Budda C

I liked Budda C when it was open, but it is no more. The location is now a Japanese sushi buffet called Takusan.

When I came, it was quite empty. Actually, it was a ghost town. I got a flier shoved in my apartment mail box from this place, and I decided to give it a try. The lunch menu is pretty good, but I wouldn’t say it is really Japanese. I ordered a beef teriyaki combo, and what I got was a thick steak with teriyaki sauce on the side. I wasn’t complaining. The steak was definitely grilled right and wasn’t too chewy. Could have been a little juicier. Beer went pretty good with the meal. Might come back again. Maybe there will be more people next time. At one point I realized the waitress was gone, and then suddenly appeared to pour water. I don’t know where she comes from…

I really love the ambiance of this place and every time I ride by the restaurant on the C green line, I imagine living above the restaurant and going to the bar for on a weekly basis for a casual drink or a quick bite. My friend had a birthday lunch and I thought this was the perfect opportunity to try out their menu. I arrived about fifteen minutes before the rest of the party and so I was able to sit around and listen in on the staff’s conversation. The staff speaks Cantonese and so you would think that they’re really good at cooking amazing Cantonese style food but they didn’t really offer that many styles that showed this style — instead they had sushi, Korean style/​inspired food, and other standard Chinese American dishes (General Tso’s chicken). I had the Korean ribs and it was ok, a bit too dry and chewy for my taste. I also had the crab fried rice and I was definitely a lot happier about it than my ribs. The dish had real pieces of crab and the portion was hearty enough to share. The beer list offers a good number of great beers on tap for five dollars a pint and so I would still love to stop by and hang out in their bar area for a drink or two.

Cool modern Asian style décor, but that’s about the only positive thing this restaurant had to offer. Had the red curry scallop hot pot, which didn’t come with rice, and the scallops were grey and discolored. The server was a little clueless and brusque. And for some reason, the desserts are all boilerplate Italian dishes (chocolate mousse cake, tiramisu)– is that what they mean when they say this place is «fusion»?
Some of the people in the group got the «small plates» which looked a bit better. If I ever go back, I think that is the way to go.

Meh. Really hip yet warm interior but the food is just meh. The cuisine is sort of pan-​Asian so they’re a bit jack of all trades-​y. Had a nondescript noodle dish which definitely needed sriracha on the side.

I came here on a Tuesday Night with 2 of my girl friends. It wasn’t too busy. The ambience is good and the service was really good.
We took advantage of the $ 18pp for 3 small plates (anything that was under $ 10).
I think it is a bit pricey for the size they come in, as described they are small, but 3 for $ 18 is reasonable. I don’t think we would’ve got as many small dishes if it were regular priced.
But we ordered the Chilean Sea Bass as well since it’s a favorite of all of us. This was really good.
We had Malbec with our dinner it was pretty good and it wasn’t too costly, $ 30/​bottle.
Small Plates — just as described, they are small. Good tasting Portions.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the things we ordered:
Grilled Korean Short Ribs — this was flavorful, not bad. probably gave about 5 pieces
Filet Mignon Tips — these were really tender.
Double Woks Spicy Pork Belly — I did not like this dish at all. Normally when I have pork belly they sear it so it’s crisp, this was kind of soggy and all I tasted was fat residue. I didn’t like this at all and would not recommend ordering this.
Shrimp Black Bean — this was okay, nothing special.
Kung Pao Fish — this was surprisingly pretty good. They are filets, no bones and it had a caramalized crisp to it.
Grilled Salmon (tereyaki sauce) — I did not like this either. They burnt the bottom and it was really dry.
Spicy Basil Chicken — this was okay, it was julienned chicken and i found nothing spicy about it.
Brocolli with Garlic — This had loads of garlic, which i love, so this was pretty good and it wasn’t soggy.
Chinese Watercress — this was okay, although it didn’t really look like watercress, it looked like chinese pea pod stem, which is better than watercress.
This place is only okay, i thought it’s a tad pricey for such small plates. The service was excellent. I wouldn’t be a regular at this place but at least I would come back.

For Brookline, it’s solid. but definitely east-​coast (non-​NYC) sushi… i.e. they «cheat» to make the rolls delicious… and yes, they are delicious.
however the bar is great for football (enjoyed watching my Niners on SNF).
Enjoyed the dumpling soup, spicy basil chicken (very good and a big serving), and the Spicy Red Dragon Roll.
Try not to get too drunk though at the bar (reasonably priced) since there’s no overnight parking in the area and you’ll have to track your car down at the impound in the morning.

I love Buddha-​C. From the outside, it looks unassuming, and a bit weird since it’s located on the main floor of an apartment building, and next to a medical office. But once you get through the front door, you’ll be awed by a HUGE Buddha statue and a swanky décor. Kind of a cool lounge club vibe that you’d never expect from the outside (and to be honest, in Brookline!). Best of all, it’s right around the corner from my place and easy to get to, regardless of the weather.
But what I love about Buddha C is the food. Now, like all restaurants, some of the dishes are a miss, but when they have a hit, its great!
They have a great sushi menu that has decently priced rolls, as well as the pricey «add all the extras you can put on a slab of fish» rolls. But overall, their rolls are quite good and worth the money.
I also enjoy their take on the classic Korean bibimbop. It is almost as good as it would be at a regular korean restaurant. Other «fusion» dishes are not so good. Their version of the korean spicy chicken was spicy, but not really «korean.» In addition, their pad thai, was ok, isn’t that great.
However, my favorite dish at Buddha C is their hot and sour soup. They must put crack in their soup because it always hits The Spot. I’m not saying their soup is the best in the world, but when you want something filling, their soup does it. When I just want something simple and not too expensive, I’ll order a serving of their soup and a bowl of rice. The serving of soup is huge, and when it comes out, I dump the rice right in there and I have a complete meal.

No thanks.

My boyfriend and I go to Budda C ALL the time. I’ve never had a bad meal here. The prices are reasonable for good food/​good sushi. We’ve taken several (very picky) relatives and friends to this restaurant and Budda C has impressed them all.
The décor is very hip. Dark wood, white seats, red accents, and a giant Budda — what more could you ask for? The waitstaff is always helpful and friendly. I’ve never seen the restaurant totally filled (except for Valentines Day), which I’ve always found surprising because the food is that good.
The hot sake is delicious and the menu offers many delicious vegetarian options. The maki combos are a steal — three different rolls, including tasty miso soup and salad all for under $ 15.
Best of all they deliver! I’ve ordered takeout several times and it’s always been ready to be picked up when I arrived. Perhaps it’s because I’ve ordered from there so many times? Anyways — go, it’s delicious.

We needed a quick meal after checking in to the Holiday Inn across the street, and when both Unilocal and the Concierge recommended Budda C, our decision was made. The interior of this place is really well done; a little dark, with mostly booths so you don’t feel like your neighbors are right on top of you. A lot of the light in the room seems to come as reflection off the giant Buddha statue at one end, which gives it a really nice atmosphere (but I have to admit that I am partial to the fat-​jolly Chinese buddha as opposed to this thinner Thai Buddha).
Our food was all perfectly fine; the crab fried rice was tasty, but could have used more crab chunks, and the crispy pad thai was a nice change of pace, but I would probably stick to the regular pad thai next time (although I am glad I tried it, I’ve never seen it anywhere else). I would happily stop back here again next time we’re staying in the area.

This place used to be called the infamous Jae’s Grill, and I ate here often when I lived on James Street (diagonally across the street) from this restaurant, and worked at Holiday Inn directly across. The atmosphere is great, the staff is friendly, and fast, and I would have to say they have AMAZING food, and they still do even with the name change and a slight menu change. They actually kept their best dishes with this new menu, and I was glad to see that their Pad Thai tastes exactly the same it always did, even with a different chef preparing it. Also, as much as possible, make sure to come here on the Cleveland Circle (C-​Line) Green Line, and get off at St. Paul. You will be dropped off directly in front of it.
My fiancé‘ and I made sure to come here more than once during our visit to Boston last week. Here is a list of what we ordered:
Snow Mountain Roll: It is tempura shrimp and avocado roll topped with seafood salad, and tempura flakes. This is TO DIE FOR! My favorite rolls!
Spicy Tuna Roll: This roll here is prepared with cucumber, and the tuna is mixed with spicy mayo, and also tempura flakes then rolled. Best tasting Spicy Tuna I have ever had!
Dynamite Roll: this is with baked scallops, crabmeat, with spicy mayo, scallions, a nd tempura flakes in a roll. Another favorite of mine to always have here!
Chicken and Shrimp Pad Thai: Absolutely excellent! The vegetables are fresh, and so are the chicken and shrimp which were juicy, and not overcooked. Since my fiancé‘ has peanut allergies, they are extremely cautious and careful about this as well.
Szechuan Wings: This is in the appetizer section, and one of the best and most unique items in the menu! The sauce is mixed between sweet and spicy, and the drumsticks have the meat at the end. It is delicious, and even great for a meal.
(They do delivery in the Brighton/​Brookline/​Allston area!!!)
This was the place I made sure to visit first the moment I returned back to my old neighborhood. It’s never a disappointment, and I can’t wait for another visit!

When the temperature rises, the oven becomes my worst enemy. I glare at the stove wondering if risking fainting from the heat is worth cooking anything on the burners… PB and J anyone? With my Eversave deal in tow, I ventured to Budda C for the first time. I had to eat something after all!
The entrance the building seems like you’re going to visit a dentist and not really restaurant. Walk past the dusty fake ivy and enter Budd C on your right. The décor was extremely surprisingly. It was an eclectic, modern twist on an Asian restaurant. We sat at a semi circle table which let us sit next to each other.
We ordered the soy and ginger edamame, bi bam bap and the beef dish. All three were decent. Nothing mind blowing. I was a little disappointed when I saw that the egg was already cooked in the bi bam bap as it helps the rice stick together.
FYI They blast the AC here. If you’re dressed for a heat wave, bring a sweater.

FOOD
Ma pa tofu — 5 Stars
Excellent Taste and enough heat to clear your sinuses
Spicy wings — 4 Stars
More sweet than spicy and very nice presentation
Seaweed salad — 5 Stars
Absolutely lovely — fresh and very tasty
Whole fried fish — 4 Stars
Amazing, deboned and shaped into a boat. Wish it didn’t have breading though, but I think it’s because of the boat thing. The fish itself wasn’t super tasty but the sauce they had it in was what made it amazing.
Chicken fried brown rice — 3.5 Stars
This was the only part of the meal that didn’t wow me. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t wow. Kinda salty so I picked at it and covered it with the Ma Pa Tofu
SERVICE
Greeted immediately and because we had made a reservation, we were seated immediately. (Though the place wasn’t very busy for a Friday night — and after our meal we really wondered why). Our waiter was nice enough, friendly enough, a passing waiter filled our almost empty water glass, the guy that sat us filled us up again, and when we were leaving, everyone we passed said goodnight to us. I kinda like that — it’s called being FRIENDLY people of the north.
DECOR ET AL
Gorgeous. Chocolate/​Marble pillars with gold upper crests, exposed beams in dark wood stain, a beautiful red would wall with candles, leather couches, yeah, it was pretty awesome.
The parking is quite ample, even on a Friday evening (around 7:30pm) Not sure how it is in the fall, but this wonderful summer night, it was easy to find parking right around the corner. Don’t be like hubbie, read the entire NO PARKING sign — it said only between 7am to 10am ;)
Before our Eversave Coupon was even presented, we were floored by the check. It was amazingly low! This meal could have easily cost us close to 80 (with on alcoholic drink) but it was $ 64. So with our $ 30 coupon, we paid 48 with tip, NICE
Would we trek from our abode that is north of Boston to the Newton bordering neighbor, Brookline? Yeah for sure! even with out a coupon!
Good Eating!

The food is fine. We sat at the bar and took advantage of the $ 10 drink/​free appetizer promotion. My friend loved the Tuna Tartare and I loved the Idaho Maki.
I’m not going out of my way to come here, though, as it didn’t set the world on fire.
However, if you sign up for their mailing list, you get a $ 20 coupon for your birthday. Anyone can tear up $ 20 worth of sushi on his/​her birthday, right?

The food here is solidly «okay», but I never walk away feeling like I just enjoyed an amazing meal. Dumplings and basic sushi rolls are nice, but my friend’s beef special was less than stellar.
It’s got a loungey/​asian fusion feel, so I’m guessing that it’s better for drinks than it is for dinner.

This place used to be Jae’s a while back. We came here with a Groupon, and had a good time. The ambiance was nice (like the Big Budda!), and the food was good. My hot pot was a little too rich/​greasy as served (felt like it needed more rice), but on the plus side, the leftovers were enough for a dinner for two.
I think my BF had sushi, and he didn’t complain about it, which means it was pretty good!
They have really good affordable specials as well. Definitely going back.

A nice pan-​Asian place that seems to hit the mark on all counts. It has the most basic dishes from the major Asian cuisines — bibimbap, pad thai, assorted fried rice, noodle soups and basic you’ve-seen-them-before sushi rolls. It is not an inventive place by any means, but if you’re in the mood for your classic dishes done well and affordable, stop by Budda C!
I ordered crispy pad thai ($ 8, a little too sweet) and the spicy tuna tempura specialty roll ($ 11) chock full of tuna and lightly breaded — perfect. My friend’s first experience with bibimbap ($ 13) she was not disappointed, it really looked delicious. My other friend ordered the Budda C special roll which she said was way too much in one roll, and a sweet potato roll. With our Buywithme coupon, we each ended up paying $ 15 or less and I even took home leftovers… not bad at all!
The service was very quick, the waitress attentive, and the décor was so nice and chic. Definitely good for a girl’s night out or a first date!
Since I don’t live in the area, I won’t be here too often but I do wish there was such an affordable place like Budda C in Harvard Square! I may be tempted to come back for their half-​price sushi though and I will definitely consider it when in the Coolidge Corner area for a meal.

The food and sushi are really just ok;
however, if you are on a budget and you’re craving for some sushi. Eat there Monday-​Wednesday night,
can’t go wrong with ½ off regular sushi rolls (yes that include Alaskan maki, crazy maki, Philly rolls and a few other very decent rolls all come under 4 bucks and they are not small).

Went back there to get ½ priced sushi for take out. Called ahead and was told my order would take about 20 minutes. It ended up taking me 30 minutes to get there and an additional 5 minutes to walk there from where I parked. When I got inside and paid, I waited an additional 15 minutes for my order. Are you kidding me? After reading some of the other reviews, it definitely does take too long for the sushi chefs to make the sushi.
There were 2 tables in the restaurant. One just sat down and the other was already eating. I don’t understand why it took over 45 minutes to make my sushi order when I already called ahead to order it. That’s why it’s called TAKE OUT.