Racha is probably my favorite Thai place near campus, but it's definitely not perfect. The food is great but their customer service is pretty questionable, in my opinion. They're pretty good if you're dining in, but definitely not if you walk in and try to order to-go. I've been here countless times and I've lost track of the number of times they've made me wait forever just to order or pickup my to-go orders. They basically push to-go orders to the last priority and you'll just be standing there watching them run around the restaurant to help others, while you've been standing there for over 10 minutes. I don't think it makes sense to make a customer wait that long when they're just trying to order two dishes to-go. I really think they need to hire more people. In another incident, I called ahead and gave them my order -- they told me it would take 20 minutes to prepare. I got there right around 20 minutes later but they ended up making me wait at the restaurant for another 20 minutes. I decided to sit at one of their tables to wait because I had a huge backpack on, but they even told me to move because they needed the table. I just wanted my food. I've heard other students having weird experiences at Racha as well (something shady happening with the tipping part) even though I personally have not experienced that. It's a shame because the food is really good! Just don't be too surprised if the customer service rubs you the wrong way. All things aside, my usual is the pineapple fried rice and I'd highly recommend it. See pictures for some of their dishes! read more

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I love Racha! People in Berkeley always seem to give Imm Thai the hype, but Racha is also a really good option for Thai food. My standard at a Thai restaurant is chicken pad see ew, and each time I've gotten it at Racha, it's always been pretty solid because the chicken is never dry, and the noodles are flavorful. I've also gotten the Thai papaya salad here, and all I can say about it is YES. You can get it either Thai style or Laos style, but I prefer the Thai style. It's fairy spicy and really packs a punch in flavor. It's probably one of my favorite items here. Service has always been good; the people who work as the servers/in the front are always pretty sweet, and Racha is mostly fairly quiet. I personally think Racha deserves more hype. :) read more

Did not give one part of the order to the dash driver and expected me to either pick it up myself or deal with DoorDash when it was entirely their fault. Terribly dissatisfied. read more

Looking for a place to satisfy your craving for Thai food? Racha Cafe has you covered! Located just a few blocks away from the UC Berkeley campus, this restaurant is a favorite to both university students and long-time Berkeley locals alike. Last night, my friends and I were having trouble deciding on dinner because so many places were either closed, too far, or just plain unappetizing. We finally landed on calling in takeout from Racha right around 8 pm. I'm a firm believer that everyone should have their go-to Thai restaurant order, and as usual for me, I ordered the pad kea mao with tofu. It was made just the way I like: spicy and saucy, with lots of veggies and slippery flat noodles. In particular, I appreciated the spice level because most Thai restaurants in the area don't make their food spicy enough. There was also a decent amount of tofu. I also tried the pad thai, which was decent, but not as good as the pad kea mao in my opinion. It was drier than pad thai that I've had at other restaurants; I would have appreciated more sauce. They also don't make their pad thai with flat noodles, so I docked some points for that. They do give large portions, however, which is really good for the price. I'm curious to try their other menu items, and I'll definitely be back for more late night takeout. read more

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The noodle soups are the bomb here -- super deep and flavorful broths. My go to orders are the duck noodle soup and the Thai boat noodle. I can eat these everyday! read more

A family favorite of over 25 years. We usually order the curries the spring rolls the pad see ew and we used to order the Bangkok prawns. I forgot to check if those were still on the menu, but I think they're gone. I think that more recently the menu was simplified, but there are still enough favorites on there to enjoy lunch or dinner from Racha Café. Definitely worth a visit. The Thai coffee is also recommended. read more

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I'd recommend the Pad Kee Mao with choice of beef! Cute homey vibes, close to Unit 2. The flat noodles were a bit dry and too sweet personally but it could be perfect for people specifically looking for Thai cuisine/flavors. Service was okay. read more

Racha Café - Pad Kea Mao Pan Fried Noodle - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Rachas is my go to pad thai place. It is consistent and hits the spot to satisfy thai food cravings. The menu consists of the traditional thai dishe/curries that are more than sufficient to provide an ample selection. Out of my many times at Rachas I was disappointed once, as they got my order wrong. Very slight mistake, willing to overlook and will be back :) read more

Racha Cafe is a friendly, casual eatery presenting a simple menu of affordable Thai rice and noodle dishes. To start off, the Laos Papaya Salad was a crunchy mixture of shredded papaya mixed with tomatoes, green beans, carrots, and ground peanuts, all mixed with a sweet and spicy fish sauce dressing. The Pad Kea Mao was a dish of wide rice noodles stir-fried with green beans, onion, tomato, and bell peppers, seasoned with a spicy, savory "drunken" sauce; the Kaw Pad Pong Ga Ree (Curry Fried Rice) was a Thai-style fried rice seasoned with yellow curry and stir-fried with egg, onions, peas, and carrots; and the Thai Boat Noodle Soup came with a rich beef broth and was topped with beef meatballs, beef slices, spinach, bean sprouts, green onion, and cilantro. But my favorite dish by far was the Kaow Soi, made with egg noodles in a super thick red curry sauce, topped with crispy noodles, lime, and red onion. The curry broth in this Kaow Soi was much thicker than in other versions of this dish I've had, which made it great for eating with rice too! At each table came a set of condiments including pickled jalapeños, red chili flakes, red chili paste, and crushed peanuts, so you could customize and enhance the flavors of each dish. read more

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I tried their kaow soi for the first time, and wowww it's so delicious. The flavor is strong and has depth. The noodles inside were a really nice soft texture and the fried noodles on top provided a satisfying texture contrast. There were also a good number of chicken pieces which I really appreciated (some places be way too skimpy with the amount of protein they include in noodle dishes). I do wish there were also cooked vegetables inside instead of just noodle and chicken so I might ask next time if they could put some in. Also, I will say, because it's termed a noodle soup, I was expecting the "soup" to be thinner and somewhat sippable, but it was pretty much the same consistency as curry and not really a soup broth you just drink spoonfuls of. read more

Racha Café - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This is one my all-time favorite Thai places in the East Bay. I've been working my way through the menu for the past 10 years. Their yellow curry with chicken is still my favorite. Beef Pad See Ew delicious. The specials on the menu are ALL amazing! Wait staff is always courteous and kind. I love this place! read more

Food: - the spicy calamari is amazing, I was picking at every last bit and would've ordered more if I was hungry - the pad Thai was pretty okay Service: the staff was very nice and we got seated very quickly read more

Racha Café - Spicy Calamari - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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all i'll say is that this spot is one of the most underrated thai places in berkeleylike i genuinely have such a soft spot for this place with such affordable and quality food and rarely any lines, this is one of my go-to spots for a quick meal with friends or a to-go meal on my way back from classes. i've tried a good portion of their menu from attending club banquets here and from my many personal visits, and the food has always been pretty solid! while the service isn't spectacular or anything like that, it feels very homey and comforting as if you're at a friends place:) -- -- -- pictured: " chicken green curry ($9.95) // my GO TO order alwaysfrom the punch of flavor to the creamy consistency and all the yummy toppings it comes with like green beans, bamboo shoots, carrots, and eggplant, i literally cannot resist. also comes with a side of white rice! " shrimp fresh roll ($8.95) // nothing too crazy but super solid; great refreshing start to the meal with the crispy lettuce, vermicelli noodles, plump shrimp, and homemade peanut sauce " papaya salad ($8.95) // this was my first time trying itsuper delicious BUT it was a bit too saucy and salty (which my friend who's had this many times also agreed was the case) " chicken pad thai ($10.95) " thai iced tea ($2.95) -- -- -- if you're ever in the area and craving some thai food, definitely give them a visit read more

Racha Café - a plate of salad on a table - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Although wait times can get long, especially on crowded nights and service can be very slow, Rachas has some of the best Thai food near the main campus. My go to orders are: - Yellow Curry with Chicken or beef (4/5) - Beef Drunken Noodles (5/5) - Thai Boat Noodle (5/5) - Thai Iced Tea (4/5) All the dishes are incredibly flavorful and filling. The noodles can tend to be a bit greasy however, and the curries are a little too watery - hence the dock in star. The Soups (especially the Thai Boat Noodle) are packed with flavor, and have the perfect balance between tart/tangy and rich. In addition, the food is always consistent and delicious. The restaurant also has a very nice and quaint ambiance on the inside - perfect for dates or gatherings with friends. I have also come on many occasions to Rachas for large club hosted events, as they have a large room in the back of the restaurant for hosting events and banquets. read more

Racha Café - Thai Boat Noodle - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

Racha Cafe: Surprise birthday lunch for me and my stepdaughter! Little bitty hole in the wall had some of the most wonderful food ever in a Thai place! DRUNKEN NOODLES with beef were Excellent! Brown rice, white rice, sticky rice, all great! Also Mango with sticky rice desert was wonderful. Tom Kha was tasty. Amazing place and fast courteous service. Portions were just right. Loved it! read more

Another reviewer said here that if Racha Cafe has no fans, they are dead--I share this sentiment with them. Without a doubt, Racha is my absolute favorite sit-down restaurant in all of Berkeley. I discovered it at the end of my fall 2023 semester, and I have been addicted since. I'm always tempted to gatekeep, but I end up taking everyone I know here anyway--and you should, too. The dining room is spacious and relaxed--and the service is beyond incredible. Everyone working there is always SO nice and happy to help. But, most importantly, the food is incredible--and you get GOOD portion sizes for comparatively reasonable prices (for Berkeley!). I usually order their pad kee mao (I am ALWAYS craving it!)--which I would personally recommend with chicken, but they have a variety of different meat (and meatless!!!) options too! I personally think it's joy in a plate, but if noodles aren't your speed, they have a pretty good-sized menu with plenty of variety--and everything I've tried has hit the spot, so I'm sure everyone will find something that tickles their fancy. :) TL;DR: Racha Cafe is my favorite Thai spot in Berkeley--she is a legend, she is an icon, and she is the moment. Every Cal student should eat here at least once!!! read more

Love their food! Went to dinner with a friend here to catch up and let me tell you, they have plenty of options. The wait wasn't too long and the staff is always super friendly!! Pad Thai (w/tofu): yum yum, I'd give it a solid 10/10. Wasn't too heavy or sticky, it was easy to eat with a fork and I even had leftovers to take home ($12.95) Pad Kee Mao (w/tofu, no eggs, extra noodles): 10/10 my friend loved his food, he finished all of it! ($12.95 + $4 for the extra noodles) I'd definitely come back here, they're reasonably priced and are very welcoming. If you're ever in Berkeley, especially south side of campus, I'd trek on over. read more

Racha Café - Pad Kea Mao Pan Fried Noodle - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Back after 3 years and nothing disappointed as expected. Lao style papaya salad in both medium and spicy were delicious with a side of sticky rice to dip in the sauce. Fried catfish had great contrast of crispy outer batter and soft, moist fish filet. Thai boat noodle is still best in the bay! Fresh (spring) rolls were yummy. I normally prefer peanut sauce with it at Vietnamese eateries, but Racha's house made dipping sauce stole the show! Pad pak entree had perfect crispy tofu to compliment the noodles. Ordered crab fried rice to go for later. My bf ate majority of the crab pieces before I had my share. It was still so good! Well-rounded flavors in all the dishes. Definitely plan to come back much sooner than 3 years like the last time now that the pandemic is "getting better". read more

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Ended up here after not wanting to wait over an hour at a different restaurant and left leaving satisfied! There weren't many customers so we were served right away and food came out within minutes which I appreciated. I ordered the thai tea and pad thai while my friend got the eggplant dish and we shared the side cucumber salad. The thai tea and pad thai were decent but not amazing. On the other hand, the eggplant dish and cucumber salad were delicious, definitely the highlight! I wasn't as impressed with the pad thai because there were very few chicken pieces and it was way too sweet - however, the portion was huge and leftovers lasted me for another 2 days! read more

Racha cafe offers a relaxed dining experience with comforting Thai cuisine in a renovated space with modern fixtures. We got the pad se ew with beef and green curry with chicken which were extremely flavorful. The pad se ew was smoky with tender, silky, noodles that soaked up all of the flavor from the sauce tossed in the wok that you can hear from the dining area. It had a generous amount of fresh vegetables, which complimented the sweet and salty flavors of the dish alongside the tender beef. Trying the green curry for the first time, we found it filled with soft, perfectly cooked vegetables that retained their freshness. The curry itself was rich in flavor yet not overly creamy, showcasing a balanced blend of spices without relying heavily on coconut milk. The dishes came out hot and fresh with appropriate sized portions that fed my girlfriend and I comfortably. I recommend this place to anyone who may be craving a comforting Thai meal. I'm already looking forward to trying more of their tasty menu options. read more

Racha Café - Pad Se Ew with beef - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Great food and service. I had Pad Se Ew and it was very tasty. The sticky rice and mango was so delicious too.

Good food, good fare, good vibes! It's somewhat quiet, I was served quite nicely, and my tummy was filled!

Probably the best Thai spot around Southside if you doing feel like making the walk to downtown! There's plenty of seating inside, so they can accommodate parties of all sizes too. I came for lunch on a Sunday and it wasn't too busy. We ordered the pad kee mao and khao soi, both of which were delicious! The pad kee mao was super flavorful and also had plenty of veggies and tofu (protein of choice). It was my first time trying khao soi which is a curry noodle soup, and I was impressed by how good it was! Great curry flavor and the noodles were perfectly cooked. I really liked the crispy noodles on top too. For the price and portion sizes, I don't really see how you could beat this spot for Thai food in the area. I've tried many of the others and only the infamous downtown ones (ie. Imm Thai) can surpass it. read more

Racha Café - Pad kee Pad Kea Mao Pan Fried Noodle - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This is hands down my favorite thai place in berkeley and that's saying a lot because there is a new thai place every other block. My all time favorite dish is their yellow curry! When I first got to college I've never had yellow curry before and now it has become my staple order. It is so so good and the portions are not bad either. I usually get take out but the one time I did eat in person, the service was pretty fast and the waitresses were very nice. So the atmosphere is pretty standard, but they also have another room in the back for if you want to host events and such which is pretty nice. So many clubs cater from this place it has become a staple for me. read more

Wonderful food clean environment I can't wish for anything more. The staff were friendly to! read more

Racha Café - Kaw Pad with beef - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

The pad see ew and thai boat noodles were really good! I also recommend the duck noodles! read more

Racha Café - Thai Boat - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is such a hidden gem. My friends were hesitant to go here because the front isn't the prettiest, but once they stepped through the door their whole perspective changed. The inside is so comfy and clean. Their spicy is SPICY, so don't feel embarrassed for ordering a mild. I love their Thai iced tea and everything on their menu is worth trying. It's never been too busy when I've gone, so the servers are easily called over and are very friendly. I encourage more people to come here, it's a hidden gem along Telegraph. read more

Racha Café - Inside - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Racha's is my go-to for any party. My group usually uses the party/group space in the back, but simply ordered a few party trays for take-out this time around! They mainly only have 1/2 trays and full tray sizes for party orders. You also need to call to pay over the phone to order. We got the Pad Thai, Pad See Ew, Crab Fried Rice, and Yellow Curry! Pad Thai (5/5): to , I like my pad thai saucy and racha's is the sauciest i've had so far in all the best ways. The noodles do clump easily together and they also allow you to put on lime and nuts. Pad See Ew (4/5): Classic Pad See Ew! Nothing too special but they do pack the tray tightly and stuff it to the brim well for those getting party trays! Crab Fried Rice (3/5): Not enough crab imo. Yellow Curry(4/5): Classic Yellow curry! Was really yummy and filling. You DO need to order jasmine rice separately tho as a heads up! read more

I got the pad se ew noodles and they were delicious! There was a good mix of vegetables and a savory sauce flavor that permeates throughout the noodles. A must try! I usually get the pad thai noodles but wanted to try the pad se ew. These noodles are a bit thicker and has a more "thick" sauce and includes chinese broccoli. I think the prices are also very affordable. I would always go here during college and coming back to this spot brought back so many great memories. read more

Racha Café - Pad Se Ew Pan Fried Noodle - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

i didn't realize how limited the dine-in options were on southside after 8 pm until i visited berkeley as an alum and this was basically the only option. definitely not a bad option by any means, though - affordable, great food, never has a wait, seats large parties (i once came with 10 people), what more can you ask for as a college student? read more

Racha Café - Pad Kea Mao - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

Came here the other day for something light for lunch & ended up ordering the Papaya salad!! It was divine. I loved that the fish sauce wasn't overpowering nor was it overly sweet, it was mixed perfectly. Initially, I was skeptical how it would taste due to the poor wrapping but I was chaffed with the overall result. The papaya salad tasted fresh & tangy. I can't wait to come back to try their other dishes. Parking around the neighborhood or park on Channing way in the parking structure by Cal, the first hour is free. read more

Racha Café - Papaya Salad (highly recommended!) - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

A Berkeley classic! Racha has been beloved by cal students for years! Great food at decent prices. Their recent renovation is gorgeous. I love their pad kee mao and fried sweet potato appetizer. Perfectly cooked and not overly fishy which is a personal preference of mine. I've also had their pad see ew in the past - also highly recommend! Their pad Thai is the only reason I've knocked a star down. It is made with thinner noodles than usual and isn't the tastiest that I've had, so if you're here for pad Thai only you might want to try somewhere else read more

I've been at Berkeley for a few years but never noticed this lowkey restaurant until now! The pad kee mao noodles were very good and I loved biting into the tomatoes (though there were only two pieces). The fried tofu was crunchy and I liked the side of peanut sauce! read more

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The most delicious Thai food you can have in the east bay. Absolutely delicious. Pad Kee Mao is the most delicious and flavourful pad kee mao I've had in the east bay. I always try the pad kee mao at Thai restaurants I visit and they all suck. But this one is just the best. Service is also super great even when it's busy. read more

Racha Café - Pad Kea Mao Pan Fried Noodle - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Came here almost every week during my freshmen year -- their Pad Thai was undeniably one of my go-to comfort foods. Love this place so much (many mems here) and they're speedy for phone orders during covid! Everything is very well packaged and safe, just wish I could go in and eat with my friends again. Wishing the owners here all the best! Personally love their pad thai a lot (perfect consistency for noodles, and flavor is on point). Their pad Kee mao and pad see ew is also not to pass up on! read more

Racha Café - Pad Thai, to go! - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

Honestly, the quality has gone down a lot in recent years, in spite of the fact that they've given the interior a face lift. I think I've always been particular about thai food, especially since there's a lot of thai food in the area, so I've gotten to be pretty discerning. The flavor profile is alright on most dishes, but the price is what offsets it. I can get into what I like and dislike about each dish, but I think it's just easier for you to go further out to get better thai food. If you're local and you need a quick fix , this place will do though ( I spent a lot of time getting their boat noodle and uh yeah it disappointed me the last time i went) read more

This is probably my most favorite Thai restaurant in Berkeley. While the ambiance is a bit lacking, and they are understaffed sometimes, the food is quite good. I've never had to wait for a table. I came with my family while they were visiting me for my graduation. We got the fried fish cake appetizer, pad Thai, green curry, and Tom yum soup with flat rice noodles. Everything was pretty good, but the Tom yum soup was the real star. It had the perfect amount of spiciness and sourness. My mom was complaining about all the foods we ate that weekend, but she finished this raving about it. I can't wait to come back and order it again. If you are craving Thai food in Berkeley, definitely check this place out! read more

Racha Café - Green curry - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Very little protein given. Pad see ew didnt have much taste. Crispy pork tasted good but very little pork mostly veggies.

I've only ever been to Racha's for student group banquets, so this is the first time that I came to sit it and eat as a normal customer. There's ample seating room, so big parties without reservations can definitely be accommodated; if you have parties larger than 20 and want a private space, you can ask to rent their back room! My party of 2 was seated immediately and given a few minutes to look at the menu; the prices are actually fairer than I had realized! My friend got their vegetarian pad Thai with extra noodles, while I got their papaya salad (Thai spicy!) and BBQ chicken over fried rice. Our total came out to be $35 after tip, which is pretty solid for the amount of food we got! My friend's pad Thai came with SOOO much noodle, it was basically 2.5x the original size. She said it was totally worth it and that she'd do it again. My papaya salad was a little on the sour side (I prefer mine a little sweet) and not spicy enough, although I did see a lot of chopped Thai chili peppers. I wonder why though; kinda bummed they didn't actually give me Thai spicy because I love spicy food and my parents had a Thai restaurant when I was growing up so I definitely know how spicy Thai food can get. The BBQ chicken was definitely a good deal: there was a lot of sauce, the fried rice had lots of vegetables, and the entire dish was very aromatic. I really enjoyed eating this, but having both this and the papaya was too much, so I ended up taking the dishes to go. Leftovers mean lunch for tomorrow! read more

Racha Café - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

This place was a great spot to get in a quick solid meal after walking around town. Service was good and attentive. The chicken satay is tasty with or without the peanut sauce of course. The Pad Thai was sweet but not as sweet and horrible as others I've tried. The sweetness factor is exceptional. The pineapple fried rice was slightly bland could've used some more flavors but it was cooked perfectly. They have a big menu for a small place and I'll like to come back to venture out here more often. So till next time. read more

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