Elephant Ear
Thai restaurant · 690 9th Ave, New York, NY 10036, United States · United States
★ 4.8 on Google · 6,403 reviews · View on Google Maps
Manipulation score
CleanCompleted Jul 19, 2026 · 319 reviews flagged
How this score works
The score estimates how strongly this place's review record matches known manipulation patterns, from 0 (no signs) to 100. Verdicts: Clean below 40, Suspicious from 40, Likely Manipulated from 70; Review Drive when the flags are mostly staff asking customers for named reviews. It rises with the share of reviews flagged and how suspicious each one is.
- Burst
- — an abnormal spike of five-star reviews in a single day compared to the place's usual pace.
- Low activity account
- — the reviewer has almost no other reviews, photos, or Local Guide history; throwaway accounts look like this.
- Duplicate text
- — the wording is nearly identical to another review of the same place.
Verdicts are statistical estimates based on public review patterns, not accusations. Full methodology, signal definitions and known limits →
Case conclusion
What the numbers say
1,000 reviews examined
- Google rating
- 4.8★
- Not-flagged average
- 4.7★
- Flagged
- 32%
- Coverage
- 16%
All reviews shown by Google
681 examined reviews
319 of 1,000
1,000 of 6,403 Google reviews
“Not flagged” means no configured Revdict signal matched; it does not prove a review is genuine. Data fetched Jul 19, 2026.
Review brief
What reviews not flagged by Revdict say
Elephant Ear is a popular, bustling Thai restaurant in Hell's Kitchen known for its vibrant ambiance, creative cocktails, and flavorful dishes. While many reviewers report standout meals and attentive service from specific staff members, others cite issues with long wait times, rushing to turn tables, and inconsistent food quality.
+ Repeated strengths
Flavorful Thai Food and Specialty Dishes
Reviewers frequently praise the delicious and authentic taste of dishes like the Pad Thai, pineapple curry duck, and Crying Tiger.
3 supporting reviews
5★ · 2026-04-27
Great spot for Thai! Pineapple curry duck was delicious. Wanted to try the crying tiger but maybe next time. Prim was very friendly!
5★ · 2026-05-04
Amazing food and drinks. Thanks Hazel for the amazing service.
5★ · 2026-05-16
M was super helpful. I was undecided on dishes and he told me go for the pork belly and I'm so glad I did! Great portion size and the Mai Thai were so fresh!
Attentive and Friendly Service
Many patrons highlight exceptional, welcoming service and helpful menu recommendations from specific members of the waitstaff.
3 supporting reviews
5★ · 2026-04-27
Really good! We just popped in. Got the pork belly with chili and basil, and the tiger prawns. Sooo good! The service was amazing- Zach was the best. He knows his menus well and gave great reqs. and the drinks were delicious. Not a single c...
5★ · 2026-04-27
Hazel was the kindest hostess. Would definitely come back
5★ · 2026-05-04
I had such a great experience thanks to M! From the moment we sat down, they made us feel welcomed and taken care of. Their energy was warm, attentive, and genuine—not forced like you sometimes get. They knew the menu really well and gave s...
Attractive Atmosphere and Decor
Reviews often mention that the restaurant features a cute, cozy, and well-decorated environment that provides a great vibe for dinner or drinks.
2 supporting reviews
5★ · 2026-04-28
Very very beautiful place, ambiance is a 10/10 and great place for pics! Def will be coming back
5★ · 2026-04-30
Nice cozy place with comfortable decor. Located on 9th Ave in Hell's kitchen and within walking distance from theatre's. Had the coconut chicken soup and shrimp pad thai. Both were very delicious.
− Repeated complaints
Rushed Service and Table Turnaround
Several reviewers report feeling heavily rushed by staff eager to turn tables, with checks dropped early or guests asked to leave while finishing drinks.
3 supporting reviews
2★ · 2026-04-30
Food was really good. Unfortunately service was good until they decide to cut our time while one of us was still eating and two of us we still have drinks they brought the check with out us asking for . We have a birthday to celebrate and w...
2★ · 2026-05-02
We were told we had an hour and 20 minutes, which is fine, but the entire experience was cut down to barely an hour. The server hovered while we were trying to order, repeatedly checked if we were done while we were still eating, dropped th...
4★ · 2026-05-26
I really debated whether to give 4 or 5 stars..first they dont let you put your name on a list you just stand outside & wait for the host to come get you which ended up with us waiting a while, feeling like he may have skipped us & having t...
Inconsistent Food Quality and Temperature
Some diners complain about dishes arriving lukewarm, overly dry, or lacking in the expected depth of authentic Thai flavor.
2 supporting reviews
1★ · 2026-05-04
I was shocked at how packed this restaurant was vs the mediocre food they serve as well as the sub par service. I can only guess that it's mostly tourists who don't know any better. We had reservations (and was told we only had 1.5 hours......
2★ · 2026-05-16
The service and ambiance is good. However, the Mixed Seafood with Salty Duck was cold when served. The steak in Crying Tiger was lukewarm. They helped warm it up after I requested. The shrimp and steak were super hard to chew as well. Not s...
Crowded Conditions and Long Wait Times
Visitors note that the restaurant gets extremely busy, leading to long waits for tables even with reservations and a loud, noisy environment.
2 supporting reviews
1★ · 2026-05-04
I was shocked at how packed this restaurant was vs the mediocre food they serve as well as the sub par service. I can only guess that it's mostly tourists who don't know any better. We had reservations (and was told we only had 1.5 hours......
4★ · 2026-07-18
Tried Elephant Ear for the first time and was thoroughly impressed by the food.The only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is that it gets incredibly busy during dinner rush,so we had to wait a little bit for our table even with a reservation....
Good for
- Casual dinner and drinks with friends
- Pre-theater meals in Hell's Kitchen
- Date nights featuring vibrant aesthetics and cocktails
Avoid if
- You prefer a quiet, relaxed dining environment without loud noise
- You dislike being rushed or having strict time limits on your table
- You are looking for guaranteed quick seating during peak dinner hours
Review anatomy
Reviews per month
| Month | Reviews | Flagged |
|---|---|---|
| Apr ’26 | 130 | 35 |
| May ’26 | 497 | 161 |
| Jun ’26 | 320 | 112 |
| Jul ’26 | 53 | 11 |
Rating distribution
Evidence
- low activity account 317 reviews flagged weight 0.8
- duplicate text 2 reviews flagged weight 0.9
Flagged reviews
Exhibit — 2 reviews, near-identical wording
Great food & place! M is the best server The branzino was delicious.
- Anushka Poddar ★★★★★ 2026-05-23 suspicion 90
- Jaianand Lalwani ★★★★★ 2026-05-23 suspicion 90
Showing the 10 most suspicious of 317 remaining flagged reviews.
Mrs. Ramsey
1 review
★★★★★
2026-04-24
This place was awesome! Our waiter made excellent suggestions and M was just wonderful 🥰
Vinisha Patel
1 review
★★★★★
2026-04-24
Great service by M
iya t
1 review
★★★★★
2026-04-24
M was such a great server and the food was delicious! Definitely coming back again!!!
Haram Virk
1 review
★★★★★
2026-04-24
Loved everything. Especially M’s service.
None Of Your Business
1 review
★★★★★
2026-04-24
Incredible food and service from M! Crying Tiger was 10/10.
Alex Park
2 reviews
★★★★★
2026-04-24
M da goat
Rishabh Shah
2 reviews
★★★★★
2026-04-25
Really great food! I am a vegetarian and I loved the food. It’s a departure from the basic food that thai restaurants serve so it was a pleasant surprise.
Joel
2 reviews
★★★★★
2026-04-25
Food was excellent, great service and ambience!
Marina Bien
2 reviews
★★★★★
2026-04-25
M was the best server. Good was great!
shreya malani
1 review
★★★★★
2026-04-26
New york city’s BEST. April is the best waiter
Report generated Jul 19, 2026. Reviews change — you can request a fresh investigation.
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