The quirky Drop Challenge comedian finds community in multicultural LA. Here are her top ways to enjoy the city, from catching live comedy to getting hot pot with her grandmother.

Before becoming a global capital for film and creativity, Los Angeles was – and remains – a cultural crossroads. Since the 19th Century, successive waves of immigration, particularly from Latin America and across Asia, have shaped the city's identity and communities.

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Los Angeles-based actress and comedian Atsuko Okatsuka made her critically acclaimed stand-up comedy debut with The Intruder, becoming the second Asian American woman to have her own special on HBO. Okatsuka has since captivated worldwide audiences with her stand-up comedy sets, voicing Yuri in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and starring in films including All That We Love and Group Therapy. Okatsuka is set to premiere her sophomore stand-up special, Father, on 13 June on Hulu.

(Credit: Ryan Silver)

We spoke to comedian Atsuko Okatsuka, LA local and star of the upcoming Hulu comedy special, Father, to get to the heart of this dynamic city. "My story with LA started with a surprise," says Okatsuka, whose comedic TikTok skits shot her to internet acclaim during the Covid-19 pandemic. "My grandmother brought me [to LA] from Japan when I was eight years old. It was supposed to be just a vacation visit. Then we stayed for over 20 years. I grew up near Sawtelle, which is lovingly known as Little Osaka, so I was surrounded by Japanese food, culture and community from an early age – which was extra special because I had just moved from Japan and was missing it a lot."

One of her most popular videos is the now-iconic Drop Challenge, where she squat-danced to Beyoncé's song Partition around the city's Little Tokyo. But these locations are more than just backdrops for her comedy – for Okatsuka, LA's neighbourhoods are places that inspire connection. "Community means a lot to me because every category I belong to can be a very lonely, isolating category – being an immigrant; being a comedian," she says. "LA's diversity makes it feel like home. It's one of the few cities where so many different cultures can thrive side by side."

Here are Okatsuka's favourite ways to experience Los Angeles.

While there's no shortage of hangout spots in sprawling, cosmopolitan Los Angeles, Okatsuka's favourite place to hang with friends is the historic Edendale Bar in Silverlake. The original building, established in 1924, served as Los Angeles Fire Station 56. Following a 2002 restoration, today it's a multipurpose space decorated with nods to Old Hollywood and 1920s jazz bars. Art Deco deco crystal chandeliers and walls lined with portraits of silent film stars grace the rooms.

Tip:

Although most of Okatsuka's social life revolves around comedy clubs, she recommends that first-time visitors discover Los Angeles' nightlife through gay bars. The comedian and her husband often visit AKBAR in Silverlake. "It's the only gay bar left in the neighbourhood," she says. "It's incredible, they have dance nights, drag shows and even comedy nights."

"It's a very cosy vibe. It feels more like home. You know it's never going to be super crowded and [so] loud [that] you can't talk to each other. It's mine and my husband's Cheers," says Okatsuka. The friendly space features a restaurant serving American comfort food as well as full cocktail service. "It's tailored to everyone's liking," says Okatsuka. "If you want to eat outside, you can go to the front patio. If you want to just drink, there's the bar. It's really catered to getting to know each other."

Website: https://theedendale.com/

Address: 2838 Rowena Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90039

Phone: 13236662000

Instagram: @theedendale

As a California Institute of the Arts (CalArt) alum, Okatsuka enjoys hitting museums and galleries in her downtime. "I went to art school and I really love artful experiences and just art in general,"........

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