Thanks for the delicious dinner, the steak was great. We didn't have to wait long for our order

I used to go here all the time when I lived in Philly. If you like lamb, get their curry mutton. The best!

White Elephant Asian Kitchen is the new eatery that has replaced Amarin Thai Cuisine on this block of Hillcrest just south of University Ave. The inside dining area was stylish and modern compared to the ethnic decor from its predecessor. The menu was more diverse with Laotian and Vietnamese fare in addition to the standard Thai offerings. I had called in an order to-go and when I arrived to pick up my food, the place was sadly void of diners. My choices were the Crying Tiger and the Mango Chicken. The first pick was marinated top-sirloin steak served with a bed of greens, chili-lime sauce, and sticky white rice. The sauce was a citrusy version of sweet and sour which paired well with the medium-rare beef. The second item contained a sweet sauce with mango chunks smothered over boneless pieces of crispy chicken meat. The combination was served with white jasmine rice. Although it was flavorful, I preferred the savory entree over the sweetness of the chicken dish. read more

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A modern, clean restaurant that honestly needs a little more love. Unfortunately they don't have their own parking lot so street parking nearby or down the block is your best bet. Drinks: Thai Iced Coffee (5/5): Very creamy without losing the coffee component. Definitely would order again and it doesn't detract from the dishes. Thai Iced Tea (2/5): Personally too sweet for my taste. Left a strange aftertaste and the milk overpowered the tea aspect. Both drinks could be upgraded with coconut milk for an additional 50 cents. Food: Calamari (4/5): Incredibly crispy and hot. Came with a sweet plum sauce that complemented it well since the calamari itself was a bit plain. Crispy Duck Salad (2/5): The salad is vibrant with tons of duck, pineapple, onions and cashews. The dressing was perfectly citrusy but the duck was a bit tough. Not quite crispy but chewy. Pad See Ew (4/5): Nice portion and flavor. Despite getting everything at a level 3 spice, our dishes seemed to have inconsistent flavoring. Although it was spicier than expected, the flavor was still great. The chicken went well with the sauce but more protein would have been appreciated. Crying Tiger (4/5): Great grilled flavor and nicely medium rare--although you can request for medium or well done. Came with a lime, chili sauce that was honestly more tangy than spicy. I enjoyed the sticky rice accompaniment as opposed to regular jasmine rice too. Service was great and the owner was incredibly friendly and open to conversation and requests. The restaurant was empty the whole time we were there and this spot deserves some more attention. Nice people and food overall, just inconsistent spice that needs some work. read more

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Nice selection of Thai cuisine if you want to order in. The takeout order is nicely packed, however, they forgot to pack utensils and napkins. This may seem like a silly comment, but I was traveling for work (staying at a hotel) so I didn't have access to my own silverware. Eventually figured out a solution, but it was a bit of a hassle. Pad Thai - 8.5/10 Tom Kah Soup - 6/10 Papaya Salad - 8.8/10 Sweet Rice with Mango - 9.8/10 Beware of the spice levels! I got a 6 and I was feeling it, so rule of thumb... always stick to the side of underestimating. I was fortunate to have ordered the sweet rice because it helped cool off the heat. It was a pleasant treat! Overall, really good spot. I'd order again from here and just add a note for utensils next time :) read more

Pad Thai was probably the best dish out of what we ordered. Pretty standard for pad Thai and the shrimp was delicious. The papaya salad was a miss. I didn't really care for this and I wouldn't get it again or recommend it. The green curry was ok and I usually don't get green curry but usually the yellow or panang but figured I'd try a different one this time around. It was just ok but have a feeling the yellow or panang would be better. The fire cracker shrimp was good and crunchy but wish the sauce it was served with had a bit more flavor. The service seemed a bit off. The server did forget a couple items that were asked for and had to back track to get them when reminded but the place was quite busy so that could have been it. He was super friendly enough just seemed a bit distracted. All in all a decent meal for a decent price. read more

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Pad Thai is decent. Green curry is fine but I'd probably try a different curry next time. Fire cracker shrimp is also fine. Venue is nicely decorated but the bench seats are not comfortable. Server is a bit of a space cadet. Didn't remember a few things that we requested or ordered. Didn't check on us. read more

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Came to the soft opening and give white elephant a go. TIP! They are currently BYOB so remember to bring a bottle of your vice if that's your thing. :) The Interior Nice! Seating both in and outdoors. The Service Good. Very attentive and friendly. The Food Good. On this trip... Thai iced tea = Delicious! Milky creamy tea nicely sweetened. Crispy Spring Rolls = Perfectly fried with a tasty filling. Served with a sweet chili sauce. Would have been great to wrap in a leaf of fresh lettuce. Salt and Pepper Shrimp = Very good. 6 plump lightly fried shrimps with tossed in chili peppers and salt. Served with a sweet chili sauce Shaking Beef = Very good. Tender cubes of ribeye wok tossed served in a bed of greens and tomatoes. I could have easily eaten double the serving though :) Pad Thai = Good. I prefer pad Thai with a stronger tamarind flavor but it was cooked well and the portion was decent. I'll be back again to try the bahn ciao :) Welp! Onto the next! read more

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Great food! Nice ambience. Good for take out and dining in. Service is good and accommodating.

I'll definitely revisit! Food is delicious, great selection, and the cozy atmosphere allows for enjoyable conversations. The service was excellent, a warm welcome, immediate seating. I deducted one star because our server took a few minutes to reach our table, but I understand they were waiting for our third party. Overall, everything afterward was fantastic and prompt. Thank you! read more

White Elephant - Indoor Dining - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

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Great food and great service definitely will come back for some more food. The service was quick!

Such a gem in hillcrest and hands down the best Thai in San Diego . I'm sure it's because they are super selective about their ingredients and everything is so fresh and spicy love it .... But don't worry if you are a no spice girl they will accommodate you just try it ! The curry here is off the hook ! And the noodles omg it does not matter which you choose they are all great. read more

This place and food never disappoint. The ambiance is peaceful, clean and lovely. Not a big place, which I like. The service is great, the owners are very kind. We tried three different dishes and they were all excellent. The Tom Kha was INSANE, probably the best we have ever had. We have had it before, but forgot how good it is at this place. There level of spicy from 1 to 10 is for real. I ordered my drunken noodles a 1 and it was perfect for me. My husband ordered a 7 for his Pad Thai and it was very spicy for me, perfect for him. I can take some heat, but not higher than a 2 at this restaurant. My cousin had the Green Curry probably a 2, it was the perfect amount of heat, too. If you can't take too much heat like me :), keep it at 1-2 and maybe ask for a little chilli on the side. read more

Definitely have to try if you want a nice Thai food sit down place. I would say the best Thai food in SD, which is saying a lot considering how much good Thai food we have. The vibe is cool and modern, and the staff is always amazing!!! read more

White Elephant - Crispy roll - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

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Cute little place. I am stuck in time a bit. I remember fondly when this was a different Thai restaurant and have a different experience my mind stays connected to. As I fast forward to now, the food for me was overcooked and bland. The rice sadly did not have flavor. The decor was pleasing. The server was kind and attentive. The cashier/host experience was a bit of a downer. He had a way that made the night just end weird. He had a bouncer like energy. read more

Worst service I've had in awhile. Rare is the day a waiter asks me if I want another drink and then totally completely forgets it to the point he's wiping down the table next over and not even bothering to look around at his other tables a half hour later to maybe see if anyone is missing something, omg. I'm talking about the older guy waiter in the glasses with gray hair who seems really-really sooo over his job on the night of Sunday Dec 29th. Not ever going back after such lackluster absentee service on a slow night :-( read more

Beautiful atmosphere, very clean and pleasing to the eyes. The service was great. The waiter was super friendly and was very easy to ask questions too. The food was great! I would definitely go again and try more things off the menu. read more

White Elephant - Thai Basil - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

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Some of the best, authentic Thai food I've had in San Diego. (I am Thai and have visited family many many times) Service is timely. Food is fresh. Presentation is beautiful!! Oh and the restaurant is beautiful! So glad I stumbled upon the restaurant when I moved down here. Favorite things: crying tiger, pad ke mao, and papaya salad. Spice level: 8/10 is typically good on a "Thai spicy" scale. read more

Finally found a Thai/Laos mix restaurant in San Diego! We had the chicken pad Thai, Tom yum, and Laos sausage. I asked for 8/10 spice and it did not disappoint. It was perfect for me. The sausage was cut and the sauce added to the already amazing flavor. Great service and ambience. Food was very affordable read more

White Elephant - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

One of my favorite Thai dishes is Thai Barbecue Chicken, it's hard to find but White Elephant serves a delicious recipe with a half a chicken and all the trimmings including a barbecue sauce that delights... 5 stars read more

Highly recommend this place! We've been coming here ever since they open. The food, service and the ambiance are perfect. The house salad, red panang curry, mango chicken and chicken pad Thai are our faves. The owners are very friendly! read more

I have to say this place is a small spot but definitely worth eating at. Its nice that they have the menu near the patio entrance so you can see what they have incase maybe you decide not to dine there. But I promise you, wont regret it! I decided to get the Beef jerky. Is as follows on the menu: Deep fried marinated beef. Served with chili lime sauce and sticky rice. So good! The sauce you dip it in taste amazing. Also had Tom Kah soup. It's coconut based. So delicious. You can also choose your level of spiciness. I did it at a two for spiciness and it was perfect. I didn't want it to end. All the food was soo good! The service was great. Place was very clean. And prices aren't to bad. Considering the quality of food. I definitely will be coming back! read more

White Elephant - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

Highly recommend food flavor is amazing! Place is super cute! Great customer service will definitely be returning. Good portion size and decent prices. read more

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Outstanding! Great vibe. Great service. Food is on point and won't break the bank.. tom yum & Pad Talay. 7 spicy and the sinuses are clear!! read more

White Elephant - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

After a constant recommendation from friends, I decided it was finally time to try this place out. I am indecisive sometimes with choosing what I'm going to eat so I prepared by looking at reviews and pictures and everyone seemed to be raving about the mango chicken, even my friend, so I had to try it. My partner got the red curry and we got spring rolls to share. The sauce for the spring roll was really good, we had to ask for more cause we finished the initial serving before we finished our rolls haha. The mango chicken is worth the hype for sure! Never would I have thought that mango and chicken could go together but this is probably one of the best combos I have ever tasted. My partner really liked her red curry, and she liked how the spice level she ordered was true to that. The Thai tea with coconut milk is refreshing and not sweet which is how it should be. Loved it all, 10/10! read more

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This review is for White Elephant in Hillcrest. There was no wait time as I arrived on a weekday during lunch time. The atmosphere was very modern and sleek with wooden tables and great natural lighting. There is also outdoor seating as well. As for starters I ordered the waterfall beef salad and Thai tea. The Thai tea was served chilled & tasted delicious, it came out in this giant glass cup. The waterfall beef salad was grilled beef with mint, shallots, onion, cilantro, roasted rice tossed with lime dressing. The salad was absolutely delectable. It was very refreshing. The ratio amount of meat to the salad was perfect. There was a great abundance amount of meat. I asked the server what kind of cuts of meat they used, and he said rib eye. The dressing was lightly drizzled and paired well with the waterfall salad. As for my main dishes i ordered the crab fried rice and Thai basil with beef. I confirmed with the server if the crab fried rice is made with real crab, and he said yes. The Thai basil is mixed with a concoction of sautéed garlic, minced meat, fresh chili, green beans, onions, green bell peppers, red bell peppers, and fresh basil. I opted out of minced meat, and requested to have my beef cut into slices. All entrees are served with a side of jasmine white rice. The crab fried rice was a mixture of stir fried crab, with egg, and onion, served with cucumber and lime topped with a garnish of cilantro. Once again, White Elephant did not disappoint with the amount of ratio of crab to the fried rice. There was a great heaping amount of crab in the fried rice which made me really enjoyed my meal. The taste of combining the Thai beef basil with the crab fried rice, was like enriched bursting flavors in my mouth. The umami taste of sweet, sour, a hint of bitter from the basil and saltiness from the fried rice was like a unity of perfection. My server Shawn was excellent and made sure to refill my water at all times. No dislikes here, I had left overs to take home as well, which was a win win for me. I really enjoyed everything, from the quality of the food and the savory flavors, just thinking about it, is making me hungry. I look forward to returning back again read more

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Great ambiance, the food is EXCELLENT!! The service really friendly and great!! For sure I will go back for this great little restaurant!

Food is amazing. I ordered the chicken satay and it was great. Service is very good too. Very modern interior that makes the place looks very upscale and pleasant. I really enjoyed it! Stuffed and happy now. read more

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Fantastic Thai restaurant in Hillcrest! I particularly love their three flavored fish. If I'm ever in the mood for Thai fried fish, this is where I'll come. The fish is lightly battered and perfectly fried, so it feels light. It comes with this amazingly flavorful sauce that has the perfect balance of sweet and sour. And the portion is huge! I also really like their curries, particularly the pineapple and panang. The ambiance is also really nice for a calming meal out. I like to sit on the outdoor patio, which is hidden in a little side alley. The staff is also super friendly and parking is easy! read more

The flavor at this Thai restaurant was really good with each dish. I highly recommend you try it and give it a shot yourself. The service is really good. Next time I go, I need to get the papaya salad a little bit more spicier. I love spice on my food. That's one of the reasons why I love Thai food. I will be back again and thank you for taking care of me here. read more

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Great friendly service, great food. Ask for drunk noodles with chicken, amazing!, do are the spring rolls with Thai Basil.

Food was fresh and tasty! Restaurant was able to accommodate our larger group with kids too. We enjoyed the ambiance as well. Parking we got lucky to find a space right in front. Looking forward to eating here again. read more

80% because hard To chewing meat (Basil Eggplant) But the service is excellent and the environment is warm and family friendly. read more

White Elephant - Cha Gio Drunken Noodle Fire Cracker Shrimp Basil Eggplant - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

Excellent food and fantastic service. I will definitely return and I highly recommend eating here.

After living in Hillcrest for a year and San Diego for three we finally got to White Elephant. Ordered the mango chicken, Pad Thai, and spring roll. Chicken was good, but def not the healthiest option (it's fried) and also the sauce didn't seem to sufficiently cover all the pieces (kind of like cook rushed it). Pad Thai was good, though I have to say there's another place in town that has my heart on this dish. Spring rolls were very good- fresh, full, and tasty dipping sauce. Service was good. Decor was nice, if a little sparse. Sort of wish the tables were spread a bit. (Felt like we were in the conversation of our neighbors during 1/2 the meal they were there.) read more

Got the crying tiger, Tom yum soup, and the garlic pepper chicken. The crying tiger and Tom yum soup were really good and the chicken was pretty decent. The interior space is pretty small but they also have outdoor seating. Not sure if they were short staffed but it took awhile for us to order and get the check at the end. read more

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Delicious! Was nervous about the change in ownership, but I think the food was even better. The inside dining room is a bit smaller now, but the food and service were incomparable. My date and I shared the spring rolls $7, chicken larb $12 and Panang curry with pork $14 for a meal for 2 with 3 courses at around $33 before tax and tip. No spice level was indicated, but the food was not too spicy. The peanut sauce served with the spring rolls may be the best I've ever had. We had drinks at Gossip Grill's Happy Hour so our meal was without beverages. Come and support this new restaurant! You won't be sorry. read more

Found this place by chance .What a great surprise the ambiance was clean tasteful and well thought out . the best mango chicken I've ever had for sure ! Thai iced tea was delicious the staff were lovely and attentive would highly recommend and eat here again read more

White Elephant is a must try. I came across this restaurant on my way to the Hill Crest Farmer's market. We were the first to arrive so we were seated immdiately. I appreciated the decor which was very simple and with the big window provided great natural lighting. Our waiter was very kind and attentive. Now to the food. We ordered egg rolls, pad thai, and pad see ew. The egg rolls were nice and hot, crunchy and tasty. The egg rolls were full of flavor. The pad thai serving size was very generous, the protein to noodle ratio was great. The pad see ew too was delicious and had a great protein to noodle ratio. I'd like to add that all the food tasted so fresh which made the experience that much better. In addition parking might be a slight hassle and the food can take a tad bit longer to come out of the kitchen but it is definitely worth the wait. White Elephant, thank you for the great food. See you soon! read more

Holy cow oh my wow the food here is amazing. A quiet small eatery, fresh and clean. The owner is very kind and super humble. This food is out of this world. Especially the mango chicken. I've never had anything like this. Words can't describe how good everything I've tried here is. Presentation is amazing too. Seriously try the mango chicken read more

White Elephant - Salt and Pepper Shrimp - Thai Near Me - San Diego, California

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