White Elephant Asian Kitchen

Thai restaurant · San Diego

White Elephant Asian Kitchen

Thai restaurant · San Diego

1

3843 Richmond St, San Diego, CA 92103

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White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null
White Elephant Asian Kitchen by null

Highlights

Flavorful Thai, Lao, Vietnamese dishes in a cozy setting  

Featured in Eater
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3843 Richmond St, San Diego, CA 92103 Get directions

whiteelephantkitchen.com
@whiteelephantasiankitchen

$20–30 · Menu

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3843 Richmond St, San Diego, CA 92103 Get directions

+1 619 269 6381
whiteelephantkitchen.com
@whiteelephantasiankitchen

$20–30 · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 15, 2025

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New San Diego Restaurants and Bars That Have Opened During the Pandemic - Eater San Diego

"Local favorite Amarin Thai, which shuttered in 2020 after more than 20 years in operations, has been remodeled into White Elephant Asian Kitchen, a new restaurant that features classic Thai cuisine as well as some Laotian and Vietnamese dishes." - Candice Woo

https://sandiego.eater.com/2021/2/12/22280054/new-san-diego-restaurants-bars-eateries-open-during-covid-pandemic
View Postcard for White Elephant Asian Kitchen

Madison Shepherd

Google
White Elephant Asian Kitchen was such a great spot for lunch! My boyfriend got the chicken pad Thai, and I had the shrimp lemongrass salad—both were super fresh, with great portions and amazing flavor. The atmosphere was really nice too, perfect for a casual meal. We’ll definitely be back to try the spring rolls!

Scott Pittenger

Google
Very good Lao sausage appetizer with a dipping sauce that was the perfect collection of citrus flavor. Honestly, if I had a basket of sticky rice, I would have been satisfied right there. But I had to add the entree Thai Basil with egg sunny side and jasmine rice. So good, although egg wasn’t runny like I’m used to. Spouse had the shrimp appetizer - massive shrimps! And crispy rice salad which was enjoyed. The Thai tea was refreshingly perfect as well.

Tess Seda

Google
This place has some of the best pad thai I have ever had. I love the quaint location and decor. It makes the ambiance of the restaurant so inviting and different. The service was amazing as well.

Jamie

Google
We love going to White Elephant. My top favorite is their White Elephant noodle soup. It comes with house-made knife cut noodles that’s super chewy, and the broth is full of chicken flavor infused with garlic oil. The white pepper adds perfect amount of spicy kick to it. I get cravings for this soup all the time but especially when it’s chilly. Haven’t found any other Thai restaurants that make noodle in-house! IMO, this is definitely their specialty. The Lao sausage comes with the dipping sauce and they are so good together. Love that bursting lemongrass flavor and chunks of meat inside the sausages. The sauce is mildly spicy and so delicious. The garlic pepper chicken is prepared differently from what we’re used to. It’s deep fried in crispy light batter and covered in their house special garlic sauce with red peppers. Mildly spicy and crispy, it’s also full of flavor. We weren’t a fan of the mango chicken dish despite its fame, mostly because we prefer our food savory rather than sweet. All in all, the batter was perfectly crispy and the idea of using mango was refreshing. Hope other people will find their favorite dishes at this lovely restaurant run by the hard working, passionate, sweet family!

Peter Farsai

Google
Best Thai food in the San Diego! Not the prettiest presentation but the flavors are unbeatable. Definitely recommend trying it out. Seating is limited and parking is a bit difficult but much better than anywhere downtown, call ahead to see how busy it is.

RJ Martinez

Google
The flavor at this Thai restaurant was really good and 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.

Daniel Martinez

Google
Came across this place when searching for a local place to eat while visiting San Diego. The atmosphere is pleasant and chill. I liked that they accept Google Voice reservations. The food was stellar and is possibly some of the best Asian food I've ever enjoyed. The chicken potstickers were crispy on the outside and just right on the inside. I ordered a side of peanut sauce to go with this and I HIGHLY recommend it. For the main entree, I ordered the mango chicken based on the waitress's recommendation. Originally, I was going to order the pad Thai. Her recommendation was spot on! The mango flavor was just right. It was delicious!!! I hope to be back and hope you enjoy White Elephant as much as I did.

David Webster

Google
Great food. Our table of 4 people had the Chicken Satay, Fresh Spring Rolls, Mango Chicken, Pad Thai, Yellow Curry, Green Curry, and Sweet Sausage Rice. Of course we had extra peanuts sauce because they know how to make it right. The portions were good and we all had to go boxes at the end. The only thing to take note is it is a smaller place and the food comes out a little staggered. But, when it gets to the table it is hot and delicious!
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Andrea W.

Yelp
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 :)
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Ronnie H.

Yelp
Stopped in after strolling around at the farmers market the place was empty like we were the only ones there at 2:30pm, already not the best sign but the reviews looked good. Eventually 2 more single parties showed up but that's not super important, it's just if it was truly amazing there would be lots of people I assumed. Anyways onto the food. We for yellow curry, eggplant dish, and the egg rolls. All of the food was food, my only complaint which removed a star was the portions for price. $17-18 per entree is normal for Thai but usually it's a big portion. The rice came out on a tiny little round cup which barely was enough for 2 people , the curry in a moderately sized regular bowl. I feel like if it was $13-14 I'd be happier. But I guess it's hillcrest so they have to charge
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Jen N.

Yelp
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.
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Allison C.

Yelp
I am absolutely blown away by this place! You can tell that a lot of thought and effort went into each meal because everything was delicious and flavorful. I am already thinking about coming here again very soon.
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Jiansen W.

Yelp
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.
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Zakira J.

Yelp
9/10 for food & service! very simplistic restaurant with tasteful thai food! the crying tiger was a delicious starter as well as the chicken potstickers. The thai tea was good but I think I want to try it with coconut milk next time instead of half & half. I really liked the drunken noodles, but be careful because their spice level is intense!!! we got a 5 and it was really spicy for us Overall, the food was great, and the server was on top of things for the most part
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Alex R.

Yelp
Craving some Thai food and happened to be in the area. The service was good. Nice quiet place. Parking on a Saturday night was not quick. Got the chicken satay, Cha' Gio' (Crispy Roll), pork garlic pepper, and beef Pad See Ew. The satay was good and juicy. The crispy rolls were tasty. The noodles were very good. The beef did the dish no justice. The beef was kind of tuff and dry. The pork garlic pepper I neither hated nor liked. It was something different for me. I would come back to try other items on the menu.

Damon M.

Yelp
My go to Thai joint is Hug Thai and I tried most of them so I wanted to try different spot. I saw good reviews and was excited to try different restaurant but I regretted as soon as I saw the food. I'm Asian and have been to Thailand 4 times so I know what's good. All of the food here were not edible to me. If you like Americanized Thai food, this is your spot but if you are Asian and knows what's up, this place is not for you. My favorite Thai place is Hug Thai and if I don't want drive to La Mesa, Bahn Thai on Park Blvd is another choice.
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Nicole M.

Yelp
Love this place! Came here on a whim because I was searching random restaurants in my area and so glad I decided to give them a try. I'm absolutely in love with their duck drunken noodles and their crab fried rice. The rice has such a generous portion of crab. I highly recommend if your in the Hillcrest area.
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Lyan P.

Yelp
I got the crying Tiger and it was delicious. The sauce was tangy and a little spice but it give it so much flavor.
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Gene L.

Yelp
Reasonably priced, solid Thai food in Hillcrest. 4.4 The service is fair. 4.5 The ambiance is fine, nothing too exciting. 4 My husband always gets the Tom Kha and it only comes in a cup, so if you're here as a group, there isn't a large portion for sharing. I wish I could give it a 4.3
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Maria H.

Yelp
We went in for dinner on a Saturday evening and found this little gem off the busy street. It's very small inside probably sits around 50 people, but they also offer outside dinning in their patio. The service was excellent, the waitresses were very attentive and nice. My water glass was never empty, as they kept refilling it. The food was also very delish. We ordered: - shrimp spring rolls: you get 2 full spring rolls cut in half per order, great for sharing. The peanut sauce is also served warm. Perfect as an appetizer. - pad Thai with chicken (you can choose the type of protein) big portion perfect for 2. Includes peanuts, bran sprouts, egg, and green onions. The noodles were cooked perfectly and a good portion of chicken. The tamarind sauce is very tasty. - eggplant with shrimp (you can also choose the protein) large portion of veggies and a side of rice. Overall very cute and tasty place worth trying if you're in the area.
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Alyssa H.

Yelp
Super cute spot!! Very nice indoor and outdoor seating. Food was fabulous and the service was quick. I dined in with a few friends. We saw a lot of people pop in to pick up takeout orders. I got the pad Thai and it did not disappoint. Everything was spicy, which I like. This spot was spicier than most Thai places. I'll definitely be back
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Nora D.

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

Yelp
Phenomenal food and great selection!! Consistency is key and White Elephant does not disappoint.
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Cecile A.

Yelp
Very good Thai dishes. Lovely decoration and efficient service. Possible to eat inside or out.
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Anne F.

Yelp
This is one of my favorite takeout spots right now. I ordered them 3x in a week a few months ago because it was all I wanted to eat. They have spicy garlic green beans, which are always my favorite anytime I see them on a menu. Everything else has been great too. Portions are good and the ingredients taste like they are higher quality than some of the other local places I've enjoyed. I haven't dined in yet since I've just gotten it delivered, but it's great to know they have a patio so I can bring my dog when the craving strikes again!
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Sarita B.

Yelp
We were so happy to have found this place! It's very cozy and warm for the indoor dining area. Outside dining area is very welcoming. We were seated right away when we arrived. The menu is very generous with options and there were some unique dishes that I haven't seen in other Thai restaurants. Which made my family and I glad that it wasn't the same old stuff we see in other restaurants. We started with gyoza which was delicious and perfection! My son got the mango chicken which I think was the best between all of our dishes. This is definitely my go to dish when we come here from now on. It's a big plate that comes with a side of rice. It's enough to share. I got the pad Thai with shrimp and it was delicious. I loved that the bean sprouts were fresh and not wilted down. My mom got the pineapple curry which was extremely spicy. She gave her level of tolerance which was a 2 and it was overwhelming. She had to trade dishes with my brother who got the combination seafood eggplant dish. He asked for level 5 and it wasn't as spicy as the pineapple curry. While both dishes were delicious, the level of spice didn't make sense. We told our server and he said that was how it was. Towards the end when we were almost done eating he came back to our table and said that the cook may have put too much spice. He asked us if we wanted them to remake it. At this point we were almost done eating so there was no point. When we were ready for the check, our server was busy on his phone. My brother finally got up with the credit card to get his attention but he didn't notice him. He stood there in front of him for a few minutes before the server looked up from his phone to realize my brother had been standing there waiting for us to get our check. Other than this everything was great. We will still come back because the food was delicious. While the service was not the best that night, it wasn't horrible for us to never come back again.
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Andrea R.

Yelp
I will always say this--I wish I lived closer to White Elephant!!!! My favorite Thai food in all of San Diego! Unfortunately I can only really indulge on a day we make a trip to the SD Zoo since it's nearby. The Thai tea is so rich and looks so fancy. The pineapple fried rice was piping hot and oh so good. The shrimp spring rolls were a refreshing start although next time I'll ask for extra peanut sauce... SO YUMMY! And I will never not order the crying tiger. It hits every single time. Love how it's a small restaurant so even if all the inside tables are full, you don't feel squished. They do have outdoor seating too. The staff are always so sweet, helpful and patient.
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Chuck D.

Yelp
We stopped in for lunch on a whim and were pleasantly surprised by the experience. We ordered across the menu and everything we had was delicious. The server explained some of the items that were unfamiliar to some of our guests and was very attentive to our table. The restaurant was still decorated for the holidays during our visit, but it was subtle and elegant.

Gary R.

Yelp
This is a great Thai restaurant in Hillcrest. The food is nicely spiced, most dishes coming up modest on the heat scale. There is great flavor with everything. Everything looked very clean although I realize things could look a little different at a really busy time. It is worth checking out.....
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Linda L.

Yelp
I think this place has the best vegetable house fried rice! If you like lemon grass, the drunken noodles were amazing as well! Very clean establishment. Service was okay. Will definitely be back to try other items off the menu.

k m.

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

Yelp
Cozy & comforting Thai food in Hillcrest. Their portions are generous, service on point, and ingredients taste fresher than other Thai spots I've tried in SD. My go-to dishes are the fresh spring rolls (with extra helpings of their delicious peanut side sauce), crispy calamari, pad see ew and panang curry. Lastly, be conscious of spice levels!!

Lisa G.

Yelp
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.

S B.

Yelp
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 :-(
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Paul K.

Yelp
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.)
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Legal D.

Yelp
We stopped by on our way to the airport and ordered wings and a couple of entrees along with a fried rice. The wings were a little bit over fried so the meat was dry but the flavor was good. The standout was the garlic pepper beef which is Finley sliced beef, breaded and fried, then topped with a sweet and spicy garlic and pepper sauce, it was great with some white rice. The flavor of the fried rice was also good, but as you can tell from the photo., the rice was a bit too wet and sort of clump together. The basil eggplant is my go to order and the fried tofu was nice and soft on the inside and well fried on the outside to soak up the sauce. It hit the spot and definitely beat airport food.

Daniel C.

Yelp
Always super tasty food and great food. The staff is friendly and the restaurant itself has charm.
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Maria G.

Yelp
We came here for dinner on a Thursday. I liked that it was a nice, small, and quiet restaurant with a casual comfortable atmosphere. We ordered the Pra Ram with beef and Pad Thai with chicken. The food came pretty fast. The broccoli and carrots in the Pra Ram were cooked just right. The beef was a little chewy. And the sauce was a little spicy though on the sweet side. The Pad Thai was also a little on the sweet side. But it was good. Service was very good. Even though it got busy, the main server was very good and efficient. Parking can be a bit challenging though.
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Olivia S.

Yelp
I LOVE this place. I was nervous to try it because it's vaguely called "Asian kitchen" and I was worried it would just be a confused nothing place. It's a Thai place. An incredible Thai place made of delight and deliciousness. I go here almost weekly now and I have yet to try a dish that isn't absolutely divine. They have varying levels of spice to accommodate any preference from mild to melt your face off and the flavors and textures are amazing. Don't skip the mango sticky rice! Sometimes I make a trip just for that! So cravable. The staff are friendly, quick and knowledgeable. I so recommend this spot.
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Sydney M.

Yelp
I chose this place for my work's holiday lunch, and while it is kind of hidden, the food was delicious and the ambiance was great. While there are lots of tables for smaller parties of 1-4, there appeared to be only one table for a party of 7 or more, which was perfect for us. We went on a Thursday for lunch and there were only two other parties inside other than us, so we didn't have to yell over each other or anything. Our food came out delicious, to the point where everyone cleaned their plates, except those of us who ordered the pad thai bc they gave us so much. Would definitely recommend this spot for anyone craving some good curry, pad thai, or mango chicken!!

Brandonio B.

Yelp
Very very good! Veggies have flavor, color, and fresh crisp crunch! Not overly cooked. We had drunken noodles and thai basil and firecracker shrimp. All of our items were so good! We live very close and this is a neighborhood gem! Great service, casual atmosphere and just hands down a comforting experience.
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Melinda H.

Yelp
My family and I have been coming to this restaurant for a few years now. The owner Shaun is very friendly and you can tell this is a family owned business. We had a couple of family friends visiting so we decided to come here. We made a reservation for 9 people on a Saturday night at 6pm. Everything we ordered was delicious. Spring rolls: these are your typical spring rolls. Nothing special but has always been one of my favorite appetizers to order at any Thai restaurant. 4/5 Chicken Satay: we always order this dish every time we go. The chicken is extremely tender and always pairs so well with the peanut sauce and sour cucumber sauce. 5/5 Glass noodle: we love ordering the glass noodle! We usually get this with shrimp and i love the variety of vegetables it's cooked with. 5/5 Red curry & green curry: we usually get green curry but because we had more people we also got red curry. I typically prefer green curry over red curry just because i like the flavors better but was pleasantly surprised by their red curry. We ordered this dish spicy and it was pretty spicy! Flavors were good and you have to eat it over rice! 4/5 Pineapple fried rice: we ordered this dish for the first time and it was delicious!!! Ratio of meat, vegetables, to rice was perfect. The seasonings and sauces were very flavorful. Usually fried rice is a very hit or miss and this was definitely one of our favorite dishes. 5/5 This location is located in hill crest area so it's very busy. Parking is pretty hard to find. They have a couple of tables outside which is nice! Interior is very clean and organized as well. Overall delicious restaurant and I would recommend this place to anyone looking for yummy Thai food with decent prices!
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Rebecca Z.

Yelp
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.
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Michelle C.

Yelp
The BEST Thai food I've ever had! We were visiting from NY and the customer service and the flavoring of the food was unlike anything I've ever tried before. The must try here is the pineapple fried rice. The aroma and taste is beyond what words can describe. And all for an affordable price and great portioning too! This was our best meal in San Diego and would definitely come back if ever in the area again.
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Michelle L.

Yelp
Colleague Y's pick for non-conference/resort food for dinner, a quick Lyft to Hillcrest after a full day of talks/sessions. Since it was evening and rainy the patio wasn't in use. Small indoor space. Several other groups dining, including one birthday celebration of all-girls. We did not make reservations but they accommodated our party of 2. Got one end of the big rustic wooden table which we could share with another smaller group if needed. I had the Thai iced tea, a cup of Tom Yum soup with chicken to start, Golden Tofu appetizer to share. I ordered the Panang Curry with beef and white rice, while YB got the three-flavor fish and one of the noodle soups. As an "Asian Kitchen" I understand that their menu covers Thai, Lao, and even Vietnamese (Pho) which might be a bit disconcerting at first, but the items we did order/stick to were on point! The waiter did not ask me to specify how spicy my curry would be, so I guess I got the default, which did give me the sniffles by the end...a good, authentic kick! Thank goodness for the Thai tea to cool me down. Everything was great, warm and cozy dining experience.
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Lina G.

Yelp
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 :)
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Remus M.

Yelp
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.
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Derek H.

Yelp
You better have some good teeth because the meat is very very chewy. I wish the meat was more tender. The sauce is gross. The customer service is not so friendly and welcoming. The guy that works at the front counter was not friendly and he was very rude. Parking is not really convenient.
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LINA M.

Yelp
Been wanting to try this place out for awhile especially since they came up categorized as having Lao food and I wanted to venture out of my normal locals such as Sang Dao, Mekong, Baan Lao, etc. Especially being that it was in north park I was really skeptical on how Americanized they would water down the dishes to fit the American palate. They are also more on the pricier side I figured because of the area. They had just opened for dinner when we 1st got there at 5pm so there was no other customers there yet. A man with salt and pepper hair, I'm assuming who's the owner I seen commenting on here named Shaun, was sitting at 1 of the dining tables. We walked in and he just looked at us without greeting us so I thought we were too early for dinner so I asked him if they're open already. He said yes and quickly got up and brought over menus. We ordered the White Elephant noodle soup (commonly known as kao piak), seafood tom yum soup, waterfall beef, and LBP papaya salad. Where do I begin lol the only thing I didn't try was the tom yum soup since my friend got that. White Elephant noodles soup (kao piak) was actually ok. I like the texture of the noodles and they didn't break nor was soggy. It only had shredded chicken. I had to ask for chili oil but it was not bad. Waterfall beef wasn't bad either but it lacked something that I couldn't put my hands on. It was like it wanted to be a mixture of nam tok or yum neau but couldn't pick a side lol but overall it wasn't bad. Now ok. On the menu there is papaya salad and LPB salad. So basically 2 different types. We ordered the LBP salad and when it came out it had peanuts sprinkled on top and we told him we ordered LPB not regular papaya salad and he insisted on hearing just "papaya salad" so he took it back and it looks like all they did was take out the peanuts and added maybe some padek or crab paste to make it a tiny bit darker. My other issue is on the menu it doesn't state Lao or Thai style for the papaya salad so I'm going to assume it's Thai style based off the peanuts and because the area the restaurant is located and what people are accustomed to. So we as Lao people ordered the Luang Prabang style thinking its going to be papaya salad that is actually shredded using a peeler, not a shredder, the authentic LBP way. When he came back with the same salad it was pretty sad since we had gotten our hopes high thinking we were going to get the real LBP style. Overall this place wasn't bad but too Americanized for me to get my "Laotian" fix.
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Bill F.

Yelp
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
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Hannah N.

Yelp
I have been meaning to check out this spot since it is so close and it did not disappoint! I'm already thinking about what to order next time I'm here and will definitely make this a go to eat any day of the week. It was pretty quiet as we were there about an hour before closing but service was super quick and our server was able to recommend a ton of dishes since it was our first time. I love spice so getting to decide how much spice is in your dish I loved. I did a 5 out of 10 for spice and k thought it was the perfect amount of heat especially with the sweet sausage in the rice dish. The portions are definitely shareable so order a couple of things and share a few different things. You can always call in an order to go and grab it as well. The patio area is dog friendly so anyone wanting their pups to join them for lunch or dinner.
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Rob M.

Yelp
There's inflation, and then there's just plain stinginess. Update: moderately tasty food, random spice levels, and overpriced. Our final order included spring rolls that were mostly lettuce and only one cup of peanut sauce for two rolls. $9. One entree $17 plus $2 for extra basil and there was very little extra in it.
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Owel T.

Yelp
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!
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Benjamin A.

Yelp
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!!!
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Lesley D.

Yelp
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!
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Angelica M.

Yelp
my office ordered this for lunch, everyone hated the food. i don't recommend this place and i would not go again
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Well A.

Yelp
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