Blue Elephant in Dortmund

Good portions at a fair price. Friendly staff and a pleasant atmosphere. Always a pleasure! 🤗

We ordered and picked up our food. We would rate it a 2 (on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the best) – I would order from there again.

The Elephant menu was varied and well-balanced, and the different dishes were absolutely delicious. My personal highlight was the soup—intense flavor, perfectly seasoned, and served piping hot. Friendly service and a pleasant atmosphere; ideal for a relaxed evening enjoying Asian cuisine. I'd love to come back and try more of the menu items.

The interior is really old school, I like that. The food was delicious, although one dish was a bit cold. The cocktails are great.

My visit to this Thai restaurant was an absolute disgrace. The first impression was disastrous: the entire place looked neglected, dirty, and as if no one had seriously bothered about hygiene or atmosphere for a long time. You feel uncomfortable rather than welcome. The service wasn't just unfriendly, it was downright disinterested. The staff made absolutely no attempt to show even a hint of hospitality. Every glance seemed annoyed, every question apparently too much to ask – a tone I've rarely experienced in the restaurant industry. The wait for the food was outrageously long. Even though there were hardly any other customers, our meal seemed to be delayed indefinitely. When it finally arrived, it was disappointing in taste and didn't seem particularly fresh. The worst part, however, came afterward: I subsequently suffered from severe gastrointestinal problems, the likes of which I haven't experienced in a long time. For me, this is a clear indication that the kitchen staff isn't working cleanly or carefully. In conclusion: This restaurant was by far one of the worst dining experiences I've ever had. I definitely wouldn't recommend anyone eat there.

We were there last weekend. Delicious food, friendly service.

An absolutely average Thai restaurant. The food isn't bad, but it doesn't have that "wow" factor that Thai cuisine sometimes evokes. The very fair prices are a definite plus. And there's plenty of parking.

"An authentic Asian restaurant, just like you remember from the old days – apart from the buffets, which nowadays often just lead to mass catering. The atmosphere is very inviting and you immediately feel at ease. The service is friendly, polite, and has a nice sense of humor. The food is delicious and of high quality, at reasonable prices. Absolutely recommended!"

Charming little restaurant. Good portions. Delicious food. Friendly service. I'll gladly come back.

That was a complete disaster on Sunday afternoon. Some of the appetizers arrived before the drinks, then the plates weren't cleared, and after waiting 60 minutes and still not having received our main course, we left. No apology, nothing. Apparently, the restaurant no longer cares about customer satisfaction. We won't be coming back; thankfully, there are alternatives.

The food was very good and plentiful – and in our opinion, good value for money. The portion size was too large for us, so we had the leftovers packed up and were still full the next day.

Delicious dishes at reasonable prices, with a very friendly service and atmosphere. Highly recommended.

Since the restaurant was very busy, we had to wait quite a long time for our food. Everything was tasty and good, but more comparable to Chinese cuisine.

Unique food at great prices. The service was excellent.

Small, well-kept restaurant The restaurant is busy, so reservations are recommended. The food is delicious and arrives very quickly.

A typical Thai restaurant with plenty of seating. Friendly (and fast!) service. The food far exceeded our expectations! We'd be happy to return!

As always, delicious food, courteous and polite service, and the prices are also very reasonable.

Very tasty food and extremely large portions at good prices!

Generous portions, high quality

Now I understand better why it's always so busy. There's a wide selection of dishes. What we had was delicious, appetizing, and flavorful. The portions are generous, and any leftovers are packaged well for takeaway. The ambiance is quite nice, but everything is a bit dated—on the upside, it feels like you've been transported back to the 70s. On the other hand, the service is friendly and prompt. We'll be happy to eat there again.

My husband and I had dinner here for the first time today, even though we'd driven past it many times! We wish we had eaten here sooner! The food was very well prepared and the flavors were excellent! We'd love to come back!

The food was truly delicious. As a Thai, I know what I'm talking about. Those who don't like spicy food will definitely find a good place here. The staff was friendly and polite. The ambiance was lovely. Try it for yourself!

Yep...stuck in the 80s. It hasn't been renovated since then. The food is also reminiscent of the early days of Chinese restaurants in Germany. So if you're looking for a nostalgic taste...great!

Very good restaurant with excellent Thai dishes. The portions are overwhelming; whatever you can't finish is packed up and you can enjoy it again the next day. The outdoor area is especially beautiful in summer; you can watch horses grazing in the paddock.

As always, simply top-notch, and at absolutely fair prices. I can only recommend it.

Very tasty food. Large portions. The price was quite reasonable. Unfortunately, the card reader was broken this evening, and we were forced to find the nearest ATM... Oh well, it happens sometimes. Authentic Thai food is hard to come by in Germany anyway, and the food wasn't as spicy as we'd hoped, just a bit more seasoned. The restaurant is still recommended.

Three of us went to this restaurant today. We were really looking forward to it, partly because of the many good reviews. Unfortunately, we were bitterly disappointed. It took a while to order drinks. Then we were finally able to order. The drinks came quickly. Then we could order the food. The appetizers arrived for my girls. Only mine was left behind. I had Sa Te Mu. These were supposed to be grilled at the table. I didn't understand what came next. An aluminum fire bowl and ready-grilled skewers. What was I supposed to do with the fire? The skewers were already dry-grilled. We then waited 45 minutes for the rest of our food. Guests who arrived after us were almost finished eating because they had their food before us. I ordered the 117. Lamb with onions and mushrooms. What did I get? Flavorless meat with onions and lots and lots of peppers. Mushrooms, at most, one whole mushroom. Everything was drenched in soy. My wife had number 69. The sauce was so disgusting. I tried it myself. After dipping it twice, I felt sick. Our daughter had number 119. Duck. Crispy. Nope. Greasy. The sauce was so sweet from all the fruit (mandarins, lychee, pineapple, and other unidentifiable things). Not sweet and sour. Sweet and sweet. That was the first and last time. Not even an apology for the wait.

Everything was great, we're very satisfied. We'll definitely be back 😉

Everything was delicious, with good service and a peaceful atmosphere. I'd happily return.

The service and food were okay. The prices were reasonable for the food. The restaurant itself is showing its age and could use a bit of a refresh. The outside area looks unkempt. More could be done with it.

WOW! It's a unique restaurant with very friendly staff. The food is beautifully presented and presented. The prices are absolutely fair. We'll be back! THANK YOU

An absolute disaster! We had reserved a table for 6 people and arrived at the restaurant on time. But nobody knew about our reservation! After an endless discussion, we finally got a table, albeit with much reluctance. Then came the next shock. There were only 3 menus for 6 people. Ordering drinks? No way! For a full 45 minutes, no one bothered to attend to us, while guests who arrived after us had already had their food and drinks on their tables. When we finally ordered our food, it took forever for anything to arrive. And then this! 3 of the 6 dishes were WRONG! Instead of admitting the mistake and apologizing, the waitress tried to convince us that we had ordered it that way. No apology, no exchange – just plain rude and disrespectful! In the end, we waited almost TWO HOURS for our food – and that was at a reserved table! I've never experienced such miserable, chaotic, and unfriendly service. For us it's clear: Never again will we go to this restaurant – it's a complete waste of time and money!

Friendly service. Delicious food in a lovely setting. Reasonable prices, too—what more could you want? 😃

Highly recommended. The food is always delicious.

Very nice owner! Super delicious food. Highly recommended.

We were there with a larger group for lunch, and we were spontaneously allowed to sit outside 😌 Soup or spring rolls were included, and they also serve tofu, which wasn't on the menu. Located in a leafy setting, the service was friendly 🥰 It was delicious!

Since we'd always noticed it was very busy while driving by, we decided to give it a try and were rewarded. The food was super delicious, and the value for money was excellent. The food came very quickly even though the restaurant was very busy (8 p.m. Friday evening). We will definitely be back! One star deducted because we were unfortunately only asked for drinks once at the beginning and were then only able to reorder after we asked.

Delicious food, large portions, and very friendly service! Magical atmosphere. Highly recommended!

I ordered the Greenman and it was by far the best cocktail I've ever had. Highly recommended.

The food was quite tasty and very good value for money. I wouldn't expect any culinary refinements, but if you want to eat your fill of Asian food on a somewhat dated terrace with a nice view, this is the place for you.

The food is good, but the service seems unfriendly and rude, stressed, and overwhelmed. The ambiance seems dated and restless, almost a little chaotic.

I was absolutely thrilled with my visit to the **Blue Elephant**! The Thai food was **extremely delicious** – fresh, aromatic, and authentic. I was particularly impressed by the **large portions** at a **really good price**. Even at a late hour, the food was still served **perfectly warm**. The **service was outstanding**: friendly, fast, and attentive, even when it got late. You can tell the team here works with passion. Conclusion: **Absolutely recommended!** If you're looking for authentic Thai cuisine, generous portions, and excellent service, this is the place for you. **5 stars without a doubt!** 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The food was delicious, the wine wasn't cold, and the service was okay.

I can definitely recommend the Blue Elephant. Great food - great service! Only the ambiance gets "only" four stars from me. Why? We were at the Blue Elephant one evening before a holiday. Admittedly, we were a group of 12 people sitting in a room with other groups. The resulting noise level was a bit of a challenge 😉 I'm having a hard time because we were responsible for the noise ourselves 😂 Overall, though, a clear recommendation. Good value for money and good service, including the option to take leftovers from the very generous portions to go in reusable containers. Great 👍

Service sometimes a bit overwhelmed, but quality and price are convincing 👍

Authentic Thai restaurant. Friendly staff, delicious food prepared quickly. Parking is limited and can get very busy depending on the time of day. But highly recommended.

We've been eating at the Blue Elephant every now and then for 20 years. Admittedly, the menu hasn't changed once in 20 years. It's still the same, and you know the numbers by heart. But that doesn't matter, because the food is simply incredibly good just the way it is. My favorite dish, number 125, still tastes great even after 20 years. Somehow, the Blue Elephant has become a traditional restaurant in Herdecke. Simply top-notch...!

Everything was great. Everything tasted delicious. The ambiance was very nice. The server was super friendly and accommodated all requests. We'll be happy to come back. Thank you for the wonderful taste and atmosphere in your restaurant.

Very nice restaurant and incredibly delicious food. Large portions and reasonably priced. We'll be back.

Unfortunately it was extremely warm there.

Really delicious food with excellent value for money. Friendly staff included.

We were at BE for Mother's Day. We had a reservation for inside, but sat outside in the great weather, no problem at all. The service was very efficient, and the place was packed—at least outside. Very, very tasty food, drinks were also decent, and despite the crowds, everything went perfectly to our satisfaction.

Review – Unfortunately disappointing My appointment was at 5:45 p.m., but I still had to wait an extremely long time, without any information or apology. The staff was very unfriendly, not to say disrespectful - sometimes they didn't even communicate in German, which made the situation even more difficult. The tone was anything but hospitable - I felt neither welcome nor taken seriously. If I could, I would give zero stars. I've rarely experienced something like that. Never again.

We will definitely not visit the restaurant again in the future. We had reservations and showed up at 5:30 p.m. First of all, the drinks we ordered and the starters arrived on time, but unfortunately the main courses didn't come at all. We asked several times within two hours, but were fobbed off with short answers. The staff is unfriendly. Customers who showed up after us were served beforehand. After two hours, at 7:30 p.m. we had enough of waiting for our food and decided to leave the place. There was no accommodation or apology from the restaurant. They have lost us as regular customers.

We've been there several times now. Very tasty Thai food and friendly service.

Great food with great people! Only recommended, price performance TOP

Food and prices really great! It was very tasty and also perfectly priced. However, the service wasn't very friendly. No thanks for the tip, no one asked if it was tasty. Do you think that was the boss herself?

Reserved a table on weekend evenings (6 p.m.) The ambience fits but is very tight! It also filled up very quickly The food was very good and everyone enjoyed it. The food came for everyone at the same time 👍 The prices are completely OK even for the drinks. What 5 stars are missing ;) The drinks took a long time to arrive (just ask) Otherwise highly recommended The service was very nice 👍 We'll be back

We had a very, very tasty meal there today and for very fair prices these days. The waiters were quick and nice. Only the furnishings seemed a bit very rustic and outdated. However, well-kept and somehow quaint. Overall I really liked it

Somehow they didn't understand the sharpness. Was there twice, twice ordered a dish that was listed on the menu with 4 chili peppers - not spicy at all!!! I won't go there anymore.

We have been your guests many times and are always thrilled by the delicious food, your hospitality and the delicious cocktails. We always enjoy coming back.

Great restaurant! Excellent food, super friendly service and a nice atmosphere. Everything was perfect – absolutely recommended!

The atmosphere is nice, though a few of the chairs are a bit worn. The food, however, is delicious. The waitresses don't exactly have the friendliest smiles, but they're on the ball and fulfill every request whenever possible. Personally, I love going there.

Very good price/performance ratio and super tasty. Absolutely recommended 👌

Price performance was ok, service from the young ladies was a little unfriendly and listless. No please, thank you, or do you have another wish. After a while of waiting, we gave up the cocktail and dessert. The taste was okay, nothing more and nothing less. Parking space directly in front of the house. A reservation is definitely an advantage on some days.

Very very good shop. We had the Bangkok menu for 2 people which I highly recommend. Very friendly staff and everything at the table super quickly. Gladly again.

The restaurant impressed us throughout. The culinary diversity and the preparation of the dishes exceeded our expectations, the ambience is appealing, the service attentive and friendly. The attention to detail is evident not only in the menu presented, but also in the tasteful design of the restaurant. A real pleasure, we would love to come back.

Chinese man, instead of Thai restaurant would be a better fit. It starts with the staff, not one of them can speak Thai or is Thai. Absolutely not authentic, I don't understand the good reviews at all and I know my way around. My wife is from Thailand and I have been traveling to Thailand for 10 years.

Traditional Asian restaurant with plenty of dishes to choose from. Nice atmosphere and good service. Go for the crispy duck. Skip the spare ribs.

The food was very tasty. The service was friendly and quick.

The food arrived quite quickly, it was delicious and everything was still hot. The prices are great too, you really can't complain.

We had a very good and tasty meal today. You have to accept waiting at the entrance despite having a reservation. Even stand outside on the weekend. Actually impossible without a reservation. With a reservation you are at the table as soon as someone leaves. It's a bit uncomfortable when you sit and the guests waiting stare at you or look at your plate. But that depends on where you are placed. The food is excellent. Absolutely fresh and well prepared. Price performance ratio more than good.

Delicious and rich dishes are served here.

Absolutely delicious and highly recommended. Now one of our favorite restaurants.

Solide und preiswertes Mittagsmenü, Lokal immer gut gefüllt, was für die Qualität und Beliebtheit spricht. Ich kann die schlechten Bewertungen nicht verstehen, die Zubereitung der Speisen ist in Ordnung, ohne die sonst asia-tsypischen Zusatzstoffe.

The food is good, but not super tasty. The starters and soup are delicious, but the duck is also good, but dry, and it's not very spicy, even though there are 3 chilies in it. Servis is nice

Super tasty food and really affordable, we always enjoy coming here.

A great Thai restaurant. The food is fairly priced and extremely tasty.

Very tasty food, friendly staff. You should reserve a table in advance.

The restaurant features beautiful Thai decoration, creating an authentic atmosphere. However, some tablecloths were already visibly worn. The warm serving was particularly practical for larger portions as it kept the food warm for a long time. We ordered the “Phi Phi Island” platter for two, which consisted of spring rolls, a soup, four different dishes, a bowl of rice and a choice of dessert (ice cream or lychee). The portion was very generous, almost too big for two people, so unfortunately there was a lot left over. While the chicken had a slightly unpleasant smell, the fish, duck and vegetables tasted excellent. The rice was served separately so you could take it individually. Overall, the price-performance ratio was really more than fair. As for the starters, the spring rolls could have been a little tastier, but unfortunately the soup was far too salty. The “Bangkok Night” cocktail wasn’t really that convincing in terms of taste. For dessert we opted for the lychees, which were disappointing - a more creative or fresh option would have been appreciated. The staff was polite, but didn't seem particularly friendly. The seating arrangement in the cold corner outside the main hall was a bit awkward as the tables there were very close to each other. When the restaurant is full it can get quite noisy. Another point of criticism concerns safety: the candles and candle holders on the edge of the table were quite high and did not seem stable. Guests at the next table also ordered a dish with a fire bowl on which fresh meat was grilled. Since there was no extractor hood, this led to unpleasant smoke in the room. Overall, a restaurant with a great atmosphere and delicious dishes, but with little room for improvement in terms of freshness, safety and interior design. However, the price-performance ratio is very good.

We have been to the Blue Elephant several times. Great food. We will always come back.

Very good restaurant with very good food.

First time was great, second time not at all. Cold food, unfriendly service. We won't be coming back

Super delicious food with fair prices. Always come back and are thrilled.

Highly recommended for not much effort and still very tasty food with a great price-performance ratio. Have been there very often. A reservation is recommended, but we have often spontaneously gotten a table for two.

We reserved a table for 8pm on a Friday evening. Once there, 6 other people who had also reserved tables had already gathered in the entrance area. You were not greeted, nor were you informed about the situation - you were simply ignored. After we asked a waitress about the status of things after just 15 minutes of waiting, we were pointed to the colleague, who also couldn't give us any information. We drove specifically from Bochum to Herdecke, we definitely won't do that again - it's a shame. We have enjoyed eating here in the past.

Ate very well. Friendly service

Great food, cheap prices! Absolute recommendation.

Very tasty, fresh food. The order was quick and so was the preparation. I had a Tom Yam Goong soup as a starter, it was marked with 3 chili peppers, but it was very well tolerated and not very spicy, just very tasty. So for the main course I had Güy Teow Pahd Thai noodles (rice noodles with peanut sauce and shrimp), these were my absolute highlight. Creamy, spicy, super tasty. All in all, highly recommended!

Seit dem Bestehen des Restaurants bin ich immer mal wieder dort zum Mittagessen eingekehrt. Gestern, an einem Montag Mittag, war ich allerdings sehr enttäuscht! Die von mir immer als besonders reichhaltig und preiswert gelobte Mittagskarte enthielt nicht mehr die sonst so besonderen Speisen mit Thaicurry in rot oder grün, sondern sah mehr aus wie die Speisekarte in einem beliebigen Chinarestaurant. Die Vorsuppe machte noch Appetit auf den Hauptgang, der dann aber eine Katastrophe war. Das Entenfleisch war knorpelig und zäh, in der Sauce des einen Gerichtes befand sich ein Fruchtcocktail aus der Dose, das andere ließ das Bett aus asiatischen Gemüsen wie Bambus, Pilze etc. vermissen. Kommentar der Bedienung, die ich dort noch nie gesehen hatte: Das war immer so! Ich konnte das aus der Erfahrung vergangener Besuche nur für "fake news" halten! Offensichtlich ist der Betrieb nicht mehr um Gäste bemüht, sondern begnügt sich mit den vielen Gästen, die sich mit der Qualität eines Fast Food Restaurants am Wegesrand zufrieden geben. Es war mal ein sehr gutes Restaurant mit authentischen Speisen. Mich hat es als Kunden definitiv verloren.

Cheap and tasty... and always full ;)

This was our second time eating there and it was really very good. But I have to become even braver when it comes to sharpness 😜

You can eat very well and cheaply there and the very courteous service is simply great

Best shop. Service and food are great.

Quality below train station snack level. Anyone who is happy about the supposedly good price-performance ratio here may be happy about the huge portions, but has never come from their village to experience quality food. There is nothing Thai here at all, at most it is Asian food, as small children imagine it. In the end it tastes like it comes from a bucket of well-known ready-made products. Allergen labeling is consistently inadequate and incorrect.

Very good food, wide selection. Particularly well attended in the evenings and on weekends. Service took longer due to many guests.

If you want to get your fill very cheaply, you're in good hands here. Baked rice with beef, scampi, squid 15 euros and 3 lamb skewers starter 5.80. The meat and seafood = not high quality, which must be clear to everyone given the low prices. A lot of finished products are used. So don't expect a highlight meal. Price performance is right Service very nice 👍

Good Thai cuisine. Absolutely reasonable in price. The Pad Thai was very tasty. We'll be back. =)

Food was good. Ambiance is harmonious. Staff could be a bit more motivated. But otherwise they were friendly.

Very tasty, fast and friendly service, cozy, would love to come again 👍