Thai Basil

A decent place to eat tucked into the back of iAsian ghetto with good portion sizes at a reasonable rate. One self-orders on a kiosk or pay with cash at the counter. They'll call your number when your food is ready and you can come pick it up. The staff are friendly and there's plenty of seating!

Thai Basil in Berkeley offers a convenient option for a quick Thai food fix. I tried their Basil Chili Chicken with fried egg, which was a decent portion size. The chicken itself was cooked well, but the overall flavor lacked the punch I was hoping for. The ambiance of the restaurant is pretty basic, with simple décor and generic Asian-style furniture. It's clean and comfortable enough for a casual meal, but the inside space may feel very crowded when you have a few occupied tables. There is open seating outside the restaurant, which is shared by all the other restaurants in that section, so it's available on a first come, first served basis. The service was fast but the staff could have been friendlier. When my friends and I asked for to-go boxes and utensils/napkins, we got an angry look from the staff. Please also note that the restaurant doesn't have a bathroom for its customers, so you'll have to find some place else if you really need to go. Overall, Thai Basil is an average option. The food is decent, but a little pricey for what you get. If you're in the area and looking for a quick bite, it's not a bad choice, but there are probably better Thai restaurants in Berkeley worth exploring.

Reasonable price resulting from targeting students :) 🍛Red curry: one of the best I have ever had, would make you eat more rice 🍝Pad Thai: super sweet just not something I would order again 💁🏻Aunt even brought more bowls since we were sharing food, super considerate

Service here is poor. The worker ladies are pretty rude and are inconsiderate when I ask a question. Once, my friend was yelled at for typing in his phone number wrong and almost didn’t receive his food. Another time, I ordered my food on Grubhub to pick up and just decided to wait there because I was close by and the ladies yelled at me to leave after just sitting there for like a minute until I showed them I ordered on Grubhub. These are just the instances I remember. That being said m, the food is bomb and reasonably priced with the food proportions (relative to the prices of Berkeley). I will keep on returning even under threat grumpy ladies.

Foods are very salty and taste very bad. Service is even worse. Dirty plates, no AC, workers aer rude. After we are eating, as we left, the worker yelled at my kids to put away our plates. The kids were scared. We had to order our foods from a computer and came to the counter to get our foods. I still gave them tips. But they still made us put away the dirty plates. I asked for my tips back but they refused. Would not come back here. Do not recommend this place

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had the fried rice here. The Basil Fried Rice Chicken is soooooo good! It is a little pricey for rice, but they give you so much that it’s two meals for me. The staff can be intimidating, but I order takeout so it doesn’t bother me. Thai Basil is a staple of South Side!

SO heard some rave reviews about this place when he was at Berkeley so had to try at least a dish. Food/Taste/Flavor: 3/5 (maybe a 4 for college food) - Basil Chili Chicken (4) was a generous portion with rice. You can really taste the basil on the chili oil but the chicken itself was dry. There were some pieces of basil, bell pepper, and onion that helped cut through the dryness but you definitely need some sides to help with this dish Ambience: N/A - to go only but there are some benches and tables in the center of the plaza to eat at Service: 3/5 - cashier lady did not seem like she wanted to be there so we ordered from the kiosk instead Value for price: 3/5 - do note that the menu is outdated and the price is about $1.50 more per dish and they charge $0.10 for plastic bag for take out even though it's the only option

They weren’t lying when they said it’s the best. I had other Thai food places before and it does not compare to this place. So delicious!

This Thai spot has been my college go-to for years. Whether it's a quick lunch between classes or a late-night takeout session, it never disappoints. We had to order to go this time. The Pad Thai is always flavorful, with just the right balance of sweetness and tang, while the Pad See Ew is a perfect comfort dish with its chewy noodles and rich soy sauce. And don't get me started on the fried egg rolls - crispy and packed with filling, they're a must-have. This place has been a part of so many great memories!

My go-to spot whenever I'm in town. Staff is always friendly and non rushy when getting your food. This time, I didn't get the curry like normal. Kept it simple with veggie egg rolls since I was craving fried food. Restutant is packed with tables and chairs. However, the space works. Let me not forget I like the kiosk machine less pressure or maybe more on what to get. This place is a must try, aI know for sure I'll be back 10+ years.

I got the pad see ew, and it was good, though chicken was a bit overcooked. My low rating is because they only offer plastic containers, even if you eat in. I explicitly asked for no plastic because we planned to eat in, and the lady said yes and then gave us plastic containers in plastic bags with plastic forks and disposable chopsticks. Furthermore, they won't let you dispose of the containers in the restaurant (see image) and have a sign, virtue signaling, that they would like to save the environment and that customers should not order containers if eating in. It's a lie! Disappointing, not at all environmentally conscious and generating tons of waste. Food was decent but not worth wasting so much plastic when there are plenty of other good/better thai food options in Berkeley that let you use plates.

Thai Basil in Berkeley offers a convenient option for a quick Thai food fix. I tried their Basil Chili Chicken with fried egg, which was a decent portion size. The chicken itself was cooked well, but the overall flavor lacked the punch I was hoping for. The ambiance of the restaurant is pretty basic, with simple décor and generic Asian-style furniture. It's clean and comfortable enough for a casual meal, but the inside space may feel very crowded when you have a few occupied tables. There is open seating outside the restaurant, which is shared by all the other restaurants in that section, so it's available on a first come, first served basis. The service was fast but the staff could have been friendlier. When my friends and I asked for to-go boxes and utensils/napkins, we got an angry look from the staff. Please also note that the restaurant doesn't have a bathroom for its customers, so you'll have to find some place else if you really need to go. Overall, Thai Basil is an average option. The food is decent, but a little pricey for what you get. If you're in the area and looking for a quick bite, it's not a bad choice, but there are probably better Thai restaurants in Berkeley worth exploring.

This has been one of my all time favorite Thai places since college days. I love the online ordering capabilities for a quick pick up. Pla Rad Pik the fried fish dish has the most awesome garlic Basil sauce. Don't miss out. The classic pad Thai and pad see ew are always good.

Came here for a to-go order and a trip to the rose garden. They have the automatic teller machine now so all you do is walk up to the monitor and order your food. We just got the pad see ew and another order from Gypsy's. Overall the wok hay was pretty good on the noodles, however the drawback was that the chicken was kind of dry. There's noticeable flavor but it's not over powering so that was pretty good. The restaurant itself is clean and orderly. Overall I'm looking forward to getting more food and trying other items from here in the future.

Thai basil fried rice is the best vs other spots. Also the drunken noodles is really good as well. Both were very flavorful! No wonder my friend goes out of his way just for this!

Great food. I got the pad see ew with chicken and it was delicious. chicken satay was also good. Food was out quick, great staff. would 100% visit again.

This is my all time favorite restaurant in the whole bay area. The ambiance is perfect, the service is amazing (i go there so often, they recognize me). Order the pad see ew or pad thai!!! I love you Thai Basil

The best Thai food in Berkeley and surrounding areas. The service is always very fast and efficient. I recommend calling ahead as they are always busy and parking is very challenging.

My favorite Thai place ever! I miss this place reminds me of college! Man sometimes I want to visit Berkeley just so I can have this food again. As a Berkeley student this was my Friday night treat

I don't know why this place have low ratings but the employees are really at full speed to make your food and employees they are really friendly :) We ordered pineapple rice and pad thai food was really good! However pricey but from the amount of it and it could feed 3 people! Thank you for feeding me!

Service leaves something to be desired but the food is good! I ordered basil chili chicken with white rice and it reminded of the food in Thailand. The food was piping hot and clearly came straight from the wok - it wasn't too salty which was a surprise but still very flavorful. Not too much soy sauce either. I got medium spice and that was perfect. This is a no frills kinda place - communication with the staff isn't great and all food comes in take away containers. But really enjoyed it and highly recommend!

It is rare for me to get out to eat in Berkeley. When I do, I inevitably end up at Thai Basil. And every time, I cannot resist the spicy basil fish. So I order it every time. But I am disappointed, because the standard of this dish has gone down even though the price goes up. Don't mind paying more (that's expected over time), but the presentation, esthetics, flavor and taste have gone downhill. I ordered it spicy. It had good heat, but the fried pieces of catfish fillet itself were bland. And the sauce needs work. The place is popular and payment is only with cash. When your order is called out, it is packed in carry out containers, even though you are dining in. There is no table service and they are stingy with their napkins.

Thai Basil Cuisine is hidden away in the Durant food court area. The parking here is horrible, especially on weekends and weeknights - everyone is doubled parked right in the front. They have an ordering kiosk to order, or you can order online to go for a faster process. I was not feeling well one night and I was in the area, I was craving any kind of soup and this was the only spot that has something soupy in the area. I ordered a mild combination noodle soup. It had too much of a kick to it that it kind of burned my throat. It reminded me of like a spicy pho, but it was $18 for a small portion.

Been coming to this place for years, hate to say this but quality has been going downhill recently. Got a pad thai today and found two strands of long hair in my food - not the most appealing. They also raised their prices by a lot recently. A regular pad thai is now almost $16, with tax almost $18. Fairly pricey compared to other sit down Thai restaurants.

Thai Basil may still hold a nostalgic memory for me but the restaurant is price jacking so hard. A pad thai that used to $7-9 when I was in college is now around $16 base price. Any substitutions of changing something from say chicken to pork which used to be of no charge is now additional $2-3. I fear this may be the beginning of the end for Thai Basil at Durant Food Court.

Thai Basil is a solid choice near the UC Berkeley campus. They are very consistent with their food. While I have never dined in and have only placed takeout orders, the restaurant always looks clean. The staff are friendly and the overall ambiance is great. They have a lot of options on their menu, and all of them sound really good. I always opt for the pad see ew with veggies and no egg which is pretty good. The vegetables taste fresh and their sauce is flavorful. The noodles are always cooked perfectly which I appreciate because a lot of places over cook them. I tried the tofu pad thai yesterday which I also enjoyed. The flavors tested better in my left overs after the sauce had time to marinate with the noodles and tofu overnight, so definitely save some for the next day! The spring rolls are another favorite of mine. They are super crispy and the sweet chili sauce that they come with is soooooooooo good!! I would recommend trying this establishment and would recommend the pad see ew over the pad thai!

Thai Basil boasts an abundance of quality thai food -- the real bang for your buck. Located deep inside Asian Ghetto, Thai Basil was my first exposure to Berkeley Thai food when I first moved here. At just a $10 price point, this is a go-to spot for when you're craving some quick pad thai or pad see ew. However, Thai Basil is CASH ONLY, unless you order ahead on the Snackpass app and connect your card. They do have an ATM inside the restaurant if all else fails! Before the pandemic, the sauces and water are self-served and when you're finished, you simply deposit your dishes in the back. Now, I believe they're take-out only with the seating areas blocked off. You can eat outside in the outside tables in Asian Ghetto, but seating is hard to find on the weekend nights. Compared to all the other thai places in Berkeley, I will say that Thai Basil is likely the most convenient and quick option if you're in Southside, and probably has the largest portions. My favorite is the pad thai (they give lots of peanuts) and the Thai Boat Noodle Soup (but this can be kind of salty at times).

this place is amazing the food is 1000000000/10 would def come back cuz pookies this is good service is great, love them the ambiance is so calming and I feel like home

the food was great my friends and I really enjoyed our meal. great customer service, they offer Thai tea. It's just a bit pricey since we're teens. Thai basil has a great welcoming environment.

SO heard some rave reviews about this place when he was at Berkeley so had to try at least a dish Food/Taste/Flavor: 3/5 (maybe a 4 for college food) - Basil Chili Chicken (4) was a generous portion with rice. You can really taste the basil on the chili oil but the chicken itself was dry. There were some pieces of basil, bell pepper, and onion that helped cut through the dryness but you definitely need some sides to help with this dish Ambience: N/A - to go only but there are some benches and tables in the center of the plaza to eat at Service: 3/5 - cashier lady did not seem like she wanted to be there so we ordered from the kiosk instead Value for price: 3/5 - do note that the menu is outdated and the price is about $1.50 more per dish and they charge $0.10 for plastic bag for take out even though it's the only option

Came here for lunch in between classes. I wasn't expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised! I got the basil chili chicken with a fried egg on top. The flavor was great, and the portion was huge. More than enough for 2 people to share or to have for 2 separate meals. I do think it's a bit on the pricey side, I think I paid close to $20 for my dish. Overall, I do think it was tasty and worth it.

A Berkeley Classic I remember coming here during undergrad and the place definitely brings me back. Cool spot for a quick bite and stroll around Berkeley campus area Pro Tip: They now accept card and have a self service kiosk powered by SnackPass Food: Pad Thai 4/5- One of my favorite pad Thai places in the bay with a good blend of shrimp tofu and chicken all mixed in with the peanuts and other toppings. I order it non spicy and there is still plenty of flavor. Ambiance/ location 4/5- Great location right by campus and in close proximity to Telegraph and other campus areas. Definitely in the heart of student culture if you are visiting. There is cool outdoor seating in the area that is shared with the nearby restaurants. Service 2/5- There are always busy so the staff there are usually short and frank with answers and Move people along. The style of the place is take out but with seating options so there aren't any wait staff. Pricing- They doubled the price in the last few years from $7 to over $15 now but I guess that what happens during a pandemic and a surging real estate market. Disappointing but not a deal breaker

Berkeley is full of Thai places and perhaps some of the best in California. This place has very good flavour. The price is a bit pricey since many items are just big plates. I ordered: Fried veggie rolls Veggie Pad See Ew Veggie Basil Fried Rice The veggie rolls were average nothing amazing compared to other locations. I would order them again, just be careful because they're hot. The pad see ew lacked a bit of flavour and the thickness of the noodle. Overall the dish was tasty but I would try a different type of noodle else next time. The veggie basil fried rice is really flavourful and the basil adds a nice touch to taste. The rice is plenty for two people. The service was nice. They were very friendly and were quick when I picked up my order. I would come back here since this place seems to be very notorious among students in the area.

I have been hearing great things about this spot for a while now and was in the area so decided to try it. I was originally going to get a curry but didn't want it spicy but was informed that all the curries here are spicy. So I went with the veggie pad Thai and glad I did. It was delicious! My boyfriend that works near by this place goes here quite a bit and can't get enough of it. He ordered the regular pad Thai that comes with chicken and prawns and loves it every time. This is not a sit down place but order at counter and number gets called. There is inside seating. I will definitely go back and recommend if you like Thai food :)

delicious food! you can watch everything being made fresh to order the service wasn't the best, but the restaurant was clean and the seating inside was comfortable

This restaurant has survived the pandemic and offers takeout and delivery in the Asian Ghetto Food Court on Durant Avenue. I ordered the panang curry chicken, which came with a reasonably large container no rice for $10. The food was satisfying, and it was enough to fill me up. However, the taste was missing something. There is a wide variety of Thai, Chinese, Korean, and sushi takeout places with a 50 foot radius. This is a good option if you're in the mood for Thai. Parking is on the street.

This place consistently has amazing pad Thai and green curry :) I highly recommend this spot to anyone visiting Berkeley!

It's nice to see Thai basil still open. The prices have gone higher to keep up with inflation and competition. The dishes are around $17 average. The food is delicious but I had to give three stars because the portion of food is smaller than before and they used to have self serve cups by the water but you now have to ask in the front after you get your order. You can order on the kiosk now so it's no longer cash only as they now accept credit card as payment. They don't have air conditioning either so it's really hot. I think they only serve food in to go containers so even though my family and I dined in, we had to eat from the to go containers without serving utensils, making it tougher to share our dishes. I enjoy the food, but with the prices, I'd opt for a nicer sit down restaurant if I dine in.

3.5 stars Located in the Asian ghetto, this buzzing Thai place is a classic and a favorite of Berkeley students. The food is cheap and decent for the price (averaging ~$12 post-tax for the standard dish). My go-tos are the the basil eggplant w/ chicken (my favorite dish from here) and to a lesser extent, the pad see ew (which is OK). The basil eggplant dish is on the slightly oily side, but when mixed w/ rice, it's very flavorful and you kinda ignore that oily taste. I've tried other dishes over the past years, and they've all been OK. Previously cash only, now you can order w/ a credit card at the self-checkout. Food is finished relatively quickly without a problem.

Cheap and delish! Theres a reason this place has been around for so long. It's a good place for a quick bite.

Ahhh, Thai Basil. Never leave the Berkeley area. Note: cash only. If you're on or near campus, Thai Basil is in a great location for picking up lunch! It's walking distance to campus and located on the south side in an area called the Asian Ghetto. You'll find other restaurants in this area (perfect if you're eating with others who may not have the same craving you do), including Gypsy's, Boba Ninja, and Kingpin donuts. Their portion size is great, particularly for the pineapple fried rice. I've yet to order a dish I don't like (admittedly I love Thai food), though my favorites are definitely the pineapple fried rice and eggplant tofu (YUM). My SO likes their curries and I appreciate that they're substantive and filling. I won't name any names, but I know we've all been to a place with watery curry that leaves you hungry. Anyway, if it's your first time here and you don't have any shellfish allergies, go for the pineapple fried rice! It's big enough to share. A few notes: CASH ONLY Currently NO public restrooms Outdoor seating area (unclear how this will develop with COVID) Available on GrubHub Paid street parking nearby, free if you walk a few blocks down college

Had food delivered. It was the hit of the party. Everything was delicious. Would highly recommend.

Amazing food. So flavorful. The curry is some of the best I have had. I wish they sold spring rolls or egg rolls though. But their take away plastic containers suck - they break at the bottom due to the heat of the dish and thus leak everywhere. For that I am docking them one star. Other than that last complaint they are an awesome restaurant.

My wife and I ordered two curry dishes from here. Both were chicken curries, with different sauces. Overall they were okay, but the chicken was extremely tough and dry... For meat drenched in sauce, it is surprising that so little of it gets into the meat. It was like chewing on chicken jerky bits smothered in delicious sauce with a few huge chicks of carrot/potato tossed in. I would urge you to consider going vegetarian here. The veggies in our curries were amazing, but the meat was a big detraction. TL;DR: Good sauce, bad chicken.

This restaurant only takes cash, so come prepared! My go to order is the Pad Thai with shrimp and it is a LOT for one person. If you do choose to order for yourself you will definitely have enough for lunch the next day. The shrimp however is quite dry and the noodles are not very firm. For the price, you do get a good amount of food and the quality is good - but nothing great. The restaurant is located inside of Asian Ghetto towards the back, with yellow walls and often crowded table spacing. It is not the best to sit down and eat in the restaurant, but rather to get the food for takeout. If you are looking for great Thai food around Berkeley, there are much better options such as: Imm Thai and Rachas.

Horrible customer service I asked for extra sauce n they tried to charge me $3.50. There was a nail in my food and they refused to take accountability. Very rude would never come again.

The food was solid and came with a generous portion of rice, but for $15+ per item I wish there was less rice and more of the actual dish. The food had a good kick to it, and you can customize how spicy you want it. On the plus side, there is indoor seating and the food came out pretty quickly.

I was in the area and called to place the order. I showed up almost 10 minutes later and when I told the cashier that I had called in an order for pineapple fried rice, she recounted parts of our phone conversation. I pulled out my cash to pay, but something about the way she was interacting with me said that I needed to double check before paying. Me: Is it ready? Cashier: No, not yet. Me: Has the order been started? Cashier: No, I didn't start it yet. Me: Why not? Cashier: I didn't start it because I didn't know if you actually wanted it. I have never had a restaurant employee not take me seriously when calling in an order. Do people call in orders just for fun? Someone else raised the point that the cashier forgot to place the order and was trying to cover it up by blaming it on me. Whatever the reason, the customer service is too incompetent here for me to actually want their food.

food was meh. ambiance was bad. service was bad too. gave me the wrong thing. just grateful they didn't put meat in it but they very well could have.

Of all the Thai spots in berkeley this will always be the best. Located in asian ghetto, Thai basil has been a staple for cal student hang outs long before I started school here. The prices are average (for the Bay Area) but the food is great. Line goes super quick and they make the food fast as well. Everyone's go to is the chicken pad see ew. Greasy, sweet, salty, and perfectly cooked.

I've personally never had bad Thai food in Berkeley. I think each restaurant here is delicious and consistent. However, I think Thai Basil has the best value in terms of price, portion, and convenience. It's super close to campus and anything I order here always turns into 2 meals for me. The owners/workers are very kind and deserving of everyone's business! I used to come right when they opened and their kids would be inside the restaurant doing homework, playing, or eating food, which I always thought was so cute. I'm not sure if they're still a cash only location, so be prepared for that just in case. They do have an ATM inside but I'm sure it charges a fee so plan ahead of time.

Absolute terrible Thai food. The worst I've ever had out of hundreds of Thai restaurants I've been to in my life, no flavor and way overpriced.

My friends who went to UC Berkeley always talked highly about this Thai place, especially the pla rad prik (deep fried fish with special sauce). We always wanted to go but discouraged by the hard parking. Well, we took advantage of this quarantine situation and ordered to go from Thai Basil, we got the pla rad prik (of course) and the pad thai. The portions were big and the prices were affordable. Both dishes were delicious, the special garlic sauce on the fish was so good! Definitely recommended! But, dont forget to bring cash!

Pad see ew more like pad see Yum. This place was so good even though there was the longest hair ever in my food (they gave me another bowl). The place being located in a college town was fast and served well for the prices, would I come back here. Yasss hopefully next time I don't find a hair in my food Heart Eyes

I'm usually a huge sucker for Thai food, but unfortunately am not a huge fan of Thai Basil. The food's okay and does the trick for when you're hammered, but some downsides keep my search ongoing for a Thai place in Berkeley that lives up to my high expectations. The good: the food is fast and cheap. Even when it's really busy, the more popular dishes take only about 10 minutes to be made out by a fast and efficient team of workers in the kitchen. From what I've seen from the outside, they are more than capable of operating at full throttle and cranking out one dish after another. I don't know what they do with the preparation, but their food always has a sort of smoky flavor that is really good. Their meat falls a little bit short, though. The chicken and beef I got were overcooked and dry, in both the pad see ew and rice plate dishes. The pad see ew was your run of the mill cheap pad see ew, and the rice plate felt like a bunch of pieces of meat put next to lukewarm rice. The plate had way more rice than was necessary (even for me, a huge rice enthusiast that already has a high desired rice to meat ratio) and very little meat in comparison. Again, Thai Basil isn't bad, but don't go in expecting the best Thai food you've ever eaten - or anything above your plain old average greasy Thai takeout, for that matter. You'll be disappointed.

Always a banger meal - ready for pickup in 20 min avg, top 2 Thai spots in Berkeley!!

I've only been 2-3 times but I will probably never come back. The food here is not good, and the portions are very small. We ordered the fried rice dishes and they were all very underwhelming. Very oily and few ingredients but lots of rice. The food is overpriced for what it is.