White Elephant
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Came here on a weekday evening with my friend and staff was friendly! I got the thai tea and the kra pao with chicken. The thai tea was so sweet I wasn't able to finish it (but I'm also not a huge fan of super sweet things). The chicken pad kra pao was good, chicken was a tad overcooked, but the vegetables and spices were great flavors. I really liked the outside patio and the simplistic style inside which is nice if you're looking for a quaint place for date night or to catch up. If I come here again, I'll have to try the curries! Also no parking, will have to find on the street!
Ordered Satay Good A Little Dry Garlic Pepper- Meat was unchewable and the hardest texture and worst meat I have experienced lately Rice Soggy Overcooked Tempura prawns the worst large shrimp with tempura ever the shrimp wasn't peeled or cleaned and the fish inside was cold Chow Mein- noodles stuck together hard cooked Very Disappointed I want my money back !!
Wowza! White Elephant's duck salad has everything you could want - warm, crispy morsels of duck sitting on fresh greens topped with onion, cashews, pineapple chunks and that tangy-spicy-juicy mix that makes great Thai food so sensational. And, even though this was a delivery order, the salad still tasted top tier upon arrival. I'll definitely dine in here in the future, and snag this salad again, plus try some new dishes too.
Stopped her on a rainy New Year's Eve (2025!) I ordered to go pad see ew and crispy rolls. They were made quickly and I was in and out within 10 minutes. The pad see ew was delicious and had plenty of veggies inside. The flavor was perfect. A bit salty but not overpowering. Chicken was tender and cooked to perfection. As were the veggies. Ambience inside as I waited was perfect. Quaint and cute. Definitely recommend!
Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 The flavors of each dish we ordered were on point! We ordered the firecracker shrimp to start, then the mango chicken and the pineapple curry with duck for our entrees. The spice levels on each dish were perfectly dialed in - level 7 and 3 respectively. The mango chicken pieces were crispy despite being covered in the sweet and spicy sauce. The pineapple curry had a great mix of veggies with plenty of pieces of duck. The service was friendly and quick. We sat inside which had enough seating for about 6-8 parties. We will definitely be back to try some noodles and the other curries!
My husband & I were on a walk when we stumbled upon this place & we are so glad we did!! We are not spontaneous, as we like to PLAN, but this place just called our names when passing by. It's tucked in the corner of Richmond St & University Ave & looks like a cute little house. There were a variety of options to choose from, it was honestly hard to choose my dish! I got the chicken satay & it was so good. (Wish I could cook my chicken like that at home.) My husband got the Kanom Jeen and he also very much enjoyed his meal. Will definitely be coming back to try more.
My friends and I ate here for dinner and it was absolutely delicious! We ordered shrimp spring rolls and firecracker shrimp appetizers and chicken pad see yew and mango chicken for entrees. Everything was delicious especially the orange chicken! It was battered chicken that was fried and perfectly crispy with a mango mayo sauce and mango pieces. The pad see yew was amazing too! I would definitely come back and try other dishes
My sister and I decided to stop by for a quick dinner. It was cute little spot, but in a very busy area with not much parking. The restaurant is a little small but not cramped. The service was good and wait for food wasn't too long. Pad see ew was good but more veggies would've been nice. The crying tiger steak sauce was so good but the meat was a little tough for a ribeye.
Service was a bit rough at the start but everything smoothed out after we got our orders in. They seemed impatient and a unaccommodating. That was cleared up soon after we placed our orders though. Now, the food! I'll keep it short and simple. Whatever you get, I speak with high confidence that it will be delicious! The crying tiger ribeye steak and the shrimp pad see ew were both amazing. The egg rolls and shrimp salad were also really good. I will definitely be back. This may have made it into my top 3 spots! Affordable and delicious. Really cute inside in a prime location. It's a win win!
We got our food to-go so I can't speak for the dine in experience, but our orders were packed well for takeout. We got pad Thai (spice level 8) and mango chicken (spice level 3). I read in the reviews that they make things pretty spicy, but I found that to be kind of overblown. Flavor-wise, the mango chicken was reminiscent of a honey walnut shrimp kind of flavor with a mayo based sweet sauce. I thought this dish was pretty interesting and good if you like sweet entrees. My pad Thai was missing a bit of the strong tanginess of tamarind and the flavor seems a bit understated with the noodles looking a bit pale. It was still decent, but Bahn Thai in University Heights has the better pad Thai for a lower price than White Elephant. What White Elephant has going for it is that the parking situation is better and the wait is not as long.
Ordered for carryout. Everything was ready on time and hot when we got home. Staff was nice upon pickup, and the interior was cute. We had Pad Thai, Drunken Noodle, and Larb - all spicy level 5. I will say it was probably the spiciest level 5 I have had in San Diego. I would actually take it down next time. Everything was really good - just spicier than expected. The portion sizes and value were good. We will go back to try some other dishes, as so many options looked good - especially some of their house specials.
We had a party for 7 people here on Tuesday and this restaurant treat us very well with delicious food. This place is a little small but very chill and nice. It is a little but hard for parking if you dont know how, but the tip for you, let cross a street and get a spot for parking from another mall. We tried a lot of items from the menu and this is the list we really fall in love: calamari, crispy shirmps, pad seewe, patpaya salad, salmon panan curry, mango sticky rice. Service is profession, waiters asked and take care you mutiple time. They are friendly and kindly. Very high recommend!!!! Absolutely come back to enjoy more food!!!
I ordered delivery as I am sick and not able to cook. Their food is solid. Always fresh and well prepared. I ordered no spicy but just so you know it is spicy :)
3 months ago
Such a good spot' great food nice people very recommend. I'll be back for sure great ambience! read more
2 days ago
This place has the best tom kha soup I've tried. It's very creamy, strong, flavorful (sweet and sour). I can taste the lime which I love because it compliments the coconut and sweetness well. The pad see ew isn't the best I've tried. The soy sauce dominated the dish too much instead of it being well balanced with other ingredients/sauces and it wasn't as flavorful as other places I've tried (around both Norcal and Socal). Sticky rice was very hard and difficult to chew, but the meat was great. read more
Came here on a weekday evening with my friend and staff was friendly! I got the thai tea and the kra pao with chicken. The thai tea was so sweet I wasn't able to finish it (but I'm also not a huge fan of super sweet things). The chicken pad kra pao was good, chicken was a tad overcooked, but the vegetables and spices were great flavors. I really liked the outside patio and the simplistic style inside which is nice if you're looking for a quaint place for date night or to catch up. If I come here again, I'll have to try the curries! Also no parking, will have to find on the street! read more
20 days ago
Ordered Satay Good A Little Dry Garlic Pepper- Meat was unchewable and the hardest texture and worst meat I have experienced lately Rice Soggy Overcooked Tempura prawns the worst large shrimp with tempura ever the shrimp wasn't peeled or cleaned and the fish inside was cold Chow Mein- noodles stuck together hard cooked Very Disappointed I want my money back !! read more
Wowza! White Elephant's duck salad has everything you could want - warm, crispy morsels of duck sitting on fresh greens topped with onion, cashews, pineapple chunks and that tangy-spicy-juicy mix that makes great Thai food so sensational. And, even though this was a delivery order, the salad still tasted top tier upon arrival. I'll definitely dine in here in the future, and snag this salad again, plus try some new dishes too. read more
Business owner information
Shaun K.
Thank you for your amazing feedback and looking forward to serve you…
Stopped her on a rainy New Year's Eve (2025!) I ordered to go pad see ew and crispy rolls. They were made quickly and I was in and out within 10 minutes. The pad see ew was delicious and had plenty of veggies inside. The flavor was perfect. A bit salty but not overpowering. Chicken was tender and cooked to perfection. As were the veggies. Ambience inside as I waited was perfect. Quaint and cute. Definitely recommend! read more
Business owner information
Shaun K.
Thank you for stopping by and supporting our restaurant. Glad to hear…
Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 The flavors of each dish we ordered were on point! We ordered the firecracker shrimp to start, then the mango chicken and the pineapple curry with duck for our entrees. The spice levels on each dish were perfectly dialed in - level 7 and 3 respectively. The mango chicken pieces were crispy despite being covered in the sweet and spicy sauce. The pineapple curry had a great mix of veggies with plenty of pieces of duck. The service was friendly and quick. We sat inside which had enough seating for about 6-8 parties. We will definitely be back to try some noodles and the other curries! read more
1 year ago
My husband & I were on a walk when we stumbled upon this place & we are so glad we did!! We are not spontaneous, as we like to PLAN, but this place just called our names when passing by. It's tucked in the corner of Richmond St & University Ave & looks like a cute little house. There were a variety of options to choose from, it was honestly hard to choose my dish! I got the chicken satay & it was so good. (Wish I could cook my chicken like that at home.) My husband got the Kanom Jeen and he also very much enjoyed his meal. Will definitely be coming back to try more. read more
10 months ago
My friends and I ate here for dinner and it was absolutely delicious! We ordered shrimp spring rolls and firecracker shrimp appetizers and chicken pad see yew and mango chicken for entrees. Everything was delicious especially the orange chicken! It was battered chicken that was fried and perfectly crispy with a mango mayo sauce and mango pieces. The pad see yew was amazing too! I would definitely come back and try other dishes read more
Business owner information
Shaun K.
Thank for the compliment and hope to serve you again soon.
10 months ago
My sister and I decided to stop by for a quick dinner. It was cute little spot, but in a very busy area with not much parking. The restaurant is a little small but not cramped. The service was good and wait for food wasn't too long. Pad see ew was good but more veggies would've been nice. The crying tiger steak sauce was so good but the meat was a little tough for a ribeye. read more
Service was a bit rough at the start but everything smoothed out after we got our orders in. They seemed impatient and a unaccommodating. That was cleared up soon after we placed our orders though. Now, the food! I'll keep it short and simple. Whatever you get, I speak with high confidence that it will be delicious! The crying tiger ribeye steak and the shrimp pad see ew were both amazing. The egg rolls and shrimp salad were also really good. I will definitely be back. This may have made it into my top 3 spots! Affordable and delicious. Really cute inside in a prime location. It's a win win! read more
We got our food to-go so I can't speak for the dine in experience, but our orders were packed well for takeout. We got pad Thai (spice level 8) and mango chicken (spice level 3). I read in the reviews that they make things pretty spicy, but I found that to be kind of overblown. Flavor-wise, the mango chicken was reminiscent of a honey walnut shrimp kind of flavor with a mayo based sweet sauce. I thought this dish was pretty interesting and good if you like sweet entrees. My pad Thai was missing a bit of the strong tanginess of tamarind and the flavor seems a bit understated with the noodles looking a bit pale. It was still decent, but Bahn Thai in University Heights has the better pad Thai for a lower price than White Elephant. What White Elephant has going for it is that the parking situation is better and the wait is not as long. read more
3 months ago
Ordered for carryout. Everything was ready on time and hot when we got home. Staff was nice upon pickup, and the interior was cute. We had Pad Thai, Drunken Noodle, and Larb - all spicy level 5. I will say it was probably the spiciest level 5 I have had in San Diego. I would actually take it down next time. Everything was really good - just spicier than expected. The portion sizes and value were good. We will go back to try some other dishes, as so many options looked good - especially some of their house specials. read more
3 months ago
10 months ago
We had a party for 7 people here on Tuesday and this restaurant treat us very well with delicious food. This place is a little small but very chill and nice. It is a little but hard for parking if you dont know how, but the tip for you, let cross a street and get a spot for parking from another mall. We tried a lot of items from the menu and this is the list we really fall in love: calamari, crispy shirmps, pad seewe, patpaya salad, salmon panan curry, mango sticky rice. Service is profession, waiters asked and take care you mutiple time. They are friendly and kindly. Very high recommend!!!! Absolutely come back to enjoy more food!!! read more
6 months ago
Business owner information
Shaun K.
Thank you for the compliment. Glad to hear that you enjoyed…
3 months ago
1 month ago
2 years ago
White Elephant in the Hillcrest neighborhood of San Diego is an Asian kitchen and restaurant flavorfully blending Thai, Lao, and Vietnamese cuisine. AMBIANCE Cozy and modern, with indoor and outdoor seating SERVICE Friendly, fast, and knowledgeable. I ordered takeout at the register, and my food was freshly prepared in fifteen minutes. FOOD 5/5 WATER BEEF SALAD Perfectly tender, grilled beef with fresh mint, shallots, onion, cilantro, roasted rice tossed with lime dressing. I got red chili flakes and powder on the side, and added it for an intense heat. I'd come back to try more traditional and unique dishes with a group to split things family style. read more
9 months ago
White Elephant is our family's favorite local spot. We visit frequently with our kids, and the staff always makes us feel like home. The food is consistently fresh, flavorful, and serves as the perfect backdrop for our family dinners. Must try there Duck Salad. read more
Business owner information
Shaun K.
Warren thank you for your support and we’re glad to hear that your…
White Elephant is the first Thai restaurant that's actually reminded me of the food I ate in Thailand! The Green Curry was heart warming and the veggies were crisp. The tofu was cooked to perfection and the spicyness at level 5 was enjoyable but didn't blow your face off. The dining area is pleasant and casual which makes for a great conversational atmosphere. read more
1 year ago
Reasonably priced, solid Thai food in Hillcrest. 4.4 The service is fair. 4.5 The ambiance is fine, nothing too exciting. 4 My husband always gets the Tom Kha and it only comes in a cup, so if you're here as a group, there isn't a large portion for sharing. I wish I could give it a 4.3 read more
We went in for dinner on a Saturday evening and found this little gem off the busy street. It's very small inside probably sits around 50 people, but they also offer outside dinning in their patio. The service was excellent, the waitresses were very attentive and nice. My water glass was never empty, as they kept refilling it. The food was also very delish. We ordered: - shrimp spring rolls: you get 2 full spring rolls cut in half per order, great for sharing. The peanut sauce is also served warm. Perfect as an appetizer. - pad Thai with chicken (you can choose the type of protein) big portion perfect for 2. Includes peanuts, bran sprouts, egg, and green onions. The noodles were cooked perfectly and a good portion of chicken. The tamarind sauce is very tasty. - eggplant with shrimp (you can also choose the protein) large portion of veggies and a side of rice. Overall very cute and tasty place worth trying if you're in the area. read more
2 years ago
I am absolutely blown away by this place! You can tell that a lot of thought and effort went into each meal because everything was delicious and flavorful. I am already thinking about coming here again very soon. read more
1 year ago
I was incredibly disappointed in White Elephant. They have a great location, and I loved the Thai restaurant that was there before they took over the space. But White Elephant... like most white elephant gifts I've ever received... was not good. My partner ordered the pad Thai and noted that it had no flavor; it simply tasted spicy. A good pad Thai will balance the flavors of the sauce with spice level. He said it was nothing but noodle and spice. I ordered the mango chicken. Unfortunately, there was no chicken in my mango chicken whatsoever. I received a bowl full of fried dough covered in a bright orange sauce with a few chunks of mango. The mango chunks were lovely, but the absence of chicken meant I was basically eating a county fair funnel cake for dinner. After a small serving I threw the rest away. Can't speak to the service or ambiance, as we ordered takeout. But in the words of my partner, "Next time we think of ordering Thai, remind me not to order from here." read more
9/10 for food & service! very simplistic restaurant with tasteful thai food! the crying tiger was a delicious starter as well as the chicken potstickers. The thai tea was good but I think I want to try it with coconut milk next time instead of half & half. I really liked the drunken noodles, but be careful because their spice level is intense!!! we got a 5 and it was really spicy for us Overall, the food was great, and the server was on top of things for the most part read more
Craving some Thai food and happened to be in the area. The service was good. Nice quiet place. Parking on a Saturday night was not quick. Got the chicken satay, Cha' Gio' (Crispy Roll), pork garlic pepper, and beef Pad See Ew. The satay was good and juicy. The crispy rolls were tasty. The noodles were very good. The beef did the dish no justice. The beef was kind of tuff and dry. The pork garlic pepper I neither hated nor liked. It was something different for me. I would come back to try other items on the menu. read more
I will always say this--I wish I lived closer to White Elephant!!!! My favorite Thai food in all of San Diego! Unfortunately I can only really indulge on a day we make a trip to the SD Zoo since it's nearby. The Thai tea is so rich and looks so fancy. The pineapple fried rice was piping hot and oh so good. The shrimp spring rolls were a refreshing start although next time I'll ask for extra peanut sauce... SO YUMMY! And I will never not order the crying tiger. It hits every single time. Love how it's a small restaurant so even if all the inside tables are full, you don't feel squished. They do have outdoor seating too. The staff are always so sweet, helpful and patient. read more
Business owner information
Shaun K.
Thank Andrea.
8 months ago
Business owner information
Shaun K.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and glad to hear that you enjoyed…
1 year ago
This was a last-minute choice to come here for dinner and it was such a good idea. It's a small restaurant. Great service food was amazing. 10 out of 10 would recommend. read more
1 year ago
Friendly service, food came out in a timely manner. Everything was delicious! Me and my husband love spice and their scale is spot on. (Go one less if you're not much for spicy food). We wish their place was bigger so they could spread more delicious food quicker to more people! read more
1 year ago
4 years ago
Colleague Y's pick for non-conference/resort food for dinner, a quick Lyft to Hillcrest after a full day of talks/sessions. Since it was evening and rainy the patio wasn't in use. Small indoor space. Several other groups dining, including one birthday celebration of all-girls. We did not make reservations but they accommodated our party of 2. Got one end of the big rustic wooden table which we could share with another smaller group if needed. I had the Thai iced tea, a cup of Tom Yum soup with chicken to start, Golden Tofu appetizer to share. I ordered the Panang Curry with beef and white rice, while YB got the three-flavor fish and one of the noodle soups. As an "Asian Kitchen" I understand that their menu covers Thai, Lao, and even Vietnamese (Pho) which might be a bit disconcerting at first, but the items we did order/stick to were on point! The waiter did not ask me to specify how spicy my curry would be, so I guess I got the default, which did give me the sniffles by the end...a good, authentic kick! Thank goodness for the Thai tea to cool me down. Everything was great, warm and cozy dining experience. read more
Business owner information
Shaun K.
Thank Michelle for the 5 star review.
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More info about White Elephant
3843 Richmond St
San Diego, CA 92103
Hillcrest
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(619) 269-6381
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http://www.whiteelephantkitchen.com
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