This is such a cool, community experience in the East Bay. I've heard about Wat Mongkolratanaram for quite some time from friends in the area, and both read about and viewed so much content about this local Sunday event as well. Finally was able to go and experience it! If you've been, would love to hear about your experience too! Essentially, Wat Mongkolratanaram is a Buddhist temple located on Russell Street in Berkeley. They serve lunch to the community (I believe 10a to 1p, although do research ahead of time to ensure they're serving the day you come). I would recommend coming earlier than later, as some items do go quickly. Bring cash with you because your cash = how many coins/tokens you will receive to give the food stations. Right by the coin checkin area, you will find the beverage area of water/Thai tea, and other bevvies. The Thai Tea goes fast too, so also recommend grabbing one early if that's your go-to. There are community-style tables/chairs and also a grass area to enjoy your meal. I noticed several groups bringing blankets and picnic baskets for their afternoon set up. A great idea! For vegetarians or those looking for a more veggie focused lunch, there was a separate line for that. We arrived a little late, so the food stall I waited in line for only had minced pork, yellow curry, and rice, although that alone was filling enough and so delicious. My husband stood in a line for a beef noodle soup. I noticed a food stall with papaya salad, potentially fried chicken, and I believe a mango sticky rice. For dessert we waited in line for the Thai coconut pancakes or Kanom Krok, in cinnamon and plain flavors..they also were serving chive too! I love that you can 'leave a bag/take a bag' if you want to grab these items to-go, as well as grab plastic to-go containers too. There are napkins, utensils, and a sauce station. This is run by all volunteers I think, and everyone was so friendly and helpful. Parking isn't impossible, but because this happens only on Sundays, it did take a few minutes additionally to grab street parking nearby. All in all, a lovely afternoon paying homage to the beautiful Thai culture through food and community. Would def do it again and just prepare to arrive closer to the beginning of the event. read more

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CASH ONLY! Sunday brunch. Just based off sheer selection, the Thai temple in Berkeley is the place to go to eat on Sundays. Came on a rainy day and the place was still pretty packed. I really enjoyed the plate and all the sides were pretty solid. Well-spiced and perfect with rice. The soup noodle was good, the celery kind of threw me off but it's filling and warm. The mango sticky rice is classic. Definitely going to stop by again. read more

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oh no what a hot take. the thai temple in berkeley is kind of mid. sorry! am i an asshole for writing a mediocre review of this place? yes. i apologize. obviously, the service is great. everyone is so sweet and lovely here. however, ambiance is just your average outdoor dining hall situation, so nothing to write home here. obviously not their fault, but sometimes people eating here are really rude and will scoop up your seats if you leave just to throw your stuff away or line up for more food. foodwise, it's fine. i've had better curry elsewhere for sure, and i've also had better boat noodles elsewhere. was the curry and boat noodles cheaper here than elsewhere? yes they were. this place is very cost-efficient as long as you can consistently withdraw cash from an atm. i fear the super popular khanom krok (coconut custard/pancake/dessert) was not my thing as well, but i can see why other people like it. overall, visiting wat mongkolratanaram is definitely a core berkeley student experience and i encourage you to try this place out to form your own opinions. do be sure to go early and buy all of your food (especially the limited quantities of mango sticky rice) ahead of time because they sell out quick! read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram - beef boat noodles - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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My brother found this place after reading all the great reviews, and they definitely weren't wrong! He saw that it starts getting busy around 10am, so we made a plan to arrive before then and I'm glad we did. The location is a bit interesting. It's tucked along a small street in a residential neighborhood, with what look like reserved spots and not much signage. We had to find street parking near the houses, but I was lucky enough to grab a spot off Ashby. It's just a short walk over. As soon as we walked toward the back of the temple, the aroma hit us. Wow, everything smelled incredible. You could immediately tell the food was going to be good. The lines weren't bad when we arrived, and we were able to sit and eat before it got too crowded. You have to purchase tokens before getting food, so we first looked at what we wanted in order to calculate how many tokens we needed. Then we went to the token exchange area to get exactly what we needed. It's a 1-to-1 ratio. Each token is worth $1, which makes it pretty straightforward once you understand the system. I got the $13 plate for 3 items, which included rice. My three items were the Pumpkin (Kabocha) Basil, the chicken parang curry, and the minced pork with Thai basil. My plate tasted really good -- all the flavors were spot on, like something you'd get at a full-service Thai restaurant. The pumpkin was tender and flavorful, the chicken parang curry was rich and comforting, and the minced pork with Thai basil had the perfect balance of savory and aromatic. My daughter got the soup. The soup was amazing. I honestly couldn't stop drinking it and my daughter loved it just as much. It was comforting, flavorful, and one of the highlights of the meal. After eating most of my plate, I couldn't quite finish because I was getting full and I knew I needed to save room for dessert. The dessert line was getting long. I waited for quite some time, but it was absolutely worth it, especially since I haven't seen these types of desserts at typical Thai restaurants. We got the Babin (Taro fritter pancakes) and Krok (got the chives and cinnamon) Combo. You get 2 Babins and 6 or 8 Kroks. Both so good. The Next time, we'll probably order everything (including dessert) before we start eating so we don't run into the long wait again. Overall, such a unique and delicious experience. The food, flavors, and atmosphere made it feel special. Definitely arrive before 10am if you can and don't skip dessert. We'll absolutely be back! read more

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If you're a Berkeley student, make sure you grab Sunday brunch here before you graduate--it's such a unique community experience, and the food is pretty solid. Highlights of our visit included the beef noodle soup and mango sticky rice! The green curry was okay, and the pad Thai was very heavy on the fish sauce. Thai iced tea is a must. I really wanted to try the coconut pancakes, but the stall wasn't here when we went. It was a little difficult to find seating, so I would recommend coming on the earlier side (they are open 10-1 on Sundays). read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram - The spread - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

Peaceful and sacred.... There are food for sale every Sunday, make sure you go early( I would say around 10 am) so you don't have to fight for parking and be in line for a long time. If you have company, have one in line for food or dessert and you go exchange tokens to save time. FYI, if you want to take them Togo, there is an extra charge for that..... read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

My friend and I went there of lunch. We went when it first open at 10am. You first exchanged cash into plastic coins. I got beef noodle for $12 and $11 for mango sticky rice. The beef noodle line was longer than rice line. The selected the fat rice noodles, you have three choices. Everything tasted good, you get big thin slice of beef, beef tender and beef balls. The bean sprouts were good but the celery was out of place. I took home the mango sticky rice, the picture is only half, I ate one half before remembering to picture. Overall, I enjoyed the experience, it is not as big as the one in Los Angeles Thai temple. Street parking was available when come early. They do have tables for sitting down. Place to put away your dishes. read more

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Not sure if we just came on an off day, or if I got the wrong vegetarian items, but I feel like our experience is the complete opposite of all the positive reviews here. I was pretty excited to find out that there was a Buddhist temple serving vegetarian food, because Buddhist vegetarian cuisine is usually SO good. The space is really cool, from the beautiful exterior design of the temple, to the large and sunny plaza in the backyard with plenty of seating. You first exchange cash for tokens, which you then use to purchase the actual food. Vegetarian line was basically nonexistent; most people were in line for the beef noodle soup, understandably as it's the most famous item here. I got a plate of pad thai and cabbage and potato curry with rice for 12 tokens ($12). Veg pad thai: would 100% avoid the vegetarian pad thai if we ever decide to come back, which is unlikely. It was all noodle -- no scallions, only a few shriveled bean sprouts, no tofu, no egg. It was also so sweet for something that should be savory/umami. Cabbage and potato curry: all potato, almost no cabbage, pretty stingy serving of tofu and the curry in general. It felt like they purposefully piled on as much pad thai and white rice as possible to avoid having to dole out more curry. Beef noodle soup ($12 / 12 tokens): husband said it was okay, but way too salty. He couldn't drink the soup at all. Honestly both of us decided to cut our losses, so we didn't even bother trying any of the desserts or drinks. The lines were also incredibly long, 20-40min wait, for almost every stand. It was cool to support the temple, but otherwise I'd say this felt more like a novelty experience than somewhere we'd come for the quality of the food. read more

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A few years ago we had a Thai temple in Nile's that used to also vend food, but it closed down. So after hearing of this spot I was relieved and revived to be able to get my outdoor Thai temple food fix again! Such an amazing and local spot. We visited not expecting too much other than the regular dishes like pad Thai and mango sticky rice. But the options were loaded! They had curries, meat dishes, beef soup, fried items, drinks, and many desserts. We were truly amazed. Super easy system of trading in cash for tokens, and fast service with little to no lines when we arrived towards the end. It was just a gratifying experience to sit with other locals, see people of the community work the event with their loved ones and family. Delicious and filling food overall! This will not be our first time and we hope to come back for the fried foods and warm smelling beef soup! read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram - Mango sticky rice - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Tips for visiting: -Food purchases are token-based. $1 = 1 token. Dishes are around $11-12. -Come early if you're driving! Parking can be difficult around Russell Street. My boyfriend and I shared the beef noodle soup, kabocha curry, and Thai coconut pancake. All the food was great, except the kabocha was slightly undercooked. My FAVORITE was the Thai coconut pancake. The perfect sweet treat that's not too sweet and has a memorable crispy exterior with a gooey interior, thanks to the rice flour and coconut milk. They come with different toppings, too, including corn, chives, and cinnamon! Highly recommend coming here. AND you support the temple! read more

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4.5 The soup was the absolute best on a cold morning! The mango sticky rice and green papaya salad were also really good. I loved how much of a community place this was. It wouldn't work in SF...definitely a Berkeley kind of vibe. The only thing that could have made this a better experience was if the sanctuary were open. A moment to sit quietly and pray would have been really appreciated right about now. I'll be back. read more

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Very beautiful temple. Food is amazing, people are nice. Loved the ambiance, very calming read more

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First time ever to this longtime Sunday brunch event. Came with friends who have been going for over 2 decades. We didn't get enough tokens but made do with what we had. Bring cash to redeem for tokens and try to guess how many tokens you will need so you don't have to get back in the token line before getting in the food lines. Parking on the street wasn't too hard but we got there when it opened at 10am. The beef noodle soup was the favorite and I like that you can choose the type of noodle you want. They have skinny, medium, and the big flat noodles. My husband's curry plate was a little too spicy for me. The mango sticky rice was delicious with a little bit of coconut sauce. The Thai iced tea is $3 and pretty good. Seating is mostly in the sun so go early if you want to snag a spot in the shade. Keep in mind the sun is moving so you might start in shade and end up in sun. read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram - Mango sticky rice $11 - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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We visited on a Sunday in June. Beautiful sunny day in Berkeley! ORDER Beef Noodle Soup Two Meat Combo Plates Konam Krok Sweet Rice and Mango Thai Ice Tea STARS (stand out qualities) -Food (5/5 stars) - all the food was so delicious! My favorite was the mango sticky rice and the Konam Krok! -Service (5/5 stars) - workers seem very friendly and working hard; I wonder if they are volunteering for the temple; I told one of the staff it was my first time and they gave me an orientation for the cooks -Ambiance (5/5 stars) - serene, outdoor ambiance is wonderful; there are chairs and tables with and without shade; there is a grassy area to picnic; plenty of utensils and napkins too; bathrooms are clean; each food section space is well organized STAIRS (areas of growth) -I don't hace a lot to say at this point! TIPS -Bring cash! -Estimate what dishes you get to bring the right amount of cash -Any coins you don't use can be returned for cash or donated to temple -Please be kind and patient with staff. There may be long lines but I think they are doing their best to support temple -There is pretty much a line for each dish; if you are with other people, you can split to order separately -Bring picnic blanket if you want to have a picnic -Bring takeout boxes if you want to save and not buy one (also help with the environment to reuse) -There is street parking if you are driving; you may need to walk a few blocks since it's pretty packed with residential cars read more

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Inner peace and balance are great goals to strive for in life and at Wat Mongkolratanaram, your stomach will attain fullness in harmony with all the food groups. Located in south Berkeley, just doors down from the Berkeley Public Library, this Thai Buddhist temple opens its doors and courtyards to the public to share their delicious food, spacious atmosphere, and positive energy. This exclusive experience is only available one day a week for lunch, although if you want to actually get a solid meal, you'll want to come early - perhaps as soon as they open. The food can sell out and the lines can get long, but it seems the patrons come in waves so the churn is quite constant. It's all outdoor seating with some benches/tables under awnings or out in the sun and others on the fresh grass lawns. A good number of visitors take their food to go (at an extra cost for the to-go container) but most bask in the aura of positivity among fellow community members and temple staff/volunteers. The parking is atrocious in the closed end street on which the temple resides but just across the street near the park, you'll find a good number of spots among the neighborhood. A little walk won't hurt and will actually be a good idea for after your meal here. As you step foot onto the temple grounds, you'll get wafts of deliciously smelling food, their fragrance piercing through your nostrils and tickling those nerves to stimulate the rumble in your tummy. But before your nose leads you astray, make your way to the register where you can use cash, credit or Apple Pay to exchange for tokens equivalent to their dollar values. These colored tokens will be used to exchange for the food in each line and any extra can be returned for a refund or donated to the temple afterwards. Now you're ready for the lines! You'll have your choice of beef noodle soups, rice plates (savory and sweet), or fried cakes. Depending on your craving, get in the respective line and be prepared to place your order. Naturally, we got a little bit of almost everything to share among our party and it was a great idea because it was a lot of food! And don't forget the sauce bar near the register! Beef noodle soup - delicious broth topped on a pile of noodles (thin, regular, or flat), protein (beef flank, brisket, and balls), and vegetables (bean sprouts, carrots, green onions). This bowl of noodles is piping hot and a huge portion for one individual. Rice plates - you'll have the choice of one, two, or three items to go with your serving of steamed white rice. There is quite a variety of items including vegetarian and meat options. We ended up getting a bit of almost all the items and enjoyed it all. The yellow and panang curries were delicious and paired well with rice. There was a good portion of chicken in the yellow chicken curry and big chunks of potatoes in the yellow vegetarian curry. The panang curry has a bit of a kick of spice but is extremely flavorful. Again, a good portion of protein makes this a top choice for me. The pad Thai is a staple and we ended up getting two portions of it. Flavorful and easy to share. We also got the basil eggplant and pork belly, tofu and egg stew they were also very delicious. It was harder to share the stew but it had a good bit of protein for those looking to bulk up. We also got the fried chicken that comes with a portion of sticky rice. It's not the breaded kind but more roasted to the point of a crispy skin exterior yet succulent insides. The meat was seasoned well and was a favorite for our non-spice tolerant party members. And of course, the mango sticky rice was a hit. It comes with the coconut milk for you to lather the dish up or for dipping with each bite. The mango was sweet and refreshing! Fried cakes - khanom krok, a Thai dessert made with coconut milk, was filled with your choice of mango, chives, or cinnamon. These little domed pancakes were delicious and their small size made them easy to pop in your mouth and enjoy the subtle sweetness of the coconut milk while savoring its special filling. As for drinks, you can get water, coffee, or Thai iced tea. The iced tea wasn't anything special but sitting at $3, it was worth getting to fully embrace the Thai meal experience. Overall, Wat Mongkolratanaram checks all the boxes for a Thai meal while being quite affordable for the variety and amount of food you get (most items averaged about $12). However, the main attraction of it all is the experience of dining among the monks within their place of worship and giving to this community in return for a full belly and a sense of connection with its people. The popularity of this place is certainly quite high and for good reason, but it seems common for locals to venture here regularly and others looking to get a taste of the hype. If you've never been, you'll need to make a trek here and perhaps, you may achieve enlightenment (of the food variety, of course)! read more

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the temple and its beautiful structures are my favorite thing from the Wat. i came along to see its cozy vibe, and the thai food: it was delicious meal it was a refreshing feeling to enjoy this food outside, along the berkeley weather. i can't wait to come back read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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A friend sent me a reel about this on our group-chat and said he was interested. He was moving across the country the week after SO OF COURSE I had naturally had to have a farewell lunch to a place I had already bookmarked weeks before hehehe we arrived around 11am on a Sunday morning, after hunting around the suburban neighborhood for a parking spot! you wouldn't expect this bustling thai temple in the middle of this quiet neighborhood. As we neared the temple, we found a huuuuge line. but we did not know what the line was for. After asking around, the line was for the BEEF NOODLE SOUP. apparently thats the thing people get here. fortunately, I volunteered my boyfriend to be the fetcher of the tokens! .. while I stayed in line. that did not take long at all, as there were many spots that can trade your CASH ONLY for tokens. there are $1, $5, and $10 tokens. there is also a vegetarian and non vegetarian line. the vegetarian line is short, so if youre super hungry, just pretend to be vegetarian and you'll get your food almost asap. we got here at 11am (they open at 10am) and there were already many items sold out and had to hunt again! for seats to sit and eat. between our friends and I, we go the papaya salad, thai tea, beef noodle soup (kind of like boat noodles), fried chicken, 2 plates of curry with 2-3 items, and some sticky rice. this was more than enough for 4 of us! unfortunately, popular items such as the pad thai and chicken Penang curry, and a lot of thai desserts were sold out. I think the beef noodle soup is best seller, so they really stock up on that. overall we liked the curry with 3 items (eggplant basil, pumpkin basil and yellow curry), and the beef noodle soup. All these things, we could have definitely gotten better at a thai restaurant, but not for cheaper lol. the fried chicken that people RAVE ABOUT... it's only okay. the thai tea is only a dollar and it was good -- I did not wanna share with my bf! as a few other reviews said, it is a bit on the sweeter side. I dont mind it but I know other people prefer not to be. one thing we wished we had more time and had more tokens for was the mango sticky rice! we were so full and we were already taking home a huge box of fried chicken! my friend was taking home a big box of papaya salad. I think this is a good place to stop by if I were in the area, but I would not make a trip out here for just thisss read more

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We came here to eat some Thai food. My bf is Thai and used to going to the eat when he was young. It was such a neat experience seeing so many people of all races and cultures here. There was a line to exchange cash for tokens. Basically $1 is 1 token. Each line for food was approximately 11 tokens with 1 token extra for Togo container. I saw many people bring their own Tupperware or containers which I thought was great to reduce waste and save money. We came here maybe 945am and lines were open since they open 10am-1pm for food. There were some small lines we waited in. We tried the beef noodle soup which was delicious and tasty. You could tell the broth was rich from the beef blood. It was slightly sweet also. Very authentic tasting. There was a table with sauces, chili and condiments. We also got the kanom krok, I chose the mixed one with corn and green onion. It was sooo good, my first time trying it. It was a sweet crispy coconut pancake and inside was chewy. The green onion one was savory and sweet and corn was sweet. We also got the papaya salad to go, fried chicken to go and a plate of pad Thai, eggplant basil and pork belly, egg and tofu stew. I also got a Thai iced tea for $3. Fried chicken was crispy and had a side of sticky rice and Thai sweet chili sauce. It was very good and had nice seasoning. Papaya salad was refreshing and light, Thai style but not super spicy. The combo plate was okay similar to dishes you would get at a restaurant but the pork belly egg and tofu stew was unique, sweet and similar to a braised Taiwanese dish. There were plenty of tables and tents for seating and I saw people sitting on the grass with blankets. Clean up was organized. They had trash cans separated and labeled for where to put bowls, utensils, food waste. It was also nice to see regular locals come and interact with the temple volunteers that all come frequently. Glad all the funding goes to the Wat. read more

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Come early between 10-11! We came at around 10:40 and lines were starting to grow. The place is tucked away in a neighborhood so you have better luck finding parking a few blocks outs, The process of ordering was straightforward- you exchange cash or Venmo for tokens and ($1/token) and then use the tokens to pay for food. The line was longest for their iconic beef noodle soup but my friend loved it. Their curries are very delicious but my surprising favorite was the kabocha! Loved the sweetness of it. I would love to try their pork and egg dish next bc that looked fire. Thai tea tasted good as well, a cup for only $1! There was seating, but by the time we left most of it was taken. There's also a nice patch of grass to picnic on! It's an amazing deal and amazing food for what you pay for, and the proceeds is supporting this local temple. I'd choose this spot for a good Thai fix over many others :) read more

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We started coming to the Temple for brunch years ago and returned this Sunday to enjoy the good food. We drove here, so we parked a few blocks away because the parking near the Temple is limited. When you arrive you will need to exchange your cash or card for tokens, which are needed in order to purchase food and beverages. There are meat and vegetarian dishes available. Both were delicious, I wanted to get the vegetarian pumpkin dish but they had run out. I did enjoy the chicken curry and pad Thai. I had a few other dishes but I cannot recall everything I ate. For a three item plate with rice it cost $13. If you come bring your own to-go dishes otherwise you'll need to pay for one. You can also bring a blanket to sit on the lawn. The patio area has plenty of tables and chairs, both in the shade or in the sun. They also serve soup and desserts. We did not try the soup this time but we did enjoy the kanom krok-coconut patties for dessert. It was a beautiful sunny day in Berkeley and the patio was very crowded with hungry families, dogs and friends. I recommend checking this place out if you enjoy Thai food and it's a great way to support the Thai Buddhist Temple. read more

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Honestly I always get the veggie plate because theres never a line! I looooove the yellow tofu curry. And the eggplant comes in a strong second! The pumpkin is alright but i would much rather more yellow curry. Other honorable mentions are the thai iced tea, the Khanom krok, and the beef noodle soup with big bones full of marrow. Delicious read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram - 3 item veggie curry - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

Food was not bad. Mediocre at best. Service was okay. Expect buying tokens. The system is not ideal. It gets crowded so go early. Parking can be difficult. The place is big so there are plenty of seats. Don't expect fine dining. It's more like a fiesta. read more

Amazing food and great cause! You exchange cash or charge your card and you get tokens then can choose food, sooo good! read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

I went here on a Sunday to check out this place. It gets pretty busy is a popular spot. You start out by going to a cashier and buying tokens, which you then use to pay for the food. You stand in a line and when it's your turn, you start to point to the dishes that you want. I had a dish that had pumpkin curry, and I felt that the pumpkin was a bit undercooked. The food was good, but going out to a Thai restaurant probably would've tasted better. However, the atmosphere was kind of cool so it's an experience I would recommend. I spoke to another person there and they said that the soup is the really popular item that taste the best. I'll have to try that next time. read more

The second you step into Wat Mongkolratanaram, you're overtaken by the scent of aromatics. That's because every Sunday from 10a to 1p, this Thai temple hosts a fundraising brunch with authentic Thai food. First you exchange cash for tokens and then stand in line at one of the many food stations. There are prepared items like Papaya Salad with green beans, carrots, and cherry tomatoes; as well as a steam table where you can get one to three items on a rice plate. The selections here that I tried included Chicken Penang Curry, Minced Pork with Thai Basil, Eggplant Basil, and Pad Thai. One of the longer lines was for Beef Noodle Soup, made with rice noodles, beef balls, beef slices, and pickled vegetables, but the best part was the hearty, aromatic beef broth, which you could smell from a block away! At the condiment station, you could help yourself to pickled jalapeños, chili sauce, red pepper flakes, and more. Overall, this Berkeley institution is a great place for an outdoor weekend picnic. The temple brunch can draw crowds, but the lines move quickly, and the volunteers here were super friendly too! read more

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Amazing Thai food on Sunday! I arrived at 10:30 and there was already plenty of people in lining. The line moved fast and there was vegetable options as well as meat option. First what you do is to exchange cash for tokens, and then get food/ drinks or your liking. Iced tea was very good-- it's less sweet than what you would typically have in Thai restaurants which was perfect! I got the Penang curry over rice with a side of pad thai and minced meat for 13 tokens. The portion was huge. Sooo worth the price. The place is communal too so it kinda feels like picnic on a Sunday. They also have a grass area to sit. I would definitely go back !! read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I've been hearing about this place for years now and finally got the chance to check it out this Sunday. Wow, it was busy! I loved the community feel of the place and it was so nice seeing people just chatting and enjoying the food outside. My friend and I ordered the braised pork, tofu and egg stew, pumpkin kabocha with rice and mango sticky rice. All of the dishes were homey and flavorful- perfect after a weekend of rainy weather. Catch me back here in a couple of weeks because I feel like I haaave to try the famed beef noodle soup. read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram - Mango sticky rice - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This review is for the food court not the temple. Two important things to know for the food is that it's CASH ONLY and that it's only open on Sunday from 10am-1pm. I felt the place was very communal with all sorts of people coming out for delicious Thai fare. Most tables are larger bench style. Payment was done with chips which looked like checkers that were in different amounts. Anything you didn't use you could exchange back. I got a plate of rice with 3 different entrees, green chicken curry, pumpkin kaboucha, and Pad Thai, everything was delicious. I can't handle too much sugar and was happy that they were able to accommodate and make me a Thai tea with less sugar. It kinda reminds me of the Thai food court in LA at Wat Thai, I'd recommend that too if ever in LA . It's a 6-minute walk from the Ashbury Bart station so really easy to get on public transport. Driving the parking wasn't too bad but it does get a little crowded because it's in a neighborhood. read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

I've come here many times, and it remains one of my favorite places to get Thai food for a reasonable price and is a Berkeley classic/bucket list item that I recommend to people visiting or who are looking for food to try in the area. The last time I went, I got yellow curry, kabocha with tofu, and pad thai; the plate with 3 different food choices costs 12 tokens. I also got Thai tea for 3 tokens, and chicken curry puffs for 7 tokens. All of the food was really good, I do wish they offered lids by default for the Thai tea so that you can carry it out. The food isn't that salty and is more mild in taste, and not spicy. The curry puffs are flakey on the outside, which reminds me of pastries or empanadas. They still offer several desserts, mango sticky rice, and the popular Beef noodle soup. $1 = 1 token. I recommend making sure you have cash ahead of time. If you don't use up your tokens, you can either donate them to the temple, or exchange them back for dollars. There's always outdoor folding tables and chairs you can sit at, but you may also want to bring your own blanket to sit on because on popular Sundays, the tables can easily get filled up, or bring your own Tupperware and have the temple workers fill the food into it so you can take it to go. read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram - Chicken curry puff - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Met up with some friends here from their recommendation. My wife had apparently heard about this spot before, but neither of us had ever partook. The location first off is definitely unique, and your GPS IS taking you to the right spot. Located smack dab in the middle of a residential neighborhood in Berkely, This is a Thai Temple converted from a single-family dwelling home. The lot size of this property is pretty big, and the actual dining area is setup in the massive backyard. When you first arrive, walk to the left-most booth to convert your money into tokens. Cash only, and the conversion rate is 1:1. With tokens in hand, get into one of the various lines to redeem for a variety of delicious food. They open at 10am, but we noticed they were already serving food when we arrived at 9:45am. Although there was little to no lines in most of the booths, everyone who was there appeared to have queued up for their famous beef noodle soup. We wound up getting several dishes that day, and got to try a little (or a lot) of most of what they had to offer. This included: Beef Noodle Soup: You have your choice between thin or medium noodles. The noodles had a nice consistency to them, and there was a generous amount of beef slices and chunks inside. Despite the fave reviews, I honestly felt this dish was just ok. Was not a big fan of the sweet broth, I'm use to something more savory or clear. 3-combo plate of tofu yellow curry, kabocha (pumpkin) squash and chicken: First off, the serving size of big and very generous. This a theme you'll find here for everything they serve. We really enjoyed the yellow curry and pumpkin squash, but felt the chicken was a bit dry. Comes with a scoop of rice. Kanom Krok (Thai Coconut Pancakes): This was surprisingly good! Small and unassuming, it's actually really well made with a nice light sear at the bottom. Best when served hot, so eat up! Kanom Babin (coconut pancakes): This was pretty good too. But like the Kanom Krok, is really best when had hot and fresh. Like everything else here, was really surprised with the number of pancakes that was provided. Thai Tea: Best 3 dollar refreshment you can find here. It was really good and well made. And a perfect refresher to wash down all the food on a hot day. Thai Jelly: Decoratively shaped, these gelatinous discs of coconut milk would probably be a hit for coconut lovers. But overall, me and my wife agreed this one was a pass for us. There is a sauce and spice condiment station right in front of the token booth. And live music was briefly playing during our morning meal. There were so many other food options we hadn't tried in our first visit, but we were both so stuffed we couldn't possibly eat anymore. We were definitely eyeing a few other dishes, and look forward to trying some more stuff next time around. If you get here early enough, there is a private parking lot off to the side that can hold about 8-9 cars. There are also two koi tanks in that lot that have a ton of beautiful koi inside. Street parking is limited, but we were easily able to snag a spot half a block away early in the morning. read more

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I wanted to update my 4-star reviews from 20 and 10 years ago. Sunday at the Wat has come such a long way. Still 20 minutes on the knom krok line, but still worth the wait--even if your while party has finished their meal by the time you get to the table with the perfection of hot, chewy, coconuty bites. The soup is still the standout. The curries are good. I've ordered the chicken more times than I can count and it's always dry, but it's nostalgic at this point. Over the years, the grounds have expanded and there are enough tables for everyone. What used to be a battle with a payoff is now a very pleasant experience. Go as early as you can if you don't want to wait on a long line. $20 will buy you a hearty meal for a great cause. read more

I have been going here for years, and it is always incredibly delicious. Thai Temple only serves food on Sundays, and I highly suggest going as early as possible. They usually run out of food later in the day, lines can get very long (all the way to the sidewalk), and their outdoor seating can fill up quickly. Some Sundays, they hold special events, like performances and celebratory occasions, which truly add to the charm of this place. Before going, make sure you have cash! You will need to convert your cash into tokens, which are the currency used to exchange for food. On average, one person might spend around $15 worth of tokens. The food is absolutely amazing. I always go for a combo plate of rice, pad thai, and chicken curry. They also offer veggie curry for those with dietary restrictions. Other dishes include green beans, tofu, and braised pork belly, but somehow I always end up with the pad thai and chicken curry--it's my favorite combo and I've never strayed from it. They also have a beef noodle soup, which is so flavorful and perfect for cold weather. For dessert, they serve mango sticky rice, a very popular dish, and their Thai tea is one of my go-to drinks--refreshing and not too sweet. I always recommend this place for authentic Thai food. It's very popular among locals, so lines can get extremely long, especially during peak lunch hours. When visiting, please be respectful of how they operate. Clean up after yourself by wiping down your table and throwing your trash away in the proper containers. read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram - Beef Noodle Soup, Thai Tea, Pad Thai, Chicken Curry - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great way to start your Sunday (5/5 Stars) One of my favorite cheap-eats in the Bay Area! The food is definitely worth the cost, and the whole experience adds to the charm. You exchange money for coins and then stand in line at various stations. The stations are divided into fried rice-flour desserts, hot beef stew, hot rice plates (which include pad thai, curries, and entrees), mango sticky rice, papaya salad, and fried chicken with sticky rice. You have to stand in line for each station, but it's all part of the fun. Plus, you can tour the temple and prayer rooms, which adds a unique cultural touch. I suggest getting here within the first hour they open (at 10am). By the time I left at 11:30, the line was out of the temple grounds! Also, bring your own takeout containers to save $1 per container. My personal favorites are the beef soup, chicken with sticky rice, and mango sticky rice. My pro tip: bring takeout containers, get your hot foods to go, and enjoy the beef soup there. You can pay an extra $1 to get the beef bones in your bowl of soup. SO WORTH IT! Check out my IG Reel: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIIGiGPv4YZ/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== read more

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While I love the atmosphere and vibes, the vegetarian dishes were all...just okay. Nothing stood out as particularly tasty or bad. I tried all of the vegetarian dishes to be sure. The coconut pancake things (corn and cinnamon) were VERY good though! The deep fried taro patty was also enjoyable. read more

A Buddhist temple that sells the best Beef Noodle Soup in The Bay? Count me in! 1. Get in line and purchase tokens. Not sure how many you need? You can trade them back in for money, donate them, save it for the next Sunday Funday. 2. Take your pick of delicious dishes- including vegetarian options... it's the beef noodle soup for me! 3. Find a spot, it's communal seating and a UC Berkeley student favorite so be ready for some interesting ear hustling. Prices have gone up $1 since my last visit. But honestly I don't mind supporting a great cause. If you go with the family be sure to check out the impressive koi fish tank in the front. read more

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The best part of this place is the sense that the entire community is coming together on a Sunday to eat, to talk, to enjoy the blue sky and fresh air outside. Went with four people and was able to try pretty much everything on the menu. It's all very good, but here is my ranking of the savories: 1. Beef Noodle Soup. Absolutely the stand-out dish. Definitely order this. 2. Pumpkin Kabocha w/ Tofu 3. Green Beans w/ Tofu 4. Eggplant Basil 5. Tofu Yellow Curry 6. Pad Thai: Tasty, could be improved with some egg, peanuts, and more tofu 7. Pork Basil: Delicious and I would rank it higher, except that it's too spicy for me. Would recommend if you can handle spice. 8. Pork Belly, Eggs & Tofu Stew in 5 spice flavor 9. Chicken Green Curry 10. Chicken Panang Curry 11. Chicken Yellow Curry. You really can't go wrong, because everything is good, and I would still happily eat a plate of the chicken yellow curry. My ranking of the desserts: 1. Khanom Krok (coconut balls) with corn filling, followed by chive, cinnamon and plain 2. Kanom Babin (friend taro) 3. Mango Sticky Rice My two favorite dishes are the Beef Noodle Soup and the Khanom Krok with corn filling. We got there right at 10am when they opened. The vegetarian line was out of both eggplant, green beans and yellow curry by 12:15pm. All the vegetarian dishes are also available in the meat line (identical versions, without fish sauce) so vegetarians can do whichever line is shorter. Cash only. Bring a jacket and a hat. About half the tables don't have any shade. Bring your own water and Tupperware if you want to bring home leftovers, or an extra meal. read more

coming from la and experiencing similar thai temple markets, this was a little underwhelming in size but still overall an enjoyable experience for a casual sunday the beef noodle soup ($12) was really flavorful with a good noodle portion but the pad thai was cold when we got it. the meat from the various curries we tried were really tender and nicely cooked. each of the 2 plates were 3-item combos for $13 each the thai tea and thai iced coffee were delicious and well worth it, especially for $3 each mango sticky rice ($11) was pretty good considering i'm not a huge fan of it in general, but i enjoyed eating this one. the mangos were super sweet and the portion of mango was huge parking - the temple is in a primarily residential area. we took the bus and walked a few blocks in fear of limited parking but saw a decent amount of spots nearby if you're willing to walk 1-2 blocks *cash only read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram - 3 item plates ($13 each) + beef noodle soup ($12) + thai iced coffee and thai iced tea ($3 each) - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Sunday Hours: 10am-1pm I love coming here to enjoy authentic Thai food. They have so many variety of foods, snacks, desserts and best Beef Noodle Soup. They have large sitting area to dine. Prices are reasonable. All proceeds go to the Thai Temple. Remember to bring cash and convert them into tokens to purchase foods and drinks. Parking is challenging, but it's worth coming out and support the community. read more

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Best Thai food I've had in the Bay Area to date. Stopped by here for an early lunch with my girlfriend and a few friends. The temple itself is beautiful - the building decorations are ornate and there is a lovely Koi pond by the entrances to the food hall. The food hall is broken into a seating area and an ordering area - assuming you arrive at a good time there is plenty of seating and large table (will get back this point later) The food is paid for by donations to the temple - and pricing is very fair. For 13 dollars, I got a plate with rice and three dishes. With my meal I got the green curry with chicken , the basil pork, and the pork belly and egg stir fry. One of the members of our group also ordered taro fritters and coconut rice cakes (the name of which I never got) in the regular and chive flavor. Everything we had was phenomenal - the green curry was some of the best I've had in a long time, The pork belly and egg dish had some super tasty tofu in it , and the basil pork was very solid. Every bite of the entree food packed a strong savory punch. My favorite by far was the green curry - it's a dish I've found that's easy to do ok but when a place does a great job it really stands out. There are also plenty of condiments and extras you can get - I opted for the sambal and pickled peppers The additional items we got were also very nice - I particularly enjoyed the taro fritters. They were very crispy and delicately sweets. The coconut rice cakes reminded me of a South Indian dish called appam - the batter however was a little more custardy and sweet. One thing to note, this place gets crowded extremely quickly. We arrived around 9:45 and the place was mostly empty but very quickly filled up. With that in mind, the earlier you go, the faster you can get your food and find a good spot to eat. All in all - we had an extremely positive experience here. I will definitely be back, especially now that I live in the East Bay. 5/5 read more

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The Thai temple is pretty cool and popular spot at Berkeley where you see the local community hanging around at picnic style bench tables and sitting on the lawn. There are different tented areas for tokens, combo plates, dessert, soup, and drinks. I had a three item combo which included pad Thai, green curry chicken, and pork belly for 13 tokens or $13. I also had a Thai tea for 3 tokens or $3. Overall, cool casual spot you can go for brunch on Sundays which is open from 10 am - 1 pm. I suggest getting there earlier as the lines fill up and they run out of some foods. read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram - Three item combo - pad Thai, green curry chicken, and pork belly - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California