Food was pretty good here but prices a little steep for what you get. We're from Hawaii, where Asian based food is the norm so our standards are high. I really enjoyed the salads/sides that came on each plate. It was nice to have some freshness with each bite. I really liked the Thai beef salad. We had been eating pretty heavy, so this was nice to have something with bright and light flavors. My Mom thought the duck had a mushy texture. Located around the corner from Giapo so good location to get dinner and dessert. Miann is also across the street but unfortunately I didn't get to try it. read more

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Adding to the rise of Asian fusion restaurants around the Auckland CBD, Lucky Buddha adds its own flavour to the expanding Fort Street scene. With Korean owners and a Filipino chef, the Asian fusion tag is well and alive as East meets East. This makes things interesting on the menu: there's beef tatare, lamb ribs, 'halo-halo' (a Filipino dessert), sake, buns. You don't quite know what to settle for. Inside, a shared long table dominates one side but most diners prefer to be seated at separate tables. Going there at 6pm on a Friday night, we were asked whether we had reservations to be seated at one of those separate tables. I got nothing against the shared table philosophy but typically on a weeknight, I had my bag full of things collected from a week of teaching, and an end of the week desire to lean back and ooze. That night though, it was considered too busy so we didn't have a choice but to sit at the bar stools at the long communal table. The drunken chicken first caught my eye but it was nothing like what I had expected! I had imagined juicy and tender whole slices of chicken soaked in rice wine as a traditional Chinese dish. I guess this is where the fusion fact comes in. My friend did like it though, the bean sprouts and fresh coriander in the salad made it refreshing and moorish. My favourites were the beef tatare and the spicy chicken. The chicken was juicy and not soaked in oils, accompanied with rice balls lightly dusted with crispy seasoning. Even though it was listed as a shared plate, I could have easily settled on this as a main for myself. The beef tatare was one of the best I've had - it was kept light with nashi pear and crisps, a good balance of sweet and savoury flavours. There's so much on the dessert menu that I wanted to try - the durian ice cream, halo-halo...but the combination of chocolate, coconut and pandan cream was a winner. Have a bit of everything on your spoon and you'll be transported to a waffley soft chocolate heaven. Food is a bit of a hit or miss at The Lucky Buddha. From what I had, I was seduced enough to want to go back and try more - just as we were leaving I saw the dish of lamb ribs that made me want to reach over and snag one. As with most newly opened eateries, the atmosphere is young and bright with waiters attentive to every eye catch. I just wished the dishes came out all at once but I guess that's something you can add while doing the orders. The shared plates were a winner so go along with friends who like to try a bit of everything! read more

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Since its opening in 2015, Lucky Buddha still remains one of my favourite eateries in Auckland. It is situated on Fort Street, which is fast becoming a foodie mecca, with the likes of Ima Cuisine, Miann and Beirut and around the corner, my favourite ice creamery, Giapo. The first time I dined at Lucky Buddha, I didn't quite know what to expect, but after learning that the owners are Korean, the head chef is Filipino and that they are serving Asian fusion cuisine (namely Japanese, Korean, Thai and Filipino), I was really excited. I have since dined at Lucky Buddha four times, and each time has been a very memorable foodie experience. The food is fresh and flavourful, and the cocktail list and service is excellent. Below, I list my favourite dishes and drinks at Lucky Buddha. For food, I recommend the following: * Sriracha Pork Steamed Buns filled with tender pulled pork, fresh herbs and a cracker spicy peanut sauce. This is my favourite entree on the menu as it has that melt in your mouth wow factor. The bao comes in a pair, so I recommend sharing it with another dining companion, so you can share a few other entrees! * Wakame Salad with Cured Salmon served with creamy avocado, crispy nori, foam and puffed rice. This dish incorporates two of my favourite foods - salmon and avocado, so I knew it would be a winner. The puffed rice and crispy nori gives the dish great texture. * Soba Noodle Salad with Avocado and Teriyaki Chicken - this is the perfect lunch dish! It is another great combination (soba noodles, avocado and teriyaki chicken), is extremely filing (carb + protein x2) and will keep you going for the rest of the afternoon. My favourite part of this dish is the fried crunchy soba noodles on top! * Bibimbap with Korean mixed rice, seasonal vegetables, soy beef and gochujang. Bibimbap is a classic Korean dish and also one of my favourite meals, so I was super excited to try Lucky Buddha's version. I tried this dish only a few weeks' ago, and it is now my new favourite! I loved the presentation, with the brightly coloured veg, flavoursome beef and semi-raw egg. The fun part of Bibimbap is that you get to mix all the ingredients together! Just one sad note - no kimchi. For drinks, I highly recommend trying one of their cocktails. Their cocktail list changes frequently, some of which are only on the menu according to the season. I have so far enjoyed the Dark Stormy Asian cocktail with Mount Gay XO rum, ginger, herb bitters and citrus (a highlight the first time I dined at Lucky Buddha) and the Heavens Surprise cocktail with Herradura Plata tequila, watermelon, mint and elderflower - I just HAD to order this cocktail as it incorporated my favourite food and my favourite spirit! It was refreshing and delicious. Lucky Buddha also has a small wine and sake list and a range of Asian beers on offer, including a beer of the same name. For a non-alcoholic option, try one of their iced teas or house made sodas. If the above is not enough to tempt you, then another reason why you should dine at Lucky Buddha is because of their excellent service. Each time I have visited, staff are friendly and efficient, water glasses are always topped up and you don't have to wait long for your food. Overall, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Lucky Buddha. Thinking about it now, it definitely makes my top five list in Auckland, for its Asian Fusion menu (featuring Japanese, Thai, Filipino and Korean classics), refreshing cocktails and consistently good service. I highly recommend dining at Lucky Buddha the next time you're out! read more

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A nice little addition to Fort Street (my favorite place to pretend AKL loves pedestrians ;)). Lucky Buddha is a small, well-laid out space with a casual vibe. The service was excellent - water glasses remained full, servers were knowledgeable and attentive (but also knew when to leave us chatting away). I was also excited to discover more than one 'token vegetarian option' - they were even able to convert the pork steam bun to a tofu option. It was delicious - tofu with lots of flavour: WIN. We also shared a plate of the Nhem - crispy rice balls with a light coconut dressing. And I didn't make the same mistake again in regards to not ordering dessert (specifically when 'Halo Halo' was an option). Basically, it's a bed of ice shavings decorated/flavored with fresh slices of mango, sweet papaya, dried oranges, tapioca, coconut and dried flowers. It wasn't 'cheap as chips' ($14) but it was unique, flavorsome and kind of a perfect way to finish off a meal (although if it's a chilly evening, I wouldn't recommend, it DEFINITELY cools you down). I'm yet to determine if Nanam takes the cake though...will need to go back and order their version :) They had a large selection of Asian beers too (including a Japanese brew I hadn't heard of before--Baird, which through the grapevine, is pretty delicious). I will definitely be giving LB some love again in the near future. read more

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Since when did Fort St become so cool? Ima on one side, Lucky Budhha & Indochine on the other. It'll be giving Britomart a run for it's money soon.... We came here on a Thursday night and it was choccas. It's not a huge place but there are long communal tables so it is good for groups, just make sure you book. The food's 'Asian Fusion.' Small plates and large plates, which are designed to share but can happily be eaten solo if that isn't your buzz. I ordered the pork buns (to share) and the spicy chicken (not to share). The pork buns or gua bao(?) (it is just me or are these guys EVERYWHERE at the moment) were a winner. Slow cooked, super saucy pork, fresh herbs, crunchy nuts in a soft milk bun - delish! The spicy chicken was great too. It wasn't overly spicy but it was crunchy on the outside and super tender on the inside, served on sesame rolled rice balls and a creamy slaw. Not ground breaking but well seasoned, tasty food! I didn't even have to look at the menu when ordering dessert. One Halo Halo please. I'm not normally into sweet but this is fast-becoming the one desert I can't resist. If you haven't had it before it's basically shaved ice with pandan, tapioca, a mixture of dried & fresh fruit and depending on the place, ice cream and/or cream. TLB's wasn't overly creamy but super refreshing. Each mouthful you get a cold hit from the shaved ice and then a sugary treat - the dried fruit or the dark blue tapioca. It's like the Filipino version of Goody Goody Gum Drops. A great casual eatery that won't break the bank! read more

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A group of us went here for a friend's birthday. All of us, except the birthday girl, had never been before so we had no expectations. By the end of the night we were all pretty satisfied, to the point we exclaimed that we would come back again to one another. We shared everything. We ordered: Crispy Spicy Chicken - We would all order this again. Tasted soooo good with the mayo. Wasn't actually spicy to us though. Beef Tataki - This was refreshing. Grilled King Salmon - Crispy on top soft underneath Slow cooked beef short rib - super soft and flavoured well Manuka smoked duck breast - one of our friends favoured this and wouldn't stop talking about how good it was. Braised pork belly - Some of us thought it was too fatty, but others loved how fatty it was. I enjoyed it but I couldn't eat a whole thing on my own. Just a slice. Angus Sirloin - Nothing too special. All in all, we thought the flavours were great and all the meat was cooked perfectly. I would definitely recommend sharing between friends! We honestly ate the food so fast, cause it was so good! Service was good too. Particularly the waitress who continued to fill our water, constantly, without us having to ask. read more

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Lucky Buddha is a great place to go for lunch or dinner, I went last week for my birthday dinner with a large group of 15 and then today for lunch with one friend (and sat out in the sun). Lucky Buddha occupies a bright open space that offers tables for two, communal dining or seats at the Chef's counter. The combination of ingredients, is fresh, cultural and modern at the same time and cooked with love and passion for Asian fusion. The menu prices run from $8-18 which I think is very reasonable. I had the Pork Larb and lamb ribs last week. Perfectly fatty and meltingly tender lamb ribs had been slow-cooked in a marinade which had deliciously caramelised. Today I had a pork gua bao which was so soft and delectably tasty and fresh. Then I had the chicken soba noodles which were tasty and filling. Seriously my eyes were bigger than my belly as I over ordered. Lucky Buddha has a beer of the same name that I had (I'm not normally a beer drinker) and it was great for a hot day. I have been here 3 times now and I LOVE LOVE it. Get there soon if you haven't been already. read more

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We started with the eggplant and the siu mai, and then shared a large dish of lamb ribs, with sides of rice. Then finished with the sticky rice dessert. Everything was excellent - especially the ribs. We went there on an early Friday evening with no reservation and we were quickly given a table. Very accommodating and hassle-free. Starters and drinks arrived quickly, and mains arrived on schedule. A great service all around. My wife loved the eggplant, and we both agreed that the lamb ribs dish was quite good, beyond our expectations. This great experience makes me want to come back and try other dishes. I was hoping to try the Kari Kare that other reviewers mentioned - but that's gone from the menu. Tip: make sure to book a reservation. We just got lucky! read more

Sharing is the new dining experience lately and this place does it well. Small space with mix of tables, bar area and casual stools for seating. We shared a feast of steamed buns, Thai bangers (like meatballs), crispy chicken, tender lamb ribs, duck leg and Asian greens. All delivered in a flash from the kitchen. We were so full no one even contemplated dessert. Fort Street is definitely upping the game in casual, relaxed, quality eateries. read more

Lucky Buddha Eatery - Crisp spicy chicken - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Auckland, AUK

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I don't get the hype. MAybe Auckland is not known for its Asian food but this place was not our favorite and we tried a lot of things. Tofu appetizer was good Eggplant appetizer was the winner Crispy chips were good Beef cheek was ok nothing special Salmon entree ok nothing special Food was ok but given the price it was way too expensive given what you can get in the city for the price you will pay here. Would never go back. Small restaurant so waitresses hover and constantly ask you if you are done, which I understand but wasn't an inviting feel Our meal was almost 140$ NZ and we did not even drink alcohol (I did have two diet cokes which cost 10$). read more

Excellent place for lunch. The decor is great, the service excellent and the food to die for. We had steamed satay chicken buns, spicy chicken on rice and a vegetarian red curry. All were fantastic. The previous night I'd had deconstructed steamed pork buns and these were done exactly the same way but far more flavoursome. Definitely get one of these. The red curry was great. The spicy chicken was heavily fried in some sort of thick batter which I didn't enjoy, but the chicken itself and the rice and flavoured coleslaw was great. The rest of the menu looked really tasty so I want to come back here and try the rest of it! read more

Nice environment and aesthetic. Very good service. I went with a group and we shared a lot of things. I tried eggplant and crispy rice balls, angry chicken, pork, salmon etc. Most was pleasant enough and some very nice. Angry chicken could do with an extra sauce as it can get a little dry but overall I thought it was all OK and the service was very attentive and seem very committed to looking after their customers! read more

We had a quick lunch here with a group of six. Atmosphere was good and loud. Food was good. I had the beef shin (beef rendang) - it was tasty and flavourful. We also shared a few pork puns as well. Good sharing size. The portions are big enough for one per person or sharing if you want. Much like all the other sharing type restaurants in Auckland. read more

I've been here twice with a couple years in between visits. The first time left me cold. The one last night left me with, 'nope, not doing that again.' I really do not see the attraction. The physical space is average at best, the service was amateurish, several beers were unavailable, the main (red curry) while generous was an off-putting gelatinous mess. read more

Had the most delicious lunch at Lucky Buddha today - highly recommend this restaurant! The menu was varied and interesting - reminded me a bit of Café Hanoi in Britomart - and there's loads more dishes I wanted to try so will have to book in a return visit. My friend and I chose two large dishes from the sharing menu - an omelette filled with tofu and herbs, and salmon on a zingy fresh salad, plus a little side of rice. Everything came promptly and was beautifully presented, and we ordered the right amount to fill us up. Plus, it's very affordable - coming to just $21 each. The place is on Fort St and has a relaxed feel and a funky interior, and staff were lovely. It wasn't too full on a Thursday lunchtime, but other times I've walked past and seen it packed. I just checked out their website and the menu isn't the same one we were offered, so perhaps they change their dishes quite regularly. Looks like it's good for groups too, with a long table down the centre of the room. read more

Lucky Buddha Eatery - Tasty Lucky Buddha food - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Auckland, AUK

Great place in downtown Auckland for Asian fusion. Nice variety for tapas. Nice decor and ambience :)

This is a Thai Fusion restaurant in the central place. We ordered vegetarian Thai food. Interesting. Very different from the "standard" Thai places in the US. Very good flavor and taste. Filling. A bit spendy, though (NZ is a spendy place!). read more

Awesome meal. Being from Vancouver we are somewhat spoiled with Asian cuisine. The food was delicious and just as good or better than what we've had at home. Will definitely be back before we go. read more

If you want some new dining experience with some unique taste blended into the menu, it is definitely place to check out. Staffs are very attentive (refills water whenever it needs to be refilled) and this restaurant has nice vibe into it. However, you gotta know this place can become a bit expensive for an average university student. read more