New Thai Elephant — Restaurant in San Mateo

I usually don’t write reviews based on just one visit—unless the experience is truly disappointing. Unfortunately, that was the case here. I first tried this restaurant through Uber Eats, and I have to say, the food was quite good. That gave me enough reason to visit in person, thinking the dine-in experience would be just as satisfying. It wasn’t. When we arrived, there was a group of four ahead of us, and we waited patiently. After about 15 minutes, they were seated, and we were next in line. However, over the next 45 minutes, we watched multiple groups of two—who arrived after us—get seated ahead of us. I understand that smaller parties are easier to accommodate, so I was willing to let that slide. What crossed the line was when a group of six arrived after we had already been waiting for nearly an hour—and they were seated before us. That’s when I asked a staff member about the wait time, and his response was shockingly dismissive. He asked, “Is your whole party here?”—after we had already been waiting for over an hour. The way the seating was handled felt completely disorganized and unfair. This experience turned what could’ve been a loyal customer into someone who will never return. Good food means little if the service...

We had lunch outside on the road due to covid. It's the trend of most restaurants in San Mateo. The food and service was average. The servers were all trying to keep a distance. We ordered three items: Pad kee mao which is stir fried broad rice noodles with chicken. It had a good taste but the more I ate the saltier it got. Thai red curry with pork. Good taste and it seemed to be the most balanced dish. Mango salad with fried shrimp. It tasted good but again it got saltier and saltier as we ate deeper. This was probably my least favorite mango salad out of all the ones that I've ever tried. So I do not recommend it. It's basically a regular Thai shrimp salad then they top it off with chunks of green mango. It is such a lazy and sloppy way to prepare a mango salad. The mango chunks were big, hard and sour and did not balance with the rest of the ingredients. We were struggling to cut the big chunks. A good mango salad will have the green mango shredded thinly and mixed well with the rest of the ingredients. Amphawa on Geary serves a good mango salad. Unfortunately they failed to deliver that here. Overall...

✨ Absolutely loved our experience at New Thai Elephant! ✨

From the moment we walked in, everything was perfect — the vibe is super cute and welcoming, with a gorgeous flower wall and cozy lighting that makes the space feel warm and lively.

We ordered: 🌴 Pineapple Fried Rice – loaded with flavor and the perfect mix of sweet and savory. 🍜 Pad Thai – classic and SO satisfying with just the right kick. 🔥 Gra Prow Moo Krob – crispy pork stir-fried with Thai chili, basil, and veggies… insanely good! 🧋 And let’s not forget the Thai iced tea topped with the most adorable bear-shaped ice — almost too cute to drink (but we did, and it was amazing)!

The food came out hot, fresh, and beautifully plated. Service was super friendly and attentive without being overbearing. You can really tell the staff cares about the whole dining experience.

We’re already planning our next visit. Highly recommend if you’re craving flavorful Thai food in a fun, photo-worthy...