"A French bistro with a Michelin star and a Southeast Asian accent: chefs Max Boonthanakit and Lijo George cook a steak au poivre worth crossing town for in a low-lit Arts District room."
About Camphor
Camphor opened in the Los Angeles Arts District in 2022 and earned a Michelin star the same year, one of the fastest stars in the city's recent run. It is led by chefs Max Boonthanakit, who trained as a pastry chef at the Michelin-starred Blue in Bangkok and under Alain Ducasse, and Lijo George, who run a modern French bistro with a light Southeast Asian seasoning.
It sits at 923 E 3rd St, a low-lit room on the eastern edge of downtown. For the wider field see the Los Angeles dining guide.
The Kitchen
The cooking is French bistro at heart with sharper edges: a sea bream crudo with green apple and horseradish to start, rigatoni baked with artichoke, Swiss chard and Comté, and a steak au poivre, seared and set in a peppercorn-Cognac cream, that has become the dish people order. On Thursdays the kitchen runs a steak-frites prix fixe at 65 dollars.
See more of the city's fine-dining tables in the Los Angeles guide.
The Room
The dining room is small, dark and warm, with a long counter and tables close together, the kind of bistro that fills with conversation rather than hush. It seats couples at the counter and small groups at the tables, and the mood is intimate without being formal. Reservations open about three weeks ahead on Resy and the room books out fast.
What to Order
Start with the sea bream crudo, take the baked rigatoni, and order the steak au poivre as a main. If you want the lower-key version, the Thursday steak-frites prix fixe at 65 dollars is the value play. The wine list leans French and small-producer. For other options, see the fine-dining picks across Los Angeles.
Best for a First Date or a Quiet Celebration
Camphor suits a first date or a small celebration: a low-lit, Michelin-starred bistro where the counter seats two as comfortably as the tables seat four. See more first-date tables and the Los Angeles dining guide.
Not for
Not for a large, loud group or a quick casual bite: Camphor is a small, intimate bistro where tables sit close together and the star-level cooking is best at a measured pace, not rushed before a show.
Frequently Asked
Who are the chefs at Camphor in Los Angeles?
Camphor is led by chefs Max Boonthanakit and Lijo George. Boonthanakit trained as a pastry chef at the Michelin-starred Blue in Bangkok and under Alain Ducasse before opening Camphor in the Los Angeles Arts District in 2022. The restaurant earned a Michelin star the same year, and the kitchen cooks modern French bistro food with a light Southeast Asian seasoning.
Where is Camphor located?
Camphor is at 923 E 3rd St, Suite 109, in the Los Angeles Arts District on the eastern edge of downtown. It is a small, low-lit bistro with a long counter and closely set tables rather than a grand dining room. Reservations open roughly three weeks in advance on Resy, and the room tends to book out quickly, so plan ahead.
What should I order at Camphor?
Start with the sea bream crudo with green apple and horseradish, take the rigatoni baked with artichoke and Comté, and order the steak au poivre, which arrives in a peppercorn-Cognac cream and is the signature plate. On Thursdays the kitchen serves a steak-frites prix fixe at 65 dollars. The wine list leans French and small-producer bottles.
Does Camphor have a Michelin star?
Yes. Camphor earned a Michelin star in 2022, the same year it opened in the Arts District, making it one of the fastest stars among recent Los Angeles openings. The award recognises chefs Max Boonthanakit and Lijo George's modern French cooking. It remains an à-la-carte bistro rather than a tasting-menu room, with a Thursday steak-frites prix fixe as its more casual option.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Camphor
Via Resy - Arts District
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Practical Information
Address923 E 3rd St #109, Los Angeles, CA 90013
NeighbourhoodArts District
CuisineModern French
SignatureSteak au poivre
PriceThursday steak-frites prix fixe, $65
ChefsMax Boonthanakit & Lijo George
RecognitionMichelin star, 2022
