Farmhouse Kitchen

Farmhouse Kitchen comes to LA from the Bay Area, where our San Francisco team describes it as “a celebration restaurant in every sense of the word.” By that standard, their newest location in West Adams is a copycat in the best way—there’s a life-sized horse sculpture sporting a fuchsia feather boa that greets you at the entrance, flower-studded walls are drenched in neon-pink lighting, and crystal chandeliers sway to the beat of a blasting dance party playlist. It’s ridiculous, over-the-top, and visually stunning, all at once.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

This bold Thai spot is more than just a maximalist twist on Barbiecore, though. The menu is a masterful mix of pumped-up Thai dishes that you won’t find anywhere else in LA. After you leave, you’ll be thinking about the boneless fried chicken served with yellow curry, flaky roti, and neon blue sticky rice on one heaping plate. You’ll be dreaming of the Flintsone-sized braised short rib smothered in creamy panang curry. And if you’re really hungry, you’ll have visions of the giant Lao Table Set, a prix-fixe party platter filled with the menu’s greatest hits—it’s the crowning glory of Farmhouse Kitchen and a must-order if you’re here with a large group.

While almost every dish at this unique clubstaraunt looks impressive, not all of them taste that way. The Volcano Cup Noodles with braised beef is a one-note mess and the elaborately-plated live lobster pad thai is bland and occasionally overcooked. Overall though, Farmhouse is a rare breed: a party restaurant where the food is worth getting excited about. No matter what you end up eating, a few hours of socializing over Thai beers and colorful cocktails at this fun place will make your boring life feel briefly euphoric.

photo credit: Krescent Carasso

A night at Farmhouse Kitchen is a symphony for the senses, and all of its quirks (plus those excellent and shareable Thai dishes), make it the kind of spot where we want to have a big night out. Because who needs another quiet meal in an eggshell dining room that feels more like a study hall than a proper restaurant?

There’s usually room for walk-ins on weeknights, but you’ll definitely need a reservation if you plan to grab dinner here over the weekend—that’s when this place really comes alive as a big, campy production that fully leans into the bit.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Lao Table Set

This full-on feast of a combo plate—meant to feed a group of four—is a smart way to sample a bunch of Farmhouse Kitchen’s best dishes at once. You’ll get some hat yai fried chicken, panang neu short ribs, shrimp fried rice, and a whole lot more for $179.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Mieng Kum Kung

If you're looking for something to snack on before the bigger entrees hit your table, order this. These deep-fried prawns have a satisfying crunch, and come served on a leaf lined with a sweet-acidic mixture of lime juice, tamarind, ginger, and toasted coconut.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Samosas

The flaky, golden-brown samosas are good, but it's the rich and creamy yellow curry served on the side that makes this dish unmissable. Get an order of these potato-stuffed pastries as a starter to pass around the table.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Ahi Scoops

We’re not huge fans of these tiny sesame-crusted tuna steaks on a bed of seaweed salad—they come out overcooked and overpowered with a heap of toppings. You can do without this one.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Hat Yai Fried Chicken

Imagine coconut-milk-marinated chicken that’s been double-fried for supreme crunchiness: that’s what you're getting here. And though the sweet, thickly-battered, fried chicken is the star, it comes with a supporting cast of roti, yellow curry, and blue sticky rice. Like a Mariah Carey Christmas song, this dish is a timeless hit.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

24 Hours Beef Noodle Soup

When the temperature drops below 70 degrees in LA, order this massive bowl of life-affirming veal broth, chewy egg noodles, and bone-in beef short rib. It’s the kind of warm, slow-cooked dish you should eat all by yourself when it’s gloomy and you need some beefy, basil-topped comfort.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Panang Neua

We don’t suggest trying to take down this massive, braised short rib coated in rich panang curry on your own. That’s a level of indulgence akin to eating a bathtub full of ice cream, or a bean bag chair filled with caviar. But if you’ve got a few people at your table, it’s a fun and delicious dish to split.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Volcano Cup Noodles

Nothing against Cup Noodles, but this dish just tastes like a better-than-average rendition of something you could throw together with leftovers from your fridge. If you’re craving a big hunk of braised meat, order the beef noodle soup or panag neua instead.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Cocktails

From cups decorated with LED crowns to tacky tiki head mugs, the drinks at Farmhouse Kitchen are about as colorful and gaudy as the restaurant itself. Fortunately, they all taste pretty good (especially if you like your cocktails on the sweeter side).