The Elephant Thai Cuisine
5348 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL, 60646
The Elephant Thai Cuisine Menu
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Desserts
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Sides
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Entrees
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Vegetarian
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Appetizers - Small Plates
Healthy Meal suggestions for The Elephant Thai Cuisine
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Desserts
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Sides
-
Entrees
-
Vegetarian
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Appetizers - Small Plates
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Address :
5348 W Devon Ave
Chicago, IL, 60646 - Phone (773) 467-1168
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Vince H.
It was damn good. Probably one of the best thai spots in the area.
(5)Anthony A.
7.7 / 10 Last Friday night, hungry and trying to avoid some abysmal traffic on both the Edens and Kennedy, my wife and I decided to check out Thai Elephant. She had read a glowing review in Time Out Chicago, and had heard a few word-of-mouth recommendations that made us excited to seek out this Edgewater family establishment. We were not alone... It was immediately apparent that the restaurant was "family friendly" (there were 2 large families with multiple children in tow, and a few smaller groups with children as young as toddlers up to early teens). These large groups had the kitchen running on all cylinders: plates of beautifully presented food kept coming. While all the tables were filled, the take-out crowd kept coming, too. I honestly don't know how these places keep up, but they did, and they do. We were greeted with a familiar menu and a number of specials. We started with fried tofu (a guilty pleasure with a lovely cilantro-garnished sauce), and the tom yum goong. I can say without a doubt that the broth of this soup is amongst the finest tom yum I've had in the city. The straw mushrooms (take note Chicago Thai establishments: this is the only mushroom I ever want to see in my tom yum) were succulent and delicious. They shrimp were large and flavourful, if a bit too few. The flavor elements (galangal and lemongrass) were abundant in the bottom of the bowl as I dug around for more tasty goodness. For our mains we tried our characteristic first visit sampler of staples: a noodle dish and a curry. The pad thai (despite an earlier review here to avoid it) was actually quite delicious. The noodles were a bit wider than many other pad thais in town and not too oily or dense. With a garnish of red cabbage, carrots and been sprouts, it was perfectly balanced between sweet and bitter - the attendant lime added the needed acidity. We had ours with tofu, which was cut into smaller post-it size squares - it was savory and infused with the tamarind flavour of the sauce. The red curry was filled with an abundance of bell peppers (not just those awfully boring green peppers, but copious amounts of red and *gasp* yellow too - wonderful!), bamboo shoots and basil. We had chicken as the protein and enjoyed how the chili pepper flakes were absorbed by its texture. The curry soup itself was thin, had a distinctive coconut flavour, but wasn't too sweet. Well balanced and medium spicy. The accompanying jasmine rice was light and nothing special. As we settled back to digest, we found that we were waiting a bit longer than we thought to have our plates cleared and to be asked for either dessert or the check. The service was scant and slow, likely because it was so busy - the staff did look stressed out. So, after about 20 minutes of waiting, we paid at the counter and went on to the next thing. Other notes: The parking was easy and plentiful on Minnehaha. The decor was cute for storefront. The plating was thoughtful and the serving dishes were large and nice. The utensils were comfortable in hand. And the water in the bathroom was pleasantly hot! Everyone eating while we were there appeared satisfied with their meals. BYOB.
(3)JP S.
Good Thai food. Newer, clean decor with good natural lighting, but can be a bit cramped because it is often so busy. Emerald Noodles, Pad See Eiw, Massaman are always great, as are the potstickers and bubble tea. Service is a bit erratic, but always very friendly. Prices are pretty reasonable.
(4)Beebe G.
the food at elephant is freshly prepared and really delicious. i do agree with kathleen m's review on their take out not being as impressive i'd like it to be. i feel the portions change along with the take out containers that seem less with a slight price increase to go with it as well. but, i can't resist their emerald noodle with real crab and corpulent shrimp. this dish is not on their menu but on their specials board so look for it there. also try their tum yum soup if you like a bit of spice in your life. i look forward to trying one of their fish dishes one day but for now it's an order of their panang curry chicken!
(4)Ron S.
We've been ordering from The Elephant from the day they opened. We love their spring rolls, cucumber salad, any of the fried rices, and anything with their green curry sauce. My wife loves things spicy, so she orders her stuff 'extra spicy'. This is definitely good eating. My only complaint is that dishes with shrimp (as an ingredient or an add-on) are skimpy. We'll simply avoid those in the future.
(4)John F.
Nice neighborhood spot in a neighborhood that needs more restaurants. Good lunch specials and some dishes that are more creative than usual at dinner. Decor is pleasant but not special. Very good tom yum noodle soup.
(4)david r.
unpretentious, clean, fresh and damn good. friendly, great vibe and reasonable prices. exquisite chinese broccoli in oyster sauce
(4)Timothy Richard W.
Best pad thai i've found on the northwest side of chicago. Its has a great small and friendly atmosphere. Veggies are always fresh which is great because you can have every dish without meat along with brown rice. Its BYOB without a corking fee. They do deliver, but the radius is small.
(5)E L.
The best pad thai in the city! Fresh and tasty. We drive past several other Thai restaurants to get here. The ambiance is fairly casual and colorful. Good prices.
(5)C T.
Awesome lunch special! Your choice of main dish (meat or tofu) with cucumber salad or egg roll, and rice. YUM! Pad thai is delicious. Egg roll is the best I've ever had, no seriously. It's delicious. Plus the red dipping sauce is so delicious! Service is always fast and sweet. Place is never over-crowded. Plus the art on the walls is so beautiful!
(5)Len W.
A nice, friendly little place. Service was very good. I had a red curry for lunch. It was pretty good, but not the best I've ever had. Had it with beef but one can also get it with chicken, and maybe tofu, also. If I'm there for lunch again I'll try the special.
(3)Monica W.
Okay, let me start by saying that I am INCREDIBLY picky when it comes to Asian food. I can become very easily turned off, mostly because part of me doesn't totally trust it (sorry, just being honest). That being said, I had almost given up on Thai food. The only place I have found to make consistently good pad thai is downtown and I just don't want to drive there every time I feel like having Thai. I feel a bit ridiculous writing a review because I cannot remember exactly what I had, but it was some type of chicken dish and on the list of lunch specials. It was incredibly fresh and flavorful and came with a cucumber salad, which was also good. I specifically asked the owner for something with no fish sauce (the idea of it just turns me off) and very little oil/not cooked in animal fat (I SWEAR Thai places often cook their dishes in animal fat----not joking, I consistently taste it!). She was super nice and accommodating and this is officially my new Thai place. Yay!
(4)Pam D.
Nicely prepared and presented Thai food. I've eaten here twice now and ordered different items each time. The food has a nice flavor and the portions are decent. Two standout items for me were the Tom Yum Goon soup and the Crab Rangoon. The basil chicken was also quite tasty. I've had better Pad Thai elsewhere, but it was still good. I love the atmosphere and all the elephant artwork and figurines that decorate the place. It is open and airy and very clean. They have a nice selection of reasonably priced lunch specials, so if you are out and about on the northwest side, check it out!!
(4)Tita P.
The Elephant Thai was a great find. I literally stumbled in during lunch time and it did not disappoint. The food was flavorful and very good and the lunch special is a great deal! Oh and you get a yummy piece of candy as you leave. What more can you ask for?
(4)Philip S.
Tried this last night with my wife. I am on a crusade to find good restaurants on the NW side. I so love my neighborhood (Portage Park) but we struggle with restaurants. I have decided to go back and review my favorites in the neighborhood as well as all my new finds. Wish me luck. Anyway The Elephant. Wonderful little Thai restaurant on Devon at Central. What really surprised me was their plates. I am adding a photo from my dinner. We had the Tom Yum, nice and sprite. Also tried the Thai sausage, lovely nice flavors, more a country style sausage. For main course the fried red snapper with the 3 flavor sauce and the Bamee Moo Daeng. The red snapper plate is my contribution to the photos, it was very good though not as good as the Bamee (egg noodles, BBQ pork, bak choy, crispy garlic, crabmeat (we asked for real crabmeat). Great combination of flavors. We finished with a mango bubble drink. Service was pleasant, professional, and responsive. The space while basic was clean, crisp, and well lit. It is BYOB. Enjoy, I know we'll be back.
(4)George A.
Excellent. Never had a bad plate. Excellent. Never had a bad plate.
(4)Kristina K.
Excellent local Thai
(5)Natalie S.
I've said it before and I'll say it again... Thai places are a dime a dozen. 'Tis true. But some are better than others and The Elephant is one of those good 'uns. I have only ever been there for lunch. I think their lunch specials are a pretty good deal. I always get the fried tofu/pad woon sen combo and looooove it. I don't know what brand of chili sauce they use but it's very good... and I mix a generous helping of it into the food. I have also had the pad thai here... not bad but then again, I think pad thai is fairly bland in general. The service can be spotty. One of my big petpeeves is when you are with a group and some food comes out 5-10 minutes before the other dishes. So you basically just sit around and wait for everything else while you're food gets cold. They need to iron that out.
(4)Mike A.
This is the 5/6th Thai restaurant ever for me and at this point I have to admit that overall I am not a big fan of the cuisine. If this is your 1st time heading out here, keep a lookout for the place, as there are no signs that would help you find it. It's across the Chicago Public Library on Devon if that helps. There is a also a large drawing of an elephant in the window. Parking on the street is metered and you will spend about a $1.25/hr. I ordered the basil chicken with egg roll. Took about 15min to get the lunch special and the couple sitting next to me got theirs about 30 seconds later. The thing is, they came in 10 min after I did. So all 3 entries got cooked in one big pot and split. No big deal, but again tough to judge how long your food takes, as it is apparently driven by what other folks in the restaurant order. The food was bland, as Thai dishes to me often are. Service was ok; basically one girl working the entire restaurant. Soft drinks are served by the can ($1), but with a large glass of ice. Overall it was not bad, but I will not be coming back: partially because of the cuisine in general.
(3)Lulu R.
Hello! My name is Lulu and I am a Thai food junkie. I like spicy foods, and I am a fool for beautifully presented plates as well. This Thai food joint in particular made it a wonderful experience. Its a cute and tiny little spot wonderful for lunch gatherings. I remember it being a day that was particularly sweltering hot and I needed a refreshing pick me up and the friendly waitress suggested the Thai iced coffee. It was perfect. Not too sweet, not too bitter, and ice cold.(Note to self: Thai iced coffee...ice cream?) We tried alot of stuff but of course had the basics: Pad Thai, pad see eiw, Tempura, and spring rolls. The plate were presented beautifully and the food was cooked to perfection, spicy. When you order, you can adjust the heat to your liking. I am glad the food was fresh. The prices were cheap and the food came out fast. I am happy with this place and its close to my house. Good Job Elephant Thai.
(4)Raquel S.
The food is very tasty, great portions and great prices. Love their Basil chicken, Pad Thai & Praram Chicken. The service is great both eating in or ordering out.
(5)Edward W.
Honestly just ok. I think my problem is that we have a lot of great Thai in Chicago and I've had much better. We stopped here because it is local and thought we would give it a try. Decor ok. Service ok. Food was just ok. Maybe the bubble tea is good but we didn't have any tonight.
(2)Bob D.
What the hell am I doing this far north at 6:30 on a Thursday? I heard there was good Thai food thats why. I heard correctly too! My list of Thai disappointments is epic, from overhyped hipply decorated to grimy ma and pa shops that barely have the lust for life let alone the passion to cook someone a meal. None of these issues here. First off if you are in the Edgewater area they deliver. They have great lunch specials as well as some dinner specials for $10. 49 or 99? I started with the chive dumplings, a wonderful crispy outside stuffed with stir-fried garlic chives. The star of this dish is the texture, the dumpling itself is made from sticky rice and tapioca flour, this creates a very different texture, starchy and a bit gelatinous. It may not be what you are used to Westerners have very narrow ideas about textures in food. Kudos for the bit of authenticity! The Tom Ka Gai was excellent, this is a very easy soup to make and yet time after time it is bland and lacks any decent garnishes. Not the case here, redolent with galangal, lemongrass, chilies and plenty of chicken and vegetables the coconut broth explodes with flavor prepping your whole system for the following courses. As it should be when eating Tom Ka, there are plenty bits of in-edibles so be prepared to spit some fibrous roots and such to the side. Pad Kee Mau was my entrée and noodle dishes get so taken for granted. There is great difficulty in the mastering of a truly wonderful dish of noodles. It doesn't matter if it is pasta, bean noodle, or rice noodle there there is plenty to go wrong and I was thrilled that none of those common mistakes made an appearance in my dinner. The balance of texture, sweet, sour, and herbaciousness was hitting on all 8 cylinders. There was a pork satay, I can't really recommend this dish, seems to have been added to fill some meat gap in the appetizer slot. So the good news, I have finally found a Thai restaurant that satisfies my love for Thai food. The bad? 6400 North Central!
(4)Dan F.
I recently made my second visit to Elephant. My wife loves the place, so I took her there for lunch last week. It is a small place with friendly service. It is clean and has that mom & pop feel to it. I have to say that my impression of the food was unchanged from my first visit - it's good but not quite as good as many other Thai places. There ingredients are fresh. The food is flavorful - but missing....something. It's worth a try if you're in the neighborhood. I'll eat there again.
(3)Andre L.
Have eaten here many times, mostly carry-out. We enjoy the pad-thai. Pricing is very reasonable, food and service are consistent. It's a good neighborhood place. The dining area is little short on ambiance compared to Chai Asian, another local spot but this is our favorite carry out.
(4)Marie B.
I had to update my review to four (4) stars. I've been back a few more times (have a friend that now craves this place) and I've been pleasantly surprised with each visit. The BBQ Noodles are good...sub chicken for the artificial crab meat....and the veg special is also very fresh and good.
(4)Amanda O.
I highly suggest the Tom Kha Kai soup. We got a large to split between two people but now I wish we would've gotten two larges so I could have some left overs. The broth was creamy, gingery and delicious. The only thing I could've done without were the chunks of inedible lemon grass in it. But this was my first Thai experience so it may just always be that way. Anyways, the Chicken in it was perfectly sliced, the veggies still crispy and the smell just put me in paradise. For my entree I had the Basil Roasted Duck. Never had duck before so I jumped head first. It was good. There were bits of skin still attached but I just scraped those off. I didn't expect the heat but then again I'm told Thai is naturally spicey. After a while I just got used to it. Soooo delicious! The veggies were fantastic as well. J had the garlic chicken. It was served with slivers of cucumber. Personally, I'll steer away from generic sounding dishes when going to this restaurant in the future because it seemed bland. But maybe that's cuz I had it after tasting my entree and loving the soup. The only other thing we tried was the edamame. I was disappointed in their dish cuz it seemed stale. I cook it better at home from the frozen foods department. I'll stay away from that too. Overall this place was awesome. I'll steer away from all the normal sounding stuff cuz the weird sounding menu items are freakin' awesome thus far. I'll keep ya updated for our next visit :-)
(4)Elizabeth D.
The Elephant is my favorite Thai restaurant in Chicago! It has the freshest ingredients that seem seasonal. The basil shrimp rolls are crack-tastic (Seriously. Sometimes, they don't even make it home when I get take out!). I have to make sure to get one order for myself and then another for others because it's so hard to share! Any of their dishes can be made vegetarian. The spice levels can be adjusted and the rice can be substituted for brown rice. It's BYOB with no corking fee. The only negatives are that they've recently increased their prices and they're closed on Sundays.
(4)Bridget M.
The lunch specials here are a steal! Served with an egg roll and cucumber salad, my thai basil chicken was ever so generous with the sweet basil flavor. Loved it! The egg roll was fairly standard. The cucumber salad was pretty good too. Very fresh. My entree was still a little on the large side - only ate half of it and was already feeling my pants tightening. Thai basil chicken was of the sweeter variety which definitely suits my tastes =) Our service was prompt and the decor very simple. Wish I was out here more because I was definitely eye-ing my manager's beef pad sie euw and it looked delish. It was his first time really having Thai food so I recommended my favorite Thai dish and immediately wish I could have ordered the same thing without feeling like a d-bag =P
(4)Bless P.
I love this place for Thai food. Affordable, great authentic thai food, and great service. I wouldn't change anything about this place except the facilities are too close to the back garbage dumpster (stinky!)
(5)Jay K.
Visited for lunch today, after always missing them as they are closed on Sundays: Tried their combination lunch for $8.95, which included: 1) two small deep-fried gyoza (machine-made frozen) 2) small egg roll 3) small portion of basil chicken 4) small portion of chicken pad thai 5) single serving of rice Verdict: 1) Gyoza and egg roll were forgettable. 2) Pad thai incongruously spiced - lacked sufficient fish sauce & tamarind - more soy-based sauce 3) Basil chicken had some fairly fresh veges with a lot of crunch. Also tried from their specials board: Beef noodle soup. Verdict: 1) Featured factory machine-made frozen beef balls, beef shank and sliced round 2) Soup base was "clean" - "qing" if you speak Mandarin/Cantonese, but flavor-wise and preparation-wise quite forgettable. 3) Boiled beef was simply non-descript, as was the dried rice noodle used in the dish 4) A bit pricey at $7.45 in comparison to much "better" beef noodle soups to be had around town. Additional: 1) Sticky-rice and mango was available, but for a whopping $5.75 2) Family-owned and operated by seemingly nice people. 3) I was a bit disappointed that there weren't more atypical/interesting dishes. 4) Extra charges include $1.50 for Jasmine rice, $2.00 for brown rice and an extra $2.50 for shrimp substitution in entrees. Finale: All in all, fresh ingredients, nice clean ambiance, nice if not professional wait-staff and a tad over-priced for what you're receiving See pictures above.
(3)Gerry X.
I like it. I have eaten there a couple of times before....this time i went with a couple of friends. And when we went....2 thai kids were reaaaally happy there. Usually it is more quiet. Appetizers....2 pot stickers and an egg rool with sweet and sour or soy dip. Nice. Then we all had the combo dish which had some pad thai and spicy beef salad. We asked for it spicy and yes it was quite that spicy. With the thai Ice coffee it was good. Pricing wasn't bad either......back in my youthful days I was a devout goer to the River Kwai on Belmont where for the same prices you would get 3x the portions and free refills. (Sigh) I really hadn't gone to other Thai places until recently....but this is a small yet nice pl ace to go. Even ran into a couple of friends I hadn't seen since those youthful years, where they got married and moved to Northbrook. So I can also say the drive from there to Edgebrook also says something about the place.
(4)Rachel R.
I've been missing out... this place is right by me, and they deliver! But somehow I never tried it until today. Yummy! The shrimp rolls are actually six portions of a jumbo shrimp wrapped in a basil leave and lightly fried. They serve it with a sweet and sour sauce and they are perfect. I had the roasted duck curry. I almost always try the duck curry at Thai restaurants and I use it as benchmark, kind of like Pad Thai. And this one was pretty good, but the duck pieces were pretty big and there didn't seem to be too much in my serving. The pineapple and curry sauce were really good too. I also has the basil chicken and REALLy loved it! This will my go to dish the next time I want something spicy. The chicken is ground and I think it holds the flavors better. The menu has some really interesting things on there like catfish ginger, tilapia pad cha and a red snapper dish and at least ten other things look good too so I will be checking them out again soon.
(4)Lin W.
Currently my favorite Chicago Thai restaurant...flavorful fresh authentic Thai food in a pleasant storefront with fun elephant-themed decor. Terrific nam sod, lad nar and chicken basil. Plan on sampling many more menu items, although it is tough since the ones i've tried already are so good i want to repeat them. My niece and nephew introduced me to this place for lunch one day and i have been going back almost once a week ever since. Very warm and welcoming place to grab a delicious bite; super takeout also and if you live nearby they will deliver to you! Service is friendly and efficient. Good prices. Family friendly also, lots of little kids and babies made to feel very welcome. Wonder if they could do something about the way the front doors work as you do get blasted with cold air whenever anyone new comes in...FIVE STARS.
(5)Brandon W.
Why is it that most places you could drive by in a second and miss are usually the best? I have to say, the food here was excellent. There wasn't' a part of the food itself that I didn't like. The appetizer we had was a Chicken Satay with a peanut sauce. Honestly, this is one of the best peanut sauces I have ever had. It was so creamy and flavorful, my mouth wouldn't stop watering. I totally recommend it. For my meal, I had the Cashew Chicken and requested extra spicy. And meet my request they did. The dish was very spicy, but the spice did not hide any of the flavors of the rest of the dish, which I really liked. The staff here is really friendly, and they move very quickly. Food was out in a short period of time and was served hot. My only complaint would be the size and layout. Everytime the door opened the cold air blew straight at us because no matter where you sit ,you are only a couple feet from the door. Other then that - great place, great food, great service!
(4)Pamela C.
We have been numerous times to dine in and carry out. We usually order the chicken satay or wrapped shrimp for an appetizer and are never disappointed. My friend liked the chive dumpling, but it's not my thing. My husband orders different dishes and is always satisfied. I am not as adventurous and after trying the garlic pork, it is now my favorite dish. I ordered the garlic chicken once and it was not as good. The pork goes down so well with a beer (BYOB). We think the prices are fair for well prepared, fresh food. There is now a little airlock entry added on to the front door and that made a huge difference in the room temp, which has soemetimes been a bit cold in the past. A great improvement for the space which is always clean and bright!
(4)A A.
Have been there numerous times since last review and have been treated wonderful. The food is great. And the service has been exceptional. Hats off to the owner for addressing all issues. Thanks for your attention. Great place.
(5)Alison H.
Had the duck curry. It was good, but I would have liked more duck. Most of the "duck" was just fatty skin. I also did not like the grapes in the dish. It was a good curry sauce though. Edamame was so fresh and delicious.
(3)Jeff P.
Great, flavorful Thai joint. Small classy joint with good service. It's painful going to a Thai restaurant and getting no flavor or pizazz...this place has it. Great Pad Thai and great red curry.
(4)Britt C.
On an everlasting quest to find great Thai food near my home, I hit the jackpot when I came here with my family! Their menu is fantastic, it goes beyond your typical pad thai and lard nar, to offer several varieties of catfish dishes, and even duck! We ordered a good sampling of curries, noodles, and rice dishes, and everything was delicious, as well as beautifully presented, if not a little on the small side. The atmosphere was neat, clean and comfortable, and BYOB definitely helps the bill. Although I've had cheaper Thai, the prices here were very reasonable for the quality and freshness of the food. Definitely has potential to become the new Thai spot!
(4)HARRY P.
Food is good, prices are okay, service is slow. lunch special is alright.
(4)Chris W.
Better than Sticky Rice. I like spicy food, believe me. The basil chicken here is the most highly intense HOT food I've ever had. The amount of jasmine rice you get with it does NOT at all help kill the heat. Nor does pop or even milk (maybe after a gallon you'll start feeling a wee bit better) and your nose will run as well as your eyes tear and if you sweat while eating spicy food, oh yeah baby, you'll be like a faucet. HOWEVER! It is the tastiest Thai dish I have ever had in my entire life. You can order the Basil Chicken in hot or mild, the hot is unbelievable and even the MILD is insanely spicy, however, mild is probably the way to go even for the adventurous so you can semi not gobble down as quickly as you would otherwise had your food been even more spicy (for some reason people tend to eat spicy food really fast to get it down, or something...). Other things that NEED mentioning are.... Pad Thai (best pad thai I've ever had -- noticing a pattern here?) Pot Stickers (mmmmm) Praram Chicken (the mild MILD alternative recommendation that is SO good you'll be highly amazed with your tongue's disco dancing in your mouth to savor the flavor.) I really should try other things on the menu, but I'm so addicted to my favorite dishes (above) that I don't see why I would NEED to, though eventually I'm sure I will. Depending on what I've got a craving for that day...
(5)Nona Gayle D.
my brother and I were cravin pad thai and curry..... and being the adventurous people that we are we decided to try a new place.... and we were pleasantly surprised. this restaurant has good portions for great prices... they had all the traditional thai dishes that I love and they were flavorful.... i have so many times been disappointed by a pad thai that lacked flavor but their pad thai was decent. I also tried the green curry chicken and i was very happy with it! if you're low on cash... but hungry for flavor and food, I suggest trying Thai Elephant.
(4)kathleen m.
3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars Unfortunately Edgebrook doesn't have many dining options, but Thai Elephant is definitely a great neighborhood spot. My dine-in experiences are always topnotch, with good service and very hot, fresh food. I really like the basil chicken, cashew chicken and vegetarian dishes. However, I am not as impressed with takeout -- mostly because they charged me for a bottle of hot sauce when I asked for a bit to take home.
(4)Bari L.
I have been here several times and I will go back. The food is good and Thai food is one of my favorites. So why the low score? The score is based on my last visit. My sister in law is also a fan of Thai so her and I set out for a little lunch during a day of light shopping and errands. You could tell the girl working had a lot going on and no help. We walked in and found ourselves a table she acknowledged us threw two menus on the table. Another set of women walked right in behind us and didn't get menus for about 10 minutes around the same time she finally brought us some water and then scurried off before we could give her our order. 5 minutes pass she takes our order and then runs over to her other tables and then grabs the phone to take more to-go orders. 2 minutes latter she brings us a plate of edame and although I love edame I point here to the table across from us because it was their appetizer. Next our food comes out and she gives it the women who came in after us and who had just ordered their food. They realizing it wasn't their order call the waitress back over who takes our food back in to the kitchen then 2 minutes later brings it to our table. I have worked as a waitress and could tell she was trying to juggle a ton of different tasks and for the most part all of her patrons could see this to so everyone was patient. However when you are over whelmed it will do you good to ask for help. I went to use the bathroom before my meal which is the back of the restaurant where you have a clear view of the kitchen. Their was 4 people working in the kitchen. I don't think it would have been hard to hand one of them the phone and asked them to take phone orders so she could take care of her tables and the people coming to pick up orders. At least if this wasn't possible that day I do hope she mentions it to her boss in the future so there is a little more help during the lunch time rush.
(3)S. H.
the worst customer service. the menu states any order can be made vegetarian. yet if you order any item and ask that tofu be substituted it will be delivered as is with beef or chicken. then when you call to say you got the wrong order the woman says no you didnt you ordered it with chicken. and sorry we are closed. so sad for you.
(2)Olga C.
Consistently amazing food. Blazing fast delivery. Favorite thai place.
(5)s d.
Thai Elephant is located in Edgebrook, an upscale neighborhood. I drive about 3 miles north from Jefferson Park to get there. Every ounce of gas is worth it! Surprisingly not many other restaurants in Edgebrook. My fave is Pad Thai, husband loves the Pad Si Ew and the kids are all about the fried rice. We have both eaten in and taken out. Quick service either way. I've rarely had a problem getting immediate seating. Parking usually found on the street in front of the restaurant on Devon. They have many more dishes that I will try when I get a more adventurous palate. I'll update my reviews if I do!
(4)Lisa M.
Consistently good Thai food. My test dish for good Thai food is crab fried rice dish and at the Elephant it is always delicious. My husband usually orders the basil chicken but we have had other dishes on occasion and so far the Elephant has never disappointed us. They seem to have a healthy takeout business - we always seeing people coming in and out. It is a nice neighborhood location in Edgebrook - there is an ice cream shop across the street. We often talk about how someday we should go for ice cream after dinner at the Elephant. Problem is we never seem to have room for dessert! My only complaint is it closes early - by 9 or 9.30. And I think we tried to go for Sunday lunch once and it was closed.
(4)Tricia S.
A local favorite of mine, Thai Elephant seems to be a passable place upon first outside glance. However, I wish their good quality food at reasonable prices, with a friendly staff could be constantly announced. Actually, that would probably ruin the mood. It's a down to earth place with a good amount of tables. Their wall mural is awesome. The service is quick, but they don't bother you except to refill your glass, ask you how things are, and bring you your check (except most times you have to ask for it). Incredibly casual and tasty this thai place is so essential in Edgebrook. In additon, it's BYOB! They've received great reviews by the reader, tribune and other sources. Only negatives: parking can be tough - make sure you bring quarters for the meter, it can get cozy if the restaurant is full & my mom found the chicken to be a bit dry once.
(4)Mike D.
Wife and I went for lunch on a Friday. App of spring rolls, I had the green curry (with chicken) and she had the basil chicken. Both were flavorful and spiced right (for us) which meant I was sweating a bit, but kept right on eating. Good portion sizes, and the brown rice was good (always appreciate when it's an option). All seemed fresh, left pleasantly full but not sleepy. Service was fine, and restaurant was about 40% full. Small place, so the one server did just fine. We'll be back.
(4)Leocris L.
great thai food. i'm hooked on their fried rice, and pad see ewe. i've tried a bunch of items on the menu, and every dish i've had is tastier than the next. the restaurant is kept really clean, tastefully decorated, and comfy.
(5)Angela F.
This is actually the 1st Thai restaurant I've been to, but I've had Thai food in the past, so I avoided the Pad Thai and decided to be a bit more adventurous and had the Cashew Chicken. Quiet place. I didn't have their bubble tea, but my friends did and they were quite good. Nothing special, but just as good as Joy Yee's. The service took a bit, but the food was good. Not as great as I would have thought for all the hype, but it's a decent restaurant. Not too many menu options... (they only have 4 drink options; 2 are bubble teas) but enough to keep you entertained for a good while. A tiny bit disappointed that there were only two bubble tea options (mango and pineapple), but it keeps the menu authentic. Overall an okay restaurant, but not good enough for the long trek from my home on the Northside.
(4)Amanda B.
Great Pad Thai... Loved the avocado bubble drink.. Mmmm
(4)Lena M.
This is definitely Thai at it's YUMMIEST. It's a very good place to eat with fresh ingredients and decent service. I've only had to wait once, but they had three large tables of 6 or more at that time. It was worth the wait. They have bubble fruit smoothies (they make a great dessert). My husband loves to experiment and tries a new dish each time we are there. I'm partial to their Pad Thai, Pad Se Ew and Ginger Chicken. I do really enjoy their Chicken Satay, the peanut sauce is not overwhelming or just heated up peanut butter! Both of us can't get enough of their pickled cucumbers that comes as a side with the lunch specials. It's affordable and tasty. Service is almost quick (not lightning fast, but it's all cooked to order). We are not in Arlington Heights and make Elephant Thai our dining out meal when we're back in Edgebrook.
(5)Leang E.
My coworker says this is not the place to order Pad Thai and expect it to be phenomenal and to go for the more authentic Thai dishes so I got the Elephant Noodles, I think that's what it was called. It has the crispy noodles with the seafood, sauce and vegetables steaming or cooking over it that softens them. The portion was large and it was very good. I ate only a third of it. It's a clean cozy spot, that has decent service and prices. It's kind of a stretch from where I work, but worth the extra trip over.
(4)Allison S.
I love Thai food and after passing this place enough times, I finally went in. I got the rama delight, but am looking forward to going back and trying their red snapper and pad woon sen! The food was not only delicious but beautiful. My mouth is watering thinking about it!
(5)Jean Z.
omg you guys should totally go here, we had th ecombo appetizer platter, pad see ew tofu, chicken pad thai, mussaman curry and basil chicken. Everything was exactly as expected, seriously. It was packed in here and they have a big carry out business. They have winterhours and do not seat after 8pm so call first!
(4)Elizabeth M.
This is my local Thai restaurant, and I'm so happy I have it! Thai is by far my favorite food and The Elephant is really good. The food is delicious, service is good (some ok plain it's slow but I think it's fine) and prices are fair. The delivery gets pricey with the charges and tip, but I love the food and order here at least twice a month. I highly recommend this place for any Thai food lover!
(4)Michelle N.
Love, love, love this place. My boyfriend and I have been coming here for about five years now and I've never been disappointed. It's our go-to place when we want a great meal at a great price. We usually order for pickup, but eating there is great too. It's BYOB which keeps the prices down. We always order the same things (we just can't help ourselves, they're soooo good) Crab Rangoon - one of the best I've tried in the city. Tom Yum Goon - soup with shrimp, cilantro, mushrooms, tomato's, lemon grass. If you're not salivating by now just try it, I promise it's amazing. Basil Chicken (extra spicy) - delicious!!! All this food (which we be two full meals for us) all for about $30. Can't beat it.
(5)Rachel Erica T.
My absolute favorite thai place. They make a completely scrumptious basil duck, and their tom kha kai is delicious! Go here for a date and cross the street for ice cream.
(5)Gil B.
Food was pretty good. I'd go back again.
(4)Erika C.
This restaurant is a staple for us. Consistently good, whether dining in-house or for takeout. Even my picky kids started to like Thai food! Everyone we take here is impressed. It's BYOB. The decor is simple/straightforward, the staff is incredibly friendly. Although occasionally something on the order doesn't make it to the table, the staff fixes it quickly, and they always listen patiently as my talkative kids tell them stories. We usually get the basics - Pad Thai, Pad Seiu, Pad Woon Sen, egg rolls, spring rolls, satay, and all are consistently tasty, fresh, beautifully presented, and not too greasy. We see a lot of families eating here (early, 5 or 5:30-ish) and love Chocolate Shoppe for dessert across the street.
(4)Louis C.
A good find in downtown Edgebrook. Excellent pad thai. We also had the spring rolls, egg rolls and pad sei ew which were all tasty. We've tried the various curry dishes on other visits and they have been quite good as well. A clean, well run family restaurant. The Phukets (fruit smoothies with tapioca) are out of this world. We love the coconut one and it makes for a super dessert.
(4)Laura G.
Thai Elephant has decent Thai food and I like having the Thai option in the neighborhood. Overall, I've enjoyed the food and found the employees there friendly. However, the other day I ordered a meal and was mistakenly given the wrong item that I discovered when I arrived home with my take-out -- when I called to let them know, I was told "All Sales Were Final" and that I wouldn't be able to exchange it for what I had ordered. So, I won't be eating there any longer.
(2)Carolynne M.
I have always had dependable, good service at Thai Elephant. Every dish I have tried has always met or exceeded my expectations. That said, I live exactly 1 1/4 miles away from this restaurant. They supposedly offer delivery but the two times I tried calling to place an order they were like "oh no, sorry, you are too far." Um, what? Is your delivery area a one block radius? Where I live there is probably 3 restaurants that deliver so to find a place that will is like mining for gold. This aspect of Thai Elephant did not please me, as you can expect. If it wasnt for that this place would have got 5 stars from me.
(4)B K.
Always delicious, always friendly... especially my favorite waitress, Obawon, who remembers my order as soon as I enter.
(4)Kim A.
There are not many options for Thai in this area so I have been here a few times. It is a nice, clean restaurant with friendly service and the food is very fresh and healthy looking but... it is just kinda bland. The pad thai is always kinda dry and flavorless. The Tom Kha soup is not very flavorful either. I will go there again though.
(3)Francis F.
We went to lunch here one weekend ago craving some thai food and the food was yummy just abit pricey for the portions of each dish.Service was good! Place was small and cozy! We ordered the appetizer special, pad see eiw, beef pad thai, chef fried rice, and chicken panang curry
(4)Marina L.
This is my favorite restaurant. The Kua Kai is the best dish, I highly recommend it, and the Thai iced tea is great! The bf and I come here all the time and brought several friends who have all loved it :)
(5)Michael N.
Atmosphere: B Food: A- Service: B+ We have ordered at least a dozen times from The Elephant and I cannot believe I have not posted. Everything is very good here, the menu is well balanced with something for everyone. In particular, the Basil Chicken is always something we order and from there we rotate to a number of different dishes. Be adventurous, try something new!
(4)Samantha G.
Probably one of the best Thai restaurants I've ever had (I've dined at many Thai establishments). Always fresh and delicious Thai cuisine. MSG is never added to their food. Service is always on point. The decor makes for a nice get together or date. There is street parking and parking in the back. Do try their Chicken or Seafood Basil, Tom Yum Soup, papaya salad and egg rolls. Elephant Thai is BYOB, so grab a bottle from Happy Foods around the corner. Buen provecho!
(5)Margie S.
The cashew chicken is amazing. Small, friendly, and clean. This has become my new favorite place.
(5)Jackie O.
This is a small cute place with an excellent menu. The Panang Curry here was delicious, but a slightly different recipe/flavor profile than any other Panang I've had. The brown rice here was fantastic, and the shrimp dish my mother got smelled delish. I would come back here in a heartbeat. My only complaint here was that the service was extremely slow and not particularly helpful. My mother had questions about the menu and our server wasn't very certain on the answers.
(4)Karen C.
Ordered delivery the other day with my boyfriend and got our food in the time they had promised. I got the special box A - basil chicken, pad thai, and potstickers. It was soooo good! The basil chicken has some spiciness to it that made it addicting and the pad thai was very good! My boyfriend got a red curry and he ate that all up as well :) I'll be ordering from here again!
(4)Samuel G.
Very polite help, food was good, nice mix of families and couples gives a neighborhood feeling.
(4)Aileen Y.
Ordered take out chicken pad Thai. With the positive reviews I really expected better. It was really bland in flavor, the chicken was dry, and noodles were overcooked. The noodles were short and broken not how usual pad Thai noodles are which was another indication they were overcooked. Probably won't be returned but they were really friendly and quick.
(3)Rob B.
I have lived all over the city and this is the best Thai food for both taste and value. Thom ka kai and wonton soup are both very impressive-freshly made from scratch. The special box combo meals are a steal. The famous Basil chicken is tasty and spicy.
(5)Linda L.
The food was good. I'm glad I tried it there. My friend ordered Special Box C, there's pad see ew, garlic chicken, rice, 2 crab Rangoon, 3 fried tofu. I ordered Special Box B, there's green curry, stir fry veggie, rice, 2 sticks of chicken satay and 3 shumai. We were satisfied. We ordered taro in coconut milk for dessert. It was not what I expected. Not happy. But as long as the food was good. I'm happy. The restaurant is kinda small. I went during lunch, so it was packed.
(5)G L.
For the trouble of writing an honest review back in September, I received a very nasty message. This time I don't have much to complain about, so, to whomever wrote the ill-tempered diatribe: you can cool your jets. I ordered the Appetizer Sampler. Very tasty. Best rangoon I ever had. Nice little dumplings. I also ordered the Spicy Seafood entree. Lots of seafood! Wow! Not too spicy. I'm convinced the coconut soup will heal whatever ails you. I smile with every spoonful. Wonderful bits of ginger to suck on. I'm arriving at the conclusion that Pad Thai is Pad Thai no matter where you go, that there just isn't much else anyone can do to it. Unless anyone has any suggestions? Oh, I don't know what has happened to the parking situation, but it's kind of tough. The side lot is now blocked off so no one visiting any of the businesses along the Devon strip can park there, and the back lot is reserved for other businesses in the area. I went there on a Saturday afternoon and had to circle around to find a spot.
(4)john k.
Always fresh ingredients and outstanding flavor to all of their dishes. I can honestly say I've never had a bad meal here (+50 over the years). Ask for duck next time in your favorite rice or noodle dish. The BYOB also keeps the dinner bills down! Enjoy!
(5)Jas D.
The food is consistently good here! Love the green coconut curry and the spring rolls. Everything tastes great. Thank you for a great meal time and time again!
(5)tomas a.
Omg i love this place great lunch specials with soup to and s great price love the atmosphere here friendly staff too
(5)Vikki Y.
Came here for an early dinner with a friend of mine who lives in the area and who loves this place! Food: -I highly recommend the brown rice- it is ACTUAL brown rice and has that kind of chewy/crunchy texture (you can taste the health!) -I had the thai iced tea and tbh I've had better but it wasn't bad -the Tom Kha soup (my favorite) was decent but I still liked the brown rice better -We ordered the curry and it was really tasty too- not too spicy- but the brown rice was great (with the curry) -Get the brown rice! Service: -service was fast and prompt -waitress was pleasant -street parking right outside but 2 hour limit and it's City of Chicago so expect City of Chicago rates
(4)Tara R.
Fast service, inexpensive dishes, beautiful presentations. I haven't eaten Thai food but once before so was a bit apprehensive to try something new. I was delighted with my choice of the special box that contained the Pad Thai. It was very good with the peanut sauce and lime juice mixed in. The spring roll with apricot sauce was a nice interpretation and delicious. I loved the egg roll and dumplings. I was surprised the dumplings were fried but I liked the crunch they provided.
(5)Giulia D.
Clean restaurant, cute ambiance, and friendly staff. Our waitress was nice very nice and welcoming though hard to understand, but that was ok As far as the food, my family I had had chicken fried rice, chicken pad Thai, and the spicy seafood dish special. We loved everything we ate. One of my favorite parts was the fact that nothing tasted too heavy on oil and had a healthy feel.
(4)Dan S.
I am actually addicted to this place. The food here is incredible! My boyfriend and I eat here at least once a week. The pot stickers here are the greatest things I have ever eaten. I always get an order to myself because I hate sharing! The pad Thai is also amazing and I'm in love with the spring rolls. I highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)Sam M.
This restaurant is such a hit or miss.. Mostly miss.. Making food consistently is not something they are used to. Food tastes so different every time. Not the quite authentic one.
(2)Sarah H.
I was at the restaurant with a friend .This restaurant is owned by my friend's mother's friend. The owner doesn't know me but because of my friend's high recommendation, i gave it a try. Food was good and the servers were friendly. I was done eating and my friend was still working on the food. While waiting for my friend to finish dinner, i was watching a movie with ipad. There was another table of customers who came in 15 minutes after us, they were working on their dinner. While waiting for my friend to finish eating, the owner walked up to my table and stated "you know, we close at 9" and she walked away and started chatting with another table who were leaving. I dont understand why she would only come up to my table and state such remark? She didn't even go to the other table who were still working on their food. I felt discriminated by her action. She can talk with customers for 10 minutes who were about to leave the restaurant, there was another table who were not quite done with their food, and she just had to come up to my table only and to let me know that the restaurant closes at 9. I still am trying to figure out what was her true motive for such action.
(2)B C.
We have been regular customers since they opened. Consistently great food and a local gem for Edgebrook. Can't think of a more tasty and reasonable Thai restaurant in the area.
(5)Allison M.
Friendly staff, cheap lunch special, almost never any wait. DELICIOUS pad thai. I came in for lunch last week and the waitress remembered that I prefer to eat with chopsticks and like tofu. She offered both without prompt. EXCELLENT service.
(5)James C.
My wife and I were pleasantly surprised. Fresh and flavorful food that is not greasy and heavy. Very reasonably priced.
(4)Jacob J.
Solid Thai food served in a friendly atmosphere. Neighborhood gem if you will. Bright red paint, painted elephants in primary colors, seating comfortable enough for the time and service with a smile. BYOB. I dig the seafood combo, it's solid for about $11 dollars. You won't believe how much seafood is offered. Tiger shrimp pieces, squid, mussel and crab meat, it's all tasty, filling and very good. Pair that with the appetizer sampler and its a perfect meal. At least for me. I dislike their web hosting for it's slow response time, my only other gripe is their last seating time. They say they will seat anyone in the restaurant by 8:30 pm. I've gotten turned away at 8:20 pm and it was dead. WTF.
(4)Kim S.
Excellent experience here as others said. Fast, friendly service. Cozy setting. Love the BYOB touch - brought a bottle of red and enjoyed it - without any corkage fee. Our group loved the curry dishes, especially the Masaman Curry. And don't miss out on trying their Tom Kha Kai soup - get the large for two people. My co-diners said the Crab Rangoon was the best they'd ever had. And all for a very affordable price!
(5)Ryan S.
Wow, this Thai food place is one of my favorites in the city, I ordered green curry chicken, spicy and a appetizer of crab Rangoon. I love the curry it hit the spot in so many ways plus I got it to go and it stayed warm until I got home.
(5)Eliza C.
Came here with my 8 year old for a mommy/son date. We had a couple appetizers, our go to is Crab Rangoon and theirs was pretty good nothing spectacular but tasty. My son ordered their Chicken Pad Thai and it was pretty standard - yum! I ordered their Basil Chicken and it was by far one of tastiest foods I have ever put in my mouth! I also ordered a small Tom Kha Kai soup and it was so warm and delicious! Really hit the spot! We really loved their attentiveness, too. At one point the waitress accidentally swiped our sweet chili sauce and saw my son had half a spring roll left and brought him a whole new one. The presentation was really lovely as well! Easy street parking. We'll definitely be back!
(4)Ann C.
I have been coming here since the day it opened. It is my go to thai restaurant. It is so incredibly fresh and delicious and the staff is so friendly. Seriously one of my favorite places ever!
(5)Michael R.
I very rarely support anything as "the best" in my opinion, but The Elephant is the BEST Thai food I have had ever, throughout Chicagoland plus any Thai restaurants I have tried elsewhere in the US. The ingredients are consistently very fresh, prices are fairly reasonable, and the owner really cares about the food she presents. All the staff are exceptional. This place clearly tries its hardest every day. I lament Sundays because I can't get any Elephant! I used to feel uncertain about any type of ground meat, including ground chicken, but after I asked the owner if she could propose any "more authentic" dishes, she suggested I try the basil fried rice with ground chicken (not the chicken slices), plus a fried egg on top. Yum! Yes, I suppose ground chicken is okay... I also highly recommend the tilapia pad cha or the catfish ginger - both feature delicious rich fish pieces that have been fried and have a fantastic crispy outside and moist inside, plus are served with lots of fresh vegetables. The Elephant truly may be my favorite restaurant.
(5)Paul K.
Very good & consistent Thai food. It's a nice neighborhood place. They struggle to keep up when they're busy but the food is always fresh, good flavors & good portions.
(4)Jonathan R.
A unique Thai restaurant that's worth the trip out to Edgebrook. Most impressive is that they use real crab meat (not crab stick). youtube.com/watch?v=oG6u…
(4)Morgan S.
In my book, The Elephant is by far the best choice for Thai cuisine in Chicago. I've been patronizing this restaurant for years with my family and friends and I don't have a single complaint. The service is friendly, speedy, and very attentive. My menu favorites are the spring rolls, the chicken satay, and the chicken pad Thai; I have yet to be disappointed with a single meal taken here. The desserts, however limited, are also to die for. I visited The Elephant with a friend today and she agreed wholeheartedly that the food was great and that the Thai custard and Taro pearls were surprisingly delicious (she was skeptical at first sight). Even though her order was initially messed up, the issue was kindly and promptly addressed and our experience was still absolutely fabulous. The Elephant Thai Cuisine is a great, affordable gem hidden in the quietness of Edgebrook and I would recommend it to anyone who loves Thai food (and even those who don't).
(5)Sandra A.
Love their chicken noodle soup, fried rice, and chicken satay.
(5)Jen L.
How have I never been to this little Thai place on Devon?! Not only is the food good, they also had Thai Coffee with BUBBLES! (Like Bubble Tea!!!!) I have never had bubble Thai Iced Coffee. It was awesome! I give this place an extra star for being creative with the Thai Coffee. So we went there for lunch on a weekday and it was a bit slow. But I loved how cozy and homey this place was. They had some great lunch specials $6.95 for an appetizer, rice and a main entree (a choice of your common Thai entrees). I went for the Pad Thai with fried tofu as my choice of the day and it was excellent. I usually prefer it really spicy but this one was not spicy at all. in fact it was very flavorful, which made up for the lack of spice that I usually like in my Pad Thai. Overall it was pretty decent Pad Thai, nothing too special. Word on the street is that the chicken basil is very good, I will have to come back and try it.
(4)Douglas C.
On a positive note, their panang and mussaman curry dishes are very good. not great...but better than their noodle dishes. their pad sie eu and pad thai (in my opnion) are very bland. i'll still drive to Thai Pastry on Argyle and Broadway, for the BEST thai food in town. i guess, if you worked in the area, and absolutely HAD to have thai food, it'd be okay. but please don't go out of your way to come here. there are much better places. They are closed Sundays...which is weird. but more power to them, as it doesn't seem to be hurting their business.
(2)Taryn H.
I love The Elephant! I was in Chicago for work recently and I ate here a lot. The food was excellent every time. I particularly loved their Pad See Ewe and Massaman Curry.
(5)Sylvia R.
I have been to this place several times, and although the food is great, the service is lacking. Tonight I showed up at 8:45 and wanted to get takeout. The sign on the door read 9pm as the time they close. On-line I am aware that it says8:30 as the time it closes. Both times, 8:30 or 9 seem way too early to close on a Saturday night. It was obvious that I was not the onle one who thought the same. As I was directed to leave, there were others that were walking in and tried to dine as well. They too were told the restaurant was closed. I was very put off by their "we dont need your business" attitude. I am not too sure if I will be returning.
(2)Olga C.
Consistently amazing food. Blazing fast delivery. Favorite thai place.
(5)C T.
Awesome lunch special! Your choice of main dish (meat or tofu) with cucumber salad or egg roll, and rice. YUM! Pad thai is delicious. Egg roll is the best I've ever had, no seriously. It's delicious. Plus the red dipping sauce is so delicious! Service is always fast and sweet. Place is never over-crowded. Plus the art on the walls is so beautiful!
(5)Len W.
A nice, friendly little place. Service was very good. I had a red curry for lunch. It was pretty good, but not the best I've ever had. Had it with beef but one can also get it with chicken, and maybe tofu, also. If I'm there for lunch again I'll try the special.
(3)Monica W.
Okay, let me start by saying that I am INCREDIBLY picky when it comes to Asian food. I can become very easily turned off, mostly because part of me doesn't totally trust it (sorry, just being honest). That being said, I had almost given up on Thai food. The only place I have found to make consistently good pad thai is downtown and I just don't want to drive there every time I feel like having Thai. I feel a bit ridiculous writing a review because I cannot remember exactly what I had, but it was some type of chicken dish and on the list of lunch specials. It was incredibly fresh and flavorful and came with a cucumber salad, which was also good. I specifically asked the owner for something with no fish sauce (the idea of it just turns me off) and very little oil/not cooked in animal fat (I SWEAR Thai places often cook their dishes in animal fat----not joking, I consistently taste it!). She was super nice and accommodating and this is officially my new Thai place. Yay!
(4)Pam D.
Nicely prepared and presented Thai food. I've eaten here twice now and ordered different items each time. The food has a nice flavor and the portions are decent. Two standout items for me were the Tom Yum Goon soup and the Crab Rangoon. The basil chicken was also quite tasty. I've had better Pad Thai elsewhere, but it was still good. I love the atmosphere and all the elephant artwork and figurines that decorate the place. It is open and airy and very clean. They have a nice selection of reasonably priced lunch specials, so if you are out and about on the northwest side, check it out!!
(4)Tita P.
The Elephant Thai was a great find. I literally stumbled in during lunch time and it did not disappoint. The food was flavorful and very good and the lunch special is a great deal! Oh and you get a yummy piece of candy as you leave. What more can you ask for?
(4)Philip S.
Tried this last night with my wife. I am on a crusade to find good restaurants on the NW side. I so love my neighborhood (Portage Park) but we struggle with restaurants. I have decided to go back and review my favorites in the neighborhood as well as all my new finds. Wish me luck. Anyway The Elephant. Wonderful little Thai restaurant on Devon at Central. What really surprised me was their plates. I am adding a photo from my dinner. We had the Tom Yum, nice and sprite. Also tried the Thai sausage, lovely nice flavors, more a country style sausage. For main course the fried red snapper with the 3 flavor sauce and the Bamee Moo Daeng. The red snapper plate is my contribution to the photos, it was very good though not as good as the Bamee (egg noodles, BBQ pork, bak choy, crispy garlic, crabmeat (we asked for real crabmeat). Great combination of flavors. We finished with a mango bubble drink. Service was pleasant, professional, and responsive. The space while basic was clean, crisp, and well lit. It is BYOB. Enjoy, I know we'll be back.
(4)George A.
Excellent. Never had a bad plate. Excellent. Never had a bad plate.
(4)Kristina K.
Excellent local Thai
(5)Natalie S.
I've said it before and I'll say it again... Thai places are a dime a dozen. 'Tis true. But some are better than others and The Elephant is one of those good 'uns. I have only ever been there for lunch. I think their lunch specials are a pretty good deal. I always get the fried tofu/pad woon sen combo and looooove it. I don't know what brand of chili sauce they use but it's very good... and I mix a generous helping of it into the food. I have also had the pad thai here... not bad but then again, I think pad thai is fairly bland in general. The service can be spotty. One of my big petpeeves is when you are with a group and some food comes out 5-10 minutes before the other dishes. So you basically just sit around and wait for everything else while you're food gets cold. They need to iron that out.
(4)Britt C.
On an everlasting quest to find great Thai food near my home, I hit the jackpot when I came here with my family! Their menu is fantastic, it goes beyond your typical pad thai and lard nar, to offer several varieties of catfish dishes, and even duck! We ordered a good sampling of curries, noodles, and rice dishes, and everything was delicious, as well as beautifully presented, if not a little on the small side. The atmosphere was neat, clean and comfortable, and BYOB definitely helps the bill. Although I've had cheaper Thai, the prices here were very reasonable for the quality and freshness of the food. Definitely has potential to become the new Thai spot!
(4)HARRY P.
Food is good, prices are okay, service is slow. lunch special is alright.
(4)Mike A.
This is the 5/6th Thai restaurant ever for me and at this point I have to admit that overall I am not a big fan of the cuisine. If this is your 1st time heading out here, keep a lookout for the place, as there are no signs that would help you find it. It's across the Chicago Public Library on Devon if that helps. There is a also a large drawing of an elephant in the window. Parking on the street is metered and you will spend about a $1.25/hr. I ordered the basil chicken with egg roll. Took about 15min to get the lunch special and the couple sitting next to me got theirs about 30 seconds later. The thing is, they came in 10 min after I did. So all 3 entries got cooked in one big pot and split. No big deal, but again tough to judge how long your food takes, as it is apparently driven by what other folks in the restaurant order. The food was bland, as Thai dishes to me often are. Service was ok; basically one girl working the entire restaurant. Soft drinks are served by the can ($1), but with a large glass of ice. Overall it was not bad, but I will not be coming back: partially because of the cuisine in general.
(3)Lulu R.
Hello! My name is Lulu and I am a Thai food junkie. I like spicy foods, and I am a fool for beautifully presented plates as well. This Thai food joint in particular made it a wonderful experience. Its a cute and tiny little spot wonderful for lunch gatherings. I remember it being a day that was particularly sweltering hot and I needed a refreshing pick me up and the friendly waitress suggested the Thai iced coffee. It was perfect. Not too sweet, not too bitter, and ice cold.(Note to self: Thai iced coffee...ice cream?) We tried alot of stuff but of course had the basics: Pad Thai, pad see eiw, Tempura, and spring rolls. The plate were presented beautifully and the food was cooked to perfection, spicy. When you order, you can adjust the heat to your liking. I am glad the food was fresh. The prices were cheap and the food came out fast. I am happy with this place and its close to my house. Good Job Elephant Thai.
(4)Raquel S.
The food is very tasty, great portions and great prices. Love their Basil chicken, Pad Thai & Praram Chicken. The service is great both eating in or ordering out.
(5)Edward W.
Honestly just ok. I think my problem is that we have a lot of great Thai in Chicago and I've had much better. We stopped here because it is local and thought we would give it a try. Decor ok. Service ok. Food was just ok. Maybe the bubble tea is good but we didn't have any tonight.
(2)Timothy Richard W.
Best pad thai i've found on the northwest side of chicago. Its has a great small and friendly atmosphere. Veggies are always fresh which is great because you can have every dish without meat along with brown rice. Its BYOB without a corking fee. They do deliver, but the radius is small.
(5)E L.
The best pad thai in the city! Fresh and tasty. We drive past several other Thai restaurants to get here. The ambiance is fairly casual and colorful. Good prices.
(5)Bob D.
What the hell am I doing this far north at 6:30 on a Thursday? I heard there was good Thai food thats why. I heard correctly too! My list of Thai disappointments is epic, from overhyped hipply decorated to grimy ma and pa shops that barely have the lust for life let alone the passion to cook someone a meal. None of these issues here. First off if you are in the Edgewater area they deliver. They have great lunch specials as well as some dinner specials for $10. 49 or 99? I started with the chive dumplings, a wonderful crispy outside stuffed with stir-fried garlic chives. The star of this dish is the texture, the dumpling itself is made from sticky rice and tapioca flour, this creates a very different texture, starchy and a bit gelatinous. It may not be what you are used to Westerners have very narrow ideas about textures in food. Kudos for the bit of authenticity! The Tom Ka Gai was excellent, this is a very easy soup to make and yet time after time it is bland and lacks any decent garnishes. Not the case here, redolent with galangal, lemongrass, chilies and plenty of chicken and vegetables the coconut broth explodes with flavor prepping your whole system for the following courses. As it should be when eating Tom Ka, there are plenty bits of in-edibles so be prepared to spit some fibrous roots and such to the side. Pad Kee Mau was my entrée and noodle dishes get so taken for granted. There is great difficulty in the mastering of a truly wonderful dish of noodles. It doesn't matter if it is pasta, bean noodle, or rice noodle there there is plenty to go wrong and I was thrilled that none of those common mistakes made an appearance in my dinner. The balance of texture, sweet, sour, and herbaciousness was hitting on all 8 cylinders. There was a pork satay, I can't really recommend this dish, seems to have been added to fill some meat gap in the appetizer slot. So the good news, I have finally found a Thai restaurant that satisfies my love for Thai food. The bad? 6400 North Central!
(4)Dan F.
I recently made my second visit to Elephant. My wife loves the place, so I took her there for lunch last week. It is a small place with friendly service. It is clean and has that mom & pop feel to it. I have to say that my impression of the food was unchanged from my first visit - it's good but not quite as good as many other Thai places. There ingredients are fresh. The food is flavorful - but missing....something. It's worth a try if you're in the neighborhood. I'll eat there again.
(3)Andre L.
Have eaten here many times, mostly carry-out. We enjoy the pad-thai. Pricing is very reasonable, food and service are consistent. It's a good neighborhood place. The dining area is little short on ambiance compared to Chai Asian, another local spot but this is our favorite carry out.
(4)Marie B.
I had to update my review to four (4) stars. I've been back a few more times (have a friend that now craves this place) and I've been pleasantly surprised with each visit. The BBQ Noodles are good...sub chicken for the artificial crab meat....and the veg special is also very fresh and good.
(4)Amanda O.
I highly suggest the Tom Kha Kai soup. We got a large to split between two people but now I wish we would've gotten two larges so I could have some left overs. The broth was creamy, gingery and delicious. The only thing I could've done without were the chunks of inedible lemon grass in it. But this was my first Thai experience so it may just always be that way. Anyways, the Chicken in it was perfectly sliced, the veggies still crispy and the smell just put me in paradise. For my entree I had the Basil Roasted Duck. Never had duck before so I jumped head first. It was good. There were bits of skin still attached but I just scraped those off. I didn't expect the heat but then again I'm told Thai is naturally spicey. After a while I just got used to it. Soooo delicious! The veggies were fantastic as well. J had the garlic chicken. It was served with slivers of cucumber. Personally, I'll steer away from generic sounding dishes when going to this restaurant in the future because it seemed bland. But maybe that's cuz I had it after tasting my entree and loving the soup. The only other thing we tried was the edamame. I was disappointed in their dish cuz it seemed stale. I cook it better at home from the frozen foods department. I'll stay away from that too. Overall this place was awesome. I'll steer away from all the normal sounding stuff cuz the weird sounding menu items are freakin' awesome thus far. I'll keep ya updated for our next visit :-)
(4)Elizabeth D.
The Elephant is my favorite Thai restaurant in Chicago! It has the freshest ingredients that seem seasonal. The basil shrimp rolls are crack-tastic (Seriously. Sometimes, they don't even make it home when I get take out!). I have to make sure to get one order for myself and then another for others because it's so hard to share! Any of their dishes can be made vegetarian. The spice levels can be adjusted and the rice can be substituted for brown rice. It's BYOB with no corking fee. The only negatives are that they've recently increased their prices and they're closed on Sundays.
(4)Bridget M.
The lunch specials here are a steal! Served with an egg roll and cucumber salad, my thai basil chicken was ever so generous with the sweet basil flavor. Loved it! The egg roll was fairly standard. The cucumber salad was pretty good too. Very fresh. My entree was still a little on the large side - only ate half of it and was already feeling my pants tightening. Thai basil chicken was of the sweeter variety which definitely suits my tastes =) Our service was prompt and the decor very simple. Wish I was out here more because I was definitely eye-ing my manager's beef pad sie euw and it looked delish. It was his first time really having Thai food so I recommended my favorite Thai dish and immediately wish I could have ordered the same thing without feeling like a d-bag =P
(4)Bless P.
I love this place for Thai food. Affordable, great authentic thai food, and great service. I wouldn't change anything about this place except the facilities are too close to the back garbage dumpster (stinky!)
(5)Jay K.
Visited for lunch today, after always missing them as they are closed on Sundays: Tried their combination lunch for $8.95, which included: 1) two small deep-fried gyoza (machine-made frozen) 2) small egg roll 3) small portion of basil chicken 4) small portion of chicken pad thai 5) single serving of rice Verdict: 1) Gyoza and egg roll were forgettable. 2) Pad thai incongruously spiced - lacked sufficient fish sauce & tamarind - more soy-based sauce 3) Basil chicken had some fairly fresh veges with a lot of crunch. Also tried from their specials board: Beef noodle soup. Verdict: 1) Featured factory machine-made frozen beef balls, beef shank and sliced round 2) Soup base was "clean" - "qing" if you speak Mandarin/Cantonese, but flavor-wise and preparation-wise quite forgettable. 3) Boiled beef was simply non-descript, as was the dried rice noodle used in the dish 4) A bit pricey at $7.45 in comparison to much "better" beef noodle soups to be had around town. Additional: 1) Sticky-rice and mango was available, but for a whopping $5.75 2) Family-owned and operated by seemingly nice people. 3) I was a bit disappointed that there weren't more atypical/interesting dishes. 4) Extra charges include $1.50 for Jasmine rice, $2.00 for brown rice and an extra $2.50 for shrimp substitution in entrees. Finale: All in all, fresh ingredients, nice clean ambiance, nice if not professional wait-staff and a tad over-priced for what you're receiving See pictures above.
(3)Gerry X.
I like it. I have eaten there a couple of times before....this time i went with a couple of friends. And when we went....2 thai kids were reaaaally happy there. Usually it is more quiet. Appetizers....2 pot stickers and an egg rool with sweet and sour or soy dip. Nice. Then we all had the combo dish which had some pad thai and spicy beef salad. We asked for it spicy and yes it was quite that spicy. With the thai Ice coffee it was good. Pricing wasn't bad either......back in my youthful days I was a devout goer to the River Kwai on Belmont where for the same prices you would get 3x the portions and free refills. (Sigh) I really hadn't gone to other Thai places until recently....but this is a small yet nice pl ace to go. Even ran into a couple of friends I hadn't seen since those youthful years, where they got married and moved to Northbrook. So I can also say the drive from there to Edgebrook also says something about the place.
(4)Rachel R.
I've been missing out... this place is right by me, and they deliver! But somehow I never tried it until today. Yummy! The shrimp rolls are actually six portions of a jumbo shrimp wrapped in a basil leave and lightly fried. They serve it with a sweet and sour sauce and they are perfect. I had the roasted duck curry. I almost always try the duck curry at Thai restaurants and I use it as benchmark, kind of like Pad Thai. And this one was pretty good, but the duck pieces were pretty big and there didn't seem to be too much in my serving. The pineapple and curry sauce were really good too. I also has the basil chicken and REALLy loved it! This will my go to dish the next time I want something spicy. The chicken is ground and I think it holds the flavors better. The menu has some really interesting things on there like catfish ginger, tilapia pad cha and a red snapper dish and at least ten other things look good too so I will be checking them out again soon.
(4)Lin W.
Currently my favorite Chicago Thai restaurant...flavorful fresh authentic Thai food in a pleasant storefront with fun elephant-themed decor. Terrific nam sod, lad nar and chicken basil. Plan on sampling many more menu items, although it is tough since the ones i've tried already are so good i want to repeat them. My niece and nephew introduced me to this place for lunch one day and i have been going back almost once a week ever since. Very warm and welcoming place to grab a delicious bite; super takeout also and if you live nearby they will deliver to you! Service is friendly and efficient. Good prices. Family friendly also, lots of little kids and babies made to feel very welcome. Wonder if they could do something about the way the front doors work as you do get blasted with cold air whenever anyone new comes in...FIVE STARS.
(5)Brandon W.
Why is it that most places you could drive by in a second and miss are usually the best? I have to say, the food here was excellent. There wasn't' a part of the food itself that I didn't like. The appetizer we had was a Chicken Satay with a peanut sauce. Honestly, this is one of the best peanut sauces I have ever had. It was so creamy and flavorful, my mouth wouldn't stop watering. I totally recommend it. For my meal, I had the Cashew Chicken and requested extra spicy. And meet my request they did. The dish was very spicy, but the spice did not hide any of the flavors of the rest of the dish, which I really liked. The staff here is really friendly, and they move very quickly. Food was out in a short period of time and was served hot. My only complaint would be the size and layout. Everytime the door opened the cold air blew straight at us because no matter where you sit ,you are only a couple feet from the door. Other then that - great place, great food, great service!
(4)Pamela C.
We have been numerous times to dine in and carry out. We usually order the chicken satay or wrapped shrimp for an appetizer and are never disappointed. My friend liked the chive dumpling, but it's not my thing. My husband orders different dishes and is always satisfied. I am not as adventurous and after trying the garlic pork, it is now my favorite dish. I ordered the garlic chicken once and it was not as good. The pork goes down so well with a beer (BYOB). We think the prices are fair for well prepared, fresh food. There is now a little airlock entry added on to the front door and that made a huge difference in the room temp, which has soemetimes been a bit cold in the past. A great improvement for the space which is always clean and bright!
(4)A A.
Have been there numerous times since last review and have been treated wonderful. The food is great. And the service has been exceptional. Hats off to the owner for addressing all issues. Thanks for your attention. Great place.
(5)Alison H.
Had the duck curry. It was good, but I would have liked more duck. Most of the "duck" was just fatty skin. I also did not like the grapes in the dish. It was a good curry sauce though. Edamame was so fresh and delicious.
(3)Jeff P.
Great, flavorful Thai joint. Small classy joint with good service. It's painful going to a Thai restaurant and getting no flavor or pizazz...this place has it. Great Pad Thai and great red curry.
(4)Chris W.
Better than Sticky Rice. I like spicy food, believe me. The basil chicken here is the most highly intense HOT food I've ever had. The amount of jasmine rice you get with it does NOT at all help kill the heat. Nor does pop or even milk (maybe after a gallon you'll start feeling a wee bit better) and your nose will run as well as your eyes tear and if you sweat while eating spicy food, oh yeah baby, you'll be like a faucet. HOWEVER! It is the tastiest Thai dish I have ever had in my entire life. You can order the Basil Chicken in hot or mild, the hot is unbelievable and even the MILD is insanely spicy, however, mild is probably the way to go even for the adventurous so you can semi not gobble down as quickly as you would otherwise had your food been even more spicy (for some reason people tend to eat spicy food really fast to get it down, or something...). Other things that NEED mentioning are.... Pad Thai (best pad thai I've ever had -- noticing a pattern here?) Pot Stickers (mmmmm) Praram Chicken (the mild MILD alternative recommendation that is SO good you'll be highly amazed with your tongue's disco dancing in your mouth to savor the flavor.) I really should try other things on the menu, but I'm so addicted to my favorite dishes (above) that I don't see why I would NEED to, though eventually I'm sure I will. Depending on what I've got a craving for that day...
(5)Bari L.
I have been here several times and I will go back. The food is good and Thai food is one of my favorites. So why the low score? The score is based on my last visit. My sister in law is also a fan of Thai so her and I set out for a little lunch during a day of light shopping and errands. You could tell the girl working had a lot going on and no help. We walked in and found ourselves a table she acknowledged us threw two menus on the table. Another set of women walked right in behind us and didn't get menus for about 10 minutes around the same time she finally brought us some water and then scurried off before we could give her our order. 5 minutes pass she takes our order and then runs over to her other tables and then grabs the phone to take more to-go orders. 2 minutes latter she brings us a plate of edame and although I love edame I point here to the table across from us because it was their appetizer. Next our food comes out and she gives it the women who came in after us and who had just ordered their food. They realizing it wasn't their order call the waitress back over who takes our food back in to the kitchen then 2 minutes later brings it to our table. I have worked as a waitress and could tell she was trying to juggle a ton of different tasks and for the most part all of her patrons could see this to so everyone was patient. However when you are over whelmed it will do you good to ask for help. I went to use the bathroom before my meal which is the back of the restaurant where you have a clear view of the kitchen. Their was 4 people working in the kitchen. I don't think it would have been hard to hand one of them the phone and asked them to take phone orders so she could take care of her tables and the people coming to pick up orders. At least if this wasn't possible that day I do hope she mentions it to her boss in the future so there is a little more help during the lunch time rush.
(3)S. H.
the worst customer service. the menu states any order can be made vegetarian. yet if you order any item and ask that tofu be substituted it will be delivered as is with beef or chicken. then when you call to say you got the wrong order the woman says no you didnt you ordered it with chicken. and sorry we are closed. so sad for you.
(2)s d.
Thai Elephant is located in Edgebrook, an upscale neighborhood. I drive about 3 miles north from Jefferson Park to get there. Every ounce of gas is worth it! Surprisingly not many other restaurants in Edgebrook. My fave is Pad Thai, husband loves the Pad Si Ew and the kids are all about the fried rice. We have both eaten in and taken out. Quick service either way. I've rarely had a problem getting immediate seating. Parking usually found on the street in front of the restaurant on Devon. They have many more dishes that I will try when I get a more adventurous palate. I'll update my reviews if I do!
(4)Lisa M.
Consistently good Thai food. My test dish for good Thai food is crab fried rice dish and at the Elephant it is always delicious. My husband usually orders the basil chicken but we have had other dishes on occasion and so far the Elephant has never disappointed us. They seem to have a healthy takeout business - we always seeing people coming in and out. It is a nice neighborhood location in Edgebrook - there is an ice cream shop across the street. We often talk about how someday we should go for ice cream after dinner at the Elephant. Problem is we never seem to have room for dessert! My only complaint is it closes early - by 9 or 9.30. And I think we tried to go for Sunday lunch once and it was closed.
(4)Tricia S.
A local favorite of mine, Thai Elephant seems to be a passable place upon first outside glance. However, I wish their good quality food at reasonable prices, with a friendly staff could be constantly announced. Actually, that would probably ruin the mood. It's a down to earth place with a good amount of tables. Their wall mural is awesome. The service is quick, but they don't bother you except to refill your glass, ask you how things are, and bring you your check (except most times you have to ask for it). Incredibly casual and tasty this thai place is so essential in Edgebrook. In additon, it's BYOB! They've received great reviews by the reader, tribune and other sources. Only negatives: parking can be tough - make sure you bring quarters for the meter, it can get cozy if the restaurant is full & my mom found the chicken to be a bit dry once.
(4)Mike D.
Wife and I went for lunch on a Friday. App of spring rolls, I had the green curry (with chicken) and she had the basil chicken. Both were flavorful and spiced right (for us) which meant I was sweating a bit, but kept right on eating. Good portion sizes, and the brown rice was good (always appreciate when it's an option). All seemed fresh, left pleasantly full but not sleepy. Service was fine, and restaurant was about 40% full. Small place, so the one server did just fine. We'll be back.
(4)Leocris L.
great thai food. i'm hooked on their fried rice, and pad see ewe. i've tried a bunch of items on the menu, and every dish i've had is tastier than the next. the restaurant is kept really clean, tastefully decorated, and comfy.
(5)Angela F.
This is actually the 1st Thai restaurant I've been to, but I've had Thai food in the past, so I avoided the Pad Thai and decided to be a bit more adventurous and had the Cashew Chicken. Quiet place. I didn't have their bubble tea, but my friends did and they were quite good. Nothing special, but just as good as Joy Yee's. The service took a bit, but the food was good. Not as great as I would have thought for all the hype, but it's a decent restaurant. Not too many menu options... (they only have 4 drink options; 2 are bubble teas) but enough to keep you entertained for a good while. A tiny bit disappointed that there were only two bubble tea options (mango and pineapple), but it keeps the menu authentic. Overall an okay restaurant, but not good enough for the long trek from my home on the Northside.
(4)Amanda B.
Great Pad Thai... Loved the avocado bubble drink.. Mmmm
(4)Lena M.
This is definitely Thai at it's YUMMIEST. It's a very good place to eat with fresh ingredients and decent service. I've only had to wait once, but they had three large tables of 6 or more at that time. It was worth the wait. They have bubble fruit smoothies (they make a great dessert). My husband loves to experiment and tries a new dish each time we are there. I'm partial to their Pad Thai, Pad Se Ew and Ginger Chicken. I do really enjoy their Chicken Satay, the peanut sauce is not overwhelming or just heated up peanut butter! Both of us can't get enough of their pickled cucumbers that comes as a side with the lunch specials. It's affordable and tasty. Service is almost quick (not lightning fast, but it's all cooked to order). We are not in Arlington Heights and make Elephant Thai our dining out meal when we're back in Edgebrook.
(5)Leang E.
My coworker says this is not the place to order Pad Thai and expect it to be phenomenal and to go for the more authentic Thai dishes so I got the Elephant Noodles, I think that's what it was called. It has the crispy noodles with the seafood, sauce and vegetables steaming or cooking over it that softens them. The portion was large and it was very good. I ate only a third of it. It's a clean cozy spot, that has decent service and prices. It's kind of a stretch from where I work, but worth the extra trip over.
(4)Allison S.
I love Thai food and after passing this place enough times, I finally went in. I got the rama delight, but am looking forward to going back and trying their red snapper and pad woon sen! The food was not only delicious but beautiful. My mouth is watering thinking about it!
(5)Jean Z.
omg you guys should totally go here, we had th ecombo appetizer platter, pad see ew tofu, chicken pad thai, mussaman curry and basil chicken. Everything was exactly as expected, seriously. It was packed in here and they have a big carry out business. They have winterhours and do not seat after 8pm so call first!
(4)Elizabeth M.
This is my local Thai restaurant, and I'm so happy I have it! Thai is by far my favorite food and The Elephant is really good. The food is delicious, service is good (some ok plain it's slow but I think it's fine) and prices are fair. The delivery gets pricey with the charges and tip, but I love the food and order here at least twice a month. I highly recommend this place for any Thai food lover!
(4)Michelle N.
Love, love, love this place. My boyfriend and I have been coming here for about five years now and I've never been disappointed. It's our go-to place when we want a great meal at a great price. We usually order for pickup, but eating there is great too. It's BYOB which keeps the prices down. We always order the same things (we just can't help ourselves, they're soooo good) Crab Rangoon - one of the best I've tried in the city. Tom Yum Goon - soup with shrimp, cilantro, mushrooms, tomato's, lemon grass. If you're not salivating by now just try it, I promise it's amazing. Basil Chicken (extra spicy) - delicious!!! All this food (which we be two full meals for us) all for about $30. Can't beat it.
(5)Nona Gayle D.
my brother and I were cravin pad thai and curry..... and being the adventurous people that we are we decided to try a new place.... and we were pleasantly surprised. this restaurant has good portions for great prices... they had all the traditional thai dishes that I love and they were flavorful.... i have so many times been disappointed by a pad thai that lacked flavor but their pad thai was decent. I also tried the green curry chicken and i was very happy with it! if you're low on cash... but hungry for flavor and food, I suggest trying Thai Elephant.
(4)kathleen m.
3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars Unfortunately Edgebrook doesn't have many dining options, but Thai Elephant is definitely a great neighborhood spot. My dine-in experiences are always topnotch, with good service and very hot, fresh food. I really like the basil chicken, cashew chicken and vegetarian dishes. However, I am not as impressed with takeout -- mostly because they charged me for a bottle of hot sauce when I asked for a bit to take home.
(4)Rachel Erica T.
My absolute favorite thai place. They make a completely scrumptious basil duck, and their tom kha kai is delicious! Go here for a date and cross the street for ice cream.
(5)Gil B.
Food was pretty good. I'd go back again.
(4)Erika C.
This restaurant is a staple for us. Consistently good, whether dining in-house or for takeout. Even my picky kids started to like Thai food! Everyone we take here is impressed. It's BYOB. The decor is simple/straightforward, the staff is incredibly friendly. Although occasionally something on the order doesn't make it to the table, the staff fixes it quickly, and they always listen patiently as my talkative kids tell them stories. We usually get the basics - Pad Thai, Pad Seiu, Pad Woon Sen, egg rolls, spring rolls, satay, and all are consistently tasty, fresh, beautifully presented, and not too greasy. We see a lot of families eating here (early, 5 or 5:30-ish) and love Chocolate Shoppe for dessert across the street.
(4)Louis C.
A good find in downtown Edgebrook. Excellent pad thai. We also had the spring rolls, egg rolls and pad sei ew which were all tasty. We've tried the various curry dishes on other visits and they have been quite good as well. A clean, well run family restaurant. The Phukets (fruit smoothies with tapioca) are out of this world. We love the coconut one and it makes for a super dessert.
(4)Laura G.
Thai Elephant has decent Thai food and I like having the Thai option in the neighborhood. Overall, I've enjoyed the food and found the employees there friendly. However, the other day I ordered a meal and was mistakenly given the wrong item that I discovered when I arrived home with my take-out -- when I called to let them know, I was told "All Sales Were Final" and that I wouldn't be able to exchange it for what I had ordered. So, I won't be eating there any longer.
(2)Carolynne M.
I have always had dependable, good service at Thai Elephant. Every dish I have tried has always met or exceeded my expectations. That said, I live exactly 1 1/4 miles away from this restaurant. They supposedly offer delivery but the two times I tried calling to place an order they were like "oh no, sorry, you are too far." Um, what? Is your delivery area a one block radius? Where I live there is probably 3 restaurants that deliver so to find a place that will is like mining for gold. This aspect of Thai Elephant did not please me, as you can expect. If it wasnt for that this place would have got 5 stars from me.
(4)Vince H.
It was damn good. Probably one of the best thai spots in the area.
(5)Beebe G.
the food at elephant is freshly prepared and really delicious. i do agree with kathleen m's review on their take out not being as impressive i'd like it to be. i feel the portions change along with the take out containers that seem less with a slight price increase to go with it as well. but, i can't resist their emerald noodle with real crab and corpulent shrimp. this dish is not on their menu but on their specials board so look for it there. also try their tum yum soup if you like a bit of spice in your life. i look forward to trying one of their fish dishes one day but for now it's an order of their panang curry chicken!
(4)Ron S.
We've been ordering from The Elephant from the day they opened. We love their spring rolls, cucumber salad, any of the fried rices, and anything with their green curry sauce. My wife loves things spicy, so she orders her stuff 'extra spicy'. This is definitely good eating. My only complaint is that dishes with shrimp (as an ingredient or an add-on) are skimpy. We'll simply avoid those in the future.
(4)John F.
Nice neighborhood spot in a neighborhood that needs more restaurants. Good lunch specials and some dishes that are more creative than usual at dinner. Decor is pleasant but not special. Very good tom yum noodle soup.
(4)david r.
unpretentious, clean, fresh and damn good. friendly, great vibe and reasonable prices. exquisite chinese broccoli in oyster sauce
(4)Anthony A.
7.7 / 10 Last Friday night, hungry and trying to avoid some abysmal traffic on both the Edens and Kennedy, my wife and I decided to check out Thai Elephant. She had read a glowing review in Time Out Chicago, and had heard a few word-of-mouth recommendations that made us excited to seek out this Edgewater family establishment. We were not alone... It was immediately apparent that the restaurant was "family friendly" (there were 2 large families with multiple children in tow, and a few smaller groups with children as young as toddlers up to early teens). These large groups had the kitchen running on all cylinders: plates of beautifully presented food kept coming. While all the tables were filled, the take-out crowd kept coming, too. I honestly don't know how these places keep up, but they did, and they do. We were greeted with a familiar menu and a number of specials. We started with fried tofu (a guilty pleasure with a lovely cilantro-garnished sauce), and the tom yum goong. I can say without a doubt that the broth of this soup is amongst the finest tom yum I've had in the city. The straw mushrooms (take note Chicago Thai establishments: this is the only mushroom I ever want to see in my tom yum) were succulent and delicious. They shrimp were large and flavourful, if a bit too few. The flavor elements (galangal and lemongrass) were abundant in the bottom of the bowl as I dug around for more tasty goodness. For our mains we tried our characteristic first visit sampler of staples: a noodle dish and a curry. The pad thai (despite an earlier review here to avoid it) was actually quite delicious. The noodles were a bit wider than many other pad thais in town and not too oily or dense. With a garnish of red cabbage, carrots and been sprouts, it was perfectly balanced between sweet and bitter - the attendant lime added the needed acidity. We had ours with tofu, which was cut into smaller post-it size squares - it was savory and infused with the tamarind flavour of the sauce. The red curry was filled with an abundance of bell peppers (not just those awfully boring green peppers, but copious amounts of red and *gasp* yellow too - wonderful!), bamboo shoots and basil. We had chicken as the protein and enjoyed how the chili pepper flakes were absorbed by its texture. The curry soup itself was thin, had a distinctive coconut flavour, but wasn't too sweet. Well balanced and medium spicy. The accompanying jasmine rice was light and nothing special. As we settled back to digest, we found that we were waiting a bit longer than we thought to have our plates cleared and to be asked for either dessert or the check. The service was scant and slow, likely because it was so busy - the staff did look stressed out. So, after about 20 minutes of waiting, we paid at the counter and went on to the next thing. Other notes: The parking was easy and plentiful on Minnehaha. The decor was cute for storefront. The plating was thoughtful and the serving dishes were large and nice. The utensils were comfortable in hand. And the water in the bathroom was pleasantly hot! Everyone eating while we were there appeared satisfied with their meals. BYOB.
(3)JP S.
Good Thai food. Newer, clean decor with good natural lighting, but can be a bit cramped because it is often so busy. Emerald Noodles, Pad See Eiw, Massaman are always great, as are the potstickers and bubble tea. Service is a bit erratic, but always very friendly. Prices are pretty reasonable.
(4)Marina L.
This is my favorite restaurant. The Kua Kai is the best dish, I highly recommend it, and the Thai iced tea is great! The bf and I come here all the time and brought several friends who have all loved it :)
(5)Michael N.
Atmosphere: B Food: A- Service: B+ We have ordered at least a dozen times from The Elephant and I cannot believe I have not posted. Everything is very good here, the menu is well balanced with something for everyone. In particular, the Basil Chicken is always something we order and from there we rotate to a number of different dishes. Be adventurous, try something new!
(4)B K.
Always delicious, always friendly... especially my favorite waitress, Obawon, who remembers my order as soon as I enter.
(4)Kim A.
There are not many options for Thai in this area so I have been here a few times. It is a nice, clean restaurant with friendly service and the food is very fresh and healthy looking but... it is just kinda bland. The pad thai is always kinda dry and flavorless. The Tom Kha soup is not very flavorful either. I will go there again though.
(3)Francis F.
We went to lunch here one weekend ago craving some thai food and the food was yummy just abit pricey for the portions of each dish.Service was good! Place was small and cozy! We ordered the appetizer special, pad see eiw, beef pad thai, chef fried rice, and chicken panang curry
(4)Samantha G.
Probably one of the best Thai restaurants I've ever had (I've dined at many Thai establishments). Always fresh and delicious Thai cuisine. MSG is never added to their food. Service is always on point. The decor makes for a nice get together or date. There is street parking and parking in the back. Do try their Chicken or Seafood Basil, Tom Yum Soup, papaya salad and egg rolls. Elephant Thai is BYOB, so grab a bottle from Happy Foods around the corner. Buen provecho!
(5)Margie S.
The cashew chicken is amazing. Small, friendly, and clean. This has become my new favorite place.
(5)Jackie O.
This is a small cute place with an excellent menu. The Panang Curry here was delicious, but a slightly different recipe/flavor profile than any other Panang I've had. The brown rice here was fantastic, and the shrimp dish my mother got smelled delish. I would come back here in a heartbeat. My only complaint here was that the service was extremely slow and not particularly helpful. My mother had questions about the menu and our server wasn't very certain on the answers.
(4)Karen C.
Ordered delivery the other day with my boyfriend and got our food in the time they had promised. I got the special box A - basil chicken, pad thai, and potstickers. It was soooo good! The basil chicken has some spiciness to it that made it addicting and the pad thai was very good! My boyfriend got a red curry and he ate that all up as well :) I'll be ordering from here again!
(4)Samuel G.
Very polite help, food was good, nice mix of families and couples gives a neighborhood feeling.
(4)Aileen Y.
Ordered take out chicken pad Thai. With the positive reviews I really expected better. It was really bland in flavor, the chicken was dry, and noodles were overcooked. The noodles were short and broken not how usual pad Thai noodles are which was another indication they were overcooked. Probably won't be returned but they were really friendly and quick.
(3)Rob B.
I have lived all over the city and this is the best Thai food for both taste and value. Thom ka kai and wonton soup are both very impressive-freshly made from scratch. The special box combo meals are a steal. The famous Basil chicken is tasty and spicy.
(5)G L.
For the trouble of writing an honest review back in September, I received a very nasty message. This time I don't have much to complain about, so, to whomever wrote the ill-tempered diatribe: you can cool your jets. I ordered the Appetizer Sampler. Very tasty. Best rangoon I ever had. Nice little dumplings. I also ordered the Spicy Seafood entree. Lots of seafood! Wow! Not too spicy. I'm convinced the coconut soup will heal whatever ails you. I smile with every spoonful. Wonderful bits of ginger to suck on. I'm arriving at the conclusion that Pad Thai is Pad Thai no matter where you go, that there just isn't much else anyone can do to it. Unless anyone has any suggestions? Oh, I don't know what has happened to the parking situation, but it's kind of tough. The side lot is now blocked off so no one visiting any of the businesses along the Devon strip can park there, and the back lot is reserved for other businesses in the area. I went there on a Saturday afternoon and had to circle around to find a spot.
(4)john k.
Always fresh ingredients and outstanding flavor to all of their dishes. I can honestly say I've never had a bad meal here (+50 over the years). Ask for duck next time in your favorite rice or noodle dish. The BYOB also keeps the dinner bills down! Enjoy!
(5)Jas D.
The food is consistently good here! Love the green coconut curry and the spring rolls. Everything tastes great. Thank you for a great meal time and time again!
(5)tomas a.
Omg i love this place great lunch specials with soup to and s great price love the atmosphere here friendly staff too
(5)Vikki Y.
Came here for an early dinner with a friend of mine who lives in the area and who loves this place! Food: -I highly recommend the brown rice- it is ACTUAL brown rice and has that kind of chewy/crunchy texture (you can taste the health!) -I had the thai iced tea and tbh I've had better but it wasn't bad -the Tom Kha soup (my favorite) was decent but I still liked the brown rice better -We ordered the curry and it was really tasty too- not too spicy- but the brown rice was great (with the curry) -Get the brown rice! Service: -service was fast and prompt -waitress was pleasant -street parking right outside but 2 hour limit and it's City of Chicago so expect City of Chicago rates
(4)Tara R.
Fast service, inexpensive dishes, beautiful presentations. I haven't eaten Thai food but once before so was a bit apprehensive to try something new. I was delighted with my choice of the special box that contained the Pad Thai. It was very good with the peanut sauce and lime juice mixed in. The spring roll with apricot sauce was a nice interpretation and delicious. I loved the egg roll and dumplings. I was surprised the dumplings were fried but I liked the crunch they provided.
(5)Giulia D.
Clean restaurant, cute ambiance, and friendly staff. Our waitress was nice very nice and welcoming though hard to understand, but that was ok As far as the food, my family I had had chicken fried rice, chicken pad Thai, and the spicy seafood dish special. We loved everything we ate. One of my favorite parts was the fact that nothing tasted too heavy on oil and had a healthy feel.
(4)Linda L.
The food was good. I'm glad I tried it there. My friend ordered Special Box C, there's pad see ew, garlic chicken, rice, 2 crab Rangoon, 3 fried tofu. I ordered Special Box B, there's green curry, stir fry veggie, rice, 2 sticks of chicken satay and 3 shumai. We were satisfied. We ordered taro in coconut milk for dessert. It was not what I expected. Not happy. But as long as the food was good. I'm happy. The restaurant is kinda small. I went during lunch, so it was packed.
(5)Dan S.
I am actually addicted to this place. The food here is incredible! My boyfriend and I eat here at least once a week. The pot stickers here are the greatest things I have ever eaten. I always get an order to myself because I hate sharing! The pad Thai is also amazing and I'm in love with the spring rolls. I highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)Sam M.
This restaurant is such a hit or miss.. Mostly miss.. Making food consistently is not something they are used to. Food tastes so different every time. Not the quite authentic one.
(2)Sarah H.
I was at the restaurant with a friend .This restaurant is owned by my friend's mother's friend. The owner doesn't know me but because of my friend's high recommendation, i gave it a try. Food was good and the servers were friendly. I was done eating and my friend was still working on the food. While waiting for my friend to finish dinner, i was watching a movie with ipad. There was another table of customers who came in 15 minutes after us, they were working on their dinner. While waiting for my friend to finish eating, the owner walked up to my table and stated "you know, we close at 9" and she walked away and started chatting with another table who were leaving. I dont understand why she would only come up to my table and state such remark? She didn't even go to the other table who were still working on their food. I felt discriminated by her action. She can talk with customers for 10 minutes who were about to leave the restaurant, there was another table who were not quite done with their food, and she just had to come up to my table only and to let me know that the restaurant closes at 9. I still am trying to figure out what was her true motive for such action.
(2)B C.
We have been regular customers since they opened. Consistently great food and a local gem for Edgebrook. Can't think of a more tasty and reasonable Thai restaurant in the area.
(5)Allison M.
Friendly staff, cheap lunch special, almost never any wait. DELICIOUS pad thai. I came in for lunch last week and the waitress remembered that I prefer to eat with chopsticks and like tofu. She offered both without prompt. EXCELLENT service.
(5)James C.
My wife and I were pleasantly surprised. Fresh and flavorful food that is not greasy and heavy. Very reasonably priced.
(4)Jacob J.
Solid Thai food served in a friendly atmosphere. Neighborhood gem if you will. Bright red paint, painted elephants in primary colors, seating comfortable enough for the time and service with a smile. BYOB. I dig the seafood combo, it's solid for about $11 dollars. You won't believe how much seafood is offered. Tiger shrimp pieces, squid, mussel and crab meat, it's all tasty, filling and very good. Pair that with the appetizer sampler and its a perfect meal. At least for me. I dislike their web hosting for it's slow response time, my only other gripe is their last seating time. They say they will seat anyone in the restaurant by 8:30 pm. I've gotten turned away at 8:20 pm and it was dead. WTF.
(4)Kim S.
Excellent experience here as others said. Fast, friendly service. Cozy setting. Love the BYOB touch - brought a bottle of red and enjoyed it - without any corkage fee. Our group loved the curry dishes, especially the Masaman Curry. And don't miss out on trying their Tom Kha Kai soup - get the large for two people. My co-diners said the Crab Rangoon was the best they'd ever had. And all for a very affordable price!
(5)Ryan S.
Wow, this Thai food place is one of my favorites in the city, I ordered green curry chicken, spicy and a appetizer of crab Rangoon. I love the curry it hit the spot in so many ways plus I got it to go and it stayed warm until I got home.
(5)Eliza C.
Came here with my 8 year old for a mommy/son date. We had a couple appetizers, our go to is Crab Rangoon and theirs was pretty good nothing spectacular but tasty. My son ordered their Chicken Pad Thai and it was pretty standard - yum! I ordered their Basil Chicken and it was by far one of tastiest foods I have ever put in my mouth! I also ordered a small Tom Kha Kai soup and it was so warm and delicious! Really hit the spot! We really loved their attentiveness, too. At one point the waitress accidentally swiped our sweet chili sauce and saw my son had half a spring roll left and brought him a whole new one. The presentation was really lovely as well! Easy street parking. We'll definitely be back!
(4)Ann C.
I have been coming here since the day it opened. It is my go to thai restaurant. It is so incredibly fresh and delicious and the staff is so friendly. Seriously one of my favorite places ever!
(5)Michael R.
I very rarely support anything as "the best" in my opinion, but The Elephant is the BEST Thai food I have had ever, throughout Chicagoland plus any Thai restaurants I have tried elsewhere in the US. The ingredients are consistently very fresh, prices are fairly reasonable, and the owner really cares about the food she presents. All the staff are exceptional. This place clearly tries its hardest every day. I lament Sundays because I can't get any Elephant! I used to feel uncertain about any type of ground meat, including ground chicken, but after I asked the owner if she could propose any "more authentic" dishes, she suggested I try the basil fried rice with ground chicken (not the chicken slices), plus a fried egg on top. Yum! Yes, I suppose ground chicken is okay... I also highly recommend the tilapia pad cha or the catfish ginger - both feature delicious rich fish pieces that have been fried and have a fantastic crispy outside and moist inside, plus are served with lots of fresh vegetables. The Elephant truly may be my favorite restaurant.
(5)Paul K.
Very good & consistent Thai food. It's a nice neighborhood place. They struggle to keep up when they're busy but the food is always fresh, good flavors & good portions.
(4)Jonathan R.
A unique Thai restaurant that's worth the trip out to Edgebrook. Most impressive is that they use real crab meat (not crab stick). youtube.com/watch?v=oG6u…
(4)Morgan S.
In my book, The Elephant is by far the best choice for Thai cuisine in Chicago. I've been patronizing this restaurant for years with my family and friends and I don't have a single complaint. The service is friendly, speedy, and very attentive. My menu favorites are the spring rolls, the chicken satay, and the chicken pad Thai; I have yet to be disappointed with a single meal taken here. The desserts, however limited, are also to die for. I visited The Elephant with a friend today and she agreed wholeheartedly that the food was great and that the Thai custard and Taro pearls were surprisingly delicious (she was skeptical at first sight). Even though her order was initially messed up, the issue was kindly and promptly addressed and our experience was still absolutely fabulous. The Elephant Thai Cuisine is a great, affordable gem hidden in the quietness of Edgebrook and I would recommend it to anyone who loves Thai food (and even those who don't).
(5)Sandra A.
Love their chicken noodle soup, fried rice, and chicken satay.
(5)Jen L.
How have I never been to this little Thai place on Devon?! Not only is the food good, they also had Thai Coffee with BUBBLES! (Like Bubble Tea!!!!) I have never had bubble Thai Iced Coffee. It was awesome! I give this place an extra star for being creative with the Thai Coffee. So we went there for lunch on a weekday and it was a bit slow. But I loved how cozy and homey this place was. They had some great lunch specials $6.95 for an appetizer, rice and a main entree (a choice of your common Thai entrees). I went for the Pad Thai with fried tofu as my choice of the day and it was excellent. I usually prefer it really spicy but this one was not spicy at all. in fact it was very flavorful, which made up for the lack of spice that I usually like in my Pad Thai. Overall it was pretty decent Pad Thai, nothing too special. Word on the street is that the chicken basil is very good, I will have to come back and try it.
(4)Douglas C.
On a positive note, their panang and mussaman curry dishes are very good. not great...but better than their noodle dishes. their pad sie eu and pad thai (in my opnion) are very bland. i'll still drive to Thai Pastry on Argyle and Broadway, for the BEST thai food in town. i guess, if you worked in the area, and absolutely HAD to have thai food, it'd be okay. but please don't go out of your way to come here. there are much better places. They are closed Sundays...which is weird. but more power to them, as it doesn't seem to be hurting their business.
(2)Taryn H.
I love The Elephant! I was in Chicago for work recently and I ate here a lot. The food was excellent every time. I particularly loved their Pad See Ewe and Massaman Curry.
(5)Sylvia R.
I have been to this place several times, and although the food is great, the service is lacking. Tonight I showed up at 8:45 and wanted to get takeout. The sign on the door read 9pm as the time they close. On-line I am aware that it says8:30 as the time it closes. Both times, 8:30 or 9 seem way too early to close on a Saturday night. It was obvious that I was not the onle one who thought the same. As I was directed to leave, there were others that were walking in and tried to dine as well. They too were told the restaurant was closed. I was very put off by their "we dont need your business" attitude. I am not too sure if I will be returning.
(2)