Cheap fast simple full of flavor and cash only. I come here to get the thai basil chicken extra spicy and I get my boys the chicken pad seew. Nice big portions full of flavors. Nice big place to sit and watch TV. Alot of Berkeley students come here to eat cause it's cheap for them. The owner here is very nice and sweet. read more

This is definitely one of my favorite Thai restaurants in Berkeley. While there is close to no customer service and you pay upfront, pick up your food, find your own seats, and put the empty dishes in a bucket, the food here is inexpensive, delicious, and prepared quickly. Whenever I come, I have to order the Tom Yum soup. The soup is filled with veggies and mushrooms, and makes you feel nice and warm. Add an extra $1-$2 and you can get noodles with the soup. For noodle dishes, the pad see ew and pad thai are also solid and flavorful. Tips: Be prepared for long lines during rush hour, or just order to-go. This place is cash-only! But there is an ATM inside. read more

The food is good! Let me say that first. I like their eggplant chicken, pineapple fried rice, egg rolls, and pad thai. I'm sure their other menu items are delicious as well. But the wait is absolutely terrible. Once I ordered a single entree and waited 1 hour 15 minutes when I got a text in 20 that it was ready. And the employees are not interested in keeping their customers happy, so don't expect anything if your food is late. I know it's because there's only 1 cook in the back during some hours, even when it's extremely busy. Just be wary of wait times. read more

This food was definitely below mediocre. First, the rice was kind of hard. Not awful, but it could have been cooked more and would have tasted at least average. The chicken was random scraps, from really tiny like wood shavings, to pieces that were a bit bigger. The meat was on the tough side, partly because it was chicken breast, and was also stir fried, so because there was no fat, the meat just tasted dry and tough. The beef was a little better, also was presented in really tiny pieces of meat scraps, and some that looked more uniform. There were a few pieces that were tender, but most were tough and sinewy. Overall, it was a big waste of money, since both dishes were no good. read more

Always a banger meal - ready for pickup in 20 min avg, top 2 Thai spots in Berkeley!!

EDIT: I found a damn roach in my meal, I was eating my food Im and I saw the roach right before I was gonna take a bite. This is so disappointing cuz I genuinely looked forward to the meal. I saw the roach right after I I ate a good portion of it so I think I might go to the emergency room to see if there's anything in my system. Overall this was a waste of $20 for a meal. read more

Thai Basil Cuisine - Roach with some bbq beef - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The customer service here is horrible! So so bad! If you have other option to go to for Thai food in Berkeley (you do) you should go there. This place uses MSG. The woman who runs this place is soooo mean. She is disrespectful and mean. I have been coming here since I was a teenager. That's about 15 years. I won't be back. read more

Been eating here since freshman year of college 2016. Still go at least once a month after graduation. Def my to go spot near campus. My favorite is the Basil Eggplant chicken and Basil combination fried rice. Never disappoints. Their curry, catfish, noodles are very solid as well. 10/10 highly recommend. read more

Every time I come to berkeley I crave Thai basil. I almost always get the basil spicy chicken. They tend to give more rice than the dish, but oh it's the perfect type of spicy. It's a delicious mouth watering and more than satisfying meal each time. It's definitely a highlight for spice lovers, so be careful if you can't handle spice well. The pad see eww, pad Thai, curry options or the tom yum soups are local favorites, but I have since discovered that #56 is a delicious option that few hard core fans know about that's absolutely worth a try. I discovered this when I saw a group of 10 students at a table all order #56!! I was convinced then that it must be delicious and finally ordered it myself. #56 is a whole fish that comes with rice. And when I say whole fish I mean a WHOlE LOTTA fish. (It's a really big fillet) It's deep fried crispy catfish topped with a sweet tamarind, basil, cilantro and garlic sauce on top. It's only $12 for a great amount of meat and it's flavors are fragrant, sweet and spicy, and quite crispy! It's definitely on the sweeter side though. If you are tired of chicken and beef and like sweet and spicy definitely give #56 a try!! read more

Thai Basil Cuisine - #56 for $12 - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

I can't speak too much about most of their dishes, but I really enjoy their pad see ew. There's a lot of Thai places but I really like Thai Basil because it's simple and I can always grab it to-go. The only bad thing is that they have fairly long wait times at peak hours. I once waited 40 minutes for a to-go order of one item. The people there work hard to get all the orders out though. Someone with a number after me took my food on accident and I was left still waiting. The lady working noticed what had happened and immediately got my order started, and even gave me a Thai Tea to sip on while my replacement order was made. It's also cash-only so make sure to bring cash! read more

Whoo hoo! After some recommendations to try this place, which is a favorite of UC Berkeley students and located in their Asian Ghetto, I made my way here after a dance workshop. The line was short, but it took around 20 minutes or longer to get my order. The food is made fresh, which is why it takes so long, and is utterly delish. I ordered the pad see ew with chicken, totaling up to $8.50. When I finally ate it, I really enjoyed the long noodles, the nice balance of sauce, and the several pieces of broccoli. The chicken was overdone, but it didn't kill the dish. It worked. I really like this place. read more

In my eyes, this is the main attraction of Berkeley's Asian Ghetto. I've been coming to this spot for years now and have always been pleased by their consistency. My go-to order is the Pad Kee Mow and I honestly think that it's one of my favorite dishes in Berkeley. Since coming to Berkeley, I've found that Thai Basil always satisfies my nostalgic cravings. Of the many strong Thai restaurants in the Berkeley area, it can be easy to get lost in the crowd. Thai Basil has made a name for itself through its amazing food for years. It has truly ingrained itself into the Berkeley food scene, and will like continue to for years to come. read more

Everyone at our table loved their meals. I Tried the the curry chicken and garlic basil chicken. Both great picks!

Very consistent Thai food that is always great, no matter what I get. Cash only, but for some items I know that after tax is applied, the total amount is a very even number so you don't have to carry around a ton of loose change :D. My go to food items I get at Thai restaurants are either the pad see ew, the pad Thai, or the pineapple fried rice. All of the above are great at Thai basil. Perfectly seasoned, and the portion sizes are huge. I've also gotten their other items like the curry, and those were all pretty tasty. Basically, you can't really go wrong with anything on the menu. Also very convenient location if you're a student and you want to grab a quick lunch near campus. It does get pretty crowded inside, but the line moves quickly, so you don't have to wait too long. Definitely one of my staples at Berkeley. Great food that's also convenient. read more

Thai Basil Cuisine - Pad see ew chicken - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

Got the 1. Pad prik king tofu (~$8.00): sautéed green beans with prik king curry paste and rice. This was 1/5. The curry taste was whack. Not very good in my opinion. 2. Pad kee mow (-$9.00): fresh, flat rice noodles stir fried with egg, onion, bell pepper, broccoli, bean sprouts, and chili. This was 4.5/5! I like this a lot better than the pad see-ew and pad thai. read more

Thai Basil Cuisine - Pad prik king tofu; not very good - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is my go to for Thai food in the area, especially for pad Thai or pad see ew. They're pretty efficient until it gets to lunch/dinner rush hour. It's in Asian ghetto so it fits the college student budget at ~$7 per dish. The only down side is that they accept cash only. read more

Thai Basil Cuisine - Pad see ew - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

Delicious Thai food at broke student level prices?? Yes!! This is my default choice whenever I'm in Asian ghetto because it has never failed to disappoint me! As others have mentioned it is cash only but I think so is every other place in Asian ghetto. There is a bounty of vegetarian options and every time I come I'm torn between getting whatever delicious thing it was I got last time or trying another item. They will charge you an extra $1 for egg but I think it's worth it. I've gotten a variety of dishes and my current top recommendations are: pad kee mow and also the basil fried rice. I have gotten curry but I find their rice and noodle dishes to be better. If you get curry though, you will get a crap ton of rice. Actually you just get a crap ton of food regardless. Although, I think you get slightly less food when you get noodles. This is all qualitative judgement; it's not like I'm bringing a scale with me to see if I am getting max grams food/dollar spent. Definitely recommend this place over the other places in the same square! I will be back for sure... read more

Thai Basil Cuisine - Vegetable thai basil fried rice with egg - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

Cash only can be a bit of a drag for people like me who never carry cash (plastic all the way!), but you probably ought to make a trip to the ATM for thai basil if you're in a Thai mood. Sometimes it can take a while to get your food if they're busy, but it's usually worth it! My favorites are the pad thai, red curry, and most importantly . . . the spicy catfish!! (#13)!!! it's seriously so good!!! it's cooked in a red curry sauce and comes with a mound of rice! This is my favorite thai dish in general and thai basil does a nice job making it! I've brought friends here before too, all of whom liked it, but we're saddened by the cash only policy. I get why businesses do it, but it just stinks when you're in the mood for thai and don't have cash :( Thai basil is one of the gems of asian ghetto and a good place for students. Their food is pretty good, but it can be hectic at times and you have to pay in cash It'll always be one of my go-tos when i have cash and an appetite! read more

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Coming here for years 10+ finally I realized that there food isn't good enough to put up the bs... 1. the cheap plastic containers they use that break as soon as the food is in the plastic bag they charge you for like it's an grocery store... keep in mind 90% of their customers order take out before pandemic now 100%... I fully believe every has had this problem! FYI nothing!!! "Biodegradable" as Brekeley, Ca required them to do so! 2. The inability to comprehend specifications like asking for green onions on my food... and instead getting a ton of yellow onions in my food... 3. Not being consistent with the time of operation on yelp or other!.. ONE of the reasons I am writing this! As they say I GOT TIME TODAY... walked in at 10:03 I walked up I was completely ignored... by the owner of the place... I believe to be... she is the same lady that's been working the register forever... anywho... as I asked for help to take my order she immediately with an high voice your food not ready... I responded I have yet to order... then since she continue to be rude I asked if she was still even open... she turns off the light at the register and say we close... keep in mind at least 12 ppl in there waiting for their food... of course I clapped back an told her she needs to spot beening rude and learn how to communicate with paying customers! 4. Is the rude old lady! I get it college kids will let you Dog walk them since they hungry and probably not even from California so they don'tknow about anything else... they have to put up with your bs... but you just lost the customers that kept your business going when school is out! I swear that the only time I had good service is when school was out!... desperate for my business then ay... now acting like you didn't need it... smh... If this place get voted best thai in Berkeley I will sure challenge it... ESPECIALLY if an health department shows up unannounced... thats an other thing I let slide since you hire immigrants n I felt bad... but still see you hiring as well... hopefully they moved on and didn't have to put up with your ass... and if so your whole establishment should be investigated!!! Til this day cash only... why is that... again I hit a point of no return... and finally putting this business on blast... next time you should watch who you talk to and treat like crap. Cause they maybe a chef like myself or in hospitality industry or work for the city of Berkeley! read more

Decent place. It's open late so there's that. Average food. Not bad prices (not necessarily cheap) Catfish: 4 stars, good amount of food and surprisingly good! Pad Se ew: 3 stars, kind of bland Yellow curry 3 stars: very watery but good read more

Thai Basil is my favorite Thai restaurant. I was born and raised in the area and haven't found a Thai restaurant that compares. They have a huge menu! My absolute favorite dish is the Thai basil chili chicken with egg. LARGE portion sizes with more than enough rice on the side, quick and consistent. Surprised to see the amount of low ratings for this place. Also can never go wrong with getting the mango and sticky rice for desert. Stopped by today and they let us eat inside as long as we cleaned up after ourselves and disposed of our trash outside! read more

Thai basil is a nice option for Thai food close to campus. I usually get #54, which is the Basil Chicken and rice with fried egg. The basil chicken dish usually comes with chicken, onions, basil, and green bell peppers in a salty sauce that goes nicely with the rice. The fried egg is especially nice because of how runny it is. Just a warning for those who want to try this place out during dinner rush hours; the wait can be quite long, so it would probably be better to go during a less popular time or bring some friends along to wait with you :) TL;DR - #54 is my go-to entree. read more

I don't know why I have not written a review for this place yet. If you're ever in Berkeley and you find yourself craving delicious Thai food at amazing prices Thai Basil is the place you need to head over to! I've found myself craving the Pad Thai constantly when I moved away for school. I tried Pad Thai from so many other places but it just did not come close to the one at Thai Basil. It's a small shop with limited seating but the food is packed with big flavor. You order at the counter and then wait for your number to be called. It doesn't matter if you take your food to go or eat it there it's going to be delicious regardless. My friend and I came late night and ordered the Pad Thai, Yellow Curry and Tom Kha and the lady at the counter thought we ordered to much food for just the two of us, but it was because the food is just so good here and we it may have been because we were super hungry. I hate coconut in all forms, so I was hesitant to try the soup since I knew it was made with coconut milk but omg did I change my views after I tasted the soup. The flavors just worked so well together and the coconut milk wasn't over powering. I highly recommend this place for all your hungry needs! read more

Thai Basil Cuisine - Tom Kha, Yellow Curry, and Pad Thai - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Don't judge the book by the cover. This place is bomb !!! Affordable price and good portion but it's not the main point. Their flavor is good and acceptable. They don't use the high end quality meat or fancy cooking tools. It's pretty much like other typical Thai restaurant in Berkeley or Bay Area but they have something unique. Their BBQ pork is super good!!!! Super tender and juicy. The sauce that come with it is super tasty and go well with the pork. The basic dish like fried rice is above average compare with other Thai restaurant. You can taste the smokiness from the wok. The Sukiyaki ( Thai version ) is hella good. For sure , they use frozen seafood but the flavor is great. You get what you pay and this place you get more than you pay . read more

Color me pleasantly surprised! I had reasonably low expectations for Thai Basil, but I was meeting others at Durant Square and felt more in the mood for Thai than any of the other offerings, but they definitely exceeded said low expectations! Ordering: this place is CASH ONLY and it seems like the prices are set so that they'll come out to something relatively even ($9.75, $10, etc.) which I appreciate so I'm not carrying around tons of change. A common complaint about this place is the service which i brusque but what do you expect from an okay Thai place in essentially a food court near a college? You're not eating here for ambiance and these workers probably feel pretty unappreciated. Take my order correctly and charge me correctly and we're golden. My food did take a lot longer to come out than everyone else in my group who ordered here - I got the number 52 I think, the Yellow Curry Noodle Soup. It's supposed to have chicken, tofu, imitation crab, prawns, potatoes, and carrots in a yellow curry sauce, with noodles obviously. I found no imitation crab in mine but instead a couple completely-inedible-they-were-so-rubbery pieces of squid. The size of the to-go portion for this soup was so gigantic for only being $10 after tax. The chicken portion was ample (both white and dark meat, only a couple tough or gristly bits) but there were only two pieces of tofu and two prawns, but at least the shrimp were of a decent size and not bad, the tofu was nicely cooked and had a great texture inside. The potatoes and carrot were actually cooked to be soft, unlike way too many yellow curries where the vegetables are hard to bite into and then dry inside. The curry was mild and sweet, just like how I expect a yellow curry to taste. I'd never had it with noodles as a soup instead of with rice but I like this a lot better! The only thing I didn't love about the noodles in combination with the large portion was by the time I had the second half of the soup, the noodles had continued soaking up the curry and their texture really went downhill quickly - the last few bites were kinda-mushy noodles missing the creamy, dreamy, velvety yellow curry feel I loved from the first bites. Overall, this dish wasn't bad at all! It took a while to get and it didn't stand the test of time as well as other Thai foods I've had, but It was a pretty good value for takeout. And now I know that curry soup is awesome! read more

Thai Basil Cuisine - #52 Yellow curry noodle soup in a to go container - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

There is a sign that says food is made to order, so to please be patient. This was my first visit here, and it unfortunately took a very long time. But I came with someone who had been before, and I got the impression that, despite the posted sign, it normally does not take so long. I ordered the pad thai, and it was pretty good. They didn't ask what type of protein, so I was expecting to receive standard chicken. However I was pleased to see that they included several types, all in one dish: chicken, shrimp, and tofu. It was a substantial serving. read more

Thai Basil Cuisine - Pad Thai with shrimp, chicken, and tofu - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

Thai Basil is one of my weekly lunch stops close to Cal. It consistently serves delicious and filling food at a decent price. So consistent in fact, that out of the 10+ times I have ordered the pad thai, there have always been exactly two shrimp included! The Thai basil chicken and array of Thai curries are also great choices here. Additionally, if you're unsure of what to order, they have a pictures up of almost every single dish to help you out. The kitchen is fairly open, so you can observe your food being cooked as you wait. During busy hours the wait for food can be a little long, and the seating can be limited. However, on nice days it's easy to get your food carry out and sit at the tables in the courtyard just outside. The service here can be a little lacking... get used to impatient yelling announcing ready dishes as well as slightly snappy cashiers. Don't even think about coming to Thai Basil if you don't have cash. Like many places around berkeley, the water is self serve. Pick up a cup by the register and then snake your way around towards the kitchen door where there is both self serve water and hot tea. The water is smooth, mild, and ever so slightly cooled. read more

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I highly recommend this place I ordered the number 4 which is the basil chili chicken super delicious chicken had a lot of tastes and also really good and spicy. I would highly recommend this to everyone. read more

Thai Basil Cuisine - Menu - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

This place serves Thai classics and all their dishes have a well-balanced umami flavor. Keep in mind that they only take cash though. read more

Thai Basil Cuisine - Basil Fried Rice Chicken - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

They have good food but the lady at the register charged me $1.30 tax on a dish that was $7.30. I asked why the tax was so high and she got mad at me and started yelling (and I really mean yelling) that the tax is included. The food is great and I've been going here for years but the lady who works the register should not be interacting with customers. I've seen her go from calm to angry dragon lady many times. I think she has an anger problem. As other reviews have stated, only come here if you don't mind being condescended and yelled at. read more

They keep raising their prices, stopped taking credit cards, reducing portion sizes. The new cashier lady is so rude that takes customers for granted, not appreciating business they bought in and not even bother to say "thank you" I used to be a regular here, having lunch and dinner at least twice a week. NOT ANYMORE, now I cut down my frequency to once it twice a month, or just eat here when I feel I have no choices. These people just don't know how to do/earn business. Someday they will learn the hard way. I highly recommended this place if you enjoy bringing in a box box if cash to buy dissatisfaction and unpleasant dining experience. read more

Thai Basil Cuisine - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

Mmmm, I always love binging on food after a night of binging on alcohol. My shrimp fried rice was pretty good- it hit the spot, but was nothing exceptional. However, my friend's garlic eggplant dish was amazing. Makes me wish I had ordered it as well! To the douchebag who told us to quiet down because he was "trying to have a conversation"...hello, it's midnight and you're in a college town! Besides, your date didn't seem to be too into you. Hah! read more

Thai Basil Cuisine - shrimp fried rice - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Amendment: pad thai is a 3/5- tried it again and it was pretty bland. Also the Basil fries rice is more of a 3.5/5 Curry fried rice: 4.5/5 read more

I think it's about time that I write a review for Thai Basil. I've been coming here for the past 3 years, and after visiting all the Thai places in Berkeley, they definitely top my list. Asian ghetto wouldn't be the same without Thai Basil. My top favorites (in no particular order): - Combination Fried Rice - Yellow Curry Noodle - Tom Kha Gai - Kao Moo Dang - Cashew Nut Chicken - Yellow Curry Chicken ... and so much more! They're pretty decently priced, although they tend to round up their prices when you order. For example, $7.56 will really end up costing you $8. When you think about tax thought, I guess you're actually saving money. I seriously have to salute the employees that work here. All day long on their feet in a crowded kitchen, providing hungry impatient college students with really good Thai food, and they're still there. These guys are really amazing. Some might complain how long it takes to get your order, but Thai food takes a while to make, especially if you want it done right. read more

Thai Basil Cuisine - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Love Thai basil!! The pad Thai and pad see ew are delicious. The pad Thai is so flavorful and one of the best in Berkeley for the price. The portion sizes are huge and can easily last for two meals. The price is good but only con is that it's cash only! My personal favorites are the pad Thai with tofu and the pad see ew with tofu!! Highly recommend this place! read more

Thai Basil Cuisine - Pad See Ew - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

When I first came to Berkeley as a 17-year-old freshman, I was quite misguided. I thought that to get to campus, I was supposed to walk south on College. I thought that a boy kissing me meant that he must really, really like me. And I also thought that the Asian Ghetto was exciting and full of delicious places to eat. Three and a half years later, I've managed to realize that none of the above is true. However, the one place I still come to in the Asian Ghetto/Durant Food Court is Thai Basil. It always promises heaping portions of satisfying, slightly greasy food at a reasonable price. When I do get lunch take out, I always opt for the lunch special -- $5.75 for 2 or 3 items (see photo: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/h11Hr07ffM-dn-rico0_fA?select=oRZrMoluXTQ6r2PFd5Eu_g). At dinner, I almost invariably get the pad see ew. The wait here can get pretty ridiculously long, so I'd suggest that you program their number into your phone to call ahead. read more

Thai Basil Cuisine - Lunch special - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

Good portions for a decent price. BUT since being spoiled by legit Thai food (I have thai friends), I'm starting to not dig this place anymore. The food is so greasy! read more

Thai Basil is good. Considering the price and the quality of the food, I'd say it's a good deal. Curries and noodles are usually good, but tends to be oily, but that just may be the nature of the food. Though stay away from the vegetarian menu. I got the veggie Pad Thai, no eggs, one of the worst experiences of my life! And maybe sometimes there's too much sauce or sauce is too salty, like with one of their tofu plates. Like to come here for lunch specials too. You get two out of the three posted entrees and pad thai and rice, for less than five bucks. Works well for the person that cannot choose just one thing to order. Plus I've found that pad thai together with white rice is just heavenly. One more thing, stay away during lunch rush or dinner rush. The wait can get unbearably long. Your friends will probably be finished their Steve's BBQ long before you get your order. Edit: I ate here yesterday and had one of the most unpleasant experiences. The oil was too much. The sauce too much. The pepper too much. What's up Thai Basil? read more

Basic thai dishes here Always order pad thai #21 Size is quite large Inexpensive Long lines and wait Ordered the pad thai ($7.25 included tax) and waited a really long time for my order. I noticed they're always super busy and can be rude to non-asian people. Not cool. But cheap $ and greasy food will last for 2 to 3 meals (CeCe size portions)! haha There are soooo many eateries in that mini plaza!!! Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Middle Eastern, Italian, massive size donuts, etc.!! I wanted to try everything!! read more

Thai Basil is my go-to for a quick and affordable meal. I usually order some variation of chicken, with my favorite being basil chicken. They have an extensive menu selection. Have never tried their curries tho. They are a cash-only restaurant and I never have to spend more than $10, which is getting more and more rare these days. I always have leftovers which is great. They are pretty generous with the meat portion and also give hella rice. They are a 5-star in my opinion because they consistently deliver tasty food for little $$$. Not tryna compare them to anything fancier! read more

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