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Buddhanusorn Thai Temple
Category: Religious Organizations Buddhist Temples Buddhist Temples [Edit]
36054 Niles Blvd(between Torrano Common & Rock Ave)
Fremont, CA 94536
(510) 790-2294
166 reviews for Buddhanusorn Thai Temple
166 reviews in English
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Review from July H.
5/23/2012
Apparently, I have been missing out!!!
This wonderful temple actually has a weekly event every Sunday where it is like a street food fair. You buy tokens ($10 per bag) and then you can purchase all the mouth-watering dishes and desserts. There are noodle soups, pad thai, rice plates, papaya salads. For desserts, there are the standard thai ice tea, mango with sticky rice, but they also have lots more that you could not buy anywhere else but here! I was too busy eating so I did not take any pics and I dont really know the names of these desserts in English. Although they are mostly Thai, they are very similar to Indonesian desserts such as "Rangin" and "Kolak".
There are also tables where you can eat and chat with your friends and let your kids run around. It's a pretty cool place to hang out with your family/friends.
Parking is an issue. Too many people know about this place now, so come early. -
Review from Linda D.
4/25/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I use to always go here almost every weekend, because my family loved to buy food and eat here. However, I don't like to go with them anymore because there is nothing vegetarian. The best food they sell here is probably just the pad thai, and bbq ribs with sticky rice. The papaya salad is alright, I prefer laos style better.
I came here about a week ago though for Cambodian/Thai/Laos new year. This place is always crackin! You gotta go early, or else it'll take you like two hours to get food. Seriously there is a waiting list, and you're probably number 99. They also place a tent with seats right next to the place where they cook and sell food which is kind of rediculous. They should do something about the food court area, it's a hot mess and so crowded.
The temple is actually pretty small. I do like the various Buddhist paintings on the ceiling though. -
Review from Katie R.
San Jose, CA
4/16/2012
It's Been A Family Tradition To Come Here Once A Year Around Thai New Year, Which Was Recently. My Family & I Usually Order The Same Thing Since We're Not Here Every Weekend. I Love The Papaya Salad, Rotee, & The Sticky Rice With BBQ Pork. But For The Main Reason I Only Come Here For The Fresh Made Thai Iced Tea. My Brother Got Me Hook On Thai Iced Tea At A Young Age, & Since Then I Always Try To Find A Place That Makes Good Thai Iced Tea Somewhere Close To Home.
*Hint: First Come, First Serve! Parking Is Crazy Around The Temple, Go There Early For Closer Parking. If Not Good Luck When Parking Near The Lake & Walking Back To The Temple Or You Can Wait For The Bus Shuttle. Lines For The Food Can Get More Crazier, Go There Around 8 Or 9 AM If You Want To Have A Nice Brunch With Your Family & Not Worry If Your Toddler(s) Is/Are Trying To Run Away From You. You Could Find Your Little One(s) More Easier. & For A Warning: This Place Gets Packed Around Lunch! -
Review from T N.
Los Angeles, CA
4/1/2012 1 photo
Wat Buddhanusorn's Sunday food court from 11-2pm is truly a wonderful community experience. Even if you do not speak Thai you will feel right at home. Some of the volunteers are non-Thai as well. If you are lucky you will see some youths studying Thai dance at a nearby pavilion. Please wear the proper attire if you plan on entering the temple.
The som tum papaya salad is the *best in South Bay. When you order you will be asked to state your preferred hot/chili index and during the process you will be given a taste test where you can ask for more lime juice, sugar, fish sauce etc. Basically your som tum is custom made. Don't be scared to try it with crab and fermented fish it adds a rich flavor to the salad.
The BBQ pork, which is supposed to be dry, was also good however the sauce was straight out of the bottle. Traditionally, BBQ pork will have a different sauce. The order also comes with sticky rice.
The curries are above average however I find the portion to be small for $7.
Thai tea is at the same level as any restaurant. Try Thai tea without the half and half you will get a real taste of the smooth flavor.
***** Special note: To cut down on the cost of plastic implements and take-out containers please consider bringing your own thermos for drinks and tupperware. The vendors really appreciate this and it will help the environment.
Wat Buddhanusorn is a great place to bring your family. There are plenty of kids playing and people of many ethnic backgrounds there chilling out. -
Review from Jen H.
3/28/2012
Please note: Carnivorous guests are welcome since they do serve meat!
Thanks N for showing me this place! They are opened Sundays 11-2pm (i think..not sure!) We arrived on Sunday at around 12:30pm.
Yay!!! This reminds me of Berkeley's Thai temple! There are tables and chairs set up under the tent, so you can come on a sunny or rainy day.
At the front, there's a token table, where you trade your cash for tokens to purchase meals. Each meal averages about $6, and dessert ranges from $3-$6. There are drinks as well--i think they were $1.
Awesome! The AUTHENTIC THAI food is delicious, hot, and fresh! There is definitely a good variety, and my favorites are:
1) Noodle soup
2) Fried coconut pieces (not too sure what the name is called)
If you never been to a Thai temple Sunday meal, I highly recommend dropping by and checking out this place.
Parking was not horrible either. -
Review from Anna W.
2/8/2012 2 Check-ins Here
i must re-visit this gem. SUNDAYS from 11-2? i got here at 12
this review is about the food, not the Temple but i'm sure its awesome here.
FOOD is fantastico!! love love love it here. once i got here, it automatically made me feel like i'm in thailand again, one of my favorite country to visit.
A bunch of outdoor tents filled with food vendors. i heard that they donate all the food? and the money we "exchanged" goes to the temple, i like that. way to help out the community!
Anyways, bring cash and exchange for "coins"
yummy beef/beefball noodle soup - all the way in the back $6
papaya salad, in the back - $6
coconut pancake - back $4
banana dessert - back $1
bbq pork with sticky rice - the BEST BBQ PORK I've EATEN. I dont eat PORK, that says a lot. (this is NOT DRY AT ALL)
thai coffee
there's more to try so i wil be back... -
Review from Anna K.
1/15/2012 6 photos
Alas! I was finally able to drag my lazy near winterbreak-comotose body out of bed in order to enjoy brunch with friends at the thai temple. I've wanted to try this place for a long time ever since I learned that there was such a place in my hometown. I've loved the thai temple in Berkeley, so I was really excited to go to this one.
Steps/tips to take for an awesome time at Thai Temple:
Cash: Like the location in Berkeley, the food is in a donation based form, which means that you will need to exchange cash for tokens. The price is a 1 token more expensive than the one in Berkeley, but everything is pretty cheap, and it's for a good cause! Most dishes including desserts are usually 6 tokens and thai iced tea&coffee is 2 tokens, so plan accordingly!
Parking: There was a pretty big lot that people could park in. Before 10:30 AM, you could get parking in here, but it gets really filled up. But no worries, Fremont is a residential area so there is plenty of street parking if you just go across the street.
Pad thai: This location is really awesome because they stir up the pad thai right then and there. Fresh off the...wok? I think that is what is used. Not sure though. They put prawn in their pad thai, which tastes pretty fresh..like FOB fresh. Because of the preparation, there use a waitlist system. I would go to this section which is further in on the left. The waitlist can get pretty long. I personally don't think it'd the best pad thai I've tasted, but I still like that it's so fresh!
Thai Ice Tea&Coffee: I get coffee every time because..it's early. Really yummy. A decent size. My sister found a little fruit fly in her tea though, but she told the lady and they gave her a new one. The ladies there are really cute and nice! I had an awesome conversation with the one serving curry about deliciousness of squash. They're always laughing, dancing, or talking to each other. Really cutesy.
Other dishes: 5 types of curry, different soups, meats, and some sort of fried chicken wings? I didn't even get to see all of the types of food that was there. The curry I liked esp because there was so much variety, but it wasn't as good as the curry in Berkeley Thai Temple. I found it really heavy for my taste, but it's really personal preference I think. The squash and eggplants in the curry were REALLY good though. I'll try a different kind next time. Tried the Five Spices Pork Soup thing. Really yummy! Especially because it was kinda chilly. There was a LOT of meat and veggies and a choice of 3 types of noodles. Highly recommended if you want something warm and yummy in your tummy. :)
Sticky Rice&Mango: Bigger in size and really effing delicious.
There's plenty of seating. Sit, eat, and enjoy the beautiful surroundings! I'm definitely going to make this a Sunday tradition with family and friends!Listed in: F-M-T FREEEMONT!
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Review from Jaymie J.
Castro Valley, CA
4/18/2012
This is the best tai food I have ever had. If you are free on a Sunday I highly recommend you check it out. The people are so nice and did I say the food was great?!
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Review from Angela X.
Oakland, CA
2/26/2012 2 Check-ins Here
One of the best dining experiences in Fremont! A perfect way to while away a lazy Sunday with some friends, Buddhanusorn Thai Temple provides a charming place to enjoy homemade Thai food at a picnic table under the trees, in the shadow of a picturesque gilt temple.
When I went with my friends, I was able to try the following:
-beef noodles
-barbecue pork and sticky rice
-spicy pork curry
-longan iced tea
-Thai iced tea
-heart-shaped coconut gelatin dessert
The spicy pork curry was the clear winner in the entree category. Its kick was different from the usual spicy fare, in that it resembled Sichuan food rather than, say, Thai green curry. It seemed to contain mala sauce, that numbing oily staple of Chinese cuisine made out of chili peppers and peppercorns. The barbecue pork was also delicious, being very sweet. The bland beef noodles were a letdown (they're better at the Berkeley Thai temple).
Definitely try the longan iced tea. I'm not a big fan of the fruit by itself, but the drink mellows the flavor out and is extremely refreshing, and it's something I've never seen elsewhere. The dessert was kind of an oddity, coming in weird pink, green, and white color combinations, but tasted fine. Finding big chunks of coconut inside the jelly was definitely a plus for me. Next time, I'd rather get the banana and sticky rice instead. In fact, there are plenty more dishes to try--this is also the first place I've ever seen catfish cakes!
I don't necessarily want more people to find out about this place, since I got here at around 12 and there were just a few parking spaces left. But it's too good not to share! -
Review from Carolen M.
Walnut Creek, CA
I just became a fan. I met up with a friend today who attends classes and tutors here and from 12-2 this place is like your downtown Thai street food market. Okay it's not as big, but the heart of it is there. First of all, parking is not super easy, but it's plentiful if you know where to go. If there's no space in the main lot, there's a dirt parking lot just left of the temple. After parking, you need to stop at the token booth. $1 = $1 token. You use these silver tokens to purchase food. All normal type drinks are $1, for thai ice coffee, tea, or longan ice tea it's $2. Pretty much any of the entree dishes are $6 and it's a steal for the quality you're getting. It's as authentic Thai as you can get. If you want Pad Thai, come early otherwise you'll be waiting for 20-30 min before you can get your order as it is made to order. Two women in the back cook up a wok storm with pad thai flying from left and right. Unfortunately the rice to entree ratio is a little high, and a little watery thus the star less.
I will definitely come back and bring friends :) Everyone is friendly and get ready to say some "Sawadi-ka"/"Sawadi-kup" while you're there. Also might do some volunteering here to learn how to cook some of these dishes. NOM! -
Review from Irene A.
Fremont, CA
3/5/2012
I blame my friends for introducing me to this spot. I look forward to every Sunday since then.
Minus one star for the long wait for Pad Thai (but definitely worth it). The reason for the wait is because they don't have a large pot of Pad Thai just chillen there. They make each individual serving with love and care. And you can taste it. My friend who has been a regular complained they've been skimping out on the shrimp (due to growing popularity maybe?). Either way, it is still my first stop when I arrive.
I vow to try everything over the next couple of months, but so far I've been stuck on the Spicy Ground Pork & Green Beans over rice. **drools**. A bit spicy when I first tried it, but it just keeps getting better as I come back. The green beans are perfectly cooked and add a nice crunch. I've never really been a fan of Mango Sticky Rice (weird, I know), but they won me over on this one. Best part, the ladies who prepare the food will give samples if you ask, so guess who's going to buy some fried banana next week?...this girl.
When I went this past Sunday, we were told we could not park in the neighborhood due to the neighbors complaining, and they even signed a petition so shut down this Sunday tradition. Really? It's on a Sunday for 4 hours, calm the f--- down. Why would petition against a temple??? So if you decide to go, please park at the school or the old rose garden (they will be renting the space out soon). Great Food, Good Cause, Sunday Funday. Enough Said. -
Review from angelo d.
Berkeley, CA
10/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Thai temple! I've been aching to try Buddhanusorn Thai temple ever since I became a regular at the Thai Temple in Berkeley back when I was still in college (granted, that was like...3 months ago?)
I've got to say, Fremont Temple is much better than Berkeley's. It just feels so much more authentic and it's not impossible to find parking.
Everything is great here - the food, the people, the atmosphere. I ALWAYS get the bbq'd pork and sticky rice. I somehow develop cravings for it every Saturday late at night. Peculiar... My other must have is the mango with sticky rice. The mango is always nice and ripe and I like how they put the coconut sauce on the side because I like dousing the rice in it.
The one thing I do have to say is - the pad thai is grossly overrated. Maybe it's because I'm not a pad thai kind of guy, but I figured I would go early one day to try it and see what all the fuss is about and I have to say.. I don't get it. Not worth the wait in my opinion.
Other than that, Buddhanusorn Thai Temple is your quintessential go-to stop for Sunday Brunch. Safe to say you probably can't find anything like it. -
Review from Joanne C.
San Jose, CA
It's funny how this temple has reviews like it's a restaurant..
I've been coming here since I was a child, although not religiously.. Yes, I am Buddhist but I only come here when there are special events. When I try to get other people to go (mostly because of their food and chill atmosphere) they're hesitant because they're not Thai... BUT NEITHER AM I!. Something about Buddhism that screams it doesn't matter your ethnicity, gender, beliefs... this temple doesn't even go into that.. I really don't even think they care.. No one here is trying to convert you.. they simply just want you to enjoy everything :)
Come early, do the outdoor ceremony (sometimes flee doves, offer oranges to monks, watch the musicians play, and Thai dancers dance), then hit the food court!. AMAZING THAI FOOD!. I have to say that the pad thai is NASTY if end up bringing it home.. it tastes MUCH better if you eat it right after buying it. BBQ Pork with sticky rice is another favorite and so is the papaya salad, made to order :) Both of which are very take home-able. Actually, most of the food is made to order here. Free water, coffee, ovaltine, and tea. Each entree used to be $5, but since the gas prices went up, so did the entrees to $6.
On big events they have raffles that are super fun for the kids. For a dollar you get to pick an easter egg out of that spinning bingo cage thing and inside the egg is a number which denotes your prize.. they range from toilet paper, cup noodles, to toothpaste, sweatshirts, bicycles and tvs so it's super cool in my opinion :)
After eating and leisure, head into the temple for prayer. The monks are extremely nice and try to conversate with everyone. -
Review from Leslie R.
San Francisco, CA
8/29/2011
Develop a strategy for yourself. Here are my suggestions:
-Get there before 10:30am to secure parking for you and your family
-CASH ONLY in exchange for tokens. On average the food items were 6 tokens per entree.
- HEAD STRAIGHT TO THE PAD THAI LINE! Even though we were there on a less busy day, we still waited for 40 minutes. Pad thai was my dessert.
- Best to be in a group of at least 4 or more because you get to try everythang.
- Our spread included: succulent bbq pork with sticky rice, green curry with chicken and eggplant over a mountain of rice!, chicken and squash over vermicilli noodles (the voted favorite), the papaya salad, pad thai, and Iced coffee all around.
I came to the Thai temple.....I saw.....I ate....I meditated....i fell in love. -
Review from Angie Q.
1/7/2012
I've been here twice thus far and it's some of the best Thai food I've had! The Pad Thai and Papaya salad are a must! Thai iced tea and coffee were delicious. And they have this popular street food dish that consists of these coconut sweet balls. It makes me think of Japanese Takoyaki in terms of how it's prepared. I think this is as authentic as it'll get!
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Review from Ss S.
San Jose, CA
1/23/2012
Thai food for cheap! Spent $10 for two meals and it is authentic Thai food. The temple does this on Sundays as their fundraising effort for the temple, which is open to the community. There is a variety you can eat and EVERYTHING is yummy! They serve, Thai drinks, appetizers, desserts, meals and your money goes to a good cause.
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Review from Belinda T.
Fremont, CA
5/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Today was my first time here... but apparently many people know about it. I ran into two people I knew here.
My cousins RAVE about this place for the authentic thai food. I thought it was strange.. temple, food? and we're not praying but it totally wasn't even like that. Yes, it is a temple and there are people who go here to pray.
Step 1: buy tokens, $10 gives you a bag of $10 tokens. Most dishes are $6 (6 tokens) we did see a few that were 4, thai tea was $2, sodas and water were $1.
We walked around to see what they had we had 6 people and a baby. We ordered,
2 pad thais, 2 basil pork with rice, 1 bbq pork with sticky rice, 2 papaya salad, deep fried chive cakes, and thai tea to go around.
There was PLENTY of food, my belly is definitely satisfied. The papaya salad and basil pork was really good and had a kick of spice to it. The pad thai tasted good as well, especially with the lemon squeezed over it. The bbq pork was alright, i found it to be a little salty and I thought it was weird with the sticky rice (I wasn't too fond of that). The thai tea was refreshing especially after all the spicey food. I've had the asian chive cakes, but never deep fried before. It was different and I liked it.
Next time I will have to try some of their noodle soups and desserts that they have... I was far too full to eat anymore today.
The ambiance was nice... lots of families and canopy tents set up around. This truly is a hidden gem on niles... I must've drove by a few times and jut thought it was a house. I look forward to coming back again.
NOTE: we got here around 10/10:30 and it was already getting full... by the time we left at 12:30 people were waiting for parking spots. COME early!
I've also heard in April when it's the Queen and princesses' birthdays the festival is even greater and have EVEN more food to choose from. -
Review from Grace L.
Mountain View, CA
1/22/2012
Authentic street food style, with spicy aromas wafting in the air takes me back to my time in Thailand. Parking is a beast, but it's worth it!
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Review from Hana H.
7/10/2011
I'm not a Buddhist so I'm just here to review their food.
Pad Thai: to die for. Very authentic. You can taste the tamarind based sauce. The noodle was tender and chewy. Not soggy at all. They gave enough shrimp, tofu, egg and sprouts as well. Big portion for just $6. LOVE LOVE LOVE!
Papaya salad: Love that they included those tiny salty crabs in the salad. Very tasty with right amount of fish sauce. Only costs $6. Can't complain.
Service: Super nice and friendly. I always like that about Thai people. :)
Recommend: a. Cash only b. get there before noon to place your pad thai order. The wait list is LONG and they do get sold out. -
Review from Cindy W.
Livermore, CA
7/28/2011
I had lived in Fremont for a long time and didn't know this place existed until I found it on Yelp. Thanks Yelpers. What a great authentic Thai experience. We had some of the best Thai food in the Bay Area in a great setting. It's like being invited to to a house party by Thai friends.
The temple is beautiful and added even more atmosphere to the experience. -
Review from Sai K.
Newark, CA
1/17/2011
I'd like to start off by saying that my rating is not only for the food because this is NOT A RESTAURANT but a place of worship. SO the ratings for only the food is a bit bothersome. anywho...with that said,
I love this place. Being so far away from Thailand it is so nice to have the Temple to visit to give me a sense of peace and bring me closer to home. I've grown up attending the temple and participating in Sunday school and cultural activities including dance, music, etc.
I was raised Buddhist and although I am not practicing I never feel unwelcomed here. The people are wonderful and the Monks are friendly and open to all visitors of all faiths.
On Sundays regardless of any celebration or festival vendors come out to sell a plethora of DELICIOUS foods, desserts, beverages etc. and funds collected benefit the temple. It is truly one of the most beautiful temples in Northern California and I definitely encourage a visit to this wonderful place regardless of your faith.
And if you are a fan of Authentic Thai food, this place is heaven for the palate!
Definitely worth a visit! -
Review from Nacha S.
Pleasanton, CA
2/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Having been here for the Saturday chanting and heard from my friend that they have Thai class on sunday around 100 a.m. so we decided to check it out. Plus there's food selling, and it's thai food. Well, it's the end of summer time and there's not much out door event or farmers market (thet we know of) around, so we decided to check this place out.
We arrived around 11 and the temple were packed with the cars, they have to have us park in their extension area and that were still almost full. Wow!!!
Walking to the food area was like walking to the food court out door in Thailand. The food are so tempting as all of it looks even more authentic than the one in the restaurant. I thought it would be hard to find some kind of food thet sold here in many thai restaurant. It's was so much and I just want to try everything out. But having had a medium size of stomach I could only take so much that I can't go through all of it.
So what we tried were:
Rice and entree plate which were the basil pork with bamboo shoot curry over rice. Dang the taste of the basil pork was so super close to the taste in Thailand. And the thickness of the curry were the authentic kind, which is not too thick. I*t was gone in less that 5 minutes by 2 people.
We also got the Sai aua which is the northern style sausage with some sticky rice. It was great.
Having had 2 dishes for 2 is not enoguh, I decided to head for the Namtok noodle. The is another hit, the soup is so right that you don't have to add anything to it. This also gone is less than 5 mins.
Dessert were the one that we don't get often, which is the kao niaew dam sung ka ya. I know the name is long and complicated but what it look like is the black sticky rice with coconut milk and top with that style custard. Everything was go right together and was so yummy. We also tried the Ruam mitr which is the mix of seasoning tropical fruits in a cup. The color of the coconut milk and the chunk of fruits were so cute together. The coconut milk was pink and itwas contrast witht the yellow, green, bright pink white etc. of what's in it.
Well, after those things we had, I still want to try the rest but my tummy said enough, so it's my mission to go back there and try the rest.
We also tried the thai ice tea, well why not when we are eating thai food.
For those of you who want to go into the temple and pay respect to the buddha statues can do so. It's really tradition and you could smell the holy place of the light incent and feel the respect and peace in the temple. -
Review from Margaret C.
San Jose, CA
4/17/2011 6 photos
I'm kind of surprised to see how many reviews this temple has. I didn't think there would be any reviews. (I mean, the temple/monastery I frequent the most has zero reviews on Yelp. Yesss, I've checked.)
I honestly think it's kind of odd that I'm about to write a review for a temple based solely on other reasons other than for worshipping... I find it a bit -mmm, what's a right word to describe it?- disrespectful? unsacred? I don't know... but I guess there's so many reviews here that I guess it's ok? lol...
Well, I'm not Thai, my friends aren't Thai, and they're not Buddhist either. So what was our reason to come? For the Songkran Festival.
I'll say, I've been to a few temples before and this one is quite welcoming.
Upon entering you can see the temple, and as you walk to the sides, there were vendors selling all sorts of food, which was oh so, reminiscent to street food in Asian countries! One stand was selling Fresh Coconuts.
With 4 people we were able to fill our tummys with some authentic Thai food. Totaling $10 per person - not bad at all. We even had leftovers.
We ordered 6 different things:
- 3 orders of Pad Thai
- Papaya Salad
- This dish that had... hard rice in it and meat that I think was raw.
- A Curry Rice Plate that has half Squash&Chicken and half Fish.
- Sticky Rice with Mango
- 2 Thai Teas
We put in our Pad Thai orders early since it takes the longest (there's a number list so there's no need to wait in line.) It took about a hour to get ours, which we didn't mind at all. In that time we ordered other things, and ate under a nicely shaded tree while we listened to live traditional Thai music play. It's a plus that the weather was nice given it was sunny, but not overly hot. After eating we observed prayers that were given inside of the temple and watched performances that were being performed in the front. After that, we picked up our Pad Thai orders. Woo, the lady who was cooking all the Pad Thai's was really hard at work! One order after another.
I don't really want to particularly comment on the food because this isn't really a restaurant/business (Even though we did come here because we heard the food was good.) I'll say that the dish with the hard rice thing was new to me, not quite my thing!
Overall, it was a relaxing experience to enjoy some legit Thai food with some good company, and to absorb in some culture :) -
Review from Suefow S.
San Jose, CA
Based on the recommendation from a fellow yelper (http://www.yelp.com/us...), I navigated my way to the outskirts of Fremont and locate the hidden treasure. The temple is well hidden and parking is scarce. Note: Avoid the main lot and drive a couple feet and you will find another parking lot.
The food is amazing. It's basically home-cooked food with fresh ingredients. This is the closest home-cooked meal that I've eaten.
All the cookers (mainly Thai female) are friendly and helpful.
I've been to the temple many times and I usually get the Papaya salad, Grilled pork & sticky rice, Pad Thai, and of course the Mango and sticky rice for dessert. I've tried the Thai tea and did not like it because it's way too sweet.
FYI: Go before 11am or you'll be out-of-luck with the Pad Thai. It's in pretty high demand! -
Review from D R.
Fremont, CA
3/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Nice environment and we were there on a festival day...which meant we could watch the young dancers perform while waiting the over an hour for veg pad Thai to be made...just not many veggie options, though...which I know is a bit odd. Nice Sunday out with the family or friends activity.
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Review from Hevad Y.
Fremont, CA
9/15/2010
Coming here makes you want to go home, burn some incense and thank
Buddha for building this sanctuary for good eats. My local Union City friend told us this was the spot to hit on Sunday. Once we parked across the street and walk in we exchanged some moola for some silver coins.
With the accepted currency in hand we descend upon the tents like wild Madagascar lemurs. Everything is freshly made from smile filled moms. Get in line first for Papaya Salad cause our wait was 1hr+. Pad Thai, Fried Chicken with Sticky Rice was splendid.
I don't need to repeat what everyone has already covered here, but get ready to spend your Sunday with great company, great food, and food comma -
Review from Chuck N.
3/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
A thai culture and food experience. Tucked in a random Fremont burrough, you'll find a place where Thai people come to worship and practice their faith. But on Sundays, they also serve authentic Thai food!
Bring $6-15 and you'll be overly satisfied. It's kind of like a street market / mini fair where you trade your dollars (refundable) for coins to redeem for a variety of authentic thai foods made fresh in front of you.
It gets crowded so go before 1030AM to guarantee food and no 30 minute waits.
You must try the fresh pad thai (my fav), thai iced tea, thai noodle soups. I tried almost everything, but you can skip the thai BBQ as it's pretty plain (everything is about $6 each entree).
Definitely a fun spot to visit and absorb the local Thai culture and food! -
Review from Maureen M.
Hayward, CA
11/1/2010
Awesome!! I love Thai food even more!! =) I just went this past sunday (on halloween) with my son. Everyone one is so friendly. So anyways . . . it was only a short 10 min drive from my home to the temple. Who knew that it was here the whole time! Honestly NO THAI restaurant around here serves sticky rice!! and thank buddha that I found it here!
you trade your money for tokens and you pay with the tokens!
$1 = 1 token
I had the:
bbq pork with sticky rice and sweet chili sauce, 6 tokens
thai iced tea, iced coffee or longan 2 token
kimokrok (i think from what i remember)-sweerice and coconut with green onion/corn pancakes 4 tokesn
mango with sweet sticky rice 6 tokens
som tum tokens.
i am sooooo coming back here every SUNDAY!! 10:30 a to 2pm
so come eat Thai food every Sunday here, forget the restaurants! you're supporting the temple!
plus if you look at their website, they also have thai language and thai buddhism classes! -
Review from Lynn P.
10/26/2011
Some time ago, I've sampled a few of their dishes as leftovers that my parents brought home for me, and have not actually had the pleasure of checking out the actual premises. However, I just wanted to say wow! Unlike virtually every other place you can get Thai food at in Northern California, this place is NOT afraid to spice everything up the way someone straight from Thailand would enjoy it. This review is based on their Som Tum (Papaya Salad) and curries. High regards for the food here.
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Review from Herbert K.
Union City, CA
5/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
It has been a while since I stopped off the Thai temple. The main parking lot is full like always so off to the auxiliary one next door.
The configuration of the place has changed a bit with BBQ pork table moving towards the back of the area and the prices has raised to $6 instead of $5.
But the food is about the same as I remember it.
They have gone somewhat green by using paper based take-out boxes however they need to find a cornstarch based spoon, fork & knives.
But I would still come to this place for food ^_^ -
Review from Diana A.
Oakland, CA
8/2/2010 7 Check-ins Here
Fresh made to order Pad Thai...how can you say no to that?!
Every Sunday at the Buddhasorn Thai Temple I visit my Thai grandmother and sit at her dining table and eat everything she prepares for me......
Okay, so I'm not Thai...the Thai grandmother I speak of is a self appointed designation I put on any of the cute, friendly women who prepares the food...and... the dining table is what I call any of the random tables you can sit at...don't shatter my illusion...
Regardless, if you want to feel special and giving, eating at the Temple grounds will make for a great experience, all the money made goes back to the temple.
Just a few pointers:
1) Avoid parking front of residential properties/streets, there usually is a sign that says this but sometimes if you're early the signs may not be up yet. The neighboring residents have filed a complaint about the parking issue and was very close to shutting down the Sunday events...so please respect this rule so that we can all enjoy the temple for many Sundays.
2) If you want seating and short lines, it's advisable to arrive before 11am.
3) Put on a smile and respect the grounds, the temple grounds are sacred to the monks and they have opened it up for your enjoyment.
4) Buy 2 of everything, I guarantee you will be craving the Pad Thai and Mango and Sticky Rice throughout the week...might as well save yourself the heartache... -
Review from Kathy S.
Updated - 10/4/2010 1 photo
Oh boy even better the second time around! They didn't have that green jello dessert or the cookies but they had a REALLY GOOD coconut egg dessert. I have no idea what it's called but I attached a pic of it. It's basically tiny pancakes that have egg yolk on them?
Again my fav's were:
- Tiny pancake dessert thingies
- BBQ Pork with yummy sticky rice!!!! Yeeah!
- Thai iced tea
- coconut ball desserts
The pad thai was again "meh" and the papaya salad wasn't all that good but I'm not a fan of papaya salad to begin with so that might be biased.
The wait for the pad thai wasn't long at all this time around!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/2/2009
This place is gorgeous! The gargantuan oak tree in the back of the temple sets the stage for a… Read more »
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Review from stephanie i.
San Francisco, CA
8/18/2006 ROTD 11/23/2006
Oh nooooooo... we're all yelping about it.
I guess it was inevitable. I'll kiss this hidden sanctuary good bye. (mmm-WAH). Talk about taking one for the team!
If you've never been to Thailand and want to sample a feel of what it might be like - head to this Wat on Sunday.
If you have been to Thailand and want to go back but can't afford to... get in your car and drive over to Fremont for this authentic Thai experience. You'll be glad you did.
My Thai friend Jinni, shared this place with me about three years ago. We'd all head over on Sundays to purchase great food that is made to order, just like you'd find in Thailand. Then we'd sit under the shade of the trees and eat lunch, chat and relax. The food is amazing. PadThai, sticky rice, BBQ chicken, all the many sticky rice desserts, the spicy soup, the paypaya salad... I could go on.
Oh and the ambiance... the beautiful temple, the monks, the thai children running around the courtyard playing, the trees and the peaceful aura that only a place like this could exude. It's bliss. It really is.Listed in: Thai Food Restaurants
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Review from Brad P.
Redwood City, CA
1/14/2007
We just got back from trying out a Sunday Thai food eating fest and, I sit here feeling oh so satisfied.
The setting is indeed very serene, with the temple butting up against the base of the east bay hills in Fremont. The temple is beautiful and welcoming, but our visit was about the food.
Here's the drill. You pony up your cash at a stand that sells $1 tokens in little ziploc baggies. You then browse a row of tables/stands where food is being prepared right before your very eyes. It's not a cafeteria style thing where you go down the row, but rather a series of stands where you wait individually for each dish.
There are about 5 or 6 stations, and we followed the yelpers' advice and got barbecued pork with sticky rice, pad thai noodles, papaya salad, and I grabbed a set of fish cakes. Absolutely delicious and obviously authentic -- truly reminded us of our honeymoon days in Thailand. The pad thai was particularly delicious, but really each dish was as good as the next. Each dish was 5 tokens.
You then sit at communal picnic tables, and we had the misfortune to sit next to a foursome of loud-talking lunatics. Well, one was a lunatic and the others became guilty by association. She felt the need to announce that spicy food didn't agree with her and resulted in a bloody colon situation. I mean, TMI, people! (too much information). She then clarified that if she ate cayenne pepper, that was fine as "it doesn't cut my colon up." Finally, at this point, not eavesdropping was not an option. Turns out she's on her way to Thailand for a trip to Chiang Mai. WHAT DOESN'T SHE UNDERSTAND ABOUT THAI FOOD BEING SPICY? Especially in Thailand. Talk about a blood-bath!
OK, sorry to get so gross about a place that is truly serene, full of positive vibes, with the most lovely, tasty and freshly prepared Thai food made by the warmest and most loving people on our planet. Love the Thais and their food.
P.S. Parking is tricky and food is available only on Sunday's (I'm almost positive) -
Review from Donna Y.
San Jose, CA
2/2/2010
I finally made it here. I heard about this place years ago when I was going to De Anza College. Been wanting to try and come here and finally I made it a point to check it out. Plus I had a lunch date with Caroline and suggested why don't we try here. The food is all so good and everything looks so yummy. Coming in I was bombarded with all these smells and different choices of Thai food to try. They a good selection of items. These are the items I tried.
Pad Thai - Freshly made orders, the only prob is you need to get here first to put your name on the list cuz there is only one cook who does all the cooking
Steam Fish - That was good and different. It had all these herbs and lemon grass in it. The fish was perfectly cooked and oh so soft. Full of flavor
Pork Dumplings - These was made with tapioca flour and filled with pork and peanuts. Not bad for an appetizer. Come with lettuce, chives, and two little green chilies.
Chive Donut - Perfectly fried and the filling was all chives. Yum!
Banana and Sticky Rice wrap - This was a sweet and the rice just taste like banana. Had some beans with it too. Not bad.
Red Curry with Pork and Chicken Rice - This was a good dish. The rice was cooked with some chicken so it was full of flavor.
Thai Ice Tea - Not bad but bit on the sweet side.
Papaya Salad - Delish but for Medium it is pretty hot. I don't know if its Thai hot, but it was hot. They put shrimp and crab.
Overall its a great place to go for lunch and the portions are huge. I would like to go back and try there noodle dish and BBQ Pork or Fried Chicken.
Afterward we talked around the temple and I gave my respects to Buddha. All the workers are volunteers and all the money goes back to the temple. Will be back for sure. Come early parking get full pretty fast. -
Review from Christine A.
Cerritos, CA
2/2/2010
So I was completely surprised. Cruising through Yelp with the cheap eats filter on, a Buddhist temple came up as a highly-rated eatery.
Like many have said, you exchange money for tokens, $10 at a time. It's 5 tokens for most entrees, 2 tokens for Thai iced tea, etc and tokens you don't use can be re-exchanged for money.
Overall, it's a positive experience. You're taking part in and contributing to a community, watching them cook and interact, and there's so many great things to try. The people who came to sit by us were friendly and amused that a Web site was directing people to come eat with them for lunch.
Just don't make the mistake I did and WAY over spice your soup. A spoonful of chilies was too much.Listed in: Roadside California, Boom-De-Ah-Da Boom-De-Ah-Da
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Review from Keiko S.
6/26/2006
The largest Thai wat in the bay area, this is my most favorite place to visit for Sunday lunch and meet people. They are always very friendly and welcoming.
The food stands offer a variety of traditional dishes that are freshly prepared on the spot, such as rice noodles, BBQ chicken/beef rice, som tum (papaya salad), and sticky rice with mango. They are generally $5/dish, and YES, the proceeds go to the temple. =)
Remember - NO PARKING on the residential streets! They have two parking lots at the nearby school on the same stretch with shuttles running to and from.Listed in: Everything Thai - SF Bay Area
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Review from Derrick V.
San Francisco, CA
4/16/2007
Update 4/13/08: We woke up this morning and said hey, when is Thai New Years? Isn't it around this time of year? Checked the temple website, but all the dates were from 2007. So I called up, and asked. Yup, today it is, like we had ESP or somethin.
Anyway, on to the food:
Papaya Salad - 2 booths this time. We ordered medium spicy Thai style. Portion seemed to dwindle this year and heat was lacking, I'd definitely make sure to get spicy next time. Still good, but I'd watch for which booth is giving bigger portions.
BBQ Pork w/sticky rice - Thin slices of marinated pork cooked on a gas grill. The pork tasted pretty good for a gas grill, and we did without the Mae Ploy dipping sauce. Sticky rice wasn't too sticky but still ok, we ate it easily with a fork. I'd try the charcoal grilled stuff next time.
Thai Tea - 2 booths this time. Go to the one overlooking the temple entrance. They give you a bigger cup. We went to the one under the tents and finished the tea in no time. We could have used the bigger one as it was scorching in the hot 80s today.
Pad Thai - This year, made to order by rotating chefs on 2 wok stations. Easily the longest line of the day. Each order took at least 5 minutes to make. Fortunately, it was good. Nicely balanced and not too sweet. Noodles were perfect, and all the other ingredients melded together perfectly. Comes with 2 prawns. Worth the wait in line if you use it for people watching like I did.
Overall, more crowded and more food booths than last year. I saw Thai Boat Noodles but didn't try it b/c of the heat. Maybe next year.
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We went here for Thai New Year last weekend and it was great. We arrived around 10am to avoid the parking issues and it got really crowded by 11:30am. It was definitely interesting to watch all the different festivities, as well as food booths in action.
The highlights for us were the papaya salad made to order, and the fried banana. The papaya salad was very fresh, tart, and spicy. You can choose between fermented crab or dried shrimp. The lady prepares it all in front of you in a mortar and pestle, adding your specified heatness. She even let me try it to make sure it was to my liking.
The fried banana used bananas that weren't ripe enough but the batter really made it work. We also tried the pad thai and a chicken curry stew but they didn't really jump out at us. Great time overall and we'll definitely go again. -
Review from Ann L.
4/18/2006 6 photos
CASH ONLY! Updated review as of Sun 4/13/08 now 3 stars:
We went around 1pm and it was very crowded. Hard to find parking since the neighbors in the area are MEAN & won't let u park on the street which has to be illegal. School parking fills up FAST.
Long lines for tokens, food, no seating.
Don't get medium spicy papaya salad - it'll kill you. $5
some noodle dish like angel pasta $5
2 small scoops of curry & rice $5
sweet roti $1
Old post gave it 5 stars:
I love to come to this Thai Temple during their Thai Holiday and eat!! I like the pad thai and the haw mok (steamed fish), sweet roti is awesome, chicken curry dish, chicken satay, etc.
Lots of places to sit, good food, plenty of parking in the 7-11 parking lot across the street. Just awesome!!
Bring cash!!
Check their website for upcoming Thai Holidays..next one is Sun May 14, 2006 Visakha Puja Day!
http://www.watbuddha.i... -
Review from John L.
Redwood City, CA
Updated - 4/27/2009
Went back here over the weekend. There was no festival this time around so I was able to park onsite, their paved parking lot was full so I parked in their dirt/grass lot. It was also much nicer this time being able to walk around without having to squeeze by people or being sprayed in the face with a water gun.
This time I also figured out how the tokens work. Basically you buy bags of 10 tokens for $10. Then you trade in the tokens at the food stations. This time I had:
BBQ Pork ($5): I was looking forward to this but it seemed dryer than last time. Like last time included sweet chili sauce but a portion of sticky rice wrapped in aluminum foil was new. I'm assuming they ran out of sticky rice last time.
Curry Noodle ($5): Rice noodle with chicken curry. Tasty and spicy.
Steamed fish in banana leaf($5): White fish steamed with Thai chilis and herbs. Was very good.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/13/2009
I went here this past Sunday for the Thai New Year festival (Songkran). When we arrived, the place… Read more »
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