The Smiling Elephant

Consistently the best, most authentic Thai food Nashville has to offer. Run by a small staff and decorated in a charming and fun manor, Smiling Elephant is usually a bit of a wait, but always with it. If you’re branching away from Pad Thai, try the Cashew Chicken, my favorite item on the menu. I eat here every week !

Very good food. Great environment. Took a bit of time to eat but worth the wait. Can’t wait to go back.

A WORM WAS ON MY PLATE MOVING AROUND. I lost my appetite and politely asked that the restaurant comp my meal and the waiter refused. He said that’s typical of organic food to have worms on it. And I reassured him that I grew up on an organic farm and we didn’t serve our meals with live worms on it. This was my first time here and I will never go back. I can’t believe they made me pay 20 dollars for that dish.

For all the rant and rave reviews of being the best Thai food in Nashville, I was SO disappointed. I am rating it at 2.5 stars so I’m being generous by giving it 3.
Pros: Our waitress was very friendly and the dishes were healthy.
Neutral: Expect a long wait time. Waiting can be worth the while IF the restaurant is worth it. Unfortunately, this one was not. I went in the restaurant to put our name in while my boyfriend drove around to find what limited parking was available.
Cons: First, ambiance and atmosphere. VERY tight fitted and crowded. For me, ambiance is key to having a good experience at a restaurant. My chair could only push back a tiny bit before hitting the wall behind me to where I had to squeeze into it to sit down. You can hear the conversation of the table next to you better than the person you came with. This is NOT a place you want to take a date to have a romantic dinner with. Also, no parties larger than 2 will comfortably be seated.
On their menu they claim to have affordable prices but compared to other Thai restaurants I’ve been to (and I’ve been to many because Thai is my absolute favorite food) they are over priced. Main entrees run an average of $ 3 more compared to other Thai places. No free refills on tea. The Jasmine tea we ordered was just an ordinary tea bag that one would get at a late night diner and not with the authentic tea leaves.
We ordered the «Non-​Americanized» Pad Thai and Pad Kee Mao. I was disappointed that they didn’t ask how spicy we would like our dishes. They are served with green bean noodles which are half the carbs of rice noodles. They are thin and translucent. They seem to be very healthy and some might prefer them but I did not care for the noodles. They don’t hold as much flavor as rice noodles and they are definitely not as filling. I did however like the traditional tamarind sauce they used compared to the bright pink sauce that other places use. But overall, I have had much better authentic Thai.
For dessert we ordered an absolute favorite of mine, mango sticky rice, which was unsatisfactory. The portion size was very small. Less than half a mango and not much rice. Not worth the $ 6.
To top it off, we felt rushed out the door. Very upsetting to be a paying customer for over priced food (which they can get away with because they have been hyped up as being the best Thai food in Nashville but I’m sure as heck not drinking the kool-​aid) just to get rushed out the door so they can seat the next customer. Bottom line, we left hungry, rushed and ripped off. We will not be going back.

I have eaten here about half a dozen times.
The staff are very nice and customer focused
The seating area is rather small and tight so be prepared to hear the couple next to you. If you like to eaves drop then you may love this place
The rumor is they are expanding the dinning hall area but we will see
Food wise it is safe Thai food
I do not feel it is what I get on Thailand but it is better than average priced well and consistent
The mussels are gr8
Pad Thai is voted best is Nashville personally could be spicer
But this is a great place to take people to try again that is not Chinese

I like good, traditional Asian food. All too often in parts of the US the Asian food is nice, but not very Asian. Then there is a Smiling Elephant. Having spent several years running a guesthouse in rural Thailand, I know good traditional Thai food when I taste it and this restaurant has got it down perfectly.
The staff is mainly from Krung Thep and it shows in the style and heat of the food.
The restaurant is neat, though a little crowded, it can be difficult to find a seat as it is immensely popular, the service is ordinary, the boss seems a nice bloke and the cost of a meal for two is very reasonable.
You want good Thai food… Come here.
It’s aroi mak-​mak!

I’ve been here twice and got the Pad Thai both times. I made the mistake of getting it my first time and now I can’t bring myself to order anything else! It’s a good problem to have and great place to eat!

Delicious food, pretty little place, friendly and courteous staff. This will be one of the best Thai food you’ll have. So if you’re in town be here. Don’t make excuses!
When you’re at The Smiling Elephant you order Pad Thai. That’s what you do. If you want to save 15% or more on car insurance you switch to geico, that’s. Wait. You get the point. We also ordered Gai Yang (chicken cilantro dish) which was pretty kick ass. The honey lime tea (not really a tea) was refreshing. And the best part, when you order the ice cream you get two scoops (try the coconut lycée)! Everything tastes good here. Service is nice and quick as well. Totally recommended.
Secret tip: This place gets crowded. Parking lot isn’t the largest real estate in the country either. Get here around 8:30pm and you’ll beat the rush hour. You’re welcome.

This place is seriously good — if you’re feeling like having something a little more glutinous this place is for you !
The pad Thai is to die for, took my boyfriend here and he tried it for his first time ever, might now be his new favorite place to frequent in Nashville!

#Distinctive, #Fresh, and #Spicy! No I’m not
talking about discovering a new style of dance, unless I’m describing what happens on your tongue while dining here. Although the dining space is a bit limited the menu quality at the #SmilingElephant is a #Nashville must, especially if your #palette craves Thai.

Family owned thai restaurant.
Service, food, ambiance all have been consistently excellent. One of the BEST thai Food I have eaten in America. I have been there several times and taken back guests. Never been disappointed.
Since they have limited seating we best enjoyed it on weekdays. However, they are very efficient even when it is crowded. Expect to wait for 20 minutes or so if you go in peak hours.
So make sure if you visit Nashville or are living here eat here a few times ! This place should not be missed out.

Service is really friendly and the food was delicious! Love that for every day they have a different Curry my favorite was the green one which is on Wednesdays.

Such a cute Thai place in the middle of town! Seems like it’s family owned and has an eclectic feel.
I got the smiling elephant pad Thai and it was amazing! They use this special green bean noodle or something it was different than any other Thai noodles I’ve had before. I liked their version so much better!

The Smiling Elephant is one of my favorite places to get take out. Their Pad Kra Pao with ground pork is mind-​blowing. It’s a spicy pork stir fry with basil, garlic, and chili peppers served with a fried egg over rice. I particularly like the egg to be runny so that it oozes all over the dish. With a little bit of the spices that they pack on the side, the PKP is the perfect amount of heat with an amazing punch of flavor.
Eating in at the Smiling Elephant can be a bit of a hassle. It’s a tiny restaurant with only about 12 tables. It’s a bit cramped on the inside. The parking lot is also a huge cluster. The parking lot in the back is about as treacherous as it gets after a steep drop back there.
This is why take out is the way to go. It’s always ready within 10 minutes and served with a smile. Every time I check out the sweet owner always jokes with me about my total being $ 200 and then just giggles and giggles. It never fails to put a smile on my face.

The Smiling Elephant is my favorite Thai in Nashville — thus far. I say «Thus far» because I’ve only ever visited two other establishments and I probably won’t visit anymore. Because Smiling Elephant has my heart.
The location is centralized and easy to find. The atmosphere is quaint with a small amount of seating. The service is usually decent but not overly attentive by any means. I typically end up flagging a few people down but no one seems to mind and they are quick once you place a request for more water, silverware, etc.
The food is the winner. Everything is deliciously fresh. I have been to other Thai places that make the same vegetables for every dish and just change the sauce. Smiling Elephant keeps to traditional flavors and keeps the right fruits, nuts and veggies in the right dishes. Their Tom Kha is the perfect balance of lime, fish sauce and coconut milk. I’ve never been disappointed by a dish there but I keep returning to the Cashew Chicken. The portions are large and I always have plenty to take home. The prices are reasonable for the amount of food you get.

We were in town for a few days and were craving Thai. This is back in April.
This was not only top rated on Unilocal but also a few locals recommended it. We got beef pad kee mao and pad thai. It was good but I was expecting more given the hype. I have had better.. However their coconut custard dessert was so delicious. Do try that if they have it under the special.
It’s good I think given the area and there aren’t lots of Thai places.

Two filling and delicious bowls of curry and stir fry, and two iced teas, made for a delicious lunch!
The price was great, the employees were friendly and welcoming, and the décor was lovely.
I like how it looked like a garden nursery outside. ^^ it was very welcoming and friendly!

Heard this was the spot in Nashville for some top tier Thai food. We stopped in around 5:30 or so on a Friday and were seated right away.
The interior is pretty tight but it’s more cozy than crowded, nice atmosphere and homey. The staff was friendly and pleasant.
I had a tofu curry. The tofu wasn’t anything special but the curry was tasty and had plenty of spice without overpowering it. They give you plenty of rice.
Overall it was a good experience and I wouldn’t hesitate stopping in again when I’m in the area.

I’ve driven by Smiling Elephant a dozen times, staring at their garish sign proclaiming «Best Thai in Nashville.» I figured if they were really that good, they wouldn’t need a sign.
Anyway, stopped by tonight to see for myself. I called ahead at 4:30pm to figure out the ideal time as reviewers mention the wait is horrible (spoiler: it is). Hostess mentioned that any time before 7 is good. I went at 5:45pm on Saturday. We waited for 35 minutes to be seated at a two person table (we had 3). When I arrived, I had already heard that they were no longer taking to go orders– it was that busy, so don’t think you can escape the wait from ordering it to go.
Given the solid wait time I had… I had plenty of time to visually explore the entire restaurant. Granted I could see the entrance, exit, bathrooms, kitchen and parking lot within my range of vision… anyway, the place is adorably and dare I say. sustainably decorated (minus the ginormous statue that greets you at the door). Imagine succulents galore– in reused pepsi bottles. I thought I was in East Nashville for a second.
Food (all dinner entrees were $ 12):
1) Favorite was the Pad Makea: A «Spicy, Sour Stirfry with Minced Pork, Eggplant, Tomatoes, Bamboo Shoots, and Thai Basil»
Easily agreed amongst us as the best dish. It was definitely both spicy and sour. The tomato base was a perfect twist to the dish. The eggplant was perfectly soft and soaked up the tomato flavor well. Bamboo shoots completed the dish with unexpected snap and crunch.
*Kind of disappointed our server did not ask us what level of spice we wanted for this dish, or any at that. Cause I woulda gone for «thai spicy.»
2) Of course we had to try the said «traditional» Pad Thai with Tamarind sauce (my favorite) and green bean noodles (which on the menu reportedly has half the carbs as regular rice noodles).
Definitely thought the noodles were delicious and surprisingly had more chicken to noodles. Unlike Pad Thai that you would be more accustomed to. this version is not as wet and over drenched in sauce. which I found quite pleasant. Had a distinct lime taste that I appreciate, although I wish they had more slices of lime on the side.
3) Larb Lettuce Wraps with minced pork– came with probably 6 lettuce boats. Definite sizable portion of meat. Way more then what you would construct with 6 boats. One thing I noticed was that they were quite heavy handed on the fish sauce. AND this is coming from a person that grew up near an island where their chief export was fish sauce… Definitely would not recommend this for someone who is sensitive to fish sauce/​odor.
4) Mango sticky rice-​$ 6: Essentially half a mango with sweet sticky rice– Hey its vegan with coconut milk and I believe palm sugar. Definitely over priced. Stick to the food truck version. I believe Deg Thai has one.
Tidbits:
1) Parking– 27 spots (total including the back space)
2) Tables– 14
3) To escape the rush (4:30 pm to 5:30)
4) To go orders = 5% surcharge
5) They are great for splitting checks– do it at the cash register
6) Its a horrible idea to eat here with more then 4 people– you will get the one big table by the door where there is always someone standing waiting for a table in your «safe space.»
7) Interesting observation– the restaurant has 4 parking spots for employees. Have you guys seen the ridiculously tight kitchen cook line? The chefs are literally there all day every day. (as evidenced by their parking– end to end). Hey, consistency right?
Overall, food was pretty good. However, coming from Atlanta, Im not sure if this place would hold a candle to some of my haunts. But hey, a $ 12 pad thai is still cheaper and less time consuming then a 4 hr drive.
Well maybe not on a Saturday night.

My boyfriend and I had a great first experience here! We had excellent customer service and the food was great.
The place was quite small, however we were able to get a table right away.
They got us in and out quite quickly, and the timing of our appetizers, soups, entrees, and deserts came out perfect.
Highly recommend!