The Three Best Karaoke Bars in L.A.

Categories: Locals Only

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Tiffany Rose
We can't promise James Franco doing karaoke in drag, but you never know
Did you catch our Best Of issue and snag our free Best Of app? Even if you did, we're betting you didn't make it through all of our write-ups; there are about a billion. So in the coming weeks we'll walk you through some of our favorites. We'll start with a subject very close to our hearts -- karaoke bars!

There's karaoke in L.A. for everyone. As Dennis Romero says, there's VIP room karaoke and even porn star karaoke at Sardo's in Burbank every Tuesday. And there's, well, American Idol. But though the choices may seem endless, never fear. We sifted through all of the wannabes for you, and picked out the three best karaoke bars in L.A.

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Lawrence K. Ho
Rosen Music Studio
LA Weekly's pick for Best Place to Practice Karaoke Privately
Walking in can feel like entering the tunnel in the Wonka factory. You'll be hit with a din of off-key Korean melodies and tambourines. But once you get into your own booth, you're free to expand your karaoke repertoire with total abandon. No waiting your turn. Just go for it. The TV screens can be a little distracting. Ballads tend to feature a lot of images of Korean people pining and weeping. Minor complaint. --Gene Maddus

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Karaoke Bleu
LA Weekly's pick for Best Westside Karaoke Bar Where Nobody Knows Your Name
This is the kind of bar you just have to know. There's no website. It can throw off the newcomers with its karaoke-nazi rules, parking limitations and, well, attitude. If they don't know you, there's going to be some hazing. If you put in some time, you'll find a place that's rare in L.A.: affordable (with "bottle-keep" service and $1 contemporary songs), warm and, well, real. --Dennis Romero


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3 comments
Vince 'hearsee' Calanoc
Vince 'hearsee' Calanoc

I have to agree.  The Rhyme Along has already been 2 years strong and goes beyond the novelty hip hop playlists at any karaoke bar or event.  I guess takes an A-List head like Madlib or PB Wolf to mention this spot, then it MIGHT make the list

Mike Perez
Mike Perez

The Rhyme Along @ The Mountain Bar got seriously snubbed on this one. This aint just the only Hip Hop Karaoke in LA, but also the ONLY karaoke ANYWHERE that has actual DJs mixing all the songs that are being performed on the spot. Cmon now, No other karaoke does it like The Rhyme Along @ Mountain Bar!

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