Wat Mongkolratanaram, Thai Buddhist temple in Berkeley, United States

Wat Mongkolratanaram is a Thai Buddhist temple housed in a Victorian building at 1911 Russell Street that has been adapted with traditional Thai decorative elements and a modified entryway. Inside and outside, the space blends the original structure's features with religious artwork and altars that reflect Buddhist practice.

Wat Mongkolratanaram became a temple in 1976, and in 2001 it marked 25 years by completing renovations that adapted its Victorian-era building to temple style. In February 2009, neighbours sought to shut down the Sunday brunch, but Berkeley's Zoning Adjustments Board voted 8 to 1 to keep it.

This temple serves the Thai community as a gathering space where language courses and annual celebrations like Songkran in April help keep traditions alive. The Sunday brunch draws both worshippers and neighbors who want to experience authentic Thai food and culture.

The Sunday brunch is a public event open to non-Buddhists as well as temple-goers. Visitors buy tokens and exchange them for dishes at the food stations rather than paying each vendor directly. The temple sits in a residential part of Berkeley, so arriving early leaves time to find parking before the busiest hours.

The temple's Sunday food market faced neighborhood opposition in 2009 but was saved by strong community backing that convinced the city's Zoning Board to allow it. This decision protected the weekly gathering as an important public tradition.