a cute place with unique Thai items. mussel soup highly recommended - it's a lot of mussels and the broth is just addicting. Super zingy and spicy. We had a nice server - she got a heat lamp for us bc we sat outside:) def recommend if you want something different from the usual pad se ews and thai fried rice. read more

Funky Elephant - Chicken Party Wings - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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We had a large group of 10 and were excited to try this place as we had read great reviews in the SF Chronicle. We had also heard it was opening a location in the Mission District soon. Our experience here was mixed and I'll explain why. First and foremost, our waitress was a little gruff. One of the persons in our party says the more accurate description is "rude" but I'm going with "gruff" and "direct." In any event, her tone and manner were definitely not welcoming. My assessment of her demeanor did not have to do with FE's strict policy for large parties (that all members of the party must be present, etc. which I totally understand, but which also was repeated to us many (i.e., 4-5) times). Service aside, the portions here are on the small side. Usually when we order Pad Thai, it'll feed 3 people maybe 4. Here, the serving will feed 1, maybe 1.5 persons. Further, the dishes are somewhat pricey. We ordered pad thai, crispy rice salad, papaya salad, brussel sprouts, mussels and a curry dish and the bill was $350 for all of us. That's quite a sum for lunch. On the bright side, some of the food was great. The brussel sprouts, in particular, were fantastic. I actually cannot stand brussel sprouts but I couldn't get enough of these. The Pad Thai was also above average. Very flavorful and probably one of the better Pad Thai that I've had. The papaya salad was not very good in my opinion. Extremely small (probably about 1/2 of what a regular person's whole portion would be. We ordered two servings and each person only could take approximately one "large tablespoon" of salad. We ordered one spicy and one non-spicy because one person in our group doesn't handle spicy food well. But even the "spicy" portion was a little bland. Overall, I'd give this place 3 and 1/2 stars. read more

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Went on a day trip to Berkeley with my fiance and we decided to try out Funky Elephant! Between us we shared the pad thai old skool and the motherland curry with wild rock cod fish! The staff were kind and gave us extra bowls as we told them we were sharing our food. * pad thai old skool 5/5 it was so delicious, the noodles were perfectly chewy and not anything like the usual pad thais I get in San Jose. The flavors were complex and unforgettable! I think next time I would definitely ask to add a fried egg on top! * motherland curry 4.8/5We tried this dish on a whim, we actually thought about getting the party wings instead but decided to try the curry last minute! I'm not sure if it was supposed to be served lukewarm but the reason why I docked some points off was because I wished it was piping hot when we ate it. read more

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We stumble across this place was blow away! Awesome food and drinks. We meet our friends there for dinner and they loved it and ordered everything for our table! read more

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Came here on a Friday evening to have dinner and we were able to be seated immediately. We shared the crispy rice salad and yellow curry, along with a Thai iced tea. The service was great and the food came quickly. I really enjoyed the food and appreciated it as much as I did the other location in San Francisco. I would come back here! read more

Funky Elephant - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I've been wanting to try this place for months and it was as great as I hoped for! I came here for dinner on Sunday with my family and we had a lovely meal. We came around 6pm and managed to grab a table. It's a small restaurant with only a few tables inside and a couple more outside. Service was friendly and attentive. We ordered the party wings, grilled pork, and lucky pork. Everything was delicious. I really enjoyed the flavor of the lucky pork salad and the grilled pork was tender and well seasoned. The standout was definitely the party wings though! The skin was crisp and the meat was so juicy. The chili sauce was so unique and added so much flavor to the wings. Such a perfect spot for great thai food! read more

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This is a very small place with some outdoor seating with about 4 or 5 small indoor tables. The menu is not very big. The dishes were on the smaller side but very flavorful. Just a warning the party wings were definitely on the spicier side. Service was good. read more

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Everything about this restaurant is fantastic! It offers the best menu for my gluten free/ nut allergy that I have ever found in a Thai restaurant. I love the quality and authenticity of what the award winning Chef O provides. Try the Motherland Curry or ask for nut free Pad Thai. "O"mg! read more

Came here for dinner at 8ish and was pleasantly surprised since I didn't realize it was next to the Philz. It's pretty small but we were lucky that there was only one other table that was eating. Interior vibes are super fun, feels less of like a restaurant and more of someone's first floor with all of the themed decoration. The mural on the wall for the restaurant was also great, whoever did it massive props to them. We ordered a beer and thai iced tea, and also: crispy rice salad: fantastic, so herby and delicious. accidentally ate the dried chili and started dying which reminded me that thai food takes it's heat SERIOUSLY pad thai: never mad about it and also they come with full shrimps. tbh the shrimp was a bit underflavored in my opinion / I think they could have it been marinating in a sauce better papaya salad: fantastic, highly recommend, delightfully spicy and they had the dried mini shrimps that were great overall, would come back again read more

As I was going through East Bay from Davis, I wanted to try this Thai restaurant in Berkeley that I saw on Tik tok. There was plenty of street parking on a Wednesday afternoon and it was located next to a Philz and a Office Depot. When I walked in the, the space was very small and cramped, so I requested to eat outside. Crispy Rice Salad (3/5): I must warn you that this is very spicy and forced to indulge a whole jar of water. Despite the spicyness, it was still worth a try. The rice was crunchy and exploded in my mouth with great citrus flavors. I wrapped the crispy rice with the lettuce to balance the citrus flavors with a calmer taste. It was difficult to finish with a party of 2, so I recommend this for a party of four. Party Wings (4/5): These wings were huge! It come with five pieces and pieces included a drum stick and a flat (so ten pieces if you separate it). The wings wings are crispy and so sweet with the chili sauce. Be careful it could be messy too! Old School Pad Tha (4/5)i: This is your traditional Pad Thai, but sweeter and comes with two larger prawns. I'd definitely recommend this place when coming to Berkeley read more

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Came for lunch around 12:30pm as a group of 6. There were a few other groups seated but we were able to grab a table on the patio. The restaurant is pretty small but not very busy for lunch so you should be able to walk in. Food: Crispy rice salad - fantastic, we asked for pork on the side which they were able to accommodate, lots of different textures and flavors, it's served in a build your own lettuce wrap format which makes for a fun eating experience Fried brussel sprouts - really tasty, the sweet chili glaze was so delicious, sprouts were well cooked, crispy without being greasy, spicy but balanced definitely order some for the table Party wings - so good, wings were meaty and juicy, also had a delicious sweet sticky slightly spicy glaze very tasty Pad Thai - delicious, sweet tangy noodles were tender with a nice springiness, topped with large prawns, bean sprouts and peanuts Motherland Curry - good, really balanced, creamy curry with a bit of coconut, rice noodles were tender, topped with a few pieces of cod Sticky rice - great for soaking up the sauces for the various dishes definitely grab a side to go with the wings or sprouts Service was good, friendly prompt and efficient, water was refilled regularly, dishes came out fairly quick and were delivered as ready. Overall fantastic Thai spot in Berkeley, curious if the SF location delivers at the same level but thoroughly enjoyed every single dish we ordered. Highlights for me were the crispy rice salad, brussel sprouts and party wings. Would definitely come back to try other dishes on the menu! read more

I'm not sure if it's because I was starving or not, but wow this has to be some of the best Thai food I've ever had! I want more! We tried the Drunken Mussels, Fried Brussel Sprouts, Green Papaya Salad, Pad Thai, and Green Curry Beef. Everything we had was so delicious! The definite must orders have to be the pad thai and the green curry beef though. The "old school pad thai" was so on point. With other pad thais, it's always a little too sweet or ketchup-y, but Funky Elephant has the perfect mix of sweet and sour. I will say the two shrimps are kind of unnecessary to the dish, but they are huge and delicious shrimps so I won't complain. The green curry beef uses medium cooked steak, and it paired really well with the curry and dressed arugula! The curry is a little on the oily side, but really good sauce so we saved it for our rice! All in all though, everything here is delicious so you've gotta try it all! Only things worth mentioning are the serving sizes aren't huge for the price so we had just a little bit of leftover after ordering all that for two people, so definite order lots! Also, compared to other Thai places, you can usually get away with not ordering rice but every single item we ordered was very flavorful and savory so be sure to eat with rice! Even the pad thai was flavorful enough that I enjoyed having some rice with it! Oh also, heed the spicy warnings! The pad thai, papaya salad and brussel sprouts all come with heat, and man was it tasty! But it may be too spicy for some! read more

Funky Elephant - from top left, mussels, fried Brussel Sprouts, green curry beef, papaya salad, and Pad Thai Old Skool - all so delicious! - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

When I tried Funky Elephant I had a delightful Old Skool Pad Thai with a light tangy sauce, plump shrimp, and a healthy portion of Hodo tofu. Last night I returned to order the same thing. What I got was a much smaller portion, 3 tiny pieces of tofu, a thick gunky overly sweet sauce. All for for substantially more expense. There won't be a third time. read more

Like some of the lower starred reviews, my experience was staff that was just fundamentally not service-first, with an attitude like they were doing customers a favor by being open at all. Mostly posting in case the team is not aware and wants to improve. Just listen when customers talk. Although maybe they don't need to? (But I won't come come back the way it is) read more

I was so happy that I tried this cute little restaurant bc I was on the hunt for authentic Thai chicken rice, Khao Mun Gai, and I finally found a legit one in the Bay Area! KMG #2: Chicken was moist and flavorful--added a fried egg on top for a nice contrast of texture. I followed the rec to add a few spoonfuls of chicken broth that came with the dish over the chicken & rice and that brought me back to the delicious flavor I was looking for since our vacay to Thailand. Pad Thai: My friend got the Pad Thai--flavor was strong and noodles a bit soggy. Prawns were big. Not as memorable as the KMG. Service: Friendly and attentive service Ambiance: Small with indoor and outdoor seating. Funky decor, casual Overall: Small portions similar to what you would expect in Asia but definitely filling and we did not walk away hungry. Use of good ingredients--quality over quantity! This will be my go to place for KMG! read more

Funky Elephant - Pad Thai Old Skool - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I came here on a Saturday night with no reservation and they were so welcoming and sat us down right away. The two ladies that was working were so sweet and I appreciated that they constantly checked up on us. I can tell why they are on the Michelin guide. Everything was so DELICIOUS! I love that they use fresh and local ingredients. I had ordered the brussel sprouts, papaya salad mussels, crispy rice salad and pad Thai. The papaya salad was so flavorful and spicy, it was my favorite dish (if you can't handle spice I definitely would ask for it way milder). The brussel sprouts were so crispy - tossed in asian flavors, I would definitely recommend this. My friend's favorite dish was the crispy rice salad - it was seasoned so well and loved the crispy texture. She always orders this dish but she said this the best she's ever had. I honestly didn't enjoy the pad Thai too much because it was too mushy and the shrimp was over cooked but loved the presentation. Other than that I think the food here is AMAZING!! They definitely know how to make tasty Thai dishes. I can't wait to come back and try other dishes! read more

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The food was good, but I just found this it a place so expensive for what it is! Lunch here cost more than our sushi dinner out a few days before, and was less filling. For that reason I don't think I'd return. read more

A truly hidden gem for authentic Thai food! Tried out some classics and also definitely the party wings that Michelin guide mentioned. All of them are delicious! Just one note, if you cannot eat dicot food, tune down the spice level a bit because the food can be real spicy!!!!!!! That is also showing how authentic they are! The store is not big so it is always packed. Be ready to wait for seats if you do not come right when they open. Overall it is a chill place to get good Thai street food. I'm read more

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I forgot I didn't review this. Last time here was pre-covid. I was watching Luke Nguyen's Street food Asia recently. And was craving some ol school pad Thai. What's unique is they use whole shrimp, heads n all, which as you know has all that ooey gooey flavor! I also like that they add tofu standard in this dish. However as good as the pad Thai is, the mussels are also worth the price of admission. The first time ordered in the restaurant they were served in a rustic bowl that allowed the flavors to tickle your nostrils in a melody of fresh basil fish sauce and other unctuous flavors. (The caption is not joke.) I asked for bread, why? Can't imagine a better combination, some toasted French bread dunked into that broth.... Well I now remember they gave me a side of vermicelli, because they really had no bread. I remember, French bread was a staple in Vietnam. And if you like the French version of le moules. An Asian inspired version would surely be a huge hit! *Note to self, score some baguette up the street at Whole Foods or Acme bakery. Make a return visit and go nuts! BYOB =bring your own Bread! read more

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I tried the beef curry and ordered a jasmine rice to go with it, with a strawberry matcha almond milk latte to drink (they didn't have strawberry on the menu, but mango was in the menu and was out of season). It was pretty pricy for what it was, but tasty. There wasn't a huge amount of steak but it was cooked nice and medium (on the end towards rare), in a cardboard box and eaten outside it was pretty cool pretty fast which wasn't ideal. The curry sauce was delicious and had a kick. The dressing on the arugula was good. The strawberry matcha wasn't great. I'd try it again without the strawberry because it didn't add any actual strawberry flavor and just made the drink too thick, but I'm not sure that would make it any better, so I might pass after that next try. The food took about 20 minutes, so it was probably made very fresh. They have a bit of seating, only outdoor still and mostly pretty sunny. A restaurant next door seems to have closed, so there are extra tables with more shade. The staff was great and super friendly. read more

Funky Elephant - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

I was craving some khao mun gai and learned that Funky Elephant had it on their menu. I ordered the KMG 2 ($15.00) and pea limeade ($5.00). The chicken was tender and I really loved the broth. The sauce is key- definitely smother your meal with it. Pros: -friendly staff -hand sanitizer was available -out door seating options -pea limeade was beautiful as it was tart -khao mun gai was tasty and very satisfying -shares free parking lot with Philz Coffee. Street parking is also available. Cons: -n/a Overall, excellent place. Will definitely return to try their mussels the next time. read more

Funky Elephant - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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So disappointed. We made a reservation for three. When we arrived every single table was in the sun. (one table in the shade was saved for someone else) No curtain to pull for the dining room and ineffective umbrellas on the patio. 2 people sitting at a table for 6 in the shade on the patio. It's 6pm, so prime dinner time, but you can only eat if you are ok with blazing sun in your faces. Wish we could have tried the food. read more

Really tasty food. Their Tom yum soup is one of my favorites out of all the Thai spots I've been. Probably not a single bad item on the menu. That said, the prices are a bit on the steep side. $18 for a single serving soup and $13 for two rotis/curry sauce for example are kind of a highway robbery lol. But it is tasty. Definitely worth a try if you're on the fence. read more

Flavorful Thai cuisine in a cute restaurant in Berkeley. Prices are on the higher side though. A lunch for four came out to $140 pre-tip The brussel sprouts were particularly memorable - full citrus flavor. Service was very accommodating. The server helped us make space for a high chair and graciously moved us from an outside to inside table when the sun came out. read more

I thought this place was okay. I liked that they offered a good amount of food, not too much and not too little, it was enough for two people. I think the best dish that I ordered was the pad Thai. The mussels was a bit fishy and the veggies tasted charred and sour. Their menu is pretty limited so I'm not sure what else to try next. As for ambiance, we came for lunch so it was bright and Sunny. They also have outdoor seating. The space inside was very crammed. Probably less than 20 people capacity. The interesting thing about this place is that they offer flavored ice cream like Thai tea and whatever else that's seasonal. If I'm not wrong, they use straus milk as well which I didn't get to try since I was too full. Not sure if I'll swing by again the next time I'm in Berkeley again, but I'd like to try their soft serve. read more

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Consistency is the word that comes to mind when I come here. I've been here several times and have to say that I admire how consistent the food is at this time. The service is good too! I love the plastic hanging on the door and when I order my crispy rice salad with brussels sprouts and a fizzy drink, I feel taken care of. They have not missed a beat at all since the shelter in place. They even call when they realize they may be out of something or need some clarification on an order. I love the fact that I can place an order online, go there, pick up my food, and eat it in the comfort of my home and it is sooooo good, like it always has been. It is an unusual source of comfort at this time and I appreciate all they do to feed us and keep us safe. read more

Ugh the food delivered on flavor and quality. I'm satisfied and can see myself coming back for some causal eats :) Disclaimer: I won't be commenting on the authenticity of the food, but read on for some musings otherwise. And for reference, 10/10 is "wow, this will live in my brain rent free," so you can think of 5/10 as "I don't know why I bothered to order this bc it was just meh but it's not bad." Green Papaya Salad $14 [9/10] We had someone sensitive to spice today, so we asked for this non-spicy. Even then, the flavors and textures of the papaya, green beans, and cherry tomatoes in there were perfect. It was the perfect refreshing dish to compliment all the other ones. Blistered Market Greens $11 [8/10] This was a tasty, well-made greens dish that balanced out the meal. The portion was a tad small for the price, but quality and freshness of the produce really stood out. It's not a must order dish, but if you want greens, you'll enjoy how they blistered it with garlic. O's Breakfast Fast Grilled Pork $21 [9.5/10] The pork was perfectly grilled -- thin and crispy but tender and juicy. The pepper in the seasoning made you want to take one bite after the next like reaching into a bag of chips. The fried egg was also perfectly done easy. Motherland Curry $18 [7/10] I love all curries, so I did enjoy this. I liked that the protein was cod, but other than that, the textures were a bit flat. The bean sprouts provided some crunch though. If you're craving good old curry though, go for it. It'll hit the spot, but you might forget it the next week. Order an extra side of rice to have with the leftover curry. Pad Thai Old Skool $18 [7/10] The spices of this Pad Thai were phenomenal, but it was hard to eat because it was too salty. We ended up having to eat this with rice. The shrimp was perfectly cooked, big and juicy though...but there were only two. K.M.G #2 aka Kao Mun Gai $17 [9/10] I'll first say you have to pour some soup over the chicken/rice, and of course, don't forget the sauce too. If you do that, this dish is perfect in flavor and texture. It's a good break from the intensity of most other fishes. Portions: We had a group of 5 adults and ordered 4 entrees, 2 starters, and 2 sides of garlic rice. It was the perfect amount, and we finished everything :) The entrees are well portioned (not big per se) where you'll be full but not over-stuffed. Service: We came on a busy graduation weekend, so we knew we had to call restaurants before going to see if they could accommodate us. We asked if they have space for 5 in 20 min, and they happily reserved a table for us that was ready when we came. Service was quick and food came out speedily. They are also accommodating of allergies. I told them I had a nut allergy, and they notified the kitchen and correctly left out peanuts on all the dishes that had it. Ambiance: Cute small/cozy interior with spacious patio. There are only a few tables inside. It's clean and well-decorated. Tips: * Most things are spicy here by default (even the Pad Thai) so if you'd prefer, specify that you don't want spicy or mild spicy. read more

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Overall 10/10- I'd highly recommend checking out this place as one of the better Thai places around East Bay! Glad to have found this tiny but funky and mighty Thai fares around my neighborhood. I had been craving for a quality steamed chicken rice for a while to come across this place- let me tell you this was not at all disappointing! I ordered their Khao Mun Gai, which came with tender poached chicken thigh pieces, fragrant garlic & ginger rice, spicy fermented soy bean sauce, and flavorful chicken broth. The portion was surprisingly quite big for 1 person, and this is coming from someone with a generally big appetite. They were very generous with the chicken- i love the soft steamed skin paired with juicy and tender meat. The soy bean sauce packed quite a heat punch to complement everything else. Finally, you got the warm soothing chicken broth to wash down your palette. Their food was by no means the cheapest (~$20 a dish after tax and tips), but the price did come with high-quality offering and accommodating service. I'm already thinking about coming back to try out their other dishes. read more

Funky Elephant - K.M.G.#2 aka Khao Mun Gai (poached chicken rice) | ig: @omfgary - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

Found this place on Yelp, as we were in the area and looking for something to eat. Food was fantastic, we sat outside and were warmly greeted by the staff. We were waiting on a few more people who ended up not being able to make it and staff was very accommodating. We ordered several dishes that were really good but the pad thai and season vegetables (asparagus) was just ok. Pad thai was a little too salty for us and the seasonal vegetable wasn't anything special. Still 5 out of 5 though because we overall had a good time and while a few dishes were a miss for me, they were still well executed. read more

This is single handedly the best papaya salad I have ever had .South East Asian cuisine has been my favorite since I was a small child.Amazing amazing amazing SWEET,SPICY,AROMATIC . 10/10 !!! read more

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The food here is definitely great. I had several items here - Brussels sprouts (5 star), crispy rice (5 star). This is a cute small place nestled next to Philz's coffee. I would recommend this place :) read more

My friend, her son, my pup and I all stopped by on Wednesday afternoon for lunch on a sunny day. We sat outside and they offered my pup a doggy water bowl which I always appreciate. We got Thai tea, limeade with butterfly pea tea, chicken wings (my favorite!!!), the chicken and rice dish, and the steak with green curry. Nom nom nom!! The steak and curry was cooked to perfection. Overall, great service and lots and lots of flavors. A nicely elevated patio and sitting area. Great for a sunny day like today!! read more

Everything was perfect! The food is so amazing and tasty! The flavors are crazy good!! I highly recommend the Mussels!!! The service was fast, friendly, and genuine! The ambiance is casual. This place is a gem! I Highly recommend!! read more

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I tried the KMG, mussels, and brussels sprouts via delivery. The brussels sprouts were soft with a slight chew and they were flavorful and a bit sweet as well. I liked it but couldn't take too much in one sitting because I would've wanted to pair it with something. The broth that came with the mussels was delicious - full of flavor and was sour and spicy. I liked the rice in the KMG, and the sauce gave the chicken a great kick though the chicken was not as tender as I would've liked. Overall I liked the food and would try more in person next time. read more

Small quirky space with decent Thai food. Liked the party wings, the glaze was a great sweet and spicy flavor. The pad thai was average. The seating is extremely limited, they brought out a tiny table and stools to squeeze us in when we walked in. read more

I really enjoy their pad Thai here. It's not your average pad Thai that you get at other places that are reddish and or pinkish. This pad Thai here is a savory and less sweet version with a big shrimp. Every time I've come here it's all I order. They give heaps of fresh bean sprouts and a lime wedge, all you have to do is squeeze and mix and you get an awesome meal. Pad Thai always ordered fresh and hot! I've ordered a few other items on their limited menu and everything I've ordered has always been delicious. I also love their Thai iced tea. Not too sweet. Order ahead by calling them or anticipate a wait time around lunch and dinner time. Highly recommend! read more

Funky Elephant - Delicious pad thai - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I tried this place once before covid and loved the food and experience so much. The staff were all very nice and accommodating. It's pretty small inside but there was open seating when I came, which was great! Their Pad Thai Old Skool is hands down THE BEST Pad Thai I've ever had. I've been to Thailand and I've been to many Thai restaurants around the Bay Area, and I've got to say that this place honestly serves the best Pad Thai. The texture of the noodles is the perfect amount of chewiness and is definitely flavor blasted. I would rate it a 6/5 if I could! However, if you can't handle the spice, I would recommend you ask for it to be mild because there can be a kick if you happen to take a bite with the bits of peppers mixed in it. The vermicelli curry is also super yummy, 5/5! This entree is definitely high up on my list as well. I'd recommend it. Currently, they are doing take out orders where you can place your order online and pick it up. Simply text "FUNKYELEPHANT" to 33777 and it'll take you to the website to order. Support your local restaurants! read more

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One of the best pad thai Ive ever tasted! our foodie friends recommended this place to us and it didnt disappoint! the place is pretty unique, with outdoor seats and tables like in Asia. We ordered the chicken wings, papaya salad, pad thai, and steak curry. Portions were a bit small so kinda on the pricey side. But the taste was so good! I really liked the pad thai and chicken wings. Next time we want to try other dishes too especially the brussel sprouts, we heard that they are amazing. read more

Funky Elephant - steak curry - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Funky Elephant has been a mainstay for my household for years. The takeout is excellent but eating at the restaurant opens up the full menu and should not be overlooked! I've been probably dozens of times with different groups of people and we've never had anything that wasn't delicious. And I was so excited when they added roti to the menu and it did not disappoint! The staff is super friendly and efficient, and the neon decor inside is fun without being overstimulating. Nothing but good things to say for Funky Elephant and I look forward to being back there soon! read more

The food and service was amazing! Cute little place with not a lot of seating inside. We got the fried brussels sprouts which were super delicious. We also got the pad thai and vermicelli curry, and both were also super tasty! Pad Thai was spicy but was a good amount of spice. The Thai tea here is also really yummy. Definitely one of my favorite Thai places in the area & will definitely come back! read more

Funky Elephant - Pad Thai Old Skool - Thai Near Me - Berkeley, California

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