Dinner for one at Buddakan turned into one of those rare experiences where the setting is nearly as…read morememorable as the food. Located within the historic Chelsea Market building--a former Nabisco factory where Oreo cookies were first produced--the restaurant feels theatrical in the best possible way. The soaring ceilings, dramatic lighting, and energetic atmosphere create a sense of occasion from the moment you walk in. It feels less like simply going out to dinner and more like stepping into a beautifully staged production. I started with a Botanist Gin Martini with a twist, which paired wonderfully with the meal. The surprise star of the evening was the new Cucumber Tiger Salad. The balance of flavors was exceptional: bright acidity, a pleasant touch of heat, and just enough mint to make each bite feel fresh and exciting. Every so often the mint would come through and suddenly all the flavors would click together in a way that made me immediately want another bite. This is a dish I would happily order again. Next came the Edamame Dumplings. They were delicate and comforting, especially when enjoyed with the accompanying broth. The broth adds depth and richness that elevates the entire dish. My only suggestion would be the slightest touch more salt, perhaps even a finishing sprinkle of black volcanic salt for both flavor and presentation. I also found myself wishing there were a bit more of that delicious broth because it contributes so much to the overall experience. For my entrée, I ordered the Glazed Alaskan Black Cod, and it absolutely lived up to its reputation. The fish was rich, buttery, and perfectly prepared. What impressed me most was how thoughtfully the accompaniments were composed. The pickled cucumbers brought brightness, acidity, and crunch, while the black bean and eggplant relish delivered deep savory notes and unexpected complexity. I'm generally not an eggplant fan, but this relish was outstanding. The cucumbers and relish sit at opposite ends of the flavor spectrum, yet both somehow make the cod even better. Looking back, I think a glass of Sauvignon Blanc alongside the cod would have been the perfect pairing. I finished with the Miso Caramel Milk Bar, which was spectacular. Decadent, sweet, salty, and touched with just enough umami to keep every bite interesting. The chocolate crumble underneath added a wonderful crunch that contrasted beautifully with the creamy ice cream and luscious caramel sauce. Every component worked together perfectly, creating a dessert that was both indulgent and sophisticated. From start to finish, the meal felt polished, thoughtful, and memorable. Thank you!

The vibe and food here is great! It's also very good for larger parties. We were a group of 10 and…read moreI was able to make a reservation without dealing with a pre fix meal or being put into a private room which I appreciated. We went family style for our dishes which worked very well. Everything we got was delicious, but the garlic fried rice, kung pao monkfish, crab rangoons and wok fried xo cheung fun noodles were my favorites. I also tried the Blush cocktail which was similar to a lychee martini. I loved it and it was perfectly sweet. Overall it was on the pricey side once we split everything, but the vibes were great for a nice night out.

Tasty casual Thai eats…read more Went for a weekend lunch - ended up ordering some cashew chicken. Was good! Would def come back.

A much needed end of the week girls meet-up…read more Reservations were made and are STRONGLY suggested. A CC is required and you must agree to terms and conditions upon making said reservations. One of those terms is that there is a $25/pp fee for late cancelations or no shows. **Given the rules, I think it would be nice if THEP informs everyone when they book reservations that there is a great likelihood that you will be seated at a communal table.** Upon arrival we were seat when 3 out of the 4 arrived. Yes, we were seated at the communal table, which was off putting initially because we were looking for a more private experience and opportunity to catch up. However, we powered through and made the best of it. Service started off shaky and rushed initially, with incorrect drink orders presented. However once we all settled in things improved. The food was good and the atmosphere was lovely. A few entrée dishes were unavailable and required a little flexibility in the night's taste palate. Overall Thep was enjoyable and I would like to return now that I know what to expect. Just A Note: If a communal table is not ideal I would suggest reaching out directly to the restaurant to see if something can be arranged.

Stopped by on a Friday night for dinner with my best friend. The place itself is gorgeous, moody,…read moreand very architecturally pleasing. To start, we had the lychee martinis. It's not your typical lychee martini. It has Aperol and pineapple, which gives it a great flavor. My only note is that I wish it were a bit stronger. For appetizers we had the yellowtail, which is a must get. It was delicious. We also had the lobster spring rolls, another great dish, and the crispy wontons, which were good but not my favorite compared to everything else. For our entrée we got the beef tenderloin, another must get. It was amazing, super tender, and melts in your mouth. We had it with the fried rice, which was solid. For dessert we had the ice cream sandwich, which was different in the best way and extremely delicious. It wasn't too sweet and the cone "buns" were perfection. Overall, this place is gorgeous and the food matches. I would definitely return. The service was also great, the perfect balance of letting you do your own thing and truly enjoy your evening while still checking in. It is pricey. We each paid $184 including tip, but it's definitely worth it for a special occasion or to spoil yourself a bit.

Holiday season of 2024 tried to eat here but was closed or mostly booked for private party…read more Finally just came on random Tuesday and restaurant was packed and bar was packed soon after we arrived but got two seats at the bar before that happened as once again upstairs had private event. Best way to describe this is luxe Asian or bougie Chinese. If you are fan of top Chef it would be called soigné. We had three of the hot apps, Foie gras, lobster shumai with caviar and morel mushroom with spinach crystal dumplings. After that we're deciding between the quail and beef tenderloin wok dishes. Since the quail was spicy went with tenderloin which came with small serving of rice. All the food was great. I felt the crystal dumpling needed a kicked and they brought Out there house soy and hot vinegar sauce. For drinks I tried there mix of a classic martini with an old fashioned and after discussions with there somm who nicely recommended a more affordable bottle that would meet our needs got the Chardonnay by glass as a bottle. Enjoyed the meal though likely spent 5 times what usually spend on Chinese place mainly due to cost of alcohol. Place is well designed with a look similar to Butter downtown with the arched ceiling mixed with with the sound dampening feature of similar design of bar Boulod. Will return to try the quail and the lobster spring rolls and if they keep to this standard will increase rating to 5.

Been here twice! The food is amazing ALWAYS! Drinks are also strong, which is nice…read more The service has also been great. The staff is always very helpful and welcoming. Definitely a place I will go back to.

There's not a lot of high end SouthEast Asian restaurants in NYC and I'm so glad this one captures…read morethe flavors accurately! We did the $75/person signature and added the duck for +$30/person. An insane deal in my opinion. The duck took a while to come out, but so worth it! It was so delicious. Perfectly balanced amount of skin, fat, and meat! We were already full after the appetizers and the duck. But we had 3 FULL entrees and 2 desserts to go. The appetizers were great. The fried rolls were very authentically Vietnamese flavored. You can't go wrong with any of the entrees. The sauce that came with the branzino was great and the fish itself was grilled to perfection! The shaking beef had a slightly sweet and salty flavor profile. The noodles paired nicely with both. The mango sticky rice's rice was amazing! The best rice of a mango sticky rice I've had. I wish the mangos were a bit more ripe, but the coconut cream was able to add the sweetness element. Our dinner took 3 hours, a bit long in my opinion. We had to flag down our servers many times.

This bar is a bit hidden, but such cool vibes. Once inside, it feels like you're in an actual cave…read morewith mirrors throughout. It's very sleek and sophisticated --perfect for a date night. The husband and I came for my birthday. They specialize in tea-infused cocktails with signature, savory, and sweet drinks. All the drinks were so unique and intriguing with some interesting ingredients. We started off with the Clock Out ($20) and Cuke Flower ($18). These were their most popular choices and I really enjoyed clock out, but found the cuke to be too sour for my liking. Then we got the Popcorn ($20) and Shrimp Elixir ($20). The popcorn was essentially an espresso martini while the shrimp was a fun, savory option. I liked their correlating garnishes on the cocktails as well. When we saw the other tables have food, we decided to get a small appetizer even though we weren't hungry. We ordered the Fried Chicken Wings ($16) before the kitchen closed. These were nice and crispy, but quite pricey for 5 pieces. Overall, lovely spot with a unique vibe.

Fun spot. Tea based cocktail bar. Feels like a small little cave with innovative cocktails that are…read morewell made and blended. Surprisingly food was very delicious as well. Loved the pasta and chef special (egg and rice and beef). Cod was a bit too much chili for me but no complaints. Dessert is tiny - tiramisu is good, but not the best. Matcha cheesecake solid. Overall, really delicious venue with a fun cave vibe with great cocktails and surprisingly good food.

Wonderland is a hidden gem in the east village, although it really shouldn't be. Often overshadowed…read moreby noisier bar choices in the area, Wonderland offers a more refined alternative The space is intimate without feeling cramped, and there's a clear point of view behind everything, from the way the menu is constructed to how the drinks are presented. This sets it apart in a neighborhood that often leans the other way. What stands out most is the creativity behind the cocktails. There's a sense of play without it becoming gimmicky yet flavor still leads. The custom drinks, in particular, are a thoughtful touch and make the experience feel tailored rather than transactional. It's also one of the few spots in the area that genuinely works for conversation. Whether it's a date or catching up with a friend, you're not competing with the room. Given the location, I think it makes it a great spot for happy hours, late evening hangs or weekends out too. Wonderland isn't trying to be everything to everyone, It knows what it is: a considered, slightly understated cocktail bar that rewards you for slowing down and paying attention.

definitely more of a chill intimate bar. a very beautiful bar with whimsical decor, but they took…read moreso long to bring out each drink that the first few drinks were finished before the second half of the drinks came. each drink came one by one which was strange the "wonderland series" cocktails are the showy ones presentation wise and seem high effort to prepare. I really enjoyed my drink (toasted coconut reconstruction, $26) because it was pretty mild in alcohol and basically came with a dessert

I came here with two friends on a Friday night at 8:30 PM. We made reservations about two weeks…read morebefore and this was the earliest we could get. This restaurant is part of the Chase Sapphire reserve dining credits! We had read reviews and had an idea of what we wanted to get, but also spoke with the waitress on her recommendations and ultimately went with: Pork dumplings Salt & Pepper chicken Tiger shrimp with walnuts Oyster mushroom rice noodles Snow pea shoots I think my favorite was the oyster mushroom rice noodles with steak. The rice noodles were so silky and the flavor was good. The salt and pepper chicken was also super crispy and very juicy and tender on the inside and whatever sauce that came on the side of it is so addicting. The tiger shrimp was also good, though the menu said it came with a romanesco cauliflower, but the dish was served with broccoli. The snow pea shoots are one of my favorite vegetable dishes and, in my opinion, was just a little overcooked and doesn't need the garlic oyster sauce that comes on top. It's such a cute restaurant and you can open the vending machine door and grab a surprise treat on your way out!

Came with a group of 7 last month and enjoyed ourselves! We were able to grab a reservation in…read moreadvance and saw some people getting turned away or told they wouldn't be able to be seated until 9PM, so definitely recommend grabbing a reservation for larger groups. Our favorites of the night were the salt and pepper chicken with scallion biscuits (jam was amazing, and the chicken was moist and fried perfectly), the walnut shrimp (super juicy and well-cooked, not too over-sauced), the pot stickers, and the cold sesame noodles which had great chew and a lovely, creamy sauce. The crudo was pretty small and nothing to write home about, and the eggplant and tofu curry were a bit under-seasoned for me. The bowls of rice we got to eat with the side dishes were also pretty mushy, as if the rice hadn't been properly rinsed before it was cooked, which was disappointing at $3 a bowl. Room for improvement! Still definitely a spot I'll recommend to friends looking for interesting takes on Chinese food! Service was attentive and smooth throughout the night, and we got some good suggestions on serving sizes for the group. Left stuffed and satisfied!

Ambiance (5/5): The establishment is extremely ornate and decorated in theme from top to bottom. I…read morelove how much detail and elegance they put to each room (not to mention the 16-foot buddha statue in the main dining room!) Be aware that the lighting is dim and the background noise is loud! The front bar room is so loud that you have to shout with your guest. Our party of 6 was seated in a tiny booth which we had to ask for an additional chair to accommodate us. Service (5/5): We were able to get someone's attention to order and we were refilled on water often. The food was organized by appetizers and entrees that arrive all at the same time. The wait between ordering and food felt reasonable to short. The waiter also specified that certain dishes quantity (i.e. potstickers) could be increased to accommodate our party size for an extra cost. Food (5/5): TLDR; every dish was honestly SO good; I was surprised and will rank the items by 'must get' to skippable: Short Rib Bao Bun (3 pc): The short rib was so tender and flavorful. The bao bun was soft. The sauce was thick and worked well with the short rib. Pork Potstickers (5 pc): I preferred this over the lobster and scallion dumplings. The exterior skin is pan-fried with a nice glaze, hint of truffle. The bite was umami from the creaminess of the Parmigiano Reggiano. Chicken Satay (3 pc): The 3 pieces of chicken were relatively large, very tender, seasoned well. They were well complemented with the peanut sauce that is worth keeping to dip into other things! Don't sleep on the side of spicy cucumber salad, which was so well balanced in tartness and flavor. Pad Thai: This is one of the best Pad Thai I've ever had! The flavors are bursting, with a balance of sweetness, nuttiness from the peanuts, and tartness from a squeeze of lime. Peking Duck for 2: This dish is definitely more than enough for our party of 6 and appeared to be a half serving of the whole duck. The duck pieces are pre-cut for us to self-assemble into the wraps (not the usual bao bun but like thin tortilla wraps). I think I counted 8 wraps? Triple Pork Fried Rice: The rice has a lot of depth and generous chunks of pork. The rice is thicker than regular jasmine with a more chew which I liked. Dragon Tail Spare Ribs: Although this has a nice flavor, handling with your fingers makes them super sticky for your whole dining experience. The restaurant should give out wet towelettes if this dish is ordered!! Meat was tender and easy to chomp off the bone. Tuna Tartare: A small quarter-sized tartare dollop is served atop a small cube bread. The fish was fresh, presentation was beautiful. Was hoping for more tartare for the price point but it was very good. Overall, the dish was not filling so would skip if the party is hungry. Lobster and Scallop Dumplings: Great flavor with reasonable chunks of meat inside. Just preferred the potstickers a lot more! Bok Choy: Pieces were chopped in half and cooked with a nice crunch. Topped with something that gave it more texture. The garlicy taste was forward (in a good way). Rainbow Roll: While it was fresh and the individual pieces were large in portion, this felt like any other sushi roll. Skip this! Side of White Rice is $9?! That's theft and is skippable The amount of food ordered was probably a little more than what we needed but glad we ordered as many as we did.

This restaurant has such a beautiful atmosphere. I was truly amazed by the giant Buddha altar and…read morefelt very peaceful paying my respects. I especially loved how it was placed elevated above the floor -- it gave such a calming and respectful feeling. Even with the hustle and bustle, the place still felt relaxing and serene. As for the food, it was decent. We ordered a few different chicken dishes since we don't eat pork or fish, so our options were a bit limited. One thing that did make me feel uncomfortable was the hallway near the downstairs bathroom where a picture of a Buddhist monk in saffron robes was displayed. Personally, I felt it was not the most respectful placement. Overall, I still enjoyed the experience and would love to come back again to see the beautiful giant Buddha.