Best Cozy Restaurants in Little Tokyo

For full disclosure, we were already huge fans of their Tsubaki. With Camelia, Chef Charles Namba and the superb Courtney Kaplan have created a remarkable dining experience. The menu offers choices for everyone at the table. By offering small plates or larger communal options, Camelia allows you to enjoy an exciting and delicious dinner. My husband and I happily cruised through just a small part of the menu. Starting with Chef Charles' version of Uni toast and his spin on Dungeness crab on purple yam blini, we were primed for the elevated Chicken liver mousse toast that followed. These small bites each built flavors and tastes. Our meal was further enhanced with Courtney's perfect choice of sake. Her deep knowledge and instinct for what a guest will enjoy is unique. If there is any such thing as a "Sake Sommeiler," Courtney would be the grand master. We moved to larger plates with Scallops, dashi lime cream, maitake & king trumpet mushrooms, Tokyo negi, and chestnut date purée, a series of complex tastes. And the Abalone and Florida wild pink shrimp pot pie!!! A perfect sized bowl of magic! We finished up with the Koshihikari risotto, grilled Monterey Bay squid was a perfect ending, creamy with and rich with deep flavors. The grilled squid were lightly spiced, crisp, soft and with a bit of chew all at the same time. GM Kristen Dumandan leads a warm and welcoming staff. Everyone was knowledgeable and helpful guides through the menu. Happily, dinner was perfectly paced, without more plates arriving to distract from what we were enjoying or getting cold. We didn't leave room for dessert. But we're coming back because there is so much more we want to enjoy.

What an absolutely incredible evening! The food was nothing short of sensational, the ambiance was electric, and we had an absolute blast! I can't wait to return for another unforgettable experience!

Wonderful brunch at Red Bird. We enjoyed the service and the food very much. It is so nice to relax and enjoy good food in a beautiful setting without feeling rushed. The menu is a great mix of sweet and savory items; the portions are ample enough to share if you feel like a bite of both. Looking forward to returning soon.

The food was really good, but I would prefer if they included coffee and tea with the brunch price. I was told there was a dress code but when we got there, everybody was very casual so I was confused. The staff was not very friendly, but the service was good and our food was good.

The food is always amazing! The carnitas are fall of the bone tender and the orange glaze is beyond. The venue is super cute but what made the night was out server Denae D. Her personality shines and she can work a table like I’ve never seen before! She charmed my mom and dad, which is not an easy thing to do, and she managed to consistently check on us while managing other tables and being amazing over there as well. 10/10 will return again AND make sure I sit in Denaes area! I hope the restaurant acknowledges the amazing staff they have and keep her for as long as she needs the gig (: