eat oakland

Thai Buddhist Temple, Berkeley

Narrative
Sunday before going over to Stern Grove to see Ska Cubano and Spanish Harlem Orchestra with my father, we ventured to the Thai Buddhist Temple in Berkeley for Breakfast. My father was rather skeptical about eating Thai food for breakfast.

I asked him, "What do you think the Thai normally eat?" With my glib response, we drove over and arrived about 9:30. We were met by gracious hosts, a buffet of choices, and were filled to the brim with absolute goodness.

Contact Information
Thai Buddhist Temple Mongkolratanaram
1911 Russell Street
Berkeley, CA 94703
Phone: 510-849-3419

Hours
Oakland: Sun: 9am-1pm
(Educated guess. No website to confirm official hours.)

Cuisine
Thai restuarant favourites mingle with off-menu selections to offer the diner a choice of curries, soups, rice dishes, breads, and desserts that are spiced and served with pleasure. The vegetarian and the flesh-eater, alike, will be pleased by the selection.

Price Range
Inexpensive. Upon arrival at the temple, you purchase tokens. No money is exchanged or handled around the actual food. Generous portions are served for 5 tokens ($5). My father and I ate with leftovers for $18 and that included really large thai iced teas.

SUMMARY
I lead my father with a sense of adventure to this treasure tucked into one of the quieter streets of Berkeley.

The carvings on the front of the building are gorgeous and I think opened my father's mind to the experience.

Sunshine streamed onto the gold and red painted dragons. We walked up the sidewalk to the back and were met with white awnings to cover the tables and an array of food that made it difficult to choose among the offerings.

The host answered our questions when we asked how many tokens would be appropriate. He assured us that $20 would allow us endless combinations of options and that the temple would buy back whatever tokens we did not use. Since we had nothing to lose, we bought the $20 and returned $2 when we had more than enough with a steamed fish and rice, yellow chicken curry, and green vegetarian/tofu curry.

The rice was perfect -- fragrant jasmine and soft. It absorbed the curries well. The curries lingered slightly on the palate to tease with spice enough to make it flavourful without shocking an uninitiated tongue to never venture into thai cuisine again. Our fish was large, gorgeous, and steamed. It fed the both of us well.

We had plenty of leftovers that allowed me lunch for the next two days.

Every student and staff person there was filled with hospitality. We were treated as honored guests. Myself, my father, and all of those who came after us and cued to purchase their tokens for their Sunday morning brunch.

Service
Walking onto the temple property one felt welcome, not a sense of unsure tourist. Everyone was helpful and gracious to everyone who found their way inside -- including traditional gentry and skater kids. Every guest there seemed to recognize the atmosphere of respect and took care to mind their manners. Really pleasant to experience.

Rest Rooms
My father and I rushed to Stern Grove after we ate, so we didn't experience the rest rooms.

posted by wrki @ 8:29 PM