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Thai Elephant - CLOSED
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
Karenina C. said: "If there was a 10 stars option here on Yelp, I would hands down give it to Thai Spices. Let me convince you why: Before grocery shopping at Mekong Supermarket last Friday, I was browsing other places to eat, since I've eaten at most…" read more »
111 reviews for Thai Elephant
Review Highlights
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"It was the best curry I had in my life." In 43 reviews -
"Also, don't skimp on the Thai Iced Tea." In 8 reviews -
"I had the Drunken Noodle with Shrimp." In 4 reviews
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111 reviews in English
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Review from Julie R.
8/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Glad I stumbled upon this place. There really aren't that many casual, unique restaurants downtown but this one, luckily, happened to catch my eye.
Real unassuming front, interior- typical, gaudy Asian decorations BUT this place is MORE than your standard Thai food.
We were allowed to sit anywhere we'd like. Our server was immediately at our table. If anything, we had too much service! (Something I rarely ever complain about!)
Everything we ate had such fantastic balance in the flavor palate. It was a joy to taste so much delicious food.
I had the glass noodles with shrimp. Amazing.
The BF had the Drunken Noodles with chicken prepared spicy (you can request your desired level of spiciness). Since I didn't even get to sample any of his meal before he woofed it down, I'm going to assume he was well-satisfied with the dish.
Remember to leave room for dessert. So many Asian restaurants don't really offer dessert options BUT NOT Thai Elephant. They have quite a few delicious sounding sweet indulgences.
Next time I go I'm leaving room for dessert! -
Review from Susan W.
Updated - 1/25/2012
Business switched names. Now Five R Cha Thai. Will do update review under their new name.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/10/2010
I've come here 3 times in the past 3 weeks. Frist time was with a coworker & we split 3 items. The… Read more »
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Review from R T.
Huntington Beach, CA
10/13/2011
I was really excited to go to this Thai place after reading all the great reviews.... but I gotta say the food wasn't that great. I've been to numerous Thai restaurants and this place mid pack at best. Additionally, I told my server that I really wanted something NOT spicy and specifically ordered a mild dish. Well the fact that that there were numerous red pepper flakes on my food was a huge disappointment!
The Good: Friendly, fast service.
The Bad: Mediocre food, not bad, but not great. -
Review from Vikram C.
Concord, CA
8/5/2011 1 photo
Very good service, amazing food. Dinner entree includes jasmine rice for 9.95 for chicken or tofu.
I had the Siamese Thai with fried Tofu. This is enough for almost 2 people!!
It's over one lb of entree and 1 cup of rice..
Amazing service would highly recommend . -
Review from AMber W.
Updated - 11/7/2011 4 Check-ins Here
OUT OF BUSINESS AS OF OCTOBER 28, 2011 :-( :-(
Listed in: Get your Veg on, Vegan!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/5/2010
While I am no Thai expert, I do eat Thai food a lot, and I can speak a little bit, and I'll be going… Read more »
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Review from Emily H.
Washington, DC
8/11/2011
Love the spicy eggplant! Huge quantities for around $10 a plate. And they give you free soup at lunch. Also, the servers are really sweet. Great service.
I love the thai iced tea too. -
Review from Paula L.
4/26/2011
I try to find the good in everything. I'm here visiting and had a craving for Thai food. This restaurant is right down the street from our hotel and it's one of the few places that are open in the evening in downtown Phoenix.
We each ordered the yellow curry with shrimp. It came with an abundant amount of shrimp. A couple of my fellow Chicagoans have given this place a negative review because of it's lack of authenicity. That may be the case, but it's downtown Phoenix. Chicago has about a billion Thai restaurants on Western Avenue alone and they are not all good. I guess my expectations weren't that high going in so I wasn't disappointed. -
Review from Jim K.
10/17/2011
Great Thai food in downtown Phoenix. Who knew? Great, friendly staff, and the owner is really engaged, helping deliver food, water, etc. The waiter recommended an amazing eggplant dish. On future visits, I will definitely try his other top recommended dishes.
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Review from Farrah F.
This review is for the solo diner on her lunch break. If you need a quiet place for conversation or a table for 3 or more, this might not be the best place for you.
About once a week I need about 45 minutes and a little bit of curry to get my head straight. The Thai Elephant is only an elevator ride away from my office and it is tried and true....CONSISTANTLY wonderful in every way. Though it is always crowded at lunch, there is always a table for one. The lunch menu isn't too skimpy, but is limited enough to make the choosing easy. The lunch prices are right. A full meal including rice, a spring roll and soup WITH a good tip is less than $12. With prices like that, how can you afford not to!!
I always get the masaman curry. It haver changes and is delicious every time. The wait staff is prompt and courteous and they always take good care of me. The place is clean and comfortable despite the crowds.
Again, I wouldn't come here for a lunch meeting or an office outing. It is way too small for that. I do recommend it for take out if you are the type to bring your curry to the offie!! (Do it! Your co-workers will LOVE you! Everyone loves the smell of ethnic food in the work place!!)
Thanks Thai Elephant. See you next week! -
Review from Kelly F.
Peoria, AZ
6/4/2011
Food was amazing! Service was friendly and quick. We ate the pineapple fried rice with pork (#85) and the pineapple coconut curry and both were excellent. Don't forget the thai iced tea!
Oh yeah, prices were reasonable. One entree can easily serve two people or provide good leftovers and ranged from $8-12. -
Review from shandiin y.
Mesa, AZ
5/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Very yummmy:) We ordered from the lunch menu about 1pm in the afternoon, it was busy so we waited for our table..not long, maybe about 5mins. If we were a smaller party we probably wouldve been seated sooner, alot of seats for 2-4 groups.It is very nice and cozy inside, they were very welcoming and attentive. Our waitress was great and very hospitable. The food and drinks came out very fast, they sure know how to keep up with the hustle and bustle of the downtown lunch rush, so i recommend this place if your in a hurry!
The lunch plate is enough for 1-2 people, 5 of us shared 3 plates and left pretty satisfied. They bring out miso soup with water to start, always my favorite.
Overall pretty good! The thai tea is always best in the summer! -
Review from Lisa R.
10/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Busy place. Decent prices. Good lunch specials. Average. The only reason they may deserve 4 stars...they have thai chili peppers. It's pretty small and noisy.
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Review from Chad K.
Phoenix, AZ
12/26/2010
Although you can find better Thai food elsewhere, Thai Elephant has its moments. On a not-so-busy weekday evening, the location is nice. A loud diner 5 tables down was raving about his meal, and I believe he called a friend to join him late into his meal. That says something.
The best part, however, was the eggplant in my green curry -- amazing. If I go back, I'll order something that highlights Thai Elephant eggplant. Mmmmm. -
Review from Joe I.
10/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
FANTASTIC. Service? 5 stars. Friendly, efficient, anticipates needs, gracious. Food? 5 stars. Delicious, came exactly as ordered, came quickly, portions were big, but we all ate every bite it was so good. Decent selection of beers, comfortable small space. I would eat here again and again if I lived in the area, but was just here for work. I recommend this restaurant highly and without reservation.
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Review from Evan B.
10/14/2010 4 photos
Don't let the name fool you, not one dish on the menu has elephant in it, and even when you ask they don't have any off the menu.
Due to the lack of elephant I went with my new thai usual, Drunken noodles with tofu. (7.95) with soup and a veggie spring roll. The soup was good and very strong from copious amounts of ginger. My noodles were good, but they were the premade style noodle, the wide variety of vegetables and texture of tofu really made this dish shine, I really like the skinny green beans and thai basil. The springroll was a bit cool and soggy, I think this is what we get for coming a bit late for lunch. The portion size was quite good, making the higher price acceptable.
There are a surprising amount of tables inside this small store front, and they can even accommodate larger groups as the many tables of 2 can be become tables for 2 4 6 8 or any number you can appreciate.
This is one of the few non chain places for lunch in the heart of down town, and its good too, give it a try, it can even work for a business lunch as it was not too loud and decent inside. -
Review from Claudia M.
Phoenix, AZ
2/27/2011
We eat take out here once a week and I pretty much always get the same thing. Panang curry with tofu and brown rice - spicy. The dinner portion is big enough to save half for lunch the next day or for sharing IMO. Sometimes I get overtaken by the tastiness and grub it all down in one sitting though.
I'm so glad they have a downtown location as I really enjoy the Tempe location for lunch.
The thai tea here is also quite yummy and could double as desert. -
Review from Sujan P.
Chicago, IL
12/12/2010 1 Check-in Here
Not authentic at all. Anyone who's been to Thailand and had street food there will hands down say that this is far from genuine Thai food.
1. Nam tok "beef salad"- since when does salad mean stir-fry? Disgusting. More disgusting? the mite sized insect that I found scampering on a lettuce leaf in the dish. That sucker was fast, I wanted to take a photo for proof! Also poor cuts of meat used (maybe that makes it semi authentic that no piece was left unused?)
2. Thai ice tea- actually good
3. Sticky rice- it's hard to come by sticky rice not transformed into dessert, so I was impressed when they had it. They microwaved the hell out of it and it was a hot, dehydrated chewy flat rice cake.
When I told the waitress that it wasn't very good and that the nam tok wasn't good and I thought it would be Thai style (which definitely wasn't that!!!) she said "oooh sorry!" and that's it.
No consolation prize.
I assume they're doing well by the benz that pulled up to drop off groceries, more like "gross-eries" -
Review from Sarah R.
Los Angeles, CA
1/31/2011
Worst Pad Thai I've ever had. Just horrid. REALLY expensive too. $14. I gave a $2 tip because I ordered it as Take Out. So $16 later for the worst Pad Thai ever. Ugh. Never again.
The only reason I'm giving this place two-stars and not one-star is because the service I received was pleasant and accommodating. Also, the decor was lovely. -
Review from Chris T.
12/1/2008 ROTD 1/5/2009
Holy Elephant Balls, Buddha! This place is incurrydible!!! Okay, okay I'll stop.
So my wife and I decided to hook up for lunch. She works downtown so I decided to head down that way and pick her up. I suggested Thai Elephant because I had never been, and she raved about the Pad Thai she had ordered a couple weeks ago. It's located on Adams just West of Central Ave., and parking is scarce. Make sure to have some change for the meter!
I knew I was at home when I saw the "People Love Us On Yelp" sticker on their door. It was about 1 pm so the lunch crowd wasn't in FULL effect. There were about 10 empty tables in which we had our pick. We sat by the window. My wife ordered the Drunken Noodles with Chicken (a la medium), and I ordered the Green Curry with Chicken (a la medium). A round of Thai Tea was also added to the bill. Our food came out in about 4 minutes, which came as a shocker! Yes, I said shocker... I was pleasantly surprised!
The moment I slammed my chompers onto the emerald dripping chicken, I became green with envy. Envious of all the people who have eaten here in the past and had such a precious secret hidden up their sleeves. I sniffled a bit, but not from emotion. It was the green curry and its beautiful spices stroking my mucus glands in just the right way. A bit of rice and a sip of the Thai Tea (I'll get into in a second) and I was right back on track.
The Thai Tea. Ooohhhh, the Thai Tea! It was $2.50 and twice as large as the ones I order from The Street. It was like being chosen by Ganghis Khan to sit alongside him in Xanadu and drink the Milk of Paradise (Rush Reference). It was sweet, as you would expect paradise to be, and creamy. I began to float out of my chair and harpies wiped my nose as I sipped the golden brown goblet of goodness.
Service was Spectacular
Food was Fabulous
Portions were Phenomenal
Dare I say it? 5 Big Ones, Mr. Elephant... and I shall return! -
Review from Amy D.
8/9/2009
While waiting for Ayesha to have dinner at Thai Elephant, I tried not to let the meth-crack-head who pretended to talk on the pay phone deter me from a great meal. She had no shoes on and walked up to the pay phone and started talking. It hadn't been ringing and she didn't dial a number.
I'm a sucker for Touch of Thai's catfish dish, and they had the same one on the menu.
It was good, but the fish was a bit overcooked. I would have liked a bit more "sauce" as the dish was a bit dry.
Service was excellent. My iced tea was refilled without asking throughout our meal.
Of course, spending and evening with Ayesha over spicy food as we both wiped our noses from the heat of curry can't be beat!Listed in: Thai! Can't get enough Thai!
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Review from RJ P.
Phoenix, AZ
7/13/2011
My favorite Thai spot in Downtown, mostly because it's such a feel-good story. Thai Elephant was at the forefront of Downtown's dining Renaissance, opening in 2008 and quickly bucking trends and becoming a popular lunch destination that was also open for dinner and on weekends.
Today, Downtown is a much bigger player in the Valley's restaurant scene and the newcomers owe a debt of gratitude to eateries like Thai Elephant, Hanny's and District American Kitchen and Wine Bar and the restaurateurs who weren't afraid to do Downtown.
The food at Thai Elephant is dependable and cost-friendly (you and a date can get out of there for about 20 bucks before tip). My favorite dish is Pad Thai but then again I'm not exactly a risk-taker when it comes to Asian fare. I also enjoy the soup that comes with every entree.
The only downside is how quickly Thai Elephant tries to turn its tables. It's small and demand is high so it's unlikely the staff will let you enjoy a long post-meal conversation with your lovely. They are mostly friendly with their words but their eyes are usually saying, "You don't have to go home but you can't stay here."
Still, it's hard to make a list of the best Downtown restaurants that doesn't include Thai Elephant. -
Review from Aileen B.
Updated - 1/16/2009
Impressive dinner tonight! However, it was a packed house, and it took over an hour for my Panang Curry to arrive. While I was a part of a large group of about 14, our particular group had 6 people. One tablemate's entree (Ginger veggie stir-fry?) arrived at least 20 minutes before the second tablemate saw hers (Yellow Curry). It was at least another ten minutes before the third tablemate saw his, and so on... I was able to sample my neighbors' dishes of Spicy Catfish (battered and fried catfish topped w/ bell peppers, basil, and spicy red curry sauce) and Swimming Rama w/ pork (topped w/ peanut sauce over steamed veggies). All three were AMAZING! I'll definitely order the Rama and the catfish next time!!!
Didi, our server, moved quickly, was efficient, and attentive, and was even helpful in suggesting alternate selections to those who had never had Thai food before. She even warned tablemate Ericka, who'd only recently discovered peanut butter as an entree ingredient, that she'd either love or hate the Rama. We were thankful that she rolled the dice and ordered it, anyway.
I hope that the kitchen crew can work out the kinks as far as pacing goes-I hope that by next visit I can up the review back to five stars!!
Ooh, do try the coconut ice cream w/ embedded grated coconut! Not as good as Yupha's homemade coconut ice cream, but still quite delightful :)Listed in: Ooh... Ahh... Ooh... Ahh, My Neighborhood I (Laveen, AZ), Thai Me Up...
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/6/2008
Had dinner here with a dining group a few weeks back. Had the green curry with chicken and it is… Read more »
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Review from Myles M.
Phoenix, AZ
11/16/2008
I've now tried Thai Elephant three times. My first two experiences were solidly mediocre -- nothing was awful, but aside from one delicious dessert (black sticky rice with pumpkin custard), nothing stood out, either. As a recent Bay Area transplant, I admit to being a bit picky, but in my 6 months in Phoenix, I've found several places that more than satisfy my rather frequent Thai cravings (Swadee in Chandler, Thai Lahna in Arcadia, Sala Thai in North Phoenix, and, in a pinch, Thai Hut in Central Phoenix). Until now, Thai Elephant hadn't really done it for me, but since the restaurant is literally 40 feet from my office and since other Yelpers seem to have had positive experiences, I was reluctant to give up on Thai Elephant without giving it another chance.
On Friday, looking forward to a relaxing night at home, I called in an order for Pad Thai with chicken, Panang Curry with beef (extra spicy), and Spicy Eggplant with tofu (spicy, which I thought would be automatic given the name, but apparently wasn't). I got home, meted out ridiculously oversized portions of the three entrees, and sat down to enjoy my feast.
Wow. I don't know quite where to begin, but to say that I was disappointed doesn't begin to cover it. The Pad Thai was about on par with the Taste of Thai boxed dinners you can pick up at the grocery store, only less flavorful; marginal at best, but edible. The chicken didn't stand out as being of particularly low quality, but the noodles were some of the worst I've had at a Thai restaurant (some bites were underdone to the point of being crunchy, while others were seriously soggy).
Sadly, the sub-par Pad Thai was the high point of the meal by a wide margin. The Spicy Eggplant was a bland stir fry of soggy, overcooked vegetables and limp tofu. The tofu appeared to have been fried as a large block and then sliced, and a few small pieces of eggplant were thrown in for good measure. The Panang Curry with beef was even worse. Though I ordered the dish "spicy," the curry tasted like straight coconut milk with a few drops of red food coloring thrown in. The beef was the last straw for me; it very may well have been the worst quality, most gristly meat I've had at any restaurant I've ever been to. I tried several pieces, and all were similarly inedible.
I really, really want to like Thai Elephant, but after the experience I had, I don't know if I can bring myself to give it another chance -- especially since I've found so many other good Thai restaurants in the Valley and since the second-worst Thai meal I've had since moving here was at Thai Elephant's sister restaurant, Thai Basil in Ahwatukee. -
Review from Millie T.
Richmond Hill, Queens, NY
8/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
While the customer service was ok, the place was noisy when I first walked in with other customers talking really loudly. THAT was really annoying coming from someone from New York! The presentation of the take-out food was certainly NOT appealing! It was greasy, and had everything but the kitchen sink mixed in with my fried rice! Definitely was not tasty. I do NOT recommend this place to anyone...
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Review from Maurice G.
Austin, TX
5/5/2008
I ordered take-out from Thai Elephant tonight and I was thoroughly impressed with a number of aspects:
1. They were open late on a weeknight, particularly a MONDAY, when 98% of downtown looks like 'I Am Legend'.
2. Portions are generous. I ordered Pad Thai for dinner that will persevere to be my lunch for tomorrow. An order of egg rolls comes in fives.
3. Prices are reasonable. I was expecting elevated prices to coincide with downtown rent and Monday convenience. Chicken Pad Thai was $11 and the egg rolls $5. Not bad considering that translates to two meals.
4. Use of space is charming. Classier than an upscale dive like like House of Nanking, but you can wear flip-flops there. Looks and feels very Feng Shui'd out, dressed in red and walnut.
5. Location is perfect, not only for my situation, but for other downtown denizens. Its pretty much at Phoenix's 0,0, where all addresses radiate outward unto the gaping depths of the Valley starting from there.
6. Most importantly, the food was delicious. The noodles were moist and heavy while the chicken was light and tender. I ordered 'medium' spice, but after the dish I was wanting more of a burn. There was also a shortage of scallions in the dish. I downed the few present in two small bites. The veggie egg rolls were tasty, crunchy, and flaky -- almost like a fried spring roll. I was impressed by the use of pumpkin inside. The accompanying sweet and sour sauce was much milder that what you typically get beside an eggroll and was a nice pairing.
I cannot think of a reason not to go if you are in the area.Listed in: Phoenix Dining
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Review from Mr R.
San Francisco, CA
10/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Decent food. Quick service. Staff could benefit from a little charm school. Other than that, its a great "quick" place for lunch. I have to give them a little extra credit -- they actually have fresh Thai hot chili peppers. For that I am impressed. Lunch seems to be just north of reasonable. I'll go back for a lunch special. I though the curry was pretty good. Although, nothing beats Lana Thai in Livermore, CA. That continues to be the most authentic oustanding Thai food I have had in my travels.
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Review from joann m.
Chandler, AZ
1/1/2012
Ok so I have always bragged how I loved Siamese cat all over yelp. Since they were closed today and I saw so many people on yelp claiming this placed was better, I decided to try it. I can only compare the one meal but so far I am perplexed what people are tasting. I got the satay. It's chicken satay compared to Siamese cat Mu Satay (Pork). The cucumber dressing at Elephant did not have one cucumber in it. It had some carrots and onions but not one piece of cucumber. The peanut sauce was not bad but not half as good as Siamese. I got the beef Panang which I was sorely disappointed in. It was way too sweet. I actually gave it away. At Siamese it has a very earthy flavor more than a sweet flavor. The Kafir lime leaf is very pronounced at Siamese which I love. Now, the people who ordered with me loved their meals so perhaps if they all go someday I'll try a noodle dish and compare that but for now. I'm staying loyal to Siamese Cat.
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Review from rhea j.
Phoenix, AZ
10/23/2008
Okay, Yelpers, you guys failed me twice ever since I moved here and that's why I haven't written a review in so long, but y'all have redeemed yourself.
First of all, I HAD to parallel park!?! WTF! It's okay. Yes, it was my first time being downtown and the crazies passing by my car at 11am on a Thursday morning was a little...welcoming. I was worried that I didn't have any change on me because I switched purses, but I found fifteen cents for fifteen minutes.
I ordered the green curry and pad thai--very spicy-- for take-out and I only waited for 12 minutes and it totaled up to $19.40. If I just ordered tofu instead of seafood I would have saved $3 because there were only 2 shrimps and a couple of pieces of squid.
OH! The decor was nice. If it were busy though you'd be able to have dinner with the people next to you because you'd sit THAT close to them...swinger status.
Yeah, I tried to play my order off as if it were for 2 people so I got two sets of chopsticks on the way out, but I'm halfway done and stuffed, but I still want to eat some more until my stomach explodes. KA-BOOM! Thai goodness. -
Review from Soo Jin M.
Scottsdale, AZ
7/30/2011
I tried the pad thai here since that's what I always get to gauge a Thai restaurant. The dish was slightly bland, a bit too sweet and not much else. I did not taste any lime or cilantro, or really anything that reminded me of Pad Thai.. The price is the same as any other Thai restaurant, but I think I'd prefer any other Thai restaurant...
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Review from Nadia C.
6/23/2008
Working downtown leads me to many hits and misses for lunch. Thai Elephant was a definitie HIT.
The place is small and cramped but the food service is quick and tasty. When you have limited time that is really all I ask for.
All meals are served with a small cup of soup, crispy egg roll and a cup of rice.... you basically pick some sort of vegitable (they ask how spicy you would like it) and add either: chicken, beef, tofu, shrimp or seafood. Meals range between $7-$9.
I am looking forward to going back again! -
Review from Melissa H.
Arlington, VA
1/22/2008
A small group of co-workers and I recently tried Thai Elephant for lunch one day. Wow, what a great find. We're always looking for places that offer decent to good food at a reasonable price where we can get in and out quickly if need be. Thai Elephant fit all three of those criteria.
Lunch cost about $10 each (that includes tip), so not bad at all, considering the portions were a good size. When you order, the waitress asks how spicy you want your food...another check for Thai Elephant! I admit I am not a huge fan of super spicy food, so I asked for them to go pretty mild on the spices, and it came out perfectly for me. I ordered the Siamese Basil with chicken and it was delicious. The chicken was cooked very nicely and was still moist, which I prefer (I am not a fan of dry chicken at all). The vegetables and rice sides were good as well...I left perfectly content but not super full.
Thai Elephant is really small inside and the tables are practically on top of each other, so if you are claustrophobic or don't want people to potentially overhear your conversation, this isn't the place for you. Service is fast and we were in and out in about 40 minutes. Parking is available on the street, although sometimes finding a spot can be a challenge. Great option for those of us that work downtown and are looking for a new, quick lunch joint.Listed in: Lunching in Downtown Phoenix
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Review from Michelle C.
Tucson, AZ
3/8/2010
Grabbed a quick bite here with my girl Amanda before hitting up a concert downtown, and the food was so tasty we should have just skipped the concert and stayed at the restaurant!
I got the drunken noodle - ordered it mild (I believe you can order mild, medium or hot) and it still had the perfect amount of spice. Amanda got hers with grilled tofu - it was incredibly good! Top that dinner off with a Thai tea and you have yourself a nice little meal! -
Review from Stephanie S.
Scottsdale, AZ
9/5/2008
Glad I made the trip downtown to check this place out. I had the Drunken Noodles with tofu, spiced medium. The medium was good but pretty mild; maybe next time I'll ask for a middle ground between medium and hot. I noticed that outer edges of the tofu were fried but the sides were totally white and not fried. I normally like total friedness but perhaps this was slightly healthier, so it's all good.
We split the Triangle Roti for dessert. Technically it's shaped like a sphere but it is cut like a pizza so you do kind of end up with triangles. At any rate, the shape is irrelevant; the main thing is that it's pure buttery sugary goodness. So light and airy I probably could have eaten the whole thing, but managed to exercise a little restraint. (I'm sure my jeans are thanking me for that!!)
The atmosphere is nothing special and it was kinda dead on Thursday night but other than that everything was perfect. The service was excellent. I'd definitely go back if I lived closer. -
Review from Trenton H.
Phoenix, AZ
12/19/2008
Contrary to popular belief among students of the ASU downtown campus, Phoenix really does have a lot of superb eateries - you just have to know where to look. And for those people like me who are often wary about venturing downtown for some grub, Thai Elephant is a great find.
Don't let the tiny venue fool you. What Thai Elephant lacks in size - and parking - they make up for with an extensive menu (and a really hot midday server). My favorite part is how patrons get to select their dish's spiciness, an added bonus for picky eaters.
During a recent lunch visit I opted for the Drunken Noodles with chicken, mild spiced. The delicious dish of Thai thin rice noodles sautéed with garlic sauce, yellow onion, carrots, broccoli, cabbage, basil and bean sprouts was the perfect size. I found the mild spice to be a little too weak for my liking, but a previous visit to Thai Elephant determined that my taste buds can't quite handle their hot seasonings. The veggies were fresh and not overrun with sauce. The chicken, though appetizing, was in short supply however.
I still left the eatery full and satisfied, especially with the bill. Lunch items are a decent $7 to$9, and dinner doesn't get any higher than $16 a plate. Throw in a drink and tip, and dinner can easily be under $20 a person.
And speaking of drinks, Thai Elephant has a delicious assortment of hot and iced teas, my favorite by far being the Thai Iced Tea.
The service is prompt and friendly, but on busier days (especially at lunch), they can sometimes be slower. That's when I choose to get my meal to-go. -
Review from Sean S.
12/14/2009
Scale of 1-10 (single visit):
7 Food
9 Service
6 Atmosphere
7 Value
Standard Atmosphere deduction for the television atrociously breaking up what would otherwise have been a nice quaint place.
The dessert (Thairamisu) was excellent and unique. The Massaman was really good, it just had too much chicken and not enough vegetables. I know I read other reviews saying "where was the protein?", but really I expect the protein to accent the dish, not to overwhelm it. I wanted more veggies. The green curry was the same, overproteined with not enough veggies, especially bamboo, but its flavor also wasn't quite as good as some other Thai places I've been to (Swaddees & Yupha). The Thai Veggie rolls were greatness.
The location is super though, so I expect that if I ever succeed in moving downtown, i'll eat here fairly frequently. Unlike most other reviews on here, my portions were large. Maybe they did lunch, b/c I went for dinner.Listed in: Downtown Phx
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Review from Michael P.
Pearland, TX
1/8/2010
Went with a group of 8 and had fairly high expectations even though one in the party had been to Phoenix previously and vaguely remembered having a crappy meal here. But, I sided with Yelp and pushed the group on. I wish I hadn't.
Around the table, someone ordered the pork chop and found it pretty tasty but that was about as good a thing anyone else could say about their dish. I shared the Pad Thai with the doubter and it was a bland sticky mass of noodles with way too many large blocks of tofu. In short, it sucked. But, it did give me a better appreciation for Thai back home in Houston.
Service, on the other hand, was great. Orders came out quickly. And, it was reasonably priced. Just stay away from the Pad Thai. -
Review from Angela G.
Phoenix, AZ
11/1/2010
Pleasantly surprised by Thai Elephant - and I love Evan B.'s comment about the lack of elephant on the menu. It's a small place, so maybe they didn't have room to prep the pachyderm for Elephant with Basil. But I digress...
Came here before a show at the Dodge and we were one of many tables doing the same. The waitress asked us before we sat down if we were headed to a concert afterwards - gotta love the attentiveness from the get go.
The food came out quickly and was prepared well - huge portions of food and tons of veggies in just about everything. Off topic - I've noticed that in AZ it seems that a lot of the Thai places put mixed veggies in every dish and just change up the carb, protein and sauce. Not a bad thing per se, but just a little strange. Case in point, my drunken noodles (usually chow fun noodles, onions, tomatoes and basil) had pad thai noodles with cabbage, carrots, broccoli, green beans and more. It looked exactly like the plate of pad thai plus veggie mix. Random, but it was tasty and I wasn't feeling like a snob ;)
I asked for my food "Thai Hot" and damn, it was just that. I'm a bit of a spice queen, and this was the first place I've been where it's been as hot as promised. Like lip-numbing goodness. If you don't like it hot, take it easy here.
I don't know if I'd take a separate trip here unless I was already downtown, but it was worth a return visit. -
Review from Chip D.
Tempe, AZ
6/6/2009
Just because it's full doesn't make it good.
When we first arrived this place as so full we barely had a place to stand. So we thought, "this place must be good." While we waited, a server came over to take our order. Then about ten minutes later we were seated.
As the food came out we both had the same reaction. Meh. The soup was flavorless, the pad thai noodles were undercooked the sauce in the red curry was watery, so much it was nearing bland. Which is unheard of in any Thai restaurant!
I won't be going back -
Review from Tracy K.
4/15/2010
Thai Elephant has made its way onto my "Special Friday Lunch" rotation -- an honored list of my favorite places for takeout and get me out of the office lunch spots -- and I couldn't be happier. A coworker told me about the place, and after trying trying their yellow curry, I was hooked.
Now, I'm no connoisseur of curry, but I know what I like and I know what my taste buds like, and this curry was faaan-tastic. I ordered it mild because my taste buds are a tad sensitive, but that didn't take away from the robust flavors. The simple ingredients of the dish melded together beautifully to create a spectacularly savory meal. And, it was quite the portion for a lunch item. I had to save half of it, which I was hoping to have for dinner, but accidentally left in the work fridge.
I'm already thinking about when I'll order from Thai Elephant again, and maybe the next time I'll venture outside my curry comfort zone to try some other menu items. But, then again, why deny myself the joy of their curry! -
Review from Meredith P.
Phoenix, AZ
2/24/2011
Thai Elephant has been calling my boyfriend's name since we moved downtown, so I finally caved last night. I haven't had Thai food in ages so this was going to be an experience.
Unfortunately, prior reviews had said that they were pretty much able to make their whole menu gluten free. False. Only the curry dishes, of which I'm not a fan, and the Pad Thai dish are safe. Everything else has a soy sauce base and they can't just "86 the sauce."
The Pad Thai was good and it came out extremely fast. Literally, I blinked and he had it on the table. Note to customers: If you're a spicy-food-junkie the hot will literally burn your esophagus. You'll love it! I ordered medium and my body hurt long afterward. It's mild for me next time.
If you're in a hurry definitely a great place to eat and run! Also, don't skimp on the Thai Iced Tea. You'll be glad you didn't.
