Thai Elephant is a long established Thai restaurant with an equally established reputation for its cuisine.

The Venue
Tucked away on Wakefield Road and close to Richmond station, Thai Elephant’s non-salubrious surroundings - next to a bus stop - could put people off on first glance, but this is only a minor inconvenience. The interior is a mixture of traditional decor with wicker chairs and simple tables. Everything is authentically Thai, from the artwork hanging on the walls to the statues and other decorations. There is a cozy conservatory towards the back of the restaurant which is a pleasant area to relax and unwind.

The Atmosphere
The clientele are locals who have already flocked here in droves and families and couples who live close to the area. There is a buzzy ambiance and with the authentic Thai staff providing friendliness, warmth and courtesy in abundance you are in store for a sumptuous treat.

The Food
This was the first Thai restaurant to be established in Richmond and the food is based around genuine traditional family Thai recipes. Starters include spicy and fresh deep fried fish cakes accompanied by a cucumber salad dressing and crushed peanuts. The crunchy dressing complements the fish very well which is cooked to perfection. There are also crispy and crunchy spring rolls filled with salmon, seaweed and young beanstalk served with a homemade sauce, and the barbecued marinated chicken or beef skewers are sticky and tender. There are also soups and salads on offer including a delicately flavoured, spicy hot and sour king prawn and mushroom soup infused with lemongrass, lime leaves, galangal and fresh chilli. The chilli gives this soup a real extra kick.

Mains feature a wide selection of curries, fish and shellfish and vegetarian options. Try the Pad Khing which is either stir fried chicken or pork with fresh ginger and spring onions. The meat is juicy and tender and the ginger really brings out the flavours and adds an extra depth to the dish. The Ped Makam, which is roasted duck topped with tamarind sauce and vegetables is sublime. The duck is soft and not tough and the tamarind sauce runs into the meat giving it an extra flavour. There are other numerous dishes to try as the list is almost endless. Stir fried mixed seafood with aromatic sauce and Thai herbs, crispy fillet of snapper topped with aromatic red curry sauce and stir fried broccoli with garlic and soya sauce are all highlights. Vegetarian options feature a famous stir fried Thai rice noodles with bean sprouts, spring onion and crushed peanuts, as well as a stir fried bean curd with ginger, spring onions, red and green peppers and black bean sauce which is sweet but goes well with the crunchiness of the peppers.

The Drink
The wine list has been rubber stamped by the owner to reflect his insistence on affordable quality. There is a reasonable choice of popular reds and whites to suit anyone’s tastes and a selection of refreshing teas to quench your thirst.

The Last Word
A big hit time after time, Thai Elephant shows lots of thought and preparation has gone into serving up genuinely excellent Thai food.

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