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    Buddakan

    4.1 (1.9k reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Order Buddakan Takeout or Delivery

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    BUDDAKAN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Trendy
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Buddakan

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    Outside
    Jose B.

    We had the best time at Buddakan last night. The ambiance was great, lighting was dim, music was a bit loud but good vibe overall. Our server Larry was outstanding, he was very knowledgeable about the menu, very polite and friendly. To start I ordered the Zen-gria (which was very interesting because it was the first time I saw a green sangria) very tasty and refreshing. For appetizers we ordered the Dim Sum Sampler to share. I have to say every dumpling was delicious but my favorite one was the edemami one, oh my god it was absolutely incredible. For the main dish I ordered the Barbecue Pork Tenderloin. Very tender, juicy, soft and flavorful. My partner ordered the Pad Thai. We also ordered some Bao dumplings to share, 10/10. For dessert we got the Strawberry, shiso and whipped cream & the Dip Sum Doughnuts. Everything was perfect. Absolutely great place, service and of course food. We hope to be back soon.

    Sashimi
    Jim R.

    Haven't been to Buddakan in years but thoroughly enjoyed it on New Year's Eve. The place was packed and our table of 12 was impressed by both the selections available as well as the high quality of the food. I won't try to describe what others had but the 2 of us shared the absolutely delicious special Sashimi in citrus-soy with sizzling oil. This was one of the best Sashimi's we have had in a long time and it was a very generous portion. We also shared the perfectly prepared Whole Peking Duck with moo shu pancakes. Others at our table got to taste it too because again the portion was so large. For it being a special night, the wait for our food was never long and our server, whose name I regrettably don't remember, made the night very special. So if it's been a long time since you've been here, come back again - you'll be impressed.

    May J.

    Great service, tasty foods, good for gathering party, dining room quiet a little bit dark, but that's not bothering enjoying the dinner. Also valet park is in front of door entrance, very convenient, and self parking is very close by.

    Tarun B.

    This place was always on my must visit list when I go to Philly. I was familiar with the NYC location and had a great experience there. Buddakan is located in the Old Town section of Philly. It was very quiet and empty when I walked there. It seemed to be an odd place to put a high end restaurant when Rittenhouse was a couple blocks over. I was impressed as soon as I entered to see the waterfalls coming down and the large Buddha statue in the middle of the restaurant. It makes you feel as if you are transported to a different place enjoying the peaceful experience and fine dining. The one thing I wish I could have changed was the lighting. I need the lights to be turned on so I can look around and actually enjoy my food. I was not a fan of the darkness in the restaurant. I ordered the lobster fried rice and a glass of Nigori Sake. I took my advice from the waiter as he was more experienced with the menu than I was. The sake was okay but highly expensive for a tiny glass. I am not much of a sake expert so I would skip that the next time I am here. The lobster fried rice was okay. I was not amazed as I thought I would be. It seemed the same fried rice that I could get from any other Asian restaurant. For $26 it didn't seem to match the price point. If I do come back here I will plan on trying some of the other options to see what I prefer. I loved this restaurant but didn't enjoy the food on my first time here.

    Cocktail
    Holly R.

    Food was incredible and the vibe is very cool. Our server made some good menu and drink suggestions and with one in our group with celiac we had great choices for our group. The edamame dumplings were so delicious (not gluten free). Our reservation needed to move by an hour and they were accommodating. Sat upstairs and really enjoyed the atmosphere.

    Miche

    A delightful day to spend here. It's Mother's Day and we enjoyed the crab fried rice, which was again a big hit. So hot and so delicious and flavorful. The barbecue pork just fell off the bone and was so amazing and so delicious. The service is exceedingly wonderful. I'm also smitten with the covers over the chairs because it shows us the owner's friends who posed for photographs!! Absolutely charming, and wonderful ambience. I had a wonderful time again!!!

    Katrina W.

    This was a fun find to try during Restaurant Week. I went with a friend and was pleasantly surprised by the cool, chill, relaxing vibe of Buddakan - there's low lighting, but a chic Asian flare to the decor and atmosphere. The chairs have faces adorning them of the owners' friends. The servers were quick and efficient. My meal included the tuna pizza, black miso cod, and dessert of the dip sum donuts. Everything was beyond delicious and all came at a price of $45 for RW. I will be back!

    Dumplings and Bao Buns
    Sheryl W.

    Went to Buddhism with colleagues and I recommend going with multiple people so you can share. They serve family style which is great. Our server was attentive and explained the dishes perfectly. The restaurant is large and inviting. The food was yummy but for Asian food, Sampan in Philly is my go to, so good!

    Edamame Dumplings
    Laura K.

    Been living in Philly for many years but hadn't been to Buddakan yet. I'm upset I hadn't gone sooner! Everything we tried was delicious. The tuna tartare spring rolls and the spicy rock shrimp bao buns were stand outs. Everything pictured was incredible, and we also enjoyed the shrimp lo mein, edamame, and korean beef fried rice. Dessert was SO good. I would recommend getting the donuts, but we also enjoyed the winding road chocolate cake. Our waiter was super helpful with answering our questions and giving great suggestions. We also loved the ambiance. Perfect lighting and nice seating. We will be back!

    Tom A.

    We came here while visiting Philadelphia. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, with a mezzanine level looming over the floor. They have about a 10 foot Buddha watching as well. We were seated fairly quickly and the waiter explained the ordering process. Most things were served family style. They started us with soup dumplings and then the calamari salad then the lemon sesame chicken. My wife also had the crab fried rice. All items were cooked fresh, seasoned well and tasty. Cocktails were very good. Service was a little spotty at times. For Asian the price was more than most. It was a good dinner.

    Steamed Edamame
    Micaelly A.

    Visited for a fancy girl night and had such a lovely time. Our waitress was particularly amazing! I personally loved the edamame dumplings and highly recommend them. I ordered the Korean Beef Fried Rice as my entree and was also very happy with it. The lighting in the restaurant was so nice. Really enjoyed the experience.

    Miso Black Cod
    Mia M.

    Good Asian fusion and big portions! We came for buddakan week, which had a 3 course menu at a set price of $45, and everyone in our party got that. We expected to get partial portions since each person got an app, entree, and dessert and the menu is meant to be sharing sized, but everything ended up being full sized portions! I had the hamachi carpaccio and miso black cod, both of which were delicious. I also had relatively low expectations because I'm usually not a fan of Japanese fusion, but I was pleasantly surprised at how good everything was. The staff were also very accommodating when we were running ~25 mins late (we called to let them know), which was absolutely not expected and kind of them. I would return, especially for buddakan week.

    Mary A.

    What a wonderful experience - from the hostess as we entered to the delicious food to the server - everything was great. We were warmly welcomed and recognized as first time guests. We were promptly seated and our server was great. He explained the menu and offered advice when requested. All of the food we tried was excellent. We ordered Dim Sum Doughnuts for dessert and it came out with a sparkler since it was our first visit. Such a fun surprise - we all loved it! The restaurant was clean and really pretty. I wish we lived closer!!

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    2 months ago

    Service was excellent for I assume a busy night which is every night, blessed by Buddha they are.

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    Page 1 of 48

    Buddakan Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Buddakan

    Is this resturant expensive or it depends what you get? my daughter wants to go here for her birthday which is next week😊

    It's a $$$ Restaurant food is very fresh and delicious , I didn't know a lot about the entrees so we all just ordered a lot of everything, and I have to say, that it was well worth the money

    How much is valet parking?

    Yes, there is valet parking

    Does the restaurant accept Discover?

    Yes they do

    Is there a dress code?

    Not really; most of the diners dress smart-casual

    Do I have to book reservations?

    I'd recommend making a reseveration as it can get quite busy especially on weekends.

    Is this restaurant wheelchair accessible?

    Yes it is. From street to entrance and seating is accessible.

    Is there valet parking available on a Saturday night?

    Yes, it's available. Other info: Valet parking is available at $18 per vehicle after 5:30pm.… 

    Is this the same restaurant as buddakan nyc? can't tell if its the same family or not, so i can have a certain expectation when i go in

    Yes it's the same!

    View All 9 Questions

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    Royal Buffet and Grill

    Royal Buffet and Grill

    3.7
    (189 reviews)
    2.4 mi

    An update to my previous review. I went back here about a month later, to take my sister for her…read morebirthday. All of a sudden the policies had changed! We were there on a Monday at about 4 p.m.. I was very disappointed to find no whole Maine lobsters, the reason for me taking her there. They changed the policy to weekends and holidays only for the whole lobster. Granted they still had lobster, but as a Ginger Scallion Stirfry dish. The lobster was cut into small pieces, which were overcooked and tough and dry. The sauce makes it much messier to eat. I didn't care for it at all. The huge jumbo crabs I'd seen on my previous visit, on this visit were very small. I was rather embarrassed, as I'd talked it up so much to my sister and I promised to take her there for her birthday. I was sorry she did not get to experience the same experience I'd had a month before. Yes, there are still many options to choose from. That was not the issue. When you have expectations of something and are letdown, that's a disappointment. The food was still pretty good.

    I came here on a Saturday afternoon with a party of 8. $39 per person with gratuity tacked on as…read morewell (assuming due to our large group) As a value proposition, this place is worth it especially if you're a shellfish lover. Lobsters and crabs were abundant. I learned about this place awhile ago from YouTube of which many gave praises. We frequented many mid level AYCE places like this and we've found that as time goes by, quality degrades with restaurants like this. Now there was a rather long length of time between discovering this place on YouTube and actually visiting this place. I wonder if the praises that were sung about this place were still valid. I would say yes. As previously mentioned, lobsters and crabs were abundant and makes it worth the trip on that alone. As for the other offerings, it was mostly surprisingly good. Don't expect Michelin quality food here. Generally, it's about the quantity BUT the food is pretty good. The sushi/sashimi shocked me a little. AYCE sushi is usually just passable but here, I thought it was pretty good. Everyone in my group loved the quality of the salmon. Other offerings, of which there were many, were pretty good. Standouts were the lamb chops in my opinion. Dessert options wasn't as extensive as the other AYCE places I've frequented but they do the job. Aside from the usual fountain soda options (serves by the restaurant staff) , they had a few fruit drinks and a milk tea option as well as some specialty drinks in a can. Scale 1 to 5. (Keep in mind that this is based on quality you'd expect from a typical AYCE restaurant. Food 5 (large selection of food and that shellfish!) Service 5 (Friendly staff and were pretty efficient in clearing the plates) Cleanliness 4 (Place was well kept. Deducted 1 star due to the stickiness of the floor around our table which reminded me of a movie theater floor... lol) Value 5 One con to point out. The restaurant was rather large yet the bathrooms were small and couldn't accommodate a lot of people at once. Not a huge quibble as the wait wasn't astronomical BUT it did seem odd that the size of the bathroom didn't match the size of the restaurant.

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    Whole lobster and shrimp cocktail
    Whole lobster and shrimp cocktail
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    Sampan

    Sampan

    4.1
    (2.5k reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$$

    Sampan is probably my favorite spot in Philly for happy hour. The restaurant itself has such a cool…read moreatmosphere, with dimly lit seating, two bars inside, and a back graffiti bar that has a completely different vibe with a more open and lively feel. I come here for happy hour every now and then because the prices are really great, and both the food and drinks are delicious. We started with the specialty cocktail and the Thai Punch, and both were really good. They had fruity undertones, and the alcohol wasn't overpowering at all -- I could easily have a few of these. For food, we got a few orders of the kung pao chicken wings. They were perfectly crispy with a really flavorful glaze. The portion size was also very generous, especially for the happy hour price. These are a great example of Asian-style fried chicken wings done right. I definitely want to come back and try their full dinner menu since I've only been here for happy hour so far. Luckily, it's not too far from where I live in the city, so I'll definitely be back!

    Amazing Pan-Asian restaurant in Center City that specializes in small shareable bites. Every time…read moreI'm in Philly, I try something new here. Place is super trendy with an open concept kitchen and dark lighting. I might be getting old because I find myself wanting more lighting lol Service is spectacular and if it's your first time here they'll fully explain their menu and recommendations. This time our server explained the tasting course, but we decided to order a la carte. A refreshing Ming Mule came out first and it was just what I needed after being inside of a stadium on a 100 degree day. We also ordered an order of the pork bao which was so tasty. You can never go wrong with a pork belly appetizer and each order comes with two. The shrimp pad Thai had all the flavors you expect from a classic pad Thai but with their own twist. The Szechuan chicken was crispy and had sweet notes. Definitely two great picks. Opted out from dessert because we were so stuffed but they have a great ice cream cone option if you are in the mood.

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    Bar
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    The perfect way to start your meal: crisp, flavorful spring rolls and a bright lime sauce that brings the whole thing to life! ⁠

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    The perfect way to start your meal: crisp, flavorful spring rolls and a bright lime sauce that brings the whole thing to life! ⁠
    Double Knot

    Double Knot

    4.3
    (1.6k reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    Took my friend who was visiting from out of town here and we all loved it! The downstairs space is…read moreintimate, moody, and beautiful--I'd definitely return for a date night. We did the chef's tasting menu, which I highly recommend. It was so much fun (and a little overwhelming) choosing 10 dishes, but everything we ordered was delicious. Our favorites were the ice cream, miso eggplant robatayaki, spicy tuna roll, and salmon sashimi. Great service and an overall wonderful experience. Definitely a place I'd recommend!

    P tried on multiple SHEIN tops to go with her high-waisted Levi's before dinner. This was a Monday…read morehappy hour and she didn't want to overdress. She wore heels anyway. Left 25 minutes later than planned. [Fast forward: the guy next to us was wearing a full suit.] We arrived at 5:30 and were told the wait for a walk-in was 20 minutes, so we went to Graffiti Bar next door. P wanted a marg, which was not on the cocktail menu, so the bartender asked what kind of tequila. P said Patrón. We started our happy hour evening with $45 cocktails. The wait was actually only 10 minutes, but they give you a 10-minute grace period once they text you, so we had to chug nevertheless. There is a pipe that says "warm" as you walk in. Touch at your own risk. Now at Double Knot. We ordered the tuna roll and salmon rolls. Good, but not that good. J wanted the yaki soba and liked it. P liked the pork potstickers. J ordered a Sapporo and an argument ensued about how to pronounce "a" in Japanese and/or other Asian languages. A professional woman once scolded J for mispronouncing Wang. We then played odds to determine whether J would turn his Sapporo into a sake bomb using P's sake. Both guessed 5. The sake did in fact "bomb," erupting all over the table and causing a scene. The wait staff did not notice because the ambiance, while "lit," is actually pretty dark. Coast clear. For revenge, we played odds again. P lost and was forced to put soy sauce in her sake and chug it. She took it like a champ. The waitress complimented P's top as we left. Margs at the pourover bar next door: $45. Rolls at Double Knot happy hour: $8. A compliment on a $3.69 top after arriving 36 minutes later than planned: priceless. 7/10.

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    Inside bar area
    Inside bar area
    Robatayaki Skewers
    Robatayaki Skewers
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    Buk Chon Korean Cuisine

    Buk Chon Korean Cuisine

    4.4
    (382 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Excellent service and food was served promptly and of very good quality . I asked for extra spicy…read moreand the kitchen delivered as asked. The restaurant gets very busy and has a lively atmosphere .

    Yeah, so I forgot to take any pictures, but I was here twice this week with colleagues when we had…read morean offsite meeting nearby. Everything was delicious, from the apps to the dishes, and definitely very healthy portions! Service was pretty good as well, with attentive staff despite there not being a whole lot of them. The food is Korean-inspired with some fusion elements, and all of it was nicely executed. Fried chicken bites were a pretty big hit, and the pork buns were good as well - crispier than usual, but still really good. Toppoki was nice too, and have to say that calling it rice gnocchi is pretty smart to make it easier to understand outside the Asian POV. Kimchi paella was essentially kimchi fried rice, but tasty and filling, and the scrape off parts at the bottom, that's rice gold right there. I don't always eat rice, but when I do, I prefer slightly burnt at the bottom of a stone pot. Second visit, I went with fire chicken, which is tasty and has some kick. I did notice that my not Asian colleague was asked if he was sure about the three fire symbols, but I was not :P Space is pretty nice inside too, a nice combination of old and new; the bathroom was nice and clean, and the general feel inside is casual but elegant. I wouldn't be opposed to returning, but would need to know much more about allergy protocols and awareness, which admittedly isn't always a strong point in Asian cuisine.

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    First time and loving the venue and vibe. Waiting for our food
    First time and loving the venue and vibe. Waiting for our food
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    Dim Sum Garden

    Dim Sum Garden

    3.8
    (3.2k reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    Very large, loud/energetized, bright white modern with handmade noodles and dumplings the feature…read morebut good number of traditional Chinese dishes available. (Note: if you only want smaller serving of their great, thick noodles, order $4 add-on as a side in place of rice with regular dish.) I always have leftovers to enjoy at home. Dumpling orders are large and shareable. (Always 6 or 8 pieces.) My fave when dining in is amazingly delicious and huge Fish Fillet in Hot and Sour Cabbage Broth. (That's best with rice side to help absorb broth.) So good and healthful to balance the dough density of whatever dumplings you might also order -- they're all great. When getting order to go (or delivered) I like Kung Pao Chicken; it travels well. Order added green veggie dish for sharing -- I lean toward Chinese Broccoli; you'll really want the balance with the delicious dumpling and noodle dishes. Large cocktail menu -- Lychee Martini is so refreshing. Important: cash only for dining in. There's an ATM by their front door. Takeout and delivery accepts credit cards. Most reasonably priced parking nearby (if you don't score a limited street spot) is ParkAmerica at 1040 Race St a few doors down. In fact, it was one of the valet guys in that garage who recommended Dim Sum Garden when I was seeking great Chinese option. (Thank you, Ceasar!)

    It pains me to write this as I have loved DSG for over 10 years but the taste and quality are just…read morenot there anymore. I just get a feeling that the focus is on pushing alcoholic drinks rather than on the food. The pork buns felt like they were previously frozen and were very sweet. Shrimp dumplings tasted off. Service was never the star but it wasn't so dismissive either. Just a very bad experience and while I won't go back, I also don't want to rate them 1 star as that would be unfair. Their food now is no better than the next guy and that's disappointing. Cash only btw. I write this because they do not post signs and a couple tables had to go grab cash from their ATM machine.

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    Pan Fried Pork Soup Dumplings (Catering)
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    Crab Rangoons

    Buddakan - asianfusion - Updated August 2026

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