Buddakan

It was my first time at this almost 20 year-old Asian fusion cuisine restaurant. Why did I wait so long to enjoy one of the best meals I've had in a long time. Despite its age the restaurant looks and feels brand new. There is a slight scent that reminds you of being at a fancy spa. The decor is sleek and very attractive. The service is attentive and helpful without being overbearing. The food arrives and you understand why this restaurant has not only survived but prospered in the difficult New York City restaurant scene. We started with the chili rock shrimp and the short rib and scallion pancake. Both dishes were just marvelous. We then moved on to another beef dish and ginger scallion chicken which did not disappoint. We also had the lobster fried rice which was pleasantly sweet and enjoyable. To cleanse my palate I had the coconut tapioca pudding. It was light and tasty just what I required to finish a wonderful experience. Just one final note, they keep it rather dark so you'll need to use your phone light/flashlight to read the menus.

I’ve always wanted to dine at Buddakan since I heard Martha Stewart talk about it on her show years ago and I finally got my wish when I went to celebrate a friend’s birthday. The food was excellent and deserves a Michelin star. The Royal cocktail was delicious. Our server was fabulous. I haven’t had excellent service like that in a long time. Our server was so helpful and pleasant and treated.

Buddakan NYC is a hidden gem! The atmosphere is stunning, with a chic and modern design that sets the perfect backdrop for a memorable meal. The staff was welcoming and attentive, making us feel right at home. The food was absolutely incredible! We tried a variety of dishes, and each one was bursting with flavor. The Black Pepper Beef was the highlight. I also loved the creative cocktails—they really complemented the meal. Whether you're looking for a special night out or a casual dinner, Buddakan delivers on all fronts. I can’t wait to return and explore more of the menu. Highly recommend!

Hands down one of the classiest dinner experiences we've had! The ambience in this place is something else... simply gorgeous! The food was excellent! We loved the dim sum tasting for 3 - the shrimp and carrot dumplings were the best! Loved the fried rice, the broken chili chicken, and the sweet and crispy jumbo shrimp! Everything was delicious, and the service was good too!

Fantastic food and the general ambience/vibe was great. Our server which I did not get the name of, did a fantastic job making sure we were good all the time despite being quite busy. He recommended everything we had from our preferences and we were very happy! Very professional and helpful.

The service was extremely attentive and personal, the food was phenomenal, everything we ordered was perfectly executed, and the atmosphere was calm. If you’re looking for a guaranteed to be good and reliable date spot or dinner for Asian-Inspire’s cuisine that you don’t mind spending a heavy amount on, Buddakan would be the place to go. Especially if you have a corporate dinner, their long table downstairs would be suitable.

Has to be one of the best dinner experiences for us! The ambience is simply breathtaking! The service was great, and the food was amazing! We did the dim sum tasting for 3 - the carrot and shrimp ones were our favorite! Loved the broken chili chicken and the sweet and crispy jumbo shrimp, but the veggie fried rice was hands down our favorite - brought back memories of home cooked fried rice that mom would make! Comfort food tastes with Michelin star elegance! Can't wait to go back!

Buddakan in Manhattan is a beautiful spot with a chic and elegant ambiance. The place is impressively spacious, making it perfect for both intimate dinners and larger gatherings. The staff were very nice and attentive, providing good service throughout my visit. If you're looking for a stylish dining experience with excellent service, Buddakan is definitely worth checking out!

It was my first time at this almost 20 year-old Asian fusion cuisine restaurant. Why did I wait so long to enjoy one of the best meals I've had in a long time. Despite its age the restaurant looks and feels brand new. There is a slight scent that reminds you of being at a fancy spa. The decor is sleek and very attractive. The service is attentive and helpful without being overbearing. The food arrives and you understand why this restaurant has not only survived but prospered in the difficult New York City restaurant scene. We started with the chili rock shrimp and the short rib and scallion pancake. Both dishes were just marvelous. We then moved on to another beef dish and ginger scallion chicken which did not disappoint. We also had the lobster fried rice which was pleasantly sweet and enjoyable. To cleanse my palate I had the coconut tapioca pudding. It was light and tasty just what I required to finish a wonderful experience. Just one final note, they keep it rather dark so you'll need to use your phone light/flashlight to read the menus.

I’ve always wanted to dine at Buddakan since I heard Martha Stewart talk about it on her show years ago and I finally got my wish when I went to celebrate a friend’s birthday. The food was excellent and deserves a Michelin star. The Royal cocktail was delicious. Our server was fabulous. I haven’t had excellent service like that in a long time. Our server was so helpful and pleasant and treated.

Buddakan NYC is a hidden gem! The atmosphere is stunning, with a chic and modern design that sets the perfect backdrop for a memorable meal. The staff was welcoming and attentive, making us feel right at home. The food was absolutely incredible! We tried a variety of dishes, and each one was bursting with flavor. The Black Pepper Beef was the highlight. I also loved the creative cocktails—they really complemented the meal. Whether you're looking for a special night out or a casual dinner, Buddakan delivers on all fronts. I can’t wait to return and explore more of the menu. Highly recommend!

Hands down one of the classiest dinner experiences we've had! The ambience in this place is something else... simply gorgeous! The food was excellent! We loved the dim sum tasting for 3 - the shrimp and carrot dumplings were the best! Loved the fried rice, the broken chili chicken, and the sweet and crispy jumbo shrimp! Everything was delicious, and the service was good too!

Fantastic food and the general ambience/vibe was great. Our server which I did not get the name of, did a fantastic job making sure we were good all the time despite being quite busy. He recommended everything we had from our preferences and we were very happy! Very professional and helpful.

The service was extremely attentive and personal, the food was phenomenal, everything we ordered was perfectly executed, and the atmosphere was calm. If you’re looking for a guaranteed to be good and reliable date spot or dinner for Asian-Inspire’s cuisine that you don’t mind spending a heavy amount on, Buddakan would be the place to go. Especially if you have a corporate dinner, their long table downstairs would be suitable.

Has to be one of the best dinner experiences for us! The ambience is simply breathtaking! The service was great, and the food was amazing! We did the dim sum tasting for 3 - the carrot and shrimp ones were our favorite! Loved the broken chili chicken and the sweet and crispy jumbo shrimp, but the veggie fried rice was hands down our favorite - brought back memories of home cooked fried rice that mom would make! Comfort food tastes with Michelin star elegance! Can't wait to go back!

Buddakan in Manhattan is a beautiful spot with a chic and elegant ambiance. The place is impressively spacious, making it perfect for both intimate dinners and larger gatherings. The staff were very nice and attentive, providing good service throughout my visit. If you're looking for a stylish dining experience with excellent service, Buddakan is definitely worth checking out!

Cannot say enough about this place. Was in town for work and our team tried them out. Staff was amazing and very accommodating. Even tailored to a solo vegan in our group and another with a random pineapple allergy. Food was amazing. I did not have a bad thing on the menu. We ordered a lot and had to keep on ordering just to try more. Could not beat the ambiance. Nice. Warm. Maybe a tad dark but hey, enjoy the moment and the experience. Try this place if you can.

Rude server--he kept on trying to swerve us away from the restaurant week menu into the tasting menu and put on a bunch of restrictions on it. He was extremely pushy about it and it felt bad. We did not have enough budget to do the tasting menu so it was just not possible. Ambiance is great, the dining room reminds me of Harry Potter. However, the food was mediocre. I got the tuna tartare spring roll and that just felt like a tubed sushi. Then, the chicken was quite dry for my liking. The highlight was the dessert tho--I really enjoyed all of the little bites.

We tried the restaurant week tasting menu here and everything sounded very good. But for the price we were honestly pretty overwhelmed. The appetizers were all pretty good, but the mains were just not that great. The potstickers and dumplings were quite delicious, while the spring rolls were also kinda bland. The broken chicken was very very underwhelming, the sauce was a little too sweet, the chicken was so bland. The outside wasn't even too crispy. Was quite disappointed :( The little dessert sampler was the best part about this meal - matcha cheesecake and strawberry lychee tart were PHENOMENAL. would go back here for a meal of just the desserts. The crying chocolate was also great, the coffee ice cream was quite strong, not too sweet, very well made! I will say that this place was absolutely gorgeous, the experience was great. The staff was also EXTREMELY WONDERFUL. they were so kind and so helpful, easily the best thing about this place.

We went to celebrate my daughter's birthday. The food never disappoints. We had a great booth which made us feel like we had privacy in a busy restaurant. The charred filet of beef was my favorite! It was delicious. I tried to get pictures of everything we ate. We will definitely go back.

Food was absolutely amazing, but the music was way too loud. I had to shout for anyone at my table to hear me and I could hardly hear them. Our waitress was kind and helpful but didn't come back to check on us very frequently.

Lively, energetic, dim light . Almost clubby atmosphere. Cocktails were tasty and the limited but selective wines were great with the food we had. The service was efficient with friendly staff. The foods were hit or miss. I liked the egg rolls & pan cake but the rest were just okay. It would be a fun place with a large group. Overall 3.5 stars.

The atmosphere was fantastic, it was gorgeous and dimly lit. When you walk in, you'll feel like you are in a movie, trust me, you'll see what I mean. We came with a party of 7 & made reservations for 7:15pm. As we were seated we were greeted promptly and were introduced to the tasting menu & the main menu. We ordered a handful of things; starting off with the edamame dimsum, jade dimsum, short rib & scallion pancake, pork dumplings, lobster egg rolls, the dimsum tower for two; all of these were beautifully decadent & delicious. What grabbed my heart was the short rib scallion pancake & the edamame dimsum, amazing!!! For entrees to share, we got the wok noodles with prawns, sausage fried rice, steak (which was heavenly), this beef dish (see picture) that was glistening and so tender. The food was excellent!! I was in love with every single bite I took. However, even though the food was subpar, the service we received was quite hostile & rushed. When we ordered drinks, our server was straight on the "I must see your ID if you're drinking alcohol", which was skeptical at first because as I was going to the bathroom and eased drop with a newly seated group behind us, the same server didn't ask them for ID. Perhaps it was because we look younger, and I do respect the legal regulations, but if you do it to us you must do it to others as well. We also ordered one dessert in the end and the server abruptly said "Is that it? Just that?" In a hypocritical way. We all felt rushed & disrespected at this point and wanted to leave. I'm giving the benefit of the doubt, but aside from that; the food was excellent & believe this can improve vastly.

When my husband and I were planning our new york trip, I kept complaining about his decision to make a reservation at Buddakan. I thought it was going to be an over-priced Chinese-American fusion meal like Tao, where it's more about the show and the ambiance than the food. I was wrong. While the restaurant very much resembled the ambiance at TAO, I found the food to be much better, and more worth the price tag. I thought the food here were more innovative, and had more interesting flavors, than just making the food in smaller portions, "upscaling" it from typical Chinese food. From my recollection, it wasn't as expensive either. While intrigued at their prix fixe menu at first, we ended up opting out of it since it didn't include some of the items we wanted and our friends cannot eat beef. We ordered a la carte and stuffed ourselves while still coming in below the prix fixe menu price. Note-worthy were the General Tso's Dumplings where the stuffing encased the soup, Tea Smoked spare ribs for the flavor and tenderness of the meat, and the Lobster Fried Rice. Those were the stars of the dinner. The items that we thought fell short were the pork ribs/buns as the buns got soggy, Wok Fried XO Cheung Fun that wasn't flavorful enough and had little to no XO sauce. But the dish that sold us was their matcha basque cheesecake topped with crispy strawberry flakes. It was so good that we had to order a second one, and my mouth is watering as I am typing out this review! Everything was great here - from the service to the food. I loved the twist they had on standard dishes, and appreciated the innovation to the fusion food rather than just using more expensive ingredients to elevate the experience.

This was a surprisingly affordable higher end dinner. I came here with a larger party of 12 for a birthday party and our total bill came out to around $500 pre tip. I really loved the interior design - the lighting and candles were a unique touch. The service was great as well. My friend found a hair in one of the crispy tofu dishes. They quickly replaced the dish. They also gave us a matcha cheesecake for our friend's birthday! The food was good, but there are a couple of dishes to avoid. The Wild Mushroom Chow Fun Noodles tasted like plain cooked noodles. My friends didn't particularly like the Kung Pao Chicken Dumplings - outside is dry and inside isn't flavorful. They also said the Pork Lo Mein didn't taste like much either. A lot of the food just needed a bit more flavor, so we asked for sauce. They gave as the tray of sauces. A couple of items stood out! The Crispy Tofu is a must, but you have to eat them quick while they're crispy. My friends really liked the Pork Bao Buns - the meat was sticky & flavorful but also fell apart. The whole table agreed that the Rejuvenation beverage was the best drink overall.

Delicious but expensive. The restaurant is large with high ceilings. The service is helpful and attentive. The General Tso's Dumplings are memorable. The Peking Duck is delicious. The cocktails seem like an afterthought and are not particularly interesting. The tables are close together.

This is my second time at Buddkan in Manhattan, this time I had some dinner. The bar is NOT a place to eat at, there is no leg room under the bar to put your knees and the bar stools are incredibly uncomfortable.. which tells me this is the spot people wait for a table, but still - not comfortable whatsoever. The staff is very knowledgeable of what is gluten free and vegan. I had the Wild Mushroom Chow Fun and it was DELICIOUS!!! I could eat it everyday of my life. The place is very dark and sexy inside. Great for a first date or anniversary date. Although I saw many business partner dinners happening while there both times. I would definitely come back but likely eat at a table next time - womp womp. The cocktail menu is fabulous and the cocktails even better!

Order: tasting Menu #3 Pros: the food was amazing! There was a lot of food to taste and share. The food was seasoned well on most dishes and they accommodated all allergies. The vibe was amazing with the dim light. Service was mad quick to! They had the food coming out for our party of 6. Cons: n/a

All my friends were telling me I had to try this restaurant when I came to New York. The ambience was nice. The music was really loud. I ordered the sizzling short rib. The short rib was good but the pasta that came with it was not good. It tasted like, it was frozen and not fresh. There wasnt any of seasoning in it, so it was very bland. My friend ordered the Bang bang shrimp, the spareribs and some dumplings. The bang bang shrimp was just okay, nothing to write about. The spare ribs were good, and the dumplings were just OK as well. I wasn't really satisfied with this restaurant and probably won't be back though."

Cool vibe, slow service, great food. Stopped in for dinner and enjoyed our meal. We were seated in a weird area that seemed a little too dark and in the corner with a large party that started getting extremely loud but the food was great!

The food was good and the service was great! My espresso martini was AMAZING. I was expecting the entrees to work better together but the appetizers were divine. Got the tuna tartar spring rolls & the lobster egg rolls. For entrees we got the lobster fried rice & the shrimp entree. The lobster fried rice reminded me of a city island paella more than an Asian fried rice. Regardless, everything was good. The interior is gorgeous which is a plus!

Went here to celebrate my birthday dinner and it was quite the exclusive ambiance. The entrance is is surrounded by dim lights upon entering which sets the mood for a spontaneous and relaxing atmosphere. It is the most elegant once you step beyond the hostess/main bar area. It can be for after work or celebratory occasions. The restaurant has the socialite area upstairs and the dim dining experience on the lower level. The food was great. Some expectations were wow'd while others were just meeting. They have lots of meat or seafood options on the menu but you can ask for vegetarian dishes without these and still have amazing flavor. That was my favorite part! The waiter suggested the lo mein but I wanted the vegetarian option. It was delectable and I can't forget it. The plates are shareable sizes so if you like to pick at options you can do this here and not spend too great in the same breath. The drinks are perfectly paired and not over the top. Mixed well. I would dine here again.

This is my second time at Buddakan and the ambiance is always so fancy and beautiful. I love being able to see the center of the restaurant that has all the lights. It's super dark in this restaurant however, it gives it a really romantic feel for a special occasion. The first time I came here, I had to wait a while even though we had a reservation. This most recent time I didn't have to wait long. There are a lot of drink options to choose from and everything looks really pretty. They offer a menu with Asian options, I really enjoyed the tea ribs. The noodles tasted a little too similar to a typical Singaporean Rice Noodle however everything tasted really good.

Upon first entrance, the restaurant was quite which was very interesting. How were as we were entering the downstairs dining areas, the tall ceilings of the building really exacerbated the grandiose vibe of the restaurant! Our party had a variety of food options with very delicious taste to them. My favorite was the pepper steak and duck salad. Both paid an homage to the traditional Chinese dish but had an interesting twist to it! the chicken dumpling was also really delicious and flavorful but the edamame dumpling was interesting. The filling was a puréed mixture which I was so surprised by. The service was quick and nice and the servers were accommodating to the variety of dietary restrictions that we had at our party. Overall, it was a really good experience!

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. I was fortunate enough to be treated to dinner here at Buddakan on Columbia University's dime and it was really good for the most part! Right when walking in to the restaurant, you'll notice that it's SO dark inside lol. There's a complimentary coat check at the front desk which is really convenient. While you're waiting to be seated there's like a bar/lounge area. Then when you get to your table it's still dark as hell lol, but guess that's the vibe they're going for. When you use the bathrooms here, it's so hilarious, it's even hella dark inside the stalls lol with the black toilets too. About the food, I generally enjoyed the appetizers more than the entrees. The Cantonese spring rolls and tuna tartare spring rolls were amazing and the edamame and general tso's dumplings were also great! The only stand out dish among the entrees was the sweet and crispy jumbo shrimp. I also am confused on their black pepper beef dish; the description said it includes crispy bird's nest, but it was unclear to me and my friends whether it was actual bird's nest (swallow spit) or just regular batter fried in a way to make it decorative. Dessert was fine, I liked the three little tarts better than the mochi doughnuts. Concluding thoughts: cool place for young locals to eat. If you're coming to NYC on vacay, I don't think this spot was so spectacular that it warrants a visit on your limited time here. This is not a restaurant to bring your older Asian parents lol they will complain about the darkness and loud music. Also unclear if this restaurant is disability friendly because we had to use stairs to go from the bar/lounge down to the floor where all the tables were. Maybe they do have an elevator and it was just too damn dark to see it lol

I'm not even sure I could properly review this place. It's was phenomenal. From the pre dinner drinks to the waiter's suggestions and bus staff making us laugh it was a true experience we can't wait to have again. We had the two person dim sum, sizzling steak and it was PERFECTION! Every course was perfectly portioned, the flavors were incredible well put together. The noise level was decent enough to know this is a popular spot but still able to hold a conversation without interruption. I would recommend this place to anyone 10/10.

I've dined at Buddakan three times in the past two years, but my first two times were for work events. I've been seated at the iconic long table, a smaller table to the side of the long table, and this time in another room to the left of the stairs. The elegant and mysterious vibe of the restaurant has remained consistent. Not one thing I've had at this restaurant has disappointed either, although some dishes were more standout than others. The dim sum tasting is a unique experience, since as a dim sum lover, I am only used to traditional dim sum flavors. The dim sum served here has its own twist on the original dim sum, and it's fun trying each of the dim sum here one-by-one with the rest of your party. I wouldn't say anything is particularly standout for me from this order, besides the shrimp toast because I generally love shrimp dim sum. One thing I would like to note is that the edamame dumplings taste way better after dipping it in the soy sauce. Oh, the Kung Pao Monkfish and the Dungeoness Crab Sticky Rice. I didn't order the Lobster Fried Rice this time around so I could try the crab sticky rice, and it did not disappoint. All three dishes: the fish, sticky rice, and fried rice live in my head now. If you love fried fish, you'll love the monkfish. It's crispy, and the flavor is just chef's kiss. The monkfish and crab sticky rice pair really well together too, since both are seafood dishes. I usually don't eat crab (not my preference for meat), but I loved this dish and even the crab part of it. The flavor went so well paired with the XO sauce. I also added an additional comment about an inside joke anniversary on our OpenTable reservation (the Sunday before Valentine's Day), and the staff did not disappoint. (They also added candles and a little anniversary chocolate on our dessert that we ordered.) The waiter was friendly, funny, and helpful with dish recommendations.

This is definitely a happening place in NYC, and very Instagramable. The food is good to decent, although certain dishes like the lobster fried rice are a far stretch from the typical fried rice in all aspects of an interpretation, from texture, to ingredients, to flavor - if you ask me, skip it. Although, it's not horrible; just lacks flavor for the price. The other dishes we tried were from good to great: the pork potstickers were delicious without any sauce as the somewhat greasy pork flavor (in a flavorful way) came shining through - that dish was true to life in how you'd find it in your typical Chinese restaurant. The Tea Smoked Spare Ribs were also very good and if you don't eat much you can have them as your entree, especially if you can also munch on something else. My friend had the Pea Shoot Salad app/side, which looked like yucky seaweed mush, but then again, I'm not into that kind of stuff with funky flavors, and at $20 dollars for a side, I'd say unless you are a hard core veggie, it's not worth it - she said it was very 'rich' - whatever that means; I took as very strong tasting - and for me, say no more, I'll stay away since veggies and green things 'truly' make me sick in the gut. La piece de resistance was the Chocolate Malted Tart dessert - totally worth it, but it's a tiny portion, so not enough for 2 - you are gonna have to pay the $18 per serving/person. It's their take on a lava cake, but with a toasty cake surround and super sweet and rich flowy warm chocolate fudge inside. Buddakan is definitely an experience I recommend when traversing the big apple; just remember to make reservations, specially if you want a spot at the communal main dining room with all the beautiful chandeliers.

Buddakan--yes, it's touristy, but it is really good!!! I went to Buddakan a super long time ago and only recently returned when a friend came in town to visit. On this visit, we ordered one of the Chef's tasting menus so we could try a little bit of everything, which is definitely the smart way to go in my opinionG. Everything from the tasting experience was super tasty--from the Appetizers to the Desserts. Some highlights included the Edamame Dumplings (just wow), Chili Rock Shrimp, Potstickers, Peking Duck Salad, Sweet & Crispy Jumbo Shrimp, and Black Pepper Beef. But, really, everything was fantastic. If you're reading this, you likely already know a little about Buddakan, and you know it's really spectacular looking inside. This giant restaurant features more of a contemporary aesthetic inside, with dark decor and low lighting, which kinda gives the place a speakeasy vibe. As for service, it is definitely first rate at Buddakan. Everyone works together to attend to the tables, and all staff are friendly and knowledgeable about the menu options. Final Thoughts: I'd return to Buddakan anytime! And next time can't come soon enough. In fact, I won't be waiting around until guests come to visit me. I plan to return to this place much sooner.

Buddakan (New York City) 1. Chinese Sausage Fried Rice | $20 | 4.5/5 2. Spicy Peanut Noodles | $21 | 4.5/5 3. Short Rib and Scallion Pancake | $20 | 5/5 Review: - I would definitely come back for the short rib and scallion pancake again. It was my favorite dish by far and I have tasted nothing like it. - The Chinese sausage fried rice tasted like home. Similar to many Chinese restaurants, but tasted a lot less oily. - This place looks and feels extremely luxurious and fancy. Lighting is extremely dim similar to many delicate restaurants. - The restaurant is well located since its next to the High Line and Chelsea Market. Great place to eat after walking the High Line. Parking: None. Its New York.

Service: 4/5 Great service, slightly a bit slow but everyone was accommodating. Just a fair warning if you have a reservation, you still might have to wait at least 20 mins for your table. What we ordered: Edamame Dumplings: 3/5 So these are delicious, however I feel like they're lacking more flavor. The texture is chewy and delicious, tastes more like mashed potatoes dumplings. Chili Rock Shrimp: 4/5 Decent amount, has a slight lack in flavor. Was expecting there to be a slight kick in the sauce, however there is nothing spicy about it. Paired this up with a side sauce that I ordered in addition where they mixed what seemed like chili paste and some Thai sweet chili. Would highly recommend asking for those sauces if you order this dish! Mongolian Lamb: 5/5 Lamb was cooked perfectly!! The sauce added was also delicious. Tasted like a sweet garlic. The bokchoy was also good, just interesting they chopped off the leafy part that most people consume. Tuna tar tar spring rolls: 4/5 Delicious, fish tasted fresh, and paired so nicely with the crunchy spring roll. Crying Chocolate: 5/5 I'm not a huge dessert fan, but this was exquisite! I loved that the lava cake was paired with Vietnamese coffee, and the coffee crumble worked so well with one another. Would order again! So many unique textures and flavors combined with each other. Ambiance: 5/5 Beautifully decorated ambiance. Didn't get a chance to sit downstairs which was brighter and prettier, but perhaps next time when I have a bigger party. The vase shaped doors/rooms were also a nice touch

The space is beautiful but I think the food is a wee bit hyped up for what you actually get. Some of the favs were lacking in flavor or food. The pieces of pork belly were so small and the ratio to the bun was not great. The rock shrimp were good but the flavor wasn't as popping as I'd hoped. Service was great. Highly recommend making an early reservation. Will have to go back and try out some more dishes.

Super average Asian fusion experience. The space is great so bonus points for that but the food itself was unfortunately somewhat bland. Also some odd inconsistencies with the service - 1) the place was like 30% filled on a Tuesday, but they refused to seat 3/4 people until the 4th arrived; 2) can't transfer bar tab (that we only had because they made us wait!) to the table. Overall wouldn't go back - had been ~10 years ago and the experience was far better as I recall. At least the martini was great

I hadn't been to this restaurant in years, but it left such a strong impression that it immediately came to mind as the perfect spot for a group dinner. It has a very posh vibe and attracts some folks that are there for the "scene." You descend into the main dining area from a grand staircase. The space has high ceilings and gorgeous chandeliers. There is a long, central table that seats a couple dozen people. The rest of the floor is quite spacious for regular seating. I arrived early so I had a drink in their large lounge area. There's quite a bit of seating here so you can comfortably wait for your table. I had the Answer cocktail. It was a little sweet for my taste. The habanero gave it a hint of spice, but it wasn't overpowering. The salt rim helped to offset the sweetness. Later in the evening, I had the Royal. It was juicy and fruity. To eat, we shared several dishes. They have a la carte dining, as well as a family style option that is priced similarly to a tasting menu. The edamame dumplings were tasty, but could've used a savory sauce. I enjoyed the crispy cauliflower lollipops. They had a rich flavor, but I didn't taste much of the truffle. The spicy peanut noodles were served cold. These were very flavorful and a favorite of our table, but they had zero spice. The wild mushroom chow fun came in a large portion size with thick noodles and a heavy sauce. I liked the spiced eggplant and tofu. The tofu was slightly firm and nicely tossed in the rich sauce. The wok charred broccoli was also very tasty and perfectly crisp. For dessert, we had the crying chocolate, which took awhile to come out. It was melty and paired well with the coffee ice cream. We also got the ube mochi doughnuts, which were pleasantly chewy. The accompanying banana cream and caramel was rich and delicious. They allowed us to split our bill across six cards, but only with auto-added gratuity. Service towards the end of the meal was a bit slow, but we left satisfied. Hope it's not another several years before I come back!

My takeaway of two things from Buddakan - one the best and one may need improvement Edmame dumplings - the softest, the creamiest, the most delicious dumpling you would ever have! Ugh craving for it right now honestly, and it's only 7:30 am. They came well steamed, well cooked and the outer shell was so soft I could cry. I will most certainly come back for it. Ambiance and lighting - they definitely need to upgrade those lights with all the delicious food floating in the dark otherwise. We were seated near the bar and goodness I couldn't see beyond certain feet. If you're on a date you'd want to see the person infront of you. I was on with my best friend and almost missed her

The food here was good, but the front desk service was absolutely horrible!! it was my friend's birthday, and we called in twice ahead of time to make sure that we would be able to get the seating at the main table, when we first walked in, they led us to one of the back tables in which we told them that we literally called in twice about the main seating area. Then they proceeded to make us wait for 45 minutes, with horrible attitude from the front desk. Additionally, there was a candle at each of the tables that continue to melt onto the floor, and a lot of people were slipping on it, which is a hazard and so dangerous for everyone walking by. Our waitress, however, was very sweet and nice and the food was pretty good. The environment is super dark and really hard to see where you are going or eating.

I never visit the city without a night at Buddakan. When Spice Market closed, I was so so sad but it makes the burn feel better bc Buddakan is still there & thriving. From engagement parties to random date nights... we love it.

Went here last night for a birthday dinner and it was a very nice night. The restaurant is beautiful - very large with multiple different areas to serve whatever atmosphere you're looking for. They had a bar scene, a quite intimate area, and then a large open area downstairs. Very impressive looking! The wait staff was very accommodating and writing as a vegan reviewer, I was very impressed with their first knowledge of vegan friendly foods and also their willingness to make accommodations for me. The food was solidly good. We didn't leave thinking it was the best dinner we ever had, but it was a solid meal. We ordered about 10 -12 dishes for the table to share and everything tasted good. It's worth trying if you're in the area.

While barhopping in New York, we decided to check out Buddakan, the space and the bar area is beautiful. The food looked amazing even though we did not have our dinner here, we just had drinks which were delicious.. The ambience is great. Would definitely visit again.

This is a multi-leveled, large, darkly lit space that can easily accommodate larger groups. The staff are attentive, engaging and focused on the patron's experience. I recommend the delicious Dim Sum Tasting. I shared a mild, buttery Glazed Blackened Cod along with a standout Macao Rice Noodle dish. Finished with a Cremoso that was so flavorful and multi-textured. Be aware: Structurally, it appears there is no mitigating the rising decibel level as Buddakan fills. It's an unfortunate drawback to more intimate dining experiences.

I was looking for a place to spend my birthday dinner at and came across this place on Yelp. I originally wanted to book for 10 people but I was booking a week prior and they didn't have a time for that during the times I wanted. I decided to decrease my party size and went with 3 of my closest friends. We were 30 minutes late to our reservations and I let the restaurant know an hour prior since there was a lot of traffic. They stated no worries and they would work with me when I arrive. That was the first PLUS for me. After arriving 40 minutes late we waited about 10 minutes and was quickly seated. Dinner was a little early around 6:30 and the restaurant was not completely packed. They have a nice moody intimate atmosphere and playing some nice music. The food came very fast and we did the tasting menu (OMG IT WAS SO MUCH FOOD). We ended up not eating all of the meals and giving the rest to a homeless person we saw outside. Overall our waiter Beth was amazing and very attentive. I would definitely go back. food is pricey but good. Note: for an expensive restaurant the bathrooms are hideous. But I like a lovely bathroom in a nice place so that's just my opinion.

This place has some really amazing things and some not so good things. What's great: The architecture (yes, the restaurant is beautiful and the aesthetic is in point) The service (our server was really nice) The general Tso dumplings (absolutely delicious!) The frozen passion fruit drink (I forgot the name but it was refreshing and the perfect amount of alcohol!) What's good but not memorable: The pistachio cremoso (it's like a deconstructed ice cream cake, but if you don't eat it all together it's too bitter) The lobster fried rice (great amount of lobster, but the rice was too buttery? If you love butter you'll like it) What to avoid: The ginger chicken (it was bland and gross) The rock shrimp (oily but creamy, such a weird texture, not a fan at all!) Some lavender drink they have, it's pretty and purple but tastes absolutely disgusting Another thing I wasn't a fan of was the ambiance, this restaurant is so LOUD it's hard to have a conversation. On top of that, we made reservations for 9pm and had to wait until 9:20pm to be sat, what's the point of taking a reservation if you won't sit us on time? When I asked the hostess what was the hold up, she told me that's just how it is and asked us to move from the desk to the bar area-- which was overly packed. This was extremely annoying. 5-10mins while you get my table ready is okay, but 20? Makes no sense!

Lovely restaurant. I ordered the lamb chops. Although very small pieces for the price it was very tasty. Dishes are large for example the lobster fried rice. Pretty all rice and noodles are for sharing. This is a great family style restaurant. It was not overly expensive. The food came out in a fine manner as well. I asked the waiter and bar tender for specialty shots and they told me no. So that was strange to me. Overall delicious food.

AMBIENCE: (4/5) - Interesting decor concept, some Renaissance art mixed with Asian fusion decor? - Loud music blasting makes it a bit hard to hear your dining partner almost like you're at a table in the club but overall the place looks very upscale. There's a huge set of staircase leading to another level of tables. SERVICE: (5/5) - Took a while to be seated even though we had reservations. No idea how it works since we were asked to wait along with a large group of people also waiting at the main area but somehow the waitress was able to identify us - Waiter came by & was very pleasant, had time to ask us how we were liking things during the dinner even though it was very busy - Food & drinks came at a great pace FOOD/DRINKS: (4/5) - Oxtail Dumplings (3/5): Honestly a disappointment. The idea was so promising. The dumpling skin was nice and thin but the oxtail inside was a bit mushy. It urned something to give it texture. The taste of the oxtail was alright, not as strong of oxtail flavor as we'd like. - Tea Smoked Spare Ribs (4/5): falls-off-the-bone tender as it should be. Although the hoisin barbeque was a bit too tart for my liking but that's a personal taste. - Crispy Tofu (4/5): Each side is nice & crispy, the inside hot & steaming. A hint of spicy from the sweet glaze. Pairs great with rice. - Tuna Tartare Spring Rolls (5/5): So so delicious. The skin was so crunchy, the tartare perfectly seasoned with a kick of the crispy shallot. Reminds me of the Tuna Tartare Cigars at the famous Crustaceans in Beverly Hills. - Halaya (4.5/5): Ube and pineapple was a surprising combo. Ube could've been stronger but I could at least taste it, which is better than other ube cocktails I've tried. - Jade (3/5): Good drink, a bit of a refresher & pallet cleanser due to the cucumber. Wished the matcha was a bit stronger. The pandan I couldn't really taste at all but most pandan drinks always seem to fall short. OVERVIEW: (4/5) - Must have food: tuna tartare spring rolls - Must have drink: halaya - Great ambience, loud up beat music to get you in the mood to start the night & a promising cocktail menu. Perfect place to grab a drink during happy hour to start the night. The food was subpar for the price so save your stomach but I would def order the spring rolls as an app

Food was good. Service was terrible. Shout out to Spencer, who actually did something to improve the experience in this place.

This is definitely my favorite upscale Chinese restaurant in New York, the food was just marvelous. Once you step in the restaurant you feel like you are in one of those restaurants from sex and the city. My favorite dish there was the Pecking Duck and Wild Mushroom Chow Fun. The cocktails are delicious too, you can never go wrong with a lychee martini. The service was excellent. Loved everything about this restaurant, this is definitely a celebration spot. The architecture is beautiful, from the chandelier to the dining tables and bar.

I came back to buddakan and it is better than before! The edamame dumplings are the thing to order- it seriously melts in your mouth! The fried lobster rolls are incredible! The pumpkin cheesecake and chocolate lava cake were my favorite desserts! I can't wait to be back!

Overpriced and inauthentic. The dim sum tasting was good but overpriced. The mapo tofu, ginger scallion chicken and the noodles were all flavorless. Very disappointing. Atmosphere is very nice though.

This place is so good I ate the crab fried rice and the dim sum tasting super yummy. Service was amazing Ambiance was really relaxing and quiet. My favorite was actually the the mocktail drinks ughhhhh I want more

The best atmosphere restaurant I've been to in a long time. It was a few of us and we had a reservation for 10pm; we were seated right on time and in a decent area; would've loved to sit downstairs where the magic apparently happens but our seats were nice regardless. We ordered lots of food and it was all really good. The broken chili chicken was unique and I've never tried such good chicken. The charred filet was cooked to perfection. The lobster egg rolls were delicious and broccoli was awesome. We also ordered some noodles; they were cold not hot which threw us off but good overall. Very nice spot in New York and will definitely visit again. Food 9/10 Atmosphere 10/10 Service 8/10

5 Star experience from the food to the ambiance and the service. We had a reservation but arrived early to have a drink at the upstairs bar first. The host found us at the bar and brought us to our table early. We sat at one of the private tables on the side (not the big communal middle one), which we preferred. We ordered a sushi-like appetizer and split lamb chops, lobster fried rice and the shrimp dish. For dessert we had the mochi donuts. Everything was bursting with flavor. They were able to make all these dishes gluten free and the server was knowledgeable about allergies. Budakkan does such a lovely job making dinner a real experience.

Went to celebrate a birthday and picked Buddakan for it's obviously upscale grandeur/ambiance, excellent service and last but not the least delicious food. We ordered Chilli Rock Shrimp (9/10) and Lobster Egg Rolls (6/10) to start, Steak (9/10) and Wok Tossed Noodles with Prawns (8/10) for entrees but the highlight of the night was our dessert - the Pistachio Cremoso (10/10 - MUST try)

I think the interior is so so cool. The great hall dining is spectacular, but it's fine if you don't snag a seat there because we didn't. The service is good and I like the dark lighting as well as the open waiting room. The food was good too, the fried rice and scallion pancake were so good. And I like the dim sum tasting platter, it was delicious and you can try a wide variety.

Buddakan has been here for years, one of the original meatpacking spots before meatpacking became a hot place. I've been coming for years and this place is Still happening! The decor is so stunning with a long staircase leading downstairs to a long table. Very chic and oh so New York! We ordered several dishes to share and the recipes have not changed! Still made with the quality as I remembered. Especially the edamame dumplings, still my fav! Also ordered the Peking duck, which was served for 2 persons with all of the toppings you can imagine in a thin pancake wrapping. Overall still my favorite spot with delicious and innovative Asian fusion dishes!

This is an ultimate favorite restaurant from the ambience the food and service it's always amazing ! I have dine here 3 times already and each time it's been just as delicious. Cocktails are great and food even better. I've tried the general tso's dumplings, oxtail dumplings (highly recommend) pork buns, lobster egg rolls,black pepper beef, mongolian lamb chops, whole sea bass (wasn't a fav fav but good) and dungness crab sticky rice. Food always meets expectations. This time took my little sister for her 16 birthday dinner and she and her friends loved it ! Highly recommend to try for a bday or even date night .