Camelia
French restaurant · Historic Core ·
French Japanese bistro serving classic fare with creative twists
French Japanese bistro serving classic fare with creative twists
"A French Japanese bistro from the husband-and-wife team behind Ototo and Tsubaki, this spot has settled in nicely in the Arts District, bringing new life to the former Church and State space. Chef Charles Namba deftly weaves together French and Japanese flavors while Courtney Kaplan offers sake and wine pairings. I always order the fluffy black sesame Parker House rolls with salted French butter; celebrity tomatoes arrive topped with burrata and ponzu jelly, and the dry-aged burger is among the best in Los Angeles with a thick bistro-style patty and well-salted fries. I try to arrive during the day happy hour from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. for the special soft shell crab tempura sandwich and $12 martinis." - Eater Staff
"I found Camélia to be a Franco-Japanese bistro realized in LA’s Arts District: roast chicken intensified by koji and plated in a seaweed cream, loup de mer finished with sansho-pepper butter and grated daikon, and sake thoughtfully paired alongside French wines—a hybrid that fuses French bistro warmth with Japanese precision and LA’s bounty of seasonal produce." - ByThe Bon Appétit Staff
"It’s perfectly normal to think you’re the most cosmopolitan person in Los Angeles at Camélia. You drink umeshu-infused martinis under a sultry glow from orb lights and eat French-Japanese food that injects fun into bistro classics, like duck frites and a ham katsu croque madame crowned with an orange yolk. Upscale doesn’t translate to stuffy, though. The early 2000s hip-hop playlist bounces off the wood paneling, and the staff sneaks jokes into every menu suggestion. It’s all of the pomp and sophistication of a high-end restaurant without compromising on the fun, so prolong your night here for as long as your budget permits." - team infatuation
"It’s perfectly normal to think you’re the most cosmopolitan person in Los Angeles at Camélia. You drink umeshu-infused martinis under a sultry glow from orb lights and eat French-Japanese food that injects fun into bistro classics, like duck frites and a ham katsu croque madame crowned with an orange yolk. Upscale doesn’t translate to stuffy, though. The early 2000s hip-hop playlist bounces off the wood paneling, and the staff sneaks jokes into every menu suggestion. It’s all of the pomp and sophistication of a high-end restaurant without compromising on the fun, so prolong your night here for as long as your budget permits. Get access to exclusive reservations at this spot with Chase Sapphire Reserve. New cardmembers get $300 in annual dining statement credits." - brant cox, sylvio martins, cathy park
"A restaurant in the Arts District that typically operates only for dinner pivoted to lunch service beginning June 13, maintained daytime hours through the weekend, and then returned to abbreviated evening hours on June 16. Co-owner Courtney Kaplan said the perception that the area has been chaotic is inaccurate and is hurting business; she expressed gratitude for customer support and encouraged people to come dine." - Rebecca Roland
