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    White Elephant

    4.5 (279 reviews)
    ModerateThai, Vietnamese, Laotian
    Open 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, 4:30 PM - 9:00 PM

    Order White Elephant Takeout or Delivery

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    WHITE ELEPHANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate
    Romantic

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    Recommended Reviews - White Elephant

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    Beef Jerky
    Ben L.

    Such a good spot' great food nice people very recommend. I'll be back for sure great ambience!

    Crispy rolls
    Audra H.

    Stopped her on a rainy New Year's Eve (2025!) I ordered to go pad see ew and crispy rolls. They were made quickly and I was in and out within 10 minutes. The pad see ew was delicious and had plenty of veggies inside. The flavor was perfect. A bit salty but not overpowering. Chicken was tender and cooked to perfection. As were the veggies. Ambience inside as I waited was perfect. Quaint and cute. Definitely recommend!

    Mango Chicken
    James G.

    Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 The flavors of each dish we ordered were on point! We ordered the firecracker shrimp to start, then the mango chicken and the pineapple curry with duck for our entrees. The spice levels on each dish were perfectly dialed in - level 7 and 3 respectively. The mango chicken pieces were crispy despite being covered in the sweet and spicy sauce. The pineapple curry had a great mix of veggies with plenty of pieces of duck. The service was friendly and quick. We sat inside which had enough seating for about 6-8 parties. We will definitely be back to try some noodles and the other curries!

    House Salad
    Abigail M.

    My husband & I were on a walk when we stumbled upon this place & we are so glad we did!! We are not spontaneous, as we like to PLAN, but this place just called our names when passing by. It's tucked in the corner of Richmond St & University Ave & looks like a cute little house. There were a variety of options to choose from, it was honestly hard to choose my dish! I got the chicken satay & it was so good. (Wish I could cook my chicken like that at home.) My husband got the Kanom Jeen and he also very much enjoyed his meal. Will definitely be coming back to try more.

    Mango chicken and chicken pad see yew
    Merriam W.

    My friends and I ate here for dinner and it was absolutely delicious! We ordered shrimp spring rolls and firecracker shrimp appetizers and chicken pad see yew and mango chicken for entrees. Everything was delicious especially the orange chicken! It was battered chicken that was fried and perfectly crispy with a mango mayo sauce and mango pieces. The pad see yew was amazing too! I would definitely come back and try other dishes

    Crying Tiger steak and Pad See Ew
    Catherine M.

    My sister and I decided to stop by for a quick dinner. It was cute little spot, but in a very busy area with not much parking. The restaurant is a little small but not cramped. The service was good and wait for food wasn't too long. Pad see ew was good but more veggies would've been nice. The crying tiger steak sauce was so good but the meat was a little tough for a ribeye.

    Crying Tiger
    Tiff H.

    Service was a bit rough at the start but everything smoothed out after we got our orders in. They seemed impatient and a unaccommodating. That was cleared up soon after we placed our orders though. Now, the food! I'll keep it short and simple. Whatever you get, I speak with high confidence that it will be delicious! The crying tiger ribeye steak and the shrimp pad see ew were both amazing. The egg rolls and shrimp salad were also really good. I will definitely be back. This may have made it into my top 3 spots! Affordable and delicious. Really cute inside in a prime location. It's a win win!

    Mango Chicken
    Ginger P.

    We got our food to-go so I can't speak for the dine in experience, but our orders were packed well for takeout. We got pad Thai (spice level 8) and mango chicken (spice level 3). I read in the reviews that they make things pretty spicy, but I found that to be kind of overblown. Flavor-wise, the mango chicken was reminiscent of a honey walnut shrimp kind of flavor with a mayo based sweet sauce. I thought this dish was pretty interesting and good if you like sweet entrees. My pad Thai was missing a bit of the strong tanginess of tamarind and the flavor seems a bit understated with the noodles looking a bit pale. It was still decent, but Bahn Thai in University Heights has the better pad Thai for a lower price than White Elephant. What White Elephant has going for it is that the parking situation is better and the wait is not as long.

    Drunken Noodle
    Jen N.

    Ordered for carryout. Everything was ready on time and hot when we got home. Staff was nice upon pickup, and the interior was cute. We had Pad Thai, Drunken Noodle, and Larb - all spicy level 5. I will say it was probably the spiciest level 5 I have had in San Diego. I would actually take it down next time. Everything was really good - just spicier than expected. The portion sizes and value were good. We will go back to try some other dishes, as so many options looked good - especially some of their house specials.

    Salmon panang curry
    Trao P.

    We had a party for 7 people here on Tuesday and this restaurant treat us very well with delicious food. This place is a little small but very chill and nice. It is a little but hard for parking if you dont know how, but the tip for you, let cross a street and get a spot for parking from another mall. We tried a lot of items from the menu and this is the list we really fall in love: calamari, crispy shirmps, pad seewe, patpaya salad, salmon panan curry, mango sticky rice. Service is profession, waiters asked and take care you mutiple time. They are friendly and kindly. Very high recommend!!!! Absolutely come back to enjoy more food!!!

    Andrea W.

    I ordered delivery as I am sick and not able to cook. Their food is solid. Always fresh and well prepared. I ordered no spicy but just so you know it is spicy :)

    Jiansen W.

    White Elephant in the Hillcrest neighborhood of San Diego is an Asian kitchen and restaurant flavorfully blending Thai, Lao, and Vietnamese cuisine. AMBIANCE Cozy and modern, with indoor and outdoor seating SERVICE Friendly, fast, and knowledgeable. I ordered takeout at the register, and my food was freshly prepared in fifteen minutes. FOOD 5/5 WATER BEEF SALAD Perfectly tender, grilled beef with fresh mint, shallots, onion, cilantro, roasted rice tossed with lime dressing. I got red chili flakes and powder on the side, and added it for an intense heat. I'd come back to try more traditional and unique dishes with a group to split things family style.

    Duck Salad!
    Warren G.

    ​White Elephant is our family's favorite local spot. We visit frequently with our kids, and the staff always makes us feel like home. The food is consistently fresh, flavorful, and serves as the perfect backdrop for our family dinners. Must try there Duck Salad.

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    Shaun K.

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    3 years ago

    Flavorful food. Great for takeout. Better dine in so you can enjoy them fresh out of wok. Best Thai place in town.

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    5 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Food was good but pricey for lunch. Service was decent and atmosphere is nice. Would recommend for dinner!

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    3 years ago

    Hands down the BEST Pad Kee Mao in San Diego and I'm super picky about my Thai food. The service here is great too!

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Ordered the chicken pho and it was pretty good. I wish there was a bit more chicken added (received hardly no chicken).

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    3 years ago

    Food is decent, but I ordered and paid for extra protein in my pad Thai and they only put in 3 shrimp. Kinda BS & dishonest.

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Food was good a tad sweet for me but overall delicious. Enviotment was very mellow and relaxing, take a sweater gets a little cold.

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    4 years ago

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    Shaun K.

    Glad to hear that you enjoyed everything. Thank you.

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    2 years ago

    Delicious food, affordable prices, generous portions, and prompt service. Highly recommend

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Outstanding food quality. Excellent for take out and dine-in. Overall a quality restaurant

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    4 years ago

    Best Thai food in San Diego! Fresh ingredients, spectacular flavors, incredible service.

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    Page 5 of 7

    Ask the Community - White Elephant

    Does it have a bar?

    No but they serve wine and sake.

    Do they allow pets in the patio?

    Yes pets are welcome in our patio seating.

    View All 4 Questions

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    Mekong Cuisine Lao and Thai

    Mekong Cuisine Lao and Thai

    4.4
    (911 reviews)
    4.6 mi
    $$
    Women-owned & operated
    Kid friendly

    This spot has been on my list for a while to try & finally decided to go in. Came right when they…read moreopened for lunch and the ladies were welcoming. Place is quite dim, decor is beautiful with real plants, & some local vendor items for sale by the entrance. The menu is front & back so a lot of delicious choices, but I wasn't feeling too hungry so my friend and I just shared dishes. We ordered the sausage fried rice and the chef special basil stir-fry with crispy pork (also comes with a side of white rice). My friend and I loved the crispiness of the pork! And the way that egg was fried is one of my favorite ways of it being cooked. It made me want to order an extra egg. But other than that the sausage fried rice was also delicious. The sausage was very tender, slightly sweet but not like Chinese sausage style. I definitely loved the way it tastes. We had to ask for some spice on the side because I just knew both dishes will tastes better with some kick. I'll come back again just to try some of their curry dishes. I see why a lot of my friends have recommended this spot and why some of them do come back.

    Our first visit to Mekong Lao & Thai was fantastic, and we're already planning our next one! A dear…read morefriend recommended this one and we were thanking her before we left our table. When we ordered, our server took the time to explain their spice scale (1-5), letting us know that a 1 is already about a medium spice level. We settled on mostly 2-3, but wow--the Thum Khao Poon (shredded green papaya salad) still packed some serious heat! Even my spice-loving kids were challenged. The server also gave us a heads-up that it's very fish-forward in flavor, which we appreciated and happened to love. The absolute standout of the meal was the Nam Khao Tod. It was hands down the family favorite--crispy coconut rice with pork sausage, crunchy peanuts, fresh herbs, and so many incredible textures and flavors in every bite. We could have ordered a second plate! We also had the Drunken Noodles with chicken, which were slightly oily in the best possible way, making them extra rich and delicious. The Chef's Special Basil Stir Fry with Crispy Pork was another winner. Our server brought over a chili vinegar that elevated the crispy pork to a whole new level--it was so good drizzled over every bite. Great food, thoughtful service, and plenty of dishes we're already looking forward to trying next time. Can't wait to come back!

    Photos
    Nam Khao Tod
    Nam Khao Tod
    Sai Oua
    Sai Oua
    Khao Piek Sen

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    Khao Piek Sen
    Sang Dao Restaurant

    Sang Dao Restaurant

    4.3
    (948 reviews)
    4.2 mi
    $$

    Sang Dao is a mom and pop shop that we found while driving on El Cajon and finally stopped by. It's…read moregot the classic local feel of a Asian family owned restaurant. Service was friendly and the food came out super fast. We started with the Yum Pla Mouk which is their calamari salad. Very flavorful with the tangy fish sauce and I could taste they added some shrimp paste in it too. The Boat Noodles were super delicious! The broth is an interesting combination of sweet and spicy. There's really nothing like it and make sure to add a bunch of limes to help balance out the richness! The Pla Som Rod (3 Flavor Fish) was also incredible and visually stunning. It's a flavor explosion that combines both a traditional sweet and sour profile but amplified with some fish sauce umami and spice. I could just eat the sauce and rice and be happy. The fish was really crispy and amazing too. And for the price of only $17 it's a steal for a whole tilapia! I loved our dinner at Sang Dao and cannot wait to go back!

    I ordered their spicy catfish and it definitely lived up to the name. It was actually pretty spicy,…read moreto the point where I had to take a few breaks while eating it, but in a good way. The portion was also really generous and everything was super flavorful. I'd recommend getting the fillets though so you can avoid dealing with the bones. It is a bit out of my way, so I'm not sure how often I'd go back, but I would definitely recommend it to anyone who lives nearby. Service was great too.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Tapioca dessert
    Tapioca dessert
    Mungbean dessert

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    Mungbean dessert
    Harborside Cuisine

    Harborside Cuisine

    4.3
    (122 reviews)
    4.5 mi
    $$

    First time experience can be summed up as WOW. Lao sausage,…read morecatfish in banana leaf, beef larb medium rare, pad Thai with shrimp, sticky rice. Nina helped guide us through the menu, very attentive and knowledgeable about the ingredients and my many questions. I highly recommend this restaurant and will let my fellow foodies in on this discovery!

    Came back recently after not having ordered here in a long while. Not that there was anything wrong…read morebut I've just been cooking more at home lately. Their food is all pretty good here and they have a lot of stuff regular Lao restaurants don't have on hand such as a refrigerated section with cold foods such as dipping sauces, stews, soups. I was just so blown away at the prices here the last time I was here last week. I know it's been awhile and with inflation and all but dang the prices were kind of outrageous for a takeout hole in the way place. I don't really consider this a sit down restaurant. Their prices were far more expensive than a nice higher end sit down restaurant. I wouldn't mind if the portion made sense but it was $23 for beef larp and it came in a tiny small white container! They downgraded their portions significantly and raised prices significantly. Their refrigerated foods were pretty pricey as well for being in small containers. Don't get me wrong, their food is good but their upcharged prices don't sit too well with me.

    Photos
    Harborside Cuisine
    Khao Poon nam jeow
    Khao Poon nam jeow
    Front

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    Front
    Spicy Lao Kitchen

    Spicy Lao Kitchen

    4.3
    (229 reviews)
    5.7 mi
    $$

    I came here today bc I had gotten Burmese sausages earlier and it missed with me. I had to make it…read moreup by getting Lao sausages! This restaurant is decently sized with plenty of seats. I saw a lot of people picking up to go. Since I was the only here with one other family, service was fast and my server was very nice. She had such a friendly smile. I had to order papaya salad lao style, well, bc its the only way to make papaya salad. Stinky, salty, and potent in aroma and flavor. To me, this is real food. My only disappointment was I asked for spicy level 10, or 11, or 12, and I thought I got a level 1. I thought she misheard me, but I realize my spice tolerance is just over 9000. Haha. The Lao sausage was awesome. Thats the flavor profile I've been craving and it has been quenched today! I really loved this place and its deep flavors. For sure, if i feel like Lao food, ill be here!

    We've been wanting to come here for awhile and finally made it and have been back a few times!!…read moreThere aren't very many Lao restaurants in San Diego...this one is closer and will now be my go to!! The owner is super friendly!! The Lao sausage is one of the best I've ever had.. definitely need to order to try it out! We had the papaya salad and that was good and flavorful but next time I will request for a spicier one (I couldn't get it too spicy as my friend doesn't eat that spicy). They also sell beef jerky there and the spicy mango habanero one was so good! Probably one of the best beef jerky's I had yet!! It is a bit pricey... but well worth it! $20 for a 4oz bag

    Photos
    Front of restaurant
    Front of restaurant
    Tom Yum Wings
    Tom Yum Wings
    Heavenly Beef Jerky

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    Heavenly Beef Jerky
    Sovereign Modern Thai Cuisine

    Sovereign Modern Thai Cuisine

    4.4
    (519 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$$

    Came here on a Saturday for a late lunch. We had made a reservation for 4 and were sat right away,…read moreit was not busy. Parking will be mostly street spots. We were lucky and were able to grab the spot right out front. For drinks we each ordered a cocktail. It did take a bit for them to come out but once they did you can tell time and effort were put into making them. They were beautiful and all tasted great. We ordered 4 dishes to share, the wasabi scallop ceviche, crispy baby crab, braised beef panang, and crab fried rice. The ceviche was definitely one of my favorites. Super flavorful, fresh, with the perfect amount of wasabi. The crispy baby crab was savory and easy to eat, especially since you're eating the whole crab, shell and all. The curry in the braised beef panang was so addicting, I couldn't stop eating it. The crab fried rice was tasty and filling. For dessert we got the mango sticky rice. The mangoes were fresh and sweet. Overall pretty standard but still yummy. Service was friendly, helpful and attentive. All the food came out in the timely manner. The vibe of the restaurant is casual but can be a little dressy for a nice date. Overall I definitely recommend a try here. Beautiful presentation with all the food and drinks while still being delicious.

    Came here to celebrate a birthday, and the experience was phenomenal. We ordered 3 appetizers and…read morean entree to share among ourselves. We got the Taro Fritters, Bangkok street noodles, pork sausage, and the chicken wings. The highlight of the dinner were the chicken wings!! They were so flavorful and crispy, I cannot recommend them enough. The taro fritters were a close second, the tamarind sauce was also a highlight of my dinner experience. Service was quick + amiable, and the inside of Sovereign was clean and inviting. The decor is dark and moody, with live plants throughout the establishment. Parking is metered & limited, but definitely worth the hassle.

    Photos
    Dining room
    Dining room
    Avocado Spring Rolls
    Avocado Spring Rolls
    Beef Spare Rib Golae

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    Beef Spare Rib Golae

    White Elephant - thai - Updated August 2026

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