Highland Park Brewery

Highland Park Brewery runs its Chinatown taproom at 1220 N Spring St, a warehouse with double the tanks of Bob Kunz's original operation behind The Hermosillo. The room faces LA State Historic Park, and the natural light does half the decorating.

Time Out Los Angeles flags the industrial space and the experimental, collaborative brewing the extra tanks allow. The Infatuation points drinkers to the kitchen as much as the taps, with a very good cheeseburger, mango habanero wings, and house kimchi.

BeerAdvocate holds the taproom at 4.11, and Yelp reviewers land at 4.0 across 442 reviews. For a brewery this experimental, that consistency is the story.

Concrete floors, long tables built for groups, a wraparound bar with a deep tap row, and loads of natural light, per Time Out. The front patio faces the park, takes dogs, and fills first on weekends.

Timbo Pils is the benchmark order, a crisp German style pilsner that regulars treat as the house handshake. The board runs from fresh hop IPAs to funky barrel aged projects, most pints landing 8 to 9 dollars. The kitchen backs it with a cheeseburger The Infatuation rates among the room's best moves.

Daytime brings families, dogs, and park walkers; evenings shift toward beer travelers working the rare releases. Weekend afternoons pack the patio hardest, and big groups claim the long tables early.

What regulars say:

• Yelp reviewers, 442 strong at 4.0 stars, converge on the beer quality and the kitchen as the separators.
• BeerAdvocate raters at 4.11 praise the wide style range and the staff's suggestions.
• The Infatuation recommends it as a group spot, with plenty of tables and the patio facing the park.

Who it is for:

• Beer drinkers who want lagers done as carefully as barrel projects
• Groups with dogs, kids, or both in tow
• Avoid if you want a quiet, dark bar; this is a bright warehouse

LA's most complete taproom: serious beer, a real kitchen, and a patio that turns a brewery visit into an afternoon. Order the Timbo Pils first.

Getting there: 1220 N Spring St, across from LA State Historic Park. The Gold Line's Chinatown station sits a short walk away.

Timing: Open daily from noon, from 11am on weekends. Weekday afternoons are calm; weekend patio seats go fast.

Cost: Pints 8 to 9 dollars, plates 14 to 17 dollars. Cards accepted; no reservation needed for small groups.