New Zealand Herald

Reviews for Blue Elephant Thai Restaurant

by Nikole M.
17th March 2011

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I would rate this a ten star if I could.. the food is great and the service is just as good as the food it is in lovely, quiet cosy location… you are guaranteed to enjoy your meal every time… I find myself re-visiting the BLUE ELEPHANT at least twice a month or more… hope you all enjoy the food as much as I have

by Anke R.
28th January 2013

If I had reviewed the Bue Elephant after going the first time before Christmas it would have been a straight 5 stars. We had the duck curry with the grapes and the fried almond coated chicken. It was quite different from what you get at typical Thai restaurant and very good. This time we had the Mussaman curry and the crispy pork. Unfortunately the taste of the curry was dominated by cinnamon, which made it very off balance in my opinion given that would normally been a range of spices and flavours in such a curry, such as cardamoms, lemon grass etc. Unless you really love cinnamon don’t go for this one. The crispy pork was good but nothing special. The starters were really nice both times and I would recommend the herb wraps and fish cakes in particular. The staff are very attentive and friendly, knowledgeable about the dishes. The restaurant is in a very nice little nook tucked away in a back alley in Parnell and it’s nice and small. If going with more people I would definitely book.

by Kirsten
23rd December 2012

This Blue Elephant is hidden away down a small cobblestone drive way off Parnell road. As my parter and I reached the bottom we were met by an immaculately dressed Thai hostess who showed us to our table. The restaurant is lovely and open with dulcet tones of traditional relaxing music playing throughout it.

For a place not to far away from the main road I found The Blue Elephant very charming and quiet. A wonderful escape.
The atmosphere was not in any way let down by the cuisine. We ate the Fresh spring roles and the Aroy Dee Thai Herb Wraps for our entrees. It has to be said that our wonderfully charming & witty waitress Shelley really made our night that little bit extra special. She was very willing to tell us how to eat the Aroy dee Thai wraps, what was in each dish and was happy to cater to all our requests. My partner loves spice, I don’t take it too well, this is the first time any restaurant has offered fresh chilli on the side so we can both enjoy the dishes to our own tastes.

The fresh spring rolls were so delicious with the gorgeous mint really cleansing the palate whilst the Aroy dee Thai herb wraps were fun to eat and was a real burst of flavour. It all tasted so incredibly fresh.

The word to describe our mains is divine. We had the crispy pork dish and duck with cashews. The sauce for the duck was so incredibly tasty, you really could pick up the delicate flavours and the fresh ingredients were just beautiful. The pork actually smelt so good the couple at the table next to us actually asked what the dish was so they could order the same thing,

Having a Thai step mother and my partner spending a few months in Thailand i would like to think we were good judges of thai food. So don’t take this review lightly- The Blue Elephant deserves 5 stars +.

All in all with the romantic atmosphere, presentable traditionally dressed waitresses with amazing customer services and to top it off absolutely delicious food -you’d be silly not to give The Blue Elephant a try. I was very impressed and I will definitely be back again.

by Diiya M.
12th December 2012

We have a fab night at the blue elephant. The service was great. Most of our food was tasty and up to expectations. I do have one complaint and that is the delay in food. We were a party of 10 and received our entrees and some mains(individual orders) at very staggered times. We have 6 ppl get their entrees and were done by the time the other 4 arrived and it was not different items. And same with mains with the delay being long enough that 2 ppl were left eating on their own at the end. The rice situation is a bit stingy especially since its being charged separately. It was a very small serving offered each time and charged every time whereas other places offer rice for 2 dollars and I’ve never had to ask for more. Anyway it was a nice place and everything but the prawns were great. The service was very friendly albeit a bit delayed.

by Gavin S.
3rd December 2012

Four of us ate here last week after reading all the good reviews and we were not disappointed! Everything was fresh and tasty and the service was friendly and attentive. Presentation of each dish is done with great care and it’s part of what makes this place really special for me. I have eaten a lot of Thai food – both here in NZ and in Thailand – so I do feel like I know good Thai food when I taste it. What a pity that Andrea C (25/10) did not understand about the mixed seafood curry with egg in it. I had to work hard to persuade the staff to make this for me as they are thinking of pulling it from the menu because of the bad review. What a pity that would be! This is a wonderful traditional Thai dish and it was perfect.
I’ll be back

by Andrea C.
25th October 2012

I went to the Blue Elephant last night for dinner. We ordered two entrees and two mains. The Pad Thai was really tasty as were the entrees. Unfortunately our mixed seafood curry arrived with the sauce (coconut cream) split, i.e not creamy but liquid with congealed bits in it. I asked the young waitress about it and an older more senior waitress came over and told us it was meant to look like that as it had egg in it!! I have been to many Thai restaurants and had many fish curries that have not looked like this. She offered to redo it if we didn’t like the taste. It tasted ok as it was not the flavour that was at fault. I am always reluctant to send food back to the kitchen if having to complain. It is a shame they didn’t take the time to re-do the dish before sending out to us as I will not recommend this restaurant or go back in the future. The young waitresses were very attentive and the decor pleasant.

by Cameltoe W.
10th October 2012

Awesome awesome awesome, especially the Blue Elephant Curry and Massaman Lamb Curry. The Blue Elephant Curry is out of this world, never tried anything like it. Service was excellent too. Strange that the waitress served the rice from a “communal” bowl (when you needed more you had to ask) but everything else was top notch.

by Rachel
12th September 2012

The best thai food I have ever had!!! Amazing and original, the food has the real thai spices. Tom yam soup is my favourite thai meal and I can say I have tried quite a several around Auckland and have never tried anything like this!!! The spicy scallops were just heaven to try!!! The dishes are well presented and we didnt have to wait long for the food. The service was great, staff helpful and attentive. Well done!!!

by Roger H.
6th September 2012

Wife and self dined at Blue Elephant hidden down the lane next to the ANZ in Parnell. It was worth the hunt. Food excellent, staff charming and attentive. Would recommend for that plus excellent value for money.

by Melissa
1st September 2012

Yummy!!! We went with a group of 6 and we all very much enjoyed our meals.
Fantastic service, setting and food.
The best thai I have had in Auckland, we will definitely go back and would highly recommend!

by Tim G.
3rd July 2012

Fantastic, authentic Thai food, wide variety on the menu. If you like fish try the “Chubby young blue elephant” – delicious! Attentive and super friendly service with reasonable prices. There is a reason this place has so many good reviews… We’re definitely going back!

by Tania M.
24th June 2012

WOW!!! Pure pleasure…the best Thai food I have ever had. Karen and Wayne are fantastic hosts and have created a first class intimate Thai dining experience. I would highly recommend the Blue Elephant in Parnell.
Thai Food as good as it gets!!!

by David
28th April 2012

The portion was big (for me and my girlfriend), and the ambient was great. However the taste of the food was only above average. There are better Thai food in the area. Great services by the waiting staff – gave us a good explanation on the menu items. Would go there again for the atmosphere rather than the food.

by Karen S.
16th April 2012

the best Thai food we’ve ever had!! This restaurant is amazing! there were so many flavors in each bite of our meal ~ The prices are very reasonable, the menu extensive, and the owner, Karen, is a sweetheart! Great wine, too! We’ll definitely return, on our next trip to New Zealand!!

by Praveen
5th April 2012

All three of us gave this lovely, charming restaurant full marks.
-Love the menu which had some unique offerings, in particular the herb parcels which were just divine and just completely different to what we’ve ever had in a thai restaurant.
-Food was well prepared but also beautifully presented, spiced just right and delicious
-The location was quaint, surrounded my greenery in the heart of Parnell.
-The actual place was charming, tastefully decorated with music appropriate to its theme
-The hostess was warm and ensured we were happy and comfortable.
-Fully recommend for both couples and small groups as it was a lovely, intimate setting.

by Chris
31st March 2012

We went here tonight after reading the great reviews on this site. It was REALLY delicous! We eat Thai at least once a week, and we will be going back for sure. Can’t believe I haven’t found it before now – YUM

by Arsene L.
28th March 2012

Nice and friendly environment. The staff and the food are superb. Our children loved the presentation of the carrot flowers and the chance to have a try by themselves as well.
I can write pages here about their high quality service and delicious food but it must try it. I only had the same feeling at Carinthia that I’m the most honoured GUEST here and the food and the staff is for my satisfaction.

by Paeterasp V.
23rd March 2012

Excellent food, specially their prawns were ultra delicious. The banana dessert was extremely wonderful too. Went for my wife’s birthday there. will go back again.

by Donna
17th March 2012

We don’t venture into the city often for food (traffic, parking, ugg). But when we do we often eat here. Time after time the food is excellent and consistent. The service is great; attentive and genuine. Thank you Blue Elephant for making the trek worthwhile!
Donna and Alan

by Ross
17th February 2012

Consistently great food, friendly, efficient service and reasonably priced. Add the fact that it is a BYO and blue elephant is a perfect venue for any occasion. Highly recommended.

by Letitia
3rd October 2011

Fantastic food awesome atmosphere, fab staff, would recommend to anyone wanting a nice relaxing night out with friends, you can’t go wrong. Their Chubby Young Blue Elephant (Hapuka with stir fried vegetables) and the chicken cashew nuts are a firm favourite, I would highly recommend you try them.
I travel from West Auckland even for takeaways. A++++

by Grant H.
9th August 2011

Our last meal in New Zealand was at the Blue Elephant, and what a fantastic memory to leave NZ with. The Blue Elephant is hidden away in Parnell Rd and is a perfect setting for such a lovely little Thai restaurant.
The menu is exciting to read, and our host explained all the dishes in such a friendly manner that we felt as though we were dining and an old favourite. We had the Mixed Entree which was superb, followed by Massamam Lamb Curry and Blue Elephant Spicy Crispy Pork.
The meals were generous and the flavours were magical. The Crispy Pork unlike anything I have ever tasted before.
The service is first class and friendly; also probably the cleanest restaraunt I have ever eaten in (look at the cutlery, glassware and furnishings!)
Our only regret was we couldn’t try the ‘Chubby Young Blue Elephant’ or any of the other fabulous dishes on offer.

by Paul M.
9th August 2011

This is the best Thai food I have ever eaten. In fact, it is better than Thai food. It should have its own distinct category, ‘Blue Elephant Food’. The menu offers a blend of traditional dishes and slightly more exquisite creations that will surprise any seasoned Thai goer. The service from the owners and the intimate dimly lit surroundings are equally genuine and lovely. I just can’t rate this place too highly.

by Craig J.
8th August 2011

I heard about this place from this web site. We were celebrating a family members birthday and we didn’t really want to visit the city – after all – we do have a fair choice of good Thai restaurants in the Eastern suburbs. It was my decision to try the Blue Elephant and I’m glad I did. From a very genuine welcome from the owners we were shown to our table. I had already checked out their menu so had an idea of what I wanted to order. Trouble was – there was too many I wanted to try! We were a party of 5 with 1 fussy eater (no seafood or chicken!). We ordered 8 entrees between us so we got to taste quite a few of what was on offer. Presentation of the entrees was fantastic and the various flavours were … well words fail me but the word “fresh” comes to mind. The mains were also excellent but again we had over ordered. The servings are probably a little larger than what we are used to from a Thai restaurant – but even so .. we over ordered!!! It’s so hard to choose what you aren’t going to choose here. We all liked the way the menu was structured. Simple enough to pick your style and then pick which meat you want done that way. The service was attentive without being over bearing. The owners, Wayne & Karen, took an interest in us and chatted informally. I felt like we were regulars even though this was our first visit … won’t be our last though!!! Karen & the staff very kindly took away what we couldn’t eat & packaged it up nicely for another meal the next day. She then arranged a small (thank goodness!!)desert complete with 2 candles for the birthday girl …. complimentary. A very kind & generous gesture. Even our ‘fussy’ eater was impressed. We love Thai food and have tried many very good places up & down the country. If this isn’t the best it sure is in the top echelon. Try it. You will be impressed. Thank you Wayne & Karen & staff for a great night.
P.S. beware of the extra hot chilli king prawns ordered by another table .. the fumes even had Wayne coughing!!!

by Tony M.
5th July 2011

What an amazing journey for your taste buds.

Truly the best Thai Cuisine i have ever tasted.

The decor and the service is also amazing , a delightful find in Parnell.

Well done Thai Blue Elephant

by Rob F.
1st July 2011

My absolute favorite Thai restaurant in Auckland. The food, service and atmosphere are consistently excellent.

The atmosphere is tranquil, the food is generously served, beautifully presented and delicately flavored.

Highly recommended!

by David A.
25th June 2011

Simply the best Thai food I have ever eaten, friendly service with a lovely ambiance.

All dishes ordered were cooked to perfection, the crispy pork, red duck curry are to die for.

Will definitely be frequenting on a more regular basis.

by Tony D.
12th June 2011

Undoubtedly the finest Thai restaurant in Auckland.
From the warm, friendly and relaxed atmosphere to the luscious, exquisite, tantalizing food, the Blue Elephant is a hidden gem. Well done guys.

PS. Try the spicy crispy pork! Mmmmmmmm

by Darryl &.
25th April 2011

We found the Blue Elephant from a deals site and we challenge anyone who say this is not the best Thai restaurant in Auckland. That is why we have been back 4 times since December 2010. The food is totally authentic as Sopida can testify since she is Thai. The service is very friendly and efficient. Thanks to Karen, Wayne and Kwang. We really love this place and been telling as many people as possible.

by Tanna
5th March 2011

Wonderful restaurant, a great dine out experience. Place is dimmed with lovely fittings lit by candle lights. It is atmospherically romantic with great service, food was delicious, highly recommend to all! Because of Blue Elephant, I’ve fallen in love with Thai food!

by Damian B.
29th January 2011

Absolutely superb. Each dish was fresh and each had an exquisite characteristic flavour.
better than most Thai restaurants in Auckland, which tend to have a “uniform” taste for every dish.
Definitely going again.

by Justin F.
16th January 2011

Blue Elephant serves up some of the best Thai I’ve ever had. Always fresh ingredients and clean presentation you wont be disappointed here.
If I lived in Parnell I’d be eating here every night

by ralph b.
16th January 2011

we had dinner there for the second time last night,we have eaten at nearly every major thai restaurant in auckland and again it was by far THE BEST and most exquisite meal we have ever had, from entree to desert the meal was faultless, this restaurant has to become the top thai dining experience in auckland.
highly highly recommend

by Carolina T.
11th January 2011

just been there for dinner with my partner and I have to say that is probably the best Thai restaurant we´ve ever been here in Auckland (and we´ve been to a few)

The flavour was just incredible, and the sticky rice!! since we came back from Asia 2 year ago we haven´t been able to find places that serve this kind of northen east Thai style. JUST GREAT!
the service and the atmosphere was fantastic.

Thanks so much for everything! we´ll be coming back certainly!

By the way, the entrance to the restaurant and the portions are huge and well balanced!… maybe the people from the review by Orly was really oversized…;P

by Donna
19th November 2010

Had the best time here. Great service. considering it was really interesting, delicious, freshly cooked food, we were served promptly – arrived 8pm and were waddling out the door by 9.30. The hosts went the extra mile for us. No complaints at all. Excited to hear they are open for lunch too. Even though parking is a challenge in Parnell, we needed the walk!

by Sam
21st October 2010

We dined here on Friday night and the place was packed – maybe the promtional voucher which gave us $50 worth for just $20? Parking was a nightmare but what would one expect in Parnell on a Friday? After several circuits we found a space a short walk away. Ambience was ok, tables very close together meant no privacy of conversation, and I didn’t really like the cheesy piano-by-candlelight music which seemed a bit at odds with Thai decor. The food was fairly standard tasty Thai fare, perhaps could have been hotter, servings were HUGE, and we took away doggie bags willingly offered, and with fresh rice added compliments of the establishment. Service was friendly and professional. Good value, especially with the discount voucher.

by Gregory O.
17th October 2010

My partner and I arrived the restaurant after 9pm since we couldn’t find a parking. Even though we were late for our reservation, the staff(later we realised the lady was the owner “Karen”) was welcomed us -It was a great start. We ordered the whole snapper dish which was moist and tasty -actually the size of the fish was much bigger than we expected so we were struggle to finish it though it was delectable;) Another dish called “Crispy Pork” was just superb!
We thought the way they treated customers was warm and equally friendly to anyone. The ambience was perfect too! Although we’ve been to many Thai restaurants, the experience at the Blue Elephant was so far the best. Definitely we would go back again! Thanks to you all.

by Natalie
14th October 2010

I dined here on the weekend after buying a voucher deal. The service was amazing, Karen and Wayne were great hosts and made us feel extremely welcome. The food was delicious – one of the best Thai restaurants I’ve eaten at in a long time. Will definitely be back!!!!

by Ashley K.
10th October 2010

We first went to Blue Elephant as we had purchased a voucher deal. Our first experience was lovely. We were seated and assisted quickly with very friendly service (possibly one of the owners). Everything from the moment we sat down until the moment we left was absolutely marvelous. The food was by far the best Thai food in Auckland, let alone NZ. Being from the US, we have been looking for an authentic Thai restaurant and are so happy that we finally found it! The food was delicious and the experience was even better. We have since been back and it was yet again wonderful. This is the only Thai restaurant to eat at in Auckland unless you are looking for non-authentic, rush you out the door service. Can’t wait to go back this week!

by Joel
20th August 2010

We regularly go to the Blue Elephant, the food is fresh and delicious, and the service is excellent. Highly recommended!

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