Buddakan

Setvice in restaurant impeccable. Bar service at tables non-​existent. Go to bar and order a cocktail if you want a drink. Dumplings delicious. The charred steak was tender and flavorful. The Dungeness crab rice a must. tables are too close and patrons getting in and out are going to bump the next table if you are along the wall downstairs. Noisy.

Finally came here and loved it! Honestly my personal taste is more for small hole-​in-​the-​wall kind of places with great food and this was not even close. However it did offer some really great food. We had made a reservation which is highly recommended given how busy this place is and we were seated 15 minutes after the time of reservation. We were greeted by a really charming and knowledgeable waitress who happily answered all the questions we had.
For appetizers we got the
pork ribs (5/5)which are some of the best iv had– sticky sweet and falling off the bone.
The pork buns (5/5)were really nice too.
The edamame and wasabi dumplings (²⁄₅) which we got were mushy and lacked good textures and were just not to my taste.
For the main course we ordered the crispy soft shell crab (⁵⁄₅), which was my favorite dish if the night. We also got the
vegetable fried rice with coconut and pineapple foam (⁴⁄₅)
Shrimp fried rice (⁵⁄₅)
Lobster chow fun (⁵⁄₅)
Fried monk fish (³⁄₅)
Black cod (³⁄₅)
Spare ribs (²⁄₅)
Overall I really liked the vibe of the place and the basement was gorgeous– reminded me of the dinner scene from sex and the city. Great place to come with friends or to celebrate a special occassion.

Returned after my initial failed visit from a month ago and can now firmly recommend this place to others in good conscience.
The ambiance is incredible with a sunken dining room and beautiful Renaissance-​esque art on the walls, and the table settings deftly mix modern furnishings with old-​world long, tapered candles. It’s a great place for coworkers/​friends, but I did see a few families with young-​ish kids.
Food is upscale Chinese with an Americanized twist. My friends and I split the following:
Mushroom Chow Fun (very oily and heavy so the smaller portion is perfect)
Oxtail Dumplings (incredible and the oxtail tastes almost like short ribs)
Jade Shrimp dumplings
Crispy Cauliflower Lollipops (trying to un-​stick these from their setting was a chore but I guess you can test out how much your friends like you based on whether they help you in this endeavour — but GET THESE, these are heavy and cheesy and crispy and just goodness all around)
Chili Rock Shrimp (there’s a nice kick of sriracha to it)
Dessert was wonderful, as well. Do order the crying chocolate which is deservedly popular.
The staff is so nice and smiley, and our server Carrie was so cute and bubbly that it put us in a good mood — she always had a smile on her face even when we turned her away four times due to our inability to make decisions.
Come here to impress a date as the music isn’t too loud (though I’m not a personal fan of trance background music but it’s easily ignorable) or for a fun night out with friends!

Located right next door to Chelsea Market, but eating dinner here is worth it. It definitely is pricey but there’s a good reason. Buddakan’s ambiance is so trendy that the moment you walk through the door you’ll get a good feeling. The service is so accommodating as each part of the staff constantly checks in from time to time to make sure that your experience is great.
Food is basically Chinese food in its fanciest form. Portions were big enough to share amongst a party of four but make sure to order a lot of different things from each part of the menu.
Also dessert is a must.
Not a single complaint!

For years I dismissed the notion that the best food can only be found on the east coast, being an LA girl after all. But that changed in a hurry after dining at Buddakan. Umami makes me Happy, and this place is all about that!
The presentation is whimsical and inspiring. The service is terrific. And the food is like nothing I’ve had before. Altogether it was a very fulfilling food experience.

Dimly lit date night spot serving up tasty tapas and shareable side dishes. Our waitress Caroleena was phenomenal. She elevated the experience with her knowledge, smile and exuded genuineness.
The dishes that stood out were the yellow tail, pork buns, black cod and scallops.
We also tried a few of the rice and noodle options to full up.
To end the night off we had the Chocolate/​Pistachio dessert.
A sincere touch was the candle and a cookie that read «Congratulations» inserted as it was my brothers graduation dinner.
We left very content.

After having a less than favorable experience the manager assured me that I would be receiving a gift certificate for all the trouble.
Well over a year has past and several promises broken with still nothing ever received.
I was told the first time it must have been lost in the mail. Now 3x lost? Poor customer service and very poor follow up.
Looks like I’ll be scratching this restaurant off my list.

I would come again just for the service and the architecture of the restaurant. The restaurant is beautiful, the service is amazing. The Edamame dumplings and the tuna tartare spring rolls are a must have! The Peking duck was okay but a very popular item amongst visitors.

Love love love. The ambiance was amazing! There’s a little lounge area to sit and enjoy drinks in while waiting for them to prepare your table. We were seated in a nice booth with romantic lighting. I was there with four other people and we all enjoyed our food. They are smaller portions but very rich in flavor, we were full halfway through our order! Definitely recommend the rock shrimp and chow fun. Fried rice was too eggy for my liking. Great staff, beautiful décor indoors, and high ceilings.

Once you look past the pretentious décor, drown out the cliché club music with a cocktail or two, and weave your way through the sea of Sex-​and-​the-​City-​aspiring posers, you can focus on what really makes this place special…
THE FOOD.
Recommended Dishes:
— Spare Ribs
— Edamame Dumplings
— Rock Shrimp
— Vegetable Fried Rice
— Peking Duck
The Spare Ribs are an homage to traditional Chinese cooking techniques, a perfect balance of sweet & savory elements, and a must-​try introduction to your Buddakan experience. My first bite into these candied morsels of meat and fat on bone triggered my carnivorous instincts, reminding me why I could never be a vegetarian (fuck rabbit food).
The Edamame Dumplings are paper-​thin Har Gow dough, filled with a silky-​smooth purée of edamame and butter, steamed to perfection, and served in a Shallot & Sauternes broth. It’s the perfect marriage of steamed edamame flavor with a mochi-​like texture.
The Rock Shrimp, just like the Spare Ribs, nails that perfect balance of sweet & savory on the head. The glaze on the crispy texture underneath is dynamite. Not a big fan of shrimp, but this isn’t your normal cocktail-​hour hor d’oeuvres. This is meat candy from the sea.
The Vegetable Fried Rice is perfection in a bowl. It’s served with a topping of egg foam, which is meant to be mixed in tableside and gives an added warmth to the texture of the rice. I wish I could tell you which vegetables were used in this dish, but other than shallots, the flavors melded together into an indecipherable medley of deliciousness.
The Peking Duck is the main event. The skin is perfectly crispy, and the meat tender. It’s served with a bamboo steamer of dumpling wrappers and sides of julienned green onions, chopped cucumbers, and a sweet-&-savory hoisin gochujang. You can replenish these accoutrements as needed. Tip: Try pairing the vegetable fried rice with the assembled wraps, one after the other. It’s like a renaissance in your mouth.
Overall, a truly visceral experience.
Cocktail Recommendation: The Haze — a white cloud of lychee, martini-​esque nectar. Deliciously dangerous. No longer on the menu, but you might get lucky if you ask nicely.

I was dragged here by a friend for his birthday and was very skeptical on Asian fusion. Usually, if I wanted chinese food, I would go to a chinese restaurant where I can get delicious food for cheap than come here. However the food is hands down delicious. Its VERY different from your typical asian fusion experience.
We were lucky to grab reservations for 10 on a saturday night here. Many of us arrived at 8 for dinner but it took them a while to seat us since a couple of them were running late. If you’re coming here in big groups, they will only seat when the WHOLE party is here. They sat us downstairs in a one of the rooms in the side but OH MY. Walking down the stairs and looking at the chandeliers hanging from the high ceilings was a whole other experience. It felt like asian hogwarts (but smaller). The only complaint I have about seating and the dining experience would be that the seats weren’t brushed for crumbs. It seems like a small deal for OMG was it annoying. A lot of us (girls) wore short dresses and our thighs brushed upon the seats and it was gross!
The food was mind blowing! I was so surprised on how delicious and orgasmic this food was. My favorite was the dimsum. The tuna tartar spring rolls were amazing. The pork buns shumai, and rock shrimp deserve an honorable mention. For entrees, there were all good but the best one of everything we ordered was the crab and the mushroom noodles.
I will definitely come here again when my wallet isn’t that empty from the damage of buddakan. This place is definitely recommended.
P. S. They have really good drinks too. Their whiskey sour that I had was one of the best!

The entrance and tall door is quite hidden, and albeit it’s 12 feet tall, it’s a single door that’s dark. Open it, and a world of discovery ensues. Buddakan is regal, sexy, has warm yet subdued colors, and is indeed a spectacle with its architecture with tasteful huge classic art panels. Check-​in at the 6 person hosted desk area, and wait in the bar for your table to be ready just long enough to a drink a spendy cocktail.
The music is pumping and more than the background, lounge-​type, creating quite a hot and sexy environment. A hostess will come find you, and take you to your table. There’s at least a few types of seating areas and 2-​floors. Reminded of dining in a museum, stark and tasteful design with outstanding architecture for a restaurant.
The menu is pricey, but portions are quite generous. Plan on 2 – 3 items per person among the appetizers, entrees, and rice/​noodle dishes. Of course, don’t eat too much to miss out on amazing desserts and after dinner drinks and coffees.
THE ORDER
1. Edamame Dumplings ($ 15) — a mashed potato-​like texture, the broth was very delicate and mixed with beautiful taste of truffle. 5 of them, I could live on these. (5.0 stars)
2. Cantonese Spring Rolls ($ 15) — 3 chunky fried egg rolls. These could be, my friends, the best I’ve ever had. Served with a creamy mustard sauce (not hot just tremendous flavor). Wow. I guess it’s a lot more pricey than what we experience normally, but oh so worth it. (5.0 stars)
3. Glazed Alaskan Black Cod ($ 33) — perhaps the second best I’ve ever had behind something Nobu/​Matsuhisa serves. Very much compares to a Miso Cod. Amazing, and shouldn’t be missed. (5.0 stars)
4. Dungeness Crab Sticky Fried Rice ($ 23) — served in an empty crab shell, it’s quite a nice presentation but this falls short. Boring, has crab flavor but not enough in the way of crab pieces. Give me shrimp fried rice for $ 12 – 15 any day from another place. (3.5 stars)
5. Jameson ($ 18) — an ample pour over the rocks, but it is $ 18 worth. (4.0 stars)
THE MISS
I ate alone, and yes, ordered all of the above. But, a problem left me with a HUGE hole. I missed out on the desserts, and they looked AWESOME. Don’t feel bad, I’ll go back.
THE SERVICE
Every instance of service from the check-​in process, the hostess, and servers and assistants… all pro, even elegant and friendly. Kudos to all, but especially Ben who was delightful.
CONCLUSION
All in all, an amazing experience. Perfect for a date or a business function, you’ll be made to feel special.

Firstly, if this place gets solely rated on ambience, it gets a perfect 5 stars. This is the place you bring people if you want to awe them. If you have a larger group, you get seated at the bottom of the stairs and it is definitely a pretty luxurious restaurant per NYC/​USA standards (I say this because in my opinion, the lux restaurants in Europe are just icing on the cake).
The food I’d say is a ⁷⁄₁₀. We had a table of 11 people and each of us ordered the prefix menu for about $ 75 each I think (with tip we each payed about $ 100) so we had basically everything from the menu brought to us so all of us could get a taste of all the food family-​style. The food is indeed exotic/​unique and it hits all the tastebuds, but the flavor isn’t very deep. Yes the assortment is grand and the types of food you get is wonderful, but the taste just doesn’t linger after one of those «best meals of my life» dishes.
I’ve gone a few times and would of course recommend as it has that «awe» factor (believe the Sex and the City pre-​wedding dinner was filmed here). It’s a great spot for photos and good food, but the luxury of the venue definitely outwins the meals.

Was looking forward to more a FUSION FUSION kinda restaurant but a lot of it was simple Chinese dishes. Kinda sad I had to pay almost 3x for these dishes that I would’ve paid much less for in Chinatown.
We had the dungeonness fried rice. I didn’t taste any of the crab nor where there really any crab chunks. And I thought it lacked in salt and pepper.
Lobster egg rolls. Large. But most of it is veggies. Eh.
We liked the oxtail dumplings ¹⁰⁄₁₀. Get that !!! But only comes in 4 small dumplings. I’d still get that again though.
Overall great place for ambience and if you wanna impress your date with the classiness of it. But pricey for Chinese food

Ahhhh this place was amazing! Everything from the bar area to the food to the décor to the service– definitely want to go back!
Atmosphere: super romantic and fancy, I loved it. The design was eastern Asian and had this mysterious feel with the dramatic lighting and gorgeous chandeliers. Every corner of this place made a statement.
Food: perfect. The serving sizes aren’t massive so I thought it was the perfect amount of food. We didn’t have any leftovers and enjoyed everything to the fullest. The lamb chops were perfectly made. The spring rolls came with the yummiest sauce. The shrimp noodles were a delicious touch to our entrees. And the chicken breast was too fried for me but delicious nonetheless!
Service: suuuuuper great! Our waitress was a gem. She really knew the menu inside and out. She also made suggestions on how much to order and was spot on.
Price: it’s a bit pricy but I personally thought it was worth it. Definitely a lot cheaper than other places I’ve been to.
Will I be back? Do I even have to answer haha — YESYESYESYESSSS

One would think that Buddakan is just another tourist trap (like Tao), with its MASSIVE scale and flamboyant décor. However, Buddakan impresses not only in appearance, but in taste and service as well, and that surprises me more and more each visit.
Here are the must orders:
***Edamame Dumplings: These are addictive. I’m not sure if they have crack in them or what, but you may have to order a few rounds. EVERYONE will love them.
Chili Rock Shrimp
Here are some other good choices:
Tuna Tartare Spring Rolls
Dungeness Crab Sticky Rice
Charred Filet of Beef
Fate Cocktail
The Braised Short Ribs with Mushroom Chow Fun was very rich, and I found it was missing a bit of acidity. I look forward to going back to try more dishes and different proteins!

I was quite surprised that I liked Buddakan more than I expected to! I am typically not an Asian Fusion food type of girl but the food was great! Upon entry, everyone in my party was mesmerized by the beautiful décor. It was spacious and it looked very grand. Its dim lights added an intimate, mysterious, and romantic feel to it even though the sound level is pretty loud. I came here with my fellow friends and coworkers for a dinner outing.
My party ordered a variety of dishes: Pork Buns (best dish!), Peking Duck, Sizzling Short Ribs, Black Bean Scallops, King Crab & Lobster Shumai, Lobster Fried Rice, Foie Gras & Chicken Dumplings, Asian Green Stir-​fry and Sweet & Crispy Fried Shrimp.
My favorite dish had to be the Pork Buns! It is charred big piece of pork belly that has just the perfect amount of meat and fat with a nice spicy kick from the shallot. Buns are super soft, too! Another favorite had to be the King Crab & Lobster Shumai — it was just as delicious as it looks! Sizzling Short Ribs was the crowd favorite for it was well-​marinated with sauces and spices. The meat was so tender and soft that it did not take much effort for it to scrap it off the bone! Let’s not forget the Spicy Yellowtail Sashimi, spicy and super fresh! Loved it!
I thought all the dishes were really good! It was familiar dishes with a more modern and fancier touch to it. All had a very familiar taste by since I grew up eating Asian food but at the same time, it was different. Everything was beautifully plated and picture-​taking worthy!
For dessert, we tried a variety such as the Bartlett Pear Sorbet, Tanggao Chinese Doughnut, and Passion Fruit Meringue. Passion Fruit lovers, the Passion Fruit Meringue was the best, it was a well-​balanced taste of sweet and tartiness! Must-​try!

I Love Buddakan. Every time I come here, it gets better and better.
The presentation of food is quite impressive, the dishes are sensational, service is good, and desserts are magical.
But the best part is the interior. Simply ahhh-​mazing!

We came here last night for an early Valentine’s Day dinner. Buddakan has been on my list of restaurants to check out for quite some time, so I was very excited. When we first entered through their ginormous doors, the restaurant looked and felt like what I imagined it to be: dim lighting, hip remixes… it screams «Manhattan trendy»! So in terms of the restaurant’s look, feel, and service– ⁵⁄₅.
For apps, I originally wanted to order the dim sum tasting for 2, and swap out a few of the seafood items (as another Unilocaler suggested), but the waiter told me I might as well order a la carte. To be honest, I was majorly disappointed with the food. I get that I’m paying for the atmosphere, but a lot of the dishes we ordered weren’t even that great. This would have gotten a 3/​5, but because of how much I liked the restaurant itself, it got a 4.
Pork Belly buns: Delicious! As a pork belly bun addict, this dish delivered and with a bit of a twist (spicy shallots). My boyfriend doesn’t typically eat pork, and he devoured his!
General Tso’s Dumplings: Ehh, I would take a pass on this. My boyfriend didn’t like the taste either. It’s too sweet and the texture was too rough.
Black Dragon Chicken: YUCK! Have you ever eaten something expecting it to taste a certain way, but it ending up tasting like something else… and how disgusting it made you feel? Well, I was expecting to taste chicken, but instead I tasted rubbery smoked pork. This chicken has the same smokiness you would expect from bacon or smoked salmon. I found it utterly disgusting!
Charred Filet of Beef: We thought this was delicious! The meat is good on it’s own, but the mustard sauce really makes this dish. My boyfriend ate the beef without the sauce (typical). Wonton crisps were also very good.
Vegetable Rice: The rice was good; the curry okay. For the okay-​ness and how small the portion was… $ 13? Should have just ordered white rice.
Truce: I would definitely pass on this another time. I wanted something refreshing but this tasted like one of those lemon grass shots you get at a smoothie place.
Solid: A solid whisky drink… ;)
Clarity: Delicious! Haven’t had a good drink like this in a while…
Despite some total misses on the food, I’d definitely want to come back with my girls (who actually eat seafood) to try out some other dishes. Maybe that’ll change my rating to a 5!!!

Let’s start with the amazing décor of this establishment. The décor is rather lavish and beautiful (something I love).
We had reservations but we were not seated right away. The dining area is downstairs — We were kept upstairs for about 20 minutes with the option of ordering drinks while we wait.
Once we were seated our waiter brought us menus and we quickly began ordering to satiate our starving bellies. I feel like the food is definitely not a 10. I’d say it’s probably close to a 6. The edamame dumplings literally made us gag. It tasted like dust, sandpaper and cement. No kidding.
The black cod was incredible. Really really fresh and tasty, perfect seasoning. The best part was dessert. I loved the plating and absolutely loved the dishes.
The restaurant is definitely Manhattan trendy, but I’d faster go to TAO for some yummy food.

Excellent food and good service. Great place for dinner and drinks. Highly recommend!

I love this restaurant for special occasions or those nights where you feel like caking dark makeup on your eyes and charging a frightening amount to your credit card. The edamame dumplings are by far the best dish here and the main reason I come back. So far I’ve had the crispy tuna tartar spring rolls, chili rock shrimp, vegetarian dumpling app, short rib flatbread of sorts, lobster fried rice, veggie fried rice, 2 different fish dishes, crispy chicken, black pepper beef, and a few other things I can’t recall. Cocktails and desserts are always good and the staff is kind. On one occasion we had to wait 30 min past our reservation time because they were slammed. I wouldn’t dock a star for this but some of the customers who I’ve encountered here are so snobby I can’t help but cringe, cover my eyes and pray they go away

Was here on Saturday for a late dinner with a friend and really loved the atmosphere of this place. From the entrance to the bar /​lounge to the restaurant seating, the set up is beautiful and very large and open while still feeling a more intimate setting at the table. The foods comes out as soon as it is ready (forget what the serving style is called) so everything is perfect when it reaches the table and hasn’t sat waiting. We started with the lobster egg roll which I strongly recommend.
My only complaint is I felt they were a little pushy in getting us to leave when we were done, I know it was the end of the night and they were getting ready to close (we had an 11PM reservation and paid for the bill at 1PM) but I didn’t see the need for this when we were finishing our drinks and there were still plenty of people still eating around us.
I would certainly go back but only gave it 4 stars for how the energy of the server was at the end of the meal /​night.

Must haves tuna spring roll, shrimp dim sum, edamame dumplings, vegetable fried rice, salt and pepper crispy fish!

Probably a good place to hear a good music when dinner.
Good food but no good service.
But I made a reservation at 11:15 and arrives at 10:30, after I clamed some times they gave a table at 00:00.
Never more.

Always loved this spot until the last 2 visits. We had a bad experience where a waiter dumped a tray of ice water on our guests at the table. The waiter ran off and was embarrassed and we complained but no one did a damn thing to accommodate us. We then complained upon leaving to the management and they assured us they had no idea of the occurrence and would make it up to us the next time we come in, I asked for a business card and they stated, don’t worry we won’t forget you. Well guess what, went back and they forgot about us, did nothing for us. Food was still great but I was disappointed that they did NOT keep their word.
Needless to say, I will NOT be going back. Why give them my money when they lied to me and disregarded the actions of their staff? Not good business.

Probably my top 3 favorite restaurants in NyC
Everything is on point food is great vibe is alive
Must try if in the city

After hearing so much about Buddakan (2,600+ Unilocal reviews?!) I felt obligated to check out the lavish hype for myself. What better time than my birthday?
Came with a bunch of lady friends for dinner and had a really sexy time. We ordered various appetizers, noodles, and dranks and went to town.
The rock shrimp, tuna tartare spring rolls, and pork buns were my 3 favorite dishes of the night, but everything we ordered was delicious. I highly recommend ordering the dim sum tasting as well. You get a bunch of delicious bites and it’s more than enough for 2 people to munch on as an appetizer.
I will say that the best part of the whole experience was the ambiance. I don’t care who you are — with grand chandeliers, high ceilings, and luxe club lighting — you WILL feel sexy.
Our waitress was the worst part of the experience. She was so kind at first — but after we ordered her attitude changed. I could have done without her snarky comments about how we must have eating disorders because we *didn’t order enough food.*
Look, I understand big bills mean big tips. But this is an expensive restaurant. And assuming we didn’t order that dessert because of a collective eating disorder is simply out of line. How does anyone have the gall to say that to strangers?

We visited to celebrate our anniversary. We had to wait for a few minutes despite having a reservation. However, we were seated at the bar and given a menu.
Their large dining room is gorgeous. The atmosphere is beautiful and unique.
I had one of the most amazing cocktails. I have ever had. It was light fresh and delicious.
I am not a huge fan of Asian cuisine, but I enjoyed my meal. However, I likely would not go back. If you like Asian fusion it will likely be a 5 star experience for you.

I need answers SWAY!
Like…how am I just now eating at this place? It took a date night from bae (who is HORRIBLE with choosing places to eat) to get my ass over here and I feel like everyone’s been keeping this place a secret from me.
I didn’t even get a chance to look at the reviews before entering this place but thank God I wasn’t dressed down. This place is so upscale and classy you’ll feel rich upon arrival. They have the tallest set of doors it feels like you’re entering Heaven’s gates. Let’s not forget their cute «Jesus’s last supper» table that they have on the lower level. It could possibly sit about 30 – 50 ppl. but let me not digress.
My guy has been raving about this place and their lobster fried rice since I knew him and boy am I glad we came here. I called at 8:00 to make a reservation and was told the next available time was 11:30, that almost discouraged me. So between getting dressed, fleeking my makeup, and bullshitting I wasted enough time so I got there at 10:45 and was seated shortly after. Our waiter was so patient and sweet but it gets better. We ordered the king crab legs, peking duck, and lobster fried rice and the food literally came out in less than 10 minutes. I mean it came so quickly that I almost told the bus boy that the food wasn’t ours. I was even being negative about it and told my guy that I bet it was nasty or cold. Fortunately, I was TOTALLY wrong. ALL the food was delicious. I was full about halfway through but you know me… if it’s that good I just can’t give up on eating it. So with that said, we finished everything :-).
I think imma get bae to take me here at least twice a month cause I’m still craving that lobster fried rice. I’m so happy to have enjoyed this date night at this beautiful place.

Just came home from Buddakhan, figured I’d write this review while it’s still fresh in my mind. I made a res for 7:30pm, got there around 7:15. We were greeted by many different hosts and there was complimentary coat check. The hostess that led us to the table was very nice.
Buddakhan is huge! There were many dining rooms including a huge area downstairs. There was a private party going on so we could not utilize the downstairs but I definitely recommend requesting to sit in the downstairs because it’s beautiful!
Our waiter was exceptional, very articulate and attentive to all our needs. My BF tried the following:
Smoke Cocktail — not bad
Alaskan Cod — I loved the texture of the fish. One of the best that I’ve ever had. Perfectly cooked and glazed.
Sea Bass — The presentation was amazing. It came out fairly quickly to our surprise but it was great.
Green Beans — Sauteed wih dried scallops
Eggplant & Tofu — not bad but I wouldn’t order again.
Overall experience, GREAT DATE SPOT! Would definitely come back.

We came here because Unilocal told us it was vegetarian friendly. It’s not!
Most of the dishes contained oyster sauce or something of that matter. They only had one vegetarian dish and it was this eggplant entrée with tofu. It tasted really good but it just seemed like finger food since we couldn’t order anything else.
Despite this, we stayed there to have drinks and really enjoyed the ambiance. I wouldn’t come back for the food but definitely for drinks.

I was in New York for the weekend and Buddakan was the best restaurant I went to.
Every dish we ordered was not simply just ‘food’, it was a piece of art. The ingredients were meticulously put together to make creative masterpieces with exquisite taste and style. I was so impressed. I plan to visit Buddakan the next time I go to New York just to try more on the menu.
We made a reservation for 11:15pm.
We ordered:
Lobster Egg Rolls
Edamame Dumplings
Tuna Tartare Spring Roll
Charred Filet Of Beef
Wok Tossed Noodles With Prawns
Crying Chocolate
Everything was amazing!!!
Highly recommenced if you want some delicious & creative Chinese food.
The actual ambiance & décor was fabulous as well!

Ambiance = 4
Sexiness = 5
Food = 3
Service = 5
I came to the restaurant for my anniversary. I love the hostess stand at the entrance, the trendy vibe as you enter, and the attentive staff.
The ‘library’, which is where we were seated, is off the main dining area, and is quiet and intimate. I was impressed by the waitress (Erin) and her extensive knowledge of the menu. Unfortunately, the food is good, but not amazing. As a vegetarian, there were only about 5 options, all of which seemed so lackluster.
All in all, a cute date spot.

I think Buddakan was on my bookmark list for at least two years before I tried it out today (and not really for the full menu as our group was more for getting drinks). Not really hungry so I only got a light Peking duck salad and really liked it. Contrary to lots of mediocre Chinese restaurants, duck meat was actually very juicy and chewy. Portion wise it was also generous.
Now I am starting to think when I should be back again for the real dinner. Their dim sum set/​à la carte looked authentic!
They open till 11pm except for Sat, which open till 1am.

Tolle Atmosphäre; sehr gutes Essen; für Kinder bedingt geeignet da das Essen in seinen Geschmacksrichtungen für die Kleinen ungewohnt ist. Für uns war das Essen ausgezeichnet. Die Musik ist sehr laut und das macht eine Unterhaltung nicht einfacher. Gesamtkonzept passt und man sollte hier gewesen sein!

Buddkhan
Dec. 26, 2015
Was so great I came back for my birthday one year later (two years in a row) and I live right across town #whymesswithsuccess
Scallion pancake with short rib has a whole host of flavors that continue to explode in your mouth.
Shumai with shrimp and lobster not a deal breaker but still had a great taste.
Egg roll with shrimp and lobster nice flavor too.
Drink with prosecco and blackberry got me wasted although it was small.
Dim sum tasting menu:
Tuna tartare spring rolls OMG. I could have lived on this alone. Do not add even add soy sauce as it is not necessary
Shrimp toast granulated shrimp with tails and breaded with sesame have with mustard too good. I don’t usually like tails but this was awesome. Maybe I could live on just this?
Spare ribs the meat came off the bone in an easy way had a salty yet sweat taste with sesame added.
Vegetable dumpling I thought would be a sleeper but it had the best taste ever!
Spring rolls were salted just right. Crispy but not oily. Was glad I had them last.
This time just went with one entrée-​repeated the sausage fried rice with the egg on it. My husband dropped some on the table and I was very tempted to eat it off the table lol WHY do I have to be civilized? So I added the mustard sauce instead.
PB mousse had a salty taste with orange jello cubes. PB mousse has chocolate inside. Chocolate pistachio cremoso had cherries in it and was sweeter and richer than the PB mousse.
Birthday ice cream was miso with a salted caramel flavor

This place blew our minds away.
From the aesthetic, to the décor, the presentation and the taste, all of it– exquisite. This was a perfect dinner for Christmas Eve.
If you’re looking for a sweet white wine, get the August Kesseler Riesling! WOW SO GOOD WE LOVED IT (and got drunk real quick)
1) We had the dim sum platter for 2 but made it to 3 (there were 5 people at the table) and they were a perfect appetizer to start with ($ 54)
2) The Mongolian lamb chops were delicious and crunchy in the right spots. They come with bok choy!
3) The Peking duck fried rice was delicious! Highly recommend as a side dish!
4) Black bean scallops were a little too strong for me but were still good
5) The Asian green stir fry was good as a side but not memorable
6) The tofu eggplant was a great vegetable meal, and my sister loved it!
7) I gotta say, I absolutely LOVED the sweet and crispy rock shrimp!!! So tasty in the right spots and the crunch was amazing!
8) AND THE DESSERT.
I looooovveeedddd my chocolate pistachio ice cream cremoso dessert. We devoured that in seconds but the chocolate mousse, cacao nibs, cranberries, the Oreo, the ice cream and the combination of all sweets were not too sweet but juuuuuust right. That was a highlight for us.
9) the almond bread pudding was also warm, soft, and a wonderful combination with the cremoso!!! Their desserts were such a plus!
The waiter was also attentive, responsive, and very kind. It was a very lovely night and he went home with a nice tip! ;)

Wow! This restaurant is so on point. Great ambiance, dim lighting, and amazing food. Between my party of 6 we tried (almost) everything on the menu. Stand outs were the tuna tartar spring rolls, cauliflower pops, dumplings, lobster & duck fried rice, as well as the fried Seoul. Be warned– it is not on the inexpensive side. But worth every penny. Our waiter Joseph was super funny, friendly & professional.
Bring buddakan to Miami– so that I can actually enjoy some good Asian food.

With over 2500 Unilocal reviews, you have to try this place, especially when you are staying across the street.
My sister and I had a reservation at 10:30 and arrived on time, but our table wasn’t quite ready yet and they asked us to hang out at the bar. We got our drinks and by then our table was ready.
This restaurant is huge, with 2 levels and many sections for seating. The atmosphere is definitely amazing with somewhat loud music. What I’m not really crazy about the way try have their seats set up in rows, so you have to sit super close to other people. There is really not much privacy.
They serve your food really fast and as it’s ready. We ordered the sole which was pre good and delicate. The Alaskan cod was made to perfection. We also got the shrimp appetizer and that was also really tasty.
Ok, one downside was the drinks! Almost no alcohol in it… here is one star off but rest was pretty good.

Wunderschönes Restaurant.
Da kann man auch mal mit 35 netten Menschen an einem Tisch sitzen!
Hohe Qualität…aber auch hochpreisig!
Aber einfach TOP!
Beautiful restaurant.
You can sometimes sit with 35 nice people at the same table!
High quality … but also high price!
But just TOP!

Parfois, le hasard fait bien les choses…
Tu débarques à peine dans ton hôtel de Chelsea, tu demandes au réceptionniste s’il n’a pas un petit tip sympa pour aller manger un bout et tu atterris au Buddakan.
Heureusement t’avais pris une douche et tu t’étais habillé correctement…
Parce que une fois poussé la porte, tu réalises que tu es bien dans un de ces endroits ultra branchés qui ont pullulé à Chelsea et près du Meatpacking ces dernières années…
Cadre grandiose, nombreux espaces, salle impressionnante en contrebas, alcoves, bar… le tout dans un pur style contemporain aux touches asiatiques et aux lumières tamisées qui invitent à boire un verre en attendant sa table (oui on est aux States, qui plus est à NY, donc on attend…).
On aurait tendance à craindre que ce genre de place to eat n’assume pas du côté de l’assiette et c’est tout le contraire. Une cuisine asiatique fusion et moderne, inventive, parfaitement exécutée, avec une mention spéciale pour le boeuf caramélisé, à tomber.
Depuis lors, je tente d’y retourner quand je suis dans Big Apple et la qualité n’a pas baissé…
N’hésitez pas à commander plusieurs petits plats pour partager et goûter as much as you can…
Seule déception: lors de ma première visite, les paparazzi qui attendaient à la sortie n’étaient pas pour nous mais pour Tom Cruise qui y avait emmené Katie (Holmes pour ceux qui né sont pas très pipole) pour son anniversaire.
Si Katie a certainement très bien mangé, ça n’a apparemment pas suffi à sauver leur mariage…
Bien tenté quand même Tom, mais si ce Budda là n’a pas réussi, c’est que c’était mission impossible…

Definitely make a reservation ahead of time if you plan on dining here. I came here with a party of 9 to celebrate my birthday early. I had made a reservation a month in advance. We still had to wait a while in the lounge to be seated. Buddakan is beautiful inside, the ceilings were high, very nice décor, classy environment, and nice ambiance. There is quite a lot of room inside, so you will most likely not be forced to sit snugly next to other parties.
I tried the oxtail dumplings, short rib scallion pancake, black pepper beef, sizzling short rib, and black bean scallops. Each of these dishes tasted delicious. I really liked the oxtail dumplings, lots of flavor, had me craving for more, great appetizer. The black pepper beef was so flavorful and tender, I hate it when beef is too chewy, this was just right. The dishes were plated with great finesse as well.
Service was friendly and the dishes did not take long to arrive. My friends decided not to eat dessert because they had gotten a cake for me, however, they chose not to cut the cake at the restaurant and they told me after we left that they had a $ 5 dessert fee per person if we choose to have the birthday cake there. That would have been a hefty fee since we were 9 people. I have never heard of a dessert fee that was priced per person, that sounded a little bizarre to me.
Overall, the food tasted great, it does not disappoint. Service is wonderful. A must try if you’re into Asian Fusion and fine dining.

De verdad que una parada obligada para esos amantes de la comida asiática
La decoración, presentación de los platos y la atención lo hacen, para mi, uno de los mejores y favoritos en Meatpacking district

Repas délicieux avec un service plus qu impeccable !
Les choix de plats est varié. Le restaurant fonctionne sur le partage de plats. Chacuns commande sont plats et partage avec les convives.
L’addition est salé: environ $ 70 à $ 80 par personne. Mais ces $ 80 dollars valent vraiiiiiiment le coup !
A essayer de suite !

Décor super chique! Pé direito alto é uma luz mais escura!!! Restaurante ótimo para ir com os amigos ou um date!!! Todos os pratos são ótimos! Peças pelo menos 5 tipos e divida com 3 pessoas! O preço é salgado mais vale a pena! Hotspot de NY então vale o investimento! Peça o blackcod (derrete na boca), fried rice de lobster, rock shrimp, beef com mostarda!!!

Fantastisches Restaurant, unglaublich tolle Gerichte, sehr zuvorkommendes Personal, jede Frage nach der Art der Zubereitung wurde beantwortet, die Gerichte kreativ und sehr schmackhaft zubereitet, die gemischte Vorspeisenplatte ein Gedicht! Unbedingt reservieren, sehr viele NYer, das Lokal ist schon um 18 00 Uhr voll, auch unter der Woche!

O Buddakan é excelente. As comidas são ótimas e a proposta é pedir vários pratos para dividir. A arquitetura do restaurante impressiona, muito bonita. Ah, para quem gosta de filmes, uma cena do Sex and the City foi gravada lá. Recomendo!

Un restaurante que deja mucho que desear. Comida mediocre y a un precio muy por encima de su valor real. Además, ya en España, se dedican a hacemos cargos en la tarjeta que no concuerdan con la realidad. No recomiendo para nada este negocio, además de salir hambrientos, terminaréis sin dinero. Hay mejores opciones por Manhattan, con mejor relación calidad/​precio y mejor servicio.

Adoramos, a noite foi maravilhosa! Cada prato mais gostoso do que o outro. Pretendemos voltar em breve.

Je me suis laissée guidée les yeux fermés dans ce restaurant qu’une amie m’avait conseillée. .et je n’ai pas été déçue !
L’endroit et magnifique, une immense hauteur de plafond, une déco top, des lumières tamisées. et on se sent tout de suite dans l’ambiance de sex and the city! Le restaurant est très grand, quand le serveur nous a mené à notre table, j’avais l’impression que j’allais me perdre si je né me souvenais pas du chemin. Il y a beaucoup de tables, ce qui veut dire pas mal de bruit le soir, si on veut un endroit calme en famille, ce n’est pas vraiment là. L’ambiance est plutôt entre groupes d’amis qui viennent pour manger un bon repas autour de cocktails.
Le concept de ce restaurant comme dans quelqu’uns que j’ai pu tester à nyc, c’est de commander plusieurs plats et de se les partager à plusieurs, c’est d’ailleurs comme ça qu’a été conçue la carte. Sauf que nous, en bons français, on a décidé de commander chacun notre plat, en né sachant pas si les portions allaient être assez pour une personne ou pas. Heuresement les assiettes sont assez grandes, bien assez pour une personne et pour être catégorisées comme «plat» à elles toutes seules.
Au niveau du goût je me suis régalée, la nourriture est asiatisante, mais avec une touché de modernité occidentale, qui lui donne vraiment un gout unique, c’était vraiment bon.
Le seul bémol c’était leur cockail maison que j’ai goûté, je né me souviens mêeme plus du nom tellement ça né m’avait pas plu. Le goût de ce «cocktail», oui parce que je né crois même pas qu’on puisse appeler ça comme ça, avait littéralement le gout de fumée de cigarette. Et je l’ai fait gouté à mes amis autour de la table, on était bien tous d’accord que ce truc, était complétement déguelasse. J’ai fini sur un cosmo (qui était bon) pour enlever ce gout infecte (et me rapprocher un peu plus de SJP).

empfang voll
service freundlich
essen gut
timing durcheinander
wein lauwarm (12 dollar ging zurueck)
gaeste querbeet
musik bumm bumm nervig
gruesse aus der kueche keine
optik kathedrale
toilette sauber dunkel
beste plaetze. haupthalle am rand einzeltische
wiederholungsgefahr ja

Né, sorry. das war nichts. Wir haben dort um 21.30h reserviert und wurden erst um 22h zu unserem Tisch gebracht. Wir bestellten 5 verschiedene Gerichte u.a. Fried Rice. Der Reis war schneller fertig als der rest-​was komisch war und zudem war es kalt!! Wir gaben es zurück. Das Essen selbst war ein Mix aus asiatischen Küche. Ich muss leider sagen, dass ich in New Yorks China Town besser und preiswerter gegessen habe. Gerade in New York gibt es so viel kulinarisches zu entdecken. Auch wenn Buddakan sicherlich ein Trendlokal ist. hilft es nicht sich auf d Namen zu ruhen. Die Qualität-​Essen uns Service-​sollte stets überprüft und verbessert werden.

Aufmerksam geworden sind wir auf dieses tolle Restaurant als wir den Sex and the City Film gesehen haben. Ich wollte eine tolle Location für mein Geburtstag haben und wurde nicht enttäuscht. Am Abend nahm das Servicepersonal uns in Empfang und führte uns zu unserem Tisch über den ganzen Abend war der Service erstklassig, der Zugang zu allen unten gelegenen Bereichen erfolgt über zwei große Treppen im Hauptraum. Die leichte und kreative Fusion Küche hat uns vollkommen überzeugt aber mit einem Durschnittspreis mit Wein von 80 $ pro Person nicht gerade billig. Wer exquisites Essen mit einer traumschönen Location verbinden möchte dem kann ich das Buddakan wärmstens empfehlen.

Absolutely outstanding food. Maybe the best panasian food I ever ate. The fried monkfish with chilli and the mixed starters were too good to be true. Go there. (by the way, I’ve found it VERY cold there even for NYC — so bring a jacket)

Das Restaurant mit moderner asiatischer Küche gehört m.M. zu Recht zu den beliebtesten Restaurants in NYC laut Zagat.
Es empfiehlt sich eine Reservierung (z.B. über opentable) sowie schicke Abendkleidung. Die Aufmachung ist sehr schick, nicht umsonst war es eine Drehlocation bei SATC. Das Essen und der Service war super. Preislich für NYC noch o.k.

Ich neige normalerweise nicht zum übertriebenen Schwelgen in gastronomischen Erlebnissen, aber die war eines der besten Essen meines Lebens!
Die singaporian chilli crab war reich an Fleisch und atemberaubend geschmacklich komponiert (ich hab in Singapur gelebt und dort keine bessere gesessen), die Vorspeisen ist fix auf dem Tisch und extrem kreativ, nur der Service (Reservierung und back waiter) könnten ein wenig rascher und intelligenter sein (aber ist halt USA .:-))
Sonst mehr als volle Punktzahl, einfach toll

Durschnittliche asiatische Küche mit schlechtem Service und atemberaubender Atmosphäre. Nachdem dem unpersönlichen Einchecken ein einem Counter in Supermarktflair wird man gebeten in der Lounge platzzunehmen. In diesem eigentlich schönen Raum herrscht durch Scharen wartender Gäst eher Wartehallencharakter. Die unaufmerksame Bedienung trägt hier nicht zur Stimmungsaufheiterung bei. So mußten wir dreimal um die Anfertigung eines Cocktails bitten. Als dieser dann kam, wurden wir auch gleichzeitig zum Dinner an den Tisch gebeten. Die Bezahlung des Aperitfs mußte allerdings auch sofort geleistet werden und konnte nicht — wie sonst überall üblich — mit auf die Tischrechnung übernommen werden. Das Essen wurde dann zwar in korrekter Menüfolge allerdings in freier Zeitfolge serviert und entsprach eher dem Durchnitt. So konnte ich mit meiner Vorspeise beginnen, als meine Freundin damit bereits fertig war. Geschmacklich nicht schlecht, so bleibt die Qualität der Küche auf mittlerem Niveau: Deutlich höher als die des Service (diesen zu Übertreffen ist wahrlich nicht schwierig) und deutlich unter der der Räumlichkeiten. Diese sind nämlich wirklich spaktakulär. Hierfür gibt es auch den dritten Stern, den das Buddakan sonst nicht verdient hätte.
FAZIT: Mehr Schein als Sein.

Ein Hammerladen! Bekannt aus sexand… auch entsprechend voll, aber wenn man übers Netz Wochen vorher aus Deutschland reserviert (
), hat man kein Problem! bBevor man den Tisch einnimmt, trifft man sich mit den vielen anderen Gästen an der Bar, bis man von einem Guide zum tisch gebracht wir. Die Location ist Weltklasse! das essen eine leichte, kreative Fusionsküche und beim derzeitigen Dollarkurs wirklich erschwinglich! Ein Muss für jeden gastronomisch und kulinarisch engagierten Zeitgenossen. Schick anziehen!

Was für ein Traum!
Ich weiß gar nicht, wo ich mit dem Schwärmen anfangen soll, bei der Location oder beim Essen? Beim Wein oder beim Service?
Ich fang’ mal chronologisch an, beim Seating und Reinkommen: zuvorkommendes Servicepersonal nahm uns in Empfang und führte uns zu unseren Plätzen, der Zugang zu allen unten gelegenen Bereichen erfolgt über zwei große Treppen im Hauptraum. Der Raum für sich ist schon eine Attraktion, drei riesige Kronleuchter hängen über einer langen Tafel, dort und an einer Seitenwand sitzen die Gäste. An einer Seite geht es dann in die Nebneräumme, die anders designt sind und wo ein Buddha-​Bildnis sich an das nächste reiht.
Unser Tisch war im Seitenbereich (ich hatte um einen Zweiertisch gebeten, die gibt es im Hauptraum nicht), dort ist es ziemlich dunkel, aber das hat was.
Unsere Kellnerin war ganz hinreißend um uns bemüht, erklärte die Karte (Besonderheit: die Gerichte werden so serviert, dass man sie zu zweit essen kann, was sich nicht auf die Größe bezieht, sondern auf die Zerteilung z.B. der Fleischstücke).
Beim Wein (einer unser Lieblingsspanier stand auf der Karte!) kamen wir sehr nett ins Plauschen, dabei zeigte sich ihre Kenntnis für Anbaugebiete und Rebsorten.
Bei der Vorspeise (Tuna Spring Roll und Chili Rock Shrimp) waren wir dem Laden dann endgültig verfallen. Keine Ahnung, was die mit diesen Shrimps machen, das war zum Niederknien!
Als Hauptspeisen hatten wir Veal Cheeks und Sweet & Sour Chicken, was in Geschmack und Qualität wirklich keine Wünsche offen ließ.
Zum Dessert gab’s Crying Chocolate mit Happy Birthday-​Schriftzug und Kerze, auch dieser (zugegeben kitschige) kleine Wunsch wurde sofort erfüllt.
Das Publikum setzt sich aus Touristen und New Yorkern zusammen, sehr angenehm. Durch sein Erscheinen in SATC ist das Buddakan auch Anlaufpunkt für Bachelorettes, die Mädels am Nachbartisch waren allerdings nach einem Blick auf die Preise nicht mehr besonders hungrig und verzogen sich bald an die Bar.
Fazit: Wer exquisites Essen mit einer traumschönen Location verbinden möchte, ist im Buddakan genau richtig. Volle Punktzahl mit Sternchen!