The Hummingbird | Ceviche House — Restaurant in Los Angeles

A year ago I left a glowing review for the place (you can read the original below), but after another visit I’ve changed my mind.

We booked almost a month in advance, and arranged to meet friends who were excited for the experience having heard us talk about our first visit- but when we arrived we were told that the table wasn’t ready and we’d have to wait.

Flexibility is no problem, but what was supposed to be 10-15 minutes behind turned into over an hour! There was basically no communication from the manager over the course of the hour we stood outside at a busy intersection just waiting.

Up to 20 minutes late for a reservation, I can understand, but almost 1.5hrs before even seating us for a reservation (which we made well in advance) is frankly disrespectful. At least tell us you’re that far behind when we arrive!

After the long and frustrating wait, the food experience was much the same. The shrimp dumplings I had liked so much lacked the flavor we expected from the prior visit. It took over 1.5 hours after ordering to get two dishes of ceviche- at a ceviche place! While the ceviche was tasty when it arrived, the growing hanger and upset of the timing issue just left a sour taste.

While the manager was pleasant to us and friendly, comping two dishes to make up for the time delays, I just couldn’t shake the lack of upfront transparency which made us feel like an afterthought. I feel like the early excitement and passion for the restaurant is gone- in theory it could have been an ‘everything that could go wrong did’ kinda day for them- but either way I’m not returning. ——

Very unique and bold! Almost like an alternate dimension where disco lights, music, and nightclub ambience meet delicious ceviche and seafood dishes. The food is amazing, and it’s a fun contrast to the party casual vibe. Somewhat awkward but endearing BYOB and plastic cups, but it just fits with the wacky and fun. We loved the hand rolls, and there’s a crispy shrimp dumpling with shiso/ perilla leaf around the outside that...

Wow wow wow… I love to eat, I’ve been to many restaurants in LA, all over the spectrum, and I can confidently say that Hummingbird Ceviche House stands out as a gem truly worth visiting. Not only was the food spectacular, but I had the best service I’ve experienced in LA so far

First Impressions~ I’ve seen the muted green building nearly everyday on my drive home through Glendale Boulevard. Stepping inside, you’re immediately immersed in the cozy dining area with bumpin’ music, lights, and a disco ball. I was honestly a little worried at first but my nerves were quickly washed away when our server, Dayana, came around. As first timers, she guided us through the menu and spoke about the food in a way that showed genuine love for the dishes and ingredients.

Food~ We started off with the salmon hand roll, yellowtail ceviche tostada, and the seabass ceviche. The salmon hand roll came around first. I thought I knew what I expecting, but as soon as I took the first bite and tasted the lemongrass aioli, I knew I was wrong. It was bright, but not overpowering, and I could enjoy the complexities of what I thought was going to be a humble handroll. We went back and ordered another handroll, this time getting the crab. I wish I could talk about the other dishes with flowery language but honestly, I was so overjoyed with each one that I couldn’t even think coherent thoughts about what I was tasting. Despite my blackout, there was one more (humble) stand out — the tostadas themselves. The tostadas must have not been fully corn because they were lighter and airy with a satisfying crunch, like if a corn chip and a rice cracker had a baby. Still, they struck the perfect balance since they were hearty enough to withstand the tigers milk the ceviche was served in as I desperately tried to scoop up every last drop.

From the food, to the vibes, to the service, I am in love with Hummingbird. Will definitely be coming back. Thank you for the...

The food was the best part of this restaurant, but I couldn't help but think there are food trucks that serve ceviche of this quality. Plating and presentation are intricate. I absolutely hated that they smeared sauce on the rim of the plate for some dishes. I ended up not seeing it in the dim lighting and enjoyed saucy fingers twice.

Prices are steep. Expect to pay about $20 per dish with 3-4 orders per person. Portions are tiny. It's difficult to leave this restaurant without feeling ripped off.

Parking is easy to find behind the restaurant, if you're willing to walk next to homeless encampments. Try to avoid broken glass.

The size of this restaurant and the way they try to pack people in is problematic. There's a table right next to the door, so when you open the door, it slams into the people sitting at the table. That's the worst table, but the other ones are not much better. You also have the option of sitting at a very cramped bar overlooking the chefs. Either option is claustrophobic.

The best part about the layout is that you can watch the chefs work. One is very detail oriented.

The night we went, there was a live singer and pianist. They were both great, but their performance was diminished by a speaker turned up to 11 blaring in the opposite corner. Why do they even need a speaker in such a small restaurant? Turned what could have been a romantic night into a headache.

The service is either very quick or very slow, depending on what you order. The food doesn't come out in any discernable order - they just run dishes to you one by one. Our hot food came out before our cold. Our rolls came inbetween ceviche orders. Our food came out before our drinks. Water is served in tiny disposable cups and water refills are hard to come by -- charming?

Overall, good food, but also food you can find elsewhere in a setting that...