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Which do you like better: San Gabriel Valley California or the GTA Chinatowns (Greater Toronto)?
In terms of:
Culinary
Recreation
Cost of Living
Employment
Overall Quality of Life
Any other categories I missed?
These are two of the Largest Asian Communities in North America. I was surprised GTA has such a large presence, while some other cities do not like Chicago. It is there in Chicago but apparently not as large as GTA.
Los Angeles County seems to have multiple suburban Chinatowns, and GTA has a few itself.
Interesting thread idea, but I mean how many people have really been to both of these extensively enough to really comment?
Probably could throw the semi-suburban Asian neighborhoods of Queens and the suburban Asian Bay Area neighborhoods in there too.
I do know there are lots of Asians on this forum. If I know the asians, I am sure they will stop over in the Asian areas just for respect. Plus what are the chances anyone has ever been to any other two cities featured in all the matchups we have here?
The reason I chose these two areas is because they are quite prominent in their respective locales. They are not small, but large enough to be visible, and I guess attract tourists.
And being from NYC metro, and having been to both San Gabriel Valley CA, and GTA chinatowns, I think both SGV CA and GTA have larger chinese communities.
The SGV CA chinatowns like Monterrey Park is like most of SoCal. It is a giant strip mall highway, with residential areas behind it. It feels a lot like a planned community. I have not been to Toronto in a while, but last time I was there, like the rest of the City, the Chinatown felt more authentic. You had the crowded streets, and the smallish storefronts like you find in NYC.
But obviously SGV has better weather, you have the SoCal Beaches, and everything else California has to offer. Toronto has colder winters, but you have Niagara Falls nearby.
The SGV CA chinatowns like Monterrey Park is like most of SoCal. It is a giant strip mall highway, with residential areas behind it. It feels a lot like a planned community. I have not been to Toronto in a while, but last time I was there, like the rest of the City, the Chinatown felt more authentic. You had the crowded streets, and the smallish storefronts like you find in NYC.
But obviously SGV has better weather, you have the SoCal Beaches, and everything else California has to offer. Toronto has colder winters, but you have Niagara Falls nearby.
I don't see what about it feels like a planned community, at all. In fact, I would imagine that when Monterey Park was first built-out, those high-density apartment buildings were SFHs. So in fact it was probably never planned to be as dense and apartment dominated as it is today, almost the opposite of a planned community.
Just look at the development patterns of Monterey Park vs Mission Viejo, an actual planned community:
EDIT:
And wait, are we comparing Toronto's actual in-city Chinatown to Los Angeles' suburban ethnoburbs? Of course Toronto's is more urban, it's part of the city - though it is probably also more urban than LA's actual Chinatown (though this part of LA is rapidly in-filling).
I don't see what about it feels like a planned community, at all. In fact, I would imagine that when Monterey Park was first built-out, those high-density apartment buildings were SFHs. So in fact it was probably never planned to be as dense and apartment dominated as it is today, almost the opposite of a planned community.
Just look at the development patterns of Monterey Park vs Mission Viejo, an actual planned community:
EDIT:
And wait, are we comparing Toronto's actual in-city Chinatown to Los Angeles' suburban ethnoburbs? Of course Toronto's is more urban, it's part of the city - though it is probably also more urban than LA's actual Chinatown (though this part of LA is rapidly in-filling).
SGV CA's Chinatown are clustered together, and GTA's are just kinda just dropped into spots. I am comparing all of them from one to all of them from another.
NYC does not even have as many chinatowns as GTA or SGV.
SGV CA's Chinatown are clustered together, and GTA's are just kinda just dropped into spots. I am comparing all of them from one to all of them from another.
NYC does not even have as many chinatowns as GTA or SGV.
I honestly don't know what you mean when you say "SGV CA's Chinatown". The whole San Gabriel Valley is mostly Chinese. There is no "Chinatown". Are you referring to whole cities in the San Gabriel Valley like Monterey Park, Arcadia, Alhambra, etc?
I honestly don't know what you mean when you say "SGV CA's Chinatown". The whole San Gabriel Valley is mostly Chinese. There is no "Chinatown". Are you referring to whole cities in the San Gabriel Valley like Monterey Park, Arcadia, Alhambra, etc?
Yeh basically. I know they all just kind of blend in with one another, and I could not think of another substantial community like this one until I remembered GTA, but GTA's chinatowns are not clustered together. It is the best I can do with it though.
I can't compare the COL, QOL, or employment within the Chinatowns (is that what you're asking or are you comparing the MSAs in that regard) but from a cuisine and value standpoint I pick Toronto by a hair, and that's assuming I can include Markham in Toronto and not just the downtown Chinatown. Another caveat is that I slightly prefer Cantonese-style cuisine (which is totally saturated in Toronto...a good thing) and most of my Chinese friends/"family" in LA are actually Taiwanese so that somewhat dictates where we end up eating when I'm out there.
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