Blue Elephant

They’ve now moved to Imperial Wharf with views on the Water. Very cool, calming and Zen-​like décor with lush foliage indoors — reminescent of Thailand and the East.
The service was good and warm. We got the tasting menu (£55 pp) and asked them to substitute the black pepper prawns for the salmon. That is by far the most amazing thing on the menu. Make sure to suck the little prawn-​brains out of their shells.
The massaman curry was ok, but honestly I’ve had better (meat was not tender). And the tamarind duck didn’t make it (was gamier than most duck). But perhaps they were having an off-​day, so I’ll give them a chance again. Clearly they have built a good clientele and reputation over years.
Would recommend this in spite of the minor menu setbacks mentioned earlier.

The venue is very pretty with Thai décor. Service is superb & welcoming. Foie gras in tamarind sauce was proper fried goose liver. Crab in yellow curry doesn’t beat the Singaporean one but not far. generally good food but pretty expensive.

I do think that Blue Elephant is a little bit overpriced. The restaurant is really pretty but the food is okay. There are other Thai restaurants around that serve tastier and more authentic Thai food for a lot less. The service is very good though!

I had a lovely time here. We went for the pricy Amazing Thailand tasty menu. The service was very friendly, the food, amazing! I’m not used to Thai food and it was a great introduction. The only thing I didn’t really like was the black sticky rice pudding, but the ginger crème brûlée was great. I’m glad I splurged that night!

Heard how popular this place is and such great reviews! Came here with my boyfriend and his family. Great atmosphere. Setting and service 5 stars. our server was very nice, took great care of us! However, the food wasnt so good. I give it 2 stars for the food. Disappointed much!

Dined at the Blue Elephant for lunch with work clients. The set lunch menu had a good selection, something to suit everyone and food was served promptly. There was no table water offered and we had to ask multiple time for wine to be topped up — not the usual! Also though we were not on a time restraint the table turn over was a little pushed and 3 courses were served within 45 minutes. Food was well cooked, I couldn’t say it was the best Thai i have had but was fresh and tasty. I wouldn’t rush back however it is the best in the area and overlooks the river.

Yes it’s a good Resaurant but it’s been over hyped for years. If you have the money and the desire — check it out.
The décor is fantastic and the food is decent but you always get draw backs with the ‘best Thai in town’ tag

I was a bit wary walking in because often a great, exotic interior often disappoints with the food but I needed not worry. Walking through the restaurant, it felt like I was in Thailand for a moment. I ordered the vegetarian tasting menu and it was fantastic. Also excellent value at £38 for a crazy amount of food. My only complaint is the coconut rice, which was a bit rich and sickly but otherwise the food was great.

This was not an ordinary brunch or Sunday buffet. I think the word buffet even underrates it just because people now associate Oriental buffets as cheap and low quality food that’s just easy going. But I seriously think I’ve found the best Oriental buffet in London or what they call ‘unlimited Sunday Brunch’. Of course you are paying £30 pp instead of the usual £6-£10.
The place is stunning like a quick transport to Thailand with the over excessive indoor plants and eye catching ornaments, dark wooden tables. Even all the staff were Thai. The only problem I had with that the buffet was it was on the second floor so it did mean going and up and down with plates loaded with food. But being a waitress in the past I have a good balance so it didn’t really concern me.
Barely spending any time to settle down I immediately went to the second floor for the big excitement and how happy was I to find the whole of the second floor split into three large sections, one for starters, mains and than desserts. Each one was as equally big as the other. Unlike the typical buffet the starters were laid out in small amounts so the chef could prepare it fresh when finished so you were not getting food that has been sitting for hours. And they weren’t just throw onto a pile of the same starter but all equally portioned out in its own dish with different sauces below it for you to scoop on top. Great for portion control especially when there was so much to try. You can always go back for more, no one would stop you. But I would remind everyone who goes to use those sauces as without it some of the starters can be a bit bland e.g. the dim sums and the deep fried starters. I was addicted to their peanut sauce which was thick and crunchy.
Everything was high in quality. Prawns were fresh, sweet and plump. The papaya salad had a real spicy kick and made in front of us. I highly recommend the noodle soup which mum ended up going to two portions. It was made to order by a staff with a good selection of noodles, fish balls, duck and vegetables. It was not ‘buffet; quality at all as the broth had depth, different notes of flavour and satisfying with the al dente noodles and generous ingredients inside. Beautiful flavours and textures coming together. Same quality was found with their daily soup, lots of spices present .
I must say starters were preferred over the mains which felt there was less of a selection, mainly being curries but made with different meats, vegetables and fish. The flavours weren’t as delicate as the starter and even the noodle was a lower quality yellow noodle, bland to eat alone and cooked too soft, Still the curries were really delicious, a real kick of spice in some and generous with the use of ingredients including fresh plump king prawns still in its shell and mussels. All the dishes were halal too with a large range of choices to suit everyone. I especially enjoyed a deep dried salmon dish which soaked up all the flavours of the curry making it a delight to devour. There was also roast lamb carved to order but I found the meat overcooked and bland.
Just as plentiful as the starters were the desserts, little cakes, sweets, puddings and exotic fruits beautifully laid out around a table. These were very intriguing, sweets I have never had before which I believed to be authentic like the crispy jelly which was a hard sugar coating around a jelly and a brown sweet, chewy and nutty in flavour which was nice. I particularly enjoyed a jelly panna cotta typed dessert and the lovely sticky rice with jellied mango and coconut cream. Along the edges were also the warm selection that included a chocolate fondant and bananas cooked in coconut milk that I enjoyed more than I thought as it wasn’t too sweet and the bananas still had a bite. I’ll leave the photos to describe the rest of the selection.
Service was very efficient but could have been more smiley as friendly as they were. But they kept our tables clean, clearing plates as soon as we left to help ourselves to more food upstairs.
We also had a light cocktail called Mai Thai made of exotic fruit juices which was nice although synthetic tasting. I highly recommend the coffee though if you like your coffee strong and thick. I don’t usually take sugar with coffee but had to here. But it didn’t take away from the aromatic flavours that were rich with depth, smooth with no aftertaste either– really good.
I would love to come back to Blue Elephant. for its brunch again. It is definitely a place for a treat especially with the higher buffet price but with its a la carte menu mains around £20 anyway, the brunch is a better value to get a taste of everything. Blue Elephant is probably the first buffet restaurant where I felt I wasn’t missing out on Thai flavours just because it was a buffet. Quality was present and attention to detail was there in the flavours and the presentation. A must visit especially in the beautiful peaceful riverside location.

The restaurant itself is well decorated but I was expecting more after reading reviews. Food was good but not great. The service was very good. Prices were high. I wouldn’t go back for the food. There’s better Thai however it is presented well and they take pride in what they do. Also, Unilocal shows 2 locations– this one is correct.

Great place to go to for a special meal. The restaurant is a little jungle and has loads going on. We had a lovely table by the stream and waitress was super polite and gave me more credit for the my Thai than I ever deserved. We had my usual Thai dishes and it all went down very well, the girl friend enjoyed her strawberry daiquiri too. The chef sent a couple of interesting creations of his and it was all very nice. Authenticity though wasn’t all there. When the waitress asked and I explained how the som tam wasn’t great she went on to suggest Addies Thai for the perfect som tam! Hah I thought that was such a Thai thing to do!

Excellent Thai restaurant. The place is evocative. Every time I visit Blue Elephant I ask the coconut milk as appetizer (a straw directly into the nut, and a teaspoon for sweet flesh). The best young coconuts in London. The menu is easily available, the tasty dishes are described with many details, and there is a legend to indicate pleasant spicy foods. If you are vegetarian like myself, it is enough to ask to the friendly staff to have completely vegetarian menu.
Booking is necessary but Blue Elephant is the best Thai experience in London.

I’ve been to the old Blue-​Elephant in Fullham-​Broadway, which definitely transported you into an elegant tropical Thai paradise. The new location is on the Imperial piers at Chelsea harbor. Unfortunately I found myself there on a quintessential cold, damp, and blustery London night in late February. I’m sure once the windows are open, and diners can gaze out onto the Thames as boats sail by in the spring and summer months, the space can be appreciated as it was meant to be.
Although I liked the old menu much better, they’re still cooking-​up some of the old institutions that made Blue Elephant legendary. The tom jiew kai is without a doubt one of the most flavorful soups I’ve ever tasted (outside of my nonna’s escarole chicken-​soup). It knocks the cold out of the air and your nose and lungs. I was sick with a fierce head-​cold the night I ordered it. A strong whiff of the shallot infused steam ascending from the fine china bowl was like a Thai penicillin. Within seconds my nose was clear, lungs were dry, and spirits lifted!
I usually enjoy their prawn dishes. Tonight though, I was looking for some direct heat to apply like a compress to my sinuses. The black chicken green curry was just the trick. The three red peppers following the dish on the menu aren’t there for decoration. This dish is spicy! From not being able to taste half of my meals all week (which sometimes can be a good thing in England), this was unmistakeably a curry not to be confused. The black chicken added a unique twist to a complex flavored dish.
These delectable dishes don’t come cheap though. Even for London. I can’t recall the exact amount (the wine being some of the more outrageously expensive charges) but it was a bill I’d rather not be signing outside of a generous expense account. I’d like to revisit in the spring/​summner when I can enjoy the restaurant’s atmosphere for how it was meant-​a sunny late afternoon fit for a Thames regatta.

This is another fabulous Thai restaurant in London.
The place itself is gorgeous! there is a water way inside and lots of greenery — it is like a Rain Forest!
Prices are a bit on the higher end but it really is a treat. Nicely presented, fresh & tasty food and a good wine list.
They give you little samples of things to try complementry. Nice touch!
I recommend this for a treat — it’s not as expensive as Nahm but just as good!

Best Thai in London, hands down.
We went here on a Saturday night as a last minute visit, chosen for the reviews I found here. The first plus was a really polite woman on the end of the phone, who gave us a table exactly when we wanted it — despite it only being an hour in advance.
Arrived there, I was blown away. Another plus for free coat check, and a lovely welcome, but the place itself. My god! It’s like a rain-​forest! Inside! There’s a waterfall, a lake, a pong, tropical flowers, climbers. It’s amazing.
The food itself, though pretty pricey, is some of the best Thai food I’ve EVER had. Absolutely delicious, every single bit. We have spring rolls and chicken stay to start, then their signature lamb dish, green thai curry, pad thai (UNBELIEVABLE) and steamed rice. Utterly gorgeous.
AND they deliver! We live close enough for it! Woohoo!
I’ll be back :)

Despite the unimpressive exterior, the doors of the Blue Elephant act as a gateway into a tropical Thai rainforest complete with waterfalls and a great atmosphere!
I went here with my family for my birthday, and, as usual, our eyes were too big for our tummies. We decided to go the whole hog (not literally!) and order the ‘banquet set menu’. The word ‘banquet’ should have given us a clue, as the amount of food was vast — too vast!
Despite this, the food we did manage to get through was delicious. After spending 6 months in Thailand, I can confirm that it tasted like the real McCoy. They really made an effort with birthday celebrations too, with all the staff coming to sing happy birthday with clapping and sparklers to accompany! Although the food is a bit pricey, the portions are generous so don’t over order and its great for special occasions or something a bit different! The constant running waterfall does make you need to the loo a lot though… or maybe it was just the cocktails!

Welcome to Thailand, that’s the message and the greeting you are strongly impressed upon with when you enter Blue Elephant. The staff will welcome and wow you with their appearance and their smiling faces. Very sweet indeed. Go with a reservation, or you will be seated by the regally designed bar, after which, again, you might be glad you didn’t go with a reservation. Some think it’s a tad tacky, but then again it goes with the overall décor and presentation.
If you missed the bar, you’d probably be led to your table with another sweet and friendly waiter through the wooden bridges and little brooks and streams with goldfish (or maybe not, but they looked bright orange) and a little spice laden boat that’ll steal your attention. It’s a well organized, well thought out tropical theme — and if you’re my friend, there’s a good chance you’ll whine and complain about how commercial it is, so please don’t because that is precisely the point of this establishment and they’ve done a damn good job of it.
If you’re a bathroom junkie, don’t forget to take a quick peek in the only bathroom in Fulham that’s doused in the most calming lemongrass scent making you wonder why you bought all those bad Glade perfumes for the bathroom when all you needed to do was buy lemongrass from your local Waitrose. Half a star for the bathroom there.
Blue Elephant has it’s own cookbook that you can buy at the restaurant. Yes, they went all the way.
BE makes for a fabulous martini venue. More than half a star for the bar tender. I don’t for a second believe the cocktail recipes. They lie — they must add some Royal Thai Potions on top of the book recipe. The Ginger Martini and the Pomelo Martini get special mention but I wouldn’t miss the Mango Chilli Mojito, Thai Pina and the Blue Cosmopolitan either.
The £30 brunch menu on Sundays could make for an entire lazy afternoon. But if you’re going a la carte, I will make the following recommendations, because it is after all, moderately pricey.
Larb Gai
Imperial fish
Lamb massaman curry
Paneng Nua
Tamarind duck
Once you’re a fan, you WILL go back to this place. Just make sure you run before and after you eat because there’s a good chance you will lose portion control.
Reserve before the £30 Sunday brunch goes up to £35!

One of my favourite restaurants. Amazing décor, good service and food to die for! This has all the ingredients for a fantastic venue. Whether it is with family, a spouse or even just friends, its always comes near the top for me. the food is great, catering for muslims (halal) such as myself, but saying that, the seafood options are still very very nice. I am a self-​confessed thai food fanatic so there may be a little bias in my review, but nevertheless I am sure you wont be let down by this place.
A little pricey, but you definitely get what you pay for.
How many restaurants have you been to with pond and a waterfall in it?
Damn, im hungry…

This is one of my favourite restaurants in the UK, certainly my favourite Thai restaurant.
The décor here is just stunning, walking into the restaurant over a little footbridge with a pool of koi carp swimming around. It feels über decadent. The food also was just simply fantastic.
The menu list is HUGE! However my life was made easier by booking through top table and so my selection from the 2 courses for £18 was more limited, even then I had difficulty choosing between the list of goodies.
The perfect place for a delicious meal in a romantic and opulent atmosphere.

This has got to be the prettiest restaurant I’ve ever been in! The décor was absolutely fabulous. The food was amazing and the service was impeccable!
i loved everything about this place. I only wish I lived closer… *sigh*