Lori, Terry and I had lunch here today. It was Terry's choice. They were seated when I arrived and I sat on the bench against the wall, next to Terry and across from Lori. We each had three menus, the regular menu, lunch specials and drinks, I think. I only looked at the lunch menu and chose spring rolls as my starter and pad see euw w/ chicken as my main and English Breakfast tea to drink, w/ almond milk and stevia. The others looked at both menus and found so many things appealing that it took them a while to decide what to have. Lori decided on a breakfast dish, a benedict, I forget what else was involved. Terry ordered a lunch special w/ gyoza as her starter and red curry w/ pork. Both lunch specials come w/ salads. The restaurant's décor looks much the same as it did the last time I visited, although now it sparkles w/ Christmas decorations. They have two gender neutral bathrooms. The one I used had three dark blue walls. The fourth wall was covered w/ strikingly beautiful wallpaper. It was pristine clean. Our server was warm, patient and helpful. I didn't ask her name. When the food was served it came on a lovely, large plate. The spring rolls were delicious, w/ a tasty dipping sauce. The pad see euw was flavorful and a generous portion and the salad was good too. I loved it all. We all agreed we loved our food, would order it again, but wanted to explore the rest of the menu and would return, w/ others or together. read more

Banana Leaf - My lunch today! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Oh, my, god...I still can't get over how good this place was!! This has got to be the best Thai Brunch I've had and there wasn't a single dish that we didn't like! Did I mention, they have bottomless mimosas for $22 and you can try different flavors with each new refill I highly recommend bookmarking this place for your next brunch! * Curry Puff * Thai Tea Pancakes * Stuffed French Toast * Spiced Maple Chicken & Waffle * Mama Pad Kee Mao * Kaeng Karee Gai Tod * Plumlicious Bacon * Bottomless Mimosas * Bloody Mary read more

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My friend who lives in the area had driven by and wanted to try Banana Leaf while I was in town. Thai hole in the wall places are our jam. We almost drove by as It is in an unassuming and small strip mall off busy San Pablo Ave but there is a parking lot. It was pretty quiet and empty when we walked in on a Tuesday night, but we were greeted warmly and seated quickly. They were busy with a bunch of to-go orders with delivery drivers and neighborhood walk ins. Everything looked great on the menu, but we settled on curry, pad Thai, fresh Spring rolls and Roti. Our food came quickly even with their to-go orders and everything we ordered was delicious! The roti was buttery and flavorful, the spring rolls crunchy with veggies. My curry was warm and comforting on a cold rainy night and I had plenty leftover for lunch the next day. I look forward to going back to try brunch! read more

I am so sad they closed already!! I been here for breakfast/brunch multiple times. I love them for their variety. They have something for everyone & whatever you're feeling. I can have breakfast, my mom can have lunch. And they have a great breakfast menu! I don't know anywhere else that had Thai Tea Pancakes. It was my favorite. read more

After years of driving by and thinking it would stay empty, I'm glad to see that Banana Leaf has opened up and is gaining traction! The restaurant is convenient in terms of location (I live in the area, so it's much closer than driving out to Berkeley or Oakland for Thai style brunch). Inside, there are plenty of booths and tables to accommodate for parties and the ambience is nice and cozy. I ordered the the Kaeng Karee Gai Tod (fried chicken, rice, curry, and roti) and Thai Tea Latte. The Kaeng Karee Gai Tod was the perfect size (smaller than what you'd get at Farmhouse in Oakland, but so much more digestable). It was filling and delicious; it didn't leave me in a food coma and the chicken was nice and crisp without being oily. The curry was more on the liquidy side but was still packed with plenty of flavor (although, be aware if you accidentally spill some one you! I had to put in work to remove a stain on my tan hoody left by the yellow curry). The roti was flakey, buttery, and so smooth with each pull! So yummy. When I took the first sip of the Thai Tea Latte, I was shocked at how creamy it was and how strong the Thai tea flavor was - so worth the $6! The service here was lovely; staff had my friend and I seated immediately and were swift and attentive when taking our orders and even following up. I really appreciate their attention to detail and ability to manage a busy restaurant! I'm excited to come back and try either their lunch combo (looks like such a deal with an appetizer, entree, and drink for $20!) or the duck breast loco moco! read more

I love this place! Great for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays until 2, but I can order off the lunch menu too! Thru Thai tea French toast is my favorite, but the basil fried rice, bacon fried rice and tom yum soup are great options too read more

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Beware: you are mainly paying for rice! This place was decent up until the recent change in management. Now if you order takeout, you get a skimpy little serving with the majority of each container filled with rice. Super-disappointing and feels cheaty. We were regular customers because it's only a mile from our house, but now we'll have to find a new place for Thai. On the positive side, no more jockeying for the limited parking with the Nug stoners. read more

This scrumptious new spot in el Cerrito is the perfect place for brunch, lunch or dinner. They have an extensive menu of options that are Thai influenced and perfectly blended. The Benedict options are quite a few and the BNNL option I tried was perfection. The French toast came with an option add eggs and their signature plum bacon. Highly recommend plum bacon it is very reminiscent of the millionaire bacon popular in SF and Berkeley. The Thai tea latte was also delicious and a verde t brunch drink. They have a wide variety of cocktails and an unlimited mimosa option as well. Great for large gatherings or smaller groups. It's in a strip mall with parking. Might be my new favorite spot for brunch in el Cerrito! read more

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What a pleasant surprise for us to find this gem of a restaurant! The decor is a mix of old school kitschy (like the painted wall of tropic plants) and contemporary decor (think updates light fixtures). We came for brunch and we're happy with everything we tried. Thai iced coffee was strong and sweet, noodle dish was flavorful and spicy, loco moco had delicious gravy and an obviously fresh beef patty, and the roti-rrito was a good combo and pretty unique (breakfast burrito made with a roti). The menu was big and filled with dishes we want to come back to try. If everything else is as good as the ones we've tried, this place is a total gem. read more

Banana Leaf - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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The individual who serves there is clearly racist! I should have trusted my instincts and left the minute I came in and got ignored. I dined alone. When the water came, it was placed at the edge of the table across from me. The drink was placed next to it. I wasn't sure how to feel about that. Let me show you!!! read more

Banana Leaf - I dined alone. The food and drinks were placed at the opposite end of the table. I had to reach over to get it! I could NEVER!! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cerrito, California

My husband and I frequent this place, and let me tell you, this place is a breath of fresh air in an area that's not too keen on standard brunch vibes. With a menu that offers cocktails and mimosas in the morning, they hits the spot for a delightful AM experience. decided to try the Thai Tea French Toast, which I think is a popular choice. And let me say, it did not disappoint! The French toast was infused with that distinct Thai tea flavor, creating a unique and delicious remix to typical French toast. But that's not all - I also indulged in the chicken and waffles, served with fresh strawberries. The combination of savory seasoned chicken, waffles, and sweet strawberries was a delightful mix of flavors that left me wanting more. The dinner menu looks equally enticing, as I haven't tried it yet...It looks delicious however. read more

Banana Leaf - Chicken and Waffles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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The service was pretty quick and friendly. When the food arrived it was visually beautiful and the taste was pretty decent. *Parking is limited read more

Banana Leaf - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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This was our first time dining at Banana Leaf. We celebrated a birthday with a group of 12 and we opted for the brunch menu and bottomless mimosa. The service was impressive. The food was delicious. Looking forward to dining here again. read more

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Amazing food and great service! The Thai tea pancakes were delicious Definitely recommend it. read more

Banana Leaf - Thai tea pancake! Hella yum - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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I went early in the morning on a Sunday and it wasn't too busy. Came here for a girls brunch date and it was very nice and the service was great. Always filled up my coffee and water and made sure we were happy with our meal. Will come again read more

Banana Leaf - Eggs Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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Very disappointing. The banana leaf omelet was overly salty and the potatoes tasted rancid. The Roti-Rito seemed promising, but ended up being mediocre: it lacked in flavor, had a strange combination of ingredients, and barely included any fried chicken. Their Thai food is better, but pales in comparison to the other Thai restaurants in the area. Will not be returning read more

Excellent! Food portions are just enough. The taste is 100%. The service is quick and the restaurant is clean. I appreciate the kids' menu. The kids pancakes were generous portion! The presentation was beautiful, and the staff was very nice to my daughters crying.. this is a kid freindly restaurant, and we will definitely return. Parking has a designated lot or you can park on the street. read more

Banana Leaf - So delicious - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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Come here for brunch! -quick service -fancy yet generous portions of food -has impossible patty add on We ordered the curry potatoes with fried egg and the Thai tea French toast. -potatoes were next level good: parboiled then double fried. Soft but crunchy! -French toast was stacked high with fruit and served with a yummy syrup. Delicious! read more

Banana Leaf - Thai tea French toast and curry potatoes in background - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cerrito, California

I have been wanting to try this place and I heard that they were now serving brunch. My husband and I decided to stop in for a quick weekday brunch, we came in an were seated right away. Quite a few people were dining. Server came over right away. She was very nice and attentive. Mango and peach mimosas were very good. I had the chicken and waffles both were very good. My husband had the banana stuffed French toast with scrambled eggs and bacon. He also enjoyed his food. We will definitely be back read more

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Shared amongst three people. Got the wings, the Thai French toast and I can't remember the third plate we got but it was more savory. I think it's a good balance because the French toast was pretty sweet. Barely any wait and waiters were attentive. Also they had $22 bottomless mimosas I think 60 min cap. read more

Banana Leaf - Honey lavender oat latte - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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Not impressed! The food is really spicy and cant adjust spice level. We had eggs Benedict and chicken curry. The service was ok but I felt like they were hovering when it came time to pay. Will not be going back. Overpriced food in my opinion. read more

Made a reservation here after my daughter's ballet class. It was a little out there from where we were driving from, but we had a good amount of time before our next appointment that day. It's a very cute diner-esque restaurant and the service was so friendly and attentive. The food was delicious and so camera worthy. We ordered the Thai tea French toast, banana leaf omelette and mini chicken and waffles and pancakes for the kids. We also got a mocha and matcha latte. The matcha latte I can tell was true matcha and not the powdered stuff. I loved that it wasn't too sweet. For the kids, they had plastic kid plates, utensils and cups which we appreciated a lot! Definitely worth the drive! :) read more

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Nice place. Tasty. But Thai menu isn't always available. Mostly breakfast lunch menu.

This place gives "country inn" vibes. It's decorated with wooden tables, chairs and benches. The wall signs (pic 1) also give a country feel to the restaurant. I ordered the Crispy Thai Tea French Toast but I was served the Stuffed French Toast (pics 2&3). How she got the order incorrect I'm not sure. I'm so glad I did not cut in to it. It has cream cheese in the middle...yuck! I was served the wrong dish but it was beautiful. The plating was very nice. The color of the French toast was perfect. Before I knew I had the wrong order, I ate the mixed fruit that was decorated on! My correct order came (pic 4) and I was a little disappointed. Mainly because of the coloring of the toast. It definitely did not look the same as the first order. Nevertheless I was committed to the order placed in front of me. This new order was supposed to be decorated with mixed fruit also. She explained because I had eaten the fruit from the wrong order I would not be served fruit for the correct order. Uhhhh, ok...LOL! This second order was not crispy and a little under cooked in the middle. Because I was committed I continued eating until I was full. Overall, it was 4/5. The homemade Thai tea syrup tasted like maple syrup. I added 2 eggs and a chicken sausage and the total was $28.67 (tax included). A breakfast for $30 was a bit much but everything has inflated prices these days so... As the day moved on toward afternoon it started to attract more customers. People were laughing and enjoying themselves which made me consider coming back to try some other things on the menu. read more

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I came here for the first time and I was impressed! We tried a little of everything. The service was nice and food was really good. I went with a couple of friends around 530pm for dinner (but they also have brunch on the weekend as well). It's not a large restaurant but there are a couple of tables that will seat around 6 people. My friends and I tried a little of everything but my favorite was the fried chicken over fried rice! It was so good... 10/10 recommend. My second favorite was the pad kee mao. It was a bit spicy, which I'm not usually a fan of but I loved the flavors. I will definitely be coming back to get these 2 items again. They have a cute Michelada drink, where you pour your own ingredients! And my favorite drinks were the honey oat lavender latte and the lavender spritzer! Presentation for these drinks were amazing as well! Give them a try! I will be coming back for brunch very soon! ***Parking is limited since it is a small parking lot Ig: Oohdearfoodie read more

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Such a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. I came by early in the day and was greeted with a smile and promptly seated. I had planned to try their breakfast, but after reviewing their menu I changed my plan and ordered a cappuccino made with soymilk (deliciously smooth!), a green papaya salad - Lao style (I had tried this salad in other places and I have to say the Lao style green papaya salad at Banana Leaf is the best thus far!), and a Yen Ta Fo noodle soup (red bean sauce gives this soup a unique flavor - I was in the mood of trying something new and the soup met my needs nicely.) Everything was delicious and I will definitely come back to try other dishes. read more

We have dined at Banana Leaf before, but we recently visited again when new owners took over the restaurant, and we were very impressed. While the interior was largely unchanged, the menu was revamped and the food was definitely elevated. The dishes were plated artistically with small details like a banana leaf under the appetizers and desserts, or fried basils laid on top of sauteed pad ped seafood dishes. These little touches made the food more visually appealing. The quality of the ingredients were excellent. The pad thai with prawns came with more than a few large succulent prawns and fried tofu, and the flavor profile was excellent, not too sour or too sweet. The pad ped seafood had good amount of fresh seafood, and good deal of bay leaves and fresh pepper corns were added. The curry puffs suggested by the server were flaky and delicious, as was the roti. The vegis in the papaya salad were so fresh and crispy. We enjoyed our meal very much and have book marked the restaurant as a favorite! read more

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Cute unassuming little spot across from Home Depot. My favorite kind of wheelchair access is when you push the button and doors open for you; it matters! Mom doesn't share food but I assumed it was great because she ate so much. I gave her the first try of my strawberry matcha and it became hers so I never got to try it. Her lemon ricotta pancakes were beautifully presented. My beef was a little chewy but it was very flavorful. Eggs Benedict were cooked perfectly. Such a unique breakfast menu. Definitely looking forward to another visit! read more

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The staff is helpful and you can tell that they are trying their best to accommodate the client . They show a lot of care and often smile as they walk by. The people there truly make you feel like you are welcomed to hangout at the location all day, very relaxing. The staff truly makes the experience. The restaurant itself is very pleasing to the eye , with a lot of nic nacs all around . It is fairly quiet and a very sunny location. The food is presented perfectly on appearance . I went in with my significant other and family. I ate the omelette which did not have much of a unique flavor. My significant other mentioned that the French toast was really good . And a family member was very pleased by the curried chicken. Unfortunately for the price, one would expect a little bit more for breakfast. We all left a little hungry still after having nearly a $100 breakfast. read more

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Banana Leaf is under new management and offering a great deal! Come and check out this brunch spot in El Cerrito before 5/13/23 and get 15% for dining in. We went for brunch last weekend after hearing about it from a friend. So happy we did! A bit of an unexpected location, I've been to the Home Depot across the street several times and didn't know about it. Now that I do, next time, I'll make sure to treat myself to another visit, even if it's just for a nice cup to pick me up - they make great lattes. This place offers a delicious thai twist to some of your brunch favorites. Check out some of the snapshots of our brunch. I'll leave it here for now because as they say a picture is worth a thousand words. But even more so, these pictures will have you more convince to try them better than any words I could ever write. Remember - go soon to take advantage of a great deal! Perfect timing too for Mothers Day! read more

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This place is cool from my 2st and only experience.y wife and I came in the a lil after they opened. They have bottomless mimosa for like $24 bucks I think regular mimosa is around $10 so if you can drink around 3 it will be worth it. They also have different flavors for mimosa. Food we ordered was good and what I expected, sweet. I'll have to try their other dishes next time if I make it back this way. It's right across from Home Depot. read more

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Pretty bad service I waited 45 mins and realize everyone else got their food. I asked the waiter for an update and he forgot about us and blamed it on system malfunctioning. So instead of making things right he said he can take my order now so over an hour before we get our food. There are better Thai places around avoid this place at all costs!!!! The portions don't match the price read more

Service, Presentation, Proportions, & Food were all perfect. I don't normally leave reviews but since this is a new spot I want more people to check it out. Definitely go here for brunch or if you're in the mood for thai food. read more

Banana Leaf - Thai Iced Tea & Strawberry Lemonade - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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I order the fried chicken burger and strawberry lemonade. It was really good and hit the spot. read more

Banana Leaf - Fried Chicken Burger with an Strawberry Lemonade drink - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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Came here for the bottomless mimosas and the food blew us away! We had an amazing experience and will be back!! read more

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Ordered food on Tuesday night for my children who were craving yellow curry and pineapple fried rice. I asked several times that the curry be mild, without spice, even mentioning that it was for my children. My ten year old took one bite of the curry and started begging for milk. He simply couldn't eat it - nor could I. This felt vindictive. I called the restaurant and asked them to choose a way to make it right 1) remake it 2) make us a second pineapple fried rice instead 3) refund it. They said that they'd refund the entire order. 4 days later and they've not done so, adding insult to injury. read more

Cutely decorated restaurant. Food was good. My crab on the benedict had no flavor but the hollandaise sauce helped a lot. The salad threw me off though. Weird to add a green salad to breakfast to me. read more

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Greeting by staff absolutely the best! I ordered lunch the veggie dish with salmon food was so fresh tasting and full of flavor. I really enjoyed my lunch and will have to try happy hour or even brunch. The waitress constantly check on us. Great service. read more

Hands down best brunch between Berkeley and Vallejo- so good!! The staff is great and the food is fresh and served hot. Every single thing was made to perfection. We had to order two separate orders of the crispy potatoes...one at the end of our meal because they were so good! I hope they turn that plate into a larger serving with a fried egg on top! We also got the Thai tea pancakes and I was nervous they were going to be too sweet- especially when they came out there was crispy cereal and some whipped cream on top. But they were actually perfect and not too sweet. We can't wait to go again. If this place was on Solano Ave there would be a 45 min - 1 hour wait for sure. Go before they become more well known. read more

I think the first things that comes to mind here is that the food is fun, great portions, creative, and bursting with flavors! The service was good; nothing to complain about. The ambiance was nice. It was cute and clean. Overall, it was nice! read more

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