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Wat Mongkolratanaram
Categories: Restaurants Thai Religious Organizations Buddhist Temples Thai, Buddhist Temples [Edit]
1911 Russell St(between Martin Luther King Jr Way & Otis St)
Berkeley, CA 94703
Neighborhood: South Berkeley
(510) 849-3419
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Breakfast, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
Great Happy Hour, Vegetarian, Thai Cuisine
470 reviews for Wat Mongkolratanaram
Review Highlights
"Mango Sticky Rice - hands down the best."
(in 150 reviews)
"I have tried their papaya salad as well."
(in 70 reviews)
"The thai iced tea was delish as well."
(in 93 reviews)
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470 reviews in English
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Review from Kelly T.
1/23/2012
It's the weekend. You may have had a previous rough night out, or maybe you are just lazy and can't get out of bed. No more worries! I have a reason for you to jump to it on a Sunday morning: Thai Brunch at the Buddhist Temple.
A short walk from BART, or a bike ride if you prefer... and you will find yourself in the land of goodness and fulfillment. I recommend getting there early! I have gone a little later into the morning and a lot of things were sold out. That being said, everything that I've had is super tasty, even the less popular options that tend to last through the crowds.
I recommend you a) get there early as I previously mentioned, b) bring your own container and cutlery, c) prepare to pop a squat on the lawn and enjoy, and finally d) get a thai ice tea- they are wonderful!
Now let's talk strategy. When you get there, prepare for a crowd. Hand your money to your friend and send them to the token table while you wait in line for your favorite dish. This is key. A lot of time can be wasted waiting in lines as a group here, so use your people-resources to your advantage people!
That is all. Enjoy your Thai Brunch. -
Review from Christina G.
Walnut Creek, CA
1/24/2012 1 photo
Everyone else explains the step-by-step process of getting food here pretty well, but here's my strategy for a successful Thai temple brunch: exchange money for tokens (they have $20 cups of tokens prepared) - canvass the offerings and decide what to eat there and what to take out - get your take out food and eat-in food at the same time - get your drink (Thai tea or coffee for $1, but they also have bottled water) - pig out!!
Some other general tips...
(1) Arrive early because they run out of popular dishes like yellow curry and pad thai. They were out of those by noon when I went. If you are taking out, get your take-out food before you sit down to eat. Based on how much you order, the curries and noodle dishes can range from $5-7 for 1-3 items.
(2) Exchange at least $20 because you can always change it back.
(3) Bring tupperware if you'd like to take home food, and when you give it to them to fill, make sure the lid is off. The line for the food splits into vegetarian and non-vegetarian offerings, and there are signs posted of what is available and how to place your order.
(4) Try the noodle soup. My Thai friend tells me that Thai noodle soup is difficult to find in restaurants. Choose between 3 types of rice noodle at the booth. The broth has daikon, celery and carrots in it. For an authentic Thai taste, add vinegar jalapenos, chili flakes and a pinch of sugar at the condiment table.
(5) Back toward the garden, there is a stand that makes fried taro root with coconut and khanom krok, an hors d'oeurve made in a special waffle iron. These are best eaten right away when they're hot and crispy. The bite-size khanom krok has an interesting flavor - coconutty with a sprinkling of chives. It was not my favorite, but the taro was absolutely delicious and just sweet enough. You can order as many of each as you like, but $5 got me about 10 khanom kroks and 2 taro treats.
(6) Seating is cafeteria style so be prepared to have to squeeze your way in between chairs and socialize with your neighbors. When finished, dispose of your dishes in a designated area on the other side of the wall next to the token-exchange stand.
It's a fun and unique experience! -
Review from Jennifer Y.
San Francisco, CA
1/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
Wat the hell.
Why didn't I come here sooner! It's been on my list for years and finally got a chance to hang out with monks. And by hang out with monks I mean just eat really good Thai food. I converted my money into tokens with a smile. I bought a large beverage in a Coca-Cola cup that tasted just like Thai Iced Tea. Ooh deceiving. Confusing. Yummy. I stood in my line of choice and waited patiently behind several others for my soup. I grabbed some napkins, chopsticks, and place to sit. Closed my eyes with each bite and hoped I'd turn into the Dalai Lama.
Food served on Sundays from 10-2. Come early or you'll be sorry. -
Review from Kelly C.
Alameda, CA
1/8/2012
Went here for the first time today. We showed up today right before 10 (when they open) so were able to acquire tokens and peruse the food options before lines got long.
The way it works is that you head towards the drink table which also serves as the token table. Trade your cash in for tokens to pay for the food. Find the food you would like and wait in line.
We had the noodle soup today. I really wanted to curry but the Mr. wasn't feeling it and after analyzing how my body felt after a crazy weekend I decided my stomach probably didn't want curry after all the vodka it's been infused with in the past 48 hours. So we went for the noodle soup.
They recently raised their prizes so it's 7 tokens (1$ per token) for a bowl of noodle soup. It's a very large bowl so after taking taxes and tip into consideration you are probably paying the same as you would at a regular noodle or pho joint. However you are supporting the temple. Which I think is cool.
The food is top notch. It tasted great. But we got there at 10 and by the time we left at 11 the lines were CRAZY!.
I would definitely go here again. Minus one star because of the ridiculously long lines... which is not their fault but instead a statement of their fantastic food and energy.... but I hate lines :) -
Review from Ryan W.
1/15/2012
One of the more memorable eating experiences I've had. On a beautiful Berkeley day, there's no better place to go for a healthy, heart-warming Thai meal than this beautiful temple in the middle of a residential neighborhood.
After you grab your tokens, county fair style, you get in line for deliciousness. Be sure to grab some superstrong Thai iced tea, coconut fritters and flavorful vegetarian curry. You can sit at a table, or Indian-style in the garden amid herbs and vegetables growing out back.
So lovely. I wish I could eat here every day. If you're a serious eater traveling through Cali, this place should be on your list. -
Review from Albert W.
Berkeley, CA
12/11/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I still remember the first time my freshman (2008) suite mates asked me to come here. It was a Saturday evening at around 11pm.
"Hey Albert, wanna go to Thai Temple with us?"
"Sure, when?"
"Sunday, we leave at 10am at the latest."
I thought it was insane freshman year to be even considering waking up at 10am on Sunday, but it's well worth it. My freshman suite mates and I have been coming here as often as we can since living together to catch up on life and to remember old times. In fact, I just got back from here!
We've always taken the bus lines here, or just walked from Foothill (Hearst/Gayley). It's always peaceful to walk around Berkeley Sunday mornings since people are either hungover or not insane like us.
Anyway, when you arrive you must exchange your cash (and only cash) for tokens. Afterwards, you can get in line for whatever you want. I'd suggest you exchange about $8-10 for tokens. The money I've been told is a donation to the temple. There's everything from red curry, yellow curry, pad thai, to a noodle soup and even mango sticky rice. I suggest as a first time you get the yellow curry, pad thai, and red curry, as well as Thai iced tea. The iced tea is a bit too sweet for a lot of people, though.
My only problem is the seating here. it's always a hassle finding places to sit, and sometimes you'll get really close to strangers. They also run out of food if you come too late. Plan to get here before 11:30, and come on a Sunday that isn't during the academic year (or during finals week!) if you want to avoid the long lines.
Other than that, it's a very sweet perk of Berkeley I will really miss when I graduate. Will definitely come back as much as I can before I leave! -
Review from Ben Z.
Rowland Heights, CA
1/25/2012
One of the best eating place around. I think most of the other Yelpers covered the main points, so no reason to reiterate.
But I will add that 20$ may be a little too much. $10 is more than sufficient to feed oneself. And getting their late means: no food, no seat, and a great deal of ;P. So don't make that mistake as I did.
All in all, amazing place that everyone ought to try. -
Review from Kawena V.
Oakland, CA
1/2/2012
amazing sceret in berkeley/oakland!! Starts at 10 and goes on till... the foods done! haha everything is amazing but i highly recommend the noodle soup, its a bit similar to Pho, but different in its spices and such because it is a Thai Soup and not Vietnemese.
Always give a BIG tip to try to atleast get there before 11, that seems to be when the line goes from reasonable all the way to the entrance into the temple! the noodle souple line also gets long quick. The veggie and non veggie items are always the quickest.
ive gotten then REAL early before.. like 930, but it didnt really help, since they cant sell you anything all you can do is get your tokens, which yes is cool cause you get a head start but that line doesnt get that long till 11.
ANYWAY REALLY RECOMMEND FOR ANYONE WHOSE LIVING UP HERE AND STILL HASNT TRIED!! its really good food and a great way to help the local temple in donations. Its every Sunday. -
Review from Erin G.
Berkeley, CA
1/1/2012 1 photo
What I ate: Pad thai, kabocha with basil, Thai iced tea
Visit date: January 1, 2012
First time? No.
Ah, the Thai Temple. Seriously, can it get any better? The food here takes me back to my Thailand travels and if you can do that, you've won my heart/stomach. The food is consistently tasty, their portions sizes are huge so you get to enjoy your food in the leftover form at least once more, and they have the best prices in town for Thai food. I want to know how big their pans are because they cook up a feast! This time I had the veggie pad thai -- a lovely balance of flavors with a hint of sweetness and crunchy bean sprouts to complement the softness of the noodles. The kabocha -- o man, I crave this stuff. Kabocha has got to be one of my favorite foods. I usually eat it in dishes with other veggies (i.e. in pinakbet with okra, eggplant, bitter melon, string beans...), but in this Thai dish, kabocha is the star and I am a happy camper. The dish also had tofu, and though it only plays a supporting role, it took on some kabocha flavor which made it very appetizing. And here's the big finish -- the Thai iced tea. Perfection. It had just the right amount of sweetness, it's served icy cold and it leaves you wanting more.
This is great place to take visitors or meet up with friends and hey, you could probably even take boxes of food home and serve it at your dinner party. ;) -
Review from Monica S.
10/29/2011
The food is pretty good, the ambiance is amazing, and rolling out of bed on a Sunday to amble to the Thai Temple Brunch is the closest South Berkeley has to a secret handshake.
Their options expanded recently, and now there's a wider selection of Thai street food options to supplement your curries and mango-sticky-rice.
Bring your own container/silverware to earn karma points.Listed in: Bay Area Braggin', Meatless Friendly
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Review from Jessica W.
San Lorenzo, CA
10/11/2011 2 photos
This place is pretty awesome. There's a lot of different choices of food (including vegetarian options).
First you should go early to avoid long lines for everything, and for the street parking.
When you first arrive you have to get in line to exchange your money for tokens. After that you can get in which ever line you want. The vegetarian food line, the meat food line, the dessert line, and the drink line. There's a
"suggested donation" for the different foods that they have.
What I tried while I was there: yellow curry chicken, red curry chicken, pad thai, thai iced tea, mango sticky rice, and the coconut dessert. All of which was deliciousss. My favorites out of all the things that I tried were the pad thai, mango sticky rice, and the coconut dessert. At first I was a little skeptical about the coconut dessert because of the green onions in it, but it totally brings the flavors all together in the end.
I would also suggest bringing your own tupperware, because I definitely wish that I did when I went.
My only regret was that I came here at 10:30am trying to beat the crowds, and that's just a little too early to have thai food for me.
Other than that I'm definitely going to come back, but next time a little later. -
Review from Thomas K.
San Francisco, CA
1/24/2012
Only outdoor sitting, but the noodle soup was excellent!
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Review from Amy G.
Berkeley, CA
11/22/2011
The token exchange process is a little silly in my opinion but this is yet another one of those Berkeley experiences that amounts to much more than just food. When we went they were playing music, selling Thai souvenirs, and fundraising for the flood in Thailand. The food itself--I got pad thai and a green bean entree--is just average, and even on the pricey side. I followed yelp recommendations and got the kanom krok, a coconut waffle-like dessert that is really overpriced at $5 a tray. If you get dessert, I would suggest the mango and sticky rice for $5, which includes both purple rice, white rice, and pudding. Definitely check this place out for a fun time. It can get expensive, though--I spent 11 dollars/tokens total. I want to come back and try to the noodle soup! Oh yeah, and bring your own tupperware.
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Review from Anna K.
Berkeley, CA
7/28/2011
For about a month, I used my tips that I got from work to buy a breakfast meal for my whole entire family of five.
One tip: BYOT Bring your own Tupperware. I'm pretty sure you get more food this way. And if you have rice at home, you can ask for a la carte (without rice).
The Buddist Temple Experience:
1. Parking: This can be difficult if you come past 10:30 AM Park of Russell is blocked off, so there is actually only 1 block for parking. I usually come a bit after 10 AM, and there is only one space available. I would recommend biking if you are in the area.
2. Go in line and exchange your cash (CASH ONLY) for tokens. 1 token = 1 dollar. *If you have another person with you, you should have him/her stand in line for food because the lines can get quite long.
3. Food: There are lines for drinks (thai tea and coffee), vegetarian food (squash, eggplants, pai thai), nonvegetarian food (red beef curry, yellow chicken curry, and you can also get pai thai in this line), pho, dessert (fried taro and coconut rice pancakes). and lastly one for pre-packaged items such as spring rolls and sticky rice and mango).
4. Price: for food items- 5 tokens for 1 item, 6 for 2 items, and 7 or 3. I think most desserts are 5 tokens and same with pho. Drinks are only 1 token.
5. Either grab a seat or race back home to share the thai goodness!
Honestly, you can't go wrong with any of the food. Sometimes, some of the items on the menu are blacked out, which makes me super curious and slightly disappointed, but when I taste the food, anything negative disappears. I would highly recommend coming here for both the experience and the food. -
Review from Sandy C.
San Francisco, CA
7/10/2011
Can you say hidden treasure? I can't rave about this place enough. For the past three Sunday I wanted to come here but every time there was something that would come up last minute. This place quickly capture my heart and stomach. I came here around 1030am and the place was packed! My bf got the curry with chicken over rice. It was the best curry I ever had. I had the noodles soup with small noodle. You can choose from small, medium, and large noodles. I wanted to try the medium but it ran out. The coconut and mango pudding was good. I can't wait to come here again.
TIPS:
For those people who never been here before. Here is some tips: there usually one long line when you walk in. Please don't line up if you don't have tokens. You can exchange your money for tokens at the booth toward the left hand side. It's right next to the Thai ice tea. $1 = 1 tokens and the food range from 5 tokens to 7 tokens. If you end up not using all your tokens you can either exchange it back for your money or you can keep it for next time. I can promise you would come back. -
Review from Cheddarj E.
Berkeley, CA
1/1/2012
Love the Sunday brunch here. Been a regular for over a year now.
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Review from Alice L.
Berkeley, CA
Updated - 6/26/2011 2 photos
I come here to get my Kanom Krok fix. They make fresh batches continuously, pouring the coconut batter into the eggette-like pans, pressing down and producing piping hot "coconut rice pancakes" with green onions. They are crispy, slightly browned on the outside and creamy on the inside. For an extra token, you can get some fried taro cakes on the side as well, which they fry up on the spot in a wok. I also go for their deep-fried bananas and fish near the plates/sides section because they are a good deal. Yes, HELLO coronary disease waiting to happen.
The mango and sticky rice is the complete package, coming with both white and black (unmilled) sticky rices and a side of flan. They also serve sticky rice with crispy fried chicken in the form of an entree. It costs 7 tokens, but is downright savory. The sticky rice, which btw lacks the polysaccharide amylose differentiating it from regular rice, is a really refreshing combo with the chicken.
Lastly, you can't beat their $1 Thai iced teas/coffees, which do not taste diluted at all.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/25/2010
delightful place to go on a Sunday morning.
Entrees:
Pad Thai - pre-cooked with little ingredients,… Read more »
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Review from Lynn P.
8/26/2011
While it's virtually impossible to get authentic Thai food anywhere in Northern California, I will go ahead and vouch for this place as it at least offers some dishes not commonly found in a lot of wannabe-Thai restaurants that only offer the old standbys. However simple "Gai Pah Loh" (Five Spice Chicken), "Kanom Krok" (potato pancakes), and the custard with black sticky rice dishes are, it is refreshing to see them available here along with huge steaming bowls of noodle soups.
Now if I can only find my favorite (mostly seafood) dishes: mieng kum (leaf wrapped appetizers), hor mok (curried fish custard), choo chee pla (fish curry), pla dook foo (scrambled catfish salad), and the simple kanom pang na moo (crispy pork on toast) somewhere outside of L.A. -
Review from Liem L.
Berkeley, CA
1/8/2012
must go before 11A when they start running out of dishes...soup is great.
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Review from Louis S.
Marietta, GA
11/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
This a great place to spend your Sunday morning brunch. Not a restaurant by any means but, the food is wonderful and the money that you pay for the tokens in order to get food go towards the temple. It's a great way to raise money for the temple, and it will be some of the best noodle soup that you have ever had. Just a nice way to start the day.
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Review from Jenna L.
Berkeley, CA
6/5/2011
Today was the first time I've ever been to Thai Temple. Luckily, it wasn't that crowded... according to my friend. (Crowded = line around the block apparently)! And the place was om nom nom!
Basically, what you do is you line up to exchange money for tokens (to buy your food. $1 = 1 token) and how it works is kind of like a Thai Panda Express. You can choose rice + 2 entrees for 6 tokens (6$) or rice + 2 entrees for 7 tokens (7$). Thai Tea and Thai Coffee are 1 token each and both are REALLY good!
I tried the 3 entree plate with rice, cashew + pork, red curry, and pad thai. I LOVED the curry and cashew pork... But I would DEFINITELY PASS on the Pad Thai next time.
The downside is that this place is only opened from 10am-1pm Sundays, and you've got to walk about a block to get to the temple. DEFINITELY a must-try! Worth the driving/bussing distance! -
Review from Gabriela G.
Los Angeles, CA
10/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
There's so much I want to say about this place that I almost don't want to say anything at all. Go and experience it for yourself. Bring cash. Make new friends in this social setting, eat some of the best authentic thai food outside of Thailand. Only on Sundays 10am-2pm. Get there before 1pm (sometimes if you get there after 1pm they are almost out of food). And learn the following words: Sawadi-Ka (hello), Korp Kun-Ka (thank you), Mai-Pet (no spice/little spicy), Nit-Noy (medium spicy), Pet-Mak (very spicy), Arroy-Ka (pronounced "Aloy-Ka" means: Delicious Thank-you)
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Review from Roxana D.
Stanford, CA
9/5/2011
I was first introduced to this place three years ago, when I did an internship in Berkeley. When I went back to Texas, it was all I could think about every time I ate Thai food. I have the luck to be back in the bay area now, and I often make the 45 minute drive over JUST to have brunch here.
Yes, it's better to get there early because they do run out of food. However, the times I've arrived late, I've been able to enjoy a shorter line (at the cost of missing the delicious Thai tea).
When you get there, you go down between two buildings and you need to figure out the token line from the food lines (token line is in the left corner away from the food; this is also where you buy drinks). First, you need to go exchange your dollar bills for tokens, and then, the tokens can be used to buy food. I usually order "to go" because I can't finish all my food! The pad thai is delicious, as are all the curries.
For dessert, the mango sticky rice is the way to go. Simply fantastic.
It can be hard to find seating -- it's all outdoors. We usually send a friend to reserve a table for us while the rest of us order for him/her. This is a very "Berkeley" experience. -
Review from Jean L.
4/25/2011 2 photos
This is such a great local place. Five stars all the way.
Came in around 11, and parking was a bit of a hassle, even around the MLK area. However, it's not too bad if you're willing to walk a block or two. Exchange your money for tokens, and then exchange tokens for food/drinks/dessert!
I love the soup noodles, but they ran out of the thin rice ones so I got the wider version instead. If you're picky about getting exactly what you want, you probably would want to come earlier to avoid getting alternatives. Anyway, they placed fresh bean sprouts and other vegetables in with the noodles, and then poured generous ladles of hot broth on top. Delicious, and my bowl managed to stay hot despite waiting for my boyfriend to get items from the non-vegetarian rice plate line. At only 6 tokens (= $6), it was really quite the deal.
My boyfriend ordered the rice plate with curry chicken with vegetables and pork with bamboo shoots. Again, this was only 6 tokens. The shoots were tender and the pork was flavorful. As for the curry, it was very aromatic and everything in it was cooked nicely. Portions for both my noodles and my boyfriend's rice plate were extremely generous.
I also got the mango sticky rice, and it was pleasantly good. I like the black rice much better because I thought it was chewier, but both are very good with the custard, mango slices, and drizzled condensed milk pairing.
Seating is community style and the place is pretty packed, so don't be afraid to share the seat next to you and possibly meet some new neighbors :)
A few other notes:
- Thai tea is only a dollar here
- A lot of the condiments by the noodles run out, so do not be dismayed and head over to the other condiment stand by the dessert side
- Pick up after yourself and recycle/compost your throwaways
- You can bring your own tupperware
I highly suggest a visit if you haven't yet been, and I'll definitely come back.Listed in: Le Locals, I'll kiss my diet bye-bye for…
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Review from Jon B.
San Francisco, CA
8/1/2011
First and foremost, being awake, dressed and in a large crowd of people at 10:45 in the morning, standing in line for spicy Thai food is NOT really "me" but I had heard the legend of the Thai Temple for years and went at the invitation of a friend while I was housesitting in Berkeley.
Thankfully I read the Yelp reviews prior, learned the tokens for food system and felt pretty prepared. It was definitely what I'd call a very Berkeley experience. There were people of every size, shape, age, dress, nationality and class communing at common tables and in the grass. Most everyone, including the people working, were very friendly and patient and helped newcomers figure out all the lines.
The food, as reviewed, is not spectacular but is quite adequate and tasty and for $6 on average is a good deal. Thanks to those reviewers who insisted on the Kanom Krok! That was a mouthful of warm, tasty goodness!!
For $12 total ($6 for 2 veggie entrees, $5 for the Kanom Krok and $1 for the Thai Iced Tea) I got a stomach full of good food, some fantastic people watching and that only-in-Berkeley sense of real community. I would definitely return for the experience, although not specifically for the food. -
Review from J C.
Berkeley, CA
11/20/2011
Delicious, fresh, with quality ingredients. The flavors aren't overpowering; they seem authentic. There are so many options, but the mango sticky rice is a MUST!!! If you get full on other things, at least grab a serving of it to go for dessert, you won't regret it! Don't let a rainy day scare you away-- in fact, it's less likely to be crowded when it rains, and there are covered areas to sit.
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Review from Joy X.
San Francisco, CA
11/16/2011
You exchange dollars for tokens (don't worry about changing too much, you can change them back), with which you can order food.
Yes, you can mix vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, even though you line up in front of each of them respectively.
The standout dishes for me were the 1) yellow curry (veg or non-veg both great) and 2) pork and egg. Sticky mango rice is also yummy, as well as those white disc-looking things that are kind of flan-like. -
Review from Cassy H.
5/9/2011
Thai Temple is what I call this place. It's located in a residential neighborhood in Berkeley (kind of near the Ashby Bart station or rather across the street from Berkeley Bowl/Walgreens). Anyway, a random Thai temple among residential houses... only in Berkeley. Opens at 10 am, so come early to avoid long, long lines and lack of seating space.
I've been here a few times before and have always enjoyed their Thai food, especially after a long night of partying... this is comfort food for your hungry tummy.
Steps to getting your Thai temple food
1. Exchange your US dollars for silver tokens at the token booth. How many tokens do you need? No worries, there's a board with the exchange rate at the token booth. $1 = 1 token
2. Wait in line (vegetarian or non-vegetarian or noodle station or whatever else you want to eat) and order to your hearts desire. Let them know if it's to go or for here. If you want to be green and do it the Berkeley way, bring your own tupperware.
3. Pay your meal by dropping tokens in the little container.
4. Find seating at one of the long tables.
5. Enjoy and clean up after yourselves when you are done!
I ordered pad thai and yellow curry w/ chicken. LOVED IT. Furthermore, I decided to be a little more adventurous and try this coconut with chives flavored gelatin like dessert thing and turnip cake type of thing. Obviously, I have no idea what those things are called, but they are located next to the noodle station (kind of hidden), but definitely different than the traditional and popular mango sticky rice and worth trying for 5 tokens.Listed in: My "A" List, Thai and Me
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Review from Brandon Y.
San Jose, CA
7/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Ahhh Thai Temple...if ever I am in B-town on a Sunday morning, always try and make an effort to come here with my friends...
It's pretty much always crowded, but of course it would be due to the food and just the experience of getting street-style Thai food with tokens. I'm a fan of their curries and Thai Iced Tea, so I always get those when I stop by. The Pad Thai is tasty, and last time I went, I had eggplant, which was okay as well. Price is average or slightly above depending on how much you eat (and really expensive compared to Thailand itself...but that's a given...)
Finding seating is usually pretty difficult, especially with big groups, but it is well worth the wait to get some great Thai food. -
Review from debbie t.
4/22/2011
I always feel like I'm spending way too much money here! hahaha It's for a "good cause" or "donation" so I guess it's okay.
Thai Temple, as this place is better known on Sundays, it's pretty much a local thing. It's only truly worth it if you get one order of food, which is $5 for a hefty plate. For an extra dollar you get an extra side on the same plate. The portion of food remains the same no matter how many sides you order, which is why it's only "cheap" when you order one or two sides.
Skip the Pad Thai and go for the win with the Tofu Pork! And Green Curry! And, Spicy Green Beans! And, Mango Sticky Rice! The Mango Sticky Rice is simply amazing!! Two types of sweet sticky rice, black and white, and fresh mango, and custard! YUM! It can be overpowering and a tad too sweet and yes expensive for $5, but I LOVE eating it so much that I order it every time I come.
Thai Temple is just a wonderful experience. Not the best Thai food in the neighborhood and far from being the worst. I love stopping by Berkeley Bowl to browse after I'm done eating here--browsing off those calories I just earned..hehe Try walking here from campus. It may seem a bit long, but it's really not too bad, especially when you're with friends or an ipod.
Oh! Bring your own tupperware! They love that and will fill it up! =]
P.S. Parking is a BITCH! Turn on MLK instead of Shattuck and try parking there...you'll have much better luck.Listed in: [East] Bay Area's Best
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Review from Johnny A.
Oakland, CA
6/15/2011
When i stumbled upon this place i was worried at first. It is a place set up behind an actual Thai temple that serves food from tents.
Boy was i happily surprised when i got the food, it is 5-7 tokens, 1 token =$1, depending on how many items you want to get and then 1 token for any drink. The Thai ice tea is fantastic, and the food is a must have!
My Girlfriend and I will usually get 20 tokens and both leave extremely stuffed and satisfied usually with a few tokens to spare for the next time.
This is certainly one of my favorite places to go and i come here almost every Sunday now, be sure to get there early because the lines get long and they can run out of food around 1pm. I would suggest getting there around 11am, walking around to see all they have to offer and then make your decision. I highly recommend this place and do not think you will be disappointed as long as you like Thai food!! -
Review from Umesh T.
El Sobrante, CA
3/27/2011
What an awesome bang for the buck! And what awesome food! I am so thankful that I was introduced to this sunday brunch spread at the Thai temple.
It was rainy the first time I came here, so the crowds were not maddening, as everyone says, and we easily found a place to sit; but it was still pretty full.
Over the course of a few more subsequent trips, we have had the chicken red curry, chicken yellow curry, pad thai, and jasmine rice amongst others. And the chicken curries were really really delicious --- as good as any other I have had before. The pad thai too was good though I have had better at other places.
To my amazement, they had black rice for the mango sticky rice, and I had almost never seen this rice anywhere else except at my home town in that little forgotten corner back home. The custard-like slices of toppings on the sticky rice went really well with the black rice. It was a definite winner! The white sticky rice too was really good, though I have had better elsewhere (which is not to say that it's not good here --- you will not be disappointed).
Our two generous entrees, two thai iced teas, and a shared generous portion of mango sticky rice came to just about $20!
Have I mentioned that it's hard to beat the bang-for-the-buck?
Cash only. -
Review from Grace L.
Berkeley, CA
6/20/2011
can't believe i never came here as a student! First off, the temple is located in a residential neighborhood, almost looks like a house transformed into a temple. There's ample street parking and there were signs that said parking was available at Any Mountain too! The food is served from booths and there is a lot of variety! Here what I can remember:
Pad thai (vegetarian options available)
Yellow Curry with chicken
Red Curry with beef (?)
one other curry i can't remember right now
Fried Chicken with herbs and sticky rice
Mango sticky rice, coconut ice cream with fried banana, Krog (kind of hard to explain but really good) and soup noodles!
came with 3 other people and we unanimously agreed the pad thai is really really good, I really liked the fried herb chicken too! portions are pretty generous too, you can definitely share an "entree" and leave feeling very satisfied.
the place gets really crowded between 10-12 and there are a lot of seats but only 2 shaded areas so it can get hot under the sun. oh and they only accept donations (cash only) which you can exchange for tokens to buy the food, $1 = 1 token. -
Review from Dmitriy S.
San Diego, CA
Wat Mongkolratanaram, or simply "Thai Temple," is as Berkeley as you can get. It's one of those places that make Berkeley so special, and a must for pretty much any Cal student. No wonder it's almost impossible to ever find a seat here. I've been waiting until my last few weeks at Cal to review Thai Temple, so here it goes.
I do regret not coming here more often. It's pretty tough to wake early on a Sunday morning and walk all the way to Russel and Adeline, but I had to do it one last time. This time, I got the yellow curry chicken and pad thai on a plate of rice. For $6, this was a pretty huge portion that kept me full for pretty much the rest of the day. They give very generous amounts and the flavors are what you would expect to taste if you went to Thailand, unlike many of the common fast Thai joints around. Their pad thai is nothing fancy, but also delicious.
The best way to finish off your meal is with some mango sticky rice. For $5, you get a delicious plate of white and black sticky rice, huge pieces of mango, and a soft jelly like substance that I still have yet to identify. Not too sweet and bursting with delicious flavor, it's better if shared between a few people. I don't think I would be able to finish it by myself.
One of the best things about Thai temple is that all of the proceeds go to help the temple itself and the community it supports. Amazing food, great company, wonderful atmosphere. There's really not much more to say! -
Review from Patricia Q.
San Francisco, CA
4/17/2011 4 photos
A really wonderful neighborhood experience! I'm writing now from a Thai-temple food coma induced nap...but boy, the food was really great.
I went there this morning for the first time with two friends. The first thing we did was exchange our money for tokens. I love this idea. One, as a temple, they can't be selling food anyways--hence the tokens. And two, it's a super efficient way to get your food. The lines move fairly quickly, and their is an abundance of food everywhere!
A friend commented that it felt sort of like a night market, with all the different food vendors everywhere. I agree with that assessment somewhat. It was a really great way to start my Sunday morning.
As for the food itself, I had the pad thai, yellow chicken curry, and the pork and egg five spice tofu dish. They were all very, very good. The pork and egg five spice being the standout here.
The thai ice tea and the mango sticky rice are winners. They made my meal for me.
I'll definitely be coming back here soon! I can't believe I didn't start coming here for brunch sooner. -
Review from Vicky P.
Berkeley, CA
11/11/2011
I've been here a few times, and it never disappoints! I usually aim for between 10:30 and 11, and I've never had trouble finding places to sit. I group bigger than 3-4 might have an issue with that. I've gotten a multitude of entrees, including pad thai and a few different curries, and everything was pretty good! The only thing that I've been disappointed with were the veggie spring rolls, definitely pass on those. I think you're safe with any curry. The mango with sticky rice is a little pricy but worth it in my opinion--they use black rice, which I've never seen before. Also, save a token for the thai iced tea, definitely worth it!
Overall, it's a pretty solid thai "brunch", and although not super cheap, the food quality/deliciousness matches the price. -
Review from Adriana V.
Berkeley, CA
7/18/2011
Kanom krok: Five stars
Pad thai: Two stars (underwhelming texture and flavor; it's been sitting in a steam tray!)
Mango sticky rice: usually four, but also sometimes three or five.
It's a little overpriced for what it is, and too much of a scene, but the kanom krok compensates for that.
This is a pretty fun place for a brunch date. -
Review from Kat C.
2/23/2011 15 photos
SO COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If it wasn't for Yelp (or my friend Jmak), I may never have known about this sacred treasure.
Before you can join the feastivities, show yourself to the donation table and exchange your benji's for temple tokens. The suggested donations aren't really "suggested" because they will ask you for the exact amount of tokens when you order your food. It shouldn't even be called donations :P
They have a nice selection of delicious thai dishes from noodle soup to fried chicken to curries. What's thai food without all the spicy condiments?! There's a small table stashed with jars of peppers, spicy thai sauce, and so forth.
Noodle soup is my favorite! Choose from 3 kinds of noodles (thin, regular, or thick) and pop your peepers as they generously fill the bowl with meatballs, cilantro, and other magical toppings submerged in piping hot broth.
The meat curry was very tasty, especially with the hot peppers and thai sauce but not my favorite.
If you have a token or 2 leftover, grab a thai iced tea. Does a body good.
Portions are generous! I've seen people bring tupperware to stash the extra goodies for later. I recommend getting there right when they open because it gets crowded fast.
Winner -
Review from Raul H.
Berkeley, CA
5/8/2011 16 Check-ins Here
This is the only place where I can find the best Thai noodle soup. I mean, I can't believe this is the only place that makes it this way.
So, I religiously go there every Sunday and get my soup to go. I bring my Tupperware and enjoy it in the comfort of my own home.
FYI, the soup is bomb! -
Review from Julius O.
Berkeley, CA
2/6/2011
A Berkeley institution.
Come early, and you need to exchange cash for tokens. $1=1 token. $10 is more than adequate to eat here. No cards.
Here a rough map of the facilities, the caret represents you walking towards the back of the temple:
----D
T--N
B--V-----N
^
B: Beverage booth, connected to T.
V: Vegetarian booth.
N: Non-Vegetarian booth (Think sticky rice is sold here too).
T: Token booth to exchange money across from N.
N: Noodle soup booth across from T.
D: Dessert station booth.
If you can't find a place to sit and eat, go back out to the front of the temple, and find a place to sit at the Berkeley Library on MLK & Russell.
