Blue Elephant Thai Cuisine

My son and daughter-in-law treated us to The Blue Elephant last night and all I can say is WOW! Best Thai food that I have ever eaten. I’ve read a lot of reviews complaining about the time, and not being able to get a seat when they see open seats. This establishment is ran by one man. He does everything, from seating you and getting your drinks, to cooking and preparing the food and all the while making sure your drinks are refilled. This is why it is by reservation only and why you see open seats. He is doing everything by himself and filling up a restaurant would not be feasible. I will say if you ever get the chance and make a reservation, do it!!

The decor and everything else was absolutely beautiful! The food was amazing! Truly authentic Thai food! By reservation only. Very expensive but worth every penny!!!! Made to order by the chef and owner, Doc. He is a very sweet man and an amazing chef! A definite must visit if in Murrell's inlet! I had the Crispy Duck Pad Tai(I think). I got it Medium, very spicy! Got even more spicy after sitting in the fridge for a few days. More food than we could eat in one sitting!!! Warning Authentic spice level will beat even the most stout person! If you ask they will let you try the spice before you order so you can judge how spicy you want it. Ten times hotter than any 'authentic' Thai restaurant I have ever been to! But it's a sneaky heat so you get to taste all the flavor before the heat kills your taste buds lol. Warning the duck dishes are real duck so keep an eye out for bones! Doc is the only person in the kitchen so be patient!

We had an unforgettable dining experience at Blue Elephant Thai Cuisine in Murrells Inlet, SC as always! ✨From the vibrant flavors to the beautiful presentation, this place will exceed all expectations. 😍 The pineapple fried rice with salty pork floss was a tasty revelation, elevating the dish to a whole new level of deliciousness. When I’m telling you that this dish is 100/10 highly recommend, I’m not exaggerating.🍍🐖 But that's not all! The green curry was bursting with flavor once I added a little bit of the salty pork floss. It needed salt but it’s not readily available on the table. 🌿🌶

Some key notes/takeaways:

-Reservation only

-Cash only

The owner is usually the only person running the show here so reservations are a must. No walk ins unfortunately. The food is a work of art and a culinary adventure for the taste buds for sure. 🖼 The dishes can be spicy so please note if it says spicy on the menu it’s gonna be hot. 🌶 🥵 This isn’t the place where you want to go all out and order a spice level higher than two. My husband and I love spice and found out years ago this one tip can ruin your evening. 😂

With that being said it is a must try if you live or are visiting the Grand Strand. Don’t try to dine here if you are in a rush. Plan a nice date night and enjoy each others company.

If you're in the area, I highly recommend giving this gem a try. Trust me, your taste buds will thank you! 😋 #BlueElephantThaiCuisine #MurrellsInletSC #FoodieParadise #FlavorfulDelights #MyrtleBeachFoodieBabe #ThaiFood

So, you must call ahead and reserve a spot. Do not expect fast dining. However, you can expect fantastic dining.

Chef Paul is so courteous and kind and the food he prepares so lovingly for his customers is nothing short of amazing.

The atmosphere is unmatched and decorated very well. I would absolutely come here again to make it a yearly tradition.

If you are having doubts, I urge you to try it. The quality of the food and the service will not disappoint.

Five of us had a wonderful intimate dinner tonight. The owner, chef (in 24th year) waited on us and served up a delicious meal that included appetizers, pad Thai, shrimp dish and beer and wine. Have been before and will come again. NOTE: mandatory to make a reservation or do take out.

a gem of a place. the food was phenomenal. it is reservations only but well worth it. it’s also one guy here running the entire thing by himself. we had the dumplings, spring rolls, and chicken skewers for starters. we had the pad thai, the duck, a pork curry and a shrimp fried rice for entrees. definitely check this place out

Several things you should know before you go here: Cash only. One guy is the owner, chef and waiter. It may be slow and dishes may come out at different times. If you're a persnickety customer, stay away. If you can handle some small glitches, be patient and you'll be rewarded with really good Thai food. Go with folks you like and the wait won't be a deal breaker. The Pad Thai is authentic and full of flavor. Any of the curry dishes (especially duck) will be awesome. Great menu. Plenty of parking

What a truly unique dining experience! Chef/Owner Paul was very engaging and wonderful at creating authentic Thai dishes. We will definitely be returning.

My favorite Thai at the beach! Best chicken coconut soup, drunken noodles (pad kee mao) and spring rolls. My boyfriend and I split the below and it was more than enough. Really nice chef - make sure you call for reservations.

Remarkable! Delicious, authentic Thai with a cozy atmosphere. The entire operation is run by a very nice gentleman who is a gracious host and an exquisite chef. Almost felt like having dinner in someone's home.

This place is cash/check only, so don't bring your plastic.

Pictured: the Pad Kee Mao; always a go-to when I try a new Thai place.

I'm a spicy food junkie and ordered the medium spice so I could share. That was plenty hot, too! Great balance of flavors.

Will absolutely return here.

Can't say enough about the food it's beautiful presentation and flavor is on point !

The food was fabulous and the presentation was beautiful!

Great atmosphere and excellent wait staff. You must make a reservation, and they only take cash or check. The menu lists four levels of spiciness, but based on our first time dining there, I suspect there are actually only two levels: mild and spicy. (like the dry cleaners where they ask if you want light, medium or heavy starch.) Though I generally enjoy spicy foods, I’ll only order mild at this restaurant going forward.

From the outside it looks more like a vacant building, however like they say looks can be deceiving. Inside is nicely decorated the dishes are very ornate. The food was spectacular well presented and very flavorful. Each dish prepared individually to perfection. This is a for sure hidden gem and we will be returning. Be aware that they only accept cash or checks no credit cards and will only seat you if you have reservations.

WOW! The food was AMAZING! We tried many dishes and they were all excellent! I had the duck entrée and the shrimp wanton app. Every dish was delicious! Heads up- the spicy scale is set high, so go on the milder side of what you want. We will definitely be her again. EXCELLENT!

Best authentic Thai in the state. Expect long wait times for food but its worth the wait.. No credit cards or debit.

After walking through The Night of 1000 Candles at Brookgreen Gardens we worked up an appetite and decided to stop for dinner and it was getting late. We looked on Yelp to find a restaurant on the way home and found the Blue Elephant. The only problem was my car’s GPS took us somewhere else and it was getting late. I called the restaurant and he gave us directions. We got there a little before closing, the proprietor in fact unlocked door to lat us in.
We ordered the pineapple shrimp special and beef dish with an assortment of vegetables in a curry sauce. They were both delicious and we never felt rushed.
As fabulous as the meal was, the best thing was seeing the proud expression on the proprietor’s face as we ate, he knew we were enjoying his culinary skills. We talked to him as we were leaving and he told us he had the business 20 years. Can you imagine after 20 years of running a restaurant he still took that much pride in preparing a meal for some late arriving guests. His delicious meals showed how much he loves his patrons.

Food was incredible, fresh and authentic. Don't be put off by exterior. Owner is chef, answers phone and waits on tables! Warm and hospitable. Person in our group has food allergies, and he was incredibly accommodating. Reservations recommended. If you are in a hurry go to McDonald's or a chain.

Some of the best food in Murrells Inlet. We love this place, it authentic and each dish is full of fresh ingredients. I personally love the crispy duck #27 dish on the menu. Be patient when you go there as it is a small eatery but the owner does all the cooking and sometimes attends to the tables. It is more than worth the wait to dine in this quaint eatery. So get a bottle of wine, start a conversation with your company and enjoy the culinary experience. Highly Recommend the Blue Elephant if you are looking for great Thai food. PS dont go crazy on the spice scale as everything is available from 1 to 4 peppers. Two peppers is a perfect heat and 4 must just be for the fire eater. Love this place!

This was by far the best restaurant, we ate at on are trip. Get the dumplings, it was the very best dumplings I have ever eaten. The curry was good I personally should of upped my heat level. The drunken noodles was great. Honestly amazing food all and all.