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    Buddakan

    4.1 (4.9k reviews)
    Ultra High-EndChinese, Bars, Asian Fusion
    Closed 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

    Order Buddakan Takeout or Delivery

    Buddakan Photos

    BUDDAKAN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Upscale
    Happy hour specials

    Recommended Reviews - Buddakan

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    Reviews With Photos

    Aj L.

    What a beautiful restaurant! The ambience is absolutely beautiful!!! Very elegant, very upscale! The food was DELICIOUS!! The service was exceptional! Our waiter Kevin was amazing The restaurant is very dark, and a bit loud. The price is very pricey You can't take any pictures

    Dining area
    Erick S.

    Recommend: Oxtail dumplings, Char Siu Kurobuta Pork, Tranquility (cocktail) Overall a nice selection of dim sum and main dishes. The place is good for large groups, but gets crowded, so reserve if you can. I went by myself on a Saturday night having booked on Resy earlier in the day. Seating took about 5-10min. My waiter was very attentive and gave good recommendations. I'll have to come back to try more. What I ordered: - Tranquility (cocktail): I like tea, so I was intrigued by this concoction of rye, oolong, and kalamansi - Edamame dumplings: these had a rich, smooth consistency, popular amongst other reviewers - Oxtail dumplings: my favorite of the night, packed with a generous amount of meat and flavors from the sauce - Char Siu: a very tender large portion served with a honey glaze - Lobster fried rice: this was okay, there were pieces of lobster throughout, but I can see how others would want larger chunks

    Riddhi S.

    Came here for happy hour to celebrate a friend's birthday and this place nailed the vibe Great drinks (the Royale was my favorite ), solid bites--loved the carrot dumplings more than the edamame--and such a fun, stylish ambiance. We were a group of 13 and the staff handled it effortlessly, even surprising us with a complimentary birthday dessert The bartender was super cool, service was smooth, music was on point, and the overall energy was just right. Perfect spot for birthdays, happy hours, and group celebrations. Total vibe

    Crispy Tofu Stir Fried Greens Mushroom Chow Fun
    Vishnu G.

    This was basically just Americanized takeout style Chinese food in a bit of a dressed up setting. Practically all of the menu items are hiding some kind of meat product, so definitely inform your server of any dietary restrictions. My server very helpfully pointed out the small handful of dishes that were safe or could be made with minor modifications. The crispy tofu was decent, in a sweet and sour sauce. The greens had a nice garlic kick, but were otherwise a bit bland. The noodles were far too salty - they might've compensated for removing the oyster sauce by doubling the soy sauce instead. The meal worked out to around $72 for two after tax and tip. It's not super expensive for the neighborhood, but you're better off saving a few bucks and going to a takeout spot nearby instead.

    Marry Me Shrimp
    Meryam A.

    From the moment you walk in, the interior just stops you, it's dramatic, moody, and stunning without feeling over the top. Perfect date night spot or celebration with friends. Also the service? Truly incredible. Attentive, warm, and perfectly paced without hovering. They do have a beautifully curated tasting menu that's perfect for smaller groups, but we went the family-style route and honestly... you can't go wrong with anything you order. For apps, we had the marry me popcorn shrimp, edamame dumplings, and chicken soup dumplings. Every single bite was a hit. For mains, we ordered the broken chili chicken, black pepper beef, crispy tofu, and lobster fried rice. All were delicious, but the real standouts were the black pepper beef and the lobster fried rice. This is one of those places that's perfect for great food and great company. Safe to say, it's officially made it onto my top NYC list and I'd go back in a heartbeat.

    Mapo Tofu
    Ingrid C.

    I can tell the popularity of this restaurant is boosted by its gorgeous interior design and grand setting. As soon as you walk in, there is a cozy little speakeasy-esque bar, and several chairs for a cute waiting area. The inside is massive, and boasts 2 chandeliers followed by grand staircases. This is definitely something you don't see in NYC. With that in mind, to me the quality of a good restaurant is its food, and Buddakan just didn't stand out to me in that way. We came as a big party of 8, and didn't realize most of the dishes were for sharing. I got the mapo tofu. I understand it's more of a fusion restaurant so it may not taste authentic, but my tofu was watery and lacked spice and I didn't think it was with the price. Other friends got the crispy tofu which I preferred, but the glaze was way too sweet. To me, this location is a one and done. Happy to have come and taken photos, but I just wasn't a fan of the food.

    Lobster fried rice, shrimp entree and char siu pork.
    Angela C.

    If the song "Angel" by Massive Attack was a restaurant, it would be Buddakan. Buddakan's dark and sexy ambience acts as the perfect backdrop to a memorable night out. Oh, and the food? Seriously delicious. Here's what we ordered: - Oxtail dumplings (10/10) - Lobster and shrimp egg rolls (STUFFED w/fresh lobster but lacked a bit of seasoning) (7/10) - Char Siu Pork (9/10) (Must get. Sweet. tender and delicious. - Crispy shrimp with walnuts (10/10) out of this world. Really good - Lobster and Thai basil fried rice (8/10) solid choice but wish there were bigger chunks of lobster Service is super fast and friendly. You will not have a single dirty dish lingering in front of you without a server rushing to clear it. Can't wait to go again and try more dim sum options.

    Vivek B.

    Buddakan is a cavernous place with lighting and interiors to set the vibe. The place was absolutely packed on a Saturday night so it took the restaurant a while to seat us even though we had reservations. Wait staff were friendly and quick with the service. Food was good - particularly the General Tso's Dumplings & Char Siu Kurobuta Pork. Great place for a large group or a special occasion.

    Mayra D.

    Such beautiful space, very dark but elegant at the same time. They have a family style but corded out dinner experience which I LOVE! The server was very attentive and very nice. I didn't get to take pictures of the food because my phone was charging at the hostess station while we were having dinner.

    Bang bang shrimp
    Amudala O.

    The food and service were amazing. The lobster egg rolls were my favorite. So was the peppered beef and the lobster fried rice. The ambiance was also gorgeous

    Miso caramel bar
    Shivina K.

    Took my parents to Buddakan for their anniversary dinner. Really great vibe inside and beautiful venue. My mom is vegetarian and there were a lot of food options for her which was great. I'd recommend the crispy tofu, the vegetarian fried rice, and the edamame dumplings. Although really great food we did find the service to be very slow. There was a constant stream of folks who worked there zooming around but we could never seem to get a hold of our server and had to ask other people several times. We also waited an hour for food which was a bit of a bummer especially when they brought the rice and the tofu a while apart so we couldn't eat all dinner dishes together. Overall great food and ambiance, service could be better.

    Emmanuel O.

    I love going out with a group of people for the simple fact that you get to try multiple items on the menu. In this case, the menu wasn't vast and that's perfect because with a small menu one will believe the food will be fire. However, that wasn't the case I got the chili chicken with lobster fried rice. The lobster fried rice was good, but the chicken was as dry as a Popeyes biscuit without the a drink on the side. I probably would've choked after every bite. The lamb chops were bland and was not seasoned well. however when you dipped the lamb chops in the chili sauce that came with the chicken then it slapped. The duck was really good they perfectly balance the juices and the crispiness of the duck definitely will recommend that dish along side with the curry noodles. Those noddles were really good. For drinks, I got the espresso martini. I personally did not like it. It taste like water with a splash of espresso, granted I substitute vodka for cognac, but this substitution always taste extremely good. The service was unsatisfactory. We were seated for about 20 minutes before our waiter introduced himself and I am not over exaggerating. The one thing this place do have is an amazing atmosphere. The vibe of the place is definitely a 10.

    Lobster egg rolls and rock shrimp
    Yvonne D.

    Dinner on a Saturday night was enjoyable and the service was on point. Smaller parties are seated upstairs and there was always a line for the bathroom. We started with the lobster egg rolls and the rock shrimp. Both were delicious and served fresh out the fryer which I like because I hate cold food. The black pepper beef was delicious, nice and tender. Very flavorful. The sticky crab rice was also a hit. The veggie friend rice had a weird taste to it I couldn't put my finger on it. My friend said her broken chili chicken was dry.

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    Page 1 of 123

    Buddakan Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Buddakan

    Can I wear shorts?

    I've never seen anyone wearing shorts in there and I have been a few times. I would recommend to avoid it although I don't think you would have any problem to get in wearing shorts.

    Is this kid friendly early in the night?

    I'd say yes! We went for early dinner and it was quiet and chill.

    How about a vegetarian friendly tasting menu?

    They have vegeterian-friendly options on the menu, but not a whole tasting menu.

    For a birthday party with 6 ladies how many appetizers and entrees approximately should we order? I read that the portions are small.

    I'd plan on getting at least 3-4. Portions are small (I'm a big guy), but the appetizers will have you wanting more. So enjoy. Coconut shrimp was amazing. Crispy tofu also. My favorite thing on the menu

    Do they have any halal meat (chicken, beef or lamb) dishes?

    Hi! Thank you for reaching out. Unfortunately, we do not have halal meat. We hope this helps!

    I want to celebrate my bday here next week and would like to be sat at a table with a more lively and "party like" atmosphere. Would you recommend I sit upstairs or downstairs and what is the difference? It would be on a Tuesday, what is the vibe?

    The place is loud wherever you sit... I cannot even recall how much of it was music and how much was just the din of people.

    Gluten free options?

    Yes! The chicken congee, crispy jumbo shrimp, and charred filet of beef (without the soy butter) are all gluten free options.

    Do you have indoor dining?

    Yes. We have indoor dining.… Read more

    Is there any dress code requirements?

    Typically, it's smart causal. Some dress up plenty, but you can get away with casual clothing. Given COVID, I would dress comfortably if you're sitting outdoors.

    I was there the other night and really loved it... and am just curious: Why is it so dark in there? LOL. I mean, it's really dark! Is it always like that?

    It's sexy Lol....Yes

    Will they be doing anything special for Valentine's Day (e.g pre fix menu)?

    Hello, We will be featuring our Chinese New Year Feast for Two.… Read more

    Does Buddakan have outdoor seating? If so are there heaters?

    yes. They have overhead heaters and piped hot air. I was there when it was 28 degrees outside and was very comfortable eating outside.

    Do they have space heaters or anything set up to keep people warm?

    Nope

    Does this location have happy hour?

    yes they do

    Do you need to make a reservation for a party of 2 on a Saturday night or can we just walk in?

    You'll need a reservation

    Could I just grab a drink at the bar, or do I have to get a table?

    Yes you can.

    I wanted to celebrate my girlfriends birthday here over dinner is this place good for that?

    Absolutely. Can be great. Upstairs. Yes

    How's the food Portions?

    I'd say they're small, personally

    Is the meat kosher?

    No. The meat can be prepared Kosher-style; without the inclusion of butter or other dairy, however the meat is not prepared in the traditional Kosher manner.

    Can a large party come here and get large plates to share?

    Yes for sure!! We encourage family style dining!

    View All 35 Questions

    Excellent Dumpling House - 5 Pieces Steamed Shrimp Dumpling

    Excellent Dumpling House

    4.1(870 reviews)
    0.5 miChelsea
    $$

    As the name implies, it really is an excellent dumpling house!…read more Me and my buddies were in Jersey and New York for some hockey games, and wanted to go to a deli, get some Chinese food, and a slice of pizza. Got off the E train and when we looked for Chinese food, this place popped up with good reviews and it was just a short walk from where we got off the train. My buddies ordered the special lunches and we also got two types of xlb's, beef chow fun, and some fried dumplings. The special lunches come with a little fried rice, cold garlic flavored noodle, choice of egg drop or hot and sour soup, and main side. My buddies all enjoyed their meals. The beef chow fun was also really good and beef was nice and tender. The xiao long baos were excellent and is comparable to any place in California like DTF. Nice and juicy and great with some ginger, soy sauce, and spicy chili. Friendly service and food comes out pretty quickly. Credit card is accepted. Bathroom was also very clean, which is sometimes rare in some Chinese restaurants I have been to. If you're looking for a good Chinese meal, stop here when you're in the Chelsea area.

    I've been looking for a place open late-ish to get food in Chelsea now that the Malibu Diner is…read moresadly gone. I hadn't been to EDH in a while and was happy to see they do have later hours (with a smaller late night menu). The place was pretty busy at 10:00 PM last Saturday, with a wide range of diners, which is good for business. The food though, at least that night, was really disappointing. My friend had the chicken dumplings. He said they were okay. I thought they were overcooked. My steamed shrimp shumai were fine, but steamed, they didn't have much flavour. The edamame, on the other hand, had way too much when it should have almost none. I don't know if it was excess salt, MSG or something else, but not good. I should have sent them back. I hope this was just an off night for the kitchen.

    Photos
    Excellent Dumpling House - Dining Area

    Dining Area

    Excellent Dumpling House - Sizzling Eggplant with Garlic Sauce

    Sizzling Eggplant with Garlic Sauce

    Excellent Dumpling House

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    Chop Shop

    Chop Shop

    3.8(286 reviews)
    0.5 miChelsea
    $$

    Absolutely delicious! Gorgeous fresh ingredients, super friendly and prompt service. We had the…read moredrunken noodle and the coconut curry. Both were 10/10. Can't wait to have it again!

    File under "Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover" - because you'd never even realize this was a…read morerestaurant when walking by and even after you knew... you might be inclined to keep walking to find something a bit more 'bright' and 'inviting'.  (And you'd totally miss out on a great little joint.) I'm a lower middle-class Jersey guy - what the heck do I know about cocktails?  But I dove right into one ("Jade Collins") and it was firing on all cylinders.  Crisp, clean, strong enough to knock over an ox. Then we got a handful of apps - everyone else swore by all the ones they'd had - but I just tried the Salt & Pepper Shrimp and... sweet baby Jesus, this little plate had a wicked amount of flavor from every angle.  "Aggressively seasoned" might be an understatement.  Wild. Onto the mains and I ventured towards their Spicy Drunken Noodle (my go-to whenever I'm hitting a Thai restaurant on my home turf) and... yeah, you probably guessed it - incredible. Not the biggest portion but they made every single component sing with flavor. With so much going on - of course I needed to indulge with another drink (hey, I wasn't driving!). There were six of us, it came to about $100 a person... welcome to NYC. But we did get a wide selection of plates/food and those two drinks accounted for about $40 of my tab. (And you'll never see such a heavy wine pour at a restaurant... they filled the glass almost to the rim - which was not even something I'd do for myself when I'm home.) Definitely recommended.

    Photos
    Chop Shop - Patio

    Patio

    Chop Shop - Salt And Pepper Shrimp

    Salt And Pepper Shrimp

    Chop Shop - Patio

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    Patio

    Philippe Chow - Peking Duck

    Philippe Chow

    4.0(300 reviews)
    0.1 miChelsea
    $$$

    Yeah Id say that was a pretty splendid meal. Shared everything thank goodness…read more Started with the wok fried beef dumplings which were good on their own but had this fire ahh spicy honey mustard wow. Then the scallion pancakes which were crispy and airy paired with this very interesting sauce that was clear but tasted like sweet and sour sauce. For mains we got Kung Pao Chicken which was pretty delicious but my star of the show was the Crispy Beef. It was crispy asf and skinny too I didn't know you could make beef skinny like that. Sauce was super tasty and thick. On the side was broccoli which was fine and eggplant which was fine on its own and good with the chili sauce. Split the Fortune Cookie Red Velvet Cake which okay I thought there would be more creativity with adding fortune cookies somewhere in the cake but it was just a cake with fortune cookies on top. Also they put 2 when we had 4 people like lowkey they couldve just put 2 more on there but anyways the cake itself was pretty tasty so can't complain there.

    Philippe Chow is why Yelp exists. You would otherwise never know that this upscale Chinese…read moreRestaurant blasts club music and mandates 20% gratuities. The food is all over the place but the main theme is that everything is over-seasoned to please the crowd of people who all were gulping down colorful sugary cocktails with dinner while wearing athletic clothing. Peking duck (for 4-5) had great accompaniments (rare to actually get bao with it) but it was a lackluster portion of duck. Salt and pepper shrimp were offensively salted. Special "mignon" was great. The hand-pulled noodles *gasp* weren't hand pulled. "BBQ" chicken in the other noodles was very dry. Sea bass portion was very small. Scallion pancakes were good. Shrimp dumplings were the highlight. I recommend skipping this restaurant.

    Photos
    Philippe Chow
    Philippe Chow - Maine Lobster: ginger scallion sauce

    Maine Lobster: ginger scallion sauce

    Philippe Chow - Bottle of Moët & Chandon

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    Bottle of Moët & Chandon

    Chi Restaurant & Bar - We now open for late night hours. Every Tues - Sat until 1 am

    Chi Restaurant & Bar

    4.6(657 reviews)
    1.1 miMidtown West, Hell's Kitchen
    $$
    Private events
    Takes reservations

    I visited this spot a few nights after a birthday dinner at a much trendier fusion restaurant, and…read moreI wish I chose this place instead. Thank you to my Yelp friend Jane D. for suggesting Chi. A comfortable atmosphere with very efficient service, the food was fantastic and authentic, spicy, and fresh. All good choices: --Steamed pork soup dumplings (tasty soup, thicker dumpling) --Spiced beef in chili broth (spicy, yes!) --Green chili chicken with black beans (tasty, a bit less spicy) --Stir fry pea shoots

    Chi is definitely an elevated, modern Chinese restaurant catered to a higher income crowd. It's…read morereally luxurious inside and designed beautifully. I tried items from their traditional menu which consists of things like: The General's Accord Lobster Sticky Rice Truffle Beef Tenderloin Four Treasures Bisque The Diamond Dragon and Summer Palace mocktails are pretty and refreshing! However, they were pretty small and I finished my drink in 5 sips. I loved the trio dishes app which allowed me to try a variety of authentic cold dishes. The soup was creamy, rich, and had high quality seafood in it like abalone and sea urchin. The truffle beef had a really good strong truffle flavor and the sticky rice with lobster had nice crunchy bits of rice in it. The lobster could've had a bit more flavor and a nicer fried coasting on the shell. For the beef dish, they gave so little beef for an entree that is $46 on the menu. We could count the amount of beef cubes while the rest of the dish was mushrooms and onions. The dish was also not even filled. Half the plate was empty when it came out to our table. It felt like a rip off. Their desserts come from the amazing Bibble & Sip a couple blocks away, so they're gorgeous and tasty of course. However, you can get them at Bibble & Sip for face value price.

    Photos
    Chi Restaurant & Bar - Chi Bar - Modern bar area with handcrafted cocktails

    Chi Bar - Modern bar area with handcrafted cocktails

    Chi Restaurant & Bar - Midnight Margarita - infused Mezcal, Italicus, Tonka, Mexican Apertif, Vanilla Acid

    Midnight Margarita - infused Mezcal, Italicus, Tonka, Mexican Apertif, Vanilla Acid

    Chi Restaurant & Bar - Chi Backroom 4 - Perfect for intimate group gatherings

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    Chi Backroom 4 - Perfect for intimate group gatherings

    Buddakan - chinese - Updated May 2026

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