Came for a birthday celebration. One of the few nicer places on my short list of restaurants with…read morereservations available, so I decided to go for it. Service was excellent! Our staff were always looking out for us, and making suggestions and recommendations throughout our entire meal, and even helping us with some tips to better enjoy our meal (they saw me sweating in response to the Thai spice). Definitely made this a top-notch experience. Ambience here is great! Love places with *real* greenery indoors and a lot of natural light, like this place, and seats and tables were spread out sufficiently such that there was a nice background chatter without feel too infringed upon by other conversations. We ordered a good variety to share. The spare ribs and the glass noodles dishes were amazing! Everything came out as ready, but it was on a good cadence such that we were enjoying things as they were ready, hot and fresh. I'm no expert on legitimacy of flavors and dishes, but honestly this feels like the most legit stuff I've had in the Thai wheelhouse in a while. To boot, even though we said no to dessert because we had other plans, they came with a candle on a plate to still share birthday wishes. A nice touch! Definitely a fancy occasion kind of place in my books, but I'd definitely make a return trip on another occasion!

KenScale: 8.25/10 Visit: April 2026…read more One restaurant in Philadelphia that I had wanted to visit for a long time was Kalaya, which was featured in the Chef's Table documentary on Netflix in 2024. I was moved by the personal story of the chef Chutatip "Nok" Suntaranon in the show, and of course my wife Jun and I would never say no to some delicious Thai food. On our recent trip to Philly to celebrate our anniversary, Jun and I finally got to check out Kalaya (which is named for the chef's mother) on a rainy Sunday for lunch before driving back home. We were very pleased with the lunch at Kalaya, which in our mind really showcased the Thai spicy flavor well. The menu at Kalaya features Southern Thai dishes inspired by the chef's family history. The colorful display of the dishes stood out throughout our meal, but more importantly we also really liked the spicy flavor that felt genuine and soulful. The cute flower-shaped Shaw Muang dumplings with ground chicken were highly recommended by our server and the kick from the Thai chili set the right tone right away. We were also fond of the poached shrimp and cabbage salad with coconut cream (Yum Kalum Bplee) for the delightfully crispy texture. For the main dishes, we ordered one stir fry and one curry. If you have to order just one dish at Kalaya, I can't recommend the colossal crab stir fry with egg (Pu Pad Pong Karee) enough. Served with jasmine rice, this dish offered complex flavor of spicy, salty, sour and sweet that was quite unlike anything I had encountered in a while. As Jun and I were savoring this awesomeness, I wished that I could've eaten this every week. The goat and lamb curry (Gaeng Pae), served with pickled cucumbers and coconut turmeric rice, was also impressive, with rustic curry broth that suddenly hit my tongue with spice blend. Despite that powerful impact on my palate, I couldn't stop myself from enjoying the curry, especially with the coconut turmeric rice that neutralized the curry's spicy kick somewhat. We also shared a side dish of stir-fried local mushrooms (Hed Pad Kratiam) that was solid as well. We were running out of room in our stomach after cleaning up the savory dishes, so we settled with ordering a Thai iced coffee to go before hitting the road. Not surprisingly, Kalaya is a very popular restaurant in the Philly dining scene so getting a reservation in advance is essential. I was a bit nervous on our visit as we were running rather late (by around 30 minutes) from picking up our car from the parking lot, yet the restaurant was gracious enough to honor our reservation. The bright and lively dining space offered quite a fitting background to the character of the dishes. There is a full bar with Thai-inspired cocktails and concise wine list designed to complement the Thai spices well. Kalaya definitely lived up its hype as one of the most important restaurants in Philadelphia; Jun and I were glad to have visited and would be more than happy to come back for our next visit to the city.

Great food. Great service. Great environment. Parking was easy. Large party all enjoyed the food…read moreand service.

I have been to both the NYC and Philly Buddakan locations, and after about seven visits to the…read morePhiladelphia restaurant, I can confidently say the Philly location is by far my favorite. Everything about it feels more polished, more inviting, and honestly more memorable. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere is stunning. The dramatic lighting, high ceilings, massive golden Buddha centerpiece, and sleek modern Asian-inspired decor create such an upscale and cinematic dining experience. Whether it is date night, a birthday dinner, or a night out with friends, Buddakan Philly always feels like an event. Now let us talk about the food -- I have had almost everything on the menu at this point, and the consistency is incredible every single time. The dumplings and bao buns are absolute must-orders. The bao buns are soft, flavorful, and packed with the perfect balance of savory goodness, while the dumplings are easily some of the best I have had anywhere. Other standout dishes include the edamame dumplings, crispy calamari, wok lobster fried rice, short ribs, and their perfectly cooked filet dishes. The flavors are bold without being overwhelming, and every plate comes out beautifully presented. Even the sushi selections and noodle dishes are top tier. Buddakan does an amazing job of combining elevated dining with comfort food flavors that keep you coming back. The cocktails also deserve recognition. Whether you are getting a classic drink or one of their signature creations, everything feels intentional and well-crafted. Pair that with attentive service and a lively energy throughout the restaurant, and it is easy to see why this place stays on my repeat list. After seven visits, Buddakan Philly still impresses me every single time. If you are visiting Philadelphia and want an unforgettable dining experience with amazing food, beautiful decor, and great vibes, this spot absolutely delivers.

The Kim chee fried rice is always a go-to. I usually omit the poached egg and have been able to get…read moreit with a scrambled egg instead. It comes with shrimp and it is definitely filling. It's not overwhelming with Kim chee, so that could be a miss for die-hard Kim chee lovers and great for people who aren't entirely sold on Kim chee. The service is amazing! Food is quick, waiters are quick and hospitable. 10/10! The ambiance is gorgeous, dimly lit and just a vibe overall. I love the colors inside that light up on the walls. I enjoy sitting at the bar in front of the kitchen. It's an experience!

My sister recommended this pan-Asian restaurant. We made reservations for dinner and were promptly…read moretaken to our table. The restaurant serves modern Asian small plates meant for sharing. We ordered the crispy chicken bao buns, crispy shrimp, general tso soup dumplings, wagyu beef, Korean bbq beef, and hamachi ceviche. We were a group of 3 so one thing that was nice was that our waiter added 1 additional skewer/bao bun for the meals instead of ordering 2 plates of them. Out of all the food we ordered the most delicious were the meats; the wagyu and Korean bbq beef. They were so tender and lightly seasoned because the beef quality itself was good. The Wagyu beef was paired with an apricot dip that was really good. The chilli crisp chicken bao was also good but didn't have much sauce, so it was on the dry side. It was supposed to have chilli so we expected it to be spicy but it was not. We all really liked the crispy shrimp--it was truly crispy. The sauce and the radish paired really nicely with the shrimp as well. The one meal we did not enjoy were the soup dumplings. When we got them they were dripping of raw dough and had no soup in them. The waiter was kind enough to replace them but we still didn't really enjoy them. I did not try the hamachi ceviche because I'm pregnant but it was also a favorite from the group. For dessert we had the mini ice cream cones. The waiter again added an extra one for us. The flavors were chocolate banana and mango. They were good, small bites. One of them melted so quickly and fell on the table and the waiter was really kind and got us a replacement. I did use the bathroom and absolutely hated it. It was unbelievably dark in there and there were weird sounds playing in there. I went in there to make sure I didn't have food in my teeth but couldn't even see. Super inaccessible, hopefully that's something that can be changed. The service overall was clearly excellent! I would recommend this place, especially if you come for the meats. It was surprisingly filling too.

We went to happy hour at Double Knot and had the best time. The drinks and food were amazing from…read morestart to finish. I ordered the Butterfly cocktail and another pink cocktail whose name I can't remember, but both were delicious. For food, we ordered sushi, chicken bao, Brussels sprouts, mushrooms, and beef. Everything was excellent, but the Brussels sprouts were absolutely delicious and definitely one of the highlights for us. Our bartender was outstanding and really made the experience even better. The place itself is beautiful, quiet without feeling dead, has great music, and such a good vibe overall. Between the food, drinks, atmosphere, and service, this was an amazing experience and I'd absolutely go back.

Never mad here. This place is amazing and delicious and wow! people will wait in line for happy…read morehour to eat here! I love the vibes. I love the ambiance, and I love the food. My favorite is eating in the dungeon it's got that vibe. Best for special occasion celebrations with friends and family and ordering the whole chefs tasting with the upgrade of Wagyu. Drinks are precious and amazing. Today was a happy hour tasting and all things were delicious. I recommend all of it. Lol. We came straight over after a very disappointing and mediocre experience at Pearl & Mary which I'm sad to say I won't go back to. Not with other options and I know shouldn't disappoint such as Double Knot! Staff and food presentation always on point! Double knot is the best and my next favorites now that P&M is out now would be vernick for their toasties and fishies and little fish.

SO and I stopped here for lunch while visiting the casino. We were aware of the yelp ratings, so…read morewe didn't splurge and went with the lunch special that's offered daily from noon to 2pm. We shared the edamame, wonton soup and general tso's chicken from the special and also ordered the beef lo mein. The edamame was nice to snack on and the soup was tasty and not over-seasoned...very nice appetizers! The chicken, however, tasted a bit like sweet and sour...the baby bokchoy were a nicely added touch. The lo mein was respectable and had a good amount of beef. Overall, the service was fast and the food is a solid 3.5 stars. Don't expect high end fare in this casino. Mian is a good place to eat while you're gambling all day!

My wife and I were in the casino today and then decided to get something to eat for dinner. We…read morewalked over to the Chinese noodle restaurant and found the exterior menu board to be inoperable. We went inside the restaurant and we were given a menu by one of the servers. At this time a man named Calvin approached us and rudely told us that if we were not going to sit at a table, we needed to leave. He said the menu board was an IT problem, not his. We have never been treated so poorly and I wanted you to know what happened. We left the casino pretty upset with no dinner. Someone should speak to Calvin and advise him how to treat customers with a bit more respect!!! Shame on him!!

One of the best rolls of sushi I have ever had! The staff were friendly and welcoming! This roll…read morewas so flavorful I wanted to take one or three to go . Will definitely be going back soon

I visited Tuna Bar after hearing so many recommendations, and I absolutely loved it. The interior…read moreis stunning-- very elegant, with a really beautiful atmosphere. The servers were also very kind and attentive, which made the experience even better. My favorite roll was the Liberty Roll. It's made with seared salmon and was incredibly delicious, packed with flavor. My friend really enjoyed the spicy scallop maki, and I liked it too. It tasted fresh and clean with a nice subtle kick at the end. My friend ordered the fried rice as well, and it smelled amazing when it came out and she really enjoyed it. Overall, I had a great experience and would definitely recommend the Liberty Roll! it was the highlight for me.

There were 4 in our party, so we tried different dishes and flavors. Everything was amazing! We…read morestarted with the fried chicken in honey soy sauce, noodles with vegies and the scallion pancake . Appetizers were very good. The flavors and spices were excellent. I asked for my pork dish to me on the 'less' spicy side, but still have flavor and it did not disappoint. The beef was excellent as well as the vegetarian dishes. The restaurant itself is comfortable and intimate. Our waitress was very helpful and pleasantly answered any questions we had. Service was very good. We were the last ones there, yet no one rushed us out the door. It was so nice to simply enjoy the evening with good food and company! We would definitely go back.

One beautiful phlidelphia day, my daughter and I were famished looking for some delicious food to…read moresatisfy our hunger. Alas! We found Buk Chon a cozy korean resturant with warm vibes and even better food. I dare say...the best korean food I have eaten! We went three times in the over the span of 2 days. Yes! 3 times. And obviously we loved it everytime. I insist that you order the spicy pork buns...absolutely delicious and my personal favorite is the kimchi paellla but i digress because every single dish at this establishment is wonderful to say the least

This is by far the best Thai restaurant I've ever been to. I love the Pad Se Ew, which you can get…read morewith chicken, beef, shrimp, or (my favorite) vegetables and tofu. At lunch you can get it in combination with a small bowl of delicious soup or a salad with peanut dressing. Service is quick and friendly.

Loved their pad kee mao!! I've been to a lot of the Thai places in Philly and the pad kee mao here…read moreis one of the best. The other Thai fusion spot I used to frequent recently closed unfortunately. The pad see ew, while flavorful, was way too salty. I was chugging water for the rest of the night. Ambiance seemed casual and laid back. I ordered takeout which was done on time and ready for pick up. Did not dine in so can't comment on the service for dine in customers.

We chose it because it's one of Chef Morimoto's restaurants, and as an Iron Chef fan, it was worth…read morechecking out. We were seated at the sushi bar, which ended up being one of the best parts of the night. We got to watch the sushi chefs prepare dishes up close and even chat with them a bit, which made the experience feel more personal and fun. I would recommend requesting this if you are a party of one or two. The restaurant itself has a very clean, sleek look, with mostly white decor. It feels modern and upscale without being cold. The space is large enough that it doesn't feel crowded, but still intimate enough for a nice dinner. Our server was fantastic and gave great recommendations for cocktails, sake, and dishes. I tried a sake flight and ended up not enjoying it, and he kindly brought me something else with no issue and didn't charge for the flight, which I really appreciated. The sushi was fresh, and every dish we had was seasoned perfectly. They have seasonal tasting menus if you are more adventurous. The dishes are beautifully plated. Overall, this was a great experience and I'd definitely recommend Morimoto for a higher-end dinner in Philly, especially if you're a fan of TV chefs or just want a memorable sushi experience.

The food here was absolutely... acceptable. I had sushi and my husband had katsu and both were…read morecertainly in the upper 50th percentile of Japanese food we'd ever had. That being said, it was expensive for what it was. We came in a large group, some of them being particularly excited that they offered gluten free ramen. However, I don't think any of us expected to pay what we did. Philly is a city with SO many food options, so if I want good food at a cheaper price, I think I'd pass on Morimoto again. Side note. Very interesting lighting fixtures at the tables.

Solid place inside Reading Terminal Market! Would recommend and would get again…read more It can seem overwhelming at the choices. When you have foodie fomo, you want to try all of the delicious-sounding baos, but most people will be satisfied with 2-3. I opted for a combo platter, which came with 2 baos, 1 drink, and the option of wonton "chips" or boba ice cream. "A side of ice cream! How fun!" I thought. Rookie move. It was delicious, yes, even with my kids pilfering bites left and right. The problem is the market place is so crowded, a lot of the ice cream will melt by the time you've sat down. If you don't mind it a little melty, then no big deal. The baos are decent. It's a small operation, so the baos are clearly a mass-produced situation and so not as fluffy as you might get elsewhere where it could be steamed to order. Compared to other pre-made baos I've had, these were good. The fillings were ample and delicious. The pork belly special was fantastic and the Mongolian beef was great as well. The folks behind the counter were friendly and quick. Considering it's a major market in a major city, I'd call the prices very reasonable. Worth trying out!

Loved it! Albeit a bit trendy and pricey, it's a great snack option in reading market…read moreGot the kung pao tofu bun and it did not disappoint, stall is set up like an assembly line so my bao was ready literally within a minute Seating is cramped but that's what you can expect there all the time so I went outside to eat my food in peace This was SO good, I love having a decent vegan snack option around especially as someone who is always hunting for protein rich options and this delivered. They did not skimp on the tofu, will definitely be back