The four stars are being given because I ordered salmon Panang and the salmon was cooked absolutely perfectly. The curry sauce with it was very tasty and ordered mild due to previous reviews. It was just right. My hubby ordered grouper special ,medium, and it was very hot. So better off to go mild and add spice if needed. The grouper was also cooked perfectly. As others have mentioned, the place does not look good from the outside, but has a clean and pleasant interior. Prices were higher than most thai restaurants we go to, so we expected a lot better food. Other than the fish , everything else was equal to most other places we like. The spring rolls were just ok, looked like they had been reheated. Presentation of all food was nice, but a maraschino cherry on top of our entrees was odd. All in all we enjoyed our meals, but will probably choose to go to Thai season on hwy 17 in n myrtle beach for food that is just as good for almost half the price.
(4)
Lowell B.
I went back again on this trip to MB. I can't say enough about how great this place it. If you don't go here and you like Thai - you're missing out. I'm ruined for Thai anywhere else - from DC to NYC. I get the duck usually - super crispy and tender. If you get more than about one star - you better like hot foods. The cook doesn't play around....
(5)
Katie B.
Good but not the best ever as some reviewers claim. We would go back but beware the level 2 spicy pad Thai is VERY HOT. The men could barely hack it. Level 1 pad Thai was enjoyable. Not as much peanut flavor as we were used to but delicious nonetheless. The pork dumplings were amazing. The pork fried rice was also tasty and the crispy duck had good depth of flavor. Overall a nice meal that felt fresh and healthier than your average fried fare.
(4)
Nathan K.
This is the best Thai food you will find just about anywhere. I had the salmon curry and my wife had red beef curry (medium). Unless you must have extremely hot food, you need not try any of the dishes past medium. If you try the authentic, be sure to have a fire extinguisher. :) The food is served family style in ornate dishes that really give the dining experience that added plus. You can tell that the food is all prepared with fresh ingredients. If you love Thai food and are near Myrtle Beach, you MUST try The Blue Elephant. Take cash or check. They do not take credit cards. Bonus Hint: Try the Thai Sweet Tea!! It's fabulous.
(5)
John B.
If there is one thing I like, it's Thai food. I live in the Charlotte, NC area and have visited all the Thai restaurants I know of. I have my favorite and few others I visit can compare. So I was predisposed to not be impressed with the Blue Elephant. We got our first clue how good it was going to be when we talked to the table next to us. They have been there before and loved the food, and had also been to Thailand. They said this was very authentic. I was completely mistaken. The staff was very kind, the service was amazingly fast and the food was the best I've had. I do enjoy my food on the spicy side, so when I saw the heat options in the menu (mild, medium, hot and authentic) I was eager to go for the Authentic. When my meal arrived, only about 10 minutes later, I could see the spice and the aroma was amazing. We were given large bowl of Jasmine Rice along with the meal all served on very nice dishes. We were checked on frequently, but not enough to become a bother. When the rice was gone, we were brought more. The flavor of the food was so good. I ate way too much, and still didn't manage to eat all I was given. Do yourself a big favor, and when you're in the Myrtle Beach area, you must visit the Blue Elephant if you're a Thai food lover. I know I will not come to this area without having a meal here.
(5)
Stephen A.
Amazing Thai food. Service is excellent. The pace is relaxed reflecting the care taken in food preparation. Savor an appetizer. The chiles are fresh ground, so be careful with ordering something extra spicy. Have never been disappointed. A gem in Murrells Inlet.
(5)
Sabrina S.
I don't know what all the other reviewers are talking about. I have eaten in many different Thai places and this is at the lower end of the spectrum. First is the inconvenience of carrying cash, which I rarely do. Next is the fact that this place doesn't have basic things like sweetner for your tea. When I asked for a packet of Equal, I was met with a blank stare. They only have sugar! The food was mediocrre. The hotness of the spices served to distract from the taste, which was sadly lacking. My favorite dish- panang curry with chicken was not even on the menu! This is a standard Thai dish. We ordered red curry chicken and pad basil, along with some fried rice. Everything was too hot, even for the medium level, and I can eat hot. The dishes were a disappointment. I have eaten better thai food at some hole in the wall places. The only good thing I can say is that the service was polite and attentive. Would definitely not go back. Even though we went on a saturday evening, the place was deserted.
(1)
Anne C.
By far the best Thai I've had since moving to the Myrtle Beach area.
(5)
Chad D.
One of the best Thai restaurants I've ever been too. Fantastic food, great service. Would be five stars but cash or check only and a very limited beer/wine selection. However, despite these very minor flaws, it's one of the best restaurants in the area. Highly recommend.
(4)
Mark K.
In order to really enjoy the Blue Elephant you need to do the following three things: 1) Do NOT be in any kind of a hurry to eat- The owner is the chef and he hand crafts each dish as if he were serving it to his own family. Good, homemade food takes time to prepare. Remember, he is cooking just for you in a boutique setting (small dining room). If you only have an hour to catch dinner, try McDonald's, I here they serve FINE food. 2) Bring cash or check- In the day-in-age in which everyone takes credit cards, the Blue Elephant does not. If you want an around the world experience (two appetizers, two specialty drinks, two entrees, and two desserts) bring about $100. If you are ordering beer or wine (the only alcoholic drinks they serve), bring additional funds. This should cover your order and a generous tip. 3) Be prepared to try something new. The menu is superb and very authentic. Don't be afraid to take the recommendation from the chef. After all, he knows what looks good back there and wants you to, not only come back, but tell your friends and family about it. Also, when you make you reservation, make sure he is cooking the evening you will be there. You will thank me later. 4) You can always add spice to your dish later on. Ask for some spice on the side. They would rather let you add it little by little than for you to spontaneously combust by ordering it too hot. Hey tough guy who eats the hottest of hot wings: You can't handle authentic so don't even think about it. Add spice to your dish gradually as the spice he uses is home grown peppers that will sting you. A little goes a long way. Our latest experience: My wife and I had a rare, rare, rare, evening out together. With two young kids it's impossible go out and enjoy ourselves, at least, for another few years. However, our in-laws blessed us with an opportunity on evening and we both wanted to go to the Blue Elephant, a yearly staple in our restaurant rotation. I must admit, I have been there several times when the owner is not cooking, and, although it is still good, it is not quite as exceptional as when crafts each meal. Call ahead. What to drink: You MUST try the Thai Iced Tea or the Thai Iced Coffee. The Thai iced tea serves multiple purposes other than being the most decadent ice tea you will ever drink. It also puts out the flames extremely well should you choose to turn up the heat on your entree. Appetizers We always struggle on which appetizers to order because they are all so good. This time, by default (they did not have the chicken satay---peanut sauce that accompanies it is off the hook) we ordered the dumplings and the golden shrimp. Superb. The sauces add a ton to each so, feel free to ask for a bit extra if you need it. Entrees We both ordered the Panang Steamed Salmon with no bamboo shoots. I ordered the dish without peas, as well, however, if you enjoy peas, feel free to knock yourself out. My mother ruined me by forcing me to eat them, so now, as a passively aggressive 38 year old I make it a point to never, ever eat them. Parents: Highly encourage your kids to try new things, however, forcing them to eat something that causes them to gag at the dinner table does no one any good. Peas might be the best thing in the world to me these days, however, I'm never going to find out. I digress, my apologies. The entrees were spectacular. Pleasing to the eye, and nose, and of course, the mouth. I added about an 1/8th of a teaspoon of the spice to heat it up a bit and wow, did it ever! It was heaven for me because the dish presents a sweet coconut and peanut front end and then heats up as you enjoy each bite. Superb. I kept the Thai Iced tea close to put the flames out and we enjoyed an incredible, authentic Thai meal. I have been to a TON of Thai restaurants and this one, down to the serving plates and mini-crocs, makes for an wonderfully authentic experience. The chef and owner would also be interested in being your tour guide should you ever decide to go to Thailand. Someday, I hope to take him up on that offer.
(5)
Rocky S.
Blue Elephant was recommended to us by a local - I don't know if it was an off day for them or what but this truly was one of the worst tasting Thai places we have tried. We asked for both the Chicken Pad Thai and the Tom Kah Gai to be medium spicy. The Pad Thai was so spicy we couldn't eat it and it didn't have any actual flavor to the dish - pretty sure they didn't add any type of sauce as the noodles were completely plain other than the spice. The Tom Kah on the other hand had no spice whatsoever, but still was mediocre. Their Thai Tea was delicious, but that won't bring us back again.
(1)
Colleen K.
We shared a meal together the green curry with tofu . It was so delicious. The atmosphere makes for a great date. The servers are friendly and the food is authentic thai! Totally worth the drive to murrells inlet !
(5)
Amy S.
Amazing flavors, best Thai food I've had. Hidden gem !!! Dr. Paul is creating amazing works of art in these incredible dishes.
(5)
Amera K.
The worst Thai food I have EVER had. It was terrible way too much spice. I actually was in tears from the spice. There was no peanut in the sauce and it was covered in sugar, and it was 17$ I literally threw it all away. Not to mention they only take cash or check but didn't label anywhere!
(1)
Shai L.
This is one of the worst restaurant I've ever eaten in, the service is degradable, the food is less than disgusting, the setup is pathetic and definitely not kid friendly. I'm eating in restaurants around the world and I love food, this is definitely one of the worst places I've ever eaten in. We will never be back and I recommend the health department to swing by.
(1)
Marialice H.
This was the most expensive and by far the absolute worst Thai food experience of my lifetime. My meal smelled of trash. The service was good but they only accept cash and it was a major inconvenience. I would never go back. As a lover of Thai food I am sorely disappointed. I am praying this meal does not cause me to become violently I'll.
(1)
Jacob J.
This is my favorite Thai food I've had (period). I live in New York City, but my parents are in Surfside Beach & every time I go to visit them I make a pilgrimage to the Blue Elephant for its delicious, fresh, & home-made-to-order Thai food. I have had Thai food all over the world (save Thailand) and this is hands down my favorite. Looking for the best meal on the Grand Strand, avoid the oversized buffet crab shacks and seek out the Elephant. Remember to bring cash because they do not take credit cards.
(5)
K. A.
$26 for fried rice and a small portion of soup? The quality of the food has severely deteriorated. I don't think I'll return.
(2)
Swetha G.
OMG, if the last couple days of my life were not so insane, I would've written right after I got home on Saturday night from Blue Elephant Thai, where I had one of the MOST AMAZING Thai dinners EVER. First off, I would like to point out that we drove nearly forty minutes to get to Blue Elephant. We were visiting a relative of ours who lives in Myrtle Beach and he raved about this place. I thought he was a bit nuts to drive us forty minutes for dinner when there were plenty of other restaurants a stone's throw from his condo, but thankfully I kept quiet and I am soooo glad I did! When we finally made it to Blue Elephant, the outside looks very blue (hence the name!) and small and unspectacular. It basically looks like your average hole in the wall. But then you walk inside and you're transformed into a Thai oasis of beautiful wall paintings (the details and handiwork are really unbelievable!), gorgeous table decor and the staff dressed in stunning traditional Thai attire. Service is exceptional with everyone from the host to the server to even the infamous Dr. Paul being incredibly friendly and on top of everything. Now the food. Aaaaah the food. All I can say is that Dr. Paul can give up his day job and do this F/T (and probably earn more!) if he chooses to. It is soooo good and sooooo home-cooked and yummilicious. You can order your spice level to be mild, medium, hot or authentic. My mom and her cousin (who both have a VERY HIGH tolerance for spice) ordered hot and it was sharp (I tried a bit of their food and my nose was watering!). My dad and I had the medium and it was perfect. I've heard infamous stories about authentic and would be seriously impressed to see someone finish an authentic dish! The veggie spring rolls they serve as apps are great and come with a tasty peanut sauce. The dishes we had were the red curry, green curry and sweet and sour, all vegetarian (another cool thing about the restaurant is you can get just about anything on the menu w/o meat!). My favorite dish was the sweet and sour, which was perfect amount of sauce to vegetables and just the correct amount of spice. Both vegetable curries were great but b/c the green was hot, I only had a few bites. Portion sizes are HUGE and you can easily split one dish among two people. We had three dishes for the four of us and walked out stuffed and with carry out boxes. If you are in Myrtle Beach, this is THE Thai Restaurant to visit. Or yet, if you're in SC!
(5)
Stephen C.
Must confess that we did not have high hopes when we first entered the restaurant. But the food was very good. We had the tamarind duck, curry salmon, and cashew chicken. The fried banana with coconut ice cream was a good end to the dinner.
(5)
Dave P.
Outstanding quality, and the "authentic" level of spice did not disappoint or destroy the flavor of the dish. Having never been to Thailand I can only say this is the best I have had. When in Myrtle, do youself a favor and just eat at the places in Murrells Inlet. I like to be lazy when at the beach, but anything I ate along the main strip sucked.
(5)
JP S.
Maybe the best Thai in the area, maybe even in the state... however a few things that are bothersome. Place is run on a shoestring, but does not need to be... come on... no plastic? Every restaurant and small business owner has to suck it up and take plastic and bite the fees; cash and checks only policy probably drive away 20% of his business. Another thing, the place can get a bit creepy at times. I mean, the AC must be set at 80. The wait staff is very attentive, but they look a bit brow-beat at times. Anyway, if you can tolerate that nonsense, the food is worth the wait (oh, yeah, expect a long wait). Note: Go with mild or medium... the hot and authentic will set off a 5-alarm fire.
(3)
Julia M.
Ok, so first off, this place looks sort of like a dump from the road. If I had not read the reviews on Yelp, I would have passed on going there. When you walk inside it is a little nicer than it looks from the outside. The bad thing was that I had forgotten about the cash only warnings I had read in the other reviews and when we saw the cash only sign, we realized that we only had $50 in cash between the two of us (and of course, no checkbooks). It really was bad for the restaurant because we certainly would have spent more if we had not been worried about having enough cash on hand. So, instead of going for one of the more expensive dishes, we both decided to have pad thai ($15) and a beer ($4). We wanted to make sure we had enough cash for a decent tip, so we skipped appetizers and dessert. (Sad because I would have liked to try the homemade coconut ice cream with bananas and I am a huge fan of mango sticky rice.) So, all that aside, how was the food? Well, I have never been to Thailand, but I have eaten some really good authentic Thai food and am somewhat picky about it. I thought the food here was really well executed. The pad thai was clean and crisp - easily one of my favorites. (It's not overly sweet or covered in a heavy sauce.) It came with both chicken and shrimp. I generally like medium spice level but I was afraid it might be too spicy here based on some of the other reviews I read, so I expressed my concern to my server and she said that she would put it in as 1.5 on a scale of 1 - 4. That was just right. It was enough that there was a small aftertaste of spice, but nothing slapping you in the face. David ordered his mild (1) and he said it really wasn't spicy at all. One thing that detracted from the overall dining experience was the fact that they brought the first plate a good deal earlier than the second plate. I know they are cooking to order here, but it is really awkward and not a good practice to bring one person's food way before the second person's food comes out. But besides that, our service was fine and I would definitely go back. Next time, I'll have to remember to hit up the ATM first.
(4)
Annibelle C.
Great food... The only thing that you would have to control yourself on is the level of spice because they mean business. Every time I went there I went down a notch but it was still spicy but the food is so good that I enjoyed it anyway. Love finding authentic places in the myst of fast food galore. It reminds me of NYC once in a while where you can find international food everywhere. This place takes time to make there food so it is not an in and out type of place.
(4)
Cory S.
I always eat at a restaurant at least a couple of times before submitting a review. First the food. My biggest issue with the food was the level of spice. If you order medium it will light your mouth up. It was over-powering for me. On the second visit I ordered mild, but it was next to tasteless. I like my Thai food bold, but not on the over-powering. My experience was consistent with other reviewers on the spice warnings. The atmosphere. Very nice on the inside. This won't disappoint or embarrass you. The service. Top notch, very personable wait staff. The cost. This place is pricey for what you get. They don't take credit cards, so bring your cash. Tough for me to recommend this place because the food didn't meet my expectations. This coupled with the cost and the inconvenience of cash or check only gets it three stars.
(3)
Christine P.
Just finished a meal from Blue Elephant. So fresh and delicious. Will definitely be back. Had the pad Thai, green curry and fried bananas.
(4)
Faith O.
We've eaten at many Thai restaurants and even traveled in Thailand for weeks to give a pretty true feedback here. This place is way over priced (double the price than in other Thai restaurants) and little food on your plate. This was by far the worst place we've eaten Thai. No taste and not even run by true authentic Thai people. Would not go back.
(1)
B C.
The best Thai food in all Myrtle Beach & Murrells Inlet with fresh ingredients and wonderful atmosphere. We have taken many friends here and everyone loves it. The Chef/Owner is from Thailand and the food reflects it. This is a great restaurant. Go and enjoy
(5)
Test T.
I hate this place! The foods suck! The owner, Paul, a dishonest old man who cheated other Thai people!!! _ _ _
(1)
Mike J.
We found the food to be very good (4-stars), but priced at literally three times what we are accustomed to paying in Nashville. Dinner for two $75 (no alcohol). They lose a star for that. Note that their on-line menu does not list prices. Our soup was $22. Yowza.
(3)
Rhett T.
If you like Thai, try! The unassuming blue building outside belies the warm ambience and superb dining inside. This restaurant is a real ethnic treat in the low country. Excellent presentation compliments the tasty assortment of spices and meats. SOME LIKE IT HOT! Speaking of tangy, the offer four levels of seasoning: mild, medium, hot and "authentic." I choose hot against the servers suggestion. Whoa, jump back! Next time (soon!) I will get medium! A truly nice restaurant find. Note: Cash only.
(5)
Brian N.
Heed my warning, the spice index here is seriously skewed! I loved the Thai food, let's just establish this right up front. The only problem I have with the Blue Elephant is their spice rating system. Out waiter tried to tell us that of the four levels if spice available (mild, medium, hot & authentic) medium was as hot as the hottest she had ever tasted. Now I was just like, really? I know spice, love the heat and have eaten thai food from the Atlantic to the Pacific and everywhere in between and medium ain't cutting it on anyone's scale--but out of respect to the rest of my family I yielded to the medium for all of our dishes. Fast forward to about 10 minutes later. My daughter is crying, yes crying crocodile tears because of the pain, the wife is mad as hell and we are having a domestic dispute because I "Didn't Believe" the waitress. Only my son, the 9 year old spice prodigy who actually makes and sells his own hot sauce is still on my side, but this would be short lived as the viciously aggressive medium spice brought him to his knees in due time. I held my own but ended up in the dog house with the whole family. The food was great but there should be a better system other then the food going from mild to insane dragon's breath fury in one step!
(4)
Sonia R.
The place is small and doesn't look like much from the outside. Let me tell you now in case you haven't heard, bring cash or check! They do not take credit cards. They only had honey for sweetner for the tea which I found somewhat odd that they didn't have sweetener packets. And be warned, food is spicy. Their medium would be considered hot in most other restaurants. I felt that with certain dishes the spiciness distracted from the dish and the flavor. Overall, an interesting experience. I have definately had better Thai food but this was not terrible. I just felt the taste was a little off
(3)
James G.
This was my first experience with Thai food. Overall I thought I've had better Asian food...but we did have a great hostes who looked out for us the whole time my wife and I were there. I probably won't have Thai anytime soon. I was expecting really good food from the way everyone raved about it...but I've had better Asian food. We probably won't be back to this restaurant. Also, bring cash or check because they don't accept credit cards.
(2)
Lindsay W.
This place is delicious and has the most authentic Thai food around. From the outside it doesn't appear to be much but the service is good and the food is absolutely delicious. Definitely need reservations because the restaurant is rather small and probably seats no more than 25-30 at full capacity. It can be rather spicy (as Thai food usually is) so if you don't want your food too hot make sure you specify. SO GOOD.
(4)
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Address :4493 U.S. Business 17
Murrells Inlet, SC, 29576
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : No Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Dara L.
The four stars are being given because I ordered salmon Panang and the salmon was cooked absolutely perfectly. The curry sauce with it was very tasty and ordered mild due to previous reviews. It was just right. My hubby ordered grouper special ,medium, and it was very hot. So better off to go mild and add spice if needed. The grouper was also cooked perfectly. As others have mentioned, the place does not look good from the outside, but has a clean and pleasant interior. Prices were higher than most thai restaurants we go to, so we expected a lot better food. Other than the fish , everything else was equal to most other places we like. The spring rolls were just ok, looked like they had been reheated. Presentation of all food was nice, but a maraschino cherry on top of our entrees was odd. All in all we enjoyed our meals, but will probably choose to go to Thai season on hwy 17 in n myrtle beach for food that is just as good for almost half the price.
(4)Lowell B.
I went back again on this trip to MB. I can't say enough about how great this place it. If you don't go here and you like Thai - you're missing out. I'm ruined for Thai anywhere else - from DC to NYC. I get the duck usually - super crispy and tender. If you get more than about one star - you better like hot foods. The cook doesn't play around....
(5)Katie B.
Good but not the best ever as some reviewers claim. We would go back but beware the level 2 spicy pad Thai is VERY HOT. The men could barely hack it. Level 1 pad Thai was enjoyable. Not as much peanut flavor as we were used to but delicious nonetheless. The pork dumplings were amazing. The pork fried rice was also tasty and the crispy duck had good depth of flavor. Overall a nice meal that felt fresh and healthier than your average fried fare.
(4)Nathan K.
This is the best Thai food you will find just about anywhere. I had the salmon curry and my wife had red beef curry (medium). Unless you must have extremely hot food, you need not try any of the dishes past medium. If you try the authentic, be sure to have a fire extinguisher. :) The food is served family style in ornate dishes that really give the dining experience that added plus. You can tell that the food is all prepared with fresh ingredients. If you love Thai food and are near Myrtle Beach, you MUST try The Blue Elephant. Take cash or check. They do not take credit cards. Bonus Hint: Try the Thai Sweet Tea!! It's fabulous.
(5)John B.
If there is one thing I like, it's Thai food. I live in the Charlotte, NC area and have visited all the Thai restaurants I know of. I have my favorite and few others I visit can compare. So I was predisposed to not be impressed with the Blue Elephant. We got our first clue how good it was going to be when we talked to the table next to us. They have been there before and loved the food, and had also been to Thailand. They said this was very authentic. I was completely mistaken. The staff was very kind, the service was amazingly fast and the food was the best I've had. I do enjoy my food on the spicy side, so when I saw the heat options in the menu (mild, medium, hot and authentic) I was eager to go for the Authentic. When my meal arrived, only about 10 minutes later, I could see the spice and the aroma was amazing. We were given large bowl of Jasmine Rice along with the meal all served on very nice dishes. We were checked on frequently, but not enough to become a bother. When the rice was gone, we were brought more. The flavor of the food was so good. I ate way too much, and still didn't manage to eat all I was given. Do yourself a big favor, and when you're in the Myrtle Beach area, you must visit the Blue Elephant if you're a Thai food lover. I know I will not come to this area without having a meal here.
(5)Stephen A.
Amazing Thai food. Service is excellent. The pace is relaxed reflecting the care taken in food preparation. Savor an appetizer. The chiles are fresh ground, so be careful with ordering something extra spicy. Have never been disappointed. A gem in Murrells Inlet.
(5)Sabrina S.
I don't know what all the other reviewers are talking about. I have eaten in many different Thai places and this is at the lower end of the spectrum. First is the inconvenience of carrying cash, which I rarely do. Next is the fact that this place doesn't have basic things like sweetner for your tea. When I asked for a packet of Equal, I was met with a blank stare. They only have sugar! The food was mediocrre. The hotness of the spices served to distract from the taste, which was sadly lacking. My favorite dish- panang curry with chicken was not even on the menu! This is a standard Thai dish. We ordered red curry chicken and pad basil, along with some fried rice. Everything was too hot, even for the medium level, and I can eat hot. The dishes were a disappointment. I have eaten better thai food at some hole in the wall places. The only good thing I can say is that the service was polite and attentive. Would definitely not go back. Even though we went on a saturday evening, the place was deserted.
(1)Anne C.
By far the best Thai I've had since moving to the Myrtle Beach area.
(5)Chad D.
One of the best Thai restaurants I've ever been too. Fantastic food, great service. Would be five stars but cash or check only and a very limited beer/wine selection. However, despite these very minor flaws, it's one of the best restaurants in the area. Highly recommend.
(4)Mark K.
In order to really enjoy the Blue Elephant you need to do the following three things: 1) Do NOT be in any kind of a hurry to eat- The owner is the chef and he hand crafts each dish as if he were serving it to his own family. Good, homemade food takes time to prepare. Remember, he is cooking just for you in a boutique setting (small dining room). If you only have an hour to catch dinner, try McDonald's, I here they serve FINE food. 2) Bring cash or check- In the day-in-age in which everyone takes credit cards, the Blue Elephant does not. If you want an around the world experience (two appetizers, two specialty drinks, two entrees, and two desserts) bring about $100. If you are ordering beer or wine (the only alcoholic drinks they serve), bring additional funds. This should cover your order and a generous tip. 3) Be prepared to try something new. The menu is superb and very authentic. Don't be afraid to take the recommendation from the chef. After all, he knows what looks good back there and wants you to, not only come back, but tell your friends and family about it. Also, when you make you reservation, make sure he is cooking the evening you will be there. You will thank me later. 4) You can always add spice to your dish later on. Ask for some spice on the side. They would rather let you add it little by little than for you to spontaneously combust by ordering it too hot. Hey tough guy who eats the hottest of hot wings: You can't handle authentic so don't even think about it. Add spice to your dish gradually as the spice he uses is home grown peppers that will sting you. A little goes a long way. Our latest experience: My wife and I had a rare, rare, rare, evening out together. With two young kids it's impossible go out and enjoy ourselves, at least, for another few years. However, our in-laws blessed us with an opportunity on evening and we both wanted to go to the Blue Elephant, a yearly staple in our restaurant rotation. I must admit, I have been there several times when the owner is not cooking, and, although it is still good, it is not quite as exceptional as when crafts each meal. Call ahead. What to drink: You MUST try the Thai Iced Tea or the Thai Iced Coffee. The Thai iced tea serves multiple purposes other than being the most decadent ice tea you will ever drink. It also puts out the flames extremely well should you choose to turn up the heat on your entree. Appetizers We always struggle on which appetizers to order because they are all so good. This time, by default (they did not have the chicken satay---peanut sauce that accompanies it is off the hook) we ordered the dumplings and the golden shrimp. Superb. The sauces add a ton to each so, feel free to ask for a bit extra if you need it. Entrees We both ordered the Panang Steamed Salmon with no bamboo shoots. I ordered the dish without peas, as well, however, if you enjoy peas, feel free to knock yourself out. My mother ruined me by forcing me to eat them, so now, as a passively aggressive 38 year old I make it a point to never, ever eat them. Parents: Highly encourage your kids to try new things, however, forcing them to eat something that causes them to gag at the dinner table does no one any good. Peas might be the best thing in the world to me these days, however, I'm never going to find out. I digress, my apologies. The entrees were spectacular. Pleasing to the eye, and nose, and of course, the mouth. I added about an 1/8th of a teaspoon of the spice to heat it up a bit and wow, did it ever! It was heaven for me because the dish presents a sweet coconut and peanut front end and then heats up as you enjoy each bite. Superb. I kept the Thai Iced tea close to put the flames out and we enjoyed an incredible, authentic Thai meal. I have been to a TON of Thai restaurants and this one, down to the serving plates and mini-crocs, makes for an wonderfully authentic experience. The chef and owner would also be interested in being your tour guide should you ever decide to go to Thailand. Someday, I hope to take him up on that offer.
(5)Rocky S.
Blue Elephant was recommended to us by a local - I don't know if it was an off day for them or what but this truly was one of the worst tasting Thai places we have tried. We asked for both the Chicken Pad Thai and the Tom Kah Gai to be medium spicy. The Pad Thai was so spicy we couldn't eat it and it didn't have any actual flavor to the dish - pretty sure they didn't add any type of sauce as the noodles were completely plain other than the spice. The Tom Kah on the other hand had no spice whatsoever, but still was mediocre. Their Thai Tea was delicious, but that won't bring us back again.
(1)Colleen K.
We shared a meal together the green curry with tofu . It was so delicious. The atmosphere makes for a great date. The servers are friendly and the food is authentic thai! Totally worth the drive to murrells inlet !
(5)Amy S.
Amazing flavors, best Thai food I've had. Hidden gem !!! Dr. Paul is creating amazing works of art in these incredible dishes.
(5)Amera K.
The worst Thai food I have EVER had. It was terrible way too much spice. I actually was in tears from the spice. There was no peanut in the sauce and it was covered in sugar, and it was 17$ I literally threw it all away. Not to mention they only take cash or check but didn't label anywhere!
(1)Shai L.
This is one of the worst restaurant I've ever eaten in, the service is degradable, the food is less than disgusting, the setup is pathetic and definitely not kid friendly. I'm eating in restaurants around the world and I love food, this is definitely one of the worst places I've ever eaten in. We will never be back and I recommend the health department to swing by.
(1)Marialice H.
This was the most expensive and by far the absolute worst Thai food experience of my lifetime. My meal smelled of trash. The service was good but they only accept cash and it was a major inconvenience. I would never go back. As a lover of Thai food I am sorely disappointed. I am praying this meal does not cause me to become violently I'll.
(1)Jacob J.
This is my favorite Thai food I've had (period). I live in New York City, but my parents are in Surfside Beach & every time I go to visit them I make a pilgrimage to the Blue Elephant for its delicious, fresh, & home-made-to-order Thai food. I have had Thai food all over the world (save Thailand) and this is hands down my favorite. Looking for the best meal on the Grand Strand, avoid the oversized buffet crab shacks and seek out the Elephant. Remember to bring cash because they do not take credit cards.
(5)K. A.
$26 for fried rice and a small portion of soup? The quality of the food has severely deteriorated. I don't think I'll return.
(2)Swetha G.
OMG, if the last couple days of my life were not so insane, I would've written right after I got home on Saturday night from Blue Elephant Thai, where I had one of the MOST AMAZING Thai dinners EVER. First off, I would like to point out that we drove nearly forty minutes to get to Blue Elephant. We were visiting a relative of ours who lives in Myrtle Beach and he raved about this place. I thought he was a bit nuts to drive us forty minutes for dinner when there were plenty of other restaurants a stone's throw from his condo, but thankfully I kept quiet and I am soooo glad I did! When we finally made it to Blue Elephant, the outside looks very blue (hence the name!) and small and unspectacular. It basically looks like your average hole in the wall. But then you walk inside and you're transformed into a Thai oasis of beautiful wall paintings (the details and handiwork are really unbelievable!), gorgeous table decor and the staff dressed in stunning traditional Thai attire. Service is exceptional with everyone from the host to the server to even the infamous Dr. Paul being incredibly friendly and on top of everything. Now the food. Aaaaah the food. All I can say is that Dr. Paul can give up his day job and do this F/T (and probably earn more!) if he chooses to. It is soooo good and sooooo home-cooked and yummilicious. You can order your spice level to be mild, medium, hot or authentic. My mom and her cousin (who both have a VERY HIGH tolerance for spice) ordered hot and it was sharp (I tried a bit of their food and my nose was watering!). My dad and I had the medium and it was perfect. I've heard infamous stories about authentic and would be seriously impressed to see someone finish an authentic dish! The veggie spring rolls they serve as apps are great and come with a tasty peanut sauce. The dishes we had were the red curry, green curry and sweet and sour, all vegetarian (another cool thing about the restaurant is you can get just about anything on the menu w/o meat!). My favorite dish was the sweet and sour, which was perfect amount of sauce to vegetables and just the correct amount of spice. Both vegetable curries were great but b/c the green was hot, I only had a few bites. Portion sizes are HUGE and you can easily split one dish among two people. We had three dishes for the four of us and walked out stuffed and with carry out boxes. If you are in Myrtle Beach, this is THE Thai Restaurant to visit. Or yet, if you're in SC!
(5)Stephen C.
Must confess that we did not have high hopes when we first entered the restaurant. But the food was very good. We had the tamarind duck, curry salmon, and cashew chicken. The fried banana with coconut ice cream was a good end to the dinner.
(5)Dave P.
Outstanding quality, and the "authentic" level of spice did not disappoint or destroy the flavor of the dish. Having never been to Thailand I can only say this is the best I have had. When in Myrtle, do youself a favor and just eat at the places in Murrells Inlet. I like to be lazy when at the beach, but anything I ate along the main strip sucked.
(5)JP S.
Maybe the best Thai in the area, maybe even in the state... however a few things that are bothersome. Place is run on a shoestring, but does not need to be... come on... no plastic? Every restaurant and small business owner has to suck it up and take plastic and bite the fees; cash and checks only policy probably drive away 20% of his business. Another thing, the place can get a bit creepy at times. I mean, the AC must be set at 80. The wait staff is very attentive, but they look a bit brow-beat at times. Anyway, if you can tolerate that nonsense, the food is worth the wait (oh, yeah, expect a long wait). Note: Go with mild or medium... the hot and authentic will set off a 5-alarm fire.
(3)Julia M.
Ok, so first off, this place looks sort of like a dump from the road. If I had not read the reviews on Yelp, I would have passed on going there. When you walk inside it is a little nicer than it looks from the outside. The bad thing was that I had forgotten about the cash only warnings I had read in the other reviews and when we saw the cash only sign, we realized that we only had $50 in cash between the two of us (and of course, no checkbooks). It really was bad for the restaurant because we certainly would have spent more if we had not been worried about having enough cash on hand. So, instead of going for one of the more expensive dishes, we both decided to have pad thai ($15) and a beer ($4). We wanted to make sure we had enough cash for a decent tip, so we skipped appetizers and dessert. (Sad because I would have liked to try the homemade coconut ice cream with bananas and I am a huge fan of mango sticky rice.) So, all that aside, how was the food? Well, I have never been to Thailand, but I have eaten some really good authentic Thai food and am somewhat picky about it. I thought the food here was really well executed. The pad thai was clean and crisp - easily one of my favorites. (It's not overly sweet or covered in a heavy sauce.) It came with both chicken and shrimp. I generally like medium spice level but I was afraid it might be too spicy here based on some of the other reviews I read, so I expressed my concern to my server and she said that she would put it in as 1.5 on a scale of 1 - 4. That was just right. It was enough that there was a small aftertaste of spice, but nothing slapping you in the face. David ordered his mild (1) and he said it really wasn't spicy at all. One thing that detracted from the overall dining experience was the fact that they brought the first plate a good deal earlier than the second plate. I know they are cooking to order here, but it is really awkward and not a good practice to bring one person's food way before the second person's food comes out. But besides that, our service was fine and I would definitely go back. Next time, I'll have to remember to hit up the ATM first.
(4)Annibelle C.
Great food... The only thing that you would have to control yourself on is the level of spice because they mean business. Every time I went there I went down a notch but it was still spicy but the food is so good that I enjoyed it anyway. Love finding authentic places in the myst of fast food galore. It reminds me of NYC once in a while where you can find international food everywhere. This place takes time to make there food so it is not an in and out type of place.
(4)Cory S.
I always eat at a restaurant at least a couple of times before submitting a review. First the food. My biggest issue with the food was the level of spice. If you order medium it will light your mouth up. It was over-powering for me. On the second visit I ordered mild, but it was next to tasteless. I like my Thai food bold, but not on the over-powering. My experience was consistent with other reviewers on the spice warnings. The atmosphere. Very nice on the inside. This won't disappoint or embarrass you. The service. Top notch, very personable wait staff. The cost. This place is pricey for what you get. They don't take credit cards, so bring your cash. Tough for me to recommend this place because the food didn't meet my expectations. This coupled with the cost and the inconvenience of cash or check only gets it three stars.
(3)Christine P.
Just finished a meal from Blue Elephant. So fresh and delicious. Will definitely be back. Had the pad Thai, green curry and fried bananas.
(4)Faith O.
We've eaten at many Thai restaurants and even traveled in Thailand for weeks to give a pretty true feedback here. This place is way over priced (double the price than in other Thai restaurants) and little food on your plate. This was by far the worst place we've eaten Thai. No taste and not even run by true authentic Thai people. Would not go back.
(1)B C.
The best Thai food in all Myrtle Beach & Murrells Inlet with fresh ingredients and wonderful atmosphere. We have taken many friends here and everyone loves it. The Chef/Owner is from Thailand and the food reflects it. This is a great restaurant. Go and enjoy
(5)Test T.
I hate this place! The foods suck! The owner, Paul, a dishonest old man who cheated other Thai people!!! _ _ _
(1)Mike J.
We found the food to be very good (4-stars), but priced at literally three times what we are accustomed to paying in Nashville. Dinner for two $75 (no alcohol). They lose a star for that. Note that their on-line menu does not list prices. Our soup was $22. Yowza.
(3)Rhett T.
If you like Thai, try! The unassuming blue building outside belies the warm ambience and superb dining inside. This restaurant is a real ethnic treat in the low country. Excellent presentation compliments the tasty assortment of spices and meats. SOME LIKE IT HOT! Speaking of tangy, the offer four levels of seasoning: mild, medium, hot and "authentic." I choose hot against the servers suggestion. Whoa, jump back! Next time (soon!) I will get medium! A truly nice restaurant find. Note: Cash only.
(5)Brian N.
Heed my warning, the spice index here is seriously skewed! I loved the Thai food, let's just establish this right up front. The only problem I have with the Blue Elephant is their spice rating system. Out waiter tried to tell us that of the four levels if spice available (mild, medium, hot & authentic) medium was as hot as the hottest she had ever tasted. Now I was just like, really? I know spice, love the heat and have eaten thai food from the Atlantic to the Pacific and everywhere in between and medium ain't cutting it on anyone's scale--but out of respect to the rest of my family I yielded to the medium for all of our dishes. Fast forward to about 10 minutes later. My daughter is crying, yes crying crocodile tears because of the pain, the wife is mad as hell and we are having a domestic dispute because I "Didn't Believe" the waitress. Only my son, the 9 year old spice prodigy who actually makes and sells his own hot sauce is still on my side, but this would be short lived as the viciously aggressive medium spice brought him to his knees in due time. I held my own but ended up in the dog house with the whole family. The food was great but there should be a better system other then the food going from mild to insane dragon's breath fury in one step!
(4)Sonia R.
The place is small and doesn't look like much from the outside. Let me tell you now in case you haven't heard, bring cash or check! They do not take credit cards. They only had honey for sweetner for the tea which I found somewhat odd that they didn't have sweetener packets. And be warned, food is spicy. Their medium would be considered hot in most other restaurants. I felt that with certain dishes the spiciness distracted from the dish and the flavor. Overall, an interesting experience. I have definately had better Thai food but this was not terrible. I just felt the taste was a little off
(3)James G.
This was my first experience with Thai food. Overall I thought I've had better Asian food...but we did have a great hostes who looked out for us the whole time my wife and I were there. I probably won't have Thai anytime soon. I was expecting really good food from the way everyone raved about it...but I've had better Asian food. We probably won't be back to this restaurant. Also, bring cash or check because they don't accept credit cards.
(2)Lindsay W.
This place is delicious and has the most authentic Thai food around. From the outside it doesn't appear to be much but the service is good and the food is absolutely delicious. Definitely need reservations because the restaurant is rather small and probably seats no more than 25-30 at full capacity. It can be rather spicy (as Thai food usually is) so if you don't want your food too hot make sure you specify. SO GOOD.
(4)