Little Guatemala

An informal nickname for the area of the city of L.A. where Guatemalans live.

The area around 6th Street and Bonnie Brae Street in the Westlake neighborhood is widely referred to as “Little Guatemala.” This area is famous for its Guatemalan Night Market, which operates daily and serves as a major cultural and culinary hub for the local Chapín population.

In 2024, the Los Angeles City Council began a formal process to officially recognize the community’s contributions. A proposal to designate an area as “Guatemalan Square” is currently being explored to place it on the official city map alongside other cultural landmarks like Koreatown and Little Tokyo.

“Guate-LA”

While less common as a neighborhood name, “Guate-LA” is a popular colloquialism used by residents to describe the unique intersection of Guatemalan and Angeleno culture found in the city.

The heart of “Little Guatemala” remains the Westlake/Pico-Union area, where many residents also proudly refer to themselves as Chapines.