While it’s a stretch to suggest that Tree House Thai is located in an actual tree house, it is fair to say that it’s on the upper level of a strip mall building so you do have to climb some stairs to get to it. Concrete stairs – there isn’t a rope ladder and some branches to cling to. But some upward mobility is involved.
Once in, there’s a very relaxed and friendly vibe about this place. “Tree House Thai is the place for delicious, local Thai cuisine,” they say online. “With a variety of food, there’s an option for everyone, so you and your family will never have to feel hungry again. With the convenience of ordering online for pick-up or having your food delivered right to you, Tree House Thai has a seamless way to get you what you want when you want.”
The atmosphere is warm, and the decor fun and authentic. Statues of deities and elephants decorated all corners, while a tree-themed area is set up for live musical entertainment (although the staff told us that’s on hold right now). The servers are extremely friendly when entering, and they make you feel welcome while you’re waiting for your food (even when you’re picking up carry-out).
We fed a family, and so ordered three meals and all of them were superb. First of all, we had the Yellow Curry lunch special (served with vegetable soup or salad, egg roll and rice). We opted for the salad, which was more fresh and crisp than you often get with meal deals like this. The egg roll was crispy and plump, and full of flavor, and the rice was deliciously sticky.
Yellow Curry is a personal favorite Thai dish; it’s generally made with coriander, cumin, lemongrass ginger, garlic, and yellow or red chili, and those flavors blend beautifully into something warm and soothing, and a tiny bit sweet. We ordered it “medium spiced” though that’s obviously subjective. For us, “medium” gives just the right bite.
We chose the curry with chicken, and the meat was juicy and lovely, while the curry was also packed with vegetables. Perfect!
We also had two noodle dishes – the Pad Thai with shrimp, and from the vegan menu, the Spicy Mint Noodle with tofu. In both cases, the noodles were perfectly cooked and the blend of ingredients was on point.
Ultimately, it’s great to visit a restaurant where every dish is magnificent.
Tree House Thai is located at 10200 Venice Blvd, Culver City 90232. Call 310-558-8653 or visit treehousethaiculvercity.com.
