Great food. Fast service. Friendly staff. Nice peaceful and relaxing restaurant. We have tried most everything on the menu and it has always been great. read more

Thai Tea....Me like!!! Seafood Pad Thai. Plenty of Scallops, Calamari, shrimp. Entree serving is same as lunch serving but strange it doesn't come with the noodles, roll etc that lunch comes with. Still all was pretty good. Service ok. I'd come back to try other items. read more

Extremely tasty food in a cozy setting. After a busy day of Black Friday shopping, we decided to stop here to refuel. We started with calamari, dumplings and Equator Golden Roll appetizers. All three were tasty but the sauces were the star of the course! We continued with Shrimp Pad Kee Mow, Chicken Mussaman Curry and Basil Eggplant with Shrimp. Although we felt that the entrees would be more than enough, one diner insisted on the ultimate fried rice and that choice did not disappoint. All of our entrees were served hot by our super friendly server. They were well seasoned and super yummy. We had a hard time deciding whether or not to eat everything or save some for later. The only reason I didn't rate this delicious meal 5 starsnis because the dining area and bathroooms could have used some cleaning. I will definitely return sooner rather than later! read more

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Over priced food and not very authentic. Gave it two chances and won't be returning. The equator rice wasn't very appetizing and the pineapple was straight out of the can. Disappointed. read more

Came in for a work lunch, place smelled good upon arrival. Restaurant was not very busy and had lots of open tables, but the hostess tried to stuff the 4 of us into a tiny booth. We asked if we could spread out to the adjoining table and she said no. We had 2 men with us who then had to squish themselves together uncomfortably. By the way, the entire roll of tables remained empty during our entire visit. My coworker ordered a diet coke and it was flat. She told the waitress and she said they wait for 5 separate complaints before they call in for service?!? I ordered the Tofu Lava lunch special for $7.99. Food was flavorful, but portion was tiny (think child size). I put a picture of my plate on this site. Overall the food was good, but I don't think I'd come again because lack of service and the small portion size. You can do better. read more

Cafe Equator - I think I might still be hungry after this lunch? Hmmm... - Thai Near Me - Metairie, Louisiana

If you don't want to wait in line at Shake Shack just walk over and grab some pad Thai and new dish I was lucky to experience Samet. This crispy fried fish was sitting in a place covered with a delicious sweet Thai chili sauce and served with white rice. I was pleasantly surprised after trying this. I want more! read more

Tom Yum Goong soup is out of this world. I also had the yellow curry, which was great, but if you start with that soup, nothing else can hold a candle to it. read more

I like the ambiance of Cafe Equator but the dishes are hit or miss with some being really tasty and others just bland. I've eaten at almost all of the Thai restaurants in this city so I feel like I have a good handful of places to compare Equator to. I first ate here years ago and remember it being just okay on a number of occasions, so I stayed away for a while. This past Sunday, I was craving Thai and didn't want to drive too far from my house due to #SaintsGameday traffic, so I decided to have dinner here with a couple of friends. I like that they're open on a Sunday because not many places are. They weren't busy here but the service was still on what I'd consider the slow side. We ordered the stuffed chicken wings, pad thai, pad see ew, ginger tilapia and thai green curry. The pad thai and ginger tilapia were my favorites with really good flavor. The green curry was good too but had a really strong kick. (Beware as this one is definitely THAI SPICY). I didn't care for the stuffed chicken wings - it was better in concept than in execution - or the pad see ew, which was really bland. They do, however, have a very large menu (tons of vegetarian options included) so I'd want to return to try other dishes. Price point was fair and I like their convenient hours and location. The front parking lot is a bit cramped but I think there may be more spots in the back of the restaurant. read more

This is probably my favorite Thai restaurant or second favorite, like ever. I am never disappointed and I've been coming here for years. Their Thai tea and drunken noodle are by far my favorite over any other Thai restaurant. All of the appetizers are really good, especially the chicken satay and the calamari. Their sticky rice and mango is also a must for dessert! Love this place so much, if they were to ever close I'd cry. read more

After Black Friday shopping, we popped into Equator and had a very nice dinner. Although the server disappeared a few times, overall, the food was very tasty, fresh and prepared just as we ordered it. I would definitely recommend Equator. read more

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Food was delicious. They have a large vegetarian section on the menu. It notes that they use veggie stock in every dish in this section, no chicken stock, fish sauce or shrimp paste unless requested. Food came out really fast, staff is very friendly. read more

They never disappoint at Cafe Equator. Absolutely delicious food! My favorite is the Massaman Curry. Yum!!

Mundane Thai. Fish dishes offer tilapia which speaks volumes about their commitment to ingredients. Nothing sparkles. We tried a few dishes of which the calamari was pretty good. The beef dish was overwhelmingly sweet. The larb was bland and flavors uneven. Service however was stellar. read more

Basil chicken is my most favorite! I order out at least once a week! Its so delightful, healthy and light. I get brown rice and i love they have that option! Also chicken satay is delish as well the cucumber sauce is something i would put on everything!!! read more

I ordered the Panang curry. It was awful, an embarrassment to Thai cuisine. Not even close! My mother had the pad Thai- also a disappointment- wrong noodle and it was drenched in sauce that seemed to be of the jarred variety. The staff was very nice and didn't charge me. I won't be coming here again, but I do hope they take steps to represent a more authentic Thai cuisine. read more

My favorite and go-to thai place. Pad thai, green curry, and Pad see ew are all delicious choices. My favorite appetizers are the golden roll and fried chicken dumplings. Great place for dine in or takeout, we have received great service either way! read more

Lunch hot spot!!! Almost a once a week lunch spot for me. I've never had a bad chicken pad Thai experience here. The servers are very kind and bring you as many refills as you can stand. Lunch comes with edamame, a spring roll and a mound of whatever you choose. You will not leave hungry. Don't skip the appetizers because they are delicious. Affordable, quick lunch spot for anyone working in the Metairie area. read more

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Would write a review on their food...however we didn't even get the chance to eat.. The hostess sat us down, we looked over the menu and no one came by to ask us for our drinks. I told my other half to wait for another 10 minutes to see if they would noticed us then two other tables sat near us who already gotten their food ordered and drinks placed. After fifteen-twenty minutes, still no one has taken our order. We decided to leave. So we told the hostess what happened, and as she tried to apologize, our "waitress" tapped on her (host) shoulder saying that she shouldn't apologize to us. read more

What I like about this restaurant is that I've never had to wait to be seated. The service is very good. I enjoy eating their chicken pad Thai. It's a huge portion. The noodles are perfectly cooked. The sauce is tasty. You can also order shrimp or a combo shrimp and chicken pad Thai. Their summer rolls are fresh and light. It's a good starter app. It's very casual dining. It can be difficult to find a parking spot during the lunch or dinner rush. I suggest getting there before hand. I've never had a bad meal there. You can order take out. It's usually ready within 15 minutes or so. read more

I've been coming to Equator since 2007 and I am sad to say that its just not what it used to be. The Pad Thai has been taken a few notches down in the flavor department. On my most recent trip I had to add a lot of sriracha to enhance the flavors. It used to be so perfectly balanced of sweet and spicy. I was holding out on this update because I didn't want to believe it, but my third attempt I can now confirm its blandness. My previous review from 2011 no longer stands true. The food is by no means bad, its just not as fabulous as it used to be. PS. they also don't split checks. read more

I'm that guy that shamefully orders pad thai almost every time i eat Thai. Sometimes the shame builds up to a point where I think to myself "perhaps I will try something different, expand my horizons, be adventurous!" During this phase I order something else, but it has never, ever been better than pad thai. I am excited to announce that all of this has changed. The Pad Thai here may actually be the worst thing on the menu. Not that it's bad (it's actually some of the best I've had since moving to New Orleans), but other things on the menu are just that good. You might think that I'm kidding, but I would never jest about such a serious topic. If you, too, have pah thai shame, I highly suggest you pay Cafe Equator a visit. side notes: service was super fast AND friendly! price is right too: ~10 for lunch! pro-tip: the massaman will blow your mind read more

Thai food for me!!! Since I have discovered this place years ago , no other thai comes even close. The second you walk into the restaurant you smell the seasonings and flavors of what you are about to enjoy. They also love to play relaxing spa music, which is odd and yet fitting. However, the only massage you will get here will be the glorious authentic taste of Thailand rolling over your tongue. How do I know it is authentic...I don't...but the menu said authentic and I like this place so whateves. They have some pretty solid apps including chicken sate, dumplings, gyrogrub(sp), and blanket Shrimp(which includes tempura fried shrimp, and delicious veggies- sweet potato is the best!). My one big gripe is that the Dumplings used to be pan fried and I would get them on every visit, but now they are deep fried and not nearly as good. The soups are when your lunch will begin to shine. The Won Ton soup is soothing and very simple with spot on taste. The coconut soup - I can't remember how to spell it but it is pronounced Tom Car Guy. I think that was what I used to call my old mechanic's listing in my phone contacts; Tom, Car Guy. This soup is bursting with flavor and extremely unique. I highly recommend it The main dishes are always amazing and consistent. I usually go with the Pad Thai as my staple. I get chicken and add extra veggies (there is a small upcharge). This is the best Pad Thai around. I usually ask for the spicy oil on the side to add a punch to the dish every now and then. That stuff is nuts, I will give you 3 dollars if you eat a spoon of it by itself. I challenge you! The beef lava, Massuman curry, drunken noodle, and Cashew Tori are all flavorful and will be an instant hit in your mouth. The lunch specials are cheap but because of that they fill up fast so be warned and prepare to get frustrated by a packed parking area. At dinner the entrées are bigger and are all around 12-14$. The service is very attentive. The Good: Amazing food Pleasant atmosphere service lunch specials The Bad: They changed the pan fried dumplings! boo this place is becoming so popular now, not sure why that bothers me(that is supposed to be a good thing right?) The Ugly: Not sure why, but after I eat here, an hour later I could easily eat it all over again....hmmm sounds like a "me" problem read more

Dear Yelpers, This is one of the times when you have failed me in my never ending search for good food for my belly, and it hurts. I don't understand how you rate so high such an expensive (for what it is) and uneventful meal. The green curry was watery and the pad thai was so ok I don't even remember why I didn't like it. All of this make me very sad. I really believe that we have a good relationship. I let you sleep in the right side of the bed and you can even hold the remote. All I ask is that you don't fall in love with mediocre places that overprice their food. You know that I am poor and that I suffer from disease that forces me to always eat good food. I bathe you, I give you love and I try to contribute every day with my own culinary experience. Don't worry, I am not mad, just disappointed. But I still love you. Best, Julio read more

My husband and I have been to this restaurant several times now, for take-out and dine-in and have yet to be disappointed! We are working our way through the chef specials and each one is more delicious than the next! The atmosphere in the restaurant is dark and quiet and the staff is always super friendly. A great place to eat during the week, or pick up if you're in a rush! read more

I really love this place. No, really. I may run off with this place and elope to Canada. I love it that much. The only thing I dislike is the location. I really wish it was next door to my house, or at least within delivery range (I don't actually know if the deliver, I am fantasizing here!) They have an entire vegetarian section, which also notes weather items have fish bits in them. YAY, cause fish parts will make me sick. Speaking of fish, they have a beautiful fish tank that my husband loves to peep on during dinner. The service is really good, and the food comes out fast. It's a little pricey, but I will pay for good food, especially when it is legitimately Thai, as opposed to the turds that Sukho Thai serves. I am continuing to eat here, slowly trying everything on the veg menu! Basically, you can get anything on the veg menu with veggies and/or tofu. I wish I could remember what I ate, but it was super good and spicy-ish with noodles. Anyway, I haven't had a bad bite here yet. Drop in and give it a whirl. read more

I had a wonderful 1-person lunch here and I have to admit, it wasn't bad for Metry stuff. It was completely empty when I came in but by the time I left, it had gotten over half full. My meal was delivered in a timely fashion and even though ti wasn't Thai hot like I ordered, the Pad Kee Mow (Drunken Noodle) were quite good. I am told that the next time I go, if I do not take The Girly, I will not be able to chew food for a week...so...next time, I will take The Girly. read more

Cafe Equator has hands down the best Tom Yum soup I've ever eaten. This is how I rate thai restaurants, hence the 5 stars. I love this place because they give you the option of traditional or american style thai dishes. I recommend you get the traditional style, you won't believe how much better it is. Besides the soup, I ordered Pad Thai (based on other yelpers' reviews), and one of their specialty curry dishes. The pad thai was good, but the curry was absolutely amazing. Wow, I might have to go there for dinner tonight. lol read more

Weekday lunch hot spot that you can always expect to be busy. Very moderately priced lunch specials, albeit the serving size is reflective of the cost. I've tried a litany of items here, and have yet to be disappointed. Expect service at lunch to be like any other super busy establishment: Fast, efficient, and not too personable. read more

My first experience with thai when I lived in New Orleans. I can't say I can remember my experience enough to critique the Pad Thai all that much but I do remember one thing. This place made me fall in LOVE with Pad Thai. Service I will say though is a bit bland, so don't go in expecting the royal treatment. read more

I had heard good and bad things about Cafe Equator so when I finally had a moment to try it out, I wasn't sure what to expect. I was disappointed with how small the portions were for the price, but if the food was going to be tasty I could have put that aside. I got the food as take out so didn't get a visual of the food until I arrived home. Though the potions were small, it smelled really good. The serious downer was that I only took the first bite when I discovered a long black hair in my food. Disgusted, I called to see what might be done to remedy the situation, and the woman who answered the phone hung up on me when I explained about the hair. The end result, They've lost a customer and I will not be recommending Cafe Equator to anyone I know. This was a disappointing experience. read more

I remember to take a pic before I have my noodle soup today.. super yummy.. I finished the whole thing. read more

Cafe Equator - Thai Near Me - Metairie, Louisiana

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Skip this one. You can get better and cheaper food at Siamese in Kennairie. Their pad thai is just ok. The chicken larb is pretty darn good but you can get it jsut as good somewhere else. Service was slow. Parking is a a complete disaster. I had to park two block away on a side street at night .. in heels needless to say not fun. Someone was so desperate for pakring they parked right behind the friend I met there blocking everyone in again not fun. So to recap mediocre overpriced Thai food drive a little further and go get some drunken noodles at Siamese it's worth it! read more

Definitely one of my favorite in New Orleans. I'm a regular here. I come at least once a week. Their Tom Yum Goong is really flavorful. I could taste the lime, lemongrass, and tamarind--sweet, sour, salty, all in one bite. I regularly order: Golden Rolls Something in the Jungle Drunken Noodles read more

Finally, I was able to use Yelp as a tourist does...arriving in a strange city with no idea what to do or where to eat and needing advice. The mysterious city was Metairie and since we were combining an airport pickup with a trip to Sears, I thought I would make the most of my trip. I came up with Cafe Equator...I love Thai food and haven't eaten any in ages so was very excited. Drove up and laughed, because it looked like a Thai Food Denny's from the outside...that same suburban chain restaurant architecture that says "Ummm, I don't know" Luckily, looks are deceiving. Staff was very friendly, waitress sweet and food good. 3 lunch specials, Pad Thai, Tilapia, and yellow curry so we'd get a variety...all good especially the Tilapia. I had to ask for Chili sauce for the Pad Thai...guess my pasty skin looked scared (I go full gusto in Thailand, usually surprising the local street cooks) to them. Once added, the food was as good as I's expect for the price. 3 meals, coffees and green teas: Maybe $32...very fair. I'm not going to make a trip out to Metairie just to go hear, but on an errand run, it's a great way to make a miserable shopping trip that I am dragged along on a lot more bearable. read more

Great recipes! Clean oil, and fresh produce make this a frequent craving! (For the brave: try the authentic recipes, and/or ask for a side of fish sauce!) read more

I love Thai food. When it comes to Thai food I have pretty high standards since it seems that New Orleans loves to charge over $10 for every single entree! It's so much more expensive than a low key Vietnamese restaurant. Anyways, I digress. Equator is a perfect after shopping lunch date spot. Right next to lakeside mall, it's prime location for a nice bite after shopping. The Tom Yum Soup is delicious, at $5 for a 12 ounce cup of soup. It's tasty but I try not to always get it. The Spicy chicken wings are salted and fried wings that have a slight amount of seasoning, paired with a separate sauce that is interesting and delicious! I wish I had sticky rice to go with it. The Pad Kee Mow, drunken noodles is always a delight. My boyfriend got the Ultimate Fried Rice. He was hesitant at first because it looked really really plain and sad. However the flavor was jam packed! It had a lot of flavor without being overloaded on salt or soy sauce. Not your plain fried rice take out. We got the mango sticky rice for dessert -- always a pleasure, but since mangoes aren't in season, they didn't have the same portion it normally would during mango season. However, the price remained the same. That sucked but it was still delish! My main reason to come back is because it's in Metairie, so close to the mall, and it satisfies your Thai craving. It isn't OMG THE BEST THAI FOOD. But it isn't OMG THIS PLACE SUCKS. It's just good. Plain good read more

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Incredible service & food. Pleasant surprise. Tons of healthy options & right across from Lakeside mall. Hidden gem. Definitely will be back! read more

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Not impressed. Tried this place once months ago and was disappointed. Food, very average. Prices not great for the portion sizes. Took a 6 month hiatus. Returned for takeout this time to see if anything had changed. Once again, lackluster thai food. Big disappointment considering how many good reviews it has. And to top it off with a cherry, I found black strands of hair in my food. Will not be back, I'll stick with LaThai on Prytania. read more

Cafe Equator - Drunken noodles to go...bleh - Thai Near Me - Metairie, Louisiana

For newbies or explorers, you can't do better than this place. THe pad thai was top notch and the subtle important ingredients like kaffir leaves and peppercorns are paid attention to. The Pad thai is easily enjoyed and eased into by fresh mouths, and all the appetizers will be easily palatable. For People Who Crave Thai Food: You can eat here. It delivers the goods for the most part. Haven't played with the curries yet because i hate Metairie, but everything is passable and inexpensive. They have to compete with that whole Severn Corridor, so the priceline is cheaper than the same-tier Thai Competition. One reviewer said this was on par with SukhoThai, but i found it to be more along the lines of LAThai with a huge pile more authenticity, except for the one thing i expect when i walk into a "home" to eat Thai: incense. I know that's totally irrelevant to the meal itself, but it is indeed the reason that if i just want some thai curry or a bowl of soup or some pad thai i don't feel like making myself, I go to Bangkok. Even if this, and others, are "better." I've hit this place twice now, once for the end of a decent-topped lunch (judging from the still dirty tables and exhausted minimal staff) and a very very slow dinner (gleaned by the gorgeous and overly-attentive staff who still made easily heard quiet racist comments (not in engrish) despite having their pretty faces on (with a black girl). Both time service was apt and asian, no frills, and excited over a not-fifteen percent tip; no surprises on any of this. If you're in the burbs and already driving down Severn while hungry, give it a shot. Unless you're going the other way, then Mandarin House is like 3 minutes away. read more

Patience is a virtue but waiting 40 minutes for soup is ridiculous. I told the water I had been waiting and had to leave because I have an appointment. he didn't care the least. read more