Buddakan Reviews

Deliciously divine dining is what you'll get at Buddakan! They offer contemporary Asian cuisine with sumptuous cocktails, as well as great non-alcoholic drinks, desserts to live for. Exceptional service, communal dining style, fine ambiance with a towering 10 ft golden Buddha! I'm super partial to the reasonably priced Bento box lunches - yummy Asian Caesar salad and sweet and crispy shrimp are my personal faves!

Had a very good experience. The crispy calamari salad is really tasty. And all the three options of the Bento lunch were very good. Would definitely go back!

Great cocktails to start with. Good music playing and the place has a great vibe. We enjoyed the rice with beef, the dim sum platter and the pork.

Excellent meal, awesome service - would totally come back again if we were in Philly. We ordered: - For appetizer: Dim Sum Sampler: [two each: chicken & ginger, shrimp, pork, edamame dumplings served with a chili-soy dipping sauce] - The edamame ones were the stars; close 2nd were the pork. We weren't as impressed with the other two. - For dinner: --- Wok Cashew Chicken [amazing sauce!!!]; --- Miso Black Cod [we almost licked the bowl, it was that good] --- Snow Peas [totally not worth the $12 price and honestly your other entrees will have enough veggies to get you through your meal] - For dessert: “Dip Sum” Doughnuts --> Yummmy....save room for dessert!

WOW! There was nothing we ordered that we did not like. We ordered king crab tempura, kobe beef sticks, lobster and crab dumpling. The food was delicious! I felt I could keep ordering food all night. Everything was good. The ambiance was also really nice as well. Definitely, a great place to visit! The only reason I did not give 5 stars is because we were celebrating a birthday and they make you pay for the birthday dessert, I thought that was kind of tacky, but carrot cake was really good.

When everybody raves about the tuna pizza, you order the tuna pizza! It did not disappoint! But honestly, everything we ordered was fabulous. The black pepper beef with "birds nest" was amazing. Great cocktails, too! Everything was perfect!

Yummy. Yummy. Yum. Had the best day in Old City the other day. Went to the best salon in Old City - Moko. Owner suggested Buddakan for dinner and drinks. Met my friend and we were in happy town. Great cocktails and the food-oh-the-food! I am still dreaming of the curried cauliflower, it was so creamy and amazing. The tuna pizza was amazing, as well. I will definitely be back

We came here for a company dinner. It was totally off of a recommendation since none of us are from Philly. Best decision we made!! Food was phenomenal! There were 23 of us and we had opted for family style dining instead of ordering off the menu for speed and so we all can try different items on the menu. Loved everything we tried. It would be great for a romantic dinner or for a company dinner.

This is a good place to go for special occasions or a night out. It has somewhat of an older night club vibe with sleek, chic decor and a huge eye-catching golden Buddha. It is dimly lit and loud inside. We had reservations and were seated right away. Food was delicious, considering that it is Asian fusion. (If you are specifically looking for regular traditional Asian food, Chinatown would be a better bet. ) The fried “dip sum” doughnut dessert had a cute presentation with a take-out box on its side and three different dips (chocolate, gingered cream cheese, and jam). They tasted a little like beignets. Service was impeccable.

This place has hella vibe. If I were you, I would go with friends/other couples/bday bash/etc. The dim sum is awesome; the star of it was the edamame dumplings...YES! Kobe beef with the fries was a great dish as were the Dan Dan noodles. The pork belly app with steamed buns was alright except the pork belly missed crispy fat and "umph" in the seasoning. Otherwise, service was great and ambiance was too.

This place is great for a special occasion or any time for that matter. There were 4 of us and each one of us loved our meal. What a deal for restaurant week. They do not skimp on the food. The food was spot on. Every course was better than the last. One of the best meals I've had! Love this place!

We had a good dinner of dim sum and shared platters for a business meeting. Although the food is good, the music is a little loud to talk, but that and the funky decor do create a cool atmosphere. Recommend the steamed pork buns which were absolutely divine.

Seems to have become the place to be. Great food, efficient friendly service. Good fun. A bit loud and noisy as frequently packed out but the ambiance is great.

I visited Buddakan last September, and I still think about the food on my spare time! The lobster fried rice was amazing and the duck! I can’t wait to go back!

From the warm greeting at the door (luckily made a reservation) to that of our top-notch waiter, Clint, my wife and I felt both welcome and impressed with all we saw and later ate. We both gobbled up the incredible soup dumplings and the house salad, followed by the sea bass and black cod. Both fish dishes were cooked to perfection and if I had to chose it would be the sea bass but my wife said they were BOTH her favorite. Finished off with both the chocolate tart and the Dip Sum doughnuts, both unique and inspired. Through all of my travels, this is one of my best overall experiences and Clint is up with the best of the best waiters I've had checking with us after each course was served and giving me a clean linen napkin when he noticed BEFORE I had that my original had fallen on the floor!

Oh my goodness. Litterally. Ariel was fabulous. Manager was amazing. Food was an en experience. Thank you for our visit.

This is my favorite restaurant in Philly....servers are so informed about the menu items, food is awesome and service level above average. Katherine was our server, a former museum associate, and was spectacular to deal with. 100% menu knowlege, pleasant, wonderful experience with her.

Food as well as service was phenomenal. The restaurant itself though had a bit of a night club feel, with it being very loud and dark. If that doesn’t bother you, you should definitely give it a try.

By the title you're probably thinking this will be a bad review, but no - this place is a gloriously indulgent taste of Asia. From the tasty drinks, the food, to the attentive service and the sexy low light atmosphere -it is a treat to the senses. Having a gluten allergy is a bummer, and we choose restaurants pretty carefully. I typically peruse the menus online if available. Never thought to in this case ... there are typically many choices at Asian restaurants, so we didn't give it a second thought. When presented with a large 3 panel menu, I mentioned my allergy and the server promptly brought out the gluten free menu, which was a 5 x 8 card. Granted it was double sided, but kind of surprisingly small. He recommended I avoid side two of the card, as he indicated the possibility of cross contamination. So if you have an allergy like me and you don't mind enduring watching a plate of delectable tea smoked spareribs getting inhaled, or seeing a big steaming bowl of glorious dim sum getting devoured, then Buddakan is a must visit. What I had was really delicious, but there were so many other items on the big menu that just sounded so tempting, and so not gluten free. And it was a bit disappointing to be limited to 12 items on the menu for dining and they don't offer more gf accommodations, so I say boohoo... But if you don't have allergies - just go. Go for me, darnit.

While in Phlidelphia, Buddakan is a MUST STOP. The environment is Buddakan all the way (if you've ever been to the one in NYC). It's like a sanctuary! I tried the Tuna pizza and was blown away. It was like tuna tataki on a beautiful pizza crust!

First the place is gorgeous and the huge Buddha dominates the room. In a good way! The menu is complex but the server seemed happy to invest the time in figuring out our order. The food was delicious and surprising. Definitely going back there on my next visit to Philadelphia.

Buddakan restaurants are popular. The double trouble of dining alone is that you really have to work for a separate table seating AND especially that the “attentive” staff is not “processing ” you in 30 minutes. As European I call it the US disease. Buddakan Philly is not better than others. So, besides a tasteless variety of Dumplings I had to ask to postpone my miso Cod with 20 minutes. Is seemed as if I committed a murder. You could feel the annoyance of the “very attentive” waiter that I dared to interfere in their scheme or should I call it scam. I did not finish the cod. It had not any taste besides a little tending to a fatty aftertaste. Maybe Monday’s are difficult for fresh fish even for a packed restaurant. Good luck I

We hadn’t been to Buddakan in years. The quality of the food was nothing like we remembered. We had the ribs, dumpling sampler, chargrilled steak and wasabi mashed potatoes. Everything was pretty mediocre and the potatoes were too salty. The only thing that was quite good was the steak. It was disappointing overall and expensive. We won’t be back.

Wanted to love this place but it came up a bit short on a few dishes and service. Was really excited about the menu. Doesn’t focus on any particular Asian cuisine but definitely Far East influenced. Interior is loud with booming modern music and fun with the giant Buddha statue that towers over the restaurant. We ordered a lot of food with an appetizer, a dumpling sampler, and two entrees. The appetizer tea smoked spare ribs was the best thing we ordered. The dumpling sampler was just ok. Have had better dumplings in other restaurants. The edamame dumpling was unique with almost a purée filling. I liked it but my wife was just so-so on it. Ordered the cashew chicken entree and the bbq pork tenderloin. The cashew chicken entree was just ok. Thought the sauce could have been stronger. The bbq pork tenderloin was very good, cooked perfectly, and had a great taste. Service was the biggest negative. Didn’t check on our drinks, didn’t refill water until I asked twice, and didn’t offer dessert. There is a labor shortage and it was a Saturday night, so will cut him some slack.

This was our second time here. The first time being about 20 years ago. Our opinion hasn't changed since then. Go for the ambiance - not the food. It really is glorified Chinese at much higher prices. Service was good and dim sum was also good. The main courses were just mediocre. Not hot enough (temperature) - chicken with cashews pretty mediocre. Sea bass was okay. Our server didn't bring the requested glasses of wine till we were finished our entrees. She said "the bar was backed up". Well they need to do something about that. I told her I no longer wanted the wine. She did comp me on it though.

We had a lovely dinner at Buddakan. We were able to make reservations easily online for same night dining. The staff, atmosphere and food were all fantastic.

Looking to impress your partner or better half with a fabulous meal at a hip, happening locale with great decor (think giant Buddha holding court) and delectable cocktails? Look no further than Buddakan. This place is a must-visit if dining in the city of Brotherly Love. We didn't indulge in any of the appetizers but instead went all in for the dumplings - loving the edamame, chicken, pork and General Tso varieties - all flavorful bites of yumminess. After that we dug into the crab fried rice, the miso black cod, curried cauliflower and the tuna tataki; each outstanding in its own way. While your wallet will be a bit lighter after you leave, your stomach will be full and your date, uber impressed.

Having the delightful dinner in Mother’s Day 2018 , plus graduation celebration in this place , the modern design & the traditional Chinese culture combined very impressive , this is my second time return, the first try out back to 2013 in this fancy restaurant , it’s unforgivable too ! However, there are more memorable in 2018 this special dinner was: they gave me a free doughnut desserts with sparking fireworks, very heartwarming, love the park bun & my cod fish main course , will return some day !

Having lived two years in Hong Kong, I'm always looking for meals that when I close my eyes, that through taste, smell, and texture, bring me instantly back. This night and this meal did not disappoint. For apps, we had the Hoisan Glazed Pork Belly; Szechuan Dumplings; Dim Sum Sampler; and, tuna Tartare Spring Rolls. All were perfect. All influenced by different parts of Asia and they all worked well together. Just enough for everyone to have a different taste. For mains: Wasabi Tuna Tataki; Pan Seared Sea Bass; Black Pepper Beef; and, Char Grilled Aged Beef. The Crab Fried Rice was excellent. Just a great meal shared amongst friends. Service at the bar and at our table was great but it seemed like they were understaffed. One bartender at 7:30pm on a Sat night is a little tight.

Visiting museums in Philly with my family and decided to eat lunch at Buddakan. I was looking forward to eating there as it had been a while since I had been there. I was also looking forward to having some Sweet & Crispy Jumbo Shrimp, as it was a tasty gluten free option I had before. Unfortunately, once I was finally given the "celiac-gluten free" menu I discovered that they no longer offer the item. It is still on the regular menu, but not on the gf menu. Evidently they do not have a dedicated fryer. :( I ordered the gluten free shrimp pad thai, but was disappointed as it didn't really have much flavor. This was another dish that I had before but remember it being much better. I did speak with a manager about my disappointment, and she suggested that the next time I come in to call ahead to see if the chef can make the Sweet & Crispy Jumbo Shrimp dish for me without deep frying it. I'll have to give it a try, and hope it will have more flavor.

Before we went to Buddakan for dinner, I was joking to my wife..."Oh great, $200 for Chinese food"... and boy did I hit the nail on the head. The food was utterly average to below average at every turn. The biggest lowlight was the crab fried rice which literally had no flavor at all. Pork buns were the highlight at a 6/10. Seschuan pork dumplings taster like a broccoli floret somehow. Cashew chicken was very salty and about as good as a food court meal. Calamari salad was light on calamari. Crab egg rolls had a weird taste. Lobster egg rolls seemingIy had celery in it which completely overpowered the dish with a earthy rooty flavor that drowned out any alleged lobster inside. I can't believe the place survives with food this bad. On a high note, our server was AMAZING. She paced the tapas-style meal really well and was very attentive with drink refills and clearing plates etc.

we went ere for dinner in July , had the pot stickers , very good , also had 2 entrees and shared them both were very good would go back

This restaurant was recommended by our hotel. It was fantastic in every way. The service, the cocktails, the sake, the sashimi and all the other dishes we tried were delicious and exquisitely prepared. Our server, Olga, was wonderfully attentive and pleasant.

Buddakan has above average Asian and Asian Fusion fare. Only above average. The atmosphere is kind of early 2000's wanna be. Our server was great. The bartender was very good.

This restaurant has a nice, energetic ambience. The cuisine is mainly Chinese and was excellent. For starters I enjoyed the dimdum and the pork belly, which came accompanied by some kind of bread. We shared the main course, ordering lowmein, a Korean rice dish with beef and a wasabi tuna. Overall an excellent experience. Would definitely recommend.

Last night I took my daughter to Buddakan for dinner. She attends Temple University, so I don't get the opportunity to see her very much, so this was a special dinner. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. We sat in the mezzanine which gave us a great view of the entire restaurant. Our waiter was very attentive and made recommendations for drinks, the main course, and dessert. He even recommended the cook on our meats (medium, not rare). As soon as one course was finished, someone was there to remove the plates and wipe the table. We started with Dim Sum and then moved on to pork tenderloin and lamb chops with shrimp Lo Mein to share. We were filled, but the waiter told us to leave room for the delicious desserts Buddakan makes, so we did. We shared the doughnuts--WOW-the melted in my mouth. The sauces they put on the side were the perfect complement to a delicious dessert. I would definitely recommend this place and I am looking forward to going back in the future.

The service was very good. I was seated right away and approached right away. The only issue was I was bothered during the dinner by no less than 4 people repeatedly. Trust me, if there's a problem I can tell the server the first time they check or flag someone down. The edamame was really good. Came out steaming hot. Only problem I had was I wasn't able to finish half of it before my main dish came out. Got the BBQ pork loin. The outside pieces of the meat were overcooked and very dry. But the center portion was tasty. The sauce was very nice as was the pesto. The onion rings were large, crunchy, and tasty. The creme brulee was good as well. The music was pretty loud. I was by myself so this wasn't an issue, but if you wanted to talk to your party or if you wanted to hold a business meeting, it would be very difficult.

My wife and I have been to Buddakan a number of times since they opened years back. We haven't been there in over three years so we decided it was time to go back. We were highly impressed. The restaurant has a cool vibe. From the large golden Buddha at the end of the big community table to the tall white draped walls of the space it's just cool. My wife and I both started with the Buddakan style sashimi appetizer. It was delicate, fresh and had great taste. I didn't recognize the thinly sliced fish so I asked our server what it was and she told us it was shime aji. If you have read any of my reviews you know my wife and I love Japanese cuisine. Especially sushi and sashimi and this was right at the top of any sashimi we have had. For dinner my wife had the lobster fried rice with saffron and Thai basil. Fortunately it wasn't really fried and the taste came through in a way I can only describe as symphonic. I had the wasabi tuna tataki on top of ginger somen noodles. It was perfectly seared on the outside and raw on the inside. It was sliced and served on a bed of very flavorful noodles.It was excellent. We rarely have dessert and this time was no different so I can't comment on that. Service was superb from the second we walked in and saw the folks at the hostess stand to the waitress and busboy. Accommodating, friendly, knowledgeable and efficient. Just the way it should be. All in all it was a great dining experience.

I was privileged to be taken there for the first time as a co-worker's guest. Food, service and atmosphere were excellent. Hope to go back on a future trip to Philly.

Great experience both with the food and atmosphere. The selections were great, varied and well portioned.

So this is a very expensive place to eat. Excellent food, definitely, but $ 65 for two starters is steep. It is so pitch dark that you need a torch to read the menu. Perhaps this is on purpose so you don't get a shock when you read the prices. Service is speedy and very friendly. Cannot fault the service. Sitting at the bar requires some acrobatics to find a way of sitting there without either hurting the knees or sitting too far away to eat and drink. Why one would want such idiotic background music in such a place is incomprehensible. Thus, if you like good food, don't mind you cannot talk to another person for the noise and don't want to read as it is far too dark for that, this is the place for you.

We had a lovely dinner here with friends. There were seven of us and we sat at a booth. We started with 4 appetizers - the absolute best were the edamame dumplings which melted in my mouth. We also had the calamari salad, shrimp dumplings, and beef satay (I did not eat these, but our friends did and said they were also very good). Portion sizes are large because this is meant for family-style. We shared all of the appetizers but ordered our own main meals. I had the shrimp lo mein which was good, but a little salty. For dessert we ordered a few things, but the stand out for sure were the dim-sum doughnuts. Absolutely fabulous. Extensive wine list and terrific service. Be prepared if you're going with a group that this restaurant is on the noisy side, and the music is loud which, in my view, detracts from the ambiance. Otherwise, the restaurant has a great ambiance with the large Buddha and water wall.

This upscale asian fusion style five star restaurant is number one. I never order filet, but the Wasabi crusted filet was perfect for the demanding steak lover. Out of this world food and drinks. I would recommend to anyone visiting or living in Philadelphia.

All the food here is wonderful. Three of us had different entrees and there was no disappointment. You could make a meal of the dumplings, especially the edamame ones. Excellent pad thai. Good wine list and excellent service. A bit noisy when populated, but worth putting up with.

I cannot help but saying that dinner at Buddakan was a memorable experience that made many other places pale in comparison. The reception was warm and friendly, something you don't always find in many restaurants these days. The decor has stood the test of time in ambiance and style. Arriving on time for my reservation, I was seated quickly. The signature cocktails are not cheap but, they are very good...at least mine was. The tuna pizza appetizer is a long-standing menu item that does not disappoint. If you have had it, you will know. My sea bass main course was cooked to perfection: moist, tender, and flavorful. The ruffle jus is a bit sweet but the dish is still a winner. I'm not much of a dessert person but, it too was delicious...sinfully delicious. I accompanied my dessert with coffee, which was surprisingly good. Coffee is the one thing that many restaurants just do not give the attention it deserves. So, it was great to have a hot smooth coffee with a bit of a kick for the trip home. Bonus, the service was impeccable. Timing on the delivery of my meal selections was spot-on. Something so small as not having to 'flag down' a server for water refills is notable...sometimes, it's the little things that make the difference.

My family of 4, which includes young adults, enjoyed the lively atmosphere and the zen like decor. The staff was helpful and friendly and the food was delicious. We ordered several items and shared everything which was a fun way to try lots of items on their menu.

My husband and I arrived in Philadelphia early afternoon after taking the train from New York City. After a discussion of the various options we settled on Buddakan for a late lunch. What a great choice that turned out to be. The service was excellent and our Five Spice Duck Breast, Tea Smoked Spare Ribs and Shrimp Lo Mein were all delicious. Buddakan was a restaurant that exceeded our expectations. Highly recommended.

Honestly, expected something better, the food wasnt good, not flavor, and bad quality. the service was good.

We celebrated our son’s birthday here last weekend. The food was good and the service was impeccable. Loved the calamari salad. We asked for a candle to put on top of my son’s desert. They gave us a sparkling one like fireworks. Very nice touch!

Wonderful dinner at Buddakan. Service was attentive and professional. Atmosphere was upscale and pleasant without being too noisy or crowded. Edamame and General Tso dumplings were fantastic. As were the cauliflower and phad thai. Crab fried rice was dry and bland, though. Lychee cocktail was fantastic. Overall very good meal.

Three of us dined at Buddakan this week and I can't say enough good things about it. The menu is extensive, the ambience is exciting, and the service was impeccable, We all had different appetizers and different entrees and every one was superb. I had duck breast, and it was beautifully prepared and very tasty -- I would order it again but there are so many enticing items on the menu I would feel compelled to try something else. Our server, Marc, was attentive and very helpful in making menu choices. My only complaint, and it's a mild one, is that Buddakan is very loud - so loud that you couldn't hear dinner partners across the table. Nevertheless, this dinner was a very memorable experience because the food was so delicious. It will be my first choice in Philly on our next visit. Buddakan is pricey but worth it!

Attractive inside. Interesting menu. Lunch specials include picking 3 items from 3 menu groups for cost of $17. Or full menu offerings. Food was OK but somewhat bland. Service was good. Parking is on the street or in a pay lot. Across the street and down the block convenient to the Museum of the American Revolution.

The food was good but not 5 stars (especially for the price). The service was good. The wait staff was very attentive but seemed inexperienced. The drinks were expensive and watered down. The atmosphere was acceptable but slightly outdated.

Buddakan celebrated thir 20-year anniversary yesterday (Aug. 26th) and there is a good reason they are still going strong after all these years...they do dinner right. Always. The ingredients are always fresh, the dishes are seasoned well and the flavors are outstanding. The melding of different types of Asian cuisines results in a wonderful selection of dishes. Do not miss the calamari salad. It is a staple on the menu and if it ever goes away I will be devastated. Incredible!!

We ate here, 5 of us with 2 kids 15 yr old and 12 yr old. It was a unique experience for sure. Hard to get reservations. we got spot in communal dining table but due to my father's handicap, they moved us to regular dining table! not sure how they got that spot as they said not available at first. In any case, was very nice of them to be sensitive of that and offer a great seating right next to Buddha.service was excellent. They were sensitive to food allergies esp. dairy, nuts, coconut. Not many choices however for dairy allergy and vegetarians. Food for the omnivore! expensive but definitely must do once for the decor and experience. The buddha statue is so big and impressive and creates a calming atmosphere although restaurant is a noisy place. Didn't see much kids there. Thing to remember.

My wife wanted Asian for for her birthday. After researching several restaurants we decided on Buddakan. I ordered the black peppered steak. This is one of the best meals I have ever eaten. The flavor was outstanding, just the right spices and cooked to perfection. Service and atmosphere were also 5 stars.

What a fantastic place for lunch! Gotta love a bento box where you can try a bunch of items as a mini tasting. The pork bun was awesome! So much flavor! Loved the tuna tataki with sesame noodles. And oh my god the eggplant was heavenly! The sauce I wanted to put on everything! Wowza. The service was the only odd thing. Our waitress had this attitude as if she was questioning our decision making at table and also a bit judgy. No bueno. Definitely would come back, but may ask to not be in her section...

First visit to Philly...was in the mood for Asian Fusion and saw this restaurant online. From the moment we walked in until the moment we walked out the service was spot on. Our server was informative and helpful always around when we needed her or before we even noticed we needed more water or drinks but yet didn't hover us at the same time. As soon as we finished our delicious appetizers the servers were just right on top of clearing the table. Just spot on. Now the food...very good! We absolutely loved loved the edamame dumplings and the roasted edamame. We had the duck fried rice which was outstanding (it was a special off menu) and cashew chicken which was very good too. Definitely would come here again. Great experience. And I'm a picky person when it comes to dining and service.

I went there a few times, once we were seated in front of the huge Buddha statue. It was COOL! The restaurant is spacious and has a lovely ambiance, good for a date as well. Food was delicious with family size portions if you wish to share. You will not be disappointed.

My son and I walked in based on the high trip advisor reviews. Unfortunately, I did not feel that the restaurant lived up to the hype. We had a soft shell crab appetizer, which was phenomenal; and edamame dumplings, which were only okay- very thick dough, as opposed to the thinner dough you get at more authentic Asian restaurants. For the entrees we had aged beef, sea bass, and wasabi mashed potatoes. They were all nice, but not particularly memorable. The beef was a bit underseasoned, and their "rare" was actually more like medium rare. It was fairly expensive- $160 without booze, and I was left feeling like I could have had a more special meal at that price.

Decided to try this restaurant for its Asian-inspired flavours while visiting my wife in Philadelphia,and as my birthday treat. From the moment we stepped in off the humid street, we knew that we'd chosen well. Ann, our server, was attentive, helpful (our window seat was a touch over-air conditioned, and she got it adjusted quickly), and knowledgable about the menu. The day's Special Appetisers of Duck, Ginger and Scallion Potstickers were everything you'd want them to be. Entrees of Five Spiced Duck with Scallion and Corn Spoon Bread, and Wasabi Tuna Tataki were absolutely delicious. A waiting-at-home Birthday cake meant that I've got to wait until I'm back before I can try the tempting desserts, but Emily had mentioned the occasion when booking. A sparkler topped sharing bowl of the Buddakan strawberry sorbet was brought to the table as a surprise. And it didn't disappoint. I loved the place, so much variety on the menu, and reasonably priced. Can't wait to go back.

What a wonderful Place to eat! Not only is the food delicious but the atmosphere is great. It is decorated beautiful and really gives off a great energy. The food is expensive, but not anything that breaks the banks. Nice for dates and for families with children I would say at least 8 +. Definitely recommend!

We came here for dinner on June 10th. We asked for a nice quieter spot, and we got a nice table near the bar. Our server, Katherine “Katie” was the best. She answered all of our questions and went out of her way to be helpful. We had two starters - shrimp dumplings and pork belly bao buns. The shrimp dumplings were very fresh. They fell apart a bit when I cut them in half. The bao buns were delicious and a good portion too. For entrees we ordered the Peking duck and the dry aged beef 7oz portion. The duck was delicious. The cracklings so good. The beef was excellent. I just wish the accompaniment was something other than very very thin fried potatoes. I think a mashed potato would have worked better along with a vegetable. We thought the duck should have come with a veggie and starch as well. We will be back.

Everything was delicious! We are a family of four (teen/tween kids) and did the tasting menu. This was way too much food, but the service was impeccable. We brought home half! The Caesar salad, edamame dumplings, pork loin, and short ribs were faves. We would definitely go back, but order 2 or 3 apps and only one or two mains to share. The sake is intentionally cold and doesn’t pack much punch for its price. Our waitress and the bussers were fabulous.

Been waiting for months to come and it did not disappoint. Ask to sit near wall of glass! Decor calming, does transport you out of hustle and bustle of city. Cocktails full of imagination! Best lamb chops ever. Tuna pizza starter good for two and very balanced in flavor. Will be back! Want to visit bar only just to sit in this great space and Zen our a bit. Not that is quite, but really let’s you relax

We had dinner at Buddakan in Philadelphia. The place was very busy @ 6:30pm on Sunday night. True sign that this is a good place. My husband had the Dim Sum Bento Box and really enjoyed it. I had the Miso Cod and it was super. Really nice place to eat! I would highly recommend it. This was my husbands second visit to the restaurant and he enjoyed it as much as the first.

We love the NYC location and decided to give this one a try, and it definitely lives up to the reputation. It was super busy when we got here, so even though we had a reservation, we still had a 10-minute wait for our table, which wasn't a problem. We were shown to a comfortable table and presented with menus that reflect the same delicious foods as the NYC location. We shared the edamame dumplings (the best thing on the menu, IMO), the mushroom potstickers, Chinese eggplant, the sea bass, and a salad, and everything was superb. The edamame dumplings are really flavorful and melt in the mouth, and everything else was equally good. Our waiter (Kyle?) was very friendly and suggested an order in which to bring out the various dishes. It's a bit loud in here, but we could still hear each other talk. Truly a marvelous dining experience.

Truly a wonderful experience. Our waiter. And I wish I got his name. Was familiar with every ingredient that was in every dish that we asked him about. Very personable. Wonderful environment. Wonderful ambience. A true delight. we had the Korean beef fried rice and the pad Thai. Our appetizer was a lobster eggroll which was truly delicious as well!

We first visited Buddakan over ten years ago during our last trip to Philadelphia. We weirdly had fond memories of the Buddakan’s chocolate sorbet , so we put it on our list for our return visit. Working backwards, the chocolate sorbet is still really good and probably the best part of our meal. We should have ordered less food and ordered two sorbets instead of sharing one serving at the end :-/ For our main course, we had the barbeque lamb chops and lobster fried rice. We started with the tuna tartare spring rolls, pork, and shrimp dumplings. To summarize, the food I would rank it comparatively to a PF Chang’s restaurant. Nothing was inedible, but it was all forgettable (except for the chocolate sorbet ;- ) ). To be fair, the cilantro salad (served with the lamb chops) had a nice kick. Frankly, we would have been more satisfied with a double serving of the cilantro salad, instead of something else. For drinks, we had a peach lemonade, Szechuan sour, and glass of shiraz. All were fine, but once again, not terribly memorable. Our server worked very hard and was attentive. She was aware of our lactose allergy and mentioned it as we were seated, which is better than the Michelin star restaurant we dined at two nights ago! Therefore, we have no criticisms of the service. The total price for the dinner including tax, tip and a 20+% tip for our server was $213. The bottom line of trading off quality with price is that it just wasn’t a great value for us. We likely will not return, but we will always have the good memories of the chocolate sorbet!

Our whole experience was remarkable! Your mood is set the moment you walk in. That is usually not important to me but I found myself in the most relaxed and tranquil mood throughout dinner. My husband and I enjoyed the vibe the entire time. Tuna tartare springrolls, tea smoked spare ribs were fantastic appetizers. I had Miso black cod that was out of this world. My hubby ordered Pad Thai and wished he had ordered something more adventurous, he stuck with a safe choice. Although delicious, he didn’t think out his choice better. So you know what that means? Coming back! We would return as a Philly visitor anyhow but this gives us more reason. Made our night being there! Impressive service, very knowledgeable. But the service was more geared towards the ultimate experience without being over solicitious at all! That takes a special skill. Divine!

I had an amazing time at Buddakhan. Always a good meal amd more than the meal the service is great!! The place has a funky modern look with a huge budda statute. Tried tempura king crab which was delicious! This is a sharing style place to dine which is nice. I did not care too much for the drinks because most had an asian twist to it (ginger). However the “zengria” was nice. I defenitly would recommend this place.

We had the calamari salad, shrimp dumplings, jumbo shrimp, crab fried rice and beef dish. All very good and the crab fried rice never disappoints. Not surprising that it was a bit pricey. The service was very good and a pleasure from begging to end.

Visited in June, enjoyed the sushi appetizer, and sea bass entre. Highly recommend for those that have not visited, and are looking for a positive experience.

We were on a business trip in Philly and I was walking memory lane .. have not been in the restaurant for several years and was happy to experience that the quality has not changed - it was a great food experience. The only downside - it is way too loud ..

Try to go every year during restaurant week, their menu can’t be beat. Tuna pizza to die for, beef chow fun huge portions and so tender meat, bbq pork tenderloin super tasty. The guava sundae is interesting, it appealed to me the more I ate it, definitely grew on me. That being said, may go back to the old standby of dip sum donuts. You can order off the menu as well, so if the menu isn’t appealing or you don’t want all 3 courses you can improvise. Pictures of bbq pork and guava sundae.

Enjoyed dinner with some colleagues as Buddakan was marking their 20th anniversary. They had a 5 course pre-fixe tasting menu that was out of this world and was seriously too much food. The cuisine is Asian fusion and chef never disappointed. Starting with a Cesar salad and capped by a 3 pound angry lobster. They only charged $50/head which was more fitting for a price 20 years ago. The regular menu prices are reasonable for good city restaurants and are not as high as I expected for such a spectacular meal.

The food here was probably the best I have ever had and that is not overstating it. Price is not too bad and everything from the ceasar salad to entree were just so good. Friendly service as well!

I moved 9 years ago away from Philly. First time back to Philly and had to go to Buddakan. Guess what? Its as great as ever! Manager seated me at my old “regular table.” Christian the server was amazing! Food was excellent. The calamari salad was as yummy as ever. Eggplant was perfect. All entrées were amazing. Simply amazing consistency. We ate there 3 times before leaving philly for home. Thank you!!!!

We wandered in here very underdressed on a hot late afternoon in Philadelphia, with no idea what we were in for. It is exquisite Asian fusion cuisine, attracting many Asian business people in their work clothes, which made us feel quite underdressed. Despite this, we were welcomed into the restaurant and treated like royalty. The list of wines and sakes was long, and ranged from affordable to upscale. The food is served 'family style" which encouraged sharing. I got Beef Chow Fun, my favorite dish when I was about 7, but now it has 'grown up' into cubes of short rib that melt in your mouth with mushroom and snow pea tendrils to add depth to an otherwise simple dish. The soft shell crab was served with a Malaysian chili sauce to die for. Dumplings that were more than simple dumplings and fried rice which ruins you for the same food anywhere else. Plan better than we did if you visit here. Be clean, and cool, and dressed to impress when you visit Buddakan. I know I will.

Buddakan has been one of my favorites for years (since opening). I have gone dozens of times. This one was a big disappointment. The server (very tall man working the area closest to the street) was extremely slow and honestly, not very friendly. I considered not posting this review, but you take the good with the bad - maybe they can give him some training. Anyway - after seating, we ordered drinks and an app. Great, we quickly received our apps and they were good. We were happy. We were WELL done our apps, waiting maybe 15 - 20 minutes before he returns. We hadn't even placed our dinner order yet... When he returned, he asks if we would like to order an entree. We are at a table at 6:30pm on Father's Day, so yes, that would seem obvious.... Ordered entrees and a salad. Same thing happens with the salad.... We finish and wait and wait and wait..... The entree took a looooong time to come out. Steak was on the cool side by then. The entire meal, the server had an attitude. Disappointing especially on Father's Day! I would still recommend Buddakan - it is still a great restaurant. Highly recommend. If I got the same server, I would ask to be re-seated.

Very crowded for lunch on Friday. It was to be expected for restaurant week. Lunch was only $20 but wasn’t wowed by the food. I like this restaurant much better at night and would opt for their main dishes instead of the restaurant week menu. We all had the candy bar dessert and it was horrible.

I went there for lunch with coworkers during Restaurant week when food is a little cheaper. Had a bento box which consisted Chicken Dumplings, Caesar Salad and Cashew Chicken. They have other combos which to pick from also. I found the food really tasty but the small portion did not satisfy. this also included a dessert which took a long time to get. Since one of our party got there late and was still eating their entrée they may have been waiting for him to finish so I can not tell if this was the reason or they were slow. Overall I would recommend this place unless you are hoping for more food

Place has delicious food, but nothing we ate had "wow" effect. Staff was average, interior average... just ok place, nothing really special

The Korean beef fried rice was EVERYTHING! It was sooooo good. I give it a 10 out of 10, very delicious. Next the Sea Bass was absolutely amazing. Cooked and flavored to perfection. Next the pork belly bao buns were okay, nothing to write home about. I give the bao buns a 5 out of 10. The Dim Sum Sampler was also okay. But I will admit that I am biased because I don’t like dumplings. I give it a 3 while my husband said the dumplings were a 7. The Service was good. The waitresses know the menu like the back of their hand. I was very impressed. Will be back!

My husband and I went for a long overdue date night. The atmosphere was socially intimate; great for all ages young to mature.From the moment we walked in the front staff was very attentive. The layout of the restaurant is open,dim, and cozy. Our waiter Kile was extremely attentive and made sure all of our needs were met. It was like a seamless dance between he and the other waiters working together. The lobster fried rice, and the crab and lobster dumplings were superb. The photos on the chairs are modern and artistic. Will definitely be going again. Thank you for a beautiful night.

We used to go here more often, but now we live out of state. I was looking forward to a bento box for lunch and they didn’t disappoint!

Amazing food, kind servers, allergy friendly, great vibes overall. Highly recommend! Best restaurant in Philadelphia.

This is absolutely one of my favorite restaurants. I typically go 4 times per year, however due to COVID, I hadn't been in over a year. A few weeks ago my family and I returned for my father's birthday dinner. They didn't miss a beat. Although we had to sit outside due to the size of our party, the service didn't slack and neither did the food. Some of my favorite items were temporarily discontinued due to a limited menu, however the new specials were just as amazing as the remaining mainstays.

Superb Shanghai Lobster and good Wok Cashew Chicken as the main dishes. Desert was also very good, the sorbets were not too sweet and used fresh ingredients. It was nice to be able to sit outside in the tents on the street.

The bartender had a fabulous personality. The music was great and not too loud, you could have a conversation! The food was tasty 😋

This place was great! It was better than I expected. The decor reminded me of Morimoto a bit. It was spacious and had a mix of romantic but lively vibes.The tuna pizza was delicious. The shrimp was very tasty as well. We came here for restaurant week so it was worth it. I would go back again. Staff was friendly.

I’d give it a 3.5 if that were an option. The food is generally good and our server was excellent. But the atmosphere is so wannabe. Faux sophisticate with a giant Buddha statue and nightclub vibe. And what is with the faces in the back of the chairs?? Let alone the pretentious hosts. We arrived early for our reservation. There were several seats available right next to the couch provided for those relegated to wait. Yet she chose to finally seat us AFTER the time of our reservation. And the host station/coat check was unstaffed when we left, so we had a delay on the way out too.

when you had very fond memories of a restaurant, there is always the worry that after a period of time, the next visit lives up to the memories - Buddakan did not disappoint. from our old favorites - the calamari salad and lobster fried rice - to new favorites Black pepper beef and the dim sum tasting platter, everything was as good or better than we remembered. This should be a must on any foodies visit to Philly.

Beautiful place! However, The hostess had to seat us in the middle of the traffic jam on a Saturday night even though there were empty tables for 2 elsewhere ( which we asked for since we were early.) Lobster rolls were very good. The entre/cashew chicken was good but unfortunately didn’t live up to our expectations. (Needed more flavor and more sauce to mix with the rice.)

Got the duck, the sliced dry aged steak, the rock shrimp and the edamame dumplings. It was the best duck I’ve had and the experience was world class

I am disappointed. The food I got wasn't that good. So so salty. Everything had the same taste. How dare you charge 15 dollars for lettuce, cashews and dressing! The broccoli in garlic sauce was the best dish. The beef I had was 30 some dollars for maybe a cup of beef. The price was 54 dollars for 3 items that you could probably get better at a corner Chinese store in China town. The good was the ease of the buying and ordering online. Walked in a lovely gentleman got us the bag and we were I. And out in 5 mins. I would not recommend, I would not go back.

Wow. Pleasantly surprised. We came here, my happy stand and absolutely loved it. We enjoyed the calamari salad, lobster, eggroll, Seabass, wasabi mashed potatoes and shrimp lo mein. EVERYTHING was delicious. Service was amazing as well. I cannot wait to go back. It was worth the 2 hour drive.

Booked a table 6 weeks ago. We were seated near the toilet door under an air con. We were freezing cold. My daughter complained and was told the temperature would be increased. It wasn't. I complained on the way out and was given no by some chest thumping fool. Food was mediocre and over priced. Won't be going back for sure.

The Budakkan experience is great start to finish. You can park valet out front. When you enter the restaurant, you are warmly greeted. If you need to wait for someone, there are both chairs, a couch and the bar. Although there is a corkage fee, you can bring your own wine. The service was attentive, friendly, and didn't rush us at all. We tried the edamame dumplings, house salad, and king crab tempura. The salad was pretty large with a variety of greens. Although I wasn't looking forward to the dumplings, they way exceeded my expectations. The tempura was very tasty as was the accompanying sauce but you really couldn't tell if it was king crab inside. For mains, we tried the Peking duck, the sweet and tasty jumbo shrimp, and the chicken dish (we also got the curried cauliflower). The dock, which I have had at many places, was outstanding. The shrimp was very, very tasty, and the cauliflower was the best I've ever had (that is a low bar to jump over however - it is cauliflower). I didn;t try the chicken but the person who wanted it enjoyed it thoroughly and noted it was excellent. It isn;t an inexpensive restaurant - but it is a wonderful experience. The only down side at Budakkan is the noise level - it can be hard to keep a conversation up with 4 people at times.

Mark are server was amazing. The food was outstanding. The presentation was excellent. Had the steak special which was great. The desserts were on point. A must when in Philadelphia. Are at the famous French laundry last week visiting Napa and this dinner far surpassed that experience.

My wife has been here twice before. This was my first time, and we had an exquisite meal during Philly Restaurant week. We shared a bottle of Bauer Grüner Veltliner and enjoyed a three-course price fixe menu. My wife started with chicken and ginger dumplings; I started with the Asian Caesar salad with spicy cashews. Then I moved to the Chilean sea bass while my wife enjoyed the lemon sesame chicken. For dessert, I had the coconut mousse with lemon sauce while my wife had the donuts (light, fluffy, flavorful) with dipping sauces. We share everything as our server (Larry) brought us sharing plates and packaged our leftovers. Larry was a delight. My wife and I were talking about his professionalism and asked him later, "How long have you been working here?" 19 years! That says it all for a quality restaurant that provides not only delicious food but takes care of its employees. We will be back!

Celebrates here a birthday. The good is great. Little bit noisy , but if you will come with the right attitude it should be fine. The good is great and service also

Disappointing experience at Buddakan in Philly. There was 4 of us but given very small table right up against a wooden pillar, even though plenty other tables went empty all evening. We ordered food to share, and ran out of space at our table so in aim to get more space, used an empty table for two beside us as we passed food around. The waiter came over and told us we couldn’t use the table, but it was still unoccupied one hour later. I tipped a normal 20pc since it is Christmas but won’t plan to return. There wasn’t much ambience anyway.

I’ll just say that as we left my wife said “that was the best meal I’ve ever had!” High praise from a frequent diner. I wholeheartedly agree, it was an experience.

My sister and I came here for our birthday last night. It did not disappoint. The ambiance was gorgeous - decor, lighting, music. The service was great. Olga was there when we needed without hovering and quick with the drinks. Their signature cocktails are ok, but their cosmo was amazing. The food, oh the food, was the best Chinese food ever, and dare I say one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time. Definitely in the top 10. We had the calamari salad with the most tender yet crunch pieces of calamari mixed with radicchio and cabbage in a delicious miso dressing. The ahi tuna rolls were delicate and had me yearning for more. Too bad I had to share it with my sister. The duck was perfectly crisp and moist, fully deboned and beautifully presented. To accompany the duck we had the most fragrant and mouthwatering crab fried rice. Yes, the two of us ate all that, and would do it again today, if we could. I would come back to Philly just to eat here and then drive back to DC, it’s that good. If only they had a Buddakan in DC!! Hint, hint.

First of all, it is loud. Second, what a beautiful dining room, and we ate downstairs. Third, Chelsea was one of the best wait person I've seen - attentive but not hovering, efficient, helpful. Fourth, of course, is the food which was quite good: lobster fried rice had ample lobster, kung pao spicy and not oily and a third dish I do not recall. Each had one drink with pre-tip bill of $92 which felt worth it.

I love Buddakan, and I love Buddakan for restaurant week. The tuna pizza app is to die for, hands down favorite thing on the menu. The beef chow fun is always a good choice, as is the pork. We added the spareribs app, which were amazing. They did something to the donuts, I’ve always been kind of “eh” about them, but last night they were warm with an almost gooey type center, divine! We also had the chicken cashew entree- it was just okay, I prefer the pork, though the chicken was a little salty, But I hadn’t tried it so never know til you try. Restaurant week or not, Buddakan is consistently good. I gave them 5 stars because even though I wasn’t a fan of the chicken cashew, it was well prepared and well cooked, there are just other entrees I prefer.

I very much enjoyed the atmosphere and decor of Buddakan. The food was good desert great and drinks tasty. They have gluten free options and are happy to accommodate. Great for a date night, birthday party or adult family outing.

I had been hearing about Budokan for years! I knew that it was a Stephen Starr restaurant and everything that Stephen Starr touched turned into hospitality gold, especially in his hometown, I was expecting something stellar. I knew that the New York City location got all the glamour write ups, and figured the hometown location would be no pushover. Unfortunately I was wrong, and not impressed at all. I mean, the food was good, but did it deliver to all the hype that Buddakan has been building up for years? In my opinion it was a big No. Service was good and thorough, but it would seem as though the staff is trained like robots with the priority being Sell sell sell without worrying about the customer experience. Sometimes our waiter would come to our table and wouldn’t even make eye Contact,instead looking to see if the other tables around him were doing OK and where he would have to go next while taking our order or answering our questions, not very high marks for hospitality. The interior might have been cool when they first opened but it’s dated now, the water Wall which I was sitting next to was splashing all over the place and I bet you they don’t clean those rocks very often. If you want Korean or Thai or Chinese or sushi in Philadelphia I would highly recommend seeking out one of those restaurants which specialize in the cuisine versus going to Buddakan because it’s “cool”. Maybe used to be not anymore in my opinion.

Accommodated 8 adults plus a 1 year old. Able to make reservation on Open Table. Food was great. Dim sum sampler recommended. One Peking Duck portion would have been enough for all of us. We ordered 2 and had a lot left over. Everything we ate was great. We ate all we could eat (extra Edamame dim sum, 2 portions of lamb chops, lemon chicken, Pad Thai) and bill, with several drinks, was quite a bit less than $70,$80 and $90 tasting menus ( Peking Duck an up charge).

Mid afternoon lunch, greeting by two very nice young ladies both smiling and professional. Tables occupied but not a waiting line seated right away. Waiter was happy and helpful. We had a Dim Sum Sampler and Bento lunch choice of three differnt items. All the food was served eye appeal and was just as good when we ate it. Nice atmosphere while dining, however would reccomend they take down the food stained white curtains and wash them or replace them every so often, toooo many stains for my liking. Would I go back for the food yes

My second visit to Buddakan. It’s quite noisy/buzzy venue so not the place to go for a quiet and intimate chat. Neverless, a nice feel to the place. Great food, especially the fried whole fish, baked choi fried veg and dim sum starters.

Love the atmosphere but the food was overly salty. The staff seem to be very overwhelmed. Hair was found in one of the entrees. We didn't stay for dessert.

Went one evening as part of a business trip and our group hired out on of the areas. We were well looked after. Food was varied and tasty and the cocktails were very interesting. Ambience was good. My only criticism is that it was a bit dark (maybe I need glasses) but otherwise a really good place and great location.

Let me start by saying we've eaten here before. Several times. We just returned from vacation in Europe and after a long day of traveling were looking forward to a good meal at one of our favorite restaurants in the city. It began poorly when the hostess sat us at a table sandwiched between a large concrete column on one side and a long brass railing on the right. In fact, after showing me to my seat, the hostess had to practically blaze a trail through the restaurant in order to lead my daughter to the other side of the table. I would have asked for a different table, but like I said, long day traveling, just looking forward to a good meal, so I let it go with a bit of a slightly disgusted laugh and a chuckle. I ordered the dumpling sampler and the shrimp lo mein. My daughter ordered the ribs and an entree. The dumplings had been overcooked so the wrappings were rubbery and when you picked them up with your chopsticks, the contents fell out of half of them. Hungry and tired, i didn't complain and just ate them. Next my entree came out but my daughters was no where to be seen. The runner said it would be out in a minute. About 5 minutes later it arrived...now we're just a table of two, not twelve and this is supposed to be a quality dining establishment. Bringing out two entrees at different times was a bit surprising; now I'm getting irritated. I try my entree and the shrimp are overcooked so although flavorful, they're small and tough. The noodles aren't lo mein noodles, but cellophane noodles like you would get if you ordered pad thai and also overcooked. I eat the shrimp and push the noodles aside. A gentleman approaches with a big smile and asks "how is everything tonite." At this point, I can't resist to tell him exactly what I think so I say, "Well, actually, not very good." I then point out our luxurious seating arrangement and tell him that "I feel like a barnyard animal in its pen. I can't believe anyone would actually seat a customer at a table like this. In fact, I would never seat a customer at a table like this in my restaurant." Then I tell him about my meal. He apologizes, identifies himself as the General Manager and graciously offers to comp the entire meal which was extremely nice of him but I declined. I told him that I am not interested in getting anything for free, I expect to pay for everything I order when I dine out, even when it doesn't live up to what it should be; that's not why I took the time to tell you about my experience. I'm not telling you about the service or the food quality or the crappy table because I want or expect something for free. I'm telling you because the service is ACTUALLY not what it should be, the food DOESN'T live up to expectations and the table is CRAPPY. I remember hi saying that he asked because he actually cares. I remember thinking to myself, this table doesn't say you care. In fact, it says exactly the opposite. To me it says I don't care, you're cattle, you're just a number. The check came, I paid, tipped 20% and went to China Town.

OMG. Why haven’t we been frequenting this place? Just had a wonderful dinner with wife. Great location easy to get to if you know that area of Philly , we drove in from SJ and parked right around the corner. Elegant but comfortable decor. Not too loud . Had their bad moon rising drink (x2). . The lobster egg rolls and fire roasted edamame were a start if some of the most memorable tasting food I ever had. We had the Chilean sea bass and pad Thai as entrees. Staff was superb and friendly. Surrounded by a family with children, older and younger couples, girls and guys starting off their evenings. Not overstuffed with food although we skipped desert. Pricy but by no means outrageous. We’ll be back.....

We visited Budakkan Philly during the Center city restaurant week. Have visited AC Budakkan previously . Tried the 35$ per person three course menu offered during the restaurant week.. Tried chicken dumplings, beef scallion pancake for appetizer. Dumpling was fresh and flavorful. Sea bass and beef for main course, and chocolate mousse and donuts for dessert. Drinks not included in the menu price. Great ambience., food was fresh. Taste wise it depends upon your what kind of food you like, I like spicy food generally, so this was not my kind of food, but nothing bad to say about it. Only suggestion, waiters could be more nice and friendly, have been to other Asian restaurants around centre city where waiters are friendly or at least respond when we say thank you. Nevertheless restaurant week menu allows you to try otherwise expensive food and the menu choices were pretty good.

We met up for Dinner with a Friend. He has been there many times. We loved it. The General Tso's Dumplings were fantastic. The Short Rib on scallion pancake was great. They had a special, rice with Peking Duck that was delicious. Had a wonderful meal

From the pre dinner cocktails to dessert everything was scrumptious! I had the char grilled steak. It was cooked to perfection and had the best flavor. The Szechuan fries were so fun and yummy! The water cress salad a perfect side. Had the creme brûlée for dessert. I’m a creme brûlée snob and this may have been the best I’ve ever had.

One have to admit this place looks quite nice and that meals are tasty yet I was a little bit disappointed with the service. My feeling (based on my experience in business and workforce development) that they are missing a good employee management. Possibly obsessed with some short term profitability objectives? They should be humans helping humans serving humans. If you take that path - results will be much better.

Trust me - the Peking Duck is exceptional! I love it so much last time I was there I ordered a whole portion - and I was at a table for one! I actually almost ate it all but had to concede that a dish for two was even too much for me. The remains were wrapped up in the lovely form of a tinfoil duck. As I had a refrigerator in my room that was a great breakfast. I have eaten several other items from the menu - and been the company of others who have ordered different choices - it has all been wonderful

This restaurant is the best I’ve been to since 2017! The waiter called John is especially nice. The food is surprisingly good and comes in the right portions. The price is very reasonable. The ambiance is very enjoyable and dynamic!

The food here was delicious. We shared a few different appetizers and our entree's that were phenomenal. The restaurant was atmosphere was very culture driven with a huge Buddha. I really enjoyed the vibe and the food.

There were 4 of us, & we all liked the food, though a bit pricey. Was a bit crowded, too, but service was fine. Nice oriental decor.

Our group of 11 had a wonderful dinner at Buddakan in Philadelphia. Extensive pan- Asian selection of appetizers and entrees. Seafood, pork, vegetable starters were all delicious. Nice Deserts as well. Our server Katherine was outstanding. Definitely will be back.

I had been wanting to eat here for many years but we mainly end up in Chinatown when eating in the city. The the dumplings, salad and fish entrees were wonderful. I wish I had room for dessert. Our server was very helpful, and steered us to the lovely squid salad. Looking forward to dining there again.

My birthday was earlier in the week and my wife and I decided to spend Friday night at the Hyatt Bellevue in Philadelphia and have dinner at Buddakan. And this turned out to be a wonderful restaurant choice. Even though the restaurant was very busy, we had a reservation and were taken almost immediately to our table. Our waiter was excellent, the food was marvelous and we had a terrific time. We did Uber over to the restaurant although there is valet parking for those driving ..... excellent cocktails reminded me Uber was critical!! Highly recommend this restaurant for a special occasion or just a terrific meal.

The waiter was excellent.. The food was fantastic A excellent place to dine with friends and family.

Def will take this one over the NYC one. Not super loud, delicious and good service. Great selection of sake and solid cocktails. Apps were wonderful. Anything from fried rice to Korean beef style to fresh hamachi were all wonderful, Donuts were really good but what was spectacular is that cream cheese ginger concoction those donuts came with. I could have just eaten that alone.

pretty expensive but beautiful ambience and the server was wonderful! She made sure all our requests were accomodated. We ordered all vegetarian food - edamame dumblings, dragon tofu, mushroom popstickers, fried rice. Very satisfied with the food and the cleanliness. We also ate Mandarin Fudge Cake and Trio of sorbet was classic!

Just had dinner here and it was very good. I would recommend the tuna tartare - best I’ve had. And the curried cauliflower. Skip the dim sum sampler- good but boring. The entrees: crispy shrimp and Peking duck were amazing. We also had short rib fun noodle. Our meal was incredible and we are so happy we found this place. It is a little loud but worth it for the food.

On a business trip we found on teipadvisor the buddakan. We found an amazing restaurant with really delicious food.

When you walk in the first that catches your eye is the decor and the great atmosphere. The staff is great, very professional service. Attentive but not intruding or over bearing. The food is spectacular. We had different types of dim sum, the lobster egg roll, the peaking duck, all were winners. Our waiter surprised us with amazing cinnamon doughnuts for dessert on the house.

This was my second visit to this restaurant and i enjoyed it. The place tends to be busy and a bit noisy but has interesting decor with an image of a giant Buddha gazing at the room.While waiting for our table we had cocktails and excellent beef satay at the bar. The main course of wasabi tuna was also very good. Would recommend

Great atmosphere. Went for dinner and got the Chilean Sea Bass. I hadn’t been to Buddakan in a couple of years and the sea bass was great back then also. It’s the best sea bass I’ve ever had. Tried some other food also, everything was good.

Love this restaurant. It’s an upmarket restaurant with delicious food which never fails to impress. They have a separate vegetarian menu too. Would recommend the vegetarian dumplings, Chinese eggplant, dragon Tofu and their dip sum doughnuts are delicious! The decor is amazing (love the large Buddha statue) and staff are very friendly.

First time at Buddakan was impressive. There is a reason the tuna pizza app has been on the menu for over 15 years. It is all kinds of awesome. App of the year so far. Shrimp bun app also great. Wife had the lamb chops with Korean BBQ sauce, which were amazingly tender and flavorful Perfect. I had wasabit tuna which was very good but paled in comparison to the lamb. Dessert of chocolate tart was needlessly complicated by trendy additions which were not edible (thought intended to be eaten). Excellent service. A bit noisy and our table was uncomfortably close to two others. Overall, a great meal!

Buddakan is a legit date-night spot—ambiance is a full 10/10. The vibe is stylish and energetic, and the space is impressive (two floors, big dining room, great atmosphere). Service was also top-tier: attentive, smooth, and fast. The food came out shockingly quickly—our pork chops arrived in under five minutes. They were good and fall-off-the-bone tender, though a bit on the sweet side for our taste. We also ordered the dim sum sampler, which is a fun way to try a variety. The shrimp dumplings were the standout, followed by the edamame and pork. The chicken dumpling was a little dry, but overall it was a solid spread. We tried dessert—the “Winding Road.” The presentation was beautiful, but flavor-wise it was just okay. Overall, the food is solid, reasonably priced, and portions are good—I’d give it about a 7/10 for the food itself. Nothing we had was truly “wow,” but the experience absolutely is. If you want a fun, stylish, high-energy date night, Buddakan is an easy recommendation

This restaurant is outstanding. The food is wonderful and the service is so great. I was a business Traveler eating alone and sat at the bar. Gabby, one of the bartenders, was just amazing. Even though she was busy she spent time to chat with me. Means a lot as a business Traveler alone. Thank you gabby!

Initially, they stuck us in a corner next to the kitchen. It was noisy and squished. Considering we had made a reservation and told them this was our anniversary, I was a bit disappointed. I spoke up and asked to be moved to a better table. They accommodated my request. Overall, I think this restaurant was very good. The tuna spring rolls were AMAZING. The dumpling sampler we ordered was pretty good. We had hoped to substitute out one of the dumplings we knew we might not like...but they didn't really allow substitutions it in a way that made it worthwhile to us. We also ordered the lamb and the special lo mein. The lamb was excellent. Would order that again. The lo mein was good...but for $26, I sort of expected something fancier. Overall, a great restaurant.

We felt this restaurant is overhyped. First, OpenTable asks if you have a special occasion and any other comments. I indicated it was our anniversary. Additionally, I always indicate that we don’t want to be near any doors or busy aisle ways as it detracts from the experience. They first seated my wife and I right next to the front door where people waiting to be seated were right next to us. I asked to be moved to a table a few feet away behind a waterfall wall. We were told that table was requested by another patron who hasn’t shown yet. They sat us at another table which was 1 foot away from a four top table where the back of one of the chairs was almost hitting our table. The aisle was next to our table so the foot traffic of staff kept squeezing by us. Hard to enjoy a meal. We each had a glass of wine. The best part of the meal were the appetizers. We had the edamame dumplings and the special, hashimi sushi. For entrees we had their sweet crispy shrimp and the crispy whole fish which was stripped bass. The 5 shrimp were decent size but definitely farm raised. Minimal taste other than the sauce which was mediocre. The fish was fairly small in size, especially for $42. The taste was decent, but certainly nothing special. We also had eggplant. We didn’t consider dessert based on our meal. To top it off, there was never any acknowledgement of our anniversary. Frankly, they couldn’t care less. Why even ask when a reservation is made if you have any special occasion if you have no intention of even saying something, anything! I mentioned this upon leaving the restaurant to the host at the front, who made it seem surprising. This place clearly rides on its past history and the Starr name. They don’t care if I never come back because somebody else will fill my seat. Stephen Starr should be appalled. If you have lower standards and just want to go to a restaurant with a name, you may like it there. Thanks to the restaurant for making a special evening very unspecial!

We had reservations and it's a good thing as the wait would have been long. Larry was our waiter and gave excellent tips about the menu and provided great service. The food was outstanding as everything came out of the kitchen hot and delicious. If we had time, we would have gone to lunch the next day...I definitely would make reservations at Buddakan when in Philadelphia

Bento box lunch included miso soup, pork bun, edamame dumpling, and tuna sushimi. Great food and service.

While on holiday in the wonderful city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in early March, we decided to give Buddakan a go, as it was recommended by my sister-in-law, who lived in Philly for a while. It's an Asian fusion restaurant on Chestnut Street in the Old City area, a couple of blocks east from the Liberty Bell. We hoped it would be worth the 1.5-mile walk from where we were staying. We booked online and I included a note about my wife's garlic issue. We didn't hear back about whether they could cater for her but set off anyway on the 40-minute walk to the restaurant. It's always a bit of a nightmare - and fairly stressful - when my wife and I venture out for a meal. She has an intolerance to garlic, though I love it. Her intolerance isn't of epi-pen severity (it's not an allergy) but it can make her feel very unwell and can ruin any meal for her if she accidentally has any in her meal. On arrival the staff showed us to our table and they said that of course they would cater for my wife and handed her a garlic-free menu! That's never happened before. Needless to say we were impressed. From the outside Buddakan doesn't look very big but, once inside, there's a large tabled area, plus a very nice bar at one end of the space. The chic decor and subtle lighting and furnishings all help to create a very friendly and relaxed ambience, which is perfect for sharing a special meal or drinks with friends or loved ones. Though we've eaten various kinds of top-end Asian meals before, Buddakan very much does its own thing. So we were very pleased to have such a knowledgeable and helpful waiter who told us about the food after asking about any preferences we may have. The menu offered a wide choice and there were several things we each struggled to choose between. We started the meal with very nice cocktails and chose our starters. While choosing our mains plus a a few side dishes, our waiter said: "There's quite a lot of food there." He suggested that one side each may be enough. He was right! The wine list (which also included cocktails and a range of local and international beers) was extensive. It had fine wines from the US, plus some superb options from the major wine-growing countries around the world. We plumped for a very nice US pinot. It was light enough to go with my sea bass and my wife's cashew chicken (with its specially prepared garlic-free sauce instead of their usual plum sauce). After the mains, I plumped for the trio of sorbets - I really didn't need anything too filling - and my wife went for her favourite: crème brûlée. In the 35 years or so we've been together she's tried crème brûlées in dozens of restaurants. She's quite particular about how she likes them to be made and tells me she they have been somewhere near perfect on only three occasions. So she was very excited to tell the waiter and manager that Buddakan was one of those three occasions. The manager was so excited that she asked us to wait for a few minutes after our meal and she brought us another crème brûlée to take away with us! That was so kind of her and we really appreciated it. Now, Buddakan isn't a run-of-the-mill eatery. It's certainly up there in price – we paid more than $250 US - for our 3-course meal, a number of cocktails and our wine. But it was so worth it. We can't recommend Buddakan highly enough and look forward to taking other family members there when we next return to Philly, hopefully in the not-too-distant future.

We were disappointed in our dinner. We're big fans of the one in New York City and we always have a great meal there. This restaurant is much smaller and the service is poor. Our waiter wasn't friendly, he spoke in a low voice, addressing only my husband. As a consequence, no one else heard or understood him. The food was okay but not any better than what you get in any ordinary Chinese restaurant.

It was recommended by our hotel staff. It definitely lived up to their 5-Star advice. It is has a wide range of Asian and Oriental cuisine. It was exceptional in that it offered a variety of menus: Normal Menu plus different menus for people with special allergic food needs. All the selections were difficult to chose from, even for me (gluten-free) and my wife, who has a mix of food allergies, which are sometimes is difficult to be accommodated. The food and service were exceptional. It appears to be the place to be for both that special occasion for two or larger parties. The manager personally came to our table and made sure we were satisfied, and then suggested dessert, which then put our meal and visit over the top.

Fantastic pairing. Unique and excellent Asian / Continental Fusion. Mushrooms potstickers, sake flight and "Dip Sum" Donuts Rock out beautifully.

Based on other reviews, we decided to have dinner here. We were not disappointed. Joseph, our server, made great suggestions on what we might want to order, portion sizes, etc. We started with dim sum tasting platter and calamari salad. Both were flavorful. I am not a fan of calamari but it was the most delicious calamari I've ever had. We ordered two entrees to split between the three of us: Chilean sea bas and Korean Beef fried rice. They were very good and we enjoyed both. The Dip Sum doughnuts were pretty ordinary and, in hindsight, we could have skipped them. Service was attentive and Joseph was very good at guiding us as to what we might like. Be prepared for a bit of sticker shock with the bill if you are having drinks and multiple courses; this is not an inexpensive place. Some reviewers have made comments about the pricing; this is not a hole-in-the-wall Chinese diner where you get massive plates of food for minimal prices. But, we knew that going in and we loved the dining experience at Buddakan; we definitely would go back!

Great food! Our favorite dishes were the appetizer tea smoked spare ribs, appetizer spicy rock shrimp bao buns, and the Szechuan pork dumplings. July 2021- still had outdoor covered seating in the parking lane, which was great. Pictured is the dim sum sampler.

Went for lunch with family. It is located right in the centre of the city and has excellent Asian food. Loved the Shrimp Pad Thai. All the food was sumptuous and the service fast, friendly and efficient. Loved it

The food was fantastic, service was attentive and ambiance was moody and fun. The dishes were creative and done very well. We don’t normally love places that encourage family style ordering but it worked well here and we were able to taste a lot of different things - all of which were spectacular. The server was very gracious in helping accommodate the vegetarian in our group. Would definitely recommend.

Been waiting for months to come and it did not disappoint. Ask to sit near wall of glass! Decor calming, does transport you out of hustle and bustle of city. Cocktails full of imagination! Best lamb chops ever. Tuna pizza starter good for two and very balanced in flavor. Will be back! Want to visit bar only just to sit in this great space and Zen our a bit. Not that is quite, but really let’s you relax

Every course - the Asian caesar salad, sampler of dumplings and shared Chilean Sea bass entree were absolutely delicious. We shared all of these so we could sample more of their food. Also enjoyed their version of pumpkin pie.

The tuna tataki and curried cauliflower is awesome! Service was great Atmosphere was comfortable and had a great energy

We were seated upstairs, which makes dining a little less noisy. Real wins were the ginger-carrot salad, the soup dumplings, and the fire-roasted edamame. The service could have been a bit more attentive.

I love this restaurant. I am not a huge vegetable fan, but could eat their curried cauliflower by the bucket. The food and drinks are amazing. I heard the deserts were first rate...but I have always been too full to try them.

A fabulous location with great asian fusion cuisine. It’s a large restaurant with dimmed lights and loud music. Staff is very very friendly and helpful. We suggest the Edamame Dumplings or the chicken dumplings. The fried rice with crab and egg as well as the curry cauliflower were cooked to perfection . To top it off we had the Tempel Dessert!

Food & service was excellent. We ordered too much food & our server instantly offered to remove the dish from our bill. I would have given it 5 stars apart from it was really cold in there & I had to keep my jacket on. Other diners were doing the same. I did tell the waiter at the end that the AC was far too cold.

This was our first visit to this restaurant. It wasn’t bad, I just expected more. It was our anniversary, so I requested a nice table when I made the reservation. They explained that the couldn’t promise a particular table, which was fair. However when we arrived, and the entire time we were there, it wasn’t very busy. They still gave us a small table for two near the kitchen. I was disappointed. The food was fine. We had Dim Sum, Tuna Tartare Spring Rolls, sweet and crispy shrimp, shrimp Lo Mein and snow peas. I’ve had more exciting food and service at PF Chang’s. They did give us small boxes of chocolates for our anniversary. I think I expected something special. I thought it was ordinary.

Spectacular! Flavor! Delicious! We had the hamachi shishimi. What a surprising treat. It was so good. White fish with a cacophony of amazing flavors. Then the lobster egg rolls. They were fantastic (unless you have the cilantro gene). And finally, the cashew chicken. It's so different from traditional Chinese restaurant cashew chicken. Different vegetables and sauce, but OH! So good! We had the Buddha's Temple for dessert. That was fun! Get even if you're full. It's not something you can get just anywhete! Ann did an excellent job guiding us through the specials and the menu. Great service!

This is a restaurant I always wanted to try. I heard so much about it. We made reservations in advance. Parking is always a problem in the city. We took an uber. The decor and ambiance is beautiful. Waterfall on the glass, giant Buddha, low lights, multiple levels. The service is excellent and the manager even came to check on us. We started with the recommendations from our server. Dim sum sampler, we enjoyed trying different dim sums chicken and ginger, edmame, pork. We had rock shrimp bao that was delicious and a must try. Its in a lovely sauce with a kick and jalapeno on top. We had the appetizer spare rib, it fell off the bone but was definitely in need of more sauce. Tuna pizza was interesting as was sesame chicken. We loved the cocktails beautifully done and very tasty. The server got us a vanilla icecream with a sparkler. It was a lovely way to celebrate. Its definitely overpriced but a must do for special occasions.

Beautiful restaurant overall! Mediocre food tho, and overpriced to say the least. Staff was amazing! Our server Jesse was great!

Took my wife and kids here for the birthdays. The food was fantastic. Some of the best Asian food each of us has had. Interior of the restaurant is very nice. Makes for a very enjoyable evening. Would’ve given this a five rating but for the fact that service was a little spotty. Two of the four dinners were brought out 15 minutes before the other two. And Waitress brought a dessert for one of my twins with a sparkler but nothing for the other even though they both obviously were celebrating birthdays the same night.

Very accomodating. We did all our orders to go and each one was perfect. We ordered from them several times because it was so good.

Upon entry we knew it was going to be special. We were greeted by NYC beautiful people but not ONLY because of their outside but because their smiles, conversation and aura came shining through. Our waitress was amazingly knowledgeable of all of the menu items, but most importantly, the wine pairing. The food was a visual and a gastro phenomenon and we tasted every part of the Asian continent. Three words describe this place - Ah May Zing!! Head towards Chelsea Market and look for a hidden down which leads you to a magical dining experience.