Nice temple! There's some parking on their lot as well as the street. Staff can speak English and Vietnamese. They have events for Chinese new year. read more

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Absolutely beautiful temple, and this one was welcoming to visitors. I did not feel like an outsider here. The people who were here taking care of the place smiled at me and did not hover over me as I looked around. I took photos but I also tried to be respectful, and I said my thank yous to their gods. This place did smell very strong of incense, but was so gorgeous inside and out. They also had a restroom! ALSO WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE WITH RAMPS!!! read more

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Absolutely beautiful temple! It has stunning interior, and charming exterior. It provides calm and peaceful atmosphere. I love this place very much. We will definitely come back. read more

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上班？上進？ 可能我會選擇先上香，舉高香，敬神明，願家人幸福，安康第一，以如常為喜，以如願為安～ 放假來我很喜歡的天后宮走走，接近過年， 信徒比以往多，轉角就有個中餐，午餐就不用跑太遠了！ read more

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I've been visiting Thien Hau Temple for many years with my mom and even though, it appears "smaller" as I get older, the beauty of this place in my eyes hasn't changed. My family is Buddhist, and every Lunar New Year, they visit different temples to pray for health and wellbeing for the new year. Stopping by Thien Hau Temple has become a yearly tradition for my mom and I usually tag along because it always gives me such peaceful vibes when I walk in. Like most temples, there is vegetarian food available that looks extremely delicious, but I usually pass on that due to the crowds lining up for it. I am a carnivore so waiting 20+ minutes for napa cabbage with tofu never seems to be worth the wait. One thing that is inevitable though, is the wait for parking. If you come during Lunar New Year, the parking is horrific, so be prepared! Other than that, Thien Hau Temple is a place I enjoy visiting. read more

Thien Hau Temple - Lanterns available at different prices, depending on size. It is for good luck and health. - Buddhist Temples Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Quality/Quantity - Taoist Temple. What a cool find. Such a beautiful temple! See pictures. And so welcoming. Chinese New Year (CNY) is coming up, I am told there are many festivities here during that holiday. Atmosphere - Open to the public. Beautifully decorated. Free parking. Security. Promotes Yelp, LOL. See picture. Not sure if they had bathrooms...? Open 7 days a week from 10am to 2pm. Yelp hours differ. Service - Welcoming. Free bottles of water. Free bags of rice. Price - Free, please donate. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 2006. Thank you for being so welcoming to the public. read more

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Very nice volunteers (Hope) she helped explain some of the temple's significance. Also getting a free meal !!

A very nice temple that worships 媽祖 (Mazu), 關聖帝君 (Guan Yu) ，福德正神 (Tu Di Gong) ，觀音菩薩 (Guan Yin)，地藏王 (Kshitigarbha) ，佛祖 (Buddha) and my favorite, 虎爺將軍 (Hu Yeh, "Tiger General") ! It's beautifully decorated inside and very clean/organized. It's become my favorite temple to visit! There is a place to burn paper money, to ask for 籤運 (fortune message sticks) and various other services. There are a few worship items that can be purchased as offerings at $5 per item, cash only. The friendly staff there speak Vietnamese, Cantonese, Mandarin and English. Parking is really easy during the week. There is a designated parking lot and also street parking (with meters). The current operating hours are different from what's indicated on Yelp, so check the hours listed on the photo that I shared. read more

Thien Hau Temple - Operating hours, photo taken 6/16/23, mask optional. - Buddhist Temples Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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A temple built in dedication to the Chinese sea goddess Mazu. Located in Los Angeles's China Town area, this temple is of huge spiritual significance to this community, and must visit for anyone interested in the Asian culture. The temple is open to the public. On weekends and the 1st and 15th day of the lunar calendar, food is provided for free to the general public. Sit inside or along the outside of this stunning temple and enjoy a authentic meal with this community while appreciating the architecture. A donation is optional and goes with out saying. Inside the community pays tribute to their gods Mazu, Guan Yu, and Fu De. Incense is provided and you light 11 sticks and walk around saying prayers and leaving them burning in designated areas. I myself worship another god, but still respectfully lit the incense and focused on sending positive energy to the people here, and good wishes for my loved ones. I'm not too familiar on the practice. I myself did not get greeted or got a tour. My conclusions are by observation only. This temple was actually built on an Italian Church in what used to be lil Italy. Just showing how the culture and times change here in Los Angeles. Giving this place spiritual significance across the board. You may have to drive around to find parking, once you find it follow the smell of burning incense and you are there. read more

Thien Hau Temple - The temple looked to be under construction - Buddhist Temples Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I just went there on Thursday 02/25/21. Unfortunately, it was closed. But i saw the sign about effective from 02/26/21 they will be open on every Friday , Sat and Sun only until further notice. So, if i have a chance, i will try to go there again. read more

Thien Hau Temple - Buddhist Temples Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The temple is well maintained and cleaned. Thiên Hậu temple is a very place among our Asian families to visit during the Lunar New Year. The place gets extremely packed and you will need to find parking outside the temple near midnight. There will be lion dance, firecrackers and donation boxes for flowers. The incense pack is free near the front door, make sure you walk the whole place so you place an incense at the right location. It's a huge tradition to be here during Lunar New Year for my family, and I hope you enjoy this place as much as I do. read more

This Vietnamese Temple is so beautiful, peaceful, and well cared for. I've been wanting to visit this temple and having finally gone, I was not disappointed. Incense was burning throughout-and if you'd like to burn some yourself, there is some readily available. Not that it's mandatory, but donations are welcomed. There's a place for people to say prayers and leave offerings. I'll try to go back again-for Lunar New Year. :) read more

The long wait at Howlin' Ray's brought me to this temple. To beat the boredom due to the the long wait time, I decided to explore the neighborhood. I saw the roof of this building from a distance so I decided to check it out. The temple is in a quiet neighborhood of Chinatown. First thing I noticed are the jasmine trees in front of the temple. At the time of my visit, the trees have abundant fragrant flowers that immediately sent in good vibes within me. The temple has very nice architecture with beautiful spiritual decor. It's very solemn in here so although pictures are allowed, please respect the worshippers saying their prayers. You are encouraged to light eleven incense sticks before you say your prayer and I wished I did but I didn't have the time. I hope someday I'll be able to come back and be able to do that. read more

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Sometimes, I like to have an open, blank mind and just absorb... This temple in a quiet part of Chinatown Los Angeles gave me that peaceful, centered feeling! Alana and I found the free parking, walked into the building, and just wandered around. We took pictures, admired the floral and food offerings, and appreciated the landscaping. I paused by the incense and sent good thoughts and asked for blessings for friends and relatives. It's nice to see traditions carried on here in LA - as we do in Honolulu... read more

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This Taoist temple located in Chinatown is very interesting to visit. We felt like we had left the US and been transported to China upon entering. Apparently it is possible to have a tour if you make arrangements in advance, but we just wandered through. I would like to go back so that I better understand what I saw. Without a tour and with little understanding of Taoism it is a sea of elaborate red and gold decor, statues, offerings of fruits and other foods, and burning incense. Nevertheless, it was still very interesting and very sensory to spend time there. read more

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Thien Hau Temple is a Taoist temple in Los Angeles Chinatown. The size is about average. Bigger than the Xuan Wu San Temple nearby. It's right in the middle of Chinatown near, Alpine St and Yale St. Inside, there are a few shrines you can pray from. I think there are over 7 or 8. There's incense there, so you don't have to bring your own. There are also lots of Chinese fortune sticks you can use to see your fortune. The only problem, the fortunes only come in Thai, Vietnamese, and I think Chinese. No English. :P So bring someone who can read one of those. There's a parking lot, with a few parking spaces, and more parking spaces in the street. (Free) The place is nice. It's better if you see it in person. Not from the pictures. I didn't take any pictures inside the temple, because you're usually not allowed. Plus, it would be a little rude. :P Enjoy! read more

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WOW! AMAZING!!! This is my review - mainly. WOW! This is a Chinese Temple - from the core of a very old animist religious tradition. The story is that a girl in ancient China saw a group of fisherman drowning and she gave her life to save them, so becoming a Goddess. This Temple is for her - and yet I saw NO altar to her. Instead, ALL of the altars are to other Gods - like the God of Benefit, or the God of Prosperity. There are 11 Gods worshiped here in all (if worshiped is the right word - - maybe "acknowledged" or "remembered" are better terms for it). To respectfully fulfill the process, enter the temple and go to the incense shrine. Pick 11 sticks of incense and light them on the sacred fire. Then go to each altar in the deeper temple and place once incense stick on or near it. Then pray to that God for favor. After you are finished with once stick, and one God, move onto the next. After completing the circuit of 11 Gods then pick up your sacred "Josh" ( a kind of paper money that you take with you that will bring you luck). There are many additional processes that I do not understand - and also many statues that each represent something that I also don't know - but in general, these above mentioned steps is the basic process. Oranges are often placed on the altars as well, but I'm not sure if you bring your own or if the priests offer them for you. There are parishioners who chant all day, bang drums, smack gongs, and do other things that may help you -- but again - I do not have a handle on this yet. However - the people here are very helpful - and they do not seem concerned with a round-eye like me snooping around. It seems that All Are Welcome. Come Here and Be Blessed. read more

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One of the smaller but powerful Temples in Los Angeles. Come for traditional values, to worship, honor or simply to check it out. I come every Lunar New Year to Honor and continue Blessings that we all have. To donate and contribute to this place of worship... A must see while in the Original Chinatown in Downtown LA. This Temple is a smaller replica of the one in Asia. read more

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Always come here to pay respect to buddhas. There is ample parking space by the temple during non-busy occasions. read more

Thien Hau Temple - Buddhist Temples Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This is my favorite place in Chinatown. Very peaceful and it is good for the soul. The volunteers there are very friendly and always happy to help, most of the volunteers speak Cantonese, but sometimes you might ran into Mr. Tiger, who is a very spiritual Western friend, he can answer a lot of questions about Buddhism and the Temple. The Temple offers free vegetarian lunch on special days to share blessings. read more

Came across this temple while wandering around Chinatown with my Chinese class. You don't have to be Taoist to appreciate the aura of reverence and calm that will wash over you when you enter the temple. This spiritual oasis is tucked in a residential area, but you wouldn't be able to miss it with it's striking architecture and colorful interior. It is very small, unlike the massive Hsi Lai Temple, but to me that makes it better. We wanted to set down incense sticks, but we didn't know who to ask so we just quietly paid our respects after we had a look around. If you want to gain new cultural appreciation, they will gladly welcome you here. read more

Thien Hau Temple - Buddhist Temples Near Me - Los Angeles, California

It was says to be very lucky to ask for blessing for your business if you're doing business at Thien Hau Temple (Chùa Bà Thiên Hu) in Vietnamese and as Tiān Hòu Gōng (天后宫) in Chinese, is a folk religious temple in Los Angeles Chinatown. It is one of the more popular areas for worship and tourism among Asian residents in the Los Angeles area. "The temple is dedicated to #Mazu, the goddess of the sea and patron saint to sailors, fishermen, and those whose cultures are associated with the sea, along with Guan Yu, the god of wars, brotherhood, and righteousness, and Fu De, the earth god. On the eve of Chinese New Year, members from various communities gather to receive blessings and to burn incense in worship of the deities." **Wikipedia read more

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Lately, I felt the need to add some more faith and prayers in my life and going to this temple gave me a peace in my heart. I felt very relaxed and calm with their music they had. I lit up 11 incense with my mom and each incense I prayed away. I've never been very religious but this helps. I love the decor of this temple as well. The hanging lanterns caught my eye on the side of the temple. The molding of the inside reminds me of temples in Asia. read more

Thien Hau Temple - Buddhist Temples Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This is the best temple ever,very goldie ornaments.Also met two cute ladies here,They use to feed food on sunday ,but ive haven't been here so long and dont know if they till do. read more

If you love Chinese astrology, culture, and beauty? Than this is the place for you! This is s hidden LA gem! Coming here is always part of my new year ritual. You don't need to speak Chinese . The staff is so welcoming and helpful. Not to mention, the temple visitors always seem so happy to help translate things for me. I always leave inspired! read more

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Beautiful place. This temple is somewhat tucked away among many homes and apartments, so it may or may not be hard to miss when driving around looking for good parking to roam about Chinatown. The architecture of this temple was amazing.. even more detailed than what I've seen at many other temples I've been to, including the Hsi Lai Temple up in Hacienda Heights. The staff was friendly there as well, and the place overall had a very comforting environment - which was a huge relief from the dodgy feel of the streets of Chinatown itself (particularly on Broadway). I wonder how crazy it gets here during the Lunar New Year though since there seemed to be a lack of parking all around. read more

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This temple is a must see for all those interested in the eastern based religions, art, and design (graphic and/or interior). The photos posted to yelp by other visitors are gorgeous, but none do the temple justice. You have to see and enter the temple for yourself to truly appreciate the care it took to conceive this place of worship. Perfectly uniformed rows of dozens of palace lanterns cover the central area of the temple's ceiling, creating an intimidating entryway that deters any feelings of nonchalantness. Kaleidoscopic lighting planted within each of the 3 main shrines, which belong respectively to the goddess Mazu and the gods Guan Yu and Fu De, draw worshippers and spectators alike to revel in its beauty. When visiting, please be cognizant of the fact that this is a place of worship first and foremost. I've only ever been on weekdays when the place is relatively empty, so i have not run into any large amounts of people. I was also offered a tour by a kind gentlemen by the name of Michael and he was so enthusiastic and passionate about everything regarding the workings of the temple. Every time i need to go to Chinatown, i always visit here first. It is in walking distance from the Chinatown Swap Meet, tourist shops, and art galleries, so if your in the area, you should definitely stop by. You'll see elaborate signs all over the sidewalks while on your way to the temple, detailing the history of China Town and some of its buildings as well, which provides a learning experience for those on foot. read more

Hi everyone!!! If you have the time please come visit Chua Ba Thien Hau Temple. For those who are struggle in family,love,business come visit Chua Ba and ask for her blessing. Ba is one of the goddess very powerful and Ba will listen to your prayer and grant you your wish. I wanted to share with you not only 100% but 1000% truth in my case. It's happened to me. I went back and knees down in-front of Ba and my tears begin to pour down my face. People saw I was crying but I wasn't care or feeling embarrassed. I felt the present of Ba while I was there to pay my respect to Ba. I highly deep respect and honor Ba. read more

Michel strongly encouraged me to write a review about the Temple, and he will probably tell you to do so as well! However, I'm only reviewing this place because it's a gorgeous thing in a clearly not so gorgeous area. I just found funny that he insisted so much about writing a review here mentioning his name... That being said, he was very welcoming (such as his "colleagues"), talkative and very helpful into explaining the ritual. He speaks English and French, among other languages I'm sure, so you won't get lost if you ever meet him! Going back? I definitely will go back in this very special Temple where time doesn't hit you. read more

If you come on a regular worshiping day, you might walk in and think you stumbled into a copy of National Geographic. The incense smoke makes the crepuscular rays of sunlight seem tangible as they shine through the woodcut designed windows, illuminating the people praying within. Much of the temple is covered in intricate, gilded wooden pieces, with altars lined with money and bowls of oranges as offerings. The air is filled with the sound of clacking Kau Cim sticks as worshipers shake cups of them 'til one drops and they read their fortunes. The night before Lunar New Year, they have a big celebration in the temple as lion dancers battle and frolic in the street before storming the temple to scare away whatever evil spirits might be sinister (or perhaps stupid) enough to try to invade this gorgeous place of worship. It's a great community event, and the temple passes out free congee (donations accepted). read more

This is THE temple to go to to experience how Chinese temples celebrate the Lunar New Year. ABC 7 News is ALWAYS there to film the celebration and the crowd. There's tons of firecrackers popping and lion dances to welcome the Lunar New Year. Minus all the incense burning which can give you teary eyes, or the crowds of people holding their incenses and burn you by accident, Thien Hau Temple is a popular temple where everyone worships all the Gods and welcome them to a brand new year as well. I found it special this year that they have 2 people dressed up as the Fortune God and was standing infront of the door welcoming the worshippers. Everyone can take pictures with them. They also give out free lucky porridges to visitors. Parking can be VERY hectic. So I suggest if you will be coming next year, come a bit early so you can grab a parking spot or you can also pay for a spot in parking lots or garages around the area. read more

Thien Hau Temple is a not to be missed C-town destination. If you visit on New Year's day you will be treated to a very large multi-ethnic crowd, lion dances and free food if you can wait in line that long. In simple terms, the temple unites Chinese immigrants who migrated to various countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore etc. The temple was established by the Vietnamese community but welcomes everyone just dress and behave appropriately. The temple is a good example of Taoism/Daoism practiced alongside Buddhism. Mini-shrines for the Buddha and Guan Yin can be found next to the ancestral hall. Donations in the form of personal checks are processed by volunteers and you are given a receipt. Cash can be dropped in boxes located on either side of the image of Mazu. You may leave bags of whole grain rice, vegetable oil and dried mushrooms (basic ingredients for vegetarian meals) on the table. If you leave a typed note specifying the goods are for the temple then the items will be used to create free meals for visitors. You can also point out your donation to a volunteer as well. If you need a free meal the temple does serve lunch from 11-1pm on Saturdays usually. I blogged about the temple here: http://1happyturtle.com/1magicturtle/2010/02/14/thien-hau-temple-in-la-chinatown-pics-alohaworld-recipes/ and http://1happyturtle.com/1magicturtle/2011/01/17/thien-hau-temple-free-lunch-program/ read more

Beautiful place and must see when visiting Chinatown. We were approached by lady who worked minutes from Chinatown (with the California Water Co) and she offered to give us a tour of the must see's in Chinatown. This was our first stop and we loved it. read more

Thien Hau Temple - Front of temple - Buddhist Temples Near Me - Los Angeles, California

A beautiful, photogenic building, with moving altars inside filled with statues as well as food, money, etc left as offerings. I always sit for a while and just absorb the energy. A couple of times they've offered me excess oranges, which seemed like an extra-blessed source of vitamin C the next morning when I enjoyed them with breakfast. And FIRECRACKERS!!! Thousands and thousands of them blasting away (under the watchful eyes of professional firecracker people; don't worry!) for Lunar New Year! Absolutely unbelievable! read more

Dear Angelinos don't miss one of the greatest life experiences this city has to offer, the Chinese New Year celebration at Chinatown's Chuan Thien Hau Temple. It will take place this Thursday, January 30, starting at 10pm and will come to a climax at midnight when the Year of the Horse is to start. Who cares about waking up to go to work the following day, the important is the experience. Here is the short video I made last year. Enjoy! and Go! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJRsA328pYg read more

This was my second Chinese New year at the Temple, and the year of the Sheep was rung in with Lion Dancers, offerings, well wishers, and 500,000 firecrackers to ward off evil spirits and negative energy. So lucky to live in a city with such authentic cultural diversity like this. This event truley takes you to another world that is a must for anyone who has not experienced how Chinese New Year is celebrated. My only advice is if you are observing to be respectful for this holiday as it is special and religious the people who celebrate the lunar new year in the temple. Other than that, get your red on for good luck and don't miss out on this unique celebration. read more

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This place is very peaceful. I'm not a Buddhist, but I did light incense to all of the altars. It was nice to see how other people worship. I wish someone was there to explain what each of the altars meant, but nevertheless it was peaceful and mediating. read more

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Peaceful and gorgeous. Will visit again. Oasis in the city... read more

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It was nice to come back and visit this temple. It had been years since I had ben here with a friend. We recently visited together. We had a good day out and it was good to come back to the temple like we used to years back. The temple is beautiful and well kept up. Everyone is friendly as there are places to sit and talk and also tables to eat and drink tea at. The temple has a section where they sell books and other items for donations towards the temple. The parking area is good and I am sure we will be coming by again soon. If you havent been it is peaceful and perfect for some personal meditation ... read more

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I was visiting LA with a couple of friends this week and we happened to come across this temple while exploring Chinatown. One of the most memorable experiences of the trip, hands down. No one in our group was Buddhist, however, Michael was extremely friendly and welcoming. He gave us a tour of the facility, explained the rituals performed at the different altars within the temple, and answered all of our questions. It had been years since I had stepped into a temple, and don't think I ever had the opportunity to visit a Buddhist one. We spent just under an hour at the temple, and it felt sort of blissful to reconnect with my spiritual side. Definitely look forward to coming back again one day as well as checking out more temples in the future. read more