If you need a spicy kick to help wake you up on a Sunday morning, then a Thai brunch at the Thai Buddhist Temple Mongkolratanaram in Berkeley is the perfect place to liven up your senses.

The popular culinary event, located at 1911 Russell St., attracts a diverse crowd of college students, Buddhist monks and locals both young and old, as they all gather for a scrumptious, button-popping meal.

“It’s like one big family barbecue or something. It kind of makes me miss my family,” UC Berkeley student Linda Nguyen says. “This is soul food, Asian-style.”

Although inviting, the elaborate, gold-plated entryway is not the way to the brunch. When following the aroma of basil and lemongrass used abundantly in the cooking, the outside corridor on the right leads to an open, quad-like setting. Dozens of long, cafeteria-style picnic tables cover the outdoor eating and serving area.

“Woooowsers!” exclaims an enthusiastic, blonde-haired boy walking toward the patio where the food is served. His reaction pretty much sums up just how crowded it can get. The swarms of people often end up leaking into the lawn of the public library next door. For first-timers, the large mass of people can be a little overwhelming, especially if you’re unfamiliar with how the system works.

Instead of paying the servers directly with money, it is first exchanged for tokens at a dollar per token. One item over rice is four tokens and add one token per extra item. With drinks and dessert, you might spend around $7 or $8. There is also a vegetarian selection.

“The food here is real, authentic Thai food,” Yoeun Yun, a former volunteer, says. “It’s not catered to white consumers because they use the real stinky fish sauce and not just lime juice to make their dishes.”

The brunch opens at 10 a.m. and lasts until they run out of food, which is usually around 1:30 p.m., so don’t be late. And if you’re looking for a post-meal stroll, the Ashby BART station flea market, located only a block away, is the perfect place to do it.