Where to Eat in August: Camphor, Todos Santos, Tuk Tuk Thai, and More

When was the last time you had a true fine-dining experience? You’re probably overdue, and you should definitely consider Camphor, where classic French cuisine mingles with Southeast Asian ingredients for an only-in-L.A. night on the town. As critic Bill Addison wrote in a recent Los Angeles Times review, the chefs Max Boonthanakit and Lijo George have created dishes that “feed into a culinary sense of perpetuity, of Camphor as a cocoon of indulgence.” Book a table and see if you agree.

Summer is a particularly appealing time to spring for coastal Mexican cuisine, and chef Ronnie Muñoz delivers exactly what we want to eat this time of year at his new Hollywood spot. Visit this recent addition to Sunset Boulevard for Baja-style dishes like shrimp aguachile verde, pulpo al pastor, and (of course) masa-battered fried fish tacos. The beachy atmosphere is a bonus, as are the micheladas and frozen margaritas.

Many of Los Angeles’ best Thai restaurants are on the east side, in Thai Town. Yet with Tuk Tuk moving even closer to the coast with its new location in Sawtelle Japantown, West siders can get their regular fix of sour sausage, tom kha, pak boong moo grab (wok-fried water spinach with crispy pork belly), and Hainanese fried chicken rice. For this, you  can thank the dynamic sisters behind Tuk Tuk, who are Angeleno Thai-food royalty in their own way.

The latest addition to Hollywood’s hot restaurant roster is Gunsmoke, which joins Mes Amis, Mother Wolf, and Ka’Teen as the neighborhood’s most buzzworthy destinations. Here, chef Brandon Kida (Hinoki & the Bird, Go Go Bird) runs the show with a loosely Japanese menu that borrows from a myriad of other cuisines. An umami-packed warm cabbage salad incorporates Parmigiano-Reggiano and crispy anchovies, crispy quail gets paired with Szechuan peppercorn and aji verde, and California rockfish is done up with sambal and shallots.

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Pine & Crane’s silky three cup chicken, juicy pan-fried pork buns, and vibrant sauteed seasonal greens are now available Downtown thanks to this bigger, breezier outpost of the ever-popular Taiwanese joint. But that’s not all: This new location also serves breakfast, including daikon rice cakes, fan tuan, and sweet or savory soy milk, dishes that some might recall from chef Vivian Ku’s popular pandemic-era pop-up, Today Starts Here.

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It’s August, and guess what Agnes boasts beyond a top-notch cheese selection and playfully cheffy Midwestern comfort food? A dashing patio. Settle into one of their alfresco tables, then order the cornbread eclair, Santa Barbara spot prawns with Calabrian chile and Sungold tomato vinaigrette, a bowl of “lamburger helper” mafaldine, and house-smoked cheddarwurst with baked beans and pepper relish. Save room for dessert, in the form of either pastries or a custom-made cheese plate with all the fixings.

A trusty L.A. rule is to make plans for Korean barbecue at least once a month. (We live in the best city in America for it, after all!) And while many of us have our go-to spot for grilled galbi and kimchi stew, sometimes it’s worth mixing it up with a new spot. Enter Mun: A higher-end option with a clubby vibe, Mun features premium cuts of beef, generous portions of banchan, cheesy kimchi pancakes, Japanese whisky, and strawberry lychee martinis, among other thrills.

While Nossa is no longer, a charming new hangout has taken its place — and is sticking with the Brazilian bent. Welcome Nossa Caipirinha Bar to Los Feliz, where you’ll find cachaça-based cocktails, plus martinis and Negronis, alongside Jidori chicken skewers with chimichurri and farofa, tuna and prawn ceviche, chopped salad, and a mortadella sando. Chef Rory Cameron, formerly of Found Oyster, is at the helm. We’ll drink to that.

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Sushi is excellent hot weather food, filling without feeling heavy. And Sogo Roll Bar in Los Feliz, from the team behind Sushi Note, is an excellent neighborhood sushi stop, whether you’re catching up with friends or dining solo. The easygoing sushi bar offers indoor bar seating and patio tables, plus a tight selection of 10 hand rolls (including salmon-yuzu and scallop with masago and kewpie mayo), sake, beer, and wine.

Should you find yourself hungry in Venice after hours, Little Fatty is here for you. The Taiwanese spot recently launched a “reverse happy hour” menu, running from 10 p.m. to midnight from Thursday through Sunday, with burgers from $11-13 (single or double). They come with American cheese, Thousand Island dressing, fried shallots, and soy-pickled cucumber; while double-fried chicken wings lacquered in spicy orange-chili crisp are served with shiso green goddess ranch. Throw in a side of fries for good measure, and your (late) night is made.