Funky Elephant is preparing to close its doors permanently after just three years of business. The classic Thai restaurant will serve its last meal on June 21. The original location of the restaurant in West Berkeley will continue to serve the community.
Funky Elephant Says Goodbye to Valencia Street
Owned by chefs Supasit Puttikaew and Nanchaphon Laptanachai, Funky Elephant opened at 1270 Valencia Street in 2023, serving authentic Thai cuisine with a modern twist.
During the Valencia Street outpost debut, the owner, Puttikaew said, “It’s about time for us to grow. Our customer base isn’t just in Berkeley, it’s all over the Bay Area, and we would like to introduce ourselves to a new neighborhood.”
The restaurant menu draws inspiration from Thai street vendors and carries bold flavors and fresh ingredients. Recommended items on the menu include pad Thai Old Skool, crispy rice salad, and party wings.
In an Instagram post, the restaurant team shared the news of its sudden closure. The team wrote, “It’s coming to an end. Our last service day in San Francisco is Sunday, June 21st.”
View this post on Instagram
They also thanked the community and fans for their support and wrote, “Massively! Thank you for all the good vibes and support. Thank you for all the good memories. Thank you and thank you.”
The restaurant team did not share any official reason for its closure. In the post, the team encouraged customers to visit before the restaurant’s final day of service.
“We hope to see you all and get to say goodbye before we leave. You can still see us in Berkeley when you get a chance,” added the team.
Original Berkeley Location Remains Open
Funky Elephant’s original location in Berkeley, at 1313 Ninth Street, Suite 120, was founded in 2018. The restaurant built its reputation by serving non-traditional Thai cooking.
The Berkeley location earned Michelin recognition in 2022. The restaurant was celebrated for excellent, high-quality Thai comfort food.
“We encourage you to redeem your purchased gift cards during this time of service. We’re hoping for one last week of support,” said the team.
In the post, the team also mentioned, “Restaurant owners, if you’re looking for good people that would cause you zero headache to work with, please let us know!”
Even though the Funky Elephant restaurant only operated for a brief period, it has left a lasting mark on the food community.
