Blue Elephant Restaurant — Restaurant in Wilbraham

My first time: I stopped by for a quick lunch, craving some authentic Thai food. Since moving here from Jupiter, Florida, I’ve been on the hunt for the go-to Thai spot in the Springfield area. After trying three nearby places and coming up short, I wasn’t getting my hopes up. Still, I ordered my usual three dishes, curious but cautious.

The first thing I noticed was the warmth of the staff. Every single person greeted me with a genuine smile, and I instantly knew this place understood the value of building real connections with their customers. To my surprise, each staff member introduced themselves—including the owner—and they all took the time to chat with me. It felt less like a restaurant and more like being welcomed into someone’s home.

I started with a Thai iced tea. Served in a mason jar, it had that charming, rustic feel—simple, down-to-earth. The tea was perfectly refreshing with just the right amount of sweetness.

Next, Noi brought out my Tom Yum Seafood Soup. Let me preface this by saying: years ago, when I was living in South Korea, my friends and I would fly to Thailand every other week. The flavors and soul of Thailand became a part of me—and I hadn’t tasted anything that truly captured it since.

Then, I took a spoonful of this soup. Finally. The authentic, homemade flavor I’d been missing for years was back. No powders, no shortcuts—just pure, rich, soulful broth. If you know, you know. I closed my eyes and thought, this is wonderful.

By the time my Penang Curry Crispy Duck arrived, my stomach was already growling with anticipation. The duck was moist, succulent, and cooked to perfection. Every bite was rich and flavorful—exactly what I needed to satisfy both my hunger and my soul.

At last, I’ve found truly fantastic Thai cuisine. I can’t wait to come back.

My 2nd Time:

The first time I dined at Blue Elephant was on a Tuesday lunch break. I figured it’d be the perfect spot to grab a nice bite before heading back to work. Fast forward to a rainy Saturday evening, and I thought maybe the crowd wouldn’t be too bad. Wishful thinking! I was craving good Thai food, so I decided to give it a go. We arrived just before 6 p.m., and to my surprise, it was standing room only. The staff greeted me with familiar smiles, and a waitress asked if I had reservations. I laughed and said, “Oops!” She chuckled and seated us within two minutes. We all looked at each other in awe. “No worries,” she said, “you’ll be just fine.”

The restaurant was buzzing with activity. The first thing I noticed was that it was the perfect time to see how the food and service would hold up under pressure. After placing our order with Mina, I realized I was witnessing what could only be described as organized chaos— the place was packed, yet the staff kept smiling and delivering top-notch service. We ordered a variety of dishes: chicken coconut soup, shrimp Tom Yum soup, crispy duck with Penang curry (my favorite), crab rangoons, shrimp pad Thai, an appetizer sampler, basil fried rice, and Thai tea.

Each dish was fantastic, and Mina, our waitress, was amazing. I wasn’t the least bit surprised. Since moving here from Florida, Blue Elephant has quickly become my favorite place to indulge my cravings. You know that feeling when you take a bite of something truly delicious, and your eyes close in pure joy? That was me on this rainy...

We've been to this restaurant a couple of times previously, and we were always happy with the food and service. Unfortunately, tonight we did not have a good experience.

I called several hours ahead of time to make a reservation for 4 people, and I requested a specific semi-circular table in the back on the left side. No problem! However, when the 4 of us arrived, there was already a party of 4 sitting at that table. We were taken to a different table, a smaller square table in the middle of the room. I told the waitress that I had reserved the semi-circular table, but she said "they are already sitting there." When I noticed another, larger semi-circular table on the other side of the room that was empty, I asked if we could sit there. "No," I was told. "That table is for 6." OK, so we sat down at the smaller table where she insisted we sit.

We ordered soup and our entrees, and the waitress asked if we wanted all of the food to be brought out at the same time. We said "no," that we wanted the soup first and main courses afterwards. Our soup arrived at the same time, and was delicious. After we finished, two of our main courses were brought out together. We waited patiently for the other two people in our group to be served before starting to eat. After 10 minutes, our entrees were getting cold, and we asked what happened to the other 2 entrees. We were told that there was a mix-up, and that the other orders had just been placed. So the two of us who had food decided not to wait any longer, and we ate our food. The yellow curry with chicken was mediocre. Lots of sauce, very few thin slivers of chicken, and not many vegetables. Very unsatisfying. Needless to say, we were finished before the other 2 people in our party were served their main courses. The staff did not apologize or offer to give us a free dessert or to take something off the bill, which is what other restaurants have done when mix-ups have occurred. Oh, and by the way, the larger semi-circular table where they did not want us to sit remained empty for the entire time...

I recently dined at the Blue Elephant Thai Restaurant in Springfield, and I was pleasantly surprised by both the ambiance and the food. Upon walking in, you’re greeted by a modern, inviting setting with a central island bar that seats 15. Despite having just a couple of patrons at the bar during my visit, the space felt comfortable and welcoming. The elephant-themed decor adds a unique charm to the environment, while booths for up to six people—including a few cozy corner booths—offer comfortable seating options for families or small groups.

The staff was consistently friendly and attentive, regardless of whether they were my server or simply walking by. The restaurant had a steady flow of takeout orders, which kept the atmosphere lively without feeling distracting. Even small details, like offering towels to dry your hands in the bathroom, added a nice touch.

For my meal, I ordered the minced pork with Thai basil, which was delicious. The pork was flavorful, with just the right amount of spice, complemented by fragrant Thai basil. The dish was accompanied by a perfectly fried egg on top of jasmine rice, adding a richness that balanced the savory pork beautifully. The plate was thoughtfully presented, complete with cucumber slices that provided a fresh contrast to the dish’s bold flavors.

Before my main dish, I started with spring rolls, which were crisp and served with a tasty dipping sauce, making for a great appetizer. To finish, I had Thai custard, which was light, creamy, and served with a generous dollop of whipped cream. Both the appetizer and dessert were attractively plated with orchid flowers, adding an elegant touch to the overall dining experience.

The Blue Elephant Thai Restaurant delivered an excellent experience, with a warm atmosphere, attentive service, and delicious food that I would highly recommend for anyone looking to enjoy authentic Thai cuisine in...