Overall, a really unique experience with tasty food in a "choose your own adventure" type style. As others have mentioned, make sure to bring cash as you'll need to exchange it for tokens in order to make any purchases here. Another tip is to bring a picnic blanket if you're impatient in case seating isn't readily open as this place gets somewhat crowded being only open on Sundays. It'll take a second to adjust to the flow of where to go to get drinks vs. exchange for tokens vs. various stations for dishes, but the world is your oyster here! The combo plates were great, my personal favorite was a red curry with pork belly, and the fried chicken was a great shareable plate for the group. The mango sticky rice is a little bit pricey, but not bad in terms of quality. Another big highlight was the drinks, that iced tea/coffee were both cheap and delicious. Unfortunately, we were very full from eating here and had planned to hike afterwards, but that's a problem reflective of how much fun we had here looking around the stations and ordering way too much food. read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram - Combo plate with a couple of curries and eggplant/tofu and fried chicken - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

This unsuspecting Thai temple serves up some of the most comforting, no-frills, homey Asian food in Berkeley! My friend and I visit every couple of months when we have time on a Sunday morning and we absolutely love it. Not only is the food tasty, but the vibes are so fun! The simple plastic tables and chairs in the back yard of the church, bustling with families and friends getting a bite to eat is like a warm hug to the soul. The food doesn't quite taste like a traditional Thai restaurant, but rather it tastes like someone's grandma cooked it specially for you. If you're looking for a wholesome place to get food with a group, this is the place to be! read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram - pumpkin curry, panama curry, eggplant basil, yellow curry - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Thai Temple is a must in Berkeley! It's tasty, affordable and fast. The ambiance is very comfortable with tables set up outside. Bring cash with you! Lines can be long so come early. It does move fairly fast though. The Thai iced tea is very sweet, too sweet for my taste buds. The mango sticky rice is delicious as well as the coconut desserts with different flavors every week. I enjoy the caramelized pork with egg and the pad Thai as well as the chicken dish. There's even a vegetarian line. A must for Sunday brunch! read more

This spot is a hidden gem in Berkeley! Delicious home cooked Thai food. Had to wait in line to get food at around 10:30am but not longer than 10 mins. The curries and beef noodle soup are the best! I always get the eggplant with tofu--not too oily or spicy and perfect with rice. Covid update: They have tables set up again for outdoor dining. I highly recommend bringing your own to-go containers since they have the paper compostable containers that soak up the sauces (plus sometimes they'll give you more food it seems). If you bring your own container, I don't think you have to pay an extra coin ($1 extra). read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram - Token buying station - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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By far one of my favorite restaurants in Berkeley and a true local gem. The line can get long sometimes precovid but was pretty short when I went a few days ago. My favorite is the beef soup and the Thai ice tea is really great too. When you get there, you exchange cash for red and green tokens which you can exchange back later if you didn't use them all. It's been amazing every time I've went and it's awesome seeing them prepare the food in front of you and knowing proceeds go to the temple. read more

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Tip: make sure to get here early as parking is limited and lines get long very quickly AND bring cash!!! Lines were very organized, easy to follow, and moved relatively fast. Everyone was super friendly and quick to guide if you're confused. Beef noodle soup and mango sticky rice were without a doubt our favorites and seemed like the most popular. Soup($11) had lots of flavor and portion sizes were very generous. There was a variety of meat types included with a selection of thick or thin noodles. The mango sticky rice was absolutely delicious and the perfect finish to our savory meal. Still dreaming about that sweet n juicy mango! The rice plate was a little disappointing as we regret not selecting pad thai as one of our sides. Meat was also a little too fatty for our liking. We will definitely be back not only for the unique experience but also to try some of the less popular food items from their HUGE selection of food items. read more

My Thai coworker told me about this place and it's really cool! Every Sunday, this temple sells food (noodle soup, curry, dessert, Thai iced tea/coffee), and it's delicious! You have to buy tokens, which you then use to buy food. I got the noodle soup and the coconut pancakes. Oh my, the coconut pancakes were to die for!!! You can add toppings--I added cinnamon and mango purée. Yuuuuummmm. The noodle soup was great too. You can add spice to it yourself. This place does get packed. There are tables you can sit at after buying food. Parking was pretty easy to find a block or two away. read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram - Coconut milk pancakes! - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Lovely Thai temple in Berkeley. Fun to visit anytime, but Sundays is the day for the food, which is really only served from 10a - 1p. The quese are long, prices are rising and they often run out, but it's still great to support this place. (Though I don't think they are struggling too much based on the history of buying adjoining properties.) The coconut desert thingees (what are they called) oh, Kanom Krok (I just looked it up) are probably the best ones you'll find outside of Thailand. The rest of the food is good too. I lived in Thailand, so it's not quite as good as there, but for Berkeley, and the good vibes that surround it's A-ok fun. I really am happy this place is here. Enjoy. read more

Sooooooo delicious and very good portions. Can be pretty busy & hard to find parking but felt like a big, communal, picnic. Had a great time and am excited to go again. read more

Sunday brunch at a Thai temple? That's rad! When a new Yelp friend told me about this hidden gem, I was super pumped to try it out. Finally made it around noon on Easter Sunday. This place was deff happening, I saw tons of ppl here. It felt like some sort of street fair or block party. How come I never knew about it?! The food offerings were abundant: vegetarian and meat dishes w/ rice, beef noodle soup, Thai desserts, Thai tea, oh my! First you go exchange tokens with cash then you can use them to buy food and drinks. Price is very reasonable. One token equals $1. I got a two item meat combo for 8 tokens and a Thai tea for 2 tokens. My spicy pork with green beans and Thai beef curry were both delish. Thai tea was pretty decent, too. I had a very satisfying meal for only $10. No wonder this place is so popular! I also decided to order the coconut green onion dessert to go which was 7 tokens. I never had it before. It has this very unique flavor of both sweet and savory. So good! I can't wait to come back to try the Thai beef noodle soup. It smelled so good that I kept drooling! Now you know where I'll be next Sunday! read more

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This place is amazing! Like other reviews mention, you exchange cash for different colored tokens and then use those tokens to purchase delicious, homemade tasting Thai dishes. Be prepared to wait in long lines but it's all very worth it. Highly recommend the Pumpkin Basil, Chicken Panang Curry, Eggplant Basil... you really can't go wrong. Be patient, be kind to workers and you'll be rewarded with some of the best Thai food you'll ever have. read more

More commonly known as "Thai Temple", I was immediately excited when I heard about what it was. A once a week offering of food to the general public. I was hoping that because of this, they stayed true to flavors they brought with them as they are delicious. I showed up, figured out the token system, dug in, and was not disappointed. FOOD: 3 meat combo plate. Green curry was very good. Big lemongrass flavor which is always a plus. Good sweetness with the coconut milk, worked pretty well over rice. Always a classic and always on my go-to list. Pad thai was also to my liking. They used tamarind instead of the ketchup based sauce that most Thai places around here use these days, and it showed. Chicken cashew was also solid. Flavorful veges with well seasoned chicken. I don't think you can really go wrong with any of the offerings for the combo plates. Papaya salad. An interesting take. Heavily dressed, and maybe it was because I came towards the end of the day (closer to 1pm), and it got soggy, but it is just not what I expected or hoped for. Still kind of tasty, but the texture was not crisp and the sourness/sweetness was a bit too much for this to be the refreshing dish it is supposed to be. Spiciness level was actually pretty on point though (meaning it is decently spicy). Beef noodle soup. This was the dish that caught my eye, and you can smell the broth the moment you walk by. I have gotten both thin and wide noodles, and I think wide noodles are just better for this dish. Silky and easy to chew. Broth has depth, and immense flavor. I am a huge fan of this. You do need to add your own spicy sauce to this, but don't overdo it. Their spicy sauces are SPICY. Two scoops is likely too much for the average person, and even a little over the top for those who truly like spicy like me, unless you and your bowels are up for a challenge. Overall, this is the dish I miss most from Thailand and I am so happy there is a place here that does the dish at all, let alone does it decent justice. Lines definitely get longer the closer you get to noon, so you'll be in the clear if you get there before 11. I expect to be here probably once a month. See you there. read more

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Visited today which is Mother's Day 2024 around 11:20. This place was highly recommended by my brother who treated my mother and I here for the first time. I think main reason why I didn't enjoy my food was because the Thai bald guy(age 55-65) who served my family and I food today. He was very rude and started yelling at me when I asked about spice level on the veggies. He proceeded to tell me about some white lady who went off on him because he said the food wasn't spicy but to her it was. Also that he is from Thailand and spice to him isn't shit.. All his words not mine. I'm a very understanding person but when I am paying my money and the person serving me can't answer what is the least spicy veggie dish for me to try. I find that alarming. I am happy I was able to hold my composure in front of my children and just walk away. However, i'm inclined to leave a review in case someone higher up can speak to him about the service he is providing to customers. Once back at the table i shared the story with my family and my brother shared the last time he was dining here that the same guy was yelling at someone else. This is just unacceptable! I will be back but only for the good looking soup and other deserts I saw some ppl enjoying. That soup line sure was long today though! mango sticky rice: was yummy my daughter loved it. Her only critique was that the coconut sauce was a little salty. she likes it on sweeter side. 11 tokens green beans w/ curry paste: family favorite! i'm sad i didn't try pad thai: meh. we have all had better. red curry w/ rice: family favorite and better than the yellow yellow curry: get the red curry thx me later thai tea: 8/10 for me. my family likes it too its just Im use to it being a little sweeter. I know sugar its good for you. 3 tokens The outside area has tables and chairs. Some shaded some not. The weather was perfect today. Also get there early because I heard they started selling out of food and deserts. Parking sucks. We found parking one- two blocks away so if you don't mind the walk read more

I'm gonna be the weird one and write a review for this temple based on its primary function rather than its food service. For the longest time, I've always thought this temple was only open on Sundays, but I was wrong. According to the head monk there, this temple is open 7 days a week and everyone is welcome to go in and pray, meditate, and/or practice almsgiving there. Even if you're new to the practice and unsure of what you're doing, don't be afraid to ask the monks for help as they're very nice and understanding. I went there to give alms today and the temple already has packages of goods for me to use as donation to the monks. For those who want to make food donations, go there on Sundays at 10:30am. You can opt to make and bring your own food or take what the temple has prepared to give as alms. If you want to donate food on any other days than Sundays, make sure to call the temple at 510-849-3419 first (their preferred contact time is 7pm-10pm) and ask if any monk would be there to receive it. Monetary donation is always optional and the quantity is based on your comfort level, which is beautiful for me to see since they're not one of those temples that try to capitalize on people's faith or circumstances. To find the temple hall, make sure to look for a stairway on the side of the building that's to the left of where the food line is usually formed. Once you're at the top of the stairs, make sure to take off your shoes before making your way in. There's also another temple door that's directly facing the street, but I don't recommend using it since you may be blocking the people who are on their way out to pour water on the trees as part of the almsgiving ceremony. read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram - Not food related...this is a schedule of events for those who are interested in learning Buddhism for this temple - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

If you have friends or family coming this weekend, bring them here!! This Thai Buddhist temple is a unique Berkeley experience that changes the usual brunch date. You may struggle to find street parking, but once you do, walk right in and exchange your cash for tokens. These tokens can then be used to purchase food. You can get soups, pad thai, mango sticky rice, various curries, sweet puffs, and various other food options in many combinations with those tokens. Dishes are $8 on average. To drink, they also have hot tea, iced Thai tea, and water. The lines can get long, so I recommend showing up right when they open. Otherwise, be prepared to chat with your company for awhile. Seating can be hard to find since it will be scattered tables and lawn seating. I haven't yet had to sit on the lawn, but we also usually split up so one person can scout for tables and the rest can buy the food. This isn't the best Thai food (and it will inevitably get cold while you're eating it on a chilly day since it's served in take-out containers), but it feels like you're supporting a wholesome group and the whole experience is fun and different. Come try and see for yourself! read more

This place is only opened on Sunday and it gets crowded really fast. I recommend coming right when it opens to try and beat the rush. It's cash only. You use cash to pay for tokens, and tokens are how you pay for food. You wait in different lines to order food. We tried beef noodle soup (which had the longest line), rice plate with pad thai and curry, thai tea, mango sticky rice, and coconut pancakes. All of which were delicious. I also saw some people bring tupperware/reusable dishware and have them fill the food into that instead of paper plates. This place is dog friendly. read more

Hidden gem! Only open Sundays 10-1pm rain or shine. Cash only. They do run out of food so get there early. From the street and at first glance, it's a beautiful temple. Just right if the temple is a walkway. The walk way takEs you to the courtyard when authentic Thai folks and the occasional Buddhist monks cook and serve the most delicious Thai soups, traditional dishes in vegan, veggie, and meat plus, yummy Thai teas and several desserts including my fav Kanam BarbIn (fried coconut cake-like), mango with sweet sticky rice and more! Excellent place to observe what global peace on earth looks like while enjoying great food and sharing conversation with the stranger next to you. People come from all over the world to experience this. Instructions: enter the courtyard and go to the tent on your left to buy tokens with cash. Determine what you want to eat or drink and get in that line. TIP: desserts go fast. Get in the dessert line first. Soup is usually second longest line. When possible, split duties; you stand in dessert line, she stands in soup line. Sit under a canopy or open areas. It can get cold so dress outdoor appropriate. Enjoy! Food Prices: change $ into tokens $7- 7 tokens for one item $8- 8 tokens for two items $9- 9 tokens for three items $2 Thai tea $7 Kanim barbin $6 mango sticky rice $8 soup read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram - Pad Thai, spicy green beans, green curry, Thai salad, desserts Kanim barbin - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

This place is so unique! Maybe it's my ignorance but I'm not sure if there's anything else like this in the bay area. Cash only. You pay for colored coins and those colored coins pay for all the food and drinks available. The beef noodle soup with wide noodles are sooo good. Top it with some of the pickled peppers and you're in heaven. In my opinion, the curries, stir-fry's and other hot food items are just OK. They've got the longest line, though, so they're definitely popular! I just prefer the beef noodle soup :) I'd also skip the fried chicken...it sounds enticing but you're really better off with other items. Mango sticky rice is standard and a must in any Thai meal for us! Tip: arrive early! Even by 11:00am, it's packed with people. read more

We came early and got seats, it was a sunny day but it was also really windy. Some lines were long and some were short, so by the the time we got out the food was cold; this was our fault, if we did this again, probably eat as you go. We got a plate with the stew, pad thai, and panang ($12). The pad thai was really sweet and the panang was bland. The stew was all right. We also tried the beef noodle soup ($11) which had a bit of a flat muted broth. The noodles did not quite cook right in the soup, so they tasted like pho noodles when the broth is too cold. Lastly, we had the fried taro and khanom khrok ($8) which was probably the highlight of the meal. It was perfectly crispy and sweet. We both agreed that we probably won't be back, although glad we went. read more

Time flies! It's been nearly ten years since I've visited Thai Temple for lunch. This past weekend I showed up at 10:30 a.m. -- only 30 minutes after opening -- and the lines for food were already packed. Neighborhood parking in the area is very limited so plan accordingly if you are hungry and want to eat right away. While my wife exchanged cash for tokens at one of the booths, I stood in the meat line. A two item plate costs $9 and for that price, you get a lot of food. The most popular line I'd say was definitely the line for the taro fritters. My friends tried waiting in that line but after 30 minutes, they gave up. It looks like that was the only made-to-order stand, which explained the long wait for food. For my two item plate, I got the fried eggplant dish and Pad Thai. The fried eggplant was tender and flavorful, but the Pad Thai is not the best out there: the coldness of the noodles could definitely be tasted, and it could've have been sauced up more in my opinion. If you have a sweet tooth at all, I would highly recommend the mango sticky rice. After you grab your food, there are plenty of picnic tables set up that you can sit at. If the tables are all occupied, there's also plenty of grass you can picnic on. You're responsible for bussing your own dishes after you finish your meal. Overall, a great experience! I would stop by again to try the fried chicken. read more

I'd always heard of the Thai temple brunches, and I finally got to go. I came pretty early around 10:15am on a partly rainy Sunday, which meant there wasn't much of a wait in line or for seating. Within 10 minutes or so, everyone in our five person party had exchanged their money for tokens and gotten their food. The food is delicious, and the best part is the price. For only $13 you can get rice, chicken curry, pad Thai, and a vegetable dish. The meal was warm and filling, just what I wanted on a slightly overcast day. There were very sturdy tents set up overhead so the occasional rain didn't bother us. It was a really nice place to catch up with friends over an affordable, yummy meal. read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram - Seating area - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I'm so glad I checked this place out!! There was a decent amount of people there at 11 am but the waits weren't too long (they have separate lines for meat, veggie, desserts, etc) and you have to exchange cash for tokens to pay for the food. I only got the mango sticky rice (8 tokens) and it was delicious, but I'm definitely coming back for more. The curries smelled and looked amazing, and you can choose how many sides you want with your rice plate. There's a lot of outdoor seating, but the tables were pretty full by the time I got there. I loved the lively, vibrant feel (lots of people lining up, locals bringing their own takeaway containers bc you have to pay 1 token for takeaway boxes). They have utensils and sauce stations around as well. Really cool place to eat, wish I knew about it sooner!! read more

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More Pro than Con to be sure. Met or exceeded all expectations - fabulous food - wonderful to support the temple - great outdoor setting (just chairs and table but it's nice to be outside) - bring friends and share - food VERY REASONABLE PRICES $3 Thai tea $10-12 savory foods HUGE PLATE and large portions Delish coconut pancake Sweet rice things to be aware - cash only - tough parking - bring your own containers - don't be too picky and have fun. Someone wrote a bad review including these things and just set expectations appropriately and you will be over joyed you went read more

TLDR: a great experience if you are in the Berkeley area and want incredible vegan food (can't speak to the non-veg options). My partner used to go here religiously pre-pandemic before he moved back to the east coast. I think if it were him making this review, he would give it a 4/5 when comparing it to previous experiences. He said the prices are higher and there were more food options, but the people are still great and the food is immaculate. Speaking to my own experience, everything tastes homemade because it literally is and it warmed my whole soul. We sat in the grass because all the tables were taken but I preferred it that way. We shared the yellow curry, pad thai, eggplant, and pumpkin curry (my fav). The only downside I can think of is that there were no non-dairy options for the thai tea. I was still impressed with the price--$11 for three dishes and they just pile the food on as much as possible. read more

Second time was better than my first! Less crowds this time and I waited in line for the Beef Noodle Soup which I loved! The broth is amazing, and was perfect for the chilly morning. I also got the Taro Root Fritters (very heavy but delicious) and the Coconut Milk Cakes (the variety which included Taro, Onion, and Cinnamon). I've never had anything like the coco cakes so I recommend to those wanting to try something new! Don't forget cash only! read more

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My order: - Kanom Krok (coconut pancakes) with cinnamon - worth the 20 min wait!! Crispy on the outside and warm, melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness on the inside. If you come early enough, do get the taro fritters with coconut pancakes combo. They sell out of the taro fritters pretty quickly! - mango sticky rice: ripe and fresh diced mangoes with sweet sticky rice was just heavenly Tip: only available Sundays 10am-1pm! I'd advise arriving no later than 12:30 as they stop making food around 12:45. Parking is a bit hard to find. BRING CASH!! $1 = 1 token. You exchange cash for tokens; for me I usually bring $20 in cash just in case. You can choose to donate the rest after you're done or exchange it back for cash. read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Such a gem! This is a fully operational Thai temple. On Sundays, they serve food in the backyard. A friend and I shared: * 3 sides vegetarian plate (they have meat sides too) - 9 tokens * iced tea - 2 tokens * khanom khrok (coconut-rice pancakes) with mango - 7 tokens One token = $1 Bring cash! You buy tokens with cash and then drop the tokens at each food station. The staff won't handle cash. You just drop the appropriate amount of tokens into the bucket or tray to pay. We didn't realize the mango sticky rice was in the corner on the right hand side of the savoury foods coming into the backyard, so we missed out on that. We were too full by the time we saw it. read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

What a scene! I love this place. It seems like the whole community comes out for Sunday brunch on the lawn. I'm so thankful this has made it through the pandemic. I always seem to run into someone I know. Or at least get to overhear some first dates over mango sticky rice! read more

I have been here (Thai Temple, as we call it) more times than I can possibly count. For the last 15 years, this has been a Sunday staple for my family and continued into when I went to college. All the food is good, but the soup is amazing, the pork belly plate is tender, and the Kanom Krok (Thai coconut mini pancakes) are always a must-get. As long as Thai Temple operates, I will be a loyal customer. I just hope the prices can stay low . See you Sunday! read more

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WHAT A GEM this place still is!! If you are around North Bay/East Bay area, you gotta come check this spot out! They have a few new options since I last came here or maybe I didn't get to try these items before, but the Temple still churns out very delicious and traditional Thai food. Open on Sundays only and still as busy as usual. I think they run out of food at around 12pm, so get here early! They have a lot of tables for you to sit at, but bring a picnic blanket or something if you choose to sit on the grass. It's very structured and organized here, with signage depicting what the lines are for. Now they give you plastic coins in a cup to purchase your food. If you have leftover tokens, I'm sure they would exchange it back to cash for you. Sorry can't remember exact pricing! - Beef noodle soup $8 - Thin, medium or thick noodle options. Can sometimes ask for bone marrow if they have any as I've seen a few people with it. Not sure if it's extra $$ though. They can also give you extra noodles if you want, although the normal portion is pretty filling enough. - Pork skewers - 3 for $5 - Thai tea - $2, Water - $1 - Coconut milk dessert - $7, not sure what this one is called but it's very popular. They have a corn one, mango one, cinnamon one and one with chives. I personally love the original two, cinnamon and chives. - Mango Rice - $7, still as good as it was before - Fried Chicken - $7 or $8, crispy, large portion - Spring Rolls - $5 or $6 Come with a lot of people so you can try a little bit of everything! I showed my family this place and they absolutely loved it! Will be coming back for years to come! read more

Thai temple- the spot where college students, working adults, and small families in the area come together to recover for Sunday lunch! They operate on tokens- you get in line at their welcome tent to exchange cash for tokens (red tokens= $5, green tokens= $1), and then get in line for whatever food is calling to you! The lines are split up into vegetarian, meat, noodle soup, fried chicken/mango sticky rice, and kanom krok (spherical coconut pancakes). There's also thai tea, coffee, and water for sale at the welcome tent. In terms of food, I always go for the beef noodle soup! Before covid, they offered three types of noodles you can choose from, but now all bowls are made with thin rice noodle. It's a big serving, and the broth is clean and warm with some veggies like celery and carrots in the mix. I'm also a fan of their curry and egg tofu, but their pad thai is very mediocre and I recommend skipping out on that and try something else here. Lines are long, but it's a nice and comforting place to go with a group of friends! read more

Hands down my favorite place to enjoy my Sunday in Berkeley! Been here countless times and have never been disappointed. You can tell at first bite that the food is made with authentic Thai flavors and lots of love. Lines get pretty long around 11AM so I would come as early as possible. I always get a noodle soup and a plate of curry. The beef noodle soup is DELICIOUS. It comes with a generous portion of noodles, brisket, meatballs, and veggies, in a broth packed with flavors of meat and spices. Definitely a must-try. I also love the curry here. My go-to items are the beef panang, eggplant, and pumpkin. The sweets are incredible as well. The mango sticky rice is out of this world. They run out quickly so come early to snag one. The Thai tea is the best I've had anywhere. Thai temple is a must-go if you are in the area on a Sunday. This is without doubt the happiest place in Berkeley. read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram - Beef noodle soup - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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It's hard for me to write this review as a Thai person because I want to support a Thai community center like this. However, I've been coming here for 2 years and I'm less satisfied with my experience each time. Crowds are getting bigger, they're running out of food more quickly and the food just doesn't taste good anymore. Perhaps too much business can be a bad thing. I came here at 11am on a Sunday and it was PACKED. It's hard to move around with so many people. They were starting to run out of food at noon. The "khao gaeng" was not good - Rice was mushy - Pad Ka Prao (pork basil stir-fry) could have been spicier and was not seasoned right - The green curry was too salty - The Pla Pad Phet (spicy fish) was too sweet Service was not good, probably because it was so hectic! You end up standing in line for about 30-40 minutes waiting for food, and the workers are rude, even if you speak in Thai. There was one guy shouting at every person in line "For here or to go?" as if he was cursing at them. Maybe he should review the basic tenets of Buddhism to interrogate the cause of his suffering. read more

I'm a fan! It's a popular spot for sure, but don't let the crowds discourage you. I came with my sister around 11 am and it was busy but the lines move fast. It's a lively area for sure; there's no shortage of food or entertainment, but it's going to be hard to secure a seat. You just gotta linger until someone gets up. Make sure to bring cash! They exchange for tokens (if you have leftovers just skip the line and go to exchange them back) so you can go grab from different booths. The curry plate was decent; very large portion for what you pay for. The chicken curry was alright, not the most robust in flavor. I liked the pork/tofu/egg a lot! It had a kick and was extremely savory. The pad thai was ok. I immediately fell in love with the khanom krok (especially the ones with corn, yum!) and taro fried pancake; surprisingly filling! Very sweet. I wasn't expecting to get full so fast. The mango sticky rice isn't overly sweet, and the mango was perfectly ripe! The thai iced tea similarly wasn't too sweet but make sure to drink it before it gets watered down by melted ice. Must: khanom krok! Not too bad for $25 for two people! Will hope to come again to try the beef noodle soup. read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram - Curry (pad Thai, green curry, pork/eggs/tofu), khanom krok x taro, mango sticky rice - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is a review for the Sunday brunch hosted by temple volunteers. Everyone is super friendly. I would bring my parents here who enjoy visiting the temple and meal. So this is the drill: Arrive early if you want to make sure no dishes run out. We got there 11:30. There are several lines but head to the token booth to exchange cash for tokens. (Green is $1, red is $5) With tokens you can order food or Thai tea/bottled water. I asked for $20 worth of tokens and you can save extra for next visit or exchange at the end. This afforded me a combo plate plus a dessert and a water. There is a dessert line with taro fritters and coconut pancakes. I liked the coconut pancakes with chives. They are creamy on the inside and yummy. You can get them with corn, chives, or cinnamon. One order is good for sharing. We tried to get mango sticky rice at noon and they were out. I got the very last taro fritters which are also popular. For savory food there is a vegetarian line, meat plus veg line, and a beef noodle soup line. You can order dishes as a full plate or a combo plate with multiple items in smaller portions. I got a combo plate with pad Thai and eggplant. I really enjoyed the eggplant. The other vegetarian options were yellow curry, tofu kabocha, and green beans. You can get your food to go in take out container ($1) or for there on a paper plate. Some people have suggested bringing your own take out container but I have not seen anyone do this on my visit. I was full after my vegetarian combo 2 item plate and dessert. There is a condiment station with chilies and soy sauce and such! The temple is beautiful from the outside and there are many picnic tables to enjoy your meal. read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram - Temple - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Where the locals eat...Sunday brunch begins at 10 AM but there's already a long line so arrive early, especially since there's limited parking so you need to drive down a block to park around the neighborhood streets. First thing to do is exchange cash for tokens (you can change it back if you don't use it up or save for next time so get more than needed). There are different tents for all the dishes they offer. Go straight to the front line first near the entrance (unless you came only for the beef noodle soup) bc that's where they offer 1-2-3 combo sets starting at $10. The menu is posted on the front and a nice selection including vegetarian options. Save room for Thai iced tea and mango sticky rice dessert (big portion). I saw other ppl bring their own Tupperware containers, great idea if you want to bring home some of their sauce from the self serve table. Seating is outdoors and shared. All proceeds from their Sunday brunch are considered donations to the church & all the food tastes homemade! read more

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Food was delicious. I would recommend they hire more staff. There was a shortage on staff and as customers we felt it.

Only open on Sundays, this is a totally different and unique dining experience. They close at noon, and all seating is outdoors, so pay attention to the weather. Seating is family style, the food is great, but the real reason you go here is to experience something totally unique and different. read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram has soft reopening Sunday Food Court on March 7, 2021. Beef Noodles Soup, Yellow Curry (Chicken or Veggie), Pad Thai, Pork & Eggs Stew and Eggplant w/Basil. Only LIMITED menu and TAKE OUT only. Enjoy!!! read more

Wat Mongkolratanaram - Wat Mongkolratanaram reopen Sunday food court on March 7, 2021 for take out only. Enjoy!!! - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

Super underrated place for Sunday brunch. It starts at 10am and I would definitely recommend getting there closer to start time so you don't have to wait in line for too long. Street parking is also easier to find the earlier you go. It's cash only--when you arrive, get in line to exchange cash for $1 and $5 tokens based on what you would like to get. There are separate lines for: meat/vegetable plate, kanom krok, mango sticky rice, fried chicken, beef noddle soup, and thai tea is also available next to the booth where you exchange your cash for tokens. At the end you can also exchange extra tokens back for cash. All seating is outdoors. My personal favorite is the kanom krok: coconut rice pancakes. They make these fresh and put different toppings on them--I've had cinnamon, chocolate, chives, and corn. The mango sticky rice is also always fantastic, with coconut milk that you can drizzle on. Beef noodle soup usually has the longest line. The fried chicken comes with stick rice and the sweet and sour sauce that it comes with adds the perfect flavor to the crunchy skin and juiciness of the chicken. The yellow curry is great with the pad thai and the pork belly because you can just mix everything together along with the white rice it comes with. Whenever I come, we usually do family style and it comes out to around $10 a person. read more

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