Camphor
URL: https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/places/ca-camphor.html

A French contemporary restaurant in the Arts District of Los Angeles, opened in 2022 by Max Boonthanakit and Lijo George; One Star in the MICHELIN Guide California 2025.

**Camphor** is a French contemporary restaurant in the Arts District of Los Angeles, holding One Star in the [MICHELIN Guide California 2025](https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/works/michelin-guide-california-2025.html).[^michelin-profile][^stars2025]

The restaurant sits at 923 E 3rd St, Ste. 109 in 65-seat premises, opened in 2022 by co-executive chefs Max Boonthanakit and Lijo George, who had worked together at Bangkok's Michelin-starred Blue by Alain Ducasse.[^latimes-camphor-open-2022] About nine months after opening, Camphor took its first Michelin Star and counted among the eight new Los Angeles stars in the December 2022 California selection.[^latimes-camphor-star-2022][^latimes-camphor-today-2023]

Boonthanakit points out that French food is easy to find but usually means the same dishes — French onion soup, steak tartare, a French omelette — all of them good. Camphor is his version of a French bistro: lighter, with less butter, and with "this ever so slightly Indian touch" that spices everything a little, "as if an Indian grandma were to cook French food".[^^]

MICHELIN Guide inspectors describe a spot that "hums with activity", with a bustling open kitchen and inventive cocktails; their favourite opener is sea bream crudo with green apple ice and horseradish cream, followed by scallop demi-lune pasta in truffle-chive beurre blanc, while bistro classics such as steak au poivre with Cognac cream remain central to the menu.[^michelin-profile]

## Signature dishes

- Sea bream crudo with green apple ice and horseradish cream[^michelin-profile]
- Scallop demi-lune pasta in truffle-chive beurre blanc[^michelin-profile]
- Steak au poivre with Cognac cream, best alongside golden brown frites[^michelin-profile]

Updated: 2026-11-11

Tags:
- MICHELIN Guide https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/tags/michelin-guide.html

Relations:
- Located in: Los Angeles https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/places/ca-los-angeles.html
- Related works: MICHELIN Guide California 2025 https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/works/michelin-guide-california-2025.html

Listed in rankings:
- MICHELIN Guide California 2025 · 2025-06-27 · One Star · One MICHELIN Star https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/works/michelin-guide-california-2025.html

Sources:
- Camphor - MICHELIN Guide https://guide.michelin.com/ca/en/california/us-los-angeles/restaurant/camphor
- All The Stars From The MICHELIN Guide California 2025 https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/article/michelin-guide-ceremony/michelin-guide-california-stars-green-stars
- Modern bistro Camphor, from a pair of seasoned co-chefs, is now open in the Arts District https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2022-03-01/modern-bistro-camphor-from-a-pair-of-seasoned-co-chefs-is-now-open-in-the-arts-district
- Michelin adds 18 new stars to its California guide, including eight restaurants in L.A. https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2022-12-05/michelin-los-angeles-new-stars-2022-california-guide
- LA Times Today: Modern bistro Camphor, from a pair of seasoned co-chefs, is now a Michelin star winner https://www.latimes.com/00000186-3384-d8b2-a3be-7bae16c40000-123