Racha Café
Thai restaurant · Southside ·

Racha Café

Thai restaurant · Southside ·

Art-filled dining room serving flavorful curry, noodle plates

pad see ew
pad thai
thai food
khao soi
friendly staff
great service
pad kee mao
affordable prices
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null
Racha Café by null

Information

2516 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704 Get directions

$

Order delivery
See Menu
Restroom
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Cozy
Good for groups

Information

Static Map

2516 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704 Get directions

+1 510 644 3583
rachacafeberkeley.com
@rachacafe

$ · Menu

Features

•Restroom
•Popular for lunch
•Popular for dinner
•Cozy
•Good for groups
•Good for solo dining
•Touristy
•Vegetarian options

Last updated

Dec 21, 2025

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New Oakland Restaurant Jo’s Modern Thai Opens in The Laurel District | Eater SF

"Saelee helped his family run Berkeley’s Racha Cafe for 16 years, an experience that informs his desire to bring an accessible, neighborhood-focused Thai option back to the Laurel District where he grew up." - Lauren Saria

https://sf.eater.com/2021/7/20/22585482/oakland-jos-modern-thai-menu-intu-on-kornnawong
Racha Café

James

Google
Underrated gem in Berkeley that offers some of the best Thai food! I absolutely recommend their Khao Soi. So flavorful and delicious. They also have other great options which are all so flavorful. I loved their Tom Yum soup and they have a great Green Curry, although it is less spicy and creamy than what one might be used to, they use fresh vegetables. Unlike other Thai places in Berkeley, there is plenty of seating. The staff are very friendly and give it a family-friendly vibe. They can adjust spice for all dishes and really do make it a lovely dining experience.

Spencer B.

Google
The food here is amazing. My favorite was the pad see ew with chicken and the thai iced coffee. However, the service (or lack thereof) pretty much ruined our dining experience and none of us will be returning. I do not like writing negative reviews but i feel it is very necessary in this context as we were wrongfully charged a 20% gratuity fee that, according to the menu, was mandated for parties of 6 or more—but we were a party of 5. Honestly, we wouldn’t have been upset about that if the service had actually been deserving of such a tip, but it definitely wasn’t! Feels quite unfair that they got that tip off us without providing the appropriate service. They left us at the table for a good 20 minutes after we had finished our food, and when the server finally came around to collect our plates we tried to order desert but she immediately shut us down because they were closing in ten minutes. Wouldn’t have been a problem if they had come around to our table sooner, as we would have ordered the dessert then. Honestly, mid or bad service generally isn’t an experience-ruiner for me when i eat out and I definitely wouldn’t be writing nearly this harsh a review if they hadn’t charged us a wrongful 20% tip. We really wanted to like this place since we live so close by, but I definitely won’t be returning. On another note, it gets quite loud inside so if you are trying to have an intimate dinner I would recommend choosing another place. But i have to reiterate that there were zero problems with the food—the whole table really enjoyed everything we ordered.

Curo C

Google
Very good price performance ratio. The food is great, has depth. I got the pad thai and it was delicious, the sauce was excellent. I asked for medium spice and it was actually spicy, which was nice. It does get loud inside when there are a lot of people.

Maid By C.

Google
I found this place by accident and im so glad I did. I got pad Thai with Thai spice level. Oh my goodness I will def be back. This was an amazing surprise.

Marwa I.

Google
Yoooo if you’re a Cal student and have not ate at Racha yet, what are you waiting for?! Their plates are delicious! If you’re new to southeast Asian cousin, start off with “pad-see-you” lol that’s how you pronounce it. If you eat meat get it with their thinly sliced beef or opt in for vegetarian OR you can always go with the pad-Thai plate. Bon-appetite. Oh their plates are large so come with an appetite. Enjoy #Cal 🧸

Alethea D

Google
Nice place! We were craving pad Thai and this place delivered. I wish the sauce had more peanuts in it though. Tasty Thai tea too.

Mark E

Google
Good selection of popular Thai dishes. Good service. Food came out very fast so was a little hesitant. However the food was fresh, hot and tasty. Reasonably priced for the portion you get. Would eat here again.

Dennis P.

Google
I ordered a chicken pad kea mao (drunken noodles) and it was really good although… they gave me pork instead of chicken. And I didn’t know about that until they came over to the table with the plate that had chicken. Thankfully I am able to eat pork but… be careful if you are not— ask twice to make sure you get the right dish. Otherwise, they were very accommodating to our very large group.
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Tina S.

Yelp
Did family style with a group of friends, so I got to try a little bit of everything. We had Pad Thai, Pad Kee Mao, duck fried rice, fried calamari, fried tofu, Thai styled papaya salad, and ended the meal with mango sticky rice. Everything was delish. Service was tentative. Place is good for groups and groups with kids (worked well for us at least).
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Elizabeth L.

Yelp
Racha Cafe is located right by a busy corner on a busy street - it has a yellow exterior, but still may easily be missed. The interior is definitely a tad bigger than how small the exterior looks from the outside. Not the most welcoming employees, but they are quick to take your order and the food came out decently quick as well. My friends and I ordered their Papaya Salad (Thai style), Spicy Calamari, Red Curry Pumpkin over rice with chicken, and Pad Kea Mao (Drunken Noodles) with tofu to share. The Papaya Salad was good - nice flavor and I enjoyed snacking on it. The Spicy Calamari did not really have much meat to it - more breading to it. The Red Curry Pumpkin was not exactly my favorite, but it was decent over rice. The Pad Kea Mao was good - it had a good flavor to it, but a bit on the spicer side for me, and I think it would had been better with a different protein choice.
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Greta D.

Yelp
This once great restaurant has sadly jumped the shark. I ordered the green papaya salad and it was inedible. I've had hundreds of these salads from many restaurants and never seen soggy green papaya swimming in 1/2 inch of fish sauce. I threw it in the garbage. And sadly Uber Eats didn't feel it was worth a refund! So I will ending my relationship with them as well after being a solid customer. Avoid Racha and go elsewhere for Thai food.
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Serena H.

Yelp
delicious food! I got the red pumpkin curry and my friend got the pad Thai and we both really enjoyed it. I also got a thai tea which was excellent! Lots of seating and quick service. Only street parking nearby but it wasn't too bad to find a close spot.
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Tiffany R.

Yelp
Super chill place for lunch or dinner. Food is excellent. Relaxed vibe great for groups or dining solo. Vegan options are available. Friendly staff and great service all around.
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James W.

Yelp
Underrated gem in Berkeley that offers some of the best Thai food! I absolutely recommend their Khao Soi. So flavorful and delicious. They also have other great options which are all so flavorful. I loved their Tom Yum soup and they have a great Green Curry, although it is less spicy and creamy than what one might be used to, they use fresh vegetables. Unlike other Thai places in Berkeley, there is plenty of seating. The staff are very friendly and give it a family-friendly vibe. They can adjust spice for all dishes and really do make it a lovely dining experience.
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Ryan R.

Yelp
Racha Cafe is my all-time favorite Thai spot in Berkeley--no question. As a student living nearby, I order from here at least three times a week. Their green curry is insanely good--comfort food at its finest. The staff is always warm and friendly, and while there's plenty of space to dine in, I love taking my curry to go and pairing it with a movie. I've yet to try a dish here I didn't thoroughly enjoy. If you're looking for consistently delicious Thai food and great service, Racha Cafe is it.
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Christine B.

Yelp
Inside the restaurant is clean and there is a lot of seating. The service was mediocre as it is more like a casual dine in spot. We went on a Wednesday evening so the food came out quick. * Pad Kea Mao w/ Beef - 7.8/10 (i love how the soy sauce flavor was very deep and packs a punch! the veggies were cooked perfectly and i liked how there was a decent amount. the portion size is a small however, but it satisfies the craving. my main complaint is that it wasn't spicy at all) * Green Curry w/ Chicken - 7/10 (the curry had good flavor, but it's not as rich as i'd like it. the curry was more on the soupier side, but i prefer curries that are more creamy. i do wish there were more veggies & protein in the curry, as the portion itself was also small compared to the amount of rice given) Overall, my first dining experience here was better. I recall the Laos Papaya Salad & Pineapple Fried Rice really stood out here. These dishes that I tried today did not wow me, but I am glad that I came back to try new things.

Cassandra C.

Yelp
Great option for thai food close to the Berkeley campus. Portions are large, and service is speedy. Plenty of seating in the dining area, so it's a good option for either dining in or take out.
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Tasha H.

Yelp
Service is quick and food is tasty! Kaow soi is a big portion, lots of noodles and meat. The broth is quite thick and heavy - more like a thick curry than a soup, but it makes it cling to the noodles well. Served with lime and onion but no pickles.
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Kalai M.

Yelp
Delicious! I ordered pad kra pow Thai spicy, jasmine Rice, and 2x Thai iced tea. I also called the restaurant after ordering to let them know I wanted it to be extremely spicy. They did not disappoint, it was spicy and absolutely delicious. Thai iced tea is always yummy.
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Claire L.

Yelp
Empty, easy to find a seat, so good for big groups. We came with 8 people and were essentially able to be seated right away on a Wednesday evening (they had to scoot the tables together but yeah). IMO the food came out fast but since we had 8 people I did have to wait a bit for the 8th person to get their food. But nothing too crazy. I enjoyed my chicken satay. The peanut sauce was delicious but hard to dip the chicken skewer into the sauce due to the shape of the plate. The chicken was good and it was a lot more meat than I expected, so well worth the price. Solid, casual Thai place.
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Gargi D.

Yelp
Reliably good Thai food in Berkeley. Fast service and great food at an affordable price point. The Thai BBQ chicken fried rice is one of my favorite dishes - the chicken is perfectly cooked and falls of the bone. Love to go here regularly!
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Lily C.

Yelp
Racha is one of, if not the most underrated Thai spot in Berkeley. Located on Telegraph, my friends brought me there for my birthday and what a lovely treat it was! As shown in the pictures, my order was the Tom Yum Noodle and the Thai Tea. Both were memorable in that they absolutely shattered my expectations. The Tom Yum soup wasn't overly spicy or acidic like the way other restaurants make it, and was actually more sweet and tame in flavor. Part of this is because of the added cha siu, and I LOVED IT! It's so smart because it masks any dryness of the meat, and simultaneously exploits the barbecue sauce used to marinate the pork. Not that it needed any masking, because the meat was perfectly tender, making for a heavenly bowl of noodle and soup. The Thai Tea was standard, not as mind-blowing but I always adore the different colors of the drink. It's definitely on the sweeter side, but the ice eventually dilutes it enough for me to properly enjoy it. All in all, a fantastic spot for Thai food!
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Amber C.

Yelp
Came here for club banquet. Everything was a bit too sweet but not bad. All the veggies are good.
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Anjali T.

Yelp
Racha was my go-to thai restaurant as an undergrad at Berkeley. It has a homey feel, the servers are very kind, and it's the perfect spot to grab a warm and fresh meal to fuel a late-night study session. They typically seat you pretty quickly and have lots of room for large groups, as opposed to other thai restaurants in the area where you typically have to wait 20-30 minutes to be seated. I visited again today and found the portion sizes to be significantly smaller than I remembered (no leftovers this time!) and the Pad Kea Mao and Pad Thai to be less flavorful than usual. I really enjoyed the Tom Yum's sour, tangy, and bright flavor, but wasn't a fan of the tough pieces of ginger and bamboo left in the soup. Racha will always have a piece of my heart, but I was a quite underwhelmed by my visit today.
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Adeeva M.

Yelp
I love this place and tend to always visit when I am in the bay! Friends and I stopped by in the afternoon after a Cal game to fuel up. They had amazing service, they were able to accommodate our big party very well. I got the Thai tea which was amazing! I loved the Pad See Eww, so flavorful and delicious. I also tried the calamari and their shrimp tempura, all super tasty! My friends also liked the crab fried rice a lot. I love this place and can't rave about it enough. Great for dining in or takeout!
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Isaac N.

Yelp
Sorry I am really disappointed, and I hate leaving low ratings. I've been here more than a dozen times as it used to be our go to place for Thai food since the service was good and food portions and taste were consistent. But today for lunch when I had the pad se ew, it was the saltiest thing I've eaten. It was packed to the brim with so much MSG that I crashed so hard on my energy levels afterwards. There were maybe three pieces of chicken for protein and mostly carbs. For $20 a plate, they are heavily skimping on the protein! I hope management reads this and makes changes soon.
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Serina A.

Yelp
Racha's was my favorite go-to place for Thai food in the area. It was far better than surrounding Thai restaurants and I used to bring friends here every time someone wanted lunch in Berkeley. Their dishes were always well balanced, their PAPAYA SALAD was always so fresh, and the flavors were spot on. TODAY I went in for a heartbreak to find they've revamped the menu and removed most of their protein options. All the stir-fry's are gone including my favorite, the CASHEW NUT STIR FRY (which they were the best at) and now they basically only have rice, noodles, and salad options. Their fried rice just doesn't have enough protein to be considered a full meal in my opinion and now I am saddened to say I may not come back as often. I'm not sure if they changed management or had to do this due to slower business, but I really hope they can bring back their old menu items in the future. This business was one of my favorites and I am so sad now. Thank you for holding a special place in my heart as a Berkeley favorite, I hope you can bring back the same quality options and love in each dish as you had before!
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Angela W.

Yelp
Thai food!!! Ugh so good. The two times I've been here, Racha Cafe has not let me down. Service is fast, ingredients are clearly high quality, and has a friendly atmosphere where lots of groups from campus come to get meals together. I got the pad see ew which was so flavorful and satisfying!! I thought the flavors were well-balanced, but I could also see someone finding it a bit too salty, especially with the more you eat it - nonetheless do give it a try! I was really craving a wide rice noodle dish, and this HIT THE SPOT. I've also previously tried their iced tea which is amazing as well - not watery, creamy with a distinct taste of the tea leaves. Overall, solid, and will leave you full and happy.
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Ashley S.

Yelp
honestly one of the more underrated berkeley spots - the pad thai and pad see ew are pretty good portions for the prices, and the thai tea is made just right. the service is relatively quick, and i think this is a solid spot for thai food if you're near campus.
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Becca T.

Yelp
Super sweet staff, She was a 1 woman show when we showed up. Ordered 2 beverages 2 starters & 2 entrees. Decent pricing. Intimate for sure. Would be back again. Thank you for tolerating my outbursts of high pitched laughs
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Yuli O.

Yelp
This is my new favorite thai food place in Berkeley and my only regret is not trying it sooner. I placed a pickup order from Racha Cafe on a Sunday for one order of pad see ew, one order of pad kee mow, and some egg rolls. The food was ready pretty fast. The inside of the restaurant was very clean and has a lot of seating. It wasn't very busy when I went. The person at the counter was really nice. Okay now for the food. SOOOOOOO good. The noodles are perfectly chewy and tasted fresh. The sauce was super flavorful. The veggies also tasted very fresh. The portion size was really big and super filling. The egg rolls (not pictured) were also really good. They were a good size and the sauce they came with complimented them nicely. I highly suggest coming here and I will definitely be back!!
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Selena L.

Yelp
I hadn't been here since freshman year, and I remembered it being kind of mid, but it looks like they revamped the place since then, and I was pleasantly surprised. I came here with a group of friends, and ordered the Thai Boat. The portion was reasonable for the price, and the soup was so flavorful while still being relatively light. The texture of the noodles was great as well. Overall, would recommend for some solid, affordable eats.

Kiera F.

Yelp
Spicy crispy pork. Completely Not enough meat. 15$ for 6 pieces of pork. Do betterrrrr
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Hawk A.

Yelp
Racha Cafe serves up pretty good Thai food, but the real standout here is the incredible service. I've hosted many large events at this spot, and the staff is always extremely accommodating. They work so fast and diligently, ensuring everything runs smoothly every time. There is a huge private room in the back which is fantastic for large groups. My personal favorites are the green curry and the fried rice--both packed with flavor. If you're near UC Berkeley, this is definitely one of the better Thai spots in the area. Highly recommend, especially for hosting events!
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Suzanne W.

Yelp
This place is a new find and it might be my favourite Thai restaurant in Berkeley since imm Thai is always so busy. Don't be fooled by the outside, inside the restaurant is big spacious and clean. We ordered the papaya salad, really good and liked the flavor although the lettuce was too cold/ icy. Their Thai boat noodle was also delicious. They use brisket meat and it was tender and flavourful. Loved the broth. Their pad Thai was also one of the best I've had in a while. They noodles were chewy in a good way, and it's dry but the sauce is all soaked up in the noodles so its full of flavor. Will definitely come back again.

Lewis W.

Yelp
Great service, ambiance, and food. I would definitely recommend the fried chicken fried rice was delicious ;)
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Salam A.

Yelp
Ended up here after not wanting to wait over an hour at a different restaurant and left leaving satisfied! There weren't many customers so we were served right away and food came out within minutes which I appreciated. I ordered the thai tea and pad thai while my friend got the eggplant dish and we shared the side cucumber salad. The thai tea and pad thai were decent but not amazing. On the other hand, the eggplant dish and cucumber salad were delicious, definitely the highlight! I wasn't as impressed with the pad thai because there were very few chicken pieces and it was way too sweet - however, the portion was huge and leftovers lasted me for another 2 days!
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Sydney J.

Yelp
I've been here numerous times, and the most recent time I decided to try their pad see ew with tofu, which also comes with carrots and leafy green vegetables. I found their pad see ew to be more on the mild/light side flavor wise, but it was still yummy and savory. I also tried some of what my partner ordered, which was the Thai boat noodle, and I would say that is delicious and worth a try. (I'm sure that dish goes by other names although I don't see that specific name at most of the Thai restaurants in the area I've been to.) They also changed their menu again sometime this year, after having reduced it to a shorter menu sometime around when the pandemic first began, so there's slightly more options again, but I believe it may still be shorter than what was pre-pandemic.
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Joseph K.

Yelp
Rachas is my go to pad thai place. It is consistent and hits the spot to satisfy thai food cravings. The menu consists of the traditional thai dishe/curries that are more than sufficient to provide an ample selection. Out of my many times at Rachas I was disappointed once, as they got my order wrong. Very slight mistake, willing to overlook and will be back :)
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Hayeon Y.

Yelp
I think I nailed down the perfect order combination tonight at Racha. I'm generally not the biggest fan of Thai food in America, but Berkeley has really shown me that the Thai food and cultural community is thriving in this city - the best examples are come to mind are Racha and the Thai temple on Sundays. I've tried literally almost everything on the menu, and nothing is bad! I am such a repeat customer due to the consistent quality, service, and flavor that Racha is able to serve up at surprisingly affordable prices for Berkeley standards. I have also hosted big group events in their private back room. Love their hospitality and commitment to providing delicious food and welcoming environment to the community! Fried Chicken Fried Rice is my usual go-to. Their fried tofu puffs are surprisingly simple yet addictive. Khao Soi is delightfully creamy and rich. MANGO STICKY RICE SEASON IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR If Racha has no fans left in this world, it means I am dead. I am hoping and praying that when I get to finally revisit Berkeley a years down the line as an older alum, I will be able to walk down Telegraph avenue to be once again greeted by the friendly blue and white sign that reads 'Racha Cafe'. please do not gentrify racha this community needs racha thank you for coming to my TED talk
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Carina L.

Yelp
Ordered the beef boat noodle soup which is kinda hard to find in the east bay. It hit the spot! A sweet, dark, and rich broth that I could add spices to! I got the thin rice noodles. The meat balls were good. One thing this boat noodle didn't include was liver. The beef was kinda like a stewed beef and I didn't like that. I also would order it with less bean sprouts or on the side because it dominated the flavor. All in all, I'd return for boat noodles! Inside the restaurant was clean and updated. The staff were really accommodating and friendly.
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Jennifer T.

Yelp
Racha is a Berkeley staple! Their portion sizes are very generous and all the food is really good. All of the noodle dishes are a hit. The most recent time I came, it looks like they are pretty accommodating to large groups as there were 2 groups of about 20 people that came in.

Maria Luz B.

Yelp
Did not give one part of the order to the dash driver and expected me to either pick it up myself or deal with DoorDash when it was entirely their fault. Terribly dissatisfied.
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Rachel L.

Yelp
i didn't realize how limited the dine-in options were on southside after 8 pm until i visited berkeley as an alum and this was basically the only option. definitely not a bad option by any means, though - affordable, great food, never has a wait, seats large parties (i once came with 10 people), what more can you ask for as a college student?
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Janet K.

Yelp
The noodle soups are the bomb here -- super deep and flavorful broths. My go to orders are the duck noodle soup and the Thai boat noodle. I can eat these everyday!
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Niyoosha H.

Yelp
Came to Racha Cafe with some friends on a Friday Night and I loved the food and would come again and recommend it to anyone craving well priced Thai food. I got the Pad Se Ew with Beef and it was delicious and came out hot and fresh. The service was quick too! I hope to try the other items on the menu but a great restaurant to try in Berkeley!
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Tracy S.

Yelp
This is one my all-time favorite Thai places in the East Bay. I've been working my way through the menu for the past 10 years. Their yellow curry with chicken is still my favorite. Beef Pad See Ew delicious. The specials on the menu are ALL amazing! Wait staff is always courteous and kind. I love this place!
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Sabrina M.

Yelp
Amazing food with good and quick service, lots of vegetarian options, and easily customizable vegan options if you just ask! I got the crispy tofu salad without fish sauce to make it vegan and it was so good! I was surprised how big and filling the portions were. They were also able to make the Thai iced tea with coconut milk instead of cream so that was vegan as well. Definitely will be going back!
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Natalie L.

Yelp
I love Racha! People in Berkeley always seem to give Imm Thai the hype, but Racha is also a really good option for Thai food. My standard at a Thai restaurant is chicken pad see ew, and each time I've gotten it at Racha, it's always been pretty solid because the chicken is never dry, and the noodles are flavorful. I've also gotten the Thai papaya salad here, and all I can say about it is YES. You can get it either Thai style or Laos style, but I prefer the Thai style. It's fairy spicy and really packs a punch in flavor. It's probably one of my favorite items here. Service has always been good; the people who work as the servers/in the front are always pretty sweet, and Racha is mostly fairly quiet. I personally think Racha deserves more hype. :)

Richard H.

Yelp
Racha Cafe: Surprise birthday lunch for me and my stepdaughter! Little bitty hole in the wall had some of the most wonderful food ever in a Thai place! DRUNKEN NOODLES with beef were Excellent! Brown rice, white rice, sticky rice, all great! Also Mango with sticky rice desert was wonderful. Tom Kha was tasty. Amazing place and fast courteous service. Portions were just right. Loved it!
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Ethan C.

Yelp
I got the pad se ew noodles and they were delicious! There was a good mix of vegetables and a savory sauce flavor that permeates throughout the noodles. A must try! I usually get the pad thai noodles but wanted to try the pad se ew. These noodles are a bit thicker and has a more "thick" sauce and includes chinese broccoli. I think the prices are also very affordable. I would always go here during college and coming back to this spot brought back so many great memories.

Marjan L.

Yelp
Another reviewer said here that if Racha Cafe has no fans, they are dead--I share this sentiment with them. Without a doubt, Racha is my absolute favorite sit-down restaurant in all of Berkeley. I discovered it at the end of my fall 2023 semester, and I have been addicted since. I'm always tempted to gatekeep, but I end up taking everyone I know here anyway--and you should, too. The dining room is spacious and relaxed--and the service is beyond incredible. Everyone working there is always SO nice and happy to help. But, most importantly, the food is incredible--and you get GOOD portion sizes for comparatively reasonable prices (for Berkeley!). I usually order their pad kee mao (I am ALWAYS craving it!)--which I would personally recommend with chicken, but they have a variety of different meat (and meatless!!!) options too! I personally think it's joy in a plate, but if noodles aren't your speed, they have a pretty good-sized menu with plenty of variety--and everything I've tried has hit the spot, so I'm sure everyone will find something that tickles their fancy. :) TL;DR: Racha Cafe is my favorite Thai spot in Berkeley--she is a legend, she is an icon, and she is the moment. Every Cal student should eat here at least once!!!
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Justine O.

Yelp
Looking for a place to satisfy your craving for Thai food? Racha Cafe has you covered! Located just a few blocks away from the UC Berkeley campus, this restaurant is a favorite to both university students and long-time Berkeley locals alike. Last night, my friends and I were having trouble deciding on dinner because so many places were either closed, too far, or just plain unappetizing. We finally landed on calling in takeout from Racha right around 8 pm. I'm a firm believer that everyone should have their go-to Thai restaurant order, and as usual for me, I ordered the pad kea mao with tofu. It was made just the way I like: spicy and saucy, with lots of veggies and slippery flat noodles. In particular, I appreciated the spice level because most Thai restaurants in the area don't make their food spicy enough. There was also a decent amount of tofu. I also tried the pad thai, which was decent, but not as good as the pad kea mao in my opinion. It was drier than pad thai that I've had at other restaurants; I would have appreciated more sauce. They also don't make their pad thai with flat noodles, so I docked some points for that. They do give large portions, however, which is really good for the price. I'm curious to try their other menu items, and I'll definitely be back for more late night takeout.
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Mariaté G.

Yelp
A family favorite of over 25 years. We usually order the curries the spring rolls the pad see ew and we used to order the Bangkok prawns. I forgot to check if those were still on the menu, but I think they're gone. I think that more recently the menu was simplified, but there are still enough favorites on there to enjoy lunch or dinner from Racha Café. Definitely worth a visit. The Thai coffee is also recommended.
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Felicia L.

Yelp
Racha is probably my favorite Thai place near campus, but it's definitely not perfect. The food is great but their customer service is pretty questionable, in my opinion. They're pretty good if you're dining in, but definitely not if you walk in and try to order to-go. I've been here countless times and I've lost track of the number of times they've made me wait forever just to order or pickup my to-go orders. They basically push to-go orders to the last priority and you'll just be standing there watching them run around the restaurant to help others, while you've been standing there for over 10 minutes. I don't think it makes sense to make a customer wait that long when they're just trying to order two dishes to-go. I really think they need to hire more people. In another incident, I called ahead and gave them my order -- they told me it would take 20 minutes to prepare. I got there right around 20 minutes later but they ended up making me wait at the restaurant for another 20 minutes. I decided to sit at one of their tables to wait because I had a huge backpack on, but they even told me to move because they needed the table. I just wanted my food. I've heard other students having weird experiences at Racha as well (something shady happening with the tipping part) even though I personally have not experienced that. It's a shame because the food is really good! Just don't be too surprised if the customer service rubs you the wrong way. All things aside, my usual is the pineapple fried rice and I'd highly recommend it. See pictures for some of their dishes!
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El Y.

Yelp
I'd recommend the Pad Kee Mao with choice of beef! Cute homey vibes, close to Unit 2. The flat noodles were a bit dry and too sweet personally but it could be perfect for people specifically looking for Thai cuisine/flavors. Service was okay.
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David K.

Yelp
Racha Cafe is a friendly, casual eatery presenting a simple menu of affordable Thai rice and noodle dishes. To start off, the Laos Papaya Salad was a crunchy mixture of shredded papaya mixed with tomatoes, green beans, carrots, and ground peanuts, all mixed with a sweet and spicy fish sauce dressing. The Pad Kea Mao was a dish of wide rice noodles stir-fried with green beans, onion, tomato, and bell peppers, seasoned with a spicy, savory "drunken" sauce; the Kaw Pad Pong Ga Ree (Curry Fried Rice) was a Thai-style fried rice seasoned with yellow curry and stir-fried with egg, onions, peas, and carrots; and the Thai Boat Noodle Soup came with a rich beef broth and was topped with beef meatballs, beef slices, spinach, bean sprouts, green onion, and cilantro. But my favorite dish by far was the Kaow Soi, made with egg noodles in a super thick red curry sauce, topped with crispy noodles, lime, and red onion. The curry broth in this Kaow Soi was much thicker than in other versions of this dish I've had, which made it great for eating with rice too! At each table came a set of condiments including pickled jalapeños, red chili flakes, red chili paste, and crushed peanuts, so you could customize and enhance the flavors of each dish.