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We haven't had a family dinner since the beginning of the year so we decided to visit Red Elephant for some delicious Thai cuisine. Having been to Thailand, the food tasted really authentic but not cheap for the quantity given. This is because Red Elephant focusses more on the quality and service, which I'm more than happy to pay for. Some other plus includes free parking and it's very accessible if you're travelling towards the Northern Motorway.
Between the four of us (we all ate our body weight in food), we got the B1 tom yam goong, C9 the flaming chicken, D1 red duck curry, D7 lamb massaman curry, F1 seasonal vegetables with oyster sauce and H5 pad thai. Along with the feast, we also had the jasmine rice.
I had a spoonful of my dad's tom yam goong and the flavour was spot on. Super strong in shrimp flavour but not cheap ($16.5 for a small bowl for 1 person). The flaming chicken was my brother's favourite dish, the skin was crispy even though it was baked and the sweet barbeque flavour was marinated throughout the chicken, even straight to the bones. For $39, I'd say this dish was definitely worth the money. Between the two curries, I prefer the red duck curry because it was more flavourful but the potatoes in the lamb massaman melted in my mouth, both curries were a bit sweet and the portions were a bit small so order 1 curry per person or share between two if you're getting other dishes. The seasonal vegetables weren't too impressive relative to the other dishes but still tasted good. Lastly, the pad thai was a simple but a must get dish when dining here. The jasmine rice was provided by the waitresses occasionally coming over to your table asking if you want more rice, preventing wastage so I respect this policy.
5/5 for the Red Elephant, I definitely recommend this restaurant and it's got me hooked onto Thai food!
First time visitor and was blown away by the service and quality of food. Would highly recommend this restaurant! Will be visiting them again!!
Nice Thai restaurant in town. Food is awesome. Service is very quick and professional. Definitelt would love to visit again on some special occasions since the price is pretty premium :)
I dined here for a work dinner with my team. The interior is very relaxing with classic music playing and the service is immaculate - our water glasses were constantly filled up and we felt doted on by the staff, who were dressed in traditional Thai attire. I ordered a Tom Kha soup as an entree and a Peanut Stirfry for dinner, both were delicious. The highlight was when the table were given warm, wet flannels at the end of dinner to clean up - they smelt of jasmine!!! Prices are a bit high but you do pay for the service and experience provided here. I would love to come back.
Must try the flaming chicken which is their signature menu. While chicken literally comes out on flame. It doesn’t taste anything special, but you can taste the fire 🔥 which makes it special.
Super super hearty meal which we really enjoyed ☺️☺️
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My favorite Thai restaurant in Auckland.
Sophisticated interior with spacious seatings. Well presented staff with excellent hospitality. A great place for a formal dining.
Their menu offers an excellent variety of authentic and traditional Thai food.
Ordered the raw prawns, flaming chicken, duck curry and finished off with a coconut milk ice cream.
The tiger prawns can be a little spicy but are extremely fresh with an excellent taste and texture.
The duck is tender and moist, absorbing the full flavors of the yellow curry.
The flaming chicken is their signature dish, the meat is tender even around the breast areas. The chicken skin is excellently flavored with fire flames to impress your audiences.
The coconut ice cream is rich and milky, but the styling of the dessert could be improved.
All the dishes are beautifully presented and well portions. Hot towels are served at the beginning of the meal.
Highly recommended.
Food: 10/10
Food presentation: 9/10
Service: 10/10
Ambience: 10/10
Value for money: 9.5
Price $50 per person (excl alcohol)
Great ambience and service. Variety of options on the menu and the lighting is just perfect. Tried the vegeterian pad Thai and it tasted nice and the portion was quite generous for the price.
Great Ambiance and very quick service. Tried Pad Prig Sod with Chicken meat and a glass of Chardonnay. Delicious food, good quantity and overall a top notch experience.
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Well, first off, I don't give 5's as nothing is perfect, but I wish there was the option for a 4.5. This really was a great experience.
The only reason for not giving a 5 is because the washrooms were a little 'tired' and the chicken in our meals was a little overcooked, but those were the only negatives. Please read on.
Monday night, quiet, only a few staff, but wow!! Terrific service which given the quietness was to be expected but....it was done with warm smiles, no pressure on us to order, and really generating a feeling of their enjoying serving us. Wonderful. 10/10
We shared the mixed appetiser which was excellent except it is only for one person; we should have had one each. Our fault but perhaps the waitress could have mentioned that; no problem though.
My friend had the Pad Thai which was good and generous in portion. I had 'C3' ...a blend of chicken, cashew nuts, onion, capsicums, mushrooms in a light oyster sauce encapsulated in a large cabbage leaf. It was awesome. Yes, chicken a fraction overcooked, but the flavours were dynamic and ingredients complimentary. Again, a large portion,the remains of which will be part of my dinner tonight.
I generally avoid Thai restaurants having been to Thailand and most of the restaurants in Auckland offer the same boring fare; been to one and you've been to them all. NOT Red Elephant. You will see dishes to suit every palate and dishes you won't see anywhere else that I know.
No desserts as we were very full.
There is reasonable on site parking (yes, in Newmarket !!!).
I highly recommend this restaurant and I (we) will most certainly be going back.
PS And loved the background music they were playing.....form Whitney Houston to Gilbert O'Sullivan !!! :-)
This is absolutely the best place for Thai Cuisine.
The service is lovely, the owner is so welcoming and takes care of all your needs and the food just delicious.
The ambience is warm and prices are good for the value, quantity and quality you get.
Beautiful restaurant environment and great customer service. First time dining here but definitely not the last. Every bite of food was filled with so much flavour! Great food!
Prices little towards the higher side but good food & service. Lovely ambience. One of the better Thai joints in the area. Highly recommended
Have been to this restaurant a few times with work colleagues and it has never disappointed. The dishes all come in portions to share and the lovely waitresses spoon rice onto your place if you request for it. All the dishes I had were delicious - they even brought out a whole chicken that was on fire! The waitresses are prompt and attentive, and the ambience is formal and fancy. Its quite pricey and is better in groups - but other than that, a pleasant dining experience.
Great place. Good service and the food was on point. Asked our waitress for a few recommendations and she couldn't have had it any more perfect.
Overall a good place with good food and good service. Highly recommend.
Nice atmosphere, spacious and fancy interiors, pretty decent foods cooked from fresh ingredients but meats were lack in marinate.
Authentic Thai cuisine perfect for dating, business meeting and for families.
You can't miss the iconic red elephant statue situated at the front of the restaurant. From the outside it looks more like a business building than a restaurant.
The interior still gives of a business feel probably due the the blinds. The feel of the restaurant is fancy and the service is slick.
The food is good. The deep fried appetizers were crisp and crunchy. The Thai fish cakes were delicious and the desserts were nicely presented. Portion sizes were a tad small for the price you pay.
Not the biggest fan of Thai food, but I did end up liking the food. Service was good, but got annoyed by the fact the waitress kept topping up the water all the time!
I always see the red elephant statue outside this restaurant when I drive along khyber pass and thought to give it a try! Absolutely no regrets.
We were a bit late for a reservation but were greeted with friendly service as we arrived. The wonderful service continued throughout the night, every staff member was super nice!
The food was also very delicious, we ordered the satay chicken, Tom yum soup, chicken green curry and beef stir fry. Good portions too, we couldn’t finish the food.
Food was nice and bit expensive and also they should not charge extra for the rice. And should update their menu and add satay Chicken as a main. .
Cannot thank Abdul and his team enough for the great service, food and night! I had an event at Red Elephant last week for around 40 guests and each one couldn't stop complimenting on how beautiful the food was, the setting and environment of the restaurant, and how well placed the restaurant is in Auckland city. I'm usually one to check on guests and make sure orders are right for family events but Abdul and the team at Red Elephant took all the stress off of my shoulders, told me to relax and enjoy the night, such a well organised team. I sure did enjoy my night ☺. We had banquet 1 for dinner and all dishes were brought out quickly and guests left feeling full! The appetizers, green curry, snapper and dessert were a hit with my family 👌 I know a few of my guests will be back again and I know I will be as well 😊. Thank you again Abdul and team, blessings and well wishes to you all
First impression - Bad! Had a bad experience with the owner Abdul.
Second impression - Great! The food is the best Thai in Auckland hands down! The ambience is fantastic and the service is also surprising really good. I guess Abdul is delightful as long as you are a paying customer.
No place like this for Thai if you want the best there is.
A very tasty meal experience. Generous portions which makes the price seem reasonable. Dishes here range from $15 to $40. Rice is per head, so if you love Rice, this is good. The only gripe is the bowl of tom yum soup is meager for $15.50. I would return to try their steamed fish with ginger, garlic, chilli and lime.
Delicious! Went and had a fantastic meal with family. Loved every part. The staff were welcoming, food spicy but just right and lots of great options. Would recommend to anyone.
Great service, tasty food, good vibe and good location. Food portion is big and well worth it. Great for work Christmas dinner and other occasions.
Red Elephant is an amazing, fancy restaurant to dine at for a special occasion or in a group. Although quite expensive, it is up there in the best Thai food I've ever had. I just find that the staff display more of a 'know it all' kind of attitude and could be a little friendlier/warm when providing recommendations.
Good parking - good service - good ambience - smells great - yummy food. A must visit for authentic Thai cuisine. To top it off very very fast service and the hot towels in the end is awesome.
Went there with a group of 5 last night. I must say its an amazing place !! Very accommodating for when we booked for 8 and only ended up with 5. Fantastic ambience, the staff are super great, and the food is just amazing !! Quick and Friendly service. The owner himself came to check how the food was, don’t get that personal connection nowadays at restaurant like this. Looked after all 5 of us, with offering to make something special for those who do not drink alcohol. Would highly recommend Red Elephant, Newmarket to anyone who’s interested in dining it and not being disappointed ! Guaranteed Happy Face and Happy Stomach.
This place has the best authentic curries. They were definitely worth the price.I loved the elegant and sophisticated atmosphere. Service was quick and very good, despite having many customers to serve. Looking forward to my next visit so I can try more dishes.
What a fabulous restaurant,
Amazing attentive service, lovely ambience and decor, was freezing outside but restaurant was comfortably warm.
Food was delicious, all three courses very generous servings, would highly recommend this restaurant, for Thai specific food or a fantastic night out .
10/10
been here 3 times over the years/ one of the best thai places i ever eaten at. i have been to thailand and the taste is similiar but actually the ingredients are higher quality in new zealand, as we are lucky. fave items are all the curries, the flaming chicken is good but a bit of a small bird you know, I eat 3 by myself. Limited dessert offering, the ice cream might be tip-top brand, but you know thai cuisine is not known for artisanal desserts.
Would give this restaurant a 10 if option was there. Came here tonight with my husband and our couple friend as a date night. Oh my word we ordered the Menu 1 banquet, entrees flavoursome, mains spectacular especially Snapper with chilli, dessert was best ever banana fritter with coconut and marshmallow ice cream WOW!!! Best dessert. Also I asked for a cosmopolitan cocktail which wasnt one drinks list and they made a perfect one. Service was magnificent.Look forward to coming back.
Very well presented dishes are served with rice potions as much needed.
Not sure about authentic thai food.... This is one of the best options I prefer for thai curry.
Good amount of both veg and non-veg options.
Deep fried ice cream is nice dessert to enjoy.
The Red Elephant has a great ambience.
The restaurant caters for large groups. It's my family's go-to for birthdays and occassions.
I ordered the Pad Bai Ka Pao Jay. The dish was vibrant with a variety of vegetables with a delicious sauce. It's something different than your typical vegetarian Thai dish. I highly recommend it if you're sick of Pad Thai. From the other dishes we ordered my family enjoyed the Yam Chang Dang (spicy beef salad) and Pla Neung See-Iew (whole fried snapper)
The food comes out fast. But the staff are very abrupt, not checking up on the table for extra water, rice serving, or extra bowls or forks for the children.
Celebrated sis' birthday here.
The service was great from start to finish as the rice and water refill were consistent. The environment was traditional in a sense as you get to experience a little of the Thai culture with dim lighting. We ordered a seafood soup, green curry, pad thai, and flaming chicken. The pad thai and flaming chicken were the favourites of the night as the pad thai had a good balance between sweet and sour which I am a sucker for. The flaming chicken amazed my sister because it was literally a 'flaming chicken' dish. The whole chicken was fully on fire when it came out but as soon as it sets on the table it dies quickly. The chicken tasted exactly how a traditional roasted chicken should taste with a little sweetness. The portions for each dish aren't small as well. $70 for two is ideal.
Taste - 8.5/10
Quality - 8/10
Size - 8/10
Service - 8/10
Price - 8/10
Epic food, epic service that makes you feel special. Abdul and his team do the business every time. Very attentive and happy to tweak the menu to your needs.
I came here a while ago but all the times that I have come to eat, I was always impressed by the food I was served. My partner and I came here for dinner one night and we had ordered and entree and two mains. The entree was 'Kra Tong Thong' which was so delicious that we just wanted more. The minced chicken and shrimp was so delicious and full of flavour and the shell it was in was so crispy!
Mains we ordered 'Gai Ob Pu Kao Fai' which was a whole baked chicken that came out on fire. It was amazing and got everyone's attention, but to top it off, it tasted sooo good. So moist and delicious I loved every bit. We also ordered the 'Hoy Shell Pad Prik' which was sautéed scallops. It was quite delicious but not as great as the chicken dish.
The service here was amazing and so was the atmosphere. The place looks amazing and it's a place I recommend others to eat.
Over the food was (4.5/5), Service (4/5), Ambience (4/5).
If I ever have to recommend a Thai restaurant to anyone , this place would be it. I've been coming to this restaurant for almost over 5 years now, and have celebrated numerous birthdays and events here. The staff here are absolutely lovely- they remember my order off by heart haha . I ALWAYS order C2 beef .. absolutely amazing .. and their sweet and sour fried snapper is just wow .. for their desserts .. I highly recommend the Bella cassata ice cream . The restaurant is also classy and beautiful .. will definitely be back again soon xx 😘
This place us mint. Had a whole snapper and it was delish!! Very good food, popular place as it was packed out on a Saturday night. Parking a little small but ok. Would def come back to this place
I had a gluten-free pad thai dish at Red Elephant the first time I went. It was delicious, but the noodles were a little stiff. I really enjoyed the spring onions and seasoning. The waitress was very attentive and came by just when we emptied our glasses of water or finished our rice. However, it did not feel like people were hovering over you. They came by at the right time. I will be coming again.
Thai food at its best!
Red Elephant offers you healthy, clean and a very Thai like experience.
The food here is expensive ( almost 3 times as compared to any other Thai place ) but the experience stays as a memory. Staff members are friendly, courteous and the service is super quick.
You've got to try the Turkey on Fire here!
I'll come back here soon.
My friends and I have a great night at red elephant. We order the whole chicken,raw Prawn, beef and green curry wiz chicken. We love the whole chicken with fired! But it actually taste really rich and soft.
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Saturday night, a busy day doing shopping and we were quite tired. We were a bit hungry but we didn't want to dress up and go out for a fancy dinner.
We already knew this place from Christchurch but we have never tried here in Auckland.
We arrived around 19:30 and were welcome by a very nice and big guy we believed was the manager. When we arrived the place was not empty but was not busy as well. The seated on the sofa just right on the corner where we could have some space and we thought it would be a bit quieter.
We had some small bites such as chicken tights, money bags, vegetarian pad thai, juice cocktail and the famous fried ice cream. All food was very tasteful, money bags was amazing and the pad thai was also great. The fried was cream was quite good but I particularly didn't like the ice cream. Kapiti set the bar really high to me and now I just can't accept anything lower than that, just my opinion :)
The place is quite spacious, comfortable and the services were very good, very attentive, patient and efficient. people.
We are definitely getting back more often and we would like to recommend this place if you are into Thai food or are just looking for something new.
Very nice clean healthy Thai food a cut above most others.
The dishes are almost twice the price of most Thai restaurants but worth it in our opinion.
Probably the most fancy Thai place around and great for a special night out.
My only advice is the management could encourage the staff to smile a bit. It was a bit busy but a smile can really make the world of difference! S M I L E :-)
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I've dined here a few times now and always enjoy the food and ambience. The location is quite random and from outside it doesn't look like much, but on the inside its really nice, feels like an international, fancy, hotel-restaurant. Staff are extremely warm, friendly and accomodating too.
We ordered the pad thai, yellow curry and curry puffs to share. I liked the pad thai but to be honest I've had better at cheaper prices. However the yellow curry was amazing!! Loved the kumara in it, plus it wasn't too sweet like some places do, the texture and consistency of the curry was perfect! Curry puffs were great too, but I tend to find they taste good at every other Thai establishment. I've also tried the deep fried ice cream which was really good.
Overall their service is just top notch!! I do think the food is a little over priced but the quality makes up for it. They also give you hot towels at the end of your meal which is a nice touch.
Would love to try some of their signature dishes like the whole snapper and whole flaming chicken, hopefully next time!
Good food and good service however the staff dont seem like they know what the menu is about. I always ask for a plate that doesn't have vegetables as I don't like vegetables however whatever they recommend ends up having vegetables. Setting is great. Nice and big restaurant.
The best Thai place that i have ever been. The curries are really awesome and the ambiance is very pleasant. The waitresses here are very warm and the hospitality is outstanding !
Bloody delicious i tell ya
The trade mark elephant at the front, even better now wearing an All Black jersey. What's not too like. Great food, great service, great place. But comes at a price. Nice to go here for a special occasion.
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So I was looking to dine at a restaurant to celebrate my birthday last night. That's when I remembered Red Elephant which a friend had mentioned long time ago. Upon reading all the lovely reviews here on zomato I made up my mind and landed there last night.
And I was impressed from the very first step I took into the restaurant. The hostess serving us, Nan, showed concern of we parked in the right place and found parking.
Nan was so patient while we placed our order and happily participated in giving suggestions. We ordered the Curry Puffs for appetisers that were yummy. For mains we ordered a chicken suggested by Nan, Pad Bai Ka Pau which was medium spicy and delicious. We also ordered the famous snapper in lemon and ginger, which justified all the reviews I had read. There were no mocktails on the menu, however upon inquiring Nan offered to make a special mocktail for us which was a lovely pink and tasted amazing. We were well looked after by all the hostesses, rice kept constantly pouring in. The best part of the evening was a surprise dessert topped with a candle to celebrate my birthday which was on the house. It made my day! A special thumbs up to Nan.
A perfect place for celebrations, proposals, dates where you want to be felt special.
I have been here a few times and I am consistently satisfied. The dishes came out relatively quick and they were all so tasty! Definitely would recommend!
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We enjoyed an absolutely 5 star evening here yesterday for my birthday, opting to go with the set banquet menu. Our waitress was lovely and friendly. The atmosphere was perfect...the right about of conversational buzz, lighting and the setup was very well done. The tables are also really well sized and we had more than enough space to eat without bumping each other's arms and the food and plates all fit just perfectly in the middle. Each of us were sitting at least an arms length away from each other so was very comfortable.
Now the important part! The food...
The entree was delicious. I have to say I am hands down a fan of their curry puffs. It was divine. The mains had beef, sweet and sour chicken, green curry chicken, crispy snapper with chilli sauce and a pork dish which I didn't eat because I don't eat pork.
All the mains I had were delicious and the green curry was definitely the best I have ever had. My favourite had to be the fish and the sweet and sour chicken.
Dessert was okay. The ice cream was lovely but I didn't care much for the banana fritter... I just don't think it's something I like for me but someone else could love them.
Nevertheless, our water glasses were kept full, the offerings of hot steamed rice kept coming whenever you were just about to finish and so you know the staff are attentive and doing their best to keep everyone happy.
The is certainly a fancy little spot and Thai food at its best. Highly recommend you try it out for yourself because you definitely won't be disappointed. Brace yourself for an awesome fine dining experience in Aucklands best Thai restaurant (yep. That's my official opinion).
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Been wanting to try out this place for a while now. Heard great things about this place. The decor and feel of this restaurant is very nice and warm. The service here is excellent.
Ordered "tod mun pla" which is the fish cakes served with cucumber. To be honest, I was not expecting them to be this small. Didn't taste that great to be at that price. Totally not worth $12.50. the "kaeng ped yang" which is the red curry of roasted duck served with greens. $3 for rice but it's "all you can eat" for that price. The curry itself was good but nothing special or different to most of the Thai restaurants out there.
My friend had ordered the "Gai ob pu kao fai" which was the sizzling platter of baked whole chicken marinated in Thai herbs -flambéed with brandy. We could see that this was a popular dish as nearly every single table had ordered it and was all amazed and in awe of the presentation of it. The chicken was juicy and succulent. Not dry and chewy. Tasted good but once again, nothing out of the ordinary.
Overall, would probably only come back for a special occasion. Pricing is definitely over priced in my opinion.
YUM! great service great food, smells delicious as soon as you walk in the door. A very fancy Flaming Chicken seemed quite popular. A very great Thai Place indeed
Have been here a couple of times. Perfect choice for Thai food in Auckland. Super courteous service and some amazing and authentic Thai food. Very appealing ambience with red decor theme. Would highly recommend it for vegans, meat lovers and who dig sea food.
Great atmosphere, staff were friendly. It took a while for the food to come out as the were busy and had a large table to serve so it was very understandable. Food was great, all my companions really enjoyed it.
Red Elephant is one of my go to Thai restaurants. I have been here about three times, and the ambience is lovely. Perfect for a date night!
Every time we have come here, we have ordered the flaming chicken dish. The chicken comes out on fire and it's such a joy to watch! The chicken is tender as well, it's not dry at all and it tastes delicious. We've also gotten the sizzling beef platter, marinated with Thai spices which is delicious as well and comes out smelling so good! The whole crispy snapper with chili sauce is another one of our favourite dishes as well. So so good.
We have also tried a few appetizers dining here. The tom yam gong is my favourite, I love a good Tom yum!
The service here is great as well. The wait staff are attentive and come by filling up your water and topping up your rice if needed, but they're not annoying!
Absolutely love this place and I will keep coming back!
Amazing food and staff we had the banquet room for a good friends birthday and every single one of our dietary requirements were met. Thank you for a wonderful and memorable night
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This has been my favourite place for Thai food for almost 10 years now, all the way back when the elephant was gold. What I like about this place is that unlike most Thai food in NZ, their sides are not sickly sweet and peanut butter is not used to replace all the traditional flavours of spices and coconut in Thai cuisine. Pad Thai is of course a must, and likewise any of their curries - which actually taste like what they're suppose to be, not like it's all poured from the same pot and coloured differently. If you have enough people, the infamous flaming chicken is to die for, and big far my favourite dish. It's comes out, literally flaming and the herbs and spices marinade on it is divine, I could eat the whole thing myself!
Had also waited years till I was old enough to drink the pina colada, which was no disappointment, great subtle coconut taste.
The service is great, maybe due to being regulars for such a long time. The place has a classy romantic atmosphere, really awesome place to dine.
I'm not sure who this place is owned by but from what I saw of the staff it may be Indian people, which is really surprising for a Thai place! Prices are a little high I think but also i had some of the best pad Thai I've had in Auckland so there you go!
Walked in to a beautiful setting: red and black decor, white table linen, clean, tidy .. a visual pleasure.
Service: Perfection
Food: Another visual pleasure.. and tastes sensational! This is now on my Favourite Restaurant list and I look forward to the next time. Thank you, Red Elephant :)
Good was bloody fantastic. I went here previous to the update when it was called golden elephant a few years ago and food hasn't changed. I had the sizzling beef steak, green curry, and the Thai salad.
The rice was fluffy and was nice and hot when it was scooped know my plate. The customers service was 10/10 with my water cup constantly being full as well as my plate full of rice. I took the green curry away for leftovers and even after reheating it, it taste just like it came straight out of the kitchen. The steak was juicy and tender and just writing about it makes my mouth water.
-If I were to recommend anything for date night or for a fancy night. I would recommend this place and to order the sizzling chicken as it is quite a spectacle to see.
Dined here for my birthday last month, when I booked I didn't realise that this place is like a fine dining restaurant.
The night we went (Monday) the restaurant was very quiet. The service was faultless. Very attentive but not annoying and over bearing.
We ordered Red Duck Curry, Chu Chee prawn curry, Chicken Cashew nut and Pad Thai.
Everything was delicious! The Pad Thai was incredible. Portions were a good size. A bit pricey but I think it was reasonable considering it was a bit more upmarket.
A nice place to go if you are looking for a fancier thai place.
Forget the neighbourhood Thai restaurant that made you think you know Thai - Red Elephant is one of the finest Thai eateries in Auckland, and has been for years now. First impression: pride. Everything this restaurant does exudes the pride the staff carry - service is impeccable and polite, and this is all before taking your first bite.Presentation of the dishes are excellent - even plain rice is served up as a 'main'. We ordered multiple curries, and they are fantastic; you can taste the distinct flavours in each variation, which is more than can be said for some Thai eateries out there.Mightily impressed with the Red Elephant - such an upmarket Thai restaurant that's survived all these years maintaining the great quality of good.
This is the first time I've eaten here. I have driven past this place many times and often wondered where and how to get in. Finally decided to try Red Elephant with our friends visiting from Oz. The place looks nice and clean. There is a cozy sitting area while waiting for our able. The service was good and the staff were fast on their feet. We ordered the steamed snapper, sizzling chicken, pad thai, and the beef curry. Good flavours but a bit too spicy on the steamed snapper. It was good that the service staff were always filling our glasses with cold water, really helped cool down the palate. Dessert was average. The experience was good overall but I am not really planning to make this place a regular destination.
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There’s a reason the Red Elephant is considered an institution when it comes to Thai food in Auckland. Located, isolated on Khyber Pass in Newmarket, look for the giant Red Elephant past the motorway entrance.
The first thing you notice when you enter is how attentive the staff is. You are quickly and politely greeted and seated. The waitresses are dressed immaculately. The overall ambience and service is great. It’s classy without being overly extravagant.
Now onto the food – there is a lot to talk about, because we ordered a lot. For starters, we ordered the Curry Puffs, Chicken Satay, Peppered Prawns and Corn Shells. The Curry Puffs were excellent. The Chicken Satay was delicious too (props to them for the sauce, which is some of the best I have ever had). I was a little bit disappointed by the Peppered Prawns, because there were only 3 in a platter. And the Corn Shells were quite average.
For mains we ordered the Green Curry Chicken, the Panaeng Curry Prawns, the Pad Thai and the Fried Snapper. The Snapper was pretty good. And I preferred the Red “Panaeng” Curry to the Green Curry. But the Pad Thai was my favourite. Overall, the mains were both spicy and satisfying. Of course, to handle all the spice, you need water. Thankfully, the waitresses were super attentive – I don’t think my glass of water was ever empty.
For dessert, we went for the obvious (and exotic) choice. Apart from a select few interesting items, the rest of their dessert menu was quite western – think chocolate mousse and ice cream. So for dessert we decided to go with the Khao Mao – fried banana fritters served with ice cream and fruits. This was simply delightful, and is a reason in and of itself to pay a visit to the Red Elephant.
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The back story: Everyone knows the red elephant. Or if they don't - it's probably because they haven't figured out who the big red elephant belongs to. Proudly perched on the corner of the Khyber Pass motorway onramp is a big elephant statue. Formerly a gold elephant when it was ChangTong - it is now the proud red elephant of Red Elephant Thai restaurant. You can't miss it.
Setting: As proud as the elephant that stands on the corner, and as customer focused as the elephant is in reflecting the voice of the consumer (the elephant was painted with an All Blacks fern n colours during the World Cup) the setting is warm and inviting. Stepping through the main doors, you are immediately surrounded by gold and red modern Thai decor. The place oozes elegance, something that sets itself apart from its other Thai restaurant colleagues. Mirrors line one side of the wall turning into a modern bar on the corner. Gold statues are strategically placed in alcoves in the walls. It is a place of upmarket Thai elegance. The free parking on site with staff there to guide your parking and ensure security of your car while you dine is an added extra for customers to enjoy a fine night out. The customer is certainly the focus here.
Food: The food menu reflects the elegance of the modern thai. Food here is beautifully presented on flawless white ceramic plates; curries are served warm in a metal bowl kept warm with a candle fire underneath; their flaming beef and chicken dishes - which I have been unable to find elsewhere in other Thai restaurants - are flambeed in front of your eyes - brought flaming to your table. It is a culinary delight and quite a dining experience. I start with an entree of the chicken and prawn crispy shells - a personal favorite. Fresh chicken and prawn pieces in a broth sauce are presented in crispy pastry shells. A burst of flavour meets your tongue accentuated by the crispy texture of the shell. Next follows the mains. Prices are set higher than your local Thai place (mains mid 20s up to $34 for the flaming chicken) but reflect the freshness of the ingredients used - with the seafood being bought each day fresh. We order the classic - the flaming chicken - a whole roast chicken on a sizzling plate flambeed with brandy and brought flaming to the table. Definitely a feast for the eyes...and a great thing to show off to international guests. The pad thai is another favourite - al dente rice noodles with prawn and chicken - with just enough sauce and flavouring to coat each noodle strand. Other dishes pictured here include the sweet and sour snapper - a crunchy whole fresh snapper - with its meat carefully filleted, fried and artfully presented back on the fish; the red duck curry with flavoursome meaty duck pieces; and the vegetables with fish balls. It also offers a selection of desserts - a personal favorite being the deep fried bananas with coconut ice cream - crunchy sweet bananas with a creamy inner texture served hot with authentic coconut ice cream. Mmm.
Occasion: special evening out both for intimate dining and for large groups; caters well for functions too. Have had this as a conference dinner venue and birthday party venue both successfully.
Revisit potential : 10/10
Always a fanastic experience. The service and ambience is very lively and full of colour. The famous flaming chicken is delicious and the curries are also very authentic and full of flavour. Love it here.
This is the best Thai I have tried in New Zealand. The food the service and the friendly atmosphere is just fantastic. Food envy is at large in this place just when you think you have chosen they bring out the flaming whole chicken wow! Everything is good about this place. Off the beaten track but worth a visit.
Calamari salad was amazzzzziiinnnggg!!! fav meal atm and i loved it. service was great too, the lady who served our table knew the menu well and made sure i knew that it was a "thai" salad and not an ordinary one. we were a big group and everyone got their meals om time and at the same time!
I was most impressed with the service and quality of the meals we ordered. I requested a dish that was not on the menu and they were more than accommodating. The food was delicious and the presentation of all meals was equally as pleasing. I highly recommend this restaurant to those who want to experience some of the best Thai dishes available in Auckland. The only thing I could mark them down for was there is no BYO, but hardly an issue as they have a great selection of wine.
Went there with a friend on Saturday night. We were served by very friendly staff who checked on us from time to time，so happy with their service...When it comes to food，honestly，I'm not impressed. We had green curry，crispy snapper and sth else which I couldn't remember. Tastes a bit average，price was reasonable though.
Simply amazing :) best thai restaurant in town. Love the service with very elligent n beautiful decore where anyone would love to spend time.
Took a party of five for dinner at Red Elephant on 21-2-15. Service, cuisine, ambience, and decor were uniformly excellent, if there was a rating higher than 5 stars I would use it :-)
07 Feb 15 dinner for 2 was great! got the mixed entrée + flaming chicken + pad thai + pinacolada + Singapore sling + mixed traditional desert! and everything was perfect! and the service was great every time my water went low they instantly topped it up haha felt like a royal highness :) I'd give it a gr8 rating specially because parking was so easy to find aswell :)
4 of us dined at the Red Elephant for the first time on 23.10.2014 and found it really lived up to its great reputation. Parking was easy in their covered carpark, the welcome was friendly and service throughout our meal was exceptional. The waitresses are discreet and very professional as was the owner/host. The menu is very comprehensive but we opted for the Banquet Dinner and it was delicious. We certainly couldn't fault anything and look forward to returning.Alison - Epsom
You can always guarantee a great meal here.
The food was excellent - I tried several dishes and especially enjoyed the freshness and flavours tasted very authentic.
The staff were lovely, constantly topping up our water and checking if we had enough rice.
Great Ambience, lovely food accompanied by awesome service. Since I have travelled a lot I understand the Thai Flavours really well, and their food was flawless and Love the personal touches. Menu is wee bit expensive, But you get what you pay for!!
I have been enjoying One Red Elephant for possibly 20 years, right back to when it was called Chang Thong. Abdullah, Dianna and Nick are fantastic hosts who make every visit feel special. Combine this with fantastic food makes this one very classy act.
I had dinner here last night with a group of friends. We all thought the service was excellent. The food was above average but they have great wow factor in their flaming chicken, which consists of a whole chicken coated in brandy and served to your table in flames. We were going to go some where else for desert but we're glad we stayed when we saw what landed on our plates! Make sure you stay for desert!
Definitely will return.
Its the best and the most consistent Thai Restaurant we have been too. we have been going here for a number of years know.
Food is always Great . Service is superb .Deco is great. Tables are well spaced so its not as congested.Food comes in a reasonable time even when its full.
Good service and very tasty food. Especially liked the flaming chicken!
Only thing I was disappointed about was the fact we ordered a prawn and vege dish which only came with 4 prawns. It was pretty pricey for basic veges with only 4 prawns
Excellent friendly service and wonderful food!
The seafood is very fresh and tasty and the banana dessert is amazing.
Will recomend to all my friedns. Well done guys
Nic and his brother, owners of restaurant are fantastic people - would rate them 6 stars if the option was available. World class service!
It was one of the best dinner experience I've ever had... food was superb!! Flaming chicken is MUST TRY!
Thanks Red Elephant!
I went here with my friends and family, the food is always excellent and service is great...A bit pricey but well worth it, you'll get what you paid for that's what my experience is!!!!
And our friends who came with us also loved this place too.
Had a farewell dinner for our colleague at work. We had the banquet menu and had lots of left over to take home. We all enjoyed the food especially the fish cakes, flambeed whole chicken and green chicken curry. Service was good. A great place to celebrate special occassion.
Great food, good service, a mistake in the drinks order was corrected without fuss, nice atmosphere, enjoyable evening, a little expensive when compared to similar experiences.
My friend and I went to Red Elephant last week and enjoyed the wonderful food and excellent service of the restaurant, everything was an experience and we will pass on how much we enjoyed it to our friends.
Red Elephant offer a fine dining take on Thai food. The red and black New York bar mood lit interior adds to the atmosphere.
They're not cheap, but they give good value-you're paying for the experience. We have been several times, although our budget is more Zap Thai! The food is well done, the cocktail menu gorgeous, the service impeccable and the desserts are fun! Try the banana- and don't freak out at the colour. Its excellent for an occasion- this is the kind of place its good to dress up for. Definitely better food than Mai Thai, btw.
We've only been once, but it was ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS! The food was divine, service as awesome and the atmosphere was great. They were VERY busy but still had our meals out to us in record time. Price wise it was a little more than we would normally pay for a dinner out but it was well worth it!
Went there Saturday night for dinner with Hubby and young daughter. Food was great. Service was great. I love the way they bring the curry dishes we order placed over a burning candle to keep hot. It's a little pricey but you get what you pay for. Will be back.
I have to second the comment about "I cannot understand what people are complaining about"
Food was great...Panang Curry was awesome, and too top it off deep fried bananas.
Only reason I gave it four stars instead of 5...drink prices were over the top, as per most restaurants.
You rock red elephant and I will be back
Great food, staff and atmosphere. Would recommend to all if you love Thai you got to try this place
Not sure what some others were complaining about. Excellent friendly service and delicious food! The restaurant was packed so it paid we booked in advance.
The seafood is very fresh and tasty and the banana dessert is amazing.
Highly recommended.
Amazing food!! Excellent service!! And didnt think that it was over priced. Food was delicious, desserts yum and COCKTAILS ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS.. The matrede made you feel like you were a valued customer.. Highly recommended!!
Delicious! We tried the mixed appetiser and loved all of it. The yellow curry with chicken and potatoes was one of the best curry dishes I have ever tasted. Can't wait to have it again. The Pad Thai was a bit too sweet, will stick to the curry next time. Also ordered the mixed Thai dessert platter, which was interesting and surprisingly good. The atmosphere is luxurious and beautifully put together, service was great. We will definitely be going back to the Red Elephant.
This place is amazing. I'm a big foodie and i've been to so many thai places. I have to say, this is by far one of the best thai restaurants i've been to. I went with 12 other people and I was a bit worried because I chose it. We walked in, waites around for people till 8 and then settled down to eat. The staff was just fine with us being loud and taking time to order.
My friends and I had a great time.
We will definitley come back. I would love to try their chicken on fire!!
See you again red elephant :-D
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One of the best Thai Restaurants I have been too. Right from it's ambiance, space, presentation of table, food, hospitality, etc, you just feel so relaxed and food - it's aromatic and the taste is simply awesome. I think I have been to Red Elephant 4 times now, and every time I have been there, I have just come back with one word coming out - WOW!!
As soon as you open their menu, you can feel you are here for a treat. All the dishes are well described. Their green curry, red curry, snapper, peanut sauce, Pad Thai noodles is simply amazing. If you are vegetarian I would definitely recommend having their Kra Tong Thong and Tow Hoo Tod. You are looked after well, someone or the other keeps coming up to you to know how we feel about their food and if we need anything. The ambiance is very relaxing with not-very-bright lights, candles etc.
The only thing that may draw the public away, is their prices. I am sure it won't suit the student population. But the price for the food is worth it. I plan to definitely stick to Red Elephant whenever my taste buds demand a taste of Thai Food.
I spent my birthday with hubby here and had the most amazing experience. The service is fantastic, the food is packed with flavour and served with beautiful presentation. All the staff take pride in what they do. I will definitely be back very soon to try some more of their delicious menu options.
Celebrated Mother’s Day dinner in this lovely, well awarded Thai restaurant for 11 people. No doubt portions are huge, good for two people and to add it up was the unlimited jasmine steam rice, what a deal. Love their flaming chicken which is a must. Atmosphere is nice as well and staff are welcoming. The only downside during our visit was the round table which we were seated. 11 people in a round table good for a max of 8 whilst there was another table which was prepared and empty from the moment we were there until we left. That should have been offered to us. Overall highly recommended 👍
Came here after a long time not being here. Quality of food still very high, service was also good. Price as you would expect from a higher end Thai restaurant was a bit pricey. Only thing that put me off was that when I was parking, I was told to park at a certain spot when there are so many parking spots. I feel it is quite rude, so giving lower score because of this. I saw other smaller cars parking where I wanted to park, so it was quite discriminating.
You won’t miss the giant red elephant outside the restaurant if you drive pass Kyber Pass Road to Motorway 1. This Thai restaurant has been running for so many years. We had takeaway for dinner. They have a beautiful and spacious waiting area with plenty of sofa. The food is ready for just a very short wait. Parking is available at rear, however you need to pay extra attention to find the way to the car park if you are first time there.
Visit for birthday dinner. Available restaurant car park. Appetiser-mixed appetisers: doesn't feel that they are made in the house - maybe frozen ones. Whole crispy snapper with chili sauce: very nice. recommend.
Thai Curry of Tender Braised Lamb
pieces with Kumara in a Medium
Spicy Rich Gentle Sauce: very tender and tasty. recommend. Pad Thai: average.
I’ve dined here twice and both times were exceptional. Authentic Thai prepared to a high standard with a healthy selection of ingredients. Tasteful décor and ambience throughout the restaurant, with Buddhist statues, gorgeous floral arrangements, and red accents for a lovely, bold flare. I especially enjoy their sizzling dishes, which arrive tableside in flames that the waitstaff then extinguish just before serving. Really adds a bit of entertainment to your meal. Always a pleasure at Red Elephant.
All the Star said everything, what can I said more.
Great good and great Service.
Food was amazing overall, very tasty. Quantity was a lot as ordered two dishes between two people so had to takeaway. My drink was really nice as well “lemon drop”. Staff was super friendly and nice. Would definitely recommend this place !
Delicious 😋 food. They keep their quality ever since I known the place. Friendly and kind staff. A truly Thai experience.
Always a pleasure to come here. Call ahead to book on Fridays and weekends, other days you'll be fine. Excellent food, big variety and fantastic table service. Loved it. I have returned here a few times and what I love the most is the consistently good service and delicious food.
Love this place. Great service, great food and a great place for a romantic dinner with you wife or girlfriend, whoever’s free😂😂It’s been there for 30 years for a reason.
So good!! Really enjoyed. I highly recommend. Great service, friendly staff. Food was delicious and relatively good size servings, one dish good for three people 😄 will definitely come back.
Beautiful place, lovely atmosphere and amazing food. The staff are super friendly and efficient.
The iconic elephant that I have seen for years on Khyber Pass - just off the motorway. Well, we've finally been and the food was amazing, the service was attentive, and we had a very enjoyable experience. Will definitely be back
Lorraine Mannington Guerin
+5
Have driven past so many times and finally made it. The food is delicious, staff are so lovely - we’ll be back.
The food tasted amazing! Had red chicken curry and sizzling tender beef. Most of all I was blown away by the excellent service! Only negative is parking can be a hassle if they are busy but I would definitely return again!
Awesome experience and very modern ambience. We felt like royal family as the restaurant was very quiet due to Tuesday night. Amazing Thai food and very different from other usual Thai eateries.
We've been there twice. Excellent service, food was sooo good.
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