Equator

04/15/09

A NEW TWIST ON ASIAN FOOD

by Dagreat8

I thought I had tried all versions of Asian food but I was really surprised how good the food was at Equator. They had a twist for every "traditional" Asian dish you can imagine. Wasabi crusted Mignon was off the hook! The Linguini was awesome too...it had this Thai flare with chinese and Italian...I can't really describe it. Basically everytime I go I have to try a new dish just to taste their twist on everything. Oh and their drink specials don't hurt either, they always have some real nice deals.

The ambiance is awesome, real kick back and loungy...you feel high class at this place without paying high class prices. And they got some real hot chicks working here too. Damn, now I'm hungry.

Old Town's beloved coffee house has transformed into a chic, Eastern-inspired lounge, bar and haute-cuisine dining spot.

by Martha Burr

In Short
In a little alley off Colorado that's so atmospheric it could be a movie set lies this dramatically chic Asian-fusion bistro. Stylishly raffish guys in untucked striped shirts looking like they've walked out of "Entourage" order rounds of sake, while tables of hippies (as in "hip yuppies") sip martinis under the gaze of giant golden Buddhas. Framed by exposed brick walls, high wooden beams and sensuous banquettes, an iridescent tiled bar glows under changing mood lights, pulsing softly with global electronica. Chef Jack Zhang turns out flavorful specialties like spicy seared albacore topped with crispy onions, baked crab hand roll, miso bronzed black cod, and beef mignon cubes with basil.

10/13/08

a great change

by Veronicamontano

Wow, Equator has changed. Thank God! This place was fool of kids and now it's versitle. I came in and was in shock to see the chandeliers and a huge bar. Even the staff is a total change.Wow, and they still have my favorite drink "Banana Royale" yummy. I had lunch, i had the salmon salad, which was very good. Not fishy at all and very filling. All I could say is "WOW!"

08/21/08

Neighborhood Class!

by JayinVegas

What a great place! Love to hang out in the patio with coffee, the food is great, just like a close neighborhood. Try the new food menu, you'll love it. My first stop whenever I get back to Pasadena from Las Vegas.

08/21/08

Delicious Food + Nice Atmosphere

by PDormiani

I go hear probably 6 times a week. The food is great and for a great price too. The experience is mostly family style. Make sure you try the coconut shrimp soup, the mignon cubes and the spicy tuna on crispy rice. The best part is now you can enjoy a drink along with your food as well (the trade off - enforce by the city - was the hookah and as much as I will miss the hookah its better that they have the martinis). If you go there on Saturdays or Sundays, make sure to try the dim-sum. My favorite would have to be the bamboo leaf wrapped sticky rice, pork dumplings and the egg custards.

You pretty much can't go wrong here and the service is exceptional. The atmosphere is very refined now and you will be very pleased when you walk in. The art on the walls can be very interesting and make for great conversations just on their own.

If you are a pasadena local, you would have known then to be a great coffee shop. Well, that hasn't changed either, and they are still serving cups of coffees, lattes or whatever you desire. In the mornings they have reduced prices on these items as well as a thank you to the Pasadena residents who have supported them throughout the years they have been at this location.

Definitely worth the experience with good friends or a casual and fun date.

• Pros: Mignon Cubes, Dim Sum and Good Martinis
• Cons: Can't think of any

08/21/08

Great place to hang out and take dates if you want to impress

by ashkhen

The best Asian food in town. Im not very into Asian food or raw fish, but everything they serve is great. I dont even look at the menu anymore i just tell to bring me something new. Great coffee and tea also.

08/18/08

best lunch and dinner spot in pasadena!!

by emora72

i loved the decor. the service was great & the menu was full of great options. my personal favorite the mignon cubes , talk about "delish" . A great new option to get drinks with dinner too. they now have a full bar.

• Pros: great prices!!

08/18/08

THE BEST!~

by ErikaN55

Honey Glazed shrimp with Walnuts is the BEST!

The Food is Delicious, the Decor is Awesome, and the SERVICE is wonderful.

Great Place to hang out, have some tea and eat really good food for a great PRICE.

Totally recommend this place? ENJOY!

08/11/08

Interesting revamp

by chloesantos

I grew up in this area, and I grew to thinking of Equator as the place to go for hookah and high school dates. They've really changed, though - from a dramatic remodel to a new menu (actual food - a pan asian assortment with surprisingly low prices - think like 7-15 dollars for something that would be double at say, Koi). The ambiance inside is pretty chill, and the food is pretty good, which was a huge surprise to me. I liked my shu mai, pad thai, and black cod - really wierd combo, but pretty good. Also notable was their selection of adult milkshakes (what a great idea!!!). I had something called a mango madness, which was essentially a mango milkshake with rum (yes!) - it definitely made the bad date go by much better.

I'm looking forward to going back - it's promising. I just wished that the alley it was in wasn't such a magnet for homeless people and tatoooed punks...

• Pros: a unique menu, fun atmosphere, fun drinks!
• Cons: Pasadena parking

04/07/08

THE WORST

by mrhanlon

I've lived in L.A. for about 4 months now, and this was undoubtedly the worst meal we've had so far. I guess that's what we get for stumbling into a place and not paying attention to the fact that a coffee bar fills most of the place. The dim sum had been adequately microwaved or resteamed, so I guess it was OK (but mediocre). My husband's burger (which the server recommended) looked like a mcdonald's patty, and the fries seemed to have been soaked in grease overnight. I think it's beans that you're supposed to soak... We were with my mom, so he didn't want to be a complainer. But I could see the angry vein pulsating in his neck. As if this wasn't bad enough, the embarrassing burger was delivered about 10 minutes after the dim sum. This place should grab some plywood and nails, seal the kitchen door, and give it up.

• Pros: Hmm...
• Cons: Food, service