White Elephant - Reviews

My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! We were a group of 12 and ordered 10 different meals, sharing them around. Each one was terrific. I strongly recommend this place. We are visiting for the week of Christmas and plan to come back, possibly twice.

My experience at this restaurant was with a party of 6. We received fast and friendly service, and the Thai food was delicious. Be aware that their 1-10 spicy scale runs extra spicy ;)

My experience at this restaurant was a party to my taste buds! I found the authentic Thai/Laotian food to be absolutely tantalizing. I love love love it! 💕

My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! I had some of the best pad thai I have ever tasted. The quaint location and decor created a truly inviting and different ambiance. Furthermore, the service was amazing as well.

My experience at White Elephant Asian Kitchen was fantastic! I had the shrimp lemongrass salad, and my boyfriend enjoyed the chicken pad Thai. Both dishes were incredibly fresh, with great portions and amazing flavor. The atmosphere was also really nice, making it a perfect spot for a casual meal. We're definitely planning to return to try the spring rolls!

My experience at this restaurant was a mixed bag. While the food is generally good, I've found the results to be inconsistent across in-restaurant dining and pick-up orders. This is particularly noticeable with spice levels, so I'd advise skipping the spice if you're unsure. What truly detracted from the experience were the restaurant owners' passive-aggressive responses to reviews, suggesting customers go to Panda Express, which I found unprofessional. Given I live nearby, I'll likely return, but for visitors to San Diego, I'd suggest considering other options like Bahn Thai.

My experience at the restaurant was very positive, particularly with the appetizers. The Lao sausage appetizer was very good, served with a dipping sauce that had the perfect citrus flavor. I could have been satisfied with just that and some sticky rice. For my entree, I chose the Thai Basil with sunny side egg and jasmine rice. It was so good, though the egg wasn't as runny as I typically prefer. My spouse enjoyed the shrimp appetizer, noting the massive size of the shrimps, and also the crispy rice salad. To complete the meal, the Thai tea was refreshingly perfect.

My experience at White Elephant was fantastic! I absolutely love their White Elephant noodle soup, which features house-made knife cut noodles that are incredibly chewy. The broth is rich with chicken flavor and infused with garlic oil, and the white pepper provides the perfect amount of spice. I find myself craving this soup often, especially on chilly days. It's impressive that they make their noodles in-house, which I believe is their specialty. The Lao sausage is also a standout; it's delicious paired with the dipping sauce, offering a bursting lemongrass flavor and tender meat chunks. The sauce itself is mildly spicy and very tasty. The garlic pepper chicken was a pleasant surprise, prepared with a crispy, light batter and coated in a flavorful house special garlic sauce with red peppers. It was mildly spicy and packed with flavor. While the mango chicken dish is popular, it wasn't my personal favorite as I prefer savory over sweet, though I appreciated the crispy batter and the refreshing mango concept. Overall, this lovely restaurant, run by a hardworking and passionate family, is a gem. The service was a perfect 5/5, and the atmosphere was also a 5/5. The food was equally impressive at 5/5.

My experience at this restaurant was absolutely terrible. Upon arrival, we were made to wait 20 minutes for an indoor table. Shortly after being seated, before our food even arrived, we were asked to move twice because a large party was expected. When we questioned this, we were told it wasn't an option and were literally forced to move. The service was horrible. When we asked if anything could be done, they told us we could leave if we wanted. We were explicitly told to get up and move, or leave! To make matters worse, both the server and the gentleman at the door showed zero empathy; the latter literally waved us out as if he couldn't care less. As we were leaving, we discovered they had kicked out another couple for the same reason – making space for a "larger party. " Kicking out paying customers for other customers. Is this discrimination or just incompetent management? You decide. EDIT: Their response confirms they don't deny kicking out two tables of two who had already been seated and ordered, all to accommodate a larger party. With over 20 years in the restaurant business, I've never witnessed such pure greed. Karma will find them.

My experience at this restaurant was centered around the unbeatable flavors of their Thai food. While the presentation wasn't the prettiest, the taste more than made up for it. I definitely recommend trying it out. Be aware that seating is limited and parking can be a bit difficult, though it's still better than downtown options. It's advisable to call ahead to check how busy they are.