*** In Short *** Pricy, but tasty Thai that'll set your mouth ablaze. *** In Depth *** You know how there's white people spicy, and then there's Asian people spicy? Yeah, well, authentic Thai spicy tends to take it a notch further, and Funky Elephant's dishes definitely fall under authentic (according to the Thai friend I went with, anyway) Thai spicy. Of course, there are a number of less (and non) spicy dishes, but expect the spicy ones to actually be as such: our waitress was kind enough to ask/warn us about our capacity for spice, so kudos to her. Some of the more notable dishes we had included their crispy rice salad (FYI: spicy af) and their drunken mussels. ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - Up a flight of stairs, but also accessible via an outdoor lift that you can operate without a key. Plenty of accessible seating as well, both outdoors and in. Bathroom - Didn't check them out. read more

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My boyfriend heard that this restaurant has a Michelin star and was really excited to try it! We expected a line, but there was no wait on a Saturday night! We ordered pad thai, papaya salad, and poached chicken. The papaya salad came out first. It was a little too spicy and sour for me since they squeezed both lemons, but I really enjoyed the flavors. The purple cabbage was delicious! The pad thai came out steaming hot, which was a nice change since usually restaurant food doesn't come out super hot. It came with two shrimps, some egg, and tofu. I liked it better than normal pad thai, which I'm usually not a fan of! You can even see the color is not as orange as usual pad thai, which is probably the sourish flavor I'm not too fond of. I liked the flavors in this one a lot, and make sure to get most of the spice on the side! We didn't use the spice they put on the side since it would have been super spicy. The poached chicken was very good, I loved it dipped in the sauce! It was different from usual hainan chicken because it had salt crystals on it, which gave it a nice texture but got a little too salty towards the end. Unfortunately it came with white rice instead of yellow rice, but it was still good! The restaurant itself is quite small and there's seating outdoors. We ended up sitting right next to the wall, and they have bright plastic chairs. The food was definitely worth it though! Our total was ~$50 before tip. read more

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Had dinner on a Thursday night and it wasn't too busy. There's street parking and a small lot nearby. The staff were very attentive and cleaned tables very efficiently. I loved the decor and neon lights; even the bathroom was colorfully lit up. Party wings were good, not too spicy. The Thai ice tea had a bit too much ice, which watered down the drink a little, but still tasted good. The K.M.G. #2 and Motherland Curry were delicious, and the Thai tea soft serve was a nice dessert. read more

Funky Elephant - Party Wings - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Nothing bad and nothing impressed. Attendant rushed us a bit while we waited for a friend to arrive.

I tried this place two times, the second visit being another try since the first was so-so, and it's very close to my place and Philz coffee so I was really hoping this place would work out for me.. but is it me or the food is overall (especially the pad-Thai!) way too salty! It was like biting down a salt! I sincerely hoped the taste would match the amazing smell but I'm so saddened to see this cute place cannot be my go-to spot for Thai. Service both times were nice and friendly.. but it was beyond savory, and I was only able to finish the shrimps that came with it. If a Thai place cannot do pad-Thai, I am very reluctant to try out their other dishes. Please go easy on the salt. I was maybe thinking if the chef had a tough day on the first try, but even on the second try the food was too salty. I couldn't finish it and brought it home, and my husband also took a bite immediately put down his fork and said he could not find any way to finish it. read more

I try to avoid superlatives, but Funky Elephant may have the best Pad Thai I've tried in the Bay Area. Yes you read that right, the best. They create the sauce from scratch using fresh tamarind juice, and what a world of difference this makes! The tangy, thick sauce generously coats each strand without being too salty or overpowering. Combined with the head on, line-caught jumbo prawns, this "Old School" Pad Thai won me over with the depth of flavor, texture, and presentation. I was a fan of the rest of my lunch here as well! The fried organic hodo tofu was simple, but addictive when dipped in the sweet chili sauce. The grilled Gang-Rawang Steak came smothered with a southern style tangy green curry and was topped with a visually appealing salad of green and flower garnish. The Issan Sausage, made from grilled Northeastern-style fermented spicy pork, was a juicy flavor bomb. Their Thai Tea soft serve with coconut cream drizzle was literally icing on the cake of an amazing meal! This small spot in Berkeley is such a gem - amazing food that doesn't cut corners, passionate chef-owners, and friendly service. read more

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'Twas a rainy night, me and my buddies (Andy and Pam) were looking for a spot to eat. Pam recommended Funky Elephant to us, and we were all craving Thai food so we got ourselves a table. Now, we've had lots of yummy Thai food before, but nothing like this. It smelled AMAZING, like holy moly!! The kind server told us that the sauces were house made, all meats butchered in house, and that the food was gonna be SPICY and FLAVORFUL. That was nothing short of the TRUTH!! We ate and left no crumbs, the plates were slayed and cleared baby!! The star of the meal, though hard to choose, would have to be the Pad Thai. It was love at first sight, the two succulent, juicy prawns had a perfectly charred exterior, laying on top of a bed of luscious noodles, with tofu, peanuts, lime, bean sprouts and fresh herbs. The sauce had such a deep umami flavor, perhaps it was the fish sauce or tamarind paste, regardless we had never tasted such delicious Pad Thai before. Every bite had me wanting more and my mouth kept salivating. Something new we tried was the Crispy Rice Salad. Now, don't be fooled, this is not your run of the mill, boring, flavorless salad no no no, quite the opposite. This salad was a culmination of crispy rice, ham, fresh herbs, a tangy, bold, spicy sauce, and lots of crunchy-somethings with lettuce on the side. I am not exaggerating when I say it was unlike anything I have eaten before. It was like a flavor explosion in my mouth with every bite. The first thing that hits your tongue is the acidity, then the savoriness of the ham and sauce, then finally the heat from the spices. A bold flavor, a true joyride, one to surely remember for life. The Steak Curry and Crispy Tofu dishes were also fantastic. The steak was cooked perfectly medium rare, the texture was tender and it paired beautifully with the curry sauce and fresh herbs. The salad and pea rice on the side also combined beautifully with the rich, coconut-y curry. The Crispy Tofu was perfectly fried, and had a nice, light seasoning on top. It was like a warm pocket of happiness to bite into. All-in-all, we thoroughly enjoyed this experience and can confidently say it was some of the tastiest food we have ever eaten. The restaurant's atmosphere is small, cozy, and colorful, and the staff was super sweet. We highly recommend coming here at least once in your life, though once you try it, you will definitely want to come again :)) read more

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The first time I got takeout here it was amazing. This time it fell short. First thing was the mussles... 1/3 were not opened... 19 bucks The steak last time was about 2 times larger... Still good flavor and spice but less in other ways. read more

My daughter recommended this restaurant, but I still prefer Imm Thai in Berkeley. This is a cute establishment on the outskirts of Berkeley with ample parking, outdoor seating, and a very tiny interior (3 tables a & bar seating for 2 at the window). Servers was super friendly, however, the food was sub par at best. Sadly, I just came back from a European cruise and had better Thai food in Switzerland and it was about the same price. (See previous review Nooch) The presentation of the food was fine but the pad Thai was super soggy and lack flavor, the papaya salad was a small portion, the Thai iced tea was watered down, and I decided to try their Nam Kao Tod (crispy rice salad) which took a bit to get used to because of the fermented pork. read more

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Delicious food and great service! We will definitely be going back again for some great dinner.

Best pad Thai!!! I'm kind of pad Thai fan I try many Thai restaurant around nearby this is the best pad Thai!! read more

This restaurant is located in a building housing Philz Coffee and a burger place. Limited parking is available in their lot. There are only 3 tables outside and a couple of tables inside so it is very small. We sat outside but the chairs were plastic and uncomfortable. My friend and I decided to give this place a go but I wasn't expecting the food to be so spicy and if you like spicy like my friend does, you will enjoy it! My friend loved it as she loves really spicy food and I'm just the type that can only tolerate just a kick of spice. We ordered the Vermicelli curry that has flavorful chunks of rock cod fish in the curry broth. It was very tasty and had a kick to it. Then we also ordered the crispy rice salad not realizing that it had red curry paste and fermented pork in it. My friend doesn't eat pork and there seemed to be red pepper chili flakes in every bite and I couldn't even taste the flavor as it was too hot for my tastebuds. My friend tasted the crispy rice and said it was good. Our server was very friendly and attentive and we told him that we didn't realize that that the salad had pork in it so we also ordered the party wings, which were finger licking good. There was a slight kick to it but by then time I ate it, my mouth was afire, lol! I drank lots of water and chewed on the lettuce from the crispy rice salad. I had been eyeing the photo of the mango soft serve made with organic Straus and I needed something to cool my palate. The soft serve was soothing and just right after a spicy meal but the mango flavor was underwhelming and it tasted more like coconut vanilla. If I had to do it all over again, I would order the KMG! read more

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Wow! Funky Elephant is amazing! It's authentic Thai food that you can't often find in the US. The menu is small, but everything is unique and delicious. We tried the fried rice salad. It's a build your own salad/lettuce wraps. The flavor was complex and refreshing. Drunken mussels are a must! They come in a rich dark sauce that would be great with rice. The mussels are huge and meaty. Gang Rawang Beef is a curry based dish. It's a medium rare flat iron steak that has a great char. It comes with arugula and a yellow curry sauce. The flavor combination is amazing! Fried shrimp salad - I found this more like an appetizer. The eggs are cooked over easy. I found it best to just pick it up with my hands and eat it. Cutting it with a fork can get messy. It came with a chili sauce on the side. So good! I found the pea flower jasmine rice to be very unique. It's a bit on the pricey side, but so worth it! Currently they are offering take out only. They do have one table outside, as well as a few public wooden benches that could seat 12 per table. If I lived closer I'd come here often or order take out. read more

Funky Elephant - Menu - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

I wanted to like Funky Elephant, but my dinner here wasn't as stellar as hoped. Service is great - very attentive and helpful. Not all the dishes I tried were great though, and prices were high on the high side for the portions. I do like the concept and think it's really great how they serve authentic Thai flavors and use high quality ingredients, but my experience wasn't quite there. The space is small and seating is limited. There are a few tables for 4 but I wouldn't come with a larger group than that. From most to least liked, we tried: -K.M.G. #2 (kao mun gai) ($15) - good! The ginger and garlic rice was delicious. The chicken itself didn't stand out (could have been more tender) but it was good together with the rice and the soy bean sauce. The broth was too salty, and the portion wasn't the biggest for $15 though. -Fried eggs salad (yum khai dao) ($12) - delicious, I really enjoyed the slightly spicy sweet and sour dressing. However, it's pricey for two eggs and one shrimp split into two halves. -Pad Thai Old Skool ($15) - incredibly salty. The initial flavor was great, but it was very difficult to continue eating - we went through 3 or 4 bottles of water. I don't know if we just came on an off night, but the table next to us also complained constantly that it was too salty and told the server that they needed rice to be able to finish it (and were pretty unhappy when they got charged for the rice). read more

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Wow. So glad I found this place on yelp. Can't wait to go back. I had the old school pad Thai and it was amazing. They have a different take than traditional fancy restaurants, this place although it is casual in setting has great food very authentic southern Thai food and other pen Asian dishes. They have great noodles. The old-school pad Thai was remarkably incredible with two huge prawn on top and they use a thicker peanut sauce than other places that is very filling and not to mention their tofu is perfectly seasoned and cook. They have a white variety of different tees and beverages that are great. Try the blue tie lemonade or the Italian Thai fizzy juice its great. A little pricey for a very casual restaurant but the portions are decent read more

I always love coming to funky elephant! The mussels are great and the beef is even better. Get a side of sticky rice and you're good to go

Tried to stop by here today at 2:45pm on a Tuesday. I was outside perusing the menu and was about to enter to order a drink and was cut off as I tried to enter. I was told they were closed for lunch (no apology or caveat that they were closing early). I was surprised and disappointed in how I was treated given their website stated they were open until 3pm. I totally get some businesses need to close early for various reasons but 1) the lack of apology for closing easily and 2) the fact that the employee seemed to rush to close the door in front of me, didn't bode well for me. read more

Been wanting to try this out for 5 months. Sat outside on a Friday late afternoon. Water was provided and menu. All the food we got were family share dishes. Got the fried crispy roce and it was the best Nam Kao I've ever tried! Loved the butter lettuce, dill, mint, cilantro on the side. Got the wings and it was pretty big with sweet and Thai sauce. The curry noodle dish was very simple and tasty, coconut milk w chicken was very well balanced and assembled together with thinly sliced cabbage and mint. The papaya salad was spicy, fermented, sour, and a little sweet. We asked the server if they had beef larb on the menu because we saw it online and not on the menu. She happily asked the cooks and they were able to make us some. The pieces of the beef weren't very portioned and cut nicely. Flavor was good but I prefer more rice powder. Dessert, got the mango and sticky rice with condensed milk and was nice to combine cold ripe sweet mango with warm blue sticky rice. The Thai tea was good but nothing to bring home. Server was very tentative and accommodating . I'd come back again for the fried crispy rice. The chefs know what their doing here! 1 Michelin star is def worth the experience. read more

I wonder if the Funky Elephant is a cousin to the Funky Chicken, the defining dance of my generation as we demonstrated on the gym floor with passionate poultry pride. I'm wondering how the moves would go for the Funky Elephant. I guess I'd use my arm as the trunk and start blowing loud while I stomp on the floor. Much to your relief, I didn't do that when I entered the tiny restaurant space. Instead, I focused on the one reason I came by for lunch, the $15 Kao Mun Gai. I cannot be ignored when I desire poached chicken, and they serve quite a good one here, just an organic chicken breast cut in thick sauces and served with cucumber, garlic & ginger rice, and a fermented soybean sauce for dipping (photo: http://bit.ly/2DZEbKZ). Seating isn't a problem if you're the only customer, but it got packed with just four customers soon after I arrived. There's some seating outside, but it's probably smarter to take it to go. I think that's what I'll do next time and also practice my Funky Elephant just in case I'm asked. FOOD - 4 stars...it came down to the kao mun gai and it was good AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...way tiny in here SERVICE - 3.5 stars...friendly enough TOTAL - 4 stars...do the Funky Elephant! RELATED - In the mood for Hainan chicken? Here's a collection of places I've tried and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2wEYScp read more

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I previously gave the food 4 stars because the pad thai was too sweet, but I came back here for lunch today and it was seasoned/cooked perfectly! Updating my review to a 5 stars! Also got the kmg (chicken dish) and it was also sooo good!! 5 stars for funky elephant! read more

Funky Elephant - Pad Thai Old Skool - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

Another bookmark bites the dust! I was on my way back to my parents' house Vallejo and had a hankering for some good KMG. Good thing Funky Elephant was (kind of) on my way home. The small restaurant is located in a multi-store building between Philz and Berkeley Burgers. The inside is very small and the staff were very welcoming and professional. I snagged a stool at the window and ordered the KMG #2. I'm always in search of a good authentic KMG. The yelp pics boasted a juicy, tasty, authentically Thai dish. My plate arrived and it had all of the elements - the juicy poached chicken, garlic and ginger chicken fat rice, cucumber and cilantro as garnish, fermented soybean sauce and the chicken broth. Overall, it was very inviting. The dish was everything I thought it would be - the broth was a bit salty for my taste but had good flavor. The chicken was super tender- I want to learn how to make it that way. I overheard the server say that the chefs are from Bangkok and tend to make their food "Thai Spicy," which is spicier x 3. Love that the owners are Thai and adding some authenticity and TLC to our meals. It was a bit pricey ($15) for the KMG but I enjoyed my meal and would like to return to try the their entrees or the KMG again. read more

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Exceptional service. We had walked in 5 minutes until closing... at first the server offered take out since they were closing. BUT, then she asked the owner, and they said we could go ahead and eat in!!! Being our first visit, they explained that all the sauces and seasoning were made in house which is amazing!!! The Iced Thai Tea was delicious. My daughter's Beef Short Ribs were flavorful and succulent. The jasmine rice was a fun bluish color... hence the funky. Speaking on funky... my daughter said there was a disco light ball in the bathroom!!! I'm kinda bummed out I didn't get to check that out!!! My Pad Thai was flavorful. It may look like a small portion. But it was quite filling. read more

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I'm always a little skeptical of Asian places that have too cool of names - I always fear that they have lost their roots that eventually shows in their cooking. This is not one of those places. It is a quaint, clean, and welcoming restaurant that continues to impress. I have been here twice and have been blown away each time. FOOD: Party Wings. They make sure that you are okay with spicy each time you order this. Know that Thai spicy is on a different level than most spicy foods, so make sure to keep your expectations straight. It is SPICY, but for those spicy lovers like me, it comes out to the absolute perfect level of spiciness. Spicy enough to need water all the time but not spicy enough to detract from the amazing flavor of fish sauce and tamarind sauciness that lathers this juicy and crispy fried wings. Simply awesome. Papaya salad. I had never really been the biggest fan of papaya salad as a dish itself, but this place does the dish justice. Spicy, flavorful, crunchy, and everything you want from papaya salad. Green curry. Goodness. First off, who on Earth puts hangar steak in green thai curry? THESE GUYS. They grill it and season in perfectly for this. High quality meat, cooked perfectly in a curry full of depth and heavy on the Thai basil. So. Good. I have tried several more dishes and I could gush on and on and on and on and on and on.... Sorry, I got carried away. The point is, I have not ordered anything on this menu that I have not simply been fully and utterly impressed with. The staff is awesome and incredibly nice. So when you are here, because you SHOULD come here, be confident that you are making good life choices, no matter what you choose to order. read more

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Very good place to eat! I got the brussel sprouts and pad thai. The food does take a while to get to you BUT that's how you know it's being freshly made! The restaurant itself has very limited indoor seating but lots of outdoor seating. It's definitely a chill vibe. read more

Funky Elephant - The brussel sprouts. So good! It does have a kick to it. But it was delicious! - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I came on a Friday with my good friend and 7 month old baby. They insisted we sit outside 60 degree weather with my baby. We opted to wait for a table and she said 40 minutes for an indoor table. She called back 15 minutes later and said we have 10 minutes to come back. We rushed back only for them to tell me I need to put my baby in her car seat no strollers allowed. My child is little and premature so she cannot be in a high chair. The lady who worked the front was very mean and nasty we opted to leave and she put her arms up like whatever leave. I was so excited to try this place I even drove 30 mins to get here. Never will I spend my money here. read more

TLDR: this is the best Thai food I've ever tried! You've gotta come and support this small business - so yummy I really love funky elephant from their service to their flavorful food. I thought I had tasted good Thai food before, but Funky Elephant truly blows any other Thai restaurant out of the water. My favorite thing to order here is the pad Thai old skool! It comes with 2 giant shrimp and is so spicy and flavorful. My taste buds were literally shocked when I had tried it for the first time - I had never tasted anything so delicious. Some other faves include the pandan soft serve which I don't think they're making right now due to COVID and the KMG. This place is so so so delicious so please support them! Tip: you must call ahead for takeout so you can pick up quickly and efficiently! Follow @dinwithmin for more food content and reviews! read more

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Honestly, this is still our favorite Thai restaurant and the only place I eat at up here in East Bay where I experience a mind blowing meal. And again, they are just SO NICE! You can taste the pride they have in their dishes. Quality folks and food. Give them a follow on their Instagram! Youll see whether they're offering off the menu items for you to order online from their website/ or a quick call for pick up orders. They also offer takeout via caviar--but you won't see off the menu items. I just finished eating their KMG chicken and am just in awe with how much skill it takes to get that chicken cooked so perfectly. It's the closest dish to Hainan Chicken (why can't I find that done well anywhere up here?? Someone tell me where to go!). Their KMG sauce is also available to purchase in bottles to keep as your favorite condiment in the fridge or base for your next stir fry at home. Y'all. I'm mildly allergic to soy beans and my ears plug up when I eat their sauce but it's so good that I keep ordering it whenever we get Funky Elephant. That's love. read more

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The vibe at Funky Elephant is exactly as the name of the restaurant implies! The small interior was colorfully-decorated, the bathroom had strobe disco lights, and the small menu here featured dishes with authentic Thai flavors and housemade curry pastes and sauces. To start, the Crispy Rice Salad (Nam Kao Tod) was made with fried Jasmine rice balls mixed with red curry paste, herbs, peanuts, lime, chilies, fish sauce, and fermented pork, and the crispy rice had a deliciously funky, salty, sour flavor contrasted by the fresh lettuce and herbs served on the side. The Hella Drunken Mussels was a bowl of Prince Edward Island mussels in a dark spiced broth made with chili jam, Thai basil, Thai chili, and rice wine, and the flavors of the broth were searingly hot, spicy, and savory. For our mains, the Pad Thai Old Skool was a classic sweet and sticky stir-fried rice noodle dish made with Hodo tofu, eggs, Chan noodles, tamarind sauce, and fish sauce, topped with two huge shell-on shrimp, and served with bean sprouts and crushed peanuts on the side. The Vermicelli Curry (Kanom Jean) was a Northern Thai dish made with rice noodles in a red curry broth and topped with boneless slices of tender, meaty rock cod. The K.M.G. #2 (Kao Mun Gai) came with a portion of flavorful GG (ginger garlic) Rice, topped with tender slices of boneless poached chicken thigh, served with a fermented soy bean sauce and chicken broth on the side. My favorite dish (though not by far) was the Gang Rawang Beef, made with grilled flat iron steak served in a green coconut milk curry sauce, along with arugula and a bowl of blue Butterfly Pea Jasmine Rice on the side. The juicy grilled steak was served rare and had a pleasantly chewy texture, but my favorite part was the creamy curry sauce, which went nicely with the rice on the side. Overall, the food here made for a delicious meal featuring authentic Thai flavors and fresh ingredients, and the vibe was funky and unique! read more

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This place worked well since it had a little seating area outside, the weather was amazing. Plus my brother had his kid in tow so the outside seating was perfect since it gave him space to run around. The service came by every now and then to check on things, and answered whatever questions we had regarding the food. The price is a bit high though in my opinion. We had ordered the crispy hodo tofu, the fried brussel sprouts, a fried egg salad, and the grilled beef short ribs to share. The flavors were good for everything. The tofu had a good crispy texture with just enough spice and salt to keep it interesting. The fried brussel sprouts weren't overly oily and the king sauce played well off of the flavor. The grilled beef short ribs were marinated and cooked well but a little tough. The fried egg salad was a bit hard to eat and get all the different parts to come together in the dish. I did like the sauce at the bottom along with each piece though. I'd certainly come by to try other dishes. Sparingly though considering how much I eat and the portion sizes to price. read more

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Went here with coworkers after going to Gilman brewing. Everything we got here was delicious and we shared it all family style. The restaurant is small but the service was quick and friendly. read more

I've had Funky Elephant plenty of times in the past year and was FINALLY able to dine in and eat the food straight from the kitchen a few weeks ago. I can officially say that FE is my fav Thai restaurant! It was amazing eating their food delivered but I was BLOWN AWAY by how the food is when it's super fresh! service is also amazing and very attentive. Go to the restaurant and eat there if you get the chance! ASAP! read more

Funky Elephant - Pandan cake - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

More of a 3.5 stars. I came here for the food and fair enough it was flavorful. I like the spin on the pad thai where they grilled the shrimps before hand and used somewhat of an organic pad thai sauce. I also ordered the Isaan sausage where it came just one for $17. I thought it was regular considering I've had homemade ones before. However, I find this place to be on the pricey end and food portion is not really accommodating if you're hungry. I'd say people would love it here if come for presentations. read more

Funky Elephant - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

Very nice ladies. Cute restaurant with few tables. Food was good - Berkeley prices and small portions. Pad Thai had just two large size prawns with heads, but tasty, similar to others I have had. Steak was tender, yet small and a tad underdone for my liking, but the green curry that came with it was very flavorful. Rice not included in entrées. read more

This was my favorite pad Thai spot end of 2019 to early 2020! However, I haven't been there in a while due to the pandemic. I was in the area and decided to try out their old school pad Thai and I have a feeling they changed the recipe or the chef because it didn't even taste remotely the same. It wasn't as saucy, tasted a bit too fishy and the portion size was a lot smaller. I was really disappointed because it was my favorite spot ever due to being super flavorful and a good sized portion. I hope if they're reading this that they'll go back to their old recipe because it was a lot better. However, it was still a decent pad Thai. read more

Funky Elephant - Pad Thai Old Skool - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

Delicious, creative, inviting. Went with three generations of foodies, and we were all pleased!

This place just looks like an assortment of colorful tables and chairs, rather unsuspecting, but what they bring out of the kitchen is just as bright and colorful and the table tops. This spot has super authentic Thai food so it's no wonder it made it into the Michelin guide. Everything comes Thai spicy but they make sure and warn you before it comes and often offer to put the Thai chili powder on the side. The Crispy Hodu Tofu was super crispy, light and umami with some matcha salt sprinkled with an assortment of bright and fresh aromatic herbs and micro greens sprinkled on top. The sweet Thai chili sauce was extra spicy since it's a homemade sauce. So good. The Green Papaya Salad was bright, flavorful in a sauce that was so good my partner and I drank it like soup afterwards. The pad Thai like everyone says is phenomenal. Prob the best we have ever had. I would recommend everything pictured, the matcha latte didn't have a strong matcha taste but was more subtle than we expected. Next time I would prob try the Thai tea froyo but that was out when we went. Can't wait to go back. read more

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Ordered Pad Thai to go. There are no substitutions so don't ask for chicken instead of shrimp. I wanted chicken but was willing to try the shrimp. Was charged $20.05. As I handed over $21, waitress stated that they were broken into so they had no change. After a long drive back from Napa, I wasn't quick enough to retract the $21 and dig in my bag for a nickel. (Most places back home in Hawaii would comp the nickel.) Waitress didn't hesitate to swiftly take the money and put it into the cash register and then tell me it would be a 25 minute wait. We waited 35 minutes, and I truly believe I only got my food in that time because I did NOT wait for her to call me on my cell while I waited in my car. Instead, at my husband's urging, I returned to the restaurant and waited by the doorway. Waitress kept glancing at me and going back to the kitchen. At hotel eating Pad Thai now. Comparing to places in Honolulu, this dish should be priced at about $14-$15. Instead of shrimp mixed throughout, the dish came with two large shrimps that didn't look fresh. One shrimp had a black head that looked totally unappetizing. I don't take chances with seafood especially while traveling so both shrimps went into the garbage. Noodle taste was decent, but I was turned off by the slick money transaction and the shrimps. My lips are also tingling from MSG overkill. I've eaten cheaper and better pad Thai in the financial district in San Francisco, which I would expect to be more expensive. I really wanted Funky Elephant to be a little gem. They are short of help as they have an ad on the door for line cooks and help so service is going to be slow for dine-in as well. Staff should tell the customer PRIOR to the transaction that they have no change. read more

Funky Elephant - Shrimps that came in pad thai. Blackened head did not look fresh. - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

3.75-4* This is a very small place located right next to Phillz coffee so I dare you to resist the mint coffee ! We have tried to come here before but they were closed so we finally got to try it. The restaurant is very small with seating outside to enjoy good weather. They are tables with stools ( no backtest) so inside is better if you prefer that. The menu is also extremely limited with a small selection and the prices range from $12-$16 on average for the mains. I got the Pad Thai because I always get it to compare places. It was $14.00 so not cheap but the quality would determine the value for me. The food took a little bit to come out and was very well presented. The flavour of the noodles were slightly on the sweeter side but I liked it somehow. I also liked the serving of crushed peanuts on the side and the shrimp (jumbo). Well cooked and delicious. 8/10. Note : The shrimp are usually served with the head but you can request the restaurant to remove the head head and shell. I did that. My fiends got the rice salad and the egg salad. Both looked interesting and they were happy with their dishes. I will try something else next but I left happy too hence the 4 stars. The staff was extremely friendly and it was a good experience overall. I recommend it ! read more

Funky Elephant - Shrimp Pad Thai - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

Time flies when you are having fun. One moment your kids still wanted nothing but burgers, the next they are all taller than you and into drinking sparkling water, French cheese and fancy ethnic food. I just returned from yet another overseas trip, on my first day of return, (and before my next trip which is in less than 12 hours), I brought the family here because I read it somewhere it is the hottest new restaurant (SF Eater I believe). Enter Funky Elephant, a restaurant that is designed to serve the sophisticated palette of an adult, yet funky enough to satisfy Bay Area teens' over stimulated yet desensitized appetite. My suspicious boy went for the noodles with tofu with my side of colored rice. My athletic teen girl got herself green curry chicken. We also had curry beef, beef short ribs, brussels sprouts and hot wings; and Singha beer, root beer, Thai ice tea as drinks. The soft serve mango ice cream with a side of sticky rice ended the evening. This part of Berkeley is still pretty industrial, with a Philz and burger place next door. The sitting area is sparse so it's best to come when it's not crowded. My favorite was the beef in the curry beef, hanger steak was tender and bountiful. The short ribs were good but feels a bit more Korean than Thai. Not complaining though as the portion is huge. The hot wings and brussels sprouts were super tasty. The rice, as I learned later on, is tinted with butterfly pea leaves, I could eat that all day long (though I don't do starch so I took like five thousand photos). Despite the lukewarm reviews of Hawker Fare by folks I know, I remain a huge fan of the chef's cooking. I am glad that he has extended his innovative Thai cooking style to this spot. Best part was that this was Berkeley, where the sun is bright, the streets are clean and parking is quite reasonable. Bonus point, if you still wanted something extra, Philz is next door, my favorite coffee shop in the world. Why going anywhere else? Will come back and try other dishes. read more

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Flavor's so good, it'll knock you out. The staff is the cherry on top; all so friendly and sweet!