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Incredible first experience! Went last week and it wasn't too crazy. Hella good food, I had the the pad Thai, yellow curry and kabocha with basil, all of which was so delicious. Super easy to get tokens to pay for all the food. The stalls are set up to make the lines move super quickly and they have lines specifically for vegetarian dishes. All the staff are super kind and helpful. And there's tons of seating inside the temple courtyard plus a grass area for you to sit!
Arrived around noon and there was not a lot of food left! And this was the first time I've ever seen the vegetarian line longer than the meat line. So I opted for the meat line and they didnt have many options left. I got a 3 Item plate with a red eggplant chicken curry, a yellow chicken curry, and pad thai. White rice comes on every plate by default. This was a delicious plate. For dessert, we tried the chocolate and cardamom khanom krok. It takes 10 min to make, and its super hot so be careful eating it. The cardamom is super strong which i really liked! It paired really nicely with the chocolate
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!
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.
I've heard a lot about this place. Especially from people that grew up or studied in Berkley. Seems like it's a known and popular spot, so I had to check it out! Organization wise it's a little confusing for first timers, so I'll help you out: First you find the "exchange" tent, then you change your dollars for tokens. Those are the tokens you'll use to buy the food around. Each food tent has it's own line. Sometimes you might find a tent with NO line. That just means you're either lucky or those are not the most sought after meals. I was also a bit confused by the "curry" tent, so here's a quick run down: You get a plate with rice + mix. You can pay for 1, 2 or 3 mixes. They are all additive, so you get rice + 1 mix, rice + 2 mixes, or rice + 3 mixes. You do NOT get 3 plates and you do NOT get more of a single mix if you only order one. So if you want the most bank for your buck, go with the 3 mixes. Even if it's the same thing 3 times, which I would also recommend if you don't feel like the options are very appetizing! They also don't have a lot of patience, so make sure you already know what you want by the time it's your turn to order. It's kind of hard to even see what the food is before getting there, but do your best or just expect a rough time. Portion sizes are not consistent, so it will be based on your luck and how they profile you (I got a meager portion while my skinny ass friend got almost double what I got. I don't blame them, she needs to eat, but so do I hahaha). What I do recommend you try out is their Soup. Usually one of the longest lines, but moves very quickly and worth it! Make sure to ask (and pay) for the extra bone/meat in. And finally, if you never had it, they have these little "sweet mini-crepes" that were interesting. Never had something like that. Overall, worth the experience, but I think the days of "I used to buy my weeks worth of food here" are long gone.
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.....
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).
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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!
3 years ago
One of our favorite Sunday lunches! The food is authentic and the service can't be beat. Everyone who works/volunteers there is delightful and helpful. We have been making our way through the menu and recommend it all! Our favorites so far are: 1. The Soup with extra beef and boiled egg (from the pork dish)- ask for a second bowl to make sharing easier 2. All the curries! 3. Fried chicken and sticky rice We bring our own to go containers, our own trays, proper soup spoons, and peanut sauce for the spring rolls Go and enjoy! read more
1 year ago
Delicious! Sunday lunch is usually from 10am-1pm, some days it's run late to 2 pm. It is so yummy everytime I go. You have exchange money for tokens and you pay for the food with those. One dollar equals one token so no change involved. Everything I have tried is delicious but the beef noodle soup is one of the best, always has a long line! Sometimes food sells out so if you want all your options get there earlier rather than later! read more
I come from a Buddhist family on my Dad's side in Thailand . When I was 12 years old, I went to a summer camp here in the USA, where they taught about Jesus Christ. I asked the counselors if Jesus was friends w/ Buddha and the Asian gods I had statues of in my living room. The counselors were a little shocked by my question, but said no! I later converted to the Christian faith but still sometimes go to the Thai Buddhist temple grounds in San Bruno or Berkeley on Sundays! I go for the food! In Berkeley, I'm here for Kanom Krok - hot Thai Coconut pudding pancakes($8) and the delicious and savory Beef Noodle soup ($9). This place brings back memories of Thailand where you have to change cash into tokens to buy food. Mango & sticky rice: for 8 dollars? A steal? Pour that sauce over the Mangoes and rice= pure deliciousness Pad thai- bland, need some hot sauce to spice it up Papaya salad- perfect balance of not too salty or spicy Kai pa lo- juicy chunks of pork belly with eggs and tofu Lots of outdoor seating. Masks and gloves worn. Hand sanitizers and restrooms available. Moderate difficulty street parking. read more
2 years ago
Get the pork belly and egg curry and the penang curry. So worth it. IMO better than the noodles. read more
First time here, after so many of my Berkeley-native friends raved about the food! They're currently only open for to-go orders on Sunday only, and they sell out incredibly quick! We arrived at 12pm, and half of the dishes offered were already sold out. I believe outdoor dining will resume for them on 4/18! The food was so flavorful and delicious, and the staff was so kind and friendly while we ordered! To order, you exchange cash for tokens (1 token = $1), and then you exchange tokens for food (i.e., 2 tokens for Thai tea, 7 tokens for Pad Thai, etc). Service is super quick, with all the dishes already packed into containers ready for pick up. The tradeoff here is that the food we got wasn't warm, but that is completely understandable with the current system they have. I'll have to arrive even earlier next time to try the more popular sold out dishes, like the chicken curries!! read more
3 years ago
So happy I find out about this temple that serves food every Sunday from 10am - 1pm. There were plenty of tables and chairs for everyone to sit with multiple booths to get food and snacks. The temple is cash only so make sure to bring cash! The lines were super long but moving fast. I started off with: $3 Thai Tea, 5/5 $13 Combo Plate- Pad Thai, Thom Khem, Panang Curry (to go plate $1), 3/5 $10 Kanom Krok, 5/5 $10 Fried Chicken and Sticky rice, 4/5 The service was amazing and everyone was super nice. My overall experience visiting just brings back memories from when I would visit the temple with my family. The combo plate got 3/5 because the Pad Thai is a "meat" dish but didn't have meat at all and was very bland. I don't even remember if the Pad Thai had eggs but I know it had tofu. The person who served me gave me two pieces of pork followed by two pieces of tofu and an egg. He gave me more chicken pieces in my curry than in my Thom Khem which was sad to me because the Thom Khem was really good! The rice was a little hard but I was able to drench it with the sauces of my combo plate. I plan on coming back every other Sunday so I can be able to try meals close to home without having to actually go home. I can't wait to try the beef soup, the mango sticky rice, and other kanoms! read more
Decent experience here overall and for a great cause, but it's honestly a bit overhyped, in my opinion. Food is only served on Sundays, parking can be really difficult, they only take cash, and a lot of food sells out rather early. There are a lot of foldable tables/chairs set up, but still, it was hard to find seating and there were many people trying to enjoy their food on the ground. That being said, my boyfriend and I both opted for -- and really liked -- the beef noodle soup, which we heard was the best dish. You get a choice of thin, vermicelli noodles or pho noodles. We got one of each, and I think the pho noodles were better. Despite the soup being a bit too salty for my taste, for $11 each, these bowls, which were loaded with meat, noodles, and veggies, were well worth the cost. I'd really like to try one of their meat and rice or pad thai dishes next time though! read more
I love supporting this place! Anytime I'm free on a Sunday morning, I grab my friends to come try all of the yummy foods of Thailand. The cooks are always so generous with their portions and they genuinely make the best home cooked food. It's great to be supporting the surrounding community and it's always an experience whenever you come. My must-gets are definitely the beef noodle soup, papaya salad, cau (braised pork stew), and the mango sticky rice. If you like coffee, the thai coffee is also great. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
We've heard amazing things about the authenticity of this place from people that have lived in Thailand and we've also seen so many posts on social media so we gave it a shot. Now the food seemed very authentic and good that's why the 2 stars but let me tell you that this man in the photos ruined everything. We waited in a long line and finally made our way up to the front, where he was already visibly bothered by how busy it was. We started to order several different items and told him "1 order of this, 1 order of that" etc he just started slapping things on a plate and we told him politely "sir these are separate orders" I mean since there was literally 5 of us standing there 3 being younger kids. He then threw the biggest most unprofessional tantrum that I have ever witnessed! I wish I was exaggerating when I say he started kicking the racks and throwing items behind him in what I can only imaging was cursing in his language. It got so bad that the other employees had to intervene and apologize like a thousand times out of pure embarrassment and shame. "We are so sorry, oh my goodness please let me help you guys instead, I don't know why he would do that" Even the kids were wondering why he would act like such a child. Isn't this like some kind of a holy place? Food decent, and to the bald headed man child FUCK YOU BITCH read more
FYI: Cash only! You trade your cash for tokens and then use the tokens to get your food. A must try if you're in Berkeley on a Sunday! Came here yesterday and so glad to see its doing well! My roommate and I had made plans to come here for her first time last year...and then corona happened. Finally a year and two diplomas later, we took a trip back to check this off her list! We arrived at 11AM and while it wasn't as packed as pre-COVID, there was definitely a crowd. Outdoor seating is available, but it was difficult to snag a table so be prepared to wait a while if you want to sit. I had to wait 10 or so minutes to get my beef noodle soup, but my friend was able to get her vegetarian rice plate immediately. They offer to-go for both the plates and the soup, but it'll cost an extra token to get the soup to-go. It was a cloudy and windy morning, aka perfect soup weather, and they certainly delivered! The broth was full of flavour and depth like it had been simmered for hours, with just a hint of sourness. I normally find most restaurant broths to be way too salty, but this wasn't the case here. There's also a lot of veggies in addition to the generous helpings of meat which is a big plus. The last time I came here I got a plate, and the eggplant and kabocha were mouthwateringly delicious. The eggplant especially--I swear that eggplant melted in my mouth it was so tender. Every time I have eggplant anywhere else I find myself comparing it to this place. My roommate got a plate with eggplant and pad thai, and she also really enjoyed it! It's a shame I live far away now, otherwise you'd find me here every Sunday for sure. Hopefully it won't be another year before I'm back! read more
4 years ago
A cherished experience I'll keep with me forever! Came here for brunch on Sunday and had an amazing experience. It's lovely to see the community come together here. A beautiful weekly practice that makes me wish I lived in the Bay! The food is amazing and it's a lovely space to practice prayer. You buy a token for a dollar and can get full with $10. The system they have here makes so much sense. This is not the last time they'll see me. I missed the chance to get the mango sticky rice because they sold out, but next time. Apparently it gets packed here so the earlier the better, but it rained the day I went so it wasn't too full. read more
What an incredible place to enjoy your Sunday morning! A few tips if it's your first time: -Come with cash as they only take tokens, $1 = 1 token, I would come with $20 to try a little bit of everything -Parking can be a big difficult, I ended up parking a few blocks away and walked -There can be a bit of a line for each dish, but they move really fast -If you're vegetarian, I highly recommend the eggplant, pumpkin, or tofu curry. Only 10-11 tokens! -Add a bit of pickled jalapeños or sambal in your food from their community topping table, it really enhances all the flavors -Clean up after yourself! Once you're done with your food, you can sort your trash into compost and waste, utensils also get washed too I love that this is such a unique way to serve the community, I will definitely be coming here again! read more
What a gem this spot is! Easily one of my best meals during a recent two-week visit to Berkeley. As mentioned by other reviewers, get your tokens first! I arrived early and there was a line for the rice dishes (totally died down soon after though) but I ordered chicken panang curry, chicken green curry, and the eggplant basil dish over rice for 10 tokens. The chicken in the curries were so tender and delicious! The curries themselves were flavorful but def not spicy at all. Still very good though. The eggplant was too sweet, I thought, but that's just personal taste--I thought it'd be more savory than sweet. I was super fully after this meal (although I did see some other people's plates were much fuller than mine!) Mango sticky rice at 8 tokens seems like it's a bit pricey but they give a ton of mango and the flavor of this was perfect. Had a few bites there then ate the rest later that day. No coconut cakes this time :( read more
The temple is a stark landmark that embellishes an otherwise typical suburban neighborhood. My roommates and I visited around noon near the tail end of service. It was drizzly, so the place was a little sleepy and parking was easy. I could see parking being a nightmare on a busier day. Follow your nose and you'll find the food market in the courtyard out back. It's mostly covered and there are several tables setup. Like other reviews have mentioned, you make a donation to receive a stack of tokens to spend on whatever catches your eye. Don't worry, the tokens are refundable/exchangeable. The temple offers an incredible deal for what they serve. My 2 friends and I ate about $11 worth each. For rice plates, definitely go for 3 sides. We opted for the yellow curry, pad Thai, and pork belly. The pad Thai tasted like it was heavier on the tamarind paste. It was just okay. I think the beef noodle soup, was definitely worth a try. And on a rainy day, it hit the spott. There may have been deliberation on whether seconds were in order. Mango sticky rice was delicious and ripe. Overall, I'd definitely recommend if you've never been, and I'd swing by again if I was in the area. read more
3 years ago
Quick update These were delicious: Kuaytiaw (soup) -with sen yai noodles Protip: Line was much smaller when we came in the morning read more
4 years ago
I love coming to this place. It is known to me as the berkeley Thai temple The Thai food is authentic and so good! Here are my tips: - BRING CASH, at least $22 for one person ($10 for food $10 for dessert and $2 for a drink) I would recommend $50 for two people (if you don't use all the tokens you can always exchange it back for cash) - Get here early 10am to avoid larger crowds (its always busy but it's the least crowded when it opens) - when you get here have someone find a good table in the shade (trust me it gets hot) - split responsibilities: 1. someone gets tokens (token line can be long when they open) 2. someone gets the table 3. while another person waits in the food/dessert lines - if you want to get the nom krok dessert (coconut balls) it takes 20 minutes for it to be ready so get your order in then go wait in the food line (this is the first line I get in after getting my tokens because it always takes the longest) - the soup line is always longggg, if you want soup you have to be here when it opens otherwise you'll have to wait longer in line - Fyi the meat line is always longer than the vegetarian line - transportation: you can take bart to Ashby station then walk 5 mins to get here, take the bus (F line from berkeley) to get to adeline Ashby stop then walk 5 mins, or by car It can be overwhelming when you first come to Thai temple but it's a really cool experience despite all the crowds There will be multiple lines but don't worry the food lines move at a decent pace, use this time to chat with your loved ones I loved coming here on Sundays when I was in college Still do to this day, when I get the chance to visit berkeley I always try to come here I hope you enjoy it as much as I do Also not affiliated with this temple at all I just really like it read more
*CASH ONLY* My first time here was when I was a Cal student, and I remember feeling so grateful we have something like this "in our backyard". It's amazing to have a whole community gather at a temple to share a meal. You've seen enough reviews on here to know it's yummy and attracts lots of visitors every weekend! Early bird gets the worm truly applies here - some items can run out fast or you might encounter long lines if you come at noon. Tokens are $1 each, and the most you'll spend is probably $10 on a dish (which is super reasonable considering how much a meal now costs). I'd recommend coming in a group to divide & conquer different stations (one person @ main courses & another at dessert for example). My favorite is the beef noodle soup. I look forward to this visit every time! read more
After all these years, probably more than 10 years of coming here to the Wat Mongkolratabram, it's still a fun way to have Sunday Brunch with Thai food at a Thai Temple. Today's food was Pad-Thai and curry had a lot of flavors. The soup lady gave me extra noodles in the boat noodle soup, the soup was delicious as always. They open at 10 am, so I advise you guys to come before 10:30 am so you can get a table. As of 2022, mango and rice $10, beef boat pho $11, food $11.. other desserts ?? Ps. Cash only, if you don't have cash bring a friend who does.. read more
4 years ago
This is my go-to spot every Sunday morning! Affectionately known as "Thai temple", this place serves a variety of dishes for really cheap prices! - Beef Noodle Soup: 5/5 -$11 extremely popular which a rich broth with beef. You can choose your size of noodles from thick, medium, thin. - Meat plate (2 items): 4.5/5 -$11 there are many items you can choose from to add. I chose the Chicken Panama curry, which tasted really great with the meat and carrot being very tender and soft, and the pork belly/egg stew, which is my favorite side! I wanted to go back to get another portion of pork belly stew but they ran out by the time I got back! Recommendations: - bring cash! You exchange cash for tokens that will help you purchase the food - go early! Get there before 11 so that the lines are not lining and you can find seating - bring Tupperware! If you have any leftovers, bring them home! - parking, their parking lot is very small. There is street parking around the area but they tend to get filled if you don't go early enough! read more
Another essential Berkeley eat! Come here for the experience and affordable prices. We came around noon on a sunny day and it seemed like everybody else had the same plan. I'd recommend having some friends wait in line for tokens and others wait in line for food. In total, it took about 30 minutes for us to get our food and get eating. Definitely try the beef noodle soup! The rest of the dishes were pretty carb and rice-heavy but kept us full regardless. Although I've had better Thai food elsewhere, the outdoor + communal experience of it all was really enjoyable. read more
3 years ago
Love this place. I want sour of they would be open on Easter Sunday. I got the last plate! read more
Came here on a Sunday around 12:30 pm. Pretty much everything was sold out, entirely our fault. I strongly suggest you arrive early to have the most options available. We got in line for $20 worth of tokens before we knew everything pretty much was sold out. Each token is worth $1.00 and most orders are at least $6.00. We didn't use all of our tokens and took them back to the register and got our cash back. We went to the meat line for and purchased 3 item combo for $9.00 that included a yellow curry 2 other meat curries that included beef, tofu and egg. The best tasting was the yellow curry. They charge 1 additional token for to go orders. They have a chili tray that had a variety of pickled jalapeños, chili sauce and chili powder. They have roughly 15 long tables and a lawn area where you can sit. Pros: Affordable Decent food Supports the temple Cons: Food runs out early Lots of long lines If you come with a big group seating can be a challenge for your group Dos 23 viente read more
4 years ago
3 years ago
For fellow Thai temple newbies: Before you can get your food, you must convert cash into tokens in the main tent. There are helpful signs in this line that list all the food options and the number of tokens needed for each. Then, you can exchange your tokens for food at separate tents for meat curries, vegetarian curries, beef noodle soup (this seemed to be the most popular as the line was the longest), mango sticky rice, and kanom krok/taro fritters etc. The mango sticky rice was amazing. The mango was ripe and fresh. It paired perfectly with the sweet, white coconut sauce drizzled over the rice. The cinnamon kanom krok had a gooey, warm filling, but were a little too sweet for me. The portion size was also too small to be worth 9 tokens. Next time, instead of getting two sweet items, I would pair the mango sticky rice with a savory dish. Tip 1: Get here early if you can! We arrived at 10:30am and it was a full house. There were plenty of plastic outdoor tables and chairs available, but many of their popular dishes (i.e. mango sticky rice) were almost sold out. Tip 2: Bring your own filled water bottle. There is no refill station. If you forget, tokens can be exchanged for plastic water bottles. read more
5 years ago
Hidden Gem in Berkeley! I been coming here since I was in college and it always hits the spot! if you are ever in the Berkeley area on a Sunday, please check them out! I always order there: -Beef noodle soup (9 tokens) -coconut pancake: cinnamon and corn (8 tokens) -Thai tea (2 tokens) -Mango sticky rice (8 tokens) about 36 tokens total for two people (1 token=$1) Tips: Would try to get here before 12, just because they close at 1pm. They get super packed since people are piling in and also they run out of food. ***********My Overall Rating********** Taste: 4 Price: 5 Environment: 3.5 Service: 4 read more
Wat Mongkolratanaram Ratings: 4.3/5 Food: 4.25/5 - Thai temple is only open on Sundays for lunch from 10AM to 1PM. We heard about this through a friend, and decided to go and explore this hidden gem in Berkeley. We arrive around noon, and most of the food were almost sold out, so we didn't really get to choose our meat options. It's a such a fun experience. See the description of all the things we ordered last Sunday. - Rice Platter (Pad Thai, Panang Chicken Curry, Green Beans w/ Tofu) [GET]: You get the option to pick 1 to 3 meats. We arrived late, so the three items we got were the only things left. The Pad Thai was good, probably more sweeter and acidic than most Pad Thai at the restaurants. The huge pieces of leek added a good kick to it. Panang chicken curry was tasty with a nice curry flavor, but it was a bit too liquidity. Chicken thighs was tender and moist, definitely will come back for more curry. Green beans with the fried tofu was average, nothing too outstanding. They got good selection of vegan food too. - Kanom Krok Combo (Cinnamon & Chives) [GET]: I would recommend the cinnamon ones. It is like coconut milk pancakes with a creamy texture on the inside. The texture taste like the inside wasn't fully cook. I wasn't a big of the chives ones, because the savories from the chives didn't pair well with coconut. - Kanom Babin (Taro Fritters) [GET]: My favorite thing there for sure. It is basically a piece of sweet taro fried in a batter. The outer layer is crunchy and interior is sweet and mushy. Perfect texture for taro, and means that they boil they taro just right. Try this out! - Thai Tea [GET]: Love the Thai tea. It was creamy and subtle with the perfect amount of sweetness. It also got a strong tea flavor, one of my top Thai tea for sure. They do not provide a lid for the drinks, so watch out when you are thinking about getting it for to-go. - Jackfruit Dessert [SKIP]: My friend got this just to try it out. The base is a sweet coconut milk in green color. There's multiple interesting pieces of jello and jackfruit in the container. I wasn't a fan, because it was too sweet, but all the ingredients were fresh. It is like eating a bowl from Meet Fresh, but with bolder, sweeter, and interesting flavors. Ambiance: 4/5 - This place is literally located in a Thai temple in South Berkeley. Walking-in there's multiple food stand area for token exchange, soup noodles, meat, and desserts. There are plenty of outdoor seating in their back patio, and people bussing all over the temple. Surprisingly, the temple and food stations were all super clean and well-organized. The temple itself don't have its own private parking lot, but lots of parking throughout the residential area. Price: 4.5/5 - You redeem tokens to get food, and it's 1:1 ratio. The rice platter with three meats option is $10, the Kanom Krok and Kanom Babin combo together is $8, and each Thai tea is $2. The portions are huge, so it's definitely worth the price and a steal. Service: 4.25/5 - I love all the staffs working there, mostly are people in the upper ages. They are super friendly, welcoming, and down-to-earth. They got a good system going on for how to order the food, and where to return all the trash. Also, we were one token short for Thai tea, but the lady there was nice enough to give the drink to us anyways. We appreciate the kindness, and it was an amazing experience to have brunch there. BLUF: Yummy and authentic Thai food at a good price and generous portions. Definitely an underrated Thai place in Berkeley, and would hands down recommend to anyone living in this area and visitors. Love this place, such a good vibe and atmosphere. I will return again next time as soon as they open and have a taste of other popular items before they are all sold out. read more
4 years ago
Food: Beef Noodle Soup was 10 coins ($10) but worth it. The portion was huge and filling. I came hungry, attacked the soup from the moment we sat down and still couldn't manage to finish it without asking a friend to eat some. I looked at the reviews ahead of time so I knew that I also wanted to try a combo from line 2 but probably wouldnt finish my soup so I got it To-go, which costs 1 coin extra. My two item combo cost me 11 coins in all ($11). The panang was okay, enjoyable but not my favorite. The pad thai was pretty good though. So overall my meal cost me $21 but it was a meal big enough for 2 people at least, which is super feasible. Atmosphere: Huge respect to the workers (volunteers?) because there were so many hungry people they had to feed but they pumped out food nonstop. We luckily found a table for our large group but I do like how there is a small grassy area in case you just want to plop down a picnic blanket. This was my first time here and I really enjoyed it, I definitely want to come back (and probably bring my own container to pack the leftover soup). read more
Key tips: aim to get here between 10 - 10:15 am in order to get decently close parking, beat the lines, and get the freshest cooked food/stuff before it sells out. It's cash only, to be exchanged for tokens. Drinks are about 2 tokens, snacks and desserts 4 - 5 tokens, mains 8 - 9 tokens; for two people, I usually get 25 - 30 tokens depending on how hungry we are, with three we've gotten 40 tokens. No worries if you don't spend all of the tokens and for some reason don't intend to come back, as you can trade them back for cash - without having to get back in line! Not really a tip, but out of courtesy for others, please please leave your dogs at home! I am a dog lover and it's rare to see me without my dog, but I never bring her any place where there is food openly cooked and served. Plus it's a crowd of people who didn't sign up/expect to be eating around dogs, and I am always conscious of people who are uncomfortable with dogs. Finally, the leashes and dogs themselves that are low to the ground can trip up people who are trying to wind through lines while balancing their precious food. Please be more considerate! Make sure you know what line you're getting into and what you want before you stand around for up to 20 minutes and end up disappointed at the front, but too lazy to get back into a different line. One of us stood in the meat/longest line at the start, I went and got tokens and tea/coffee for us to enjoy while in line, and checked out what desserts were available in case we wanted to buy while there was no line/before anything sold out. Essentially, there are six lines: one for tokens/drinks, meat (you can do one - 3 items over rice), vegetarian (similar, but vegetarian options obviously), dessert/snacks like curry puffs (this is where the papaya salad is by the way! I wish I had paid more attention because I wanted it but was too full at the end), beef noodle soup, and special taro fritters that change weekly. We got the meat plates, two items each because we couldn't agree on what we wanted to share haha. I wish our stomachs were bigger for the delicious looking curry puffs, fragrant and tempting taro fritters, and generous bowls of noodle soup. Dessert is usually a pass for me unless wherever we go has something that sounds amazing. Here, the options were just sticky mango rice, after I had enough rice, jackfruit jelly in coconut milk (if you're Vietnamese, basically the che we see all the time), and caramel crisps/chips. This is fun and ideal as a group of 3 - 4 so you can try a lot of things and strategically get in different lines. It wasn't too hard to find seating, but we came early as I said. read more
2 years ago
5 years ago
Looking for something to do on a Sunday but you're getting tired of the same brunch and/or farmers market routine? Well look no further and come visit this Berkeley gem the next time you get the chance to spice things up a bit. I've been here twice so far; the first time I came was an hour before the food stalls closed down and was left with a limited selection. The second time I came was around 11 AM and there was still plenty of food. The common denominator: lines everywhere. Best thing to do to avoid lines and ensure that you'll be able to grab what you want is to come earlier since this place gets crowded pretty quickly. If you're coming with a large party, the best course of action is to divide and conquer. After getting the tokens, person A can get the drinks + table, B can go for the noodles, C for the plates, etc. For the Forex traders out there reading this, the current exchange rate here is one (1) green token = $1 USD; one (1) red token = $5 USD. I exchanged a $20 and the attendant gave me 2 reds and 10 greens in return. This time I got a 3 item combo (10 tokens = $10) with Kai Palo, Pad Thai, and green chicken curry. The best thing from these three has to be the Kai Palo. The tofu absorbed all of that stew liquid and the marinated egg was great too. Green curry was a bit lighter so it cut the richness of the Kai Palo. Accompanied with the white rice, everything balanced out. The Pad Thai was nothing special; below average if I'm being honest and would get something else next time. I also got the Thai Iced Coffee (2 tokens = $2) to wash down my meal with. Usually with coffee, even with cream and sugar, you get a bit of that bitter, acidic taste that comes with arabica beans. I have no idea what coffee was used to make this, but when I had it, that coffee flavor was only lingering in the background as the most prominent flavor was sugar and milk. Flavors were a bit mild but would get this again. The temple does not have its own private lot so you'll need to find street parking and walk over. Tl;dr: street parking, come early, 1 green = $1, 1 red = $5, cheap food, avoid pad thai. read more
Such an underrated Thai place in Berkeley... super authentic and everything tastes like it was carefully prepared. I got here around 11 and there wasn't a super long line and all the food was still available. I would recommend going with a few people so that you can get several things to all try together. I got the coconut pancakes, taro fritters, mango sticky rice, yellow curry, eggplant basil, and pork stew. I would say they the rice dishes were pretty average with the eggplant basil being the standout. The mango sticky rice was also pretty average but I did enjoy it and would get it again The coconut pancakes and taro fritters.... Oh my god those were a winner. I've never tasted anything like that and could have eaten another 3 plates of them. Definitely get this if you go. read more
5 years ago
Definitely worth a visit if you're a local. We brought our own large Tupperware containers for a to-go order. They give you large portions, and you don't have to pay an extra $1 for a to-go container if you bring your own Tupperware. Beware that everything is cash only. Step 1: exchange cash for tokens. $1 = 1 token. Step 2: make sure you're standing in the correct line. There are lot of stations: one line for dessert, for beef noodle soup, for veg entrees, for chicken entrees, and for Thai iced tea. Ask for help from strangers if you're confused. Step 3: exchange tokens for food, and eat happily ever after. The temple is open on Sundays from 10-1. Reviews said that food sells out early, but I went there at 12:00 and everything was still available. The food isn't too spicy so you can add spice yourself at the spice station if you want. The yellow curry/pad Thai ($9) and Thai iced tea ($2) were delicious. Portions are usually heavy-handed, but they will vary depending on who is serving you. I had a great experience coming here and will definitely be back! It's a hidden gem. read more
I've been wanting to check this place out for a while and finally found a Sunday to check this place out with some friends. Thankfully they had been there before so that they could show me the ropes. First- we came early. About 9:45am. The place opens at 10am but after seeing the long lines, I suggested we come early. We were all successful with street parking close to the temple. Once at the temple, you walk through and start heading to your left to exchange cash for tokens. It's $1.00 for 1 token. Red tokens are $5.00, green tokens are $1.00. They have a menu of what they have along with their prices where you exchange your cash. From there, you can stand in line for what item you want to get. I opted for the beef noodle soup since it had the longest line, which is always a good sign. It was $8.00 and had lots of noodles and toppings in it. Totally worth it! I also got their iced coffee ($2.00). There were so many more things I wanted to eat but lines got super long and I didn't want to stand in them. Rookie mistake. Always get what you want early in the morning to avoid those long lines!!!! When we were about to leave, we bussed our own dishes. They have a station where you can empty the liquid from your soup and return their dishes. Pros: -great food at a reasonable price -dog friendly (outdoor eating on benches) -they use real bowls which I appreciate instead of only giving disposable dishes -if you want to take items to go, they have that option. It's an extra token for to go items -they compost here Cons: -parking can get tight so plan accordingly and carpool if possible read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
Fun place to visit for Sunday brunch! The food is decent but the highlight is the community feeling. The temple is well maintained and looks great! Be prepared to wait in long lines for the noodle soup or the mango sticky rice. The other food line for the combination plate isn't as bad. The most recent time I went it was maybe a 5 person line! Whereas the noodle soup line extended almost the entire yard. My friend and I that got the combination plate were able to wait and find seats and eat most of the food before my other friends got their noodle soup. It can be tough to find a table. I had to hover around for a couple minutes until a table opened up. There is some open space where some people bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets. Come early if you want all options. When we went to check in on the mango sticky rice around noon it was all gone! read more
More info about Wat Mongkolratanaram
1911 Russell St
Berkeley, CA 94703
South Berkeley
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(510) 849-3419
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Ask the Community - Wat Mongkolratanaram
Are small well behaved dogs ok?
As of February 2022, are they open for outdoor dining? If so, which pandemic restrictions are in place?
Yes, most people were wearing masks today, but not everyone.
Wll they be open Sunday July 4th 2021 for brunch?
Yes - they open Sunday July 4th 2021 for brunch.
Do they have vegan options with no fish/oyster sauce?
Yes, last I checked their vegetarian curry was vegan and I believe some of their noodle dishes are vegan, you can ask where you order. Other vendors also have some vegan offerings.
Asking this as of Feb 9th, 2021 -- Anyone know when they will open back up? It's about to be a year since they've closed! I miss going and have been wanting to show my husband this place for so long.
They just posted on Facebook and will be open for take out only starting March 7, 10am-1pm
It's September 19, are they currently open during the pandemic?
I just called and they said no, they're not open
Is this place open on Sunday during shelter in place?
just called them; they are not open
Is this place a working temple or restaurant ? Seems every post is about the food.
It is an active Thai temple that serves food to the public every Sunday.
Is it open every Sunday? I heard it may just be open one Sunday a month now but I don't know if that's true.
It's open every Sunday. I've been there the last 3 weeks in a row.
I have a gluten allergy (allergy to wheat, barley, rye). Are there gluten-free options?
Are the noodles rice noodles?
Aside from popular holidays, is the food and festivity offered every Sunday year-round?
The food is available every Sunday but they only have music, dance & chanting on Thai festival days.
Are English/ non-Thai speakers allowed to come practice? Are there classes or events available for English speakers?
Yes
Open in the rain?
Yup! Rain or shine, they're open. I've been there in the sunshine and in a downpour.
Review Highlights - Wat Mongkolratanaram
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
50 reviews that are not currently recommended
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