Funky Elephant

Great spot but a bit crowded. We got the rice ball salad, pad thai and party wings. It was all good. The soft serve was really tasty too.

We ordered three dishes and iced coffee. Everything is very tasty especially the mussels and the wings

Great flavors (including very high spice if requested!), cute cozy vibe, and a varied menu of non-generic dish options. Come here!

Wow! Funky Elephant is amazing! It’s authentic Thai food that you can’t often find in the US. The menu is small, but everything is unique and delicious. We tried the fried rice salad. It’s a build your own salad/lettuce wraps. The flavor was complex and refreshing. Drunken mussels are a must! They come in a rich dark sauce that would be great with rice. The mussels are huge and meaty. Gang Rawang Beef is a curry based dish. It’s a medium rare flat iron steak that has a great char. It comes with arugula and a yellow curry sauce. The flavor combination is amazing! Fried shrimp salad - I found this more like an appetizer. The eggs are cooked over easy. I found it best to just pick it up with my hands and eat it. Cutting it with a fork can get messy. It came with a chili sauce on the side. So good! I found the pea flower jasmine rice to be very unique. It’s a bit on the pricey side, but so worth it! Currently they are offering take out only. They do have one table outside, as well as a few public wooden benches that could seat 12 per table. If I lived closer I’d come here often or order take out.

We fully enjoyed our dining on a chilly night here. A hip, casual place with a unique take on Thai food that I have never had anywhere else before. We ordered the Drunken Mussels and Green Beef Curry. Both have a good spice to it that fired me up, but the mussels and steaks are super tender. The house made dessert (soft serve mango ice cream) is a nice touch to soothe my palette down.

Top quality Thai food that I make sure to visit every time I'm in town! Everything is thoughtfully prepared and we'll executed. Highly recommend the crispy rice salad.

Best Thai food in the US, hands down! You can never go wrong here. Excellent ingredients, polite and knowledgeable staff, great service. Be prepared for spicey though! Genuinely fantastic restaurant, you'll keep coming back!

A cute little Thai place with solid food. Their menu is more limited than a typical American Thai restaurant, but everything is made extremely well. Very stylish decor and the bathroom is a hoot with the disco ball party lights and checkered tile. I've never commented on a restaurant bathroom before but it was a surprise delight.

Nice depth of flavor on the curries. I enjoyed the earthy galangal / cumin+coriander flavor in the yellow curry, while my partner's red curry was very herby and let the rockfish shine. reasonable portion sizes (they appear small on first glance but are actually perfect), and the dessert roti is incredible.

Their menu says they focus on quality, not quantity, and I agree with this statement. The motherland curry is the kind of dish you want to eat slowly, to appreciate all the flavors. The matcha latte is also of great quality. I say the price is matching of the good food. I think you won't be able to not like it. ;)

Delicious Thai food in Berkeley area, recommend!

Cute, very small little place. Wonderful service. The food was out of this world. I would go back in a heartbeat. Exceptional satay. and crispy rice salad ( to die for!).

Lovely and attentive service, true to authentic flavors. It seems more intimate than the Mission San Francisco location. Intentionally not recommending a dish because it depends on what you like - the menu is diverse and concise.

Great very authentic Thai food. Everything is very fresh and the restroom lives up to the "funky" name! We really enjoyed the Pad Thai, and the fried chicken + roti special was also fantastic. Allow a bit of extra time for parking!

I grew up in Thailand and this is my go to place when I want food that reminds me of home. I love everything on the menu but especially the mussels and somtam.

I didn't take pictures of everything we got, but everything was so good!!! They have a great patio space so we were able to bring our dog, which is always a plus. We got the drunken mussels, wings, motherland curry, and wholesome noodles. And we had to try the blue rice. Everything was flavorful and so perfectly done. If we had to pick a very favorite, it might be the mussels, but that's a hard choice to make. We also had the fried roti with Thai tea soft serve for dessert. So good. Sarah was super friendly and so helpful, we're so glad we finally tried this place and will definitely be back.

We've been going around the bay area looking for authentic flavorful Thai food and this place hit the spot. The chicken wings are spectacular with it's unabashed fish sauce and chili flavor that had us craving for more. The pad thai was the right amount of sweet, salty and spicy. We'll definitely be going back.

A cosy Thai place with a funky twist (as the name suggests)! The curry vermicelli has a curry soup base and it’s definitely a must-try. Would definitely return to try their other dishes. Update: came back for another meal and food is still extraordinary. Poached chicken was one of the best I had in the State (forgot to take photo and I guess I will just have to go again).

This place was SO DELICIOUS!!! We went pretty late and the restaurant was still pretty packed. We were able to get seated right away though. We tried their papaya salad, wings, and grilled pork, mango sticky rice and everything was extremely good. We will definitely be going back lol Street parking only but there were plenty when we went.

INCREDIBLE. Everything was so tasty and the menu had classics all Thai food places should have, but also very innovative dishes. My favorites include the fried egg salad: it was fresh and savory and sweet. The mussels: tender, and the broth was well-spiced. I soaked sticky rice in it and spooned it over everything. The wings: you just have to get it. I got the kid-size version because we ordered so much of everything else. The staff was also so friendly and attentive. Worth the wait!!

An excellent Thai restaurant a cut above the others in the area (and worth the modest price bump). The service was very friendly and the atmosphere is cute. The pad thai, crispy rice salad, and motherland curry were all outstanding. The only thing I wish they had was heat lamps for the outdoor seating, as it can get pretty cold out there. Will be coming back!

Plates were delicious, fresh ingredients, good sour-tart and chili balance on the dishes that deserve that treatment. The wholesome noodles were my favorite out of the 5 dishes we had. Service is swift

We had angus beef, KMG #2 and wings. Beef came with the best yellow curry I’ve ever tasted. Bit spicy, very authentic. Wings were sweet chili flavored, might be too spicy for some ppl but the sweetness was good. Thai tea was enjoyable. Server we had was very chill and funky. Liked the decorations too. Restroom was cool lmao

Spectacular blistered greens and papaya salad. Pad Thai was not nearly as amazing as the other dishes avoid pad Thai. The rest was truly stunning. Great service. Delicious Thai iced tea. Small space and close tables. Fun decorations and a porch for when there is good weather.

The crispy rice salad was out of this world. The food was fresh and perfectly flavored. Will go back in a heartbeat. Crowded with a short wait. Kind and gracious staff.

The wings are not to be missed: fragrant sauce, juicy, beautifully cooked (not dried out) sticky, delicious. The Pad Thai is full of flavor, tangy, perfect amount of heat, slightly chewy noodles, and the lightly cooked shrimp are a revelation.

The place is small and cozy, with disco lights spinning inside. The poached egg salad is so good! Very Interesting mixture of flavors and we liked it so much that we saved the sauce for the rice. We also had coconut beef steak (very good), party chicken wings (so so) and a special riceball palm tree sugar dessert (very good). Overall it is a great meal, just wish the portion was bigger :)

Marie P

I grew up in Thailand and this is my go to place when I want food that reminds me of home. I love everything on the menu but especially the mussels and somtam.

Michelle Braasch-Carman

I didn't take pictures of everything we got, but everything was so good!!! They have a great patio space so we were able to bring our dog, which is always a plus. We got the drunken mussels, wings, motherland curry, and wholesome noodles. And we had to try the blue rice. Everything was flavorful and so perfectly done. If we had to pick a very favorite, it might be the mussels, but that's a hard choice to make. We also had the fried roti with Thai tea soft serve for dessert. So good. Sarah was super friendly and so helpful, we're so glad we finally tried this place and will definitely be back.

Rohita Darga

We've been going around the bay area looking for authentic flavorful Thai food and this place hit the spot. The chicken wings are spectacular with it's unabashed fish sauce and chili flavor that had us craving for more. The pad thai was the right amount of sweet, salty and spicy. We'll definitely be going back.

R H

A cosy Thai place with a funky twist (as the name suggests)! The curry vermicelli has a curry soup base and it’s definitely a must-try. Would definitely return to try their other dishes. Update: came back for another meal and food is still extraordinary. Poached chicken was one of the best I had in the State (forgot to take photo and I guess I will just have to go again).

Yeonhwa Seo

This place was SO DELICIOUS!!! We went pretty late and the restaurant was still pretty packed. We were able to get seated right away though. We tried their papaya salad, wings, and grilled pork, mango sticky rice and everything was extremely good. We will definitely be going back lol Street parking only but there were plenty when we went.

Dani Dela Cruz

INCREDIBLE. Everything was so tasty and the menu had classics all Thai food places should have, but also very innovative dishes. My favorites include the fried egg salad: it was fresh and savory and sweet. The mussels: tender, and the broth was well-spiced. I soaked sticky rice in it and spooned it over everything. The wings: you just have to get it. I got the kid-size version because we ordered so much of everything else. The staff was also so friendly and attentive. Worth the wait!!

Nikhil Shankar

An excellent Thai restaurant a cut above the others in the area (and worth the modest price bump). The service was very friendly and the atmosphere is cute. The pad thai, crispy rice salad, and motherland curry were all outstanding. The only thing I wish they had was heat lamps for the outdoor seating, as it can get pretty cold out there. Will be coming back!

Damon Tighe

Plates were delicious, fresh ingredients, good sour-tart and chili balance on the dishes that deserve that treatment. The wholesome noodles were my favorite out of the 5 dishes we had. Service is swift

kk

We had angus beef, KMG #2 and wings. Beef came with the best yellow curry I’ve ever tasted. Bit spicy, very authentic. Wings were sweet chili flavored, might be too spicy for some ppl but the sweetness was good. Thai tea was enjoyable. Server we had was very chill and funky. Liked the decorations too. Restroom was cool lmao

Heather McKay Novak

The crispy rice salad was out of this world. The food was fresh and perfectly flavored. Will go back in a heartbeat. Crowded with a short wait. Kind and gracious staff.

Viktor Witkowski

The wings are not to be missed: fragrant sauce, juicy, beautifully cooked (not dried out) sticky, delicious. The Pad Thai is full of flavor, tangy, perfect amount of heat, slightly chewy noodles, and the lightly cooked shrimp are a revelation.

Carol Tyger

Great spot but a bit crowded. We got the rice ball salad, pad thai and party wings. It was all good. The soft serve was really tasty too.

Ari Leventhal

Spectacular blistered greens and papaya salad. Pad Thai was not nearly as amazing as the other dishes avoid pad Thai. The rest was truly stunning. Great service. Delicious Thai iced tea. Small space and close tables. Fun decorations and a porch for when there is good weather.

Alice Lu

The place is small and cozy, with disco lights spinning inside. The poached egg salad is so good! Very Interesting mixture of flavors and we liked it so much that we saved the sauce for the rice. We also had coconut beef steak (very good), party chicken wings (so so) and a special riceball palm tree sugar dessert (very good). Overall it is a great meal, just wish the portion was bigger :)

Amazing flavors make this really the top Thai food I've had in a long time. Plenty of options with dietary preferences labeled. Very good for folks who love spicy food. We asked for pad Thai not spicy since we love flavor but can't take much heat, and it was still spicy, we could handle it, but my mom wouldn't be able to. She could do the Wholesome noodles though, they put the chili jam on the side and we added it to our ability. Portion size were great- one entree is enough for one person. This place has more parking than indoor seating- it can fill up in an instant. Overall, I'd recommend this to anyone who loves flavorful fresh food and this is now on my list of places to go when I make it to Berkeley.

Linnaea Furlong

Amazing flavors make this really the top Thai food I've had in a long time. Plenty of options with dietary preferences labeled. Very good for folks who love spicy food. We asked for pad Thai not spicy since we love flavor but can't take much heat, and it was still spicy, we could handle it, but my mom wouldn't be able to. She could do the Wholesome noodles though, they put the chili jam on the side and we added it to our ability. Portion size were great- one entree is enough for one person. This place has more parking than indoor seating- it can fill up in an instant. Overall, I'd recommend this to anyone who loves flavorful fresh food and this is now on my list of places to go when I make it to Berkeley.

The menu is relatively limited. I don't eat pork so that cut out a large number of things (usually not a problem for me in Thai restaurants). Pad Thai was great but my fave was the crispy rice salad. The ladies who run the place and serve are THE BOMB. They'll do whatever they can to make you smile and I loved them!!! Definitely recommend giving it a try.

This place was quirky and all, but wasn’t all that great. The food was decent, the drinks were medium (specifically, the matcha latte did not slap) and I left feeling like it was just a touch too expensive. But service is great and it’s clearly loved by the community.

I tried the beef curry and ordered a jasmine rice to go with it, with a strawberry matcha almond milk latte to drink (they didn’t have strawberry on the menu, but mango was in the menu and was out of season). It was pretty pricy for what it was, but tasty. There wasn’t a huge amount of steak but it was cooked nice and medium (on the end towards rare), in a cardboard box and eaten outside it was pretty cool pretty fast which wasn’t ideal. The curry sauce was delicious and had a kick. The dressing on the arugula was good. The strawberry matcha wasn’t great. I’d try it again without the strawberry because it didn’t add any actual strawberry flavor and just made the drink too thick, but I’m not sure that would make it any better, so I might pass after that next try. The food took about 20 minutes, so it was probably made very fresh. They have a bit of seating, only outdoor still and mostly pretty sunny. A restaurant next door seems to have closed, so there are extra tables with more shade. The staff was great and super friendly.

I love Funky Elephant! Khao Man Gai they have is the best! So delicious. I just recommend it all of you. For here and to go, both makes me satisfied and happy. Chicken, rice, sauce, and soup, everything is perfect! Thank you for making amazing food!

DAISUKE OKAMOTO (OKAINA IMAGE)

I love Funky Elephant! Khao Man Gai they have is the best! So delicious. I just recommend it all of you. For here and to go, both makes me satisfied and happy. Chicken, rice, sauce, and soup, everything is perfect! Thank you for making amazing food!

More of a 3.5 stars. I came here for the food and fair enough it was flavorful. I like the spin on the pad thai where they grilled the shrimps before hand and used somewhat of an organic pad thai sauce. I also ordered the Isaan sausage where it came just one for $17. I thought it was regular considering I've had homemade ones before. However, I find this place to be on the pricey end and food portion is not really accommodating if you're hungry. I'd say people would love it here if come for presentations.

Have gotten take out from this small but always busy restaurant near my house several times. Funky Elephant has garnered very good reviews, and the food—while not knock your socks off good—is decent bordering on solid. What gets me is the small portions. So small that one order of yellow curry chicken was only enough to feed one person. They should either admit this and let diners know up front, or charge more and increase the portion size. This is my main issue with Funky Elephant, when I spend $50 on two entrees, I would hope it could adequately feed two people and it doesn’t really deliver.

TL;DR: This restaurant offers outdoor seating and a Michelin Guide Recommendation (2022), but the food is overpriced for its quality. The fried Brussels sprouts were excellent, while the Pad Thai was average and expensive. The service was attentive, likely due to being the only party there, but the overall experience doesn’t justify the cost. Unlikely to return. Full Review: This restaurant has limited indoor seating but compensates with an outdoor dining area that offers a comfortable alternative. While the ambiance might appeal to those who enjoy al fresco dining, the food was inconsistent and overpriced, especially given its Michelin Guide Recommendation in 2022. Food: The fried Brussels sprouts were the highlight of the meal—crispy, flavorful, and expertly prepared, showcasing creativity and attention to detail. Unfortunately, the Pad Thai was a letdown. It was lackluster, lacking the bold flavors and complexity one expects from such a staple dish, especially at its premium price. Service: The service was excellent, which can partly be attributed to the fact that we were the only party dining at the time. The staff was attentive, friendly, and accommodating, which added a pleasant touch to the overall experience. Pricing: Prices are steep, even for a Michelin-recommended establishment, and the food quality doesn’t consistently match the premium cost. While the Michelin recognition might draw in curious diners, it’s hard to justify the expense when only certain dishes shine. Ambience: The outdoor seating is a functional and pleasant option, but the limited indoor space may feel restrictive for those who prefer a more traditional dining setup. While the setting is adequate, it doesn’t quite elevate the dining experience. Verdict: Though the service was commendable and the Brussels sprouts were excellent, the average quality of the Pad Thai and the high prices overshadow the positives. Would I return? Most likely not, as the overall experience doesn’t justify the expense, Michelin recommendation notwithstanding. Rating: 3/5

The staff here is friendly and the restaurant has a good mix of indoor/outdoor seating. Now onto the food. I would not consider this traditional Thai food, granted the flavors were good, but the cost, i don’t think the experience is justifiable. Especially the steak dish. We’re talking maybe 5oz of flank steak in a curry sauce with arugula thrown on top for >$20. While the restaurant is trendy and the food presents extremely well, i doubt this place will have any trouble appealing to the Berkeley crowd.

Leo

TL;DR: This restaurant offers outdoor seating and a Michelin Guide Recommendation (2022), but the food is overpriced for its quality. The fried Brussels sprouts were excellent, while the Pad Thai was average and expensive. The service was attentive, likely due to being the only party there, but the overall experience doesn’t justify the cost. Unlikely to return. Full Review: This restaurant has limited indoor seating but compensates with an outdoor dining area that offers a comfortable alternative. While the ambiance might appeal to those who enjoy al fresco dining, the food was inconsistent and overpriced, especially given its Michelin Guide Recommendation in 2022. Food: The fried Brussels sprouts were the highlight of the meal—crispy, flavorful, and expertly prepared, showcasing creativity and attention to detail. Unfortunately, the Pad Thai was a letdown. It was lackluster, lacking the bold flavors and complexity one expects from such a staple dish, especially at its premium price. Service: The service was excellent, which can partly be attributed to the fact that we were the only party dining at the time. The staff was attentive, friendly, and accommodating, which added a pleasant touch to the overall experience. Pricing: Prices are steep, even for a Michelin-recommended establishment, and the food quality doesn’t consistently match the premium cost. While the Michelin recognition might draw in curious diners, it’s hard to justify the expense when only certain dishes shine. Ambience: The outdoor seating is a functional and pleasant option, but the limited indoor space may feel restrictive for those who prefer a more traditional dining setup. While the setting is adequate, it doesn’t quite elevate the dining experience. Verdict: Though the service was commendable and the Brussels sprouts were excellent, the average quality of the Pad Thai and the high prices overshadow the positives. Would I return? Most likely not, as the overall experience doesn’t justify the expense, Michelin recommendation notwithstanding. Rating: 3/5

Jordan

The staff here is friendly and the restaurant has a good mix of indoor/outdoor seating. Now onto the food. I would not consider this traditional Thai food, granted the flavors were good, but the cost, i don’t think the experience is justifiable. Especially the steak dish. We’re talking maybe 5oz of flank steak in a curry sauce with arugula thrown on top for >$20. While the restaurant is trendy and the food presents extremely well, i doubt this place will have any trouble appealing to the Berkeley crowd.

RUDE towards a family with young kids. We have been coming to this place for a year or so and enjoyed its food. But yesterday a bad incident happened which would probably turn us away forever. We were a party of two adults and two toddlers. At the beginning the service felt warm. Then one toddler threw up her chocolate milk. Despite that we completely cleaned up the mess by ourselves, we could tell that the service turned cold, even hostile. After I gathered all the wet tissues in a plastic plate that we brought, and politely asked the server if she could help us dispose them, she very emphatically said, "no, I cannot help you do that, but there is a trash can in the bathroom and you can dispose there yourself. That is the only thing I can do." I did so, accordingly, despite feeling a bit hurt. And as I was leaving the bathroom, the server rushed in with a trash bag in hand, apparently realizing that my child's wet tissues would make her bathroom smell foul. During the second half of our lunch, the sever kept casting a distrustful look on us. I understand that toddlers are messy eaters and risk-prone, which is why we took caution to keep the table and the floor clean (a lot of wiping). But I could not help but feel offended by the server's unfriendliness towards young kids, which is ironic, given how hard she repeatedly tried to sell the dessert for children. Having a kid's menu is great, but in my opinion, equally important is whether a restaurant makes families feel safe and welcomed. Unfortunately, Funky Elephant does not.

I wish I could give a better review. We had a party of seven. The service was beyond odd, uncomfortable, and what we all perceived as highly rude. It was a very cold evening. They had the door propped fully open. We asked if they would mind shutting it. They decided against it, only to have a customer come in moments later and shut the door.. People literally had their jackets on us included. You couldn’t even take the jackets off. It was that cold inside. Very small inside did not have a very good vibe. In part came here because of the stellar reviews and the rating in the food industry is so high. But as a whole, the seven of us would not choose to return in the future and do not have a positive review to send people to.

A B

I wish I could give a better review. We had a party of seven. The service was beyond odd, uncomfortable, and what we all perceived as highly rude. It was a very cold evening. They had the door propped fully open. We asked if they would mind shutting it. They decided against it, only to have a customer come in moments later and shut the door.. People literally had their jackets on us included. You couldn’t even take the jackets off. It was that cold inside. Very small inside did not have a very good vibe. In part came here because of the stellar reviews and the rating in the food industry is so high. But as a whole, the seven of us would not choose to return in the future and do not have a positive review to send people to.

This place is definitely overrated. We went there because of its rating. I saw some reviews saying the waitress’ demeanor is rude. I didn’t pay attention to it. However, our experience was even worse than I would imagine. The waitress treated us without any respect. She was either raciest or just didn’t want to serve us for any reason. What is more is that she had zero tolerance to our two-years old. In addition, the food was just OK but very small portions and priced far above average Thai restaurants. I won’t recommend anyone to go there especially if you have a toddler. This place totally ruined our dinner. Another I noticed now is that a lot of its recent reviews are not that high, so I wonder if this place used to be very good that was why it has a such high reviews.

The food was too salty and quite average. The service was extremely poor; I'm not sure why the server was so hostile. Firstly, it was very sunny during lunch, so my mom found an outdoor table and moved the chairs to the shaded side. The server informed us that we couldn't do that because it blocked a safety pathway. We immediately, very politely, responded and were willing to cooperate. She still maintained a rude attitude and said that if we needed anything, we should inform her and follow her instructions. She asked what we were planning to do, as if it isn’t clear that we are here to eat. What else are we gonna do? Are we going to steal things or misbehave? My mother brought her own juice because she has dietary restrictions and can't eat other foods. The server told us we couldn't bring outside food due to hygiene reasons, which I can understand. I wanted to explain my mother's condition, but she didn't wait for us to have a complete conversation. She said that if my mom decided to continue drinking her juice , she could refuse to serve us next time. Then, she left without giving us a chance to respond. Last but not the least, she brought the bill to our table while we were still eating and asked if we needed takeaway boxes. We hadn't finished our meal, nor had we requested the bill, so it felt like she was rushing us out due to the previous incidents. I posted the photo below. That was how much food left while we were eating when she brought the bill. Her reasons all made sense, but her communication was very unprofessional, and at times felt violent, leaving us with a very bad experience.

Ni Zhang

The food was too salty and quite average. The service was extremely poor; I'm not sure why the server was so hostile. Firstly, it was very sunny during lunch, so my mom found an outdoor table and moved the chairs to the shaded side. The server informed us that we couldn't do that because it blocked a safety pathway. We immediately, very politely, responded and were willing to cooperate. She still maintained a rude attitude and said that if we needed anything, we should inform her and follow her instructions. She asked what we were planning to do, as if it isn’t clear that we are here to eat. What else are we gonna do? Are we going to steal things or misbehave? My mother brought her own juice because she has dietary restrictions and can't eat other foods. The server told us we couldn't bring outside food due to hygiene reasons, which I can understand. I wanted to explain my mother's condition, but she didn't wait for us to have a complete conversation. She said that if my mom decided to continue drinking her juice , she could refuse to serve us next time. Then, she left without giving us a chance to respond. Last but not the least, she brought the bill to our table while we were still eating and asked if we needed takeaway boxes. We hadn't finished our meal, nor had we requested the bill, so it felt like she was rushing us out due to the previous incidents. I posted the photo below. That was how much food left while we were eating when she brought the bill. Her reasons all made sense, but her communication was very unprofessional, and at times felt violent, leaving us with a very bad experience.