Pioneer Spa in Norwalk was honestly such a disappointment and I really wish someone had written an honest review before I went. I've been to a lot of Korean spas across LA and Orange County like Century, Wi, and Crystal, so I know what to expect. A friend recommended this one and I thought it'd be fun to try something new, but this was by far the worst experience I've ever had. The only reason I'm even giving it two stars is because of the owner, Mr. Kim. He greeted me at the front, was very polite, and took time to explain everything even though I already knew how these spas work. His friendliness stood out, but that was the only positive part of my visit. Parking was easy and free, which was nice, and I got a spot right in front. The spa is inside a small indoor plaza that feels more like an outdated mini mall than a wellness spot, and the entrance is confusing. Once inside, everything felt cramped and outdated. The cold plunge and jacuzzi were ridiculously small, maybe two and a half feet deep, and you could barely fit two people without bumping elbows. The jacuzzi wasn't hot enough, the cold plunge wasn't cold at all, and the overall atmosphere didn't feel clean or rejuvenating. The amenities were just way below what you'd expect from a Korean spa. The sauna said 173 degrees but I sat there for over twenty minutes and didn't sweat once. The steam room was the opposite, dangerously hot. The steam comes out directly from a vent near the bottom, and if you're sitting anywhere close to it, it literally burns your legs. I'm not exaggerating when I say it's unsafe. Even sitting higher up, I had to constantly scoot away because of how intense the bursts of steam were. That should absolutely be fixed because it's a serious safety hazard. On top of that, the jacuzzi and cold plunge both had warning signs taped on the railings that said things like "Be careful, this is not strong, do not shake." That alone made me feel uneasy. If the metal railings aren't sturdy enough to lean on, they shouldn't be in use. It's something so simple to fix, and I don't understand how they're operating without addressing it. The common area wasn't comfortable either. There were a few massage chairs that you had to pay extra for and no real seating to relax. The orange uniforms were funny and bright, but it made the place look more like a gym than a spa. There are themed rooms like an oxygen room, but they don't offer much. I was planning to eat at the restaurant since the website said it was open, but when I asked, the staff told me it had been closed for a while. Honestly, that was probably for the best because the space is so small that food smells would've been overwhelming. They do offer a few small items like shaving cream, a disposable razor, and a scrub, which is thoughtful, but it doesn't make up for the lack of quality. Between the outdated facilities, safety hazards, and disappointing amenities, this place just isn't worth it. For the same price, I'd rather go to Joy Spa or Century Spa in Koreatown where you actually get what you pay for. Those places have better amenities, cleaner spaces, and real attention to comfort and safety. Pioneer Spa feels neglected, cramped, and uncomfortable. I left more tense than when I arrived and definitely won't be going back. read more

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I miss this spa. It is very good the money and a decent size. Not too big and not too small.

Went for the second time after 6 months. Unplanned visit so just asked for scrub & massage by whomever was available. My neck & shoulder had been bothering me for a couple of days. The person who took care of me today was Kani - I thought it was Connie but the tip envelope had Kani on it. Initially I wasn't sure if she was going to do a good job as she seemed somewhat distant (?). She asked if I had any particular issues so I told her the left side of my neck has been hurting. She noticed my right side is worse as it was stiff when she tried to turn my neck as she was scrubbing me and told me left side probably hurts more as I compensated for the right side that's worse. She said to 'endure it even if it's painful' & really worked on my neck & shoulder area. It hurt A LOT!! I was whimpering... but now it feels so much better than before I got the massage done. Kani recommended i get acupressure rather than the scrub and massage so they can focus & target the area that's hurting. I may take her advice and do so. She also noticed I hold a lot of tension on the back of the head & have weak joints. She said my back is straight but I round my shoulders which add to the neck pain. I didn't see the pricing for the acupressure so I may need to call them to find the price before I make my next visit there. Thanks Kani for your great work!! The spa was clean and fairly empty when i first arrived- 10:30 am on a Monday. By the time I went to use the common area to visit various rooms, there were 3 ladies & 1 man sitting and watching TV. This is a small, no bells & whistles kind of place but due to the convenience & good masseuses, I will definitely go back. read more

Great spa! Staff is super helpful, had a good time, glad I came. The place is small, and crowd is friendly, I would definitely go back.

Do not come here!!! This place has a bad reputation. They are beyond rude to loyal customers. Constantly micro-managing the spa area and harass respectable customers at every chance they can yell and assert power. This place is not good for relaxing at all due to poor disrespectful managing staff. Eventually I hope this business closes for good. No good paying customers deserve this kind of treatment. I also assessed wear/ tear in shorts and holes in shirts provided. The towels are old and smell like urine. The knobs & door handle on the saunas are falling apart and once again the extremely cheap owner and staff are very Miserable projecting that energy onto the customers that frequent here. Other patrons at different spas have even said how terrible this place is. Stay Away!!! read more

Very bad Manager Don't come here The worst experience I have ever had at a Korean Spa! The Manager is rude, and has a horrible attitude towards customers. He screamed because a little wet on my back when I walk through to my locker! He then yelled at other people too. I will never go back to this place ever again! read more

I went there and place is just a joke. small, smelly, out of date facility need a big time upgrade but charges same amount as brand new spas nearby. recommend other places like k spa. read more

Had a terrible experience at this spa today. Walking into the place was confusing, as there's such a mess of things everywhere. The guy that attended me gave me a brief description of the amenities and then let me loose. Did not mention that I should grab a gown on my way in. The place is pretty clean and well kept, so I give them a star for that. However, it is very dated and bright which is not what I expect from a Spa. The towel service is limited and restricted to 3 towels only. The people that come here are pretty creepy too. You see "no inapproriate acts allowed" signs everywhere which is very telling. I definitely saw some inappropriate acts take place within the first hour that I was there. All of the amenities and rooms are very small, so it makes for somewhat of an uncomfortable session if it's packed. Overall, I would rank this as the worst spa experience I've had in LA. Will not return. read more

I got crabs there! Be careful, floor mats are infested! Complained to manager, doesn't care!

I wish I could give this place zero stars!!! The man at the front is so rude he yells and is frustrated when you dont understand what he is saying. My aunt went in first and was speaking in Spanish and automatically starts yelling that if she doesn't know English. We were very surprised with that comment and I spoke up saying that I could translate and I spoke English. He either hates his business or hates life or maybe both but he doesn't need to be acting like this to customers that have been coming to this place for many years. I will rethink about coming back! read more

Sandra was amazing!!! Food and service is amazing! I will definitely be returning and we live like ah hour away

This is a small gem that Norwalk has to offer. There aren't many Korean spas outside of LA's Koreatown and Pioneer Spa is one of the few. The spa is located in a fairly quiet plaza. From what I remember, there was only a sushi restaurant still open on that Wednesday evening. Weekdays probably are normally what I experienced and can feel like a exclusive spa. There weren't many patrons when I was there; I probably saw 10 people there during my visit. Pioneer Spa is also pretty small, but it does the trick if anyone ever needs a quick sauna session. They have 6 co-ed sauna rooms and one communal room. Men and women have their own heated and cold pools as well as a dry and steam sauna. I noticed that there was a napping rooms and lounge chairs in the women's section. My visit was about 2-3 hours and I paid a $30 entrance fee. The place also offers massages and scrubs! read more

Korean owner/man at the front is so rude! Gave me attitude from the jump because I misunderstood his broken English and didn't know how to open my locker, then gave me the ugliest look when I had to transfer money from my bank because I had no idea the body scrub was $50 Since there's NO SIGNAGE where the scrub is at. There's so many other signs in that place but u can't have one that says this service is FIFTY DOLLARS? And he scolded me when i came out for "dripping water" sir i didn't even drop any water??? Maybe a drop? My towel was pretty dry...... the sauna and pools are nice but be prepared for a vile staff who don't treat their customers with respect but like dogs. He got mad at me for not tipping and i said you need to be respectful because he's a FOB jerk read more

Kind of a similar vibe to Century Day & Night Spa in Koreatown, or Joy Sauna in Hacienda Heights. The staff aren't the friendliest depending on who's working, but the place is kept-up, clean, and the crowd is friendly. The co-ed area is mellow and relaxed. The men's side can be flirty, there's some socializing here, phone numbers exchanged and the like - but if you want to be left alone, you'll be left alone. read more

No frills, Korean spa, u steam, u sauna, u cold plunge, rinse and repeat. Then get your all OVER body scrub. You will feel like a brand new human being. Literally. read more

Skip to the end for why I can only give 4 stars :( Their dry rooms are amazing, and it's one of those places where, if the shower area isn't for you, just change and enjoy the common area. The co-ed space has 6 rooms : Ice (basically a freezer), oxygen (dark sleeping room), gemstone (my favorite, walls plasters with amethyst!), clay ball bits, salt, and coral. I really loved walking on the round pebble path, it really massages your feet at your own pace. 10/10 for cleanliness, no complaints. In summary, the pros are : -very clean -unique dry rooms -very empty (almost feels secret and private) The cons, and overall why I can't give 5 stars: -there's only 2 pools, and both very small, very shallow -the dry sauna barely fits 2 people (kinda like those saunas you can buy and put in your home) -no restaurant or cafe, that severely limits how long I can stay I'd come again for the pros I listed, but for people who like to spend more time soaking between pools, that might be disappointing. read more

I used many korean spas in koreatown, in korea, buena park to valley. I paid 90$ for massage. This man in front was so rude that i never wanted to come back again. I didnt know i have to come out to co ed area. I wish someone could guide me. After i used co ed area i got so wet. You had to go through front door. It was cold. When i came for dry tshirt, he got mad and asked for 2$. When i was trying to tip my thearapist he got mad just to tell me where the tip box was. How do i know? Why is he so mad at earth? Or is he racist? read more

Had a good time at the spa. Loved the relaxing dry sauna rooms. I will admit the bath house area was small. I think the jacuzzi can hold maybe 5 people max. Overall I would go back read more

Underrated! But keep it that way! Clean, quiet, generous spaces for the unisex areas- The women's area is a little cramped but not very busy - so privacy was amazing - massage was thorough- such a bargain!! read more

Men, if you haven't discovered Korean Spas...you're missing out. Steam room, Sauna, hot tubs, colder tubs, sleeping rooms standing showers as well as sitting showers perfect for personal grooming. Be advise though all men are naked so if you're not comfortable around naked men this place is not for you. Don't forget, if you have never had a body scrub. Boy oh boy you will be surprised how crispy clean you will be. All types of body shapes should you get an erection so be it it human nature. In closing, just enjoy your time and relax naked. Should you see me laying down help a brother out and massage my body. I work on my feet the older I get damn my body needs attention. Happy relaxing! read more

Visited this place on a whem because i live close by & really wanted to sit in a wet sauna. My bf & i called ahead to make sure we understood what we were walking into being our first time at a Korean spa. The man at the front desk was friendly and kind to us when we arrived and explained how things worked and what to expect. It was pretty empty when we went around 4pm which was nice. The facility was very clean & the coed side had a peaceful vibe. Overall we really enjoyed our visit & would definitely return! read more

I am a reoccurring customer; as I have visited more than five times. Today I left a tip on my card and the guy at the front desk stated it was too little. I explained my mom has metastatic cancer and I'm not working this is the best I can do at this time. He then through my credit card at me.... WOW!!!! I went to the spa to destress after spending a month taking care of my mom after multiple surgeries and procedures. I will be contacting the better business bureau as his behavior is unacceptable and disrespectful! I hope karma comes back and happy thanksgiving read more

I'm giving this place 1 star because of their rude staff. I had a few hours to kill, so I decided to go to the spa. I hadn't eaten anything all day, but luckily, there were restaurants adjacent to the spa. If you don't already know, usually korean spa's serve food inside the spa, but since their kitchen is never open, I asked the younger staff member if I was able to grab food from the business next door and eat it inside since I was wearing the spa clothes. He said it was fine. After a few hours of relaxing inside, I decided to eat. I asked if I could use their house slippers (this is common in korean spa's for them to provide slippers for guests so they can use it to go smoke or go to their car) and told them I would be right back with the food. This is when the older guy said, "No outside food!" I didn't want to say, "The other guy said it was fine to bring outside food," so I went and ate inside the restaurant, looking like an escaped prisoner. When I got back to the spa, the older dude at the front said, "Only 5 hours max!!" I'm pissed at this point and said, "it's only been 2 hours bruh..." He mumbled a random acknowledgment noise after verifying my arrival time. So I'm fuming now. I stayed a little longer, and as I exited, as I was glaring at him, he said, "Thank you for coming," while staring at his phone with his feet kicked up on the table. Unprofessional staff/owners who treat their customers like animals, no exaggeration. This place sucks ass. Please respond business owner. read more

OK. I'm not sure where to start. It's got good aspects, and bad aspects, but I'm afraid the bad outweighs the good. I've been there about four times, always midweek, usually arriving about 2:00pm. Here goes.... The owner/manager up front acts like he doesn't want you there. Maybe it's a cultural thing, and I'm white not Korean/Asian, but my gosh he's unpleasant. If you want to pay with a card, he's a borderline assh0le. The wet area. It has a very shallow hot tub which holds about five people, maximum. Jets are controlled with a 20-minute dial timer on the wall next to the dry sauna door. The cold pool is nice and chilly, but honestly, only one person at a time will fit. The dry sauna is a bit on the hot side, has the two level seating, and can fit maybe seven people. The steam room fits about ten people maximum, and it gets really steamy, but insanely hot. I'm talking possible health code violations hot. There is no fucking reason they have it set that hot. Makes it borderline useless. It's infuriating. They hose down the floor of the wet areas, scrub the floors with a long handled scrub brush, rinse, and then squeegee the floors, literally every 20 minutes. Thus the floors (including both shower areas) are typically spotless. There is a darkened TV room with comfortable, albeit beat up, recliner chairs. The TV plays a Korean language channel. There is a darkened sleeping room, that quite honestly smells like literal human feces and really bad body odor. I'm not exaggerating in the least. Over on the coed side, there are four nice massage chairs. $5.00 for 15-minutes, $10.00 for 30-minutes. Various heated rooms, an "oxygen room (my favorite), and a cold room. There is a restaurant area, but it is no longer in service. Parking typically isn't a problem. read more

나는 여자이고 평소에 이곳에 오는 것을 좋아하는데 남자 찜질방에서 이상한 성행위가 벌어지고 있다고 오빠가 말했다. 이것은 업체의 잘못이 아닙니다. 예의 바르고 성행위를 자제하십시오. Translation: I am a woman and I normally enjoy coming here but my brother told me there are weird sexual activities going on in the men steam room. This is not the business's fault please have some decency and refrain from sexual activities read more

This spa is a hidden gem! They have unique dry rooms (clay room, oxygen room, crystal room etc..) & each room was so therapeutic. The facility is well kept & clean. They make you take your shoes off in the beginning which is excellent since it helps keep the whole facility clean. I felt so relaxed & like I was in an Asian country during my time there. Would highly recommend this spa to de-stress read more

The place was already very well maintained and frequently cleaned pre-Covid. Very happy they are still here and have reopened. The owner is particular and post signs directing people what to do because it takes everyone's cooperation in order to mainly the place clean and safe. The way the owner persist in his system pretty much explains the upkeep of this relaxing spot. The lady who gave me the scrub and massage today was super nice and knows what she's doing. She hits all the right spot and takes the whole process seriously. Definitely opposite of the staffs whom I've received service from in other spa or massage places, who made me feel that they are just "massaging"'e up to the time ends. read more

Pioneer Spa - Updated Menu_04/03/2021 - Day Spas Near Me - Norwalk, California

I have to say I'm actually really impressed. The owner is a great guy who really cares about his customers. I was kinda scared since we are still in covid season but I have to say this spa is doing everything they can to protect tnier customers. From taking your temperature before you enter to doing hourly deep clean of the sauna areas. I got a body scrub the other day and it was amazing. Almost a year of no spa so the skin that was scrubbed off left me feeling renewed and like I lost 20lbs. Very peaceful inside. Common area is open except for the food court. Overall this is a nice quiet and friendly vibe at this spa. Staff are great. Customers are great and I feel as safe as I can be for a spa during covid. Be sure to tip the workers if you can. They go through great lengths to protect you and give you good service. I think this place is a hidden GEM read more

Pioneer Spa - Day Spas Near Me - Norwalk, California

They have a good service and affordable price compared to other Korean spa. The spa had a variety of saunas, including a Himalayan salt room and a charcoal sauna, each offering different benefits. The hot and cold baths were refreshing, and the relaxation lounge was perfect for unwinding afterward read more

Came here on a weekend and the information here on Yelp says they'd be open till 12:30 A.M. but they were cleaning the premises and kicking us out by 9:45 P.M. I was a bit disappointed but seeing as how i was one of the only patrons there, I could see why they wouldn't want to stay open. But just know that the hours seem to be negligible and don't expect them to stay open to the hours they claim. Other than that, good clean facilities. Clean but small. There are lots of nice jimjilbang co-ed rooms, and I appreciate the loofa scrub sheets in the shower area. read more

I am glad I found this spot! Reasonable price $25,and clean. I enjoyed all the rooms in the common areas. They only allow three person in every room, which is perfect. The spa is definitely cleaner than imperial spa/Fullerton and all the amenities are working properly. Fullerton Imperial spa is $35 and poor maintenance , and dirty. First time here and had great experience. Can't wait to try the body scrub service. read more

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Good quick and affordable plus speak English which helps if you're new to the spa scene.

I used to come here often pre-pandemic but I came here recently to get scrubbed down and use their amenities but some things have changed within this spa. First off the price has gone up. The restaurant is now closed. How come the oxygen in the oxygen room isn't on? Also my friend and I got the scrub and both of us got dermatitis. Hope they are using different gloves for each client. read more

New favorite spa. This place has a lot of amenities, including saunas, jacuzzi, shower area, and more. My favorite is the sleeping and the TV room, it's dark, perfect for relaxing. The coed area is also nice, with plenty of options to choose from. The ice room is quite nice, I also enjoyed the crystal room to meditate in. read more

The owner there kicked me out because I reported some disturbing activity that was going on in the men's dry sauna. He then told me to never come back. For reporting someone masturbate in the dry sauna. Do not go here. Not safe for the family. And the owner can shove it. I see how they support these weird activities and allowing these people to come back. BE CAREFUL EVERYONE. read more

Small spa (about 1/3 the size of ISpa in Irvine) but definitely worth the $25 entrance fee IF there isn't more than 10 people in spa area. I went on a Friday night and there were about 10 women in the spa area. There are only 8 people allowed in the hot tub & only 3 people can sit in the dry sauna. The highlight for me were the big lazy boy couches in the locker room, super comfy, I brought my sisters gel mail kit & did her nails there. Overall pretty clean & very affordable. I did enjoy all the rooms in the common area, especially the gem room it was so beautiful!!! The big bummer was that the restaurant inside was closed for now until further notice. I hope they open it up soon!!! read more

I visited on a weekday. I thought I would have the whole place to myself, but it was surprisingly busy. Like others said, this place is clean which it is very important if not the most important for a spa. The place is small. There is a hot pool that fits 6 people the most. The cold pool is tiny and shallow. Both wet and dry sauna room are small too, but clean. I got a body scrub which was good. The person knows how to do a proper scrub for sure. It was done behind a curtain which provides good privacy. The common area has many cool rooms that are well maintained. It's good for couples that likes to hang out together. read more

Today was my first visit to a korean spa. This is in my neighborhood and so I gave it a shot. Incredible price for the use of the facility (jacuzzi steam, dry heat) and a scrub with a massage for a hundred dollars!! It was a unique experience that I cannot wait to do again next month. read more

Super nice place to relax and enjoy time .friendly stuff and feel welcome . Highly recommend!!!!

This place is clean and okay for a quick sauna fix. What I can't stand is the old guy in the front. He was so rude and mean. I'm never ever coming back here again. read more