PlanetEye

Being a native New Yorker, I am very picky about certain ethnicities of food due to growing up with a large selection of excellence in terms of Asian cuisine.  One of the things that disappointed me the most about New Orleans was its shortage of Thai restaurants and the apparent lack of good Thai food among that meager selection, given that pad thai is one of my many obsessions.  However, after several years, I have had the fortune of stumbling upon a hidden gem in the Marigny, Sukho Thai, a restaurant that has managed to meet the standards of this discerning consumer time after time.

Hidden away in a mostly residential neighborhood in Faubourg Marigny, this cheery yellow corner building is a sight for sore eyes.  Casual and brightly sunlit with high ceilings and a big open floorplan, the feeling one gets is that they are in a semi-outdoor café.  Exotic décor in rich earth tones that complement the antique hardwood contribute to the warm vibe, making it an environment that appeals to all walks of life, demonstrated by the constant mix of suits and jeans in the dining room. 

Now for the food – noodles are where Sukho Thai excels, the drunken noodles’ sweetness undercut with spice, the dirty noodles bursting with flavor and a fantastic veggie variety.  The pad thai is delicious, noodles perfectly al dente every time, and the presentation is well done, the satay, though smallish in portion, is tasty and fragrant.  Their fried shrimp wrappers are fantastic, but a little overpriced for the amount and size of the shrimp, since half of it is a deep-fried tail.  The cashew garlic chicken is phenomenal as well, and the rotating specials keep the menu exciting.  A large selection of teas round it all off, and a liquor license is currently being petitioned for, so it’s BYOB for now – all the better for the thrifty traveller.