Emerald Thai Restaurant

Have NO IDEA what this place is doing! They used to be GREAT. They continue to make changes to become more mediocre. The lunch menu is now so BLAND and not imaginative.
People go to a Thai restaurant to experience something different, exciting and FRESH! We want BOLD flavors and twists on the normal. Not just a cheap lunch with a lot of food. Go back to the drawing board before you go out of business. Clean up the restaurant. It looks kind of dingy. Recreate something special with sauces and a great menu. My lunch was so bland, with no texture or spice. The sauce was heavy and not developed. The soup at the salad bar tasted like hospital food. The fried aps at the salad bar were cold and soggy. They used to come out hot and crunchy every 20 minutes. The soup used to have a lot of ginger and spice and a rice-​like porage. They used to have salt, pepper, chili oil and cold salad dressing in a closed container, all of that is now gone and there is an open bowl of warm dressing… YIKES! This place used to be PACKED at lunch and dinner and now, it is a ghost town. :(

I came here spontaneously with some med school buddies, because we were all craving thai for some reason. It was a little out of the way for us, but one person in our group of 4 had been here before and said it was good so we decided to try it. Right from the beginning, service was non-​existent, even though the place was practically devoid of other customers. We waited awhile for someone to come to the front and seat us, and we had to constantly ask for some water and menus which they kept forgetting to bring us. When we were finally able to flag down a waitress, I ordered my usual pad thai, as did one of my friends (important later). After what seemed like forever and contemplating if we should just leave because it was almost time for us to head back, our food slowly started trickling out. I say this because there was a 5−10min lull between each dish instead of everything coming out at the same time. And then my dish never came. We inquired with our waitress, especially since it wasn’t an unusual order and the other pad thai had come out. She was gone for 10min talking with the manager, and when she came back, she informed me that it would be another 30−40min for them to make a new batch. At this point I was extremely hangry and we all would’ve left if the others hadn’t already gotten their food. I was going to cancel my order, but the waitress kept insisting that it would be delicious and come out any minute (LIES). When it did come out, somehow it was cold even though they had «just made it» and the taste was horrible. Good thing we only had time for me to get a few bites in, because it was absolute trash (no other way to describe it). We couldn’t get out of there fast enough, but of course there was no one around the cash register for us to pay. Needless to say, I never have and never will be returning.

Very good food for the price. Friendly and courteous staff, if you order lunch it comes with a free salad or soup. Unfortunately, if you order lunch to-​go the soup or salad is not included. That should be changed. Otherwise work give me a try if you haven’t been.

I’ve ordered to-​go from here twice. The first time, it was phenomenal. The second time it was far below average. Both times I got the pad thai and thai basil chicken. I think for the price — $ 11.95 for pad thai, which is a little lower than average — the restaurant would be amazing if the second experience was similar to the first. But, I find that I am saving two or three dollars and sacrificing consistency. I haven’t gone back, because I’d rather head to Suan in downtown Fort Lauderdale and pay two more dollars for a product that blows me out of the water each and every time.

Service is quick! FOOD IS SO GOOD! Best tofu we have ever had, we have been here less than 20minutes and our plates are almost done! Refills are constant and they offered free sauces! COME HERE!!!

A very good Thai restaurant. Food and quality is excellent. Ambiance is sub par. Always available seating, never a wait time. Price is very affordable.

I’ve been going here for years and the food started to decline in taste and quality. We heard there were new owners. We have ordered from the new owners three times and every time it’s been EXCELLENT.

I’ve been a customer for a less than a year and put up with some pretty substandard service & with sub par food just for convenience, location and sub par lunch buffet!
I’m a sucker for Thai lunch buffet’s:)
But today was the last straw: (
I was at a friends house which was 45 mins away this time (I live 10 mins away) :
anyways after convincing them I like place and it’s worth it I was calling to place my order yay :)
However it was a short lived happiness
Called to place a regular take out order
The lady who claimed to be the only manager and person running the place
«Sue» without even saying hello says
HOLD rudely and puts phone face down
Not even hold please lol
Puts down her cordless phone down face for 45 minutes I know because I waited 15 minutes listening to her talk to employe about life (not on hold!)
This is happening just as I’m leaving my friends house 45 mins away to pick it up — so I hang up and call back its busy over and over for the whole 45 min ride: (I shouldn’t have left and or I should have turned around knowing what I know now!)
Anyways
I called the whole way there and their phone was left off hook by the entire time since the sue lady picked up the phone and left it face down for 45 minutes (I feel bad for owner on –Sunday night after the 4^th — how many ORDERS DID THEY LOOSE$! during 45 minutes at peak dinner time)
Anyways when I get there
I’m nice enough to tell sue in a nice way, you left me on hold and then kept your phone off the hook for 45 mins and are probably loosing a lot of business!
She said what you just came here to make me feel bad, I don’t need your attitude if u want food u better be nice to me. LMFAO
(no good deeds go unpunished! My friends!) learn from my mistake :)
I was not even being sarcastic, I was not even going to raise my voice. I informed her of her lack of customer service to say the least lol and went to a great Thai place from my past.
{I was hoping for omg Thank You! For telling me can I rush your order ;) or maybe a free desert — NOT}
NO she was an a-​hole the entire time so I walked out — place was empty idk why she was so frazzled AND IM SURE THE OWNER SUFFERS FOR IT!$!$!$$$
Maybe owner shouldn’t let waitress’s run place who knows
So i gave her a large piece of my mind because I’m not afraid to, in any shape or form, and I took my hard earned money $ and I went to a place that appreciates and deserves it ;)
THE
Bangkok café instead and it was so much better (just as I remember)
Real Thai people working and cooking there
I told them story and they rushed my food in 10 mins
And it was Awsome
Pad Thai was juicy and I didn’t even ask
I got extra brown rice free
Tum ka soup was Awsome and full of chicken and vegetables. Truly authentic
Etc…;)
I recommend Bangkok café
Around forever and authentic and friendly;)
Sometimes it takes a bad experience to remind us of something better and older
With the 5 min drive off 595! I can’t believe I was sacrificing taste for convenient location
Never again.
FYI. addy for Bangkok Café
Add it to ur fav’s
Bangkok Café
4801 S University Dr
Unit 109
Davie, FL 33 328

Gotten food from here several times, always good so far. .I enjoy 2 – 3 stars of heat. I am typical enjoying the beef and vegetables with rice. When I can I get Spring Roll– vegetable. All of this is a large meal and usually makes 2 meals for me. Spring rolls I only order what I may eat then, rice paper isn’t the best unless I can re-​bake to get it crispy. Yes enjoy sweet sauce on this. I always try to eat food first before I ever add Soy Sauce say.
Nice employees and this place has been here a while, nice feeling. I have seen many places come and go around this area.
Now my review is based on eating many times from this establishment. I enjoy it, hope you do too.

Went here on a recommendation, the outside looked very sketchy and not my typical place I’d go to eat, but was surprised by the deliciousness and quantity of food that was delivered to my table. I’ve since been back multiple times and ordered take out.
If you drive too fast you’ll miss it. All I suggest is better signage, otherwise yum! :)

Having been a loyal previous customer, I purchased a Groupon to share with my Team. Upon arrival, we were advised it was only good for dinner; which was not stated when I made the purchase. Was then further advised that even if I bought a dinner, the remainder would not be applied to the bill. This conversation took place at the front desk. My party of 5 sat patiently waiting for service which never arrived. After 15 minutes, we left & went to Billy’s where we were immediately served. What should have been an excellent Groupon experience turned out to be a horrible experience. I will be asking for a refund of my Groupon and not returning to Emerald Thai. There are many other places with excellent Thai food to have lunch.

Picked up lunch today, sweet n sour chicken, punang chicken curry and spring rolls. All delicious, spring rolls were some of the best I’ve ever had. The woman at the counter and on the phone was very nice and welcoming!

New owner. No longer the wonderful Emerald Thai I once new. Sadly disappointed. Nothing more unappetizing than frozen veggies in your veggie curry. Even the salad had zero flavor and was not helped by a bland peanut dressing.

Great food! Huge portion sizes! Could probably split almost any of the items on the menu. I had the traditional PAD THAI and it definitely hit the spot. My boyfriend had the PINEAPPLE CURRY with chicken and he loved it. The meal came in a pineapple cut in half, very cool presentation The pineapple made it sweet but it still had a kick. It’s kind of a little hole in the wall but we will be back for more.

I have been coming to this place for years it has to be the best curry I’ve ever tasted all of the choices are to die for but I personally love the panang curry. Also you have to get the fried rice they actually give you large pieces of meat instead of measly pieces of chopped meat.
One of the best things about this place is that its so secluded that there’s hardly people there so my husband jokes about renting out the restaurant just for us:)

So far, not so good. Just had the ‘crispy spring rolls’. More like egg rolls, not the quality of wonderful spring rolls I’ve come to expect from Thai restaurants. The sauce was low quality as well.
Still waiting on main course, been 20 mins since placing order. It’s the standard Pad Thai.
And it’s a strike out. I’ve never seen it made with the wider wet noodles. Just a heavy wet mess on my plate. Eatable but they can do much better.
The staff is nice & they were busy. Price was inexpensive, accordingly.
If you want inexpensive Thai food this is your place if u just want to get full & quality is unimportant

It has been a couple of years since I had eaten at Emerald Thai, and I remembered it being good so I decided to go there again. I ordered Chicken Pad Thai. When my dish arrived, I took a few bites of the noodles, and when I took a bite of a piece of chicken, it was chewy and I immediately spit it out. I stirred my food and saw that there were multiple pieces of undercooked chicken with pink showing.
I showed the dish to the waitress, and she offered to have a new meal made for me. She was the only waitress working both the dining room and take-​out orders, so I didn’t want to wait for a new meal that may not even be prepared properly when I still had an errand to run. I paid the tab for my girlfriend’s fully cooked meal and picked up some food somewhere else.

During my dining experience here it was one to remember. I had the emerald fried rice… and all I can say is that it was truly amazing!!! The portion size was quite large but I couldnt seem to put my fork down. My wife had the red curry and from the expression on her face and empty bowl at the end of her meal I knew she loved it. The only thing I didnt like was the Thai tea but I guess thats just an aquired taste. But overall it was a great experience. #iwillbeback

Sad to say this, but Unilocal has failed me. I came here for dinner with my sister. She was visiting from out of state and had a hankering for Thai food, so we used our trusty Unilocal app to find a good, local restaurant. I should have taken the more recent reviews to heart. People have said in their reviews that this restaurant switched owners, and during my dining experience it was confirmed by our server. I never dined here when the former owners were around so I can’t judge on how the restaurant used to be, but I am thoroughly disappointed with this establishment based on my recent experience.
First, they need to update their menus. If you change ownership and don’t provide the same food or drinks, please make the effort to update your offerings. My sister and I saw a Thai milkshake being offered on the drink menu and inquired about. Our server very rudely replied that she had never heard of that and doesn’t know what it is. I then pointed it out on their menu, clear as day, and she stormed off saying she’ll ask the owner about it. I thought she would ask about the drink quietly, but she was basically telling her inquiries to the owner, who replied back to her in the same manner. That to me is a major no no. You don’t blast your questions so loudly that all the guests in the restaurant can hear you. Where did you learn your customer service skills? Rude. But we did find out during the yelling escapades that the new owner did not even know what the Thai milkshake was and that the menu was old and was from the previous owner.
Second, the food. Oh, the nasty, diabetes-​causing food. I would like to say that I’ve had my fair share of Thai cuisine and know a lot about the food. And I will tell you that the food served here is utterly disgusting. Why is everything made so ridiculously sweet?! My sister and I ordered the Mee Krob appetizer. It’s basically crispy rice noodles with shrimp and bean sprouts tossed in a sweet/​spicy sauce. But OMG, it was overly sweet. You couldn’t taste any of the other flavors that was supposed to compliment the dish like the shrimp or citrus. I had a few bites thinking it’ll grow on me, but in the end, I had to push it away. Eww. My sister and I ordered their Pad See Ew with shrimp and their Emerald Crispy Duck Curry (basically duck green curry). Both were very disappointing too. The Pad See Ew had overcooked flat noodles, so the texture was too mushy. Again, it was too sweet, and it lacked the veggies I was expecting with the dish. The shrimp was tough and did not taste fresh at all. The duck curry was the worst I’ve ever had. It lacked sauce (I mean, there was barely enough curry to spoon over our rice), had undercooked eggplants (which I normally don’t see thrown into a duck curry dish), and had a meager amount of carrots and zucchini and other vegetables. The duck was fine, but that was the only thing they got right. The curry lacked curry flavor. Had not enough coconut milk and again, was way too sweet to be enjoyable. Worst Thai meal ever.
Our server asked my sister and I if we wanted dessert, but after all the sugar we consumed from the appetizer and entrees, we politely declined. We packed up the food to go, but I honestly just wanted to leave it there, but the whole disappointing meal cost over $ 40 and it was money we were too sad to see wasted.
Overall the worst Thai meal I’ve had to date. Will definitely not come back here and would not recommend this restaurant even to my enemies to dine at. Please just say no and walk away!

For an «out of towner», a bit tricky to find, but worth the 7-​minute GPS snafu. A gem that looks «seedy» on the outside, but perfectly reasonable in the inside.