Smile Elephant Thai Restaurant — Restaurant in North Island

Oh dear, such shame for what was once a great Thai restaurant under previous name. I acknowledge it's hard to get staff at the moment but there's a real need for some serious staff training for those currently employed. Our group of ten arrived at 6.45 and waited waited waited but not even an offer to take any drinks orders, money lost as we didn't bother with drinks once food was ordered. We had to summon a staff member to place food orders, very hard to understand her through a heavy cloth mask, maybe a simple blue one for better audio communication would be less frustrating. Even replenishing of water bottles on the table had to be requested every time, no one was looking and watching for opportunities to be of service. Food was average, my main dish was only just warm but after waiting 40 odd minutes I wasn't going to send it back. It took a long time for used dishes to be removed from the table. then nothing. We had to ask to see Dessert menus then once again nothing, no one came back to take any dessert orders, once again probably over a hundred dollars of lost revenue so we decided to depart. Overall a disappointing visit to this restaurant. I reckon they missed out on well over a hundred dollars of order revenue from drinks and desserts through poor service from untrained staff. Not to mention the fact that repeat business from these 10 people will be very unlikely...

Situated in Petone’s vibrant dining scene, Smile Elephant has earned its reputation as a local favorite, and after a recent visit with friends, it’s easy to see why.

This charming Thai restaurant combines warm, inviting decor—think rich wooden accents and soft lighting—with a menu that balances authenticity and approachability, making it a hit even for those less familiar with Southeast Asian cuisine (like this European-born diner!).

Our group dove into a spread of dishes, and two standouts stole the show: the coconut rice, fragrant and subtly sweet, paired perfectly with every meal, and the crispy deep-fried fish, which arrived golden and tender beneath its crunchy exterior. While I’m no Thai food expert, the bold flavors—tangy, spicy, and aromatic—left no doubt about the kitchen’s skill.

Despite the restaurant buzzing with a Saturday night crowd, the service remained attentive and friendly. Staff happily guided us through the menu and accommodated dietary requests with ease. A quick glance online reveals Smile Elephant’s well-deserved accolades, including nods for “Best Thai in Petone” and a loyal following built over many years.

Whether you’re a Thai cuisine enthusiast or a curious newcomer, Smile Elephant delivers a memorable experience. Don’t skip the coconut rice—and bring friends to...

Dinner for 5 last night. Waited over an hour for our mains. It was busy but an hour is too long. Entrees were money bags and spring rolls. Money bags were the worst we had ever tried anywhere, basically mash potato in pastry. Spring rolls were tiny with almost no filling even the frozen Shore Mariner ones have more filling. Mains were 2 crispy pork stirfry, which were good, Nasi Goreng was tasty but way too oily and red chicken curry which had good flavour but was very runny and had strong smell possibly from the bamboo. The roti was nice but unfortunately needed a bit more cooking time. Our waitress was lovely but she was basically the only one trying to manage a full restaurant. I wanted another drink but couldn't get anyone's attention. We wanted to enquire on eta of our mains but couldn't get anyone's attention. Place was dated, carpet had several holes in places where furniture had been moved however bathrooms were clean which was good. Will we come back? No. There are so many better options out there for your money....