Buddakan

Company Information: Buddakan offers modern Asian cuisine to New York foodies. Located at the east side of the Chelsea Market, this 16,000 square feet joint has a decidedly oriental yet ultra chic look. This is the second Buddakan restaurant by the Starr restaurant Group. Indulge your taste buds and choose among exotic dishes made from vegetables and meats, including shrimp, fish, chicken, beef, duck, and lamb, all served with a Chinese twist. Wash the food down with a drink or two. If you don't feel sated, just order some more. Don't worry; it's normal to overindulge at the Buddakan!

Hours of Operation: Dinner nightly

Categories: Restaurants, Southeast Asian Restaurants, Chinese Restaurants, Fusion Restaurants

1. 
   User Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

   by Food connoisseur

   04/12/2008

   I ate here twice: 2 years ago and this past friday night.
   
   I was running late the first time and they made the rest of my party wait by the bar - so they could seat everyone together. My party began with a round of cocktails, and when I arrived there ordered a cocktail too. Our waitress stopped by our table and informed us that they already charged our credit card and need it again to charge the rest of the order - not cool. They should have waited until we were ready to close out our tab. It just caused us a minor headahce.
   
   This past friday I decided to pay cash for my drinks, and then sit at a table to wait for the remainder of my party to arrive. We waited for some time until someone acknowledged our existense to ask us if we have a reservation for the evening. Our reservation was for 10 and we were only seated at 10:30... Not very pleasing since we were hungry by that point already. I found the staff by the bar to be very friendly and helpful with my wine selections, and nobody in my party tried the cocktails. The wine if pretty good.
   
   Both times that I was there they gave us more than enough time to look at the menu. The food did come out fairly quickly though... The waitress was very helpful with the different questions that we asked about the menu and restaurant. She had tried every dish more than twice. Our waiter 2 years ago i believe was friendlier, but with waiters it really is a hit or miss...
   
   I was told the first time i went there not to order the desserts, since they really aren't that good. The group that I was with last friday night wanted to try the desserts - they are NOT all that great... If you're not familiar with the area then it's cool to have the desserts there, but be prepared to be disappionted.
   
   The one dish that I remembered from the menu (the menu hasn't changed in 2 years) is the edamame dumplings. THEY ARE FANTASTIC! I had them again and was very pleased. The sweet and sour dumplings should come with a warning label - CAUTION soy sauce inside dumpling. Be careful when you bite into the dumpling, sauce will splatter and ruin clothing! Someone in my party was wearing a very expensive dress($800)!
   
   The calamari salad was fantastic, for someone who doesn't really like calamari(it's too chewy sometimes).
   
   Ladies, a note on the upstairs bathrooms - the lighting is fairly poor, and the garbage bin is far from the toilet. Try the downstairs bathrooms, they have better positioned garbage bins and the lighting is only a tad brighter. Don't plan on retouching your make up with ample light.
   
   Taking into consideration the friendly and knowledgeable staff, the ruined $800 dress, delicious wine, eatable dessert, and fantastic calamari salad and edamame dumplings, I think that i may revisit this restaurant... in another 2 years.
   
   Hope this helps.

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2. 
   User Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

   by BusterBuster

   04/18/2007

   Uneven food quality, but some very notable dishes: Went to Buddakan on a Friday night - when you check in, the front desk staff are a little distant, and ask you to wait at the bar (which is packed with B&T (Bridge & Tunnel) folks). Then someone else from the front desk (equivalent of runners), come looking for people with the reservation with lost looks on their faces, and end up asking everyone if they are the ones waiting for the reservation (the carry around a white piece of paper with a written description of the party as noted by the check-in girl). Inefficient, and annoying process, especially given the packed bar.
   
   Anyway, the dining room downstairs (there are also tables upstairs), is a little unimpressive. The library room with fake books is very nice, and has great lighting. The main hall is a bit impersonal.
   
   Food is OK, but some dishes are fantastic. The chicken & shrimp spring rolls are forgettable, despite the NY Times recommending it...the tuna tartare was a favourite of my dinner companion. The special house rice with scallops is amazing, as is the fish with black mushrooms (steamed red snapper i believe). Both of these were recommended by the NY Times, and were fantastic.
   
   The server was very attentive, but as is customary gave us the "Have you eaten here before, cause we do everything family style and dishes come out as they are ready..." Hmm...have heard that one before.
   
   Drinks are OK, not astounding, and overall, an OK place. Hakkasan in London is 10x better in atmosphere, food and cocktails.

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