District Corridor. What they offer is vinyl. It's a simple as that. Plus, they have a lot of it. In terms of their actual offerings, they have a lot of used vinyl, some of it is very rare. So, if you're looking for that really special something, you may very well be able to find it at this shop. They also have a lot of new vinyl. Some of it is of the older variety, and some of it is very new releases. So, whatever you're looking for, you should be able to find something here. In terms of their pricing, it's all very reasonable. Even the rare vintage vinyl they offer is priced very competitively in correlation with the modern market. This is the same with their new vinyl, their prices are very competitive. They also offer a few other items like some cassette tape and things like that. Thus, it is your one stop shop for when you want to grab that special piece of music. The staff here are all really nice. So if you need any help, they'll be happy to help you out. Overall, this is one of those dying breeds of shops, one that offers a grand selection of vinyl. It's a great place to visit, whether you're looking for that special record, or you're just looking to look. Overall, it's a great shopping experience. read more

Going Underground Records is a nicely curated record shop packed with some good finds! This spot is located in the Little Tokyo area. There is a nearby paid parking garage or street parking all around the area. Inside, they have a pretty spacious setup with lots of records to sort through. Some cool record finds I came across for my music taste were Pop Smoke, Big Sean, Tame Impala, Kehlani, and Thee Sacred Souls. The records here are fairly priced and the staff are friendly and welcoming. I ended up copping the 75th Anniversary Sailor Moon vinyl for wifey since it was a record she had been chasing and one we do not see in the wild often. Definitely come check them out if you are ever in the area! read more

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Keeping the underground sound up and not down and No catering to posers or clowns. So let me tell you what's up with this vinyl joint. If you're looking for rarities they've definitely got some. I'm talking about Forty Fives, Seven Inch and the almost extinct CD. Yes they do have a variety of new presses like The Weeknd double vinyl set with the limited edition color scheme. That was really eye catching and personally I don't collect vinyl like that but I was tempted to jump on that. Moving on, they carry posters and other cool knick knacks around the shop. I'm not sure if it was just me but I didn't hear any music playing during my visit and usually when I do visit record shops it's a standard. Oh well maybe not that day. The service was non existent and they never acknowledged anyone who was shopping there. Overall this record shop has a lot of cool stuff but if you're going to engage with customers or have music in the background it takes away from the experience. Hopefully my next visit will be a little better so I'll keep this Rating as is until then. And that's my on this record shop experience, Peace out. read more

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Located in the heart of Little Tokyo, Going Underground Records is a vibrant vinyl store offering a selection of rare and limited edition vinyls. I love browsing their variety and each are for good value. They have a large section of indie alternative, rock, and even jazz. Love seeing their international world section too! They do have CDs and discounted selections too. The staff are kind and keep the vibe going with their funky playlist. read more

Going Underground Records - Vinyl Records Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Great record shop off the side of little Tokyo. Great selection of music. Heavy on rock and indie. Good prices. I definitely will be stopping in more often. Very friendly and helpful staff. read more

I've been here a few times since they moved to the new location. First off, the parking is basically impossible for any business around here. So just know that. That said, the prices for new and used vinyl are pretty reasonable. They don't have a ton of cassettes, but what they do have is a nice selection. Staff has always been very nice. read more

Little Tokyo is slowly becoming a record collector's destination with lots of little shops that carry some records. This, however, was a pleasant discovery since my last trip in the area. A "proper" record store with sections by genre and alphabetical by artist within those sections. Demand for vinyl has been so high the last few years that many shops have trouble keeping a diverse inventory, especially old "OG" pressings, many of which are entirely analog (AAA). That's been a controversy for years because many reissues use nebulous wording on the hype stickers with phrases such as "cut from the original masters" or some variation, when in fact the source tapes were converted into digital files of varying resolutions. Nevertheless, the best stuff is usually up on the walls and the most valuable behind the cashier counter. I liked the openness of the store and it felt proper in the sense that prices were commiserate with condition and availability. Old releases mingled with new and reissues. My favorite discovery though was the underground metal and punk area, there are some unique and uncommon music within. Given that it was at least 100° that day I decided not to buy anything because it would likely warp before I got home. This is the second location for an existing company so stock may vary between stores, and lots of records in the back being processed promises great rewards. Patience and frequency are traits that good collectors exhibit. read more

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The records store is located cross the street from japanese village plaza. The establishment itself is spacious inside thought they only carry limited shelves for music records. read more

Going Underground Records - Vinyl Records Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Made 3 attempts to contact them through their website and never heard back. Not a good sign.

I work in the area and drop by from time to time. I have my favorite record shops I go out of my way to visit and this one that I shop at because it's on my way home. There's really not much to say, the staff has never acknowledged me. The selection is decent, prices are on the higher end, but I have bought a few new and old records, I must say that all of them were in excellent condition. My rating is really just based off the cold uninviting vibe I always get when I walk in. read more

Very nice addition to Little Tokyo - great selection of used and new vinyl in both LPs and 45's. Something for everyone from punk, rock, new wave, jazz to country. Well organized and good pricing. Very friendly helpful staff. read more

Going Underground Records - Vinyl Records Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This spot is a music lovers paradise. The record store is stacked with vinyl to the walls. Everything is organized by genre and no matter what kind of music you're into you will find it here. They have the most popular releases along with rare finds and white label drops. Depending on the time you go you will find different things. On my two visits there I've found gems from MF DOOM, Frank Ocean, Mac Miller, Kid Cudi, and more. Additionally, they have used clearance records where you can occasionally find a come-up. Their prices aren't marked up and the folks here are nice. If you love music and are in the area, stop here and do some digging. read more

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Slick liquid shine vinyl keeps the Going Underground inventory absolutely sick. I loved what I saw in the simply and neatly ordered new arrivals section. Some standouts were a brilliantly illustrated Lightnin' Hopkins LP, a supremely loud ESG LP, and a marvelously mint Candido LP. The straightforward layout to the Underground store makes finding such iridescent, black wax gems exceedingly easy. GU merits further lauds for its sensible approach to pricing its vinyl. That Candido record I mentioned earlier was priced at $15. The Lightnin' Hopkins was not too expensive either; I think it was $25 if memory serves. I have seen both records priced at $50 or higher in stores trying to crank up the exploitation in the vinyl gold-rush. Not so at Going Underground. Maybe the store-name has as much to do with bargain basement prices as it does cool and overlooked LPs. I can't wrap up this review without touching on the 12" singles section here. So many funky hits to be picked for the dance music fans. And, I did not see too many singles priced higher than $5. GU does have rare records, but even those tend to the affordable at around $10. I believe a left with a techno, house, underground single. Some places do live up to their good name(s) after all. (Special thanks to Adam for the rewarding customer service.) read more

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Groovy eclectic mix of tunes. Spent more than I should have, but got more than I should have for the money spent. Great shop, great prices, and truly the only thing I liked about my trip! read more

What a great gem!!! My bf and I stopped here tonight nov 9. We weren't expecting to find too many things but as soon as we walked in I realized how much they hand!!! Going Underground Records has a little bit of everything for a reasonable price. I saw an original blondie vinyl for $2!!!!! What the heck that's unheard of. Needless to say we had our fun here and can't wait to come back!! read more

Going Underground Records - Vinyl Records Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Wow, this a hidden gem in the heart of DTLA! Located in Little Tokyo, just across from Spitz and Popkiller, you'll find this unmarked record shop. The Texas Sun designed "Open" sign is what originally caught my eye and I immediately had to enter (love that album!). It's a fairly small record store with plenty of bins you'll want to dig through, and lots of space to do the digging. It's a perfect escape from the summer sun and you'll find lots of amazing records here. Their wall display is also spectacular with lots of hard to find records. There were so many great records at such a great price that this has easily become my favorite record store! I stopped by two days in a row if that tells you anything. Amoeba might be a large one-stop shop, but you should make a detour and come here instead. You'll be glad you did and will leave happy with a wide selection of record steals! read more

I've been staying near Little Tokyo since 2013 and it's finally nice to have a legit vinyl record store near the hotel! When I mean legit, the have their genres separated and with a good amount of releases in their bins. Was easy for me to ch through the punk, metal goth bins and find what I needed to purchase. Kudos to Going Underground fulfilling my wants in a record store and naming the store after a cool song! read more

Going Underground Records - Vinyl Records Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Great selection, friendly staff, super convenient online ordering with in-store pickup in minutes. Awesome shop with a curated selection. Truly beyond expectations! read more

Went here for RSD '21 and had a great experience. I of course called many times to confirm they had what I wanted (PARTYNEXTDOOR's full vinyl collection) and they were very helpful. I got there early and was maybe the 5th person in line. When they opened up, they had us check off the records we wanted on a paper attached to old vinyls they had. They allowed maybe 3 in at a time. Very smooth and easy process. Called again today for RSD '22 and they were very kind. read more

The selection here is small, and focused on particular tastes. The biggest sections as far as I could tell were Indie/Alternative and Hip-Hop, while the generic Rock/Pop section (the bread and butter of most record stores) was small enough that there weren't even Artist cards. Still, I was able to pick up a couple 7" singles, a soundtrack, and a used 90s indie album. The guy at the counter was very nice and although I didn't have any questions he gave the vibe of someone approachable who would be as helpful as possible if I needed it. I happened to stop by a Barnes & Noble after and can confirm that Going Underground's new records were a few dollars cheaper, so that was very satisfying to see! Overall, given my taste in music I don't think this will be my go-to store, but if I spend a Saturday hitting a couple shops, this one will definitely be on the list. I encourage everyone to check this place out! read more

We really liked this record shop. It's in a cool area with lots of Japanese restaurants and tea to choose from before you hit the record store. The staff was super friendly and they had a nice curation of soul/funk. They didn't have a great Latin selection :( but overall, we enjoyed the vibe of the store and went home with three records. They are also fairly priced! read more

I got off work early and found myself wandering around before my train departure. Always looking for something new, I saw this location pop up when I was zooming around on my Google map. I'm glad it did. Located just outside the Japanese Village, I almost missed it. Not huge like Rhino in Claremont or other more famous locales, but the selection was nice. Super clean, great lighting. A little bit of everything. I rummaged through their newly arrived section, which I found a couple classic Blondie and Adam and the Ants LPs that I had been looking for that had just been put out a couple hours prior. They had new and used vinyl from a variety of genres over a variety of decades. I went through their alternative and recently arrived sections, but ran out of time to go through their punk and 60s and 70s sections. Talking to the cashier, they buy and sell and have product arriving daily. Really friendly staff. Prices were extremely reasonable. Picked up 5 new and used albums for barely over $100. Saw more on the counter that caught my eye, I had already checked out and I had exceeded my budget. I look forward to my next visit. read more

Going Underground Records - Don't blink, you might miss it. - Vinyl Records Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Just visited their new location in Little Tokyo. It's a great space and vibe, and, as usual, I made a few great finds, a few used 45's, a used LP and a few new LP's. Their pricing and service is always on point. Thanks! read more

Awesome little shop with a great selection and incredible customer service. Went in there for some gift ideas and received a free clinic. Super great little shop. Support your local record store! read more

This should be read as a two-star review, I don't like to allocate low stars unless it's a public safety hazard (would qualify since none of the workers wear masks) for personal reasons, but I will specify when a 4 or 5-star review is not that. Everyone who works there is fine and polite. This is a review for the store selection itself and its business practices. Their stock didn't do it for me (compare to Rappcats, The Artform Studio, Timewarp, Sonido del Valle, CD Trader, Amoeba, there's cool shops in Pas as well), but I still wanted to support and give them a try with something that seemed cool that I hadn't heard before. I ended up with heavy buyer's remorse. They don't allow any refunds and will only buy back what you purchased at less than half the price. Selling records itself was a fast and seamless process - that's the second star. I sold back the record I bought along with some others I had in my car, but I really mostly did so out of principle so I could get my money for the record I bought back I could pass off to folks in the street. Even if they wouldn't give me any money back, I would have left that record with them. It almost feels like they themselves don't listen to or rock with their own inventory. They couldn't tell me anything about the record I bought. They don't allow you to preview or listen to any of the used records which is pretty wack considering where they're located - the elder Japanese family owned souvenir shop on 1st that sells music, instruments and all my kinds of trinkets will break out a new CD to play on an at least 30 year old boombox for you. I'm not really sure what this shop does for the LT community. It gives gentrifier vibes like Mokuyoubi, not to say that a couple of the other record stores I named are exactly much less complicit, but it's hard for me to imagine who they are appealing to if their model is selling records that you can't listen to and then not being able to do much about it once you buy them.​ I'd gladly delete my review if the business takes consideration to change their policies or implement listener stations or does something more actionable for the community than their current offerings. read more

Love love LOVE this record store! Great selection of music, at decent prices as well, and cute friendly staff. Love that it's now closer to me and around Little Tokyo. Be sure to check it out if you are in the area. Highly recommended! A++++ read more

I love this store. Coolest dudes, great selection, awesome prices, good conversation, record lovers, music nerds...after a lot of years digging in good to crummy stores it's so nice to find a record store like this. Keep it up forever read more

Great records, great prices, and damn everyone has been finding out about this place lol

Most based record store in LA! They have a good selection of indie, metal, punk, alternative, and electronic/ hyper pop. Most of the records I've wanted I've ended up finding at this place and they sell most vinyls for the completely reasonable price of $20. If you don't feel like waiting in line for 2 hours to get into Amoeba then definitely go here. read more

Awesome place, awesome dudes, go support them! Great used selection with new stuff coming in every day.

I always find some nice gems that I'm surprised to find when I go in this store for a very good price

Small shop in little Tokyo. Friendly staff and pretty reasonably priced records. Worth a look if you're in LA.

Just discovered this place today, just wow! Great selection, clean, organized, fairly priced, and a very nice/knowledgeable staff! The perfect record shop read more

We found Going Underground during online RSD shopping. They are awesome. I can't wait for the LA store to reopen so we can check them out in person. Keep being awesome! read more

Favorite record store in LA! I definitely prefer it over the new amoeba location

I was traveling in LA and this store was a great find! Excellent selection, great condition, a very large new arrivals section. Some records priced as low as $2, but the average used record I'd say was at a reasonable 8 to 15 bucks. Lots of modern and contemporary bands. Great selection of hardcore, indie, metal and punk rock as well. I didn't have enough time - I left with 5 records and chatted with the owner for a while. This is the best shop I've found on my trip so far! Worth the visit! read more

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thank god this popped up when I searched "record stores near me" because ever since then I been in LOVE . I found one of my greatest finds here which was a Betty Wright Live Album on vinyl!!!! Everything is well priced that you could get carried away && end up buying the whole store lol . Hands down my top favorite record store in LA . read more

Great selection! Highly recommend this spot for some hidden gems and a lot of variety.

Very clean, but doesn't have a lot of hip hop. It would be something they should add.

I've been toting around records since middle school, which is a long time ago considering the Doors first album I bought from mowing lawns was in my collection! After putting myself through college working at a record store I was pretty aware of what classics would someday have some value. Ron came by and went through it and gave me a fair price which was fortunate for me...and fortunate for the customers as there are some real rarities that will find a better home than just being in storage. Great person to do business with...have fun and keep rockin'. read more