Buddha Ruksa Reviews

We recently returned from a trip to Thailand where we ate a LOT of delicious food in all sorts of venues. The food here was excellent and authentic and rivaled many of the meals we enjoyed in Bangkok. Excellent. And highly recommended. Great food, great drinks, and great service. Doesn’t get much better!

Family of 4, had dinner after booking a table on the same day. Place was very busy, seems to be quite popular. Having been to Thailand myself I can only say that the food had all the flavours I remembered from south east Asia. Chicken Satee, Garlic chicken and Prawn+pineapple curry stood out. Portions were very generous and service was good too. We loved it!

Delicious. I had the Pumpkin and Prawn Curry and my two year old and I wolfed it down. My husband had the infamous "Crack" garlic chicken and could stop singing its praises. We also had the fresh spring roll which was a big hit. I am glad we believed the hype---it was so worth it. Yum!

Mixed feeling about this place. We come here often hoping for the times that we experienced good food but not always. The wait is so long even with reservations. Not the best attitude when it comes to service. Food is good most of the time. Wish we have a better Thai restaurant in Seattle. Message me if you know!

The four of us ate dinner there recently. Our friends are regulars. We were very impressed with the variety and amount of choices on their comprehensive menu. As well, the drink menu was excellent. You can even order Thai beer. The service was prompt, personable and attentive. In fact, they constantly come by to refresh your water glass. The food was fresh and very flavourful. For certain, authentic Thai food. Definitely order the crispy garlic chicken and don't forget the crispy bits. Everything we ate was delicious and good portion sizes. We will return for certain.

We are never disappointed at Buddah Ruksa! Changing it up this visit I tried the curry fried rice and it was mouth-watering. The crispy garlic chicken is phenomenal too. I doubt there is anything I wouldn't like on their menu. We visited on a Saturday night and while we were told it was a 30 minute wait, we were in and out in just over an hour.

Crispy Garlic Chicken. Unique and amazing! but oh the wait....

The food and drinks are so good, my friends and I keep coming back. Whether dinning in or choosing take out, the quantity and quality of the food is always the same. The restaurant has a very nice ambiance, and the waitresses are very nice and friendly! highly recommend!!

We had reservations which helped on a busy weeknight; none the less, service was fast and attentive. Local IPAs, good cocktails led the way to a wide selection, many of them different than the usual Thai selection, all great as the four of us shared.

Have been here many times and highly recommend when you are in West Seattle. My favorite dishes are the crispy garlic (crack) chicken, fresh spring roll and Pad See Iew. This restaurant is ALWAYS crowded and sometimes we do take-out, make sure to ask for rice because they often forget for take-out. I have a favorite server there, she is absolutely kind and beautiful, just forgot her name!

Went here with a work colleague, he is a regular so he did all the ordering. We split four dishes including the crispy garlic chicken and all were fantastic. Not sure if we had a reservation but got a table right away and the service was quite attentive but not overly so. What surprised me the most was the price, quite reasonable for the quality and the portion sizes? If yourself in West Seattle and love Thai food I recommend the place. If you’re not familiar with the area it is a bit tough to find, especially in the dark and in the rain, but well worth it.

Buddha Ruksa is a hidden gem tucked away right on the west end of the West Seattle bridge. I read all the great reviews, and then my 17 year old daughter asked if we could go there for a celebration. The atmosphere is quite romantic. The service is fast and friendly. This is one of those places where all the servers work together. I appreciate that anyone will help me, not just "my server". The food is very good. My son is allergic to peanuts, but he found the Garlic Chicken delicious (not nuts in this, of course). He had it the next time we went back, as well. I had the seafood fried rice, and it had lots of seafood. My daughter had a curry, which she said was excellent. She eats curry at restaurants and cooks it at home, so I consider her a good judge. We had the mango sticky rice for dessert, which is not my cup of tea, but my kids liked it. Next time, I took my Asian friend there, and she liked it, too. She eats Asian food in Seattle every single day (not a cook), so I consider her opinion very valuable. We both had food left over for a second meal! The staff is very welcoming....all around a wonderful experience.

Best Thai in West Seattle

Solid but not spectacular, some of the better dishes are crispy garlic chicken and pumpkin prawn curry. Careful with allergies as they have slipped up with soy in a dish that we asked for to be without, so if you are highly allergic you may want to stay clear.

Crispy Garlic Chicken = best.

My daughter always takes us here when we are in Seattle and we can't wait each time. We went early last night and ordered too much food (but I can eat it today!) Started with wonderful "salad" rolls and had to try the calamari. Lightly dusted with a lovely batter, the calamari was some of the best I have ever had - bar none! We tried two specials - a Northern Padh Thai - with a tomato based sauce that was out of this world and a tofu dish that was spicy and delicious. We also shared one of the "big" beers that was so cold and perfect with the food. Service wonderful, too. Am spoiled for Thai forever....

So happy to have this restaurant in my neighborhood. It is our Go-to for take outs, garlic chicken, beef salad, and Pad Kee Mao are our favorite. But so many other dishes are equally good. It is run by the nicest people, it is always a feel good/taste good place for us. They never fail to satisfy us.

Busy workers but friendly workers. Nice managers/owners. Pretty much a 5 the times I have gone. Drinks and food worth the money.

Hands-down, this is the best Thai food in Seattle. Chef Panithit is endlessly creative, he pays attention to every detail from preparation to presentation.. not to mention that he’s kind and humble, as are all of the staff. Plus a big shout out to Ann, her cocktails are the best in West Seattle. They have monthly specials, so there’s always something new to try. I can’t say enough about how much I love this place. How lucky we are to have it here in West Seattle.

I am a foodie, growing up in Bangkok, I have a very high standard for authentic Thai food. Obviously, no restaurant would ever compete with your grandmother's everything-made-from-scratch kitchen, there're few places that come very close. While several places come and go, I'm delighted when a friend brought me to this place near her home. It is a bit small and seems to be very popular. The first time, I came with my friend's family. They asked me to order with an understanding that I simply don't order anything I myself can cook. We got few dishes on a moderate scale of spiciness. Regardless, one of the dishes stood out. I highly recommend the trout salad. If you are familiar with SE Asian food, you know that the way fish dishes are made reflects the chef's skills. And, I was not disappointed. We visited this restaurant again few days ago before the 'rush hour' of dinner time. We were quickly escorted to the table. And, staff were attentive and polite. Waters are regularly filled and dishes were promptly cleared. We were also very happy with mango sticky-rice as dessert. This is not a fancy place, yet I have good experience so far. However, I have to agree with one of the previous review that the management might need to consider some improvement, for example Kitchen filtering service or some sort of air purifying machine. I hope to visit again soon.

We have enjoyed this place for 3 years now. This year we did carry-out. 25 minute service, and pick up was easy and expeditious (using their Loading Zone... parking is always available somewhere near the restaurant, but not always super close). Dishes ordered (all of them enjoyed): Garlic Chicken, Garlic Tofu, Pad Thai Chicken, and Lemon Grass Chicken. All one star-- mild (and this is actually mild, with a little zing). I look forward every time I visit West Seattle to the garlic chicken. I am addicted. All the entrees are very ample servings.

Buddha Ruksa is a neighborhood treasure. We eat here frequently, oftentimes bringing out of town guests. Best food, best service, great prices, lively atmosphere. Warning: the secret is out. Buddha Ruksa gets very busy, especially on the weekends. Reservations are highly recommended, especially if there's more than two of you. Or don't, and enjoy a killer Mai Tai (or two) in the bar/lounge while you wait. You will not be disappointed!

Buddha Ruksa is by far, THE BEST Asian food in Seattle. We love this place. Can't get enough of their Crispy Garlic Chicken, Panang Curry and Fresh Rolls.

Taken by relatives recently to this tucked away Thai restaurant in West Seattle. Staff was great, friendly and helpful. Appetizer was those little bags of gold- fried parcels of shrimp, chicken and mushrooms with a sweet garlic-chili sauce. He had the famous Crispy garlic chicken or "crack" and asked for 3 degrees of hotness, but she must have misunderstood as there was no kick. She had the Tom Yum chicken soup for 2 degrees of hotness and I had the Panang curry, also 2 degrees and wow, it had a kick! Great choice for a Thai night out.

Crack (Crispy Garlic) Chicken!

Service was awesome. Food was genuine Thai food. Lots of choices. Good prices. Great atmosphere. Highly recommended.

Everything we tried from here was amazing! I can see what people mean by “crack chicken”. Would definitely order it again.

Recommended by Thai friends as the best in Seattle. I agree! Food is excellent. Service friendly and accommodating.

Truly excellent Thai food. Everything is delicious. and varied enough to stand out from the countless just OK Thai, Vietnamese and Cambodian joints in Seattle. Glad we splurged on drinks, because they were surprisingsly top-notch as well. One downside is the wait time to get a seat can be ridiculously long for this neighborhood.

We went for our anniversary, arriving just as it opened. Good thing too. Because within 30 minutes, the place was packed. As it was, we didn't have to wait to be seated. The waitress was so friendly and sweet. She suggested several items for us. We settled for the pineapple prawn curry and the garlic chicken. Too bad they don't include rice or noodles with the entree, but at least things aren't too expensive here. After a fabulous meal, the waitress, having learned that it was our anniversary, brought us a dessert of sticky black mango rice, on the house! I told you she was sweet. We'll be back for another anniversary, that's for sure.

We love this place. Anything you order is going to be amazing. The o my reason I don’t give it 5 starts is because the service can be spotty. The wait staff is not rude per se but definitely not the friendliest you will wind in West Seattle. But I am willing to put up with it because their food is the best Thai cuisine I have found in West Seattle.

Nice atmosphere with delicious food. We especially liked the Crispy Garlic Chicken or “Crack Chicken” as the locals call it and the dry rubbed ribs!

Shared dinner with our friends, half meat half vegetarian. Found various dishes to choose from and loved the curries, garlic chicken and much more. This is an absolute must, even though the acoustics in the restaurant are not very good, meaning that it is loud and not intimate. But the quality of the food and the attentiveness of the service makes up for it each time. For example the glass of wine that we ordered was generously filled, we were asked several times for our comfort and how we liked everything.

We went one evening for dinner for father's day weekend. Food was really good. Wait was 45 min. They had sufficient vegetarian options but the service was quite slow.

The most wonderful food and kind, excellent service. My favorite Thai restaurant. I am ruined for ever though. There is no Thai restaurant in the Puget Sound area that compares. My favorite along with their crispy garlic chicken of course, is the pumpkin shrimp curry. OMG!

This is a local family run place that is quite popular. All dishes we tried (lamb, chicken and beef) were well prepared, presented and quite good. If you like Thai you will like this place.

Favorite ALL TIME dish here is the Crispy Garlic Chicken!! Just amazzzzzzing! Every time we are in the Seattle area we always have to make a trip to Buddha Ruksa.

All your favorite Thai dishes done well in lovely surroundings near Alaska Junction in West Seattle. The crunchy garlic chicken is especially good. There was a toddler in our party, which was no problem, but this is more of an adult place. Great for dates or going out with friends. Expect a wait on weekends.

I probably go to Buddha Ruksa at least once a month sometimes more. Don't be discouraged if there is a wait time to get seated as it's worth it. The staff is very friendly and fast. My favorite dish happens to be the Red Curry with Chicken. The restaurant is famous for it's Crispy Chicken which is heaven! They also sever great cocktails and have some fun Chinese beers to try.

Great dishes available at Buddha Ruksa, from the Crispy Garlic Chicken to the Beef Panang Curry, other great dishes to pick from, even their salads are wonderful. Don't miss going to Buddha Ruksa.

I came here for lunch by myself one day. There wasn't a sign for the restaurant but I saw the address. When I walked in, it's a small standing area and then there are steps down to the right but I wasn't sure if I was supposed to seat myself or not. A waiter came out and asked if he could help me, which seemed a little odd, so I said I was here for lunch so he grabbed a menu and escorted me to a seat. I ordered a typical pad thai with virtually no hotness. I thought the food was good but nothing special, which I guess wouldn't make it authentic. I was doing paperwork and on the phone pretty much the entire time and the waiter was really respectful of that, getting me a small box when I made a square shape with my hands. There is parking on the street that is free so you might have to walk a bit to the restaurant but it's a nice neighborhood.

There’s a lot of Thai food in Seattle, but Buddha Ruksa is the best by far. You can’t go wrong with any of the options on the menu and there is something for everyone. Having just returned from a trip to Thailand, this is restaurant the closest to authentic. I’d recommend the crispy garlic chicken as well as the khao soi (a dish many wouldn’t know unless they’d been to Thailand).

Excellent! We are visiting from Texas and just happened upon this place b/c it's near the house. Typically I have 2 other choices for Thai in Seattle but opted this place and am so happy. We ordered the Curry Pumpkin, Garlic Rice, Swimming Rama and Black Rice Pudding. Everything was perfect! We will likely eat here a few more times within the next 10 days-that's how much we enjoyed the food. Most of our dinner conversation was full of "Mmmmm" and "This is so good." Cant wait to try more of the menu! Garlic Rice was superb!!!

This is a great place. The only problem is sometimes the wait is long but that is because it is so good!!

Beat Thai EVER. Hands down, best place I have eaten since moving to Washington. So impress with the quality of food, the excellent service and the flavors! I had the fried garlic tofu (instead of the chicken) so delicious! The waitress suggested a side of panang curry. Amazing!!! My date had the 5 spice duck, he loved it. Every bite I will for sure be coming back here as soon as I can. The food was FANTASTIC. The service was FANTASTIC. This place is a must if your are in the neighborhood!

Before i visited this restaurant, i 've been to Thailand almost 30 times. And i tried local Thai foods in Chiang mai, Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Udon, Ubon and etc. I am not Thai food expert but good enough to tell which one is authentic or not. Buddha Ruksa is one of the most original authentic Thai cuisine in Seattle. Its taste seems to be oriented from central Thailand but spices and noodles and way of cooking are truly authentic. I love their Pad see yoo and Penang curry and Fish in garlic sauce. Very friendly service as well. If you really want to enjoy it..i advise you to visit from Tuesday to Thursday..because weekend is totally packed and you might have to wait a bit. Enjoy!

West Seattle gem!

When you see a lot of people leaving a tiny restaurant at the dinner hour with "take-out containers" you have a pretty good idea that the food is good enough to make the effort to order in advance and truck your precious cargo home. This is the way we saw Buddha Ruksa in West Seattle. We went there on the recommendation of a friend. The web site gave the impression that it was a high-class venue. When we arrived we found that no one put on any airs. Therefore, all that was left was to judge the food as food. We were not disappointed. We ordered the staples that we were used to among Thai recipes. Next time we go, we will order the Crispy Garlic Chicken, which seems to be a favorite among the critics.

A favorite for us in West Seattle....and, excellent Thai food! They are always crowded, so call ahead. The take-out is a great option. Prices are very reasonable for the quality of food. We have been there twice in the last 2 weeks. A personal favorite is the Crispy Garlic Chicken, but I have tried most all dishes and they are delicious.

Very little seating so you will observe a stream of customers leaving with take-out. My favorites here are the fresh salad rolls with peanut dipping sauce and the crispy garlic chicken. The signature cocktails never disappoint; I'm partial to the ginger-tini. My family loves the crab rangoons and the pad thai always gets ordered. Consistently good food, reasonable prices, and good service.

My favorite Thai place in the Junction area. Close enough for a quick work lunch.

Excellent!

I love this place. Ginger martini best in town. Can’t go wrong here! Only problem is that it is to busy with returning costumers.

I've been a customer here for over 10 years. It's the go to place for lunch with friends. They let you order from dinner menu during lunch hours and have a family style feast. The crispy garlic chicken aka crack chicken is our favorite. The Pad Thai with prawns is awesome.I have read may people complain about the service. In my experience, always received the best service. The vegetables they use are so fresh and very tasty.

Delicious choices, excellent service, & reasonable prices (for an urban restaurant) in a bustling atmosphere. We enjoyed the spring rolls, crispy garlic chicken, & boneless duck. We received attentive and engaging service. Parking was convenient on-street in a residential neighborhood. We'll definitely go back.

I tried to call to get a takeout order, went to voicemail that was full!? When I entered, an uninterested waiter took my order and I noticed a sign that said prices will vary from what website? Update the website, because the garlic chicken said it was 10.99 on site and charged 14.99 and it didn't come with rice, is rice separate? Hardly any place to park. That's why i chose takeout.

Like all Thai restaurants, you need to choose the level of spice heat that you can manage. But the flavors still always manage to come through the burn of chilies. We have eaten here several times when we pass through West Seattle. Parking can be difficult and always requires using nearby residential streets. It's worth a walk though.

Next time, I'll do takeout. The lower dining room is so loud that the four of us left early, relieved to be removed from the din.

This is my favorite thai restaurant in Seattle, the food is authentic, the atmosphere relaxing and the staff very friendly. I've gone to Thailand several times so consider myself pretty picky about thai food, and I highly recommend Buddha Ruska.

Don't pass on the Crispy Garlic Chicken! I am allergic to fish/shellfish so eating Thai food can be a nightmare, but the first time I went to Buddha Ruksa and mentioned my issue to our server they assured me almost every sauce is made to order so they could adjust anything I wanted on the menu (or they would direct to another item if not). I have never gotten sick so they are the real deal. The food is fresh, not reheated or overcooked, well-seasoned and the atmosphere is lovely. It is small and usually packed so don't expect to show up at 7 and walk in and get a table.

In a city where there’s lots of Asian restaurants - this would be one of the absolute best. In a neighborhood setting sits this cozy gem- but all that matters is the food and here they shine A nice wine list with reasonable choices is available- pick something nice to go with the best dish we have had all year- crispy garlic chicken, Deep fried pieces of chicken coated in a lush garlic sauce- spectacular. My mouth waters thinking about it. We opened with bags of gold- beautiful deep fried purses filled with a delicious blend of meat and vegetables, Do not miss this place- a true gem

Went to what I thought was the Buddha Ruksa website to get the menu and place my order. Lo and behold, the menu that I apparently viewed was way off price-wise and the Manager of the place tells me that they have no control over other companies posting "their menu". What? Went on to say that they have this problem a lot from other customers. If you know this is a problem, FIX IT! I feel sorry for anyone on a budget that view the wrong menu when ordering. Personally, as a business owner myself, I would have honored the other menu's price or put a disclaimer of some sort on that website that is posting "your menu" with inaccurate prices.

*parking is on the street or wherever you can find it. *Very Busy *Lots of options- if you want vegetarian/vegan you must specify no fish oil in your food. * Staff seemed impersonal but this could be due to how busy it was. I wasn't particularly impressed with this restaurant but it wasn't bad either. I felt like a nuisance for asking for plasticware and soy sauce for my to-go order. The food tasted fine- I highly recommend the black rice pudding with coconut milk.

Nice little place. Food was good. I liked the fried squash from the appetizer sample platter. Spicy long beans was also good. Stir-fry garlic with chicken-extra spicy was tasty & is our usual go-to dish at any thai restaurant. Their "extra spicy" is more mild imo. The garlic fried rice was flavorful but We'll probably order it w chicken instead of tofu next time. And the spicy garlic fried chicken aka crack chicken is overrated imo. It's a bit sweet & not at all spicy. It's one of those dishes where It would be good if you're in the mood for it, or to have for lunch on a work day. All the previous reviews were right about the to go boxes. As we were leaving, the counter was FULL of to go orders!! (wish I took a picture of it) All in all, everything we ordered was flavorful, nice ambience w attentive service. We'd go back if in the area.

Best Thai food on the planet!

Although small in size, this restaurant is large in taste. Especially wonderful since the portions are so large, I took a box to my rental to have for dinner. Heat numbering is 1-4 and appears fairly accurate to me (I got a 3)

Came to this Thai restaurant based on average 4,5-star rating from Yelp. Number of people recommended "Crispy garlic chicken" dish as absolutely outstanding and restaurant as one of the best Thai food one at Seattle area. What came from a visit? "Crispy garlic chicken" made from pre-cooked chicken breasts was very dry, heavy and oily. Other dishes we ordered were not about anything special (also beef was undercooked). Jasmine tea ($2) is low quality tea-bagged one. Overall it's mediocre quality Thai restaurant. Extensive menu is a plus

We were in the Seattle area and my niece took us to Buddha Ruksa. They have eaten there for years and raved about it and we weren't disappointed. Friendly staff and nice atmosphere. We started off with ginger martinis that were pretty amazing (drink 2 at your own risk). We had crispy garlic chicken and prawns and Phad Thai. My niece ordered the chicken dish 4/10 hot and it was perfect - just the right amount of kick without crushing the flavor of the other spices. The Phad Thai was also flavorful. My only regret is that I don't live nearby. I would be on their regular customer list.

This is my go to place for lunch and yellow curry. 3 star spicy. Beautifully blended flavors. Consistently good. th other night I took a group of 6 and it disappointed. the service was ill timed, they got one meal wrong and in racing to replace it, it was poorly made. I will go back becsaue of metric record, but if it is off again, I will reduce from 4 star rating to 3 or less.

My friend's daughter, a Seattle foodie, took us here. She just calls it the crack chicken place. Must order spicy garlic chicken! We also shared prawn curry which was outrageously good as well. Busy place with lots of take outs. We went without a reservation on a Thursday night and got a table with a little time for a Thai beer beforehand. If you love Thai food, and who doesn't, I highly recommend this spot.

We met friends here for dinner. The crispy garlic chicken was outstanding! Our friend got the octopus special which he really enjoyed. My disappointment was the cashew chicken which had about 4 small cashews and a strange flavor; I would definitely it recommend! We had reservations which I recommend and be aware that parking is at a premium! Our service was excellent.

Excellent experience. Seafood medley was extremely fresh and green curry very flavorful. Service was efficient and quick. Prices quite reasonable. Had enough leftover for a big lunch the next day. Will be returning!

This place is always busy and now I know why! The food is so fresh and flavorful. Very good and speedy service along with a nice soothing atmosphere to enjoy your meal in. Hands down best in Seattle.

Went to dinner w/ thre other girlfriends while in town for Memorial Day weekend. We had a lovely time. The service was great, the food was great, and the drinks were STRONG! I only spent $30 for a drink, dish, tax, and tip.

West Seattle has had a lack of top tier Thai other than Palin. Buddha Ruksa feels the void for either personal date or business. Quality and price are in line and portions and ingredients are superb. As West Seattlite this is go to place for Thai either to go or eat it - surroundings are quite pleasant as well.

My favorite Thai restaurant in all of Seattle! The Crispy Basil Chicken is to die for. Spicy and delicious. If it was the only thing on the menu, this would still be my favorite Thai in all Seattle!!!

We bopped in on a Thursday night without reservations and luckily had only a short wait. The dining area is separate from a small bar area, with a nice street view. The menu is right sized complete with weekly specials. Our entrees were delicious! The staff was busy yet dinner was served in a timely fashion.

Food is always very good. You do have to wait sometimes, but, that makes sense because they have a very dedicated group of Thai food lovers.

Great Thai food in West Seattle. Weekends are busy and there is always a wait since there aren't many tables inside. Take out is popular.

We really like Buddah Ruska. The food is good but the service is hit or miss. We love the crispy garlic chicken and the chicken sate.

Buddha Ruksa is a gem of a neighborhood restaurant...I just wished I lived in that neighborhood! They are always busy, but always delicious and efficient - a wonderful place to get take out, and a wonderful place to have a lovely dinner with family or friends. Year after year, they are my favorite West Seattle stop.

Clean, friendly staff, a bit small and tight, but so worth the food! so good that I was going there almost every week for a bit :-0 I always order, and always recommend, the crispy garlic chicken..THE best I've ever had, having been to several other thai places that have the same dish, this one beats them all out. The chicken Phad Ba Me (sp?) is also very delish (a yakisoba-soft egg noodles, with baby bok choy and your choice of meat) I always chood the chicken! The beef thai fried rice is also really good. the beef tends to be on the medium rare side, so if you're like me, that likes it well cooked, just ask to have it cooked to your preference and they do :) i just can't say enough good things about it!

We ordered takeout for 5 of us, and everything was delicious. Very fast prep, too. Can't wait to go again.

Hidden on a West Seattle hillside, this restaurant serves up the best meal I've ever had. The signature dish is a crispy garlic chicken and it's to die for. I usually add the steamed vegetable salad and a bowl of brown rice. And of course their Ginger Martini's are the best. I also like their Basil Martini's. My friend and I like to go early and sit at the bar where we can see the hustle of the kitchen and the chef working their magic into each and every dish! It has become our rainy day go to place. If you are visiting Seattle, this is a great out of the way place. If you have more than 2 in your party, definitely call ahead to make reservations.

We go about once a week. We have an old stand by: pad see iew ผัดซีอิ๊ว and Thai fried rice. But we are never disappointed when we try new items. We were very worried about leaving our place in capital hill because Rom Mai or In the Bowl would be so far away, but this place has never had us thinking of our old Thai standbys. We live closer to the Thai place in the junction, but the only time we go there is if it is Monday when Buddha Ruksa is closed. Pick up is always fast and friendly. I have been to the restaurant a few years ago, but can't remember enough about dining in. The bar is always a lively spot. Great place - go if it isn't Monday.

Always a great place for modestly priced, delicious Thai food. Extensive menu and friendly, efficient service to match. Will always recommend this to friends and visitors.

I have a favorite Thai restaurant in Seattle, that has kept me from going anywhere else, but our friend wanted to take us here and now I have two favorite Thai restaurants in Seattle. If going on a busy restaurant night, call for reservations. We did with only an hour notice and when we were seated the hostess thanked us for calling. It looks like they do a lot of take out. We had a wonderful Prawn and Pumpkin Curry, light spice (we has our 6 y Son), but the Curry was amazingly good. I could eat that every night. They use Kabocha pumpkin which has a better texture than baking pumpkin. It was sweet but not sickenly so, more like a natural sweetness from the Prawns, Pumpkin and Coconut Milk. We also had Spicy Eggplant with Tofu, loved this dish and also could eat it every day. We ordered Crispy Garlic Chicken, our Son's favorite, but for some reason it was delayed in coming out. I think they forgot it because it was not very crispy, nice sauce but not crispy. I think I could skip this dish. I like the dark wood decor. I didn't have a cocktail but they look good and interesting with Asian ingredients. Can't wait to try again next time we are in Seattle!!

Its great! Service is FAST, Food is Great, & Prices are affordable. Don't miss the crispy garlic chicken.

This is hands down one of THE best restaurants I have eaten at. I love the crispy garlic chicken. it goes unmatched. Love to go here. Small space and you probably have to wait but it is SO worth it. I hope they open up a bigger spot!

A wide selection of Thai and Asian dishes, Good friendly service, prompt and accurate. Famous for its crispy garlic chicken. The tofu version is also great. almost all dishes are available in one to four stars for spiciness. We opted for one or two. This place does huge take out business, too. Portions generous, take home boxes a common occurrence. The front room is pleasant, the back room and far are a bit cramped, dark and busy with take out transactions. Reservations essential on weekends. Despite its Geneesse ave. address, it is essentially on 36th Avenue SW, at Gennessee, and parking is on 36th. Be prepared for a short walk, and shoot for 36th instead of actual address.

This small gem - tucked away on a side street in West Seattle - serves the best Thai food we've eaten since the first days of Bai Tong (when the fresh produce arrived daily on Thai Airways flights). Our favorite dishes are the prawns and pumpkin curry and the crispy garlic chicken. They also prepare crispy duck six ways.

We were a little hesitant, given the high-noise and fried-food-fest reviews.... but we loved it. fantastic caipirinha, delicious duck noodles (yes, crispy-fried morsels but a modest quantity of them), and fresh, impeccably prepared spring rolls (raw rice noodle type). We weren't very hungry so couldn't try more.... Friendly reception. Fancier decor than usual neighborhood Thai places. would definitely return.

Wished we could have tried everything on the menu as all sounded delicious. But, since it was just the two of us, we had two dishes, both excellent: crispy garlic chicken and the shrimp curry in coconut milk. Be sure to get rice to soak up the wonderful sauces. Parking was easy in residential. Service was great.

We met someone on the ferry ride over and we’re told this is the best Thai restaurant in Seattle. So we love Thai and decided to try it out. Amazing!!!!! I had a dish called Thai Spicy shrimp salad. The waitress told me the flavors would be amazing in your mouth, she was right!so many flavors fusing together! I’m craving to go back already!!! It was so good! My husband had sweet and sour chicken. It was also delicious.

We have been here few times and the food seems consistently decent. It is kind of challenging to find a good thai place in Seattle but this one is the best that I have found. The reason for the four stars is that on our last visit, my entree was had a frozen vegetable in it and had to send it back and also, you have to know what to order and not everything on the menu. Till we find a better place, we will continue to come here for Thai food!

Always awesome. Love this place. We order takeout from here at least twice a month. They are fast, too, which is a huge bonus. The only thing I don't like is that they don't answer their phone when they are too busy.

I am recuperating from surgery so our kids went and got it carried out. We had curry sauce with brown rice, Garlic chicken, pad Thai noodles and a host of assorted appetizers. What a fabulous meal. We can't wait to go again soon

Went on a warm July evening. Sat by the side of the restaurant that opens to the sidewalk. Lovely. Four of us and we ordered for the table so we could all share. The Crispy Garlic Chicken is outstanding. The catfish special, well, there was nothing left of it, we ate it all! Filled it out with Pineapple Fried Rice and Crispy Duck. Be sure to request a condiment tray so you can experience those tastes on your food. If you can make a reso, that's best or you will need to wait but the service is quick and efficient so most groups get in and out without too much dawdling. The bar is busy and a good alternative. Many take out orders are always standing awaiting pickup. The staff is friendly and on their toes. Parking will be on the street but available. Go here ....

The crispy garlic chicken is out of control. Friendly servers who recommend the best dish and take care of you while you are dining.

I dined hear recently while in the Seattle WA. area on vacation. There is no parking attached to the establishment so we had to scour the neighborhood streets for a car spot. Our wait in the que for a table lasted about an hour since our arrival coincided with a dinner rush. I also declined a place to eat at the liquor bar, opting instead for a table which increased the delay. Once seated we ordered an appetizer sampler for two and pot of house tea. They were both good but unfortunately felt rushed since our main entres were bought almost simultaneously with, cluttering the small table. I had ordered the curry with prawns and my fiancee had the mixed seafood w/noodle. We were initially asked how "hot" or spicy we opted to have the dishes prepared, and both she and I requested very mild. Unfortunately they tasted to us "radioactive" hot to the point where her lips and tongue felt as if on fire. We opted not to make a fuss or have the kitchen fix the issue since we were both tired. I wasn't overly impressed, and am still deciding whether to return for a second try.

Have had many great meals here, but my personal favorite is the crispy garlic shrimp. It is perfectly cooked and seasoned, not greasy or salty like in some restaurants. Everything I've eaten here is fresh and delicious. Even carry out tastes perfect. That's not always the case, even in great restaurants. Highly recommended.

This is my local Thai restaurant in West Seattle. The food is exceptional! I don't even eat That food anywhere else in the city as this is consistently out of this world! The Green Curry is so full of layered flavors that I tend to order it nearly each time I dine. The Crispy Garlic Chicken is a favorite of nearly all who dine and the tofu version is fantastic, as well. You really can't go wrong. Be sure to try a cocktail too! The Ginger martini is perfection in a glass! If you are visiting Seattle, be sure to hop over to this local gem.

The food is very good. Can't complain about that because we've had take-out once and dine-in once and not had a bad dish. I agree with the others here, customer service and service in general is atrocious. They must think because they are so popular and packed (we had to wait an half hour on a Tuesday night) they can treat people any way they like. I would think that ultimately that would start to bite them in the patootie because there will be those (my husband, for one) who will not put up with it. We arrived to a full "lobby" area and the guy at the desk was taking a long phone order. He didn't address us for at least 5 minutes and umpteen servers walked by without acknowledging us. We finally got on a waiting list and were told it would be 15. It was 30. At one point they had 4 to-go orders sitting on the counter, the guy continued to be on the phone, and the chairs in the lobby were never empty. Our server had to be asked twice for my beverage. She pretty much didn't come back after she took our order. The various dishes were delivered by others. I asked for one of my dishes with no scallions and it was covered with them. She, they, no one asked if we liked our meal or had what we wanted. They are either under-staffed or they just don't care. I like Thai food okay, so I can't say I am a particularly good judge. My husband LOVES it, but he won't be back because, even though we are big supporters of small business owners, we don't support people who don't get that it is ALL ABOUT COMMUNITY.

Dined here with a local friend who wisely suggested an early arrival on a Tuesday evening. The cocktails are excellent, the range of dishes impressive, marvelous execution and very generous servings. Highly recommend!

We've eaten Thai food forever in my family and what I ate last week was the best! Their crispy garlic chicken is referred to as "crack" as it's so addictive. I also loved their fresh salmon (think it was fresh!) in a red curry sauce. Can't wait to return to West Seattle and have these dishes again plus a new one.

It doesn’t get better than crispy garlic chicken... wait, have you tried it on top of a caesar salad?

Definitely try the crispy garlic chicken. We also love the crispy garlic shrimp version. It's the bomb!

Stopped here for quick bite to eat while Visiting the beach. Wonton rolls were wonderful. For entree I recommend the fried chicken with garlic. A great meal! Portions are very large so come hungry. Friendly service with a great location.

This was my second visit to Buddha Ruska, and it continues to live up to the hype. The first visit was dine in, and this time we got take out. Ordering take out on a Saturday night was quite a challenge, as their phone is constantly busy with other customers and you have to have patience to get an open line - it was almost as difficult as trying to buy sell-out concert tickets over the phone. But it was worth the time and effort! We ordered the Crispy Garlic Chicken and the Panang Curry with prawns. Both were outstanding! Definitely recommend.

This place has the best Thai food I've had ever. I live in Tacoma and I used to like a place that was just down the street from me. Since I've been to Buddha Ruksa, I haven't been to eat there. I drive all the way up to West Seattle to eat there. The best thing is the crispy garlic chicken. The locals call it "crack chicken" and I believe it. If you go with a group, don't be afraid to order it generously if you do family style serving because it will get eaten. The place I used to go to in Tacoma has a crispy garlic chicken dish as well and as I said, ruined. It doesn't even compare to Buddha Ruksa's. I've also ordered different items off the menu and never been disappointed. The Pad See Iew, the flank steak, spicy long bean, garlic fried rice, mussuman curry, it's all good. They also serve amazing cocktails. The Thai lantern, or the blood orange martini is lovely. They also carry imported Thai beer. You can also Thai ice coffees or teas if you're not feeling like having alcohol. All in all, this place is amazing. I would suggest calling for a reservation on the weekends because they open later hours and the restaurant is fairly small

Great Thai food that tastes like you expect. They are always busy which is a great sign. They are fast and efficient. We love eating here.

Great Thai food, Crispy Garlic Chicken is incredible; service always top notch and great value!

Buddha Ruksa is easy walking distance from our daughter's home so we eat there whenever we are in town. This time we got our order to go and enjoyed it on her roof top terrace under the stars. Even though she is a vegetarian, this is not an issue as the will prepare your entree with meat, tofu or without a protein if you chose. We chose the Crispy garlic Chicken (yes again!) and our daughter had the crispy garlic tofu. Both were heavenly! Next we had their Panang Chicken curry with the chicken on the side to accommodate our daughter. My wife and I had their Thai iced tea and my daughter had their Thai coffee. Both were like a rich dessert in a glass with a little caffeine kick. Highly Recommended!

Restaurant was a favorite of mine when in Seattle but have times changed.Place is showing it's age and it also smelled old and like bathroom! service is indifferent to customers.Our appetizers where over-fried beyond crispy.We still had appetizer on plate when main course arrived and it was lukewarm and cold rice.Halfway through the meal we already became our bill served! They are all about turning tables and forget about delivering a nice experience for the guest.Quality of ingredients was subpar.My last visit there!

We've eaten here numerous times, and consider the usual wait well worth it. The food is great for sharing (three entrees will feed four people) and I leave very satisfied even though I'm not a Thai food gourmet. We take visitors here when we are economy dining. Only drawback for me is the mundane drink selection.

I have now eaten at Buddha Ruksa ("BR") twice, and I felt compelled to share my positive review with TripAdvisor. This place is a bit hard to get to - it's over in West Seattle, off of Alaska Way on a short spur side street. Parking is cumbersome, but don't fret over that - it's worth the walk to park a few blocks away. The interior of BR is somewhat muted - darker tones, candles and the dim glow from the street. But, the tables are spaced well enough that it's a comfortable volume inside, and it's easy to have a conversation here during the meal without being drowned out by the noise of the guests around you. That's a big plus in my opinion. We ordered a number of dishes for our table - the most notable of which was the green curry with halibut cheeks & coconut milk. This dish was absolutely 5-star; it was delicious, full of sweet, delectable curry and the soft halibut cheeks went perfectly with it. We also enjoyed a red curry and a noodle dish that I can't quite recall. The portions are small, but made up for in quality of ingredients. They offer a selection of specialty rices with the curry, too. In all, the food here is excellent and, in my opinion is a "must see/experience" dining experience in Seattle. The wine here is remarkably good too. They have a complete list that is admirable. We enjoyed a bottle of Cougar Crest Dedication with our meal, from 2009. It was perfect and balanced the spice & power of the curry dishes well. Budda Ruksa is a big thumbs up, and I highly recommend eating here.

You often hear people rave about a restaurant but when you get their, your experience is a bit different. WELL, not this time. This place meets all of the reviews. If you visit Seattle, this is must stop! Service is good, and the food excellent. It's not a large place so I would suggest reservations. There is a small bar with one or two TVs. It is so worth going to. There is only street parking. It's in a mixed residential and business area. So make sure you read all parking signs. LOVED this place.

We went to this restaurant with some friends that lived locally. They said it was their favorite Thai food. The service was good although not spectacular. Everyone was friendly and helpful. The food was very tasty and well prepared. We ordered so much food that it was impossible to consume it all. We managed to finish the rest over the next couple of days. Yes, I recommend this place and would return here again the next time I am in Seattle.

Another great meal at Buddah Ruksa this weekend. The service is a well-oiled machine and our amazing food is delivered perfectly every time.

We were told by the staff at the Alexis Hotel about this restaurant. As it was near the home of family were visiting, we decided to take a chance. In a quiet neighborhood in West Seattle, you might easily miss it. Hearing the Chrispy Garlic Chicken was a house specialty we chose it along with Phad See Iew, Yellow Curry, the fried fresh squash and Thai Fired Rice (the only disappointment). As we sampled each dish, I knew we had chosen the right restaurant. The Phad See Iew went great with the Chrispy Garlic Chicken. Just the right amount of heat to share the plate with this wonderful chicken! As one of our party was vegetarian we chose Tofu for some dishes and Chicken on the same for others (Curry). A lightly sweet wine was the perfect compliment to our spicy dinner choices. Prices we reasonable and service was smooth and attentive.

Nice restaurant with great food!

We had dinner the other night with another couple from Seattle. We chose Buddha Ruksa because we have always found it to be fantastic however, last night was not the case. We ordered the green chicken curry and was supposed to be two stars but was so hot we couldn't even eat it. The pad thai noodles were all clumped together into a big mass and very unappetizing. The second beer that was ordered never arrived until the end of the meal as well as the second cocktail that was ordered. We arrived at 6:00 pm and it wasn't crowded until we left at 7:00. We are hoping to give it another try as we have always been happy in the past. Not sure what happened last night with the poor entrees and the spotty service.

I love Thai food and when I moved to West Seattle, everyone kept telling me to try Buddha Ruksa. Most of the time, the line to get in was so long that I would pass it up. I usually don't like to do take-out without first having tried the dine-in experience at a restaurant but when I became desperate for some good Thai, I caved and ordered out. It was wonderful! Great flavor and not so spicey that you couldn't taste your food... I'm usually a 3-4 star person. I have since been able to get in to eat at the restaurant and happy to report that the food does tast better when not eaten out of box. The service and atmosphere are nice here, too.

This food is delightfully tasty, though you will need to ask for a higher spice level than in most Thai places. Customers are treated as guests by courteous staff. The reason to return - again, and again, is that the food is well prepared and absolutely “yummy!”

We recently had a family multi-birthday dinner outing at the Buddha Ruksa. This place gets busy, so plan on making reservations or on waiting - It isn't that large and it has become popular for the locals. One of our favorites is their Crispy Garlic Chicken (called "Crack Chicken" by the locals because it is addictive!). We had nine adults and a baby and they set us up in the corner and took very good care of us, even letting us serve the birthday cupcakes we brought in from a bakery. If you like Asian food, try Buddha Ruksa. You will be pleased.

We were taken here by my cousin after they said it was easily the best Thai in town and the fact that it was buzzing, busy and you have to call up to reserve a table is testament to the quality of this place. It's not too fancily done up inside but the service is great and the food was the best we had in terms of Thai food in the area. The Pad Kee Mao was delicious as was the Forest Curry - and the kitchen understood when we asked for mild, as often Thai places can still make it too chilly if you ask for less.

This place was very good. The ambiance was very pleasant and also happening at the same time. My husband and I ordered the Tom Yum soup which was a dynamite! I ordered yellow curry fried rice with prawns and my husband ordered basil fried rice with chicken. Both were very tasty. We were completely satisfied with our order.

When our favorite carry out Thai place closed, we switched to Buddha Ruksa. The Crispy Garlic Chicken is addictive, and we are also fond of the Grilled Vegetables. It comes as a veritable Noah's Ark of the vegetable world, with two long green beans, pieces of eggplant, asparagus, green and red peppers, mushrooms, carrot, etc. with a cup of spicy sweet chili sauce on the side. Shrimp Pad Thai is pretty standard. They do a brisk carry out business, and once when I was placed on hold (order taker put phone down on counter, so I could her her talking to others,) three other customers ordered Crispy Garlic Chicken! That should tell you how good it is.

This place NEVER disappoints! The spring roll appetizer and the crispy chicken are so yummy I almost always go there just for those.... but have sampled the cashew chicken, the pineapple fried rice, the rama chicken and would have them all, if it were not for the crispy chicken (the stuff of Thai food dreams!). The service is always kind and wonderful, and attentive without hovering.

Tried this joint on a friends rec. I cannot toss out enough superlatives. Apps were great...we went with a sampler for 4. Our dishes, crispy garlic chicken, shrimp pad Thai, crab rice, spicy pork belly special and the green curry, were tasty, cooked to perfection and not overly greasy as many lower quality restaurants like to serve them. The drinks were well done (try the basil martini not the house white). Overall, hands down, the best Thai I've ever had...SF included. Service was friendly, but not quite attentive enough and the atmosphere was comfortable but unimpressive.

This is some of the best food I’ve ever had in my entire life. Next time we’re in Seattle this restaurant will be #1 on our list.

This place was packed! Make sure you have reservations. Prices are incredibly reasonable. Food is outstanding. If you are in Seattle - just go there. We each ordered an entree and it was way too much food. Daughter took most of it home with her. Parang curry, pad Thai, and some chicken dish (can’t remember). It was all great. Still think about it sometimes. It was that good.

I come here for lunch every so often and have never been disappointed. The food is extraordinarily consistent and taste. I especially like their Pad Kee Mao and Garlic Chicken. The food comes quickly (at least during lunch).

We both enjoyed everything we ate. Nothing overdone, over-sauced or over-priced, including the wine list. Everything lovely. Folks who served and waited were welcoming and quick. Don't rely on some 'sad' old-timer's odd grumpiness. Enjoy lovely local Thai instead.

Was impressed with the quality and quantity of the food served here and very authentic tasting dishes. The cocktails are awesome too. The staff were super friendly and accomodating. If you're in Seattle, make sure you add this to your list to try

This restaurant is small and seems to do a lot of carry out business. We choose to eat in the restaurant. The food is wonderful and the service is good. There is a nice assortment of appetizers, soups, salads, and the main course is broken down by type. Noodles, stir fry, etc. and under each category, by meat or non meat choices. Very each to follow. If you can't decide or need further description of the choices, the servers are very helpful in that regard. They have a full bar with cocktails and beer and wine choices. This is an excellent place to try out Thai food

Even before moving to West Seattle I was going to Buddha Ruksa's. I've since moved to within walking distance and go as often as I can. For work I spend a lot of time at various countries in Asia, including Thailand. I've never had as good Thai good as I've had at Buddha Ruksa's. The place is always a buzz with activity. The staff are fantastic. It's well worth the wait if you show up and they're full.

West Seattle vibe paired with excellent and innovative food !Staff on top of their game.Well thought out menu with items to tickle every pallet.

A Gem! Very busy and deservedly so. Even though we had to wait for a table, the entire staff made sure we were not ignored. Excellent Thai food. When we left, we felt like we had made friends with Ken and Omm, who made us laugh and feel so at home. Love it, love it, love it!

Went with a good friend and his daughter about 8:30pm on a Saturday night had to wait a half hour for a table. It was so worth the wait the service was great and the food was fantastic.... Wish I had tried the crispy garlic chicken after reading the other reviews.... oh well guess I will just have to go back :)

Go early, the wait can be long but is well worth it. We live about 5 minutes away so we find ourselves here often! Everyone loves the Crispy Garlic Chicken and we are no exception. Actually we've never had a disappointing dish here. So it's a "sure thing"! Go-just don't go when we're trying to go.

The sign of a great dining experience is still talking about it days after your meal. Such is the case with Buddha Ruska, located at 35th and Genesee in West Seattle. All of your standard Thai restaurant fare is on the menu but I suggest you venture away from Phad Thai and try some new things. For example we had the watermelon and salmon salad for starters and shared the "Seafood Medley" a combination of sautéed prawns, scallops, calamari, salmon and mussels, with green beans, fresh mushroom, bell pepper and sweet basil in garlic chili sauce and their signature dish Crispy Garlic Chicken. All were cooked to perfection! The chicken was crunchy on the outside but soft and moist on the inside. You have to order this. I suggest reservations as they were packed on an early Saturday evening.

We tried this restaurant on our way back home visiting Seattle. The kids didn't care for the food that much since it had too much flavor. We enjoyed our food specially their famous fried chicken. Friendly service.

A dear friend introduced us to Buddha Ruksa and I had the opportunity to share it with colleagues on a business trip. Small space means there is often a wait, but it is worth it. The food is fabulous but the service was a bit slow. Everyone loved their selections, from tofu to soup to pad Thai.

So disappointing!!! Why does this place get good reviews. The food was barely mediocre and not even fresh tasting seafood. The waitress started singing happy birthday to my friend without me as I was trying nothing up a call. It felt ridiculous ! I went to Thailand and the food was a thousand times better than this place. With Thai cooks here, you would think they could do a better job.

Very pleasant lunch. If your in the area I would recommend trying but I wouldn't make a special trip