The service was good, yet the food was overly sweet. My Chicken Spring Roll was full of veggies but lacked chicken. The sauce was mostly garlic. I got the Bomb Bomb, as it was recommended by the server. Even at a level 4 spiciness it lacked spice. The dominant flavor was sugar and lacked any other flavor. One of our party got the Pepper Beef which, again, was dominantly flavored with sweetness. I wish I had gine with my other choice of Pho or Green Curry. read more

Despite being short staffed, they nailed the food and service. It reminds me of other hole in the wall Thai places where you go there for the food and homey feel. The interior is unique and true to its name, Blue Elephant. The fresh spring rolls were...really fresh and so was the crab Rangoon. The Pad See Ew with chicken turned out great and medium spice level was perfect for me. Give this place a go! read more

Exclent Food was good, recommend the noodles, the pad Thai with the palm sauce. Service was really nice and the restaurant is well decorated. read more

I placed a carryout order while visiting town. I ordered steamed potstickers, chicken pad Thai, and mango sticky rice. The potstickers were great and the pad Thai had great balance. The mango sticky rice, though, must have magic as the first ingredient and joy as the second. It was absolutely outstanding! read more

Fresh, hot, tasty, ordered for pick up when staying overnight in town! Seemed a little on the pricey side but very good!

This is a great, tucked away place for decent pad thai and thai food. We got crab rangoon and shumai as starters, and they both came out piping hot and delicious. We also got entrees and had plenty to take home for leftovers. The food comes out steaming hot. I got crab fried rice, and it's made with real lump crab meat! The pad thai was also really good. Service was excellent. The bathroom was neat and clean. The interior of the restaurant is calming, cute, and clean; I love the wall of plants! We'll be back, their menu has lots of options I can't wait to try! read more

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Great wontons! The ambiance is a little weird, I felt too close to the next table but once the food came it was all good! Great service. We will go back!! read more

Blue Elephant is our Thai go-to when takeout is convenient. In the years we've enjoyed this Coralville gem, we've never dined in but rarely are we disappointed with the freshness or quality of their to-go orders. Most entrees are big enough to feed two if you order appetizers. The red pad Thai isn't really my thing but the traditional brown is fire. I adore their vegetable rolls. Pricing seems on point. Order online for pickup! Closed Monday. read more

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Just traveling through, and Coralville was my night's destination. Checked into the hotel, and then did a yelp search of local restaurants. I try to avoid chain restaurants if I can when traveling, looking for local cuisine. I was quite surprised at how much unique restaurants were in this town. And all within a mile of my hotel. The blue elephant, won. I ordered the eggrolls, and chicken satay. Both appetizers. Oh my goodness, they were delicious. There was a tour bus in the parking lot, which kept me from eating inside. So I brought it back to my room. This is a place that I wish we're located near me. read more

Fast friendly service and amazing drunken noodles! My second choice was pad Thai so next time! read more

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I can't believe I am just trying Blue Thai for the first time. It was recommended to me as the best Thai food in the area, so I ordered take-out tonight. It was so amazing! I ordered the chicken pad Thai and some crab Rangoons. They both had a great flavor. You can choose the level of spice as well. I love spicy but wasn't sure of how strong it would be, so I went with level 1. I definitely think I can go higher next time, so it's not an overpowering heat. The order was super quick as well, and it looks like they have plenty of seating inside if you choose to dine in. I'll definitely be ordering again! read more

Blue Elephant Thai Restaurant - Chicken Pad Thai - Thai Near Me - Coralville, Iowa

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Great Thai restaurant! We had the drunken noodles and the Penang Curry both with chicken; so good. It is our go to Thai in Coralville and Iowa City area! read more

Blue Elephant Thai is a hidden gem conveniently located right next to one of my favorite nail salons. Their food is always fresh, authentic, and full of flavor. We've eaten here plenty of times, and while we did experience food poisoning on one occasion, it hasn't stopped us from coming back. Things happen, and we're fine now. The many great meals we've enjoyed here definitely outweigh that one hiccup! If you dine in, the cozy ambiance adds to the experience, but their takeout is super efficient and well-packaged. Some of my favorite dishes are the Pad Thai, which has the perfect balance of flavors, and the Green Curry, which is rich and satisfying. If you're feeling adventurous, try it spicy! (My fiancé and I both have a high spice tolerance, so their food isn't spicy at all to us. But for the spice-sensitive, it might feel like a bit of a gamble.) The menu and spice levels lean slightly toward Americanized Thai (options like crab Rangoon) with flavors that are sweeter and less spicy, but it's still delicious and absolutely worth trying. The service is always friendly and attentive, which makes me even happier to support this small business. If you're in the area and craving Thai food, this spot is definitely worth a visit. I'll be back! read more

We are in Iowa City visiting our daughter who attends the University. We looked up some different t restaurants and thought we would go with Thai food tonight. We walked in and there was a sign that asked patrons to be patient because they were low on service staff. However, we were given water and had our order taken pretty quickly. We were surprised that there wasn't fried calamari, but saw some fresh spring rolls being served at another table so we went with that appetizer. The dipping sauce was a Thai Chili Sauce and not a peanut sauce, which was not what we expected, but my husband liked it better. The menu says it is 2 pieces, but it is 2 long rolls cut j to thirds. Still a little pricey, but it was nice and refreshing to eat. My husband ordered his usual - yellow curry with chicken. Unfortunately, he was less than impressed. The rice was very dry (didn't even stay together in the little bowl-form). The curry was unusually thick and not much chicken in it. He ordered a 2 out of 5 level of spicy and he said it wasn't spicy at all. I ordered the traditional chicken Padt Thai and it tasted like chow mein. The noodles were thin rice noodles, more of a vermicelli than the typical wider Padt Thai noodles I have eaten in the past. The flavor was good, but I ordered a 1 out of 5 spicy level and I didn't taste even a tiny bit of spice either. The ambience was a bit bright for a typical restaurant at night. Service was great, but I was a little put off that I wasn't offered chopsticks with my Padt Thai. We both walked out tonight unimpressed. read more

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The food was excellent. It was the perfect amount for me in the middle of a road trip. The decor inside is fun to look at as well. The parking lot is small but there is plenty of parking available. I would come again! read more

Blue Elephant Thai Restaurant - Tofu Fried Rice - Thai Near Me - Coralville, Iowa

Wish I lived closer! We visited Blue Elephant for a weekend lunch. We ordered the Thai Hot Wings, Pad Ki Mao, and Panang Curry. The Thai Hot Wings were fire! We loved the sauce on them and wiped it all up with the carrots on the plate. We got a 2 for the spice level on the Pad Ki Mao and Panang Curry based on the waiter's recommendation. I am from Iowa, but I like spice. My husband is from the South and likes his food to have a kick. That was the perfect amount of heat for us, you could feel it, but it wasn't overpowering the dish. The Pad Ki Mao had an array a fresh veggies which made it even better. Can't wait to come back and try more dishes... read more

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I work all over the country and it's quite rare to find a Thai restaurant that has a Pineapple Fried Rice that isn't filled with meat & seafood. Blue Elephant makes it so that you can just pick a protein for almost all of their entrees - a vegetarian's dream! I love the options & I love their food. It's my favorite restaurant in Coralville so far. read more

By far the best Thai food I've had. My waitress was extremely nice and the service was fast!! I definitely recommend if you want to try something new or get a classic. Also such a cute place read more

Hidden gem in Coralville! I got the shimp/chicken pad Thai combination plate, it was delicious! My only complaint was that there were only two shrimp included in the combo. Shrimp at Asian restaurants can sometimes be a gamble, but it paid off in this case! I also got the coconut juice, which I expected to be a can, but instead came mixed in a glass with pieces of real coconut l! Service was quite slow, but there were signs posted everywhere apologizing as they were short staffed. Despite being slow, was very friendly and accommodating. Definitely a good stop if you like Thai food read more

Blue Elephant Thai Restaurant - Pad Thai - Thai Near Me - Coralville, Iowa

Delicious Thai food. Would 100% eat here again. The servers were very kind and prompt for clearly being short staffed with a full restaurant. read more

Blue Elephant Thai Restaurant - Pad Thai (after I had a few bites) - Thai Near Me - Coralville, Iowa

Believe the buzz around town - this place is IT! Delicious Thai food in a casual setting and hosted by friendly staff. I really enjoyed the Pad Thai with chicken (traditional) at a spice level of 1 (out of 5). It looked like a TON of food (and probably was), but I practically licked the plate clean. The pot stickers were paired with a tangy sauce that give them a little something extra. It was a nice touch. The crab rangoon was also light and crisp. My husband ordered the Drunken Noodles with a spice level of 3 (out of 5) not knowing how spicy their scale gets. From his observation, he felt like he should have gotten a 4, meaning to order a step up in the heat if you are unsure! Posters throughout the restaurant warned about staffing shortages and chances of dishes taking a while to make, but I would have never known. Our service was considerate, the dishes were prompt, and I never picked up on any stress. We will definitely be back! read more

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Delicious, flavorful food. Great portion sizes for price too. The owners are very friendly and answered any questions we had. The vibe here is casual, sit-down dining. I tried lots of new things that I haven't seen in standard take-out Thai restaurants. They also took me seriously when I requested my food to be spicy, which is awesome! read more

Blue Elephant Thai Restaurant - Thai Near Me - Coralville, Iowa

We have been to the Blue Elephant about a half dozen times this year and always have had friendly and excellent service. The menu offers a large choice and we aways have had great tasting food. We usually order entrees and have plenty left over to take home. The quality of the food and the steaming hot food served to us make us always eager to return. read more

Some of the best Thai food in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area. While service was a bit slow, they clearly communicate that they have been unable to hire enough staff when college isn't in session. read more

I have always had great food from Blue Elephant whether we dine in or do take out it is always good. I really like their crab rangoons, they are so tasty and you get 6 of them! We ordered online and it was ready when it said it would be. Sometime you can wait a little while for your food, but they are always very kind and let you know before you order if there will be a longer wait. I love the casual dining space it is for dining in. This is my go to Thai restaurant in the Iowa City area read more

Blue Elephant Thai Restaurant - Pad MaMa and Crab Rangoon - Thai Near Me - Coralville, Iowa

I ordered the Pad Ki Mao, it was very good. Service was pleasant and fast but the wait was long (because they were packed) which I took as a good sign of good food. I ordered to go but as I was waiting inside it looked quaint and clean. I plan to take the family soon so we can try different dishes. read more

My fourth trip to Blue Elephant and each visit I've had something different. I haven't been disappointed yet! First of all, the staff is wonderful - very friendly and happy to make recommendations. Tonight I had the Blue Elephant Noodles - I chose a spice level of 3 which was perfect for me. The dish was a mixture of stir fried glass noodles with egg, onion, green peppers, Thai sweet basil and chicken - it was DELICIOUS. I did not leave one noodle behind!! My friend had the Combination Pad Thai. This was a mixture of stir fried rice noodles, eggs, cabbage, green onions, chopped peanuts, shrimp and chicken in a light sweet and sour sauce. A heat level of 4 was chosen and my friend was quite pleased. It was another dish where he almost licked the plate! We'll both make a return trip and no doubt try another amazing dish! read more

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The service was wonderful. The food was very fresh and flavorful. You could the food was authentic and made with love. The portion sizes were filling. I will definitely be back again! read more

Blue Elephant Thai Restaurant - Thai Near Me - Coralville, Iowa

Was good, taste was really great, good ambience. Easy to get a table anytime. Good service

Great food and service, we showed up with a group of 14 without calling ahead, last minute decision. despite our lack of planning the staff jumped in and said give us 10 minutes and we can get you seated. They did and then proceeded to satisfy all 14, including the vegetarians and vegans in our group. Highly recommend. Food was delicious read more

Our first time at Blue Elephant and the food was excellent. We ordered potstickers, hot and sour soup, drunken noodles, and mixed vegetable stir fry. Everything was hot and delicious, with great flavor and spice. Service was great, waitresses were very welcoming and friendly. Restaurant was very clean and the atmosphere was great. Will be returning next time we want Thai and are in the area! read more

One of the best Thai restaurants I've been to in a long time, the food was fresh and fast. I did a 3 Star for spicy which in some Iowa Thai restaurants it doesn't have much heat, but this one does. I can't wait to travel back and upgrade to a 4-star! read more

Blue Elephant Thai Restaurant - Spicy shrimp basil - Thai Near Me - Coralville, Iowa

A great choice for Thai food in the area. Not the best I've ever had but absolutely far from the worst! I'd recommend for anyone with a decent palate and a hankering for Thai! read more

My go to place since the Covid days. I love it being open now...and the staff is so good. The food amazing..Peanut sauce on task. I've been to many Thai restaurants but this may be my favorite... try it.... read more

Blue Elephant Thai Restaurant - Shrimp wonton soup and chicken spring rolls!!! Pure heaven - Thai Near Me - Coralville, Iowa

I usually always order chicken pad Thai as my first dish at any new Thai restaurant I try as this gives me an idea of their style of cooking and the freshness of their ingredients. I ordered the traditional pad thai. They had two styles of pad thai (2 different sauces) on the menu. The flavors were pretty decent, the noodles weren't my favorite as they were thinner than I prefer. Nonetheless, it warrants at least another visit to try more dishes. They were packed when we arrived around 6pm. It appears to be a very popular spot so that says a lot. They were a little short staffed however, it was posted so that guests could see. We weren't in any big hurry, nevertheless, being short staffed didn't seem to slow down service. The ambiance was bustling, and the restaurant was very clean and smelled delicious the moment we walked in. read more

Vincent our waiter was such a doll! The food was amazing and we Really enjoyed our time. :) The ambiance is very nice as well. read more

Blue Elephant Thai Restaurant - Thai Near Me - Coralville, Iowa

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This is the first time my husband and I try this restaurant. The one that we used to go that had authentic Asian Thailand taste was unfortunately closed. There was not any salad serve with the foods. I ordered Tom yum, and turned out it the taste is already Americanized. Tom Yum soup they have contained coconut milk (I believe), and it is missing the strong and flavorful of lemon grass, kefir lime leaves and galangal. The mushrooms look old and the tom yum flavor did not incorporate into the chicken, and I guess they made them separately. But the good thing is they have the right level of spiciness. My husband ordered chicken yellow curry. which to my surprise it's too much too sweet and the taste more like Japanese curry! (I lived years in Japan) and again just like the case with Tom Yum, the yellow curry and the stuff in it did not have incorporated taste, the carrot tasted like steamed ones, and the chicken tase blend. The service was nice but if you pay with CC, you will get charge 3% extra. Personally, I am sad, because the real authentic Asian Thailand (not Americanized), are really hard to get. I hope people are at the same perspective with me. When you want to try others country's food, you should accept their authentic food, not adjusted with local preference, then you will have the real experience of their original food and appreciate. read more

Went here with friends. For appetizers, we had chicken satay and fried pot stickers. The drunken noodles were very flavorful and fabulous. The fried fish dish in a yellow curry was also very good. The curry was yummy and the fish was lightly breaded and cooked to crispy perfection. read more

Really cozy little place. It was like 10 below zero the day we were here and their soups were nice

We were already fans of this restaurant, but today they showed up big and we had the best Pad Thai we've had in a very long time. Everything was perfectly cooked, sweet, spicy, and crunchy in the right places. We also had the massaman with level 2 spice and it hit just right. The iced coffee is a must-try and has a surprising spice to go along with the sweet. They are understaffed, but upfront about it and super helpful and kind. We will be back in hopes of replicating this visit! read more