Kerbside pickup
Yes
Buddakan in New York
Categories
Location on the map
New York, New York County, New York, US
Service options
No-contact delivery
Yes
Delivery
Yes
Takeaway
Yes
Dine-in
Yes
Health and safety
Staff required to disinfect surfaces between visits
Yes
Highlights
Great dessert
Yes
Great tea selection
Yes
Popular for
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Yes
Offerings
Alcohol
Yes
Beer
Yes
Cocktails
Yes
Coffee
Yes
Comfort food
Yes
Happy-hour drinks
Yes
Healthy options
Yes
Late-night food
Yes
Organic dishes
Yes
Small plates
Yes
Spirits
Yes
Vegetarian options
Yes
Wine
Yes
Dining options
Dinner
Yes
Dessert
Yes
Seating
Yes
Amenities
Bar on site
Yes
Toilets
Yes
Atmosphere
Cosy
Yes
Romantic
Yes
Trending
Yes
Upmarket
Yes
Crowd
Family friendly
Yes
Groups
Yes
LGBTQ+ friendly
Yes
Tourists
Yes
Transgender safe space
Yes
Planning
Dinner reservations recommended
Yes
Accepts reservations
Yes
Usually a wait
Yes
Payments
Debit cards
Yes
Credit cards
Yes
Phone: +1 212-989-6699
Site: http://www.buddakannyc.com/
Related: asian fusion restaurant
Site: http://www.buddakannyc.com/
Related: asian fusion restaurant
Opening hours
- Monday:5–10:30PM
- Tuesday:5–10:30PM
- Wednesday:5–10:30PM
- Thursday:5–10:30PM
- Friday:5PM–12AM
- Saturday:4PM–12AM
- Sunday:4–10:30PM
Comments (199)
From start to finish this place is spectacular. The extremely large interior is warm and awesome. We went for my mom’s birthday and she loved it! Great for sharing and food came out really fast. Highly recommended!
A true classic dining experience. The ambience at the restaurant draws you in with beautiful high ceilings & chandeliers. The food was delicious especially MA La chicken and TSO’s dumplings. Having a sweet tooth I couldn’t resist the desserts and I wasn’t disappointed at all, one of the best dessert spreads I have ever had and I am still drooling over those desserts. The banana cheesecake & molten choco lava cake were a pure delight. Must visit place, worth the experience.
Went here after almost 3 years for a team dinner. I was the only vegetarian in a group of 10 and they made sure to take care of me. We got tasting menu #1 (always a great option for groups).Veg dishes - I particularly LOVED the peashoot salad, edamame dumplings without the broth and mushroom chow fun for entree. Dessert was 100% across the board.
The food was edible...not great.. but good...the atmosphere was absolutely breathtaking...I wish the food was as good.. this place was extremely overpriced. $19 for 5 dumpling? $19 for 3 small ribs? $20 for a small bowl of noodles? $10 for sparking water? The service was terrible.... The waiter that we had was pressuring us to order a prefix menu that was over $80 per person when all we wanted to do was taste a few things. I started to feel like she gets Commission if we agree to do a multi-course meal. At the end of the meal, they brought us the check all bunched together and we had to figure out who ordered what so we could split it because they refused to split the check. You can imagine how complicated this is after youve had a couple glasses of wine. I came here to enjoy myself and celebrate my best friends birthday, not to do math! That was a HUGE inconvenience and a turn off.
I LOVED my time at Buddakan. Amazing interior with great atmosphere, stunning designs, and large space. Customer service was extraordinary too, with our waiter being super attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about everything from drinks to the food. Food was phenomenal as well.
Second time here and service was smooth as usual. The oxtail dumplings were decadent. Peking duck was not out of this world but good. Pork lo mien was also delicious. Obviously, it’s the ambience that caries this place which is impeccable.
The food was incredible and honestly the prices are not bad at all. The interior is beautiful. Make sure to ask for a seat in the main room or you miss the whole experience. I do wish it wasn’t so touristy and that there was a dress code. Something is taken away from the experience when people are in sweats and running sneakers.
Great Asian fusion food and also good cocktails here!The crab fried rice is really good!The rice here is rather chewy, more of the rice that would be used for Shumai or rice dumplings (Zhongzi).The lobster egg roll is OK but not as good as the crab fried rice!The bartender at the bar is also really professional.The penicillin and whisky sour we ordered were super good, even if they are not on the menu.Definitely a recommended place for food and bar near Chelsea market!
As I review Im salivating reminiscing about the meal. It is an Asian Fusion Family Style restaurant it is a foodie dream come true. First of all once you open those large heavy doors it feels as if your transported into a dining Mecca. Note I have been to this location many times and its one of my top recommendations to others for special occasions. Whats impressive is the consistency of the meals. Every visit my tastebuds are extremely satisfied. It boggles my mind every single visit the food is as delicious as my previous but Im not complaining. Ive done the testing menu, ala cart, no matter your choice you will not be disappointed. Folks on one my visit I had the edamame dumpling...Ooooo Emmmmm Geee..mind blowing... the softness and how it melts on your tongue, didnt expect that sensation but it a must try. The drinks are delicious and on point.The food where do I start..your tastebuds will be assaulted with nothing but deliciousness. From the sweet and jumbo crispy shrimp, oxtail dumplings, broken chili chicken, the cod, the fried rice the explosion of flavors and seasoning is an experience we all need in our lifetime.Next you have the atmosphere and the ambiance. The sculptures , paintings all add to your dining experience.It is a boisterous Lively atmosphere if looking for quiet May not be the place. Reservations definitely a must.The staff is engaging,attentive, accommodating and knowledgeable.Make sure to save space for desserts.. chocolate is so rich the choices are devine.All in all it is pricy but absolutely worth every penny.
From start to finish this place is beautiful. The extremely large interior is warm and huge and dark and awesome. Good ambiance. Upbeat feel with consistent music. The drink selection is vast and you can’t go wrong. The tuna tartare egg rolls are the best I’ve had. I could have eaten 50. The Dungeness crab sticky rice was off the charts. Great for sharing. Lots of really great food here. Top tier. Excellent.
Had a fantastic dinner here. Only problem was that despite our reservation my guest and I were waiting 20+ minutes longer than necessary after they said they would come in get us becuse we were only a few minutes early. I also requested to move 2 times until we were satisfied with the table view (we came for the Hogwarts table) not the back rooms. We finally got it. The food was just as exquisite as the decor. Bass and eggplant was juicy, tender and flavorful. The general tsos dumpling was a hit even amongst my skeptic guest. This place was a splurge but worth the occasion.
The food was surprisingly very pleasant with unexpected flavor profile. As simple as the dishes look, blast of flavors are not shy yet subtle. The only disappointment was the wine...
Food is good, huge venue and I wouldn’t mind to be seated somewhere else rather than looking into butler pantry.Food serving portion is very reasonable, we are able to share between 2 of us(some serving even 3pax??)Cocktails are greatSomehow I think the music is overly loud and I am feeling like everyone that sat to our left or right are yelling across from the table; you certainly can’t have much conversation without shouting.For the price, quality of food, service is good and the ambiance due to where our seat is allocated, I will say 4/5. I would not think there are lots of WOW factors either
Great food and ambiance. We got the family menu and were absolutely stuffed. The edamame dumplings and cod were exquisite. Make sure you ask for a table in the basement.
Will not disappoint. Delicious food and ambiance! Service is great too! Highly recommend their desserts too!!! I’ve been here multiple times to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays and special occasions! I love coming here because they never disappoint!!
This place is amazing. I had my birthday dinner here and it was great. The decor, lighting, hallways, atmosphere are a whole vibe. We ordered the pork buns as an appetizer and they were delicious. The fried rice, steaks, and short rib were pretty good. They give you nice size portions too.
Chic and upscale restaurant! An overall exquisite dining experience that not to be missed when visiting New York City.Too many delicious dishes to enjoy. I highly recommend the Tuna Tartar Rolls, Edamame Dumplings and Fried Salmon Dumplings.
Food was tasty but nothing crazy. However dis not have the greatest experience. Our waiter did not seem that invested and was not very helpful. The environment was a little stressful (fire alarm went on in the middle of dinner). Very distracting. Very pretty place but service not the best.
From the minute we walked in the restaurant had such an intriguing darkness and lux vibe to it. We started at the bar since we arrived early and the bartender, Brock, was nice and poured our drinks right away. I had the Blush which was a delicious Lychee martini essentially. We settled up at the bar and we escorted to our table. The venue is huge and has really cool vases and decor everywhere. Throughout the night, the service provided by Devondas was smooth and the timing of everything was seemless! This place really knows how to do it! Beyond that you definitely get what you pay for because the food is cooked to perfection and the portions are just the right amount of generous. If you are looking to spend money on a high quality dinner and enjoy eachothers company, I highly recommend having dinner here!
This place is absolutely phenomenal. We were a group of five and we participated in the medium sized tasting menu which was $90/person. Everyone in the group loved the menu. My personal favorites were the potstickers, salmon dumplings, rock shrimp, sausage fried rice, and black cod. The service and the ambience was top notch (for reference we sat in the main dining room). The music that night was very fun and we got to hear some good Afrobeats music. Our waiter took very good care of us. When I let him know that we were celebrating a birthday, they made the dessert portion of the tasting menu extra special. We will most definitely be back.
5 stars for the ambience & service. 1 star for the subpar food. I couldnt agree more with a review saying you can easily get better Chinese food in the Chinatown for a fraction of the price. We ordered edamame dumplings, crispy cauliflower lollipops, lobster fried rice (we truly believe the fried rice and lobster were cooked separarely), glazed Alaskan black cod (this was the only dish that all of us approved of) and Asian green stir fry. The food were very well presented but not the taste. Overrated I would say.
I came here for a company-sponsored dinner so we ate one of the set tasting menus and got to sample many dishes. Atmosphere and interior of this place is absolutely stunning, but the food was just ok. Some dishes obviously better than others but generally it’s just very Americanized Chinese food. For example, there’s a General Tso dumpling (with hot & sour soup inside) that made me cringe a little when they served it.The sweet crispy jumbo shrimp was my favorite but I wasn’t a huge fan of the edamame dumplings because the texture was overwhelmingly non-existent (it was just a smooth mush). Cocktails were really great and there was a good wine selection too. Desserts were relatively standard but all yummy. Overall I understand why many people adore this place, but if your standards for Chinese/Asian food are high (like mine) you may be disappointed. Come for the drinks and atmosphere instead :)
Loved every minute of it. We did the tasting menu + pecking duck. Exquisite vibe, great service as well. Everything that came out was amazing
The edamame dumplings are hands down the best dumplings I have had in my entire life. I was visiting New York from Australia for the first time and Buddakan defenitly provided a memorable dining experience! Very nice fresh cocktails as well and attentive staff, everything was delicious!
After check in, we were asked to sit at a lounge and wait for the table. The hostess come and showed us to your table after. We were placed on a round table that seats 4 for a party of 2. It was the most awkward seating ever for me. The corner table was hidden and servers couldn’t or wouldn’t check on us regularly. It took so long to place the first order and then the dinner service was in slo-mo. The food is average. Nothing out of the world. I liked the chicken spiced dish, but that’s it. Our server was sweet but extremely slow. Not sure if that was intentional or it was a very very very busy night and they were short staffed. We ordered wine to go with our desert and it took 20 mins for the server to first notify us that he sent someone to the cellar, then to come back and say it’s not available. Would have appreciated that in the beginning itself and not made us wait 20 mins for dessert.I see how positive Google reviews have been appreciated here and negative ones ignored. Which clearly shows they don’t care.
Underwhelming. The atmosphere is absolutely perfect but the dishes are lacking creativity & originality. It almost felt like if P.F. Chang’s had a fancy sister restaurant. I did love the Buddha Style Gai Lan, got it twice. Every other dish wasn’t anything special, especially the prawn noodles. Don’t get those, I’ve had 10x better street food.Not pictured: Five Spice Apple Pie; miso caramel, toasted rice ice cream. LOL at them charging $15 for this.Cocktails are $18 and hardly have any alcohol.3 stars because our waitress was attentive, food came out fairly quickly & ambiance is worth a visit.
The restaurant try’s to create an aura of exclusivity, it’s kinda silly. Food was very average. You’re paying the premium for the ambiance and location, not the food. They should focus more on creating exceptional dishes and less on gimmicks.
Came here for dinner after a day in the city. This place has been on my list to dine at for a while now so I was truly looking forward to it. I truly enjoyed it. Only concern is the noise. Between the loud music and others talking, it was very difficult to even talk to the person next to me, but we made it work. The dumplings at this place are amazing. Make sure you order!
A hot spot in NYC you cannot miss. The interior design is gorgeoussss, the lighting is romantic and the vibe is hype. We liked most of our dishes, but chicken and fried rice in particular. Buddakan, you got great staff too😊 my only recommendation is to improve the reception desk. We had to wait a while to be let in cause girls were busy on phone 🤨
I hosted my birthday dinner there it was amazing the food was all great!!! My party was beyond late and the restaurant was very understanding. Ohhh didI mention the food was FANTASTIC !!! The only bad part was, There was no light! I had to use my flash light from my phone all night long so if your like me that needs visual aspects please use your flash light😂😂 So you don’t missed out on this great experience😩😂
Fabulous place for the late night dinner. I would give them 6 stars if it was possible!Excellent service, staff, and food.
You wouldn’t even notice this place if you were just walking by. But once you get inside, it’s like discovering paradise.Try the sampler (pictured below)- definitely worth it.Great DJ!You can’t go wrong coming here.
The food here was mediocre, under-seasoned and unfortunately overpriced. I hadn’t read any reviews before coming as I was invited here for my friends birthday, but after glancing at them now I agree when people say it takes like your standard Chinese takeout. The cocktails were really good though, and the drink mixes themselves were very high quality. The chili shrimp simply didn’t have enough flavor or pineapple despite that being advertised. The salmon dumplings were decent but the salmon doesn’t pair well with the corn they decided to put in them, or the almost mayonnaise like dipping sauce they came with. The venue and artwork was magnificent though, I guess that might be what you are paying for when you eat here.
Great vibes, even better food! The Szechuan monk fish was excellent, perfect spice and taste profile. The lobster fried rice was excellent and a good portion size. The crystal shrimp dim sum was a great start to the meal, perfectly cooked. Their non alcoholic drinks were great. Staff and service also excellent. Food was out pretty quick. We’ll be back!
This place was amazing. We absolutely loved it. Great drinks by the talented bartenders, the lobster fried Rice, filet mignon and dim sum were all everyone exceptional.Our server Robin was funny and accommodating.
Excellent food, excellent service. It’s def on the expensive side, but it’s worth the experience. Thoroughly enjoyed with my friends here.
The ambiance is stellar! I love the dim lighting and the service is top notch. I did not like the edamame dumplings, the tuna tartare was my favorite!
The food is unreal. Like I LOVED every single dish I had. The filet broke so easily with a spoon and the pasta just melted in my mouth in glorious ways. The deserts were amazing too. I want to go there again 🥺
Great place, try to get a table in some of the areas outside of the big room. The big room looks great but it’s very loud.Ok food, great service
I like big buns and I cannot lie…The bao. Oh, the bao buns. I could probably eat five of those all on my own. :-)After being away from NYC for a couple of years (cuz… yknaw… pandemic), it was nice to know some things haven’t changed.We are huge fans of Stephen Starr — his restaurants never disappoint.Buddakan still serves amazing dishes! We savored every bite while admiring the magnificent atmosphere.Our server was friendly, patient, and accommodating. It was a very, very busy night; yet, she managed to take such good care of us and her other tables. Her friendly temperament was authentic.Now that we are able to travel again, we will continue put Buddakan on our list.
When I entered the restaurant I felt I am in a museum or a palace. My experience was amazing. The food very delicious and fresh. I have ordered non-alcoholic juice which is Reflection(10$). Also, a very delicious well done spicy 🌶 fish 🐠 ( Kung Pao monkfish) 32$, and lobster fried rice. For dessert 🍮 I have ordered chocolate cremoso (15$). I highly recommend this restaurant for couples for a romantic night. Also, I advise you to come hungry because food is delicious. It is one of the restaurant that makes you feel you are in one of a big cities in the world.
Food was good. The buns where super delicious. The venue is beautiful and service was outstanding. I wish the food was at the level of the service and the decor.
Big, boisterous, extravagant, larger than life, bit of Vegas in Manhattan! Buddakan impressed me not only with the ambience but also with the food. Crispy duck, fried rice, chicken, dumplings, everything was delicious with some fantastic service. Highly recommend.
Buddakan was nice. Unfortunately, we didnt get great seats despite having made reservations 3 days prior. The walk-in tables looked way better than ours. The best thing about Buddakan for me was its location; With parking literally right across the street, the Standards Le Bain and the Ganservoort within minutes of walking, it is an ideal spot for a weekend night out. The food is on the pricey side, but not outrageously so. The appetizers were tasty. That said, while their accompanying side dishes were plentiful, the entrees themselves were just a bit above par.
Me and my boyfriend went to Buddakan for the first time this week and we were both slightly disappointed. The space and decor is absolutely beautiful but the food is left to be desired. For appetizers we ordered the Oxtail Dumplings and Pork Buns.The Pork buns were probably the best pork buns Ive ever had - not too heavy and both savory and sweet. The Oxtail dumplings were... interesting. Ill just leave it at that. For entrees we ordered the Short Rib, Shrimp, Lobster Fried Rice and Noodles with Prawns. All the above were bland and flavorless except for the Short Rib which was super tender and savory. A definite highlight.All in all we might go back to try other things in the menu but Buddakan didnt live to the hype that I always hear about.
The food and drinks were amazing! Altho definitely pricey. The atmosphere here was so gorgeous, I loved the decor! The waiter was very friendly and did explain everything well.At the location they did have outdoor dining, but the experience inside was still amazing. They had many seating areas, and also a bar area. The suggestions the waiter made about the food was a bit much, because if I just had the wok noddles with prawns that would have been enough for me. I would come back and try the other menu items and the drinks, they were my favorite!
Had dinner at Buddakan and it was excellent. We got chilli rock shrimp, edamame dumplings, pork buns, lo mein, cauliflower and lamb chops for dinner. Everything was delicious. For cocktails we tried the watermelon margarita called answer. Great ambiance and decor. Will be back to try more dishes!
Wow wow Wow, the food was a Hit. The vibe was extra nice & the drinks were on point. Our waiter was super nice and informative and gave plenty of suggestions form the menu that were all very delicious. The oxtail dumplings definitely took me by surprise. The decor was elegant and chic great for those whom live taking pictures. Over all wonderful experience, I only wish it had better lighting but thats just me.
I love this restaurant for the lighting, the design, and the atmosphere! I do think the food is overrated. The appetizers are great but the main dishes lack salt. Just don’t taste that great to me.
Magical ambulance and hip vibe 5/5. Wonderfully delicious food 5/5. Try the edamame dumplings and chicken dumplings in broth. Wow. For desert top it off with matcha flan.Service friendly but slow and inattentive for this caliber of restaurant 2/5. So disappointed. Management should pay more attention to customer service details. Maybe have additional staff to make sure drinks come sooner rather than when you have to ask where they are. Staff should check in and make sure what you need before you have to wait lots of time in between.
You are able to book a reservation a month in advance and if you plan to come here, I would highly recommend making a reservation because if you wait til last minute, you might not get one.We had a short wait when we arrived so we grabbed a drink at the bar. Its pretty cool that they always know where you are - the eyes on sky know where you are.The ambiance here gives it a great evening dinner vibe - great for all occasions. Its kinda dark and dim, but I loved it.We couldnt decide on what appetizer to get so we had the Dim Sum Tasting, which I highly recommend. It came with 6 different things to try. I would say my favorite was the edamame dumpling. For dinner we had the Charred Filet and Mongolian Lamb Chops with a side of the Chinese Sausage Rice. All was delicious. One complaint - wish the portions of meat was a little tiny bigger.We finished with dessert - The Chocolate Cremoso. My bf has visited in the past and he said they are supposed to mix it up for you, but he knew what to do. If he wasnt there, I wouldnt have known.Overall, delicious food and great vibe.
Every time I have friends and family visiting the city, I make sure to take them to the Buddakan- such a great overall experience, staff is attentive and nice making sure the evening goes well, the food and drinks were awesome and we’ve had a good time!!Thank you guys at Buddakan 🤙🏼
Hot spot in Chelsea market. Massive Asian-fusion clubstaurant has two levels with a big dining room that looks like an upscale version of the dining hall at Hogwarts. The food and service is great. We ordered TSO dumplings, MA LA Chicken. We finally ended with chocolate and banana cheesecake both had good flavor and not overly sweet. If you have big bucks to spend, you must plan budakkan.
Great experience. Always wanted to check this place out.Awesome classy vibes. Music is defently loud but we didnt mind it at all. It was upbeat vibes throughout the place. Book in advance if you want decent seating. Staff was friendly our waiter was helpful as well.Wife and i had a great experience. Food was very delicious and of quality.We eat Halal food so we kept everything vegetarian basically. However the tofu crispy entre was amazing, i almost didn’t think it was tofu. Also had the lo mein and cod fish dish. Both were great in taste and the sauces added a very long lasting impression in your mouth.We finally ended with the Crying Chocolate dessert. It was perfect in flavor. It was not flooded with overly sweet flavor where you feel almost sick.
Good ambiance! It’s a good spot for date for sure. The drink was amazing too.
The price to quality ratio of this place cannot be beat. Imagine TAO meets Buddha Bar decor. Extremely stylish restaurant with great food. You can spend between 15 and $25 per dish and the portions are large. A great value for such a fancy place. Minus 1 star because of the slightly snobbish behavior of the staff at the hostess desk.
The drinks were great,the staff were not only accommodating they were nice and attentive.The appetizers were delicious. I had the Chinese sausage fried rice as an entree and it didnt taste good to me. On the other hand some of the people I went out with said they liked their dishes and others were underwhelmed by the food. The ambulance is beautiful and chic overall Id come here for drinks and appetizers and thats it.
Excellent service and great atmosphere, gave our waiter a $200 tip that’s how good he was.
Decent enough spot but not anything to get worked up over by any means. Our server was very nice, and we took a lot of her dish recommendations, but they were somewhat underwhelming. You’ve had better dim sum and better bang bang shrimp before I promise. The lamb chops are cooked fine but they are very overpriced for dish. However, the chocolate lava cake dessert was excellent as were the tuna tar tar spring rolls. Other 6 things we had were meh honestly.
We did the tasting menu. It was pretty good and there was a lot of food. Ambience is great. The biggest problem is they pump out food way too fast. They try to get you through the entire meal as fast as possible. At one point, the server asked us to transfer food onto our plates so he could have room to put additional food on the table. The overall dining experience really suffered.
Exactly a year ago I went to this place and everything was fine, but this time my friends and I got poisoned. 🤢The atmosphere is good, so is the service, but please pay attention to the food! it is very unpleasant to get sick the next day!I dont know what was not fresh, but most likely Peking duck
Food is mediocre. Got sticky rice which was bland. Ma La chicken could have been spicier and more flavorful. Interior is nice though.
I would say the place is beautiful! But the food, I’m sorry but I don’t know why this has such great reviews. The dumpling tasting was ok, we didn’t even finish it, and not because of the amount but because of their taste. I love shrimp dumplings from every place but this one had a lack in taste, the fried rice was like white rice, no flavor. However the pork bao buns were delicious!!
Love love the ambience!!!! The carrot dumplings did not disappoint. And the crispy tofu was the BEST!!! 😍 I especially liked the mochi donut and cheesecake.
I really wanted to like Buddakkan, but it just didn’t do it for me. My friend from out of town was visiting so our party of 3 decided to try the Tasting Menu III. We paid for a 4th person per their policy which is understandable and honestly reasonably priced given how much food comes out, but I will have to say, the food was not great.We were all super excited because we’ve never really tried fine dining experience at a primarily Asian cuisine restaurant, but the food reminded me of takeout, just more expensive. I will also mention, 2 out of the 3 of us didn’t feel well after our dinner and thought nothing really of it at the time. We then had leftovers for lunch the next day, and again, both of us were not well!I really wanted to like it here considering the ambiance is amazing and the service was good, but nothing wowed me about the food and I just ended up getting sick. The tasting menu is reasonably priced, but it’s definitely not a cheap meal. For what we paid, I would’ve expected much more. Glad I gave it a try, but not thrilled about my experience.
Stunning location and every vegetarian should try their crispy tofu! Best tofu I ate in my life
Buddakan was a refreshing night out in Chelsea. The staff was attentive and kind. The drinks were amazing and the food was perfect. Super stylish and the decor is fantastic, all without being the slightest bit pretentious. The reputation is well deserved and it was a special evening at a special place!
Very delicious and well plated dishes. Interior has nice calming atmosphere.
Service and drinks don’t live up to the $$$$ price at all. The cocktails were some of the most watered down bad stuff I had. The bartender was very impersonal and had no interest in helping. The ambience itself felt very dry. The food was good and came in large quantity. I would give this a miss if you want a good vibe or good service
One of the most beautiful restaurants I have ever been to..The food is incredible, its all done so well.. I have also been here for private work holiday parties where we had the entire space and I got to try all of the delicious food. This place is a must if youve never been!
I’ve eaten here twice. The atmosphere invites a sense of awe and humility. Everything about Buddakan is top notch. Cocktails are amazing. The service is perfect. And you’ll enjoy one delicious shareable plate after another.
Food:The food at Buddakan was really good but not amazing. We ordered the General Tso chicken along with ma la chicken and Chilli chicken with a side of veg. Fried rice. All the dishes were good but we had better food in NYC. Dont get me wrong, the standards of NYC is very high. Pair it with a nice wine/cocktail and you date night is perfect.Experience:The ambience in Buddakan is 5 stars. Its definitely worth the visit atleast once. People working there very courteous and helpful. All the way from concierge to cleaning staff, everyone was nice. Our waitress was very kind to suggest a few options and also let us take our time to order food unlike other restaurants at similar level.Value for Money:It was worth the money we spent. For 2 people with 2 drinks, 1 appetizer, 2 main course it was about $150. Not bad for a birthday celebration.Commute/Parking:Commute is fairly easy via subway or if you are driving, finding parking wont be easy but the street opposite google and next Chelsea Market would be your best bet.Cheers! Drink responsibly.
Very interesting take on Chinese food. I believe I had some ribs here... omg so tasty. They melted off the bone. Then I think I had fish in a ginger sauce. I took my bf here for his birthday. Dont really remember what he had, but the drinks were good and service was pretty standard. Nothing amazing. The decor and ambiance of the restaurant is alluring and out of a movie.
Nice place! Just had some drinks there, but the food seemed good, the service was really nice and the place is gorgeous.
Amazing food. Worth the money actually. I got the chili pepper chicken and chicken fried rice. It was great. Their noodles were tasty. And their drinks are strong even though they were $18. Loved it.
This place is good, rock shrimps were my favorite dish, really recommended. Design is nice.
Spectacular, very nice atmosphere, staff make feel very comfortable, welcoming, food amazing 👏
Excellent service, beautiful restaurant and the Monkfish recommended by Elise was phenomenal. We will definitely be back.
Ib conclusions, it was the best Chinese food i have encountered. Went with a party of 20+ (most of which it was their first visit) and by the end, not a single Individual could name a better place. Please eat here, it completely changed my perspective on Chinese food. I consider this a positive life choice.
Basically Panda Express mixed with outback steakhouse + a very cool design and layout.Tried the tiger shrimp, some sort of beef/rice dish, a whole fish dish and some appetizers. Fish had a bbq rub on it +for some reason?) Beef was overcooked with too much pepper, shrimp was very sweet but not bad.Cant recommend the food overall, which is (barely) Asian fusion, but if you bring some to-go and grab a drink the interior looks awesome.Service was mid-tier. Apparently no phone charger exists in the building -- maybe theyre trying to stop the reviews?
Great Ambience and one of the best fine dine experience you can get in the city. Some good options for vegan/vegetarians. Loved the Tai Shan Cauliflower.
Ambience is pretty extraordinary and the service was excellent. The food however was terribly mediocre and way overpriced. The mushroom chow fun was basically pad see-ew and the lobster fried rice just didn’t taste good. The pot stickers were quite good, but that’s not a high bar. You can very easily get much better Asian food in Chinatown for a fraction of the price. Basically, a fun dining experience with subpar food for a high price.
Omg!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is my favorite spot to come to while Im in the city everything from the appetizer to the main course was delicious
Great lighting. Awesome experiences has here. Delicious af. Lots of great meat options too!
Worst experience ever! The dishes were not cooked properly, the waiter was more interested to sell than to have the dishes come out as intended and forgot several of our orders. At the end he called us liars and we had a very heated argument with the manager. Customer service - none!! Dont be fooled by the bright lights...
It was a great time 4 stars cause their drinks are nasty. Titos and cranberry nasty - Cosmo nasty - jack n coke nasty but the food was great !!!!
UPDATED review!!!: I just had to edit this review and give it the 5 star rating it deserves! After finally getting my chance to sit inside after being here for the first time during the peak of covid, we were seated outside, cuz indoor dining wasn’t allowed back then. Now after everything i got my chance to go ahead and sit at this place and really just enjoy it for what it is!At first when we got inside we were lucky enough to sit at a very cool spot right before the place started to get REALLY packed. The servers were amazing! And the menu is one of the best you can find in the city! Food is rich and vibrant and fresh, the new crystal shrimp dumplings are amazing and the duck for two is a must if you are on a date or eating with family or friends. But besides the duck, as someone that has been here a couple of times everything here is amazing and i could recommend most of the menu. The only thing i cant recommend is the noodles and the spicy cocktail. But besides these two everything on their menu is very high quality.
Incredible meals from start to finish. Excellent service from Phillip and Mario, catered to everything we needed and served us professionally. Phillip knows everything you need to know about beverages and cocktails. Andor is incredible and a pleasure every time he works. Would highly recommend to everybody I know.
We had an exceptional dinner here Friday evening!Justin was our server and he recommended superb items from the menu-Dumplings, Black Cod and Chicken Congee. Food fantastic and Justin provided wonderful service.
Good food but poorly managed establishment, not a reliable choice for special occasions. We received a call on the morning of Valentine’s Day letting us know that they were canceling our reservation for the evening due to over booking. We had booked our table online days before, and received confirmation. They offered to reschedule for another day but we declined as this was for an obvious special occasion. Mistakes happen, but the last minute handling and “resolution” was a real disappointment.
Buddakan is always a treat to dine in. We went to Buddakan with a party of 8 and were promptly seated by the hostess. The waitress was incredibly accommodating and made sure that we were always properly taken care of. She made recommendations and while I feel like we ordered everything on the menu, it was the Shrimp Toast, Cauliflower Lollipops, and General Tsao’s dumplings that stole the show. The only dish that we weren’t thrilled with was the MA-LA chicken although I suspect that the kids weren’t used to the Thai spices, so I won’t take away points for that. The décor is stunning, and my wife and I simply love Buddakan; its quickly becoming our go to for special occasions.
The food just keeps coming.The staff was super helpful and pleasant.
Did not get to actually eat here, but felt the need to rate it because of the service. My mother and I went there hoping to get a table, and we were told by one girl at the front that we could only sit in the lounge area. After looking around a bit to decide (the ambience is alright, but mostly just dark and unremarkable) we went back to the front and a different girl told us we could put our name on the list to get a table in the better looking central area. Then, the nasty girl we first talked to proceeds to look us up and down while telling the other girl that she told us we could only sit in the lounge since we didn’t have a reservation….that is total bs! Just plain wrong information! We weren’t totally dressed up but we looked nice, but I guess that miss bad attitude up front was on a little ego boosting power trip and decided to deny us a table in the central area just because we weren’t wearing makeup?? Or pretty dresses and heels? We walked right out, and went to Tao which is WAY better. Far better ambiance, great food, and no snobby staff that care more about your appearance than your money and business.
Wow. The drinks, food, and atmosphere/ambiance were all incredible. It was the perfect dinner before going to Sleep No More. Only complaint is there was a skinny long-haired floor manager on the bottom level that was a) creepy how he talked and b) went out of his way to ignore our attempts to get his attention. He sucked, but everything else was great
Food was good (black cod and pea shoot salad were amazing), although overall not as good as the (now closed) Atlantic City location. Environment was dark and loud which gave it the vibe of a converted nightclub. They had this same Vegas hotel lobby generic techno beat song on repeat every 10 minutes and it got really annoying.
Absolutely delicious food, never once had a bad experience here. Highly recommend all their dumplings, the rock shrimp, the eggplant and the spicy tofu. Their drinks are also very good. The only issue with this place is that they often double book so you end up waiting anywhere between 30-60 mins for a table, even if you made a reservation. Barring that, it’s a great spot, delicious food and good service, so would highly recommend especially for group dinners!
One from the best place all over the world... in my opinion of course :-). Delicious food, world cuisines, the highest level of service and a great tasting menu
Love. Love. Love. Our server was outstanding. Everything divine. I’ve never ordered something I didn’t rave about.
High end Asian fare with exquisite ambience. Service is very professional and our hostess Beth was all caring and attentive to our needs. Highly recommended for special occasions.
I had a great time there. We sat outside even it was a little chilly. We got our private booth. The Edamame dumplings were exceptional! It was surprisingly good, smooth, and just a hint of truffle to lift it up. The other ox tail dumplings were good too. The main dishes were average, not better than the cheaper Chinese restaurants. Chowfan was too oily for me. And weird thing that rice does not come with the black pepper beef. Overall, my experience was good.
From the moment we entered the restaurant the staff were all very friendly and attentive and helpful. The food was lovely and the restaurant is very cool with a great vibe. Overall a fabulous evening!
This place has such a Great Ambiance Music is great Now lets talk Foooood!!!We had around 10 Tapas and a couple of dinners 1 meal was better than the next. I cant wait to come again Oh lets not forget Beth our Waitress What a great job she did!Thank youBrady 5 Plus Stars for Buddakan
The decor of the restaurant is definitely one of a kind. Chandeliers are custom dragon design, many species of rare birds can be found as decor, there is a room of Buddha statue faces. It’s one of a kind restaurant. We will be back once everything is up and running and indoor dinning resumes. The food was good and I feel like once eating inside, it will be five stars.
I wish I could give this lower than one star....The food was essentially Chinese takeout that you could get for far cheaper a few stops away. If you dont reserve beforehand, you dont even have the chance to see the high end décor. This restaurant is just for rich families who dont appreciate actual Asian cuisine.Average food at high prices
Beautiful place , nice atmosphere.Food is delicious .I strongly recommend this place .Service is perfect
We went for a dinner on a Friday. Make sure to do the reservations in advance. I like the ambience. The food however was very mediocre. Very limited options and the ones that were there were just like a 2 star place. Kinda disappointed. The server also gave us a pork dumpling dish by mistake instead of the vegetarian dumpling. I definitely expected it to be much better.
This spot is so beautiful inside with the high ceilings and decor. Its an upscale Asian fusion restaurant that requires rsvp. We had a party of 8 for dinner and the table we sat on was the communal one. My favorite dish was surprisingly the gai lan veggies with truffle flavor, the combo was delicious. We had the short ribs chow fun, spicy rock shrimp, crab fried rice, and drinks. Everything was a bit too salty for my palette but the fried rice was on the blander end so we asked for hot sauce. Their chili oil was spicy but a good kick to the rice dish. I also had the Relfection which is a non-alcoholic beverage. It was delicious and refreshing. Meal was $462 for 8 people where we ordered a light meal since we werent hungry from an earlier meal. It wasnt bad for the cost but the food didnt wow me nor do I think it is worth the four dollar signs for Chinese food. Worth trying and see the cute space, but the food could have been better.
Great experience. Nice atmosphere for a date. Nice waiter , forgot his name. Good food. The oxtail dumplings , shrimp , cheesecake was my favorite.
A bit pricey for good Asian food, but they certainly get 5 stars for their social distancing dining. They have tables separated by patricians and have small huts for dining (with heaters!). The dumpling tasting was also excellent (again, a bit pricey but worth it for the warm, upscale experience).
Wonderful, splendid and stunning. Everything about this place is exactly that. The food is so well prepared, you must try their Ribs and the Pepper beef. Shrimp toast is out of this world. The service is impeccable, waiters really know their menu and make some great recommendations. Lots of attention from staff, always at your service without being overbearing, they really strike the right balance. The location is just magical, you’re sitting in a sunken room in such beautiful surroundings, checkout their gorgeous chandeliers. Be sure to reserve in advance, worth every penny and considering the price, excellent value for such quality.
We came across this restaurant by seeing many people outdoor dinning. I really love the dishes here. They are super tasty. The service here is nice as well. I definitely will come here again.
Excellent food. We had chilly rock shrimp(hot appetizer), Asian green vegetables and fish. Excellent taste, the service was also fantastic
This is well known Asian fusion restaurant that is could be definitely be a set for some mystery Hollywood blockbuster. The entire ambiance is very intriguing, what makes this place ideal for a date. The food is very unique as well and tasty. They are very creative with their dishes and constantly rotate the menu. My favorite was tuna tartar crispy rolls.
We went here for a birthday celebration we were amazed by the inside decor and the food quality was decent. It’s on the pricey end and the service is ok also due to pandemic they can only accommodate 10 ppl per table. The ambiance is a bit dim for my liking.
Theyve done a pretty good job with outside dining. Food is still amazing, always has been. The vibe is obviously different, but thats not their fault. Hopefully when indoor dining comes back in full, so will the vibe. Will still go back.
Excellent service, portions are made to share, got monkfish which was a decent spice level & lobster fried rice.Only down side is you need at least 4+ ppl for tasting menu. With covid it be awesome if they removed this because cutting down on groups
The cocktails were the bomb. Delicious, delicately flavorful and so pretty.The dumplings were so good. The carrot dumplings are vegan and shaped like carrots🥕🥕🥕
I love Buddakan! I like it a lot this restaurant! Any time I go there I feel good and I must make this review for this special restaurant for all of you readers that will read this text everywhere you are. First the area where this restaurant is located; you can find easy parking to park your car without paying any penny, of course with little luck, cause Im talking for the city. The warmly environment inside is gorgeous, fills you up with good energy. Family modern stylish that anyone can find themselves. Very welcome environment. I was with my family members and we choose tasting manu, which as usually, filled up our table full of food. The food is good and in abundance. The prices are not cheap, but also not expensive at the same time. Very reasonable prices 👌🏻 👍🏻 which I believe every single one must try a little of Buddakan experience. Peace!!!⁰!
Tasteless beyond belief!! Ate food that tasted worse than eating paper for the price of an annual Amazon prime membership, while being cramped into a space with random loud strangers who kept elbowing into our table. The only way this place has a 4.5/5 rating is through a crazy marketing campaign funded by the overpriced food that they serve. New York has so much better to offer than this loud music barf fest that people are falling over to get into. Fool me once...
I could have their edamame dumpling everyday.. it’s worth. The service has ups and downs, I had good experiences but I also had one day when the bartender denied to take a picture. Great food and good environment
I celebrated my 60th birthday and have a wonderful time. This place is Amazing!
Buddakan hasnt failed me yet. Third time dining here and this time I went with my bf. Service was on point, food delicious, and ambiance & music - dope!My fave dishes: edamame dumplings, pork belly bao buns (best Ive ever had), beef scallion pancake, and lobster egg rolls. The lobster fried rice, however, could have used a little more flavor this time around and the general tsos dumplings we tried did not have the sweet and spicy profile we were expecting - more like soup dumplings.Drinks were on point and executed well.
Delicious food at seemingly pricey yet actually reasonable prices in hind sight. The food used quality ingredients and was cooked very well. The downsides are that it was about 45 mins AFTER our reservation time before we were able to get a seat but it was worth the wait because the placement was perfect for the Chinese New year lion dance performance. The table service was also poor in some ways like very infrequent visits from staff which made it hard to order and since we had a bottle of sake being chilled was also difficult to get continuous alcohol service. The decor is awesome and it felt a bit more like a club than a restaurant at times. Despite the issues giving it a 5 because everything else was pretty good and it might have been affected by overcrowding on this holiday.
Even after many years without coming to visit this hot spot, Buddakan still delivers on taste, experience and service. We chose to sit outside, there is indoor seating available now. We had a reservation and the food, mixed drink, wine, and experience was still on point. Fun dinner night out!
Fun spot for Asian fushion and friends. Love the tasting menu but easy to get carried away with the bill if you mix in a few cocktails.
Very classy and elegant. Has become one of my top two restaurants ever. I plan to go back. They amazed me by how fast the service was and how quick we were seated. Easy making reservations.
Real swanky place. Food is amazing. Rock shrimp was my favorite. Lights are very dim in dining area and bathrooms.
Great food, drinks and ambiance. Great for date night or dinner with friends. Cassandra was amazing. Very knowledgeable and very helpful with questions we had about the menu choices.
Good food and lots of it! Friendly staff as well which a winning combination. We had the tasting menu and everything was excellent but the rate at which the food arrived was too quick. Ive done tastings before at various restaurants including Michelin starred ones and now have felt this rushed. Would have been 5 stars if it wasnt for that.
First time here and an absolutley amazing ambiance and vibe. We had an early dinner reservation for 6pm (They open at 5pm) and were one of the first seated in the dining room. We werent sure what the differences were between bar seats/table reservations but, once you visit you will see that the main dining area with the infamous steps and chandeliers is the lower level. The menu has to be scanned via smartphone/QR Code and we were reminded that we had 1.5 hours to enjoy our meal. Food was made to order and very delicious, we didnt feel rushed either. Looking forward to trying other menu items here.
The photos as posted, do NOT do this place justice. I walked in and it was breathtaking. As soon as we were seated, I just knew this place reminded me of a place Ive either already been or seen before. And I nailed it. SATC movie, this is the place where BIG and Carrie had their engagement party. Score! So, this place is impressive and is perfect for night out with friends or a romantic dinner. The food was simply delicious, I mean everything we ordered was fantastic, even for the most discerning palate. We ordered the Mongolian Lamb Chops, Short Rib and Scallion Pancake, Tea Smoked Spare Ribs, Whole Sea Bass, Chicken, Wild Mushroom Chow Fun and Vegetable Fried Rice. Yes, a lot of food but well worth the gluttonous behavior.
It was an amazing experience to dine here. Being a vegetarian, I am always concerned if the restaurant will have good options but Buddakan had good amount of veggie options. Everything we ate there was superb quality and very tasteful. We tried Edamame dumplings, some cold noodles which were very flavorful. Desserts were mouth watering and their presentation was just very artistic! Of course its on pricy side but worth every penny!
Love this spot...Ive tried Philipes and neva went back..not that it wasnt good,it just wasnt special. Buddakhan Ive been back several times & Ive tried several meals. All incredible! The lobster egg rolls tho...love em!!
I went to this place for a business dinner. It was pretty good! Lovely decor and dimly lit, and it was huge inside. Theres an upstairs and a downstairs. The food is best described as modern Asian. We had a large sampling of different dishes and they were almost all uniformly delicious. Id definitely recommend!
Great vibes. Large, beautiful restaurant. I ordered Lobster Spring Rolls (which were much bigger than I thought theyd be for an appetizers) and the Wok Noodles with Prawns. Both were delicious 😋. The Blush was a yummy non-alcoholic drink and I appreciated seeing non-alcoholic options on the menu.The lighting was a little too low, making it hard to see. And the music was eclectic but not in a good way. Changes randomly too often to allow it to fall into the back of your mind as background music. I kept paying attention to it when it got weird. Service was pleasant. Overall, I would return. :)
Outragiously expensive. Had the Chefs tasting menu cost was $250... But every dish that came out which was something like 12 courses was absolutely amazing. They ask you if you have any preferences or if theres something that you would like to avoid or if you are a vegetarian or something that you would prefer.... Then 1 by 1 the dishes come out, The even surprise me with a special drink.. Absolutely fantastic experience and everybody should do it At least once in their life.Waiters were extremely courteous and where no one had to change the table, They were accommodating. Atmosphere was phenomenal
For me the entrées ans the desserts are better than rhe main courses.The service and the atmosphere are beyond great.If you are in NYC I recommend to visit.
Absolutely one of the best meals we had in New York.The food quality is outstanding, everything is delicious, and the dessert is possibly the best Ive ever had.The decor is grand and beautiful.The staff couldnt be more helpful, and have a very intimate knowledge of the menu.Obviously, such a place will have a heavy cheque at the end of the night, but its worth it.Enjoy!
Visited this place for birthday! And fell in love with this place immediately! We started with mocktail which were incredible! And went on with dim sum platter which was okay!Lobster rice was okay too as there was no flavor! The rock shrimp was too salty.. I would recommend this place for its beautiful interiors!
Excellent food, amazing ambiance, and superb service. Plenty of vegan options, and the other members of our party loved their meat dishes.
This is where you go if you want to impress someone. Incredible interior design (just wow) and service. Food: top notch. My favorite part was actually that they have non-alcoholic cocktails. THANK you.The dishes are meant to be shared but be warned that portions are small (if you’ve got 5 people, a dish will be a couple bites each). For a date, it’s plenty. Someone got proposed to at the table next to us—it’s that kind of place.
Marvelous experience. It was my first time here and everything from the service to the food was impeccable. The appetizers and the main dishes congruently made sense. One recommendation: the Oxtail dim sum. Desserts and cocktails were great (definitely worth it). Zero negatives. Would come again.
Das beste Restaurant ever!Buddakan is definetly one of the best restaurants I‘ve ever been to. It‘s really pricey but so worth it! All the dishes we’ve tried were just perfect. As a starter I highly recomend Edamame Dim Sum - so so tasty! As already mentioned this place is quite expensive, but it’s an amazing location for a special occaision - we‘ve celebrated my birthday there and would love to come again!
Hand a wonderful experience, from the beautiful decor and the amazing space. From the outside you cant really tell what it is but when you walk in its a whole new world. Staff was friendly and food came out quickly and was very flavorful. Would highly recommend!
The interior is roomy but dark. The wait staff is attentive. The appetizers came out warm-not very hot-I prefer hot. The entrees were delicious except for the eggplant tofu side- I barely touched it. The desserts were amazing! Would we return? Maybe.
This restaurant, of Sex and the City fame, completely surprised me! I expected all hype and little substance, but instead got incredible service and fabulous food!I loved that the food wasnt pretentious, just gorgeous flavours and the best quality ingredients cooked with excellent techniques.I would highly recommend the dim sum tray for two, there wasnt a single delicacy on there that we didnt absolutely love.
It was an awesome place to drive by and I could see the Google office of New York. Chris is well connected with the city centre and you also can take bicycles and travel around. The whole city is city is bicycle friendly.
One of my favorite restaurants in Manhattan. Great atmosphere and delicious food. The drinks are delicious. I recommend to make reservations before attending. Is very fancy and trendy. Is a very popular restaurant in the city. Everything in the menu is delicious. The customer service is excellent. The presentation of the plates was fantastic. I always enjoy my night at this fabulous restaurant.A most go to if you are visiting or browsing in N.Y.C.
Not your standard Asian restaurant. The food was all Asian based like dumplings or noodles, but had a bit of a fusion twist. We had the course and I enjoyed every dish that was served. They also have a bar onsite where they can make pretty much whatever you want.The restaurant also was surprisingly large and easily accommodated our group of around 40.
Great and very trendy place with quite fine food. I would not say authentic, but refined to fine peoples tastes. Great cocktails and a nice wine selection as well.My Singapore style chilli crab for the example was very sweet (usually it is firing hot) and made of king crab, which is easier to handle than regular crab. But anyway, that was a nice place to try and the architecture is very nice!
As the of second-generation Chinese immigrants, I used to take pride in pooh-poohing Americanized versions of Chinese dishes. Turning my nose up at cardboard cartons of chow mein and holding up a plate of slimy sea cucumbers, I would tell myself that I knew what real Chinese food was, and it was better.That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy eating the crispy fried chicken cubes drenched in sticky sweet orange sauce from time to time. But I never acknowledged it as Chinese food, and certainly not of the authentic variety.It wasn’t until recently that I stopped and asked myself what exactly it was that I took so much pride in. What does “authentic” Chinese food really mean?Many Americans perceive ethnic food to be an inferior cuisine, based on the expectation that it should be cheap. This kind of thinking often arises out of ignorance – a misunderstanding that Chinese dishes are simple, consisting of inexpensive ingredients and prepared in a rudimentary style. Things are slowly changing these days, with more and more foodies becoming interested in regional Chinese specialties, even prompting the Wall Street Journal to declare that, “when it comes to fine dining in America, Chinese is the new French.” And yet, foodies are still unwilling to shell out the same amount of money for Chinese soup dumplings as they would for a French duck.The widely-held belief that Chinese food is just plain bad for you is yet another false expectation of what authentic Chinese food should be. Recent restaurant reviews confirm that the words “greasy” and “unhealthy” are unfortunately still very much synonymous with Chinese cooking, and the xenophobic myth that MSG causes illness remains prevalent among many white Americans.But what many Americans believe to be authentic isn’t really authentic at all. Indeed, the birth of Chinese food in America resulted from years of racist attitudes towards the wave of Chinese immigrants arriving during the 1800s. Opening up restaurants was one of the few ways the Chinese were allowed to stay in America, and soon Chinese chefs began to tailor their recipes towards the prevailing sweet American taste buds. And so the Chinese food Americans are familiar with is actually either just a miniscule fraction of what makes up Chinese food culture, or would not even be found anywhere near mainland China.Growing up in America, I often felt caught between the Chinese food my parents served at the dinner table, and the Chinese food being sold in restaurants all over the country, as if those were the only two options available to me. When I started to reclaim my Chinese identity and cultural heritage as an adult, I realized that I needed to discover what authenticity meant for myself.For a long time, I adhered to this vague notion that authenticity referred to purity – that true Chinese cuisine could not be tainted by foreign influence. Down with the beef and broccoli myth of America!But I quickly realized that this definition was much too simplistic. Take General Tso’s chicken, for instance. It’s one of the most popular items on any Chinese takeout menu in America: crispy, fried chicken in sticky brown sauce surrounded by broccoli. Completely irresistible, and not remotely authentic, right? But trace its history far back enough, and you find that the dish was invented by Peng Chang-Kuei, a chef born and raised in Hunan, China. He conceived of the dish in Taiwan in 1949, naming it after a Hunan general and highlighting traditional Hunanese flavors. When Peng Chang-Kuei later opened a restaurant in New York in the 1970s, he made the dish sweeter and less spicy, and Americans flocked to his restaurant in droves.Does the fact that a Chinese chef created General Tso’s chicken excuse the dish from its American influences? Can’t this adaptation be seen as a subset of Chinese cuisine – made by Chinese, for both Chinese and Americans?
Buddakan NYC75 9th AveNew York, NY 10011b/t Avenue Of The Americas & 5th AveMeatpacking District, ChelseaMy friend picked the spot, since they were from out of town. Glad they got a reservation. On a Sunday night we were looking at 45min-1hr for a table. They offered bar seating but at this kind of place you didnt want to be at the bar. Its nice and we wanted to enjoy our meal in a comfortable seating area. The noise level is pretty loud, but manageable just dont sit at the end or you wont be able hear everyone at the table. Waiters were very polite and accommodating. They suggested good choices for us.We got the short rib dumplings, short rib scallion pancake, lobster egg rolls, wild mushroom chowfun, grilled whole seabass.I have to say this was a fancy spot, and pricey, we did 4 dishes amount 4 people which was just right with some wine. Came out to 50 a head roughly before tip.I have to say the flavoring of food was satisfying. Some of the dishes I felt I knew how they would taste surprised me. It was packed with different fragrances and flavors. The sea bass I felt like I could still taste the Smoked Apple grill on my tongue still.We didnt stop and also got dessert!Dessert as Coconut Moussemango creme, thai basil, puffed riceMaple Bread Puddingmaple creme caramel, peanut ice creamChocolate Pistachio Cremoscherries, cocoa nibs, pistachio ice creamEverything was really on point, I wish I had more room to eat it all, but had to spot eating after reaching beyond full. Worth a try, the decor is beautiful, maybe a little confusing to navigate once downstairs and trying to find the bathrooms. Dont expect it to be quiet, but enjoy a good time. The time at the restaurant was a bit slower paced, but enjoyable with good company and conversation.As always check the pictures and my instagram @Jliueats / LcrazyaznL
We went with a group of 6 people and our waiter was amazing. The setting is wonderful, with a huge room with a long table and chandeliers. Food and wine were great too. I personally loved the calliflowers lollipop!
One of the best meals I’ve ever eaten and our server Kenny was so fun and helpful. He gave us excellent recommendations and the whole meal was phenomenal.
Can not say enough good things about Buddakan. The drinks are solid and the food is some of the best in NYC. I love the Monkfish, carrot dumplings, and coconut and pineapple rice. Good for big, small, and private parties.
So good! My friend and I went to this restaurant on our last night in New York and we loved it. The place is so beautiful, with special charm and quite sophisticated.The food was delicious and the staff really nice, they rewarded us with a dessert for our last night in town. Highly recommended!
Fantastic food, ambiance, and service. The flavors were so good. Don’t miss the spicy yellowtail appetizer or the pork belly buns!!
Everything was amazing. Great place to go and share food with friends. The general tso’s soup dumplings and lobster egg rolls were my favorites.
I was here two years ago and it was nice. Last night I was here again with two friends. We ordered some food, and right after, we realised that my purse was gone as well as my friends handbag, with everything in it (credit cards, iphone airpods, sunglass, passport,..). It is terrible that this happened in a fancy place with security at the door and tens of hostesses to welcome you?!? We filed police reports etc.A horrible experience.To all future guests: watch your stuff/bags and make sure to keep it very close. The restaurant is very noisey and dark inside, so that makes it easier I guess for a random guy to walk in and steal lots of things without people noticing.
Well known for the famous scene in the Sex and the City Movie, this fine dining Asian fair has elegance and food to keep you enthralled for a most perfect outing. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and had helpful suggestions about the menu. The dumplings come in sets of 5 and the entrees are in mid-size bowls. They may try and convince you to buy more, claiming that the food comes in smaller portions, but I honestly though that ordering two entrees and one set of dumplings is enough for two people. Hope this helps!
The place is really nice - great vibe, excellent music. But for all the hype, the food was strictly ok.
Food was amazing. Rock shrimp was the best. Cool dark atmosphere, and creative cocktails. Slowest waitress ever. Put a funk on our night for a while because she kept telling us shed be right back.
Went here for my birthday and everything from the ambiance to the food was top notch. Def recommended
We had an amazing experience. We had the tasting menu and there were gems such as he edamame dumplings, the duck, the carrot cake. All was top notch. Recommended.
Before I jump to the more extensive review, I want to say that overall we liked Buddakan and it is very likely that we will come back when we are next time in NYC.Now, please let me explain why 3 starts and not 4 or 5.1. The atmosphere in the restaurant was not pleasant. The music was too loud and due to that everyone had to talk loudly. As a result, it was very noisy.2. The tables are very close to each other. We had to move a table so that my fiance can sit, and we had to move a table again when we were leaving so that she can exit. I feel that in the restaurants which aim for fine dining ($$$$) they should pay more attention to the distance between tables and overall privacy of guests.3. We left with the feeling that the restaurant is generally overpriced. We are not experts in NYC price ranges, but from our experience in other restaurants the prices are more or less comparable to London. Unfortunately, Buddakan is more expensive than Hakkasan, Yatautcha or Novikov in London, despite the fact that food and atmosphere in those is not worse, maybe even slightly better.
Very popular trendy restaurant that lives up to the hype. The beginning experience is always a bit off putting when the host directs you to the crowded bar area to wait for your table. However, I’ve discovered new rooms each time I’ve been and had a great experience with the waiters. Food is great - General tso and foie gras dim sum both delicious. I’d recommend staying away from the edamame dim sum even though they say it’s one of the most popular dishes. Short rib was phenomenal, fell off the bone. Also had the Lo mein, lobster fried rice and the chicken which were all great. We finished up with 4 desserts (all the pictures I️ took) and I️ would highly recommend the mochi donuts. Never had anything like it!
Went here to hang out at the lounge and grab few drinks. Service is okay. Pricey. Cocktails are awesome, but can also make you whatever is not on the menu. Tried Old Fashion with Woodford, was pleasantly surprised.
Food was great, atmosphere is ideal for a dinner conversation amongst the table. Service was a slight concern, food was not timed properly as multiple dishes came out at the same time feeling cold. Tasted great though.
Love the ambience of the restaurant. The food was great. A lot of options to choose from! Friendly service.
Very pretty setup and ambience. Not a great place for vegetarians. The edamame dumplings were new and delicious!
A trendy, staple Asian fusion restaurant/bar within the city that’s great for groups or to take a date. The space is modern and spacious but can be pretty loud, service is superb/attentive and the food is a modern take on Asian Fusion. I love Asian food, and I frequently eat in The Chinatowns in both Flushing and Manhattan so I am a bit bias. However, if the Chinatowns with hole in the wall restaurants are not your thing, then Buddakan might be a better option as the food is more modern and American.
This place is trendy with some amazing food. Great ambiance but can use some more light. It can be a little too dark. There are very few vegetarian options but they are delicious.
Bougie atmosphere but really just came here for the food. The location in Philly is also just as amazing, thank you Stephen Starr for this NYC gem. Regarding food- Edamame dumplings are the most mouth watering food you will ever eat!! Highly recommend here. They taste like garlic butter edamame mash potatoes but amazing.Edamame dumplings: like I said above, AMAZING. Order comes with 4 dumplings and youll want to order 3 dishes.Pinot Grigio: alcohol is pricey here and not worth it spend your money on the dim sunTuna tartare egg roll: order comes with 4 rolls. Not my favorite dish but the tuna was delicious.Lobster egg roll: order served with 6 cut pieces. I do not recommend it was flavorless and only one piece of lobster.Crispy cauliflower lollipops: unreal. Order comes with 5 and they taste like Mac n cheese balls. They are buttery and crispy with just the right amount of truffle inside.Pork bun: order comes with 3. If you are a fan of pork buns then you will love as much as I did. Meat is cooked perfectly but has a little bit of kick to it with the spice added.
Sheer Upscale delight! Huge space of 16000 square feet! Food is not outstanding for this scale but very good. But the ambiance, decor and set up are just apt for a club like restaurant. The service is good. You need to book at 45 days ahead if booking for 2-4 people. If the group size is bigger than at least 2 months in advance. I met a group of 13 chinese people and they had booked their table 3 months in advance. The cost for 2 people with drinks should be around $180-200 with tip. Must visit at least once .
Okay okay okay - far above my budget...But absolutely worth it.Amazing ambience, food to die for, best waiter Ive ever experienced, and great music!!!Their General Tsos dumplings were out of this world. I cant stop talking about it.I would have a birthday cake made of those😭You can also literally eat the Braised beef short ribs with a spoon. Seriously. Immaculate.I wanted to give them 4 stars because of how expensive everything was but it is so worth it!
Unless you dont like food, you wont be dissatisfied. A technical, imaginative dining experience with an exceptional staff. And a staff who has grown friendlier over the years.A nice place to have a conversation with a variety of table experiences (I imagine I would become friends with the captain to have better reservation options if it was more local to me). Its a place you can have a conversation, over cocktails and food that is consistently very good.Google being across the street has clearly been good for the location. The clientele is extremely upscale, and for a meal of this caliber it is affordable.The menu is elevated Asian street food for the American palette, so sweeter and less spice...approachable, with hidden delights, and lots of options.Full disclosure I have eaten at this place for many years now. It hasnt changed much over the years. Becoming a local staple, has been a good thing and the ambiance, familiarity has grown on me personally.If you are a cautious food global tourist looking for a good entry way to a variety of Asian cuisine, its hard to think of better.
Food was awesome, staff was so sweet and helpful. I love the frozen drink with the lycee pears.
What amazing place.Food was incredible really liked up to its reputation and offered something for everyone.Quite a swanky feel to it so get dressed to the hill.Would love the opportunity to return again
Excellent upscale Asian Fusion.We loved the ambiance, the service and the food. And great location too - right next to Chelsea Market.The portions are small but the food is great so we ended up ordering a lot. Everything we tried was great the dumplings (which were the juicy kind), Lobster & Shrimp Lo Mein, the Duck Fried Rice, Mongolian Lamp Chops and two kinds of fish - both the fish dishes here were extremely good.The decor with the high ceiling was classy. The service was excellent and non-intrusive.
It was actually such a bad experience, we didn’t even eat there. We made a reservation in Open Table weeks before our trip. Once we arrived the hostess said we had made our reservation for outside and made us stand there for over 30 minutes to be sat. We recognized we never selected outside but figured it was a nice night so we would roll with it. The outside area was horrendous. No ambiance; you’re essentially stuck next to garbage cans and boxes. Any other restaurant we ate at in NYC had a wonderful outdoors area. When we brought this to the managers attention he was so rude, he basically didn’t care. Even after identifying it was there mistake, that we never chose outside seating. From there, it just got worse. It was so bad, that even though it was the last night of our trip we chose to leave and take our chances somewhere else with no reservations. We chose to leave and go to TAO instead who accommodated us very quickly and with complete respect. They were absolutely wonderful and the meal was delicious.
Buddakan gets a lot of extra points for being open at 7:30 rather than 8 or 830 like many other places. It also is located on a quiet street served by some of the most picturesque street cars. The eggs Benedict were excellent, and the fruit crepes were also very good, if a bit dry. Service was fast and friendly.
Absolutely amazing. The service was friendly and efficient. The food was on another level! We had the pork buns, the carrot dumplings, the short rib (big enough to share between 2 people) and the Asian stir fry greens. Really tasty! The atmosphere was awesome too. Loved the dim lighting and the overall vibe. Very New York!
2 stars for this place since it will ruin your mood at the very beginning by making you wait for atleast 45mins for a table of 2 even though you book a table 1 week in advance. 1 star for ambience and 1 for certain select good food dishes. Our server was great but she had toooo many tables to manage at the same time so cannot blame her for anything. You will see they have atleast 50staff members but still everything has too much wait time.. from getting the table to ordering something additional for ur table and even the restrooms. Just go with a touristy mindset to click pictures and you will enjoy this place. Don’t expect anything else.
The waiter was very attentive to details. Decorations and displays were beautiful.Food however was delicate but not authentic enough.You can only take the stairs to the main alter, the restaurant needs an elevator to accommodate disabled/elderly to the main alter
The food was good. However, I didnt like where I was sat, wasnt like on the website and cause the door constantly opening couldnt enjoy it.
Hands down, this is my favorite Asian fusion restaurant of all times. Great food and service has been consistent for several years.After years of not being able to visit because I moved, I decided to take a vacation back home to NY for my husbands birthday. I could NOT have chosen a better restaurant to celebrate him. I was so happy to find that Buddakans was still to remain one of my favorite restaurants in NY.
The dining experience is exceptional. Could not guess anything from the understated exterior. They walk you through the welcoming coat check, the mystical bar/social area, and the beautiful grand dining room. Their Asian-Fusion menu is delicious and they change it up, so dont count on finding your favorite dish on your next visit.
This place is unique and wonderful! Full of modern details with a timeless design. We highly recommend visiting and enjoying this amazing place.
Expensive but totally worth it. A beautiful, dramatic room with perfect date night lighting! They have a huge communal table but plenty of smaller ones too. The food is very good: All your favourite Chinese restaurant dishes but done in a very modern, high end way. Every dish we had was delicious and beautifully presented. Try the steak in birds nest and the crab toast (trust me, it’s incredible). Service was solid, if slightly stretched. Perhaps they were unexpectedly busy that night. All round, an excellent restaurant.
Total reviews rating 4.5
199 Reviews for Buddakan 2023:
Review №1
2022-05-30Very delicious dim sum sampler platter , I really enjoyed the pork flavored spring rolls and the shrimp toast in the sweet and tangy sauce was off the charts. The lobster fried rice and the chicken entree dish was just okay, everything was cooked really well but the entrees overall were very pricey. The services was impeccable, and we were never left with a dirty plate. I also loved the ambiance, the low lighting set a really romantic and relaxing mood. The chandelier room was gorgeous. I’d recommend this place if you want a slightly high end execution of Asian food and flavours.
Review №2
2022-05-03Are you ready for the 411? Here we go…took my family out for dinner for my daughter’s birthday and let me say in one word….AMAZING! First of all, the level of attention placed in the customer experience was extraordinary to me. We choose to go with the Tasting Menu IV which gave us the ultimate tasting experience with a 4-course meal. I would highly recommend this especially if it’s your first time and with a group.. Our server, Shanna, was extremely attentive to our every needs. The appetizer were a great starter…leading to the other dishes and one after the other it was more and more amazing. Everything was well seasoned and perfect to the taste. The dessert was another show stopper especially the cheesecake. The pictures taken do not even do the food just but just trust me Buddhakan does not disappoint. Great experience!
Review №3
2022-05-06Wonderful restaurant. Ambiance, food, service! Everything was excellent. Food is very flavorful. We had smoked salmon dumplings (my favorite), oxtail dumplings, & general tso dumplings. Entrees: duck & prime rib. Side: crab fried rice. I highly recommend this restaurant!
Review №4
2022-05-19Buddakan is probably one of the highest rated restaurants in NYC. At the entrance, you will find a check-in counter similar to those in airports. If not all members are present, you will be directed to a lounge area to wait.Once everyone has arrived, the hostess will direct you to your table after you have informed them. Seeing the dining room while walking down the stairs is incredibly beautiful. However, there are still more tables tucked away in the surrounding corners.In addition to the regular dinner menu, there is a tasting menu. It ranges from 90 to 130 dollars per person. The appetizer begins at $$ and the main course at $$$.Food is decent, the presentation is appealing, and its a good place to hold a business meeting or a romantic dinner. Additionally, the service is excellent and attentive. Highly recommended
Review №5
2022-02-13The right pick for the right occasion. We ordered the oxtail dumplings oh its something about a West Indian and oxtails we take it how ever we can get it and this was a exceptional adaptation all the flavors you expect wrapped in a dumpling. We ordered the the lobster fried rice, Mongolian crusted lamb chops, crispy fried shrimp.Our entire meal was superb but the star of the show was the ginger crusted Mongolian lamb chops, they were just amazing I could eat that ever week.
Review №6
2022-04-27Stunning interior with dim lighting, incredibly high ceilings and beautiful chandeliers. Zen ambiance. Attentive waitress. The food was lacking though; most dishes were under-seasoned and just bland which was very disappointing. My son looked forward to lobster dishes and got two of them but both were tasteless.
Review №7
2022-05-30Everything I ordered from the Chili Shrimp to the Edamame Dumplings, shrimp noodles, to the dessert was delicious. The service was top notch.If you have dietary restrictions or request Halal, they can accommodate you if you give them a week prior notice. Portions are not big but some items can be shared.
Review №8
2022-02-26Eating at Buddakan is one of my favorite Chelsea dining experiences. The main part of the restaurant is downstairs, and the ceilings are incredibly high. The candles and chandeliers are gorgeous. And the wait staff is amazingly nice!My family and I had a family style meal where we all got to taste everything. It was more than worth the price. The standout was the edamame dumplings!10/10! I can’t wait to go again in the future.
Review №9
2022-04-19The ambience is hyped. I loved Tao Downtown better. The food was good, we had all vegetarian though. I really liked the Carrot and Edamame dumplings. The vegetarian fried rice was bland. The deserts were great. The cocktails are decent
Review №10
2022-04-25The ambiance is what really drew me in..dark interior was definitely my speed. Drinks to start in the bar and whisked off to a corner table overlooking the really, really long table in the center of the lower dining room.The food was delicious; too many items to list, but will be back to try more menu items.Peking Duck for Two was superb and the Lobster Fried Rice was delicious.