BuddakanCould be spicierFood is great and flavorful, but I thought it could be spicier. I'll have to come back for the chocolate bento box!6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMMemories of best crab fried riceFood is good. The crab fried rice was ok. I really like the other recipe better... You know, the one made with the jumbo lump crab meat and not the sticky rice and shredded crab. Crab tempura is my fav always but the portion seemed to get smaller since my last visit. The drinks were light, very light especially for the price. Hmm (and sigh)...the good old days #nostalgia-CFR-RIP6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMLived up to expectations...My wife has wanted to go here for quite a while, so I took her for her birthday recently. We arrived pretty early (5PM) on a Wednesday; it was quiet and not very busy. We had to wait a few minutes for our table?? Our server was friendly, informed and patient. Certainly pricey but everything was excellent and worth it. I would go back just for the Spicy Shrimp Bao Buns and Dip Sum Donuts and wish I had more room because there were so many other interesting dishes on the menu.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful food, too noisyDelicious, wonderfully well prepared food with an intriguing atmosphere. Overall loud and echoing with throbbing background music beat requiring one to consistently lean forward to hear others and talk loudly to be heard. A strained voice by the end of the evening and glad to walk out into the quiet evening.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGood as alwaysBuddakan is reliably and consistently good. Be sure to save room for the chocolate bento box. The large room makes it a bit noisy.6/10/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Zen-like decor and moderateThe Zen-like decor and moderate noise level and lighting gives a peaceful dinning experience. This restaurant is great for an intimate dining experience. The ginger chicken dumplings and the Zen-Gria cocktail are must haves.6/9/2013 12:00:00 AMNoise at an impressive levelToo noisy! I went there with my parents, but couldn't hear what my mom was saying to me, and she was just across a square table.
So we had to have our meal quietly, because it was too much yelling.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMBuddha would be proud!Coming from SF, I rarely eat Asian food elsewhere in the US, as it often disappoints. Buddakan was incredible. Each dish was a masterpiece and the service was lovely.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMThouroughly enjoyed all ofThouroughly enjoyed all of the food and service, however the noise level was unbearably loud.6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous first impressionThis was my first time to Buddakan and it was highly recommended. While it turned out that I had to dine alone, my server could not have been better. I was a little concerned when I saw the sharing recommendation but she assured me she would not allow me to over order. I started with a special appetizer, a hot appetizer and dim sum and could not have been happier. The food was outstanding! Overall a wonderful experience even dining alone. Server was very helpful with recommending food. Will definitely go back!6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMThe best Asian cuisineThis is my fourth time going to buddakan. I have been to all three locations. I enjoyed each one in a different way. The presentation of the food is emaculite. I took my fiancé for his birthday and loved the sweet and sour jumbo shrimp and steamed scallops in black bean sauce. Our waitress was very good and helpful with menu choices. Inlove a waiter who knows the menu and has tried the food. I can't stand a waitress or waiter that tells me I am not sure about this or that since I have not tasted it before. You are suppose to know the menu front to back. The waitress did. I love buddakan6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious food, great service,Delicious food, great service, everyone is very attentive and friendly. Loved it.6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMHad a great time here! I'mHad a great time here! I'm not easily impressed but definately enjoyed eating here.6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMAwesome Evening!I took my daughter and three of her friends all of whom are interning in New York this Summer. Every single part of the evening was terrific from the food to the service to the wine! I will definitely go back and recommend it to many others!6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMStarr's triumphThis was my second visit to Buddakan and it reaffirmed my opinion that this is one of the best meals I have ever had dining out in Philadelphia.6/3/2013 12:00:00 AMPants Optional PolicyThis place is great! Amazing staff. What I'll remember most, however - are the pants of a neighboring patron. His a s s was hanging out of some trendy denim. I'll assume he was a famous rapper. It was hilarious. He grunted at the waiter - not sure if he spoke English... maybe he was from another country where this style is still en vogue. Kudos, young buck - hilarious!6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMIt's awesome place we hadIt's awesome place we had great time there, the food is so nice and the cocktails was amazing6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMIncredible dessertsEverything we had was amazing! Edamame ravioli, Cantonese egg rolls and shrimp pad Thai. All fantastic with a unique twist on flavors. However it was the chocolate gateau and chocolate sorbet that were actually mind blowing. The chocolate gateau came with basil icecream and was indescribable. I would go back just for the desserts.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMdelicious experienceI recently went to Buddhakan for dinner with a group of friends. This is one of my favorite restaurants in Philly. None of them had ever been before. Buddhakan delivered! We loved every bite and service was attentive and helpful. We had great seating by the giant Budda. Thank you for a wonderful dining experience. Will definitely be back soon.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazingThe ambiance is great! The Chilean Sea bass was delicious. The food is different but very good, it keeps me coming back to try different things on the menu. The deserts are tantalizing, with very distinct flavors that all blend together deliciously as they hit your palate.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMbuffakanExcellent food with wonderful service. Unfortuantley the noise level was very high. the Fried rice and the spare ribs were incredibly good. It was difficult to converse becasue of the noise. would go again but during the week for a less hectic time.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMVery professionalFood and service was outstanding! Made my wife a specialty drink that used to be on the menu that she really loved. Servers were very nice! Beautiful ambience.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazingWe have been coming here for years and this time we brought friends that had never been! We order appetizers dinner and desert and shared it all! I was a little saddened that they no longer have the banana tower desert but i was happy with the dessert I chose. The experience was very pleasurable for them as well and the will also be returning!5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMdate night dinnerMy boyfriend and I go out to a new restaurant every friday for date night and Buddakan has been our favorite so far! The food and drinks were amazing. You have to get the tuna spring rolls if you go! Our server was great as well. Overall a fantastic experience :)5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMWhen in Philly, we love toWhen in Philly, we love to stop in at Buddakan. Always just better than most Asian inspired venues. Food is unusual in its full flavor, plated beautifully, and a great bargain at lunch. We always have a great experience here.5/30/2013 12:00:00 AMGoodbye DinnerI took my two daughters (20 something) and their friend for a special dinner for the friend who is going away for an internship this summer. Our waiter was very helpful with drink and appetizer recommendations, we sat right under the Buddha and had a wonderful time. Of course, being a Starr restaurant, the noise level was very high.5/30/2013 12:00:00 AMLunchtime bargainWe were very happy with our experience. The Bento Box lunch is a terrific value.5/28/2013 12:00:00 AMBuddakan was great as always.Buddakan was great as always. Hope to be back soon.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMThe noise level was too high.The noise level was too high. Not sure 'energetic' captures that accurately. Makes it sound like a positive, but it's really not.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat night, great food.I went here with a friend and the experience was amazing. The service was fast and impeccable, the food came out quickly and was delicious. There were many unique dinner options, which made for a very fun experience. The atmosphere was fun and lively. I highly recommend and would go again.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMClassy & professionalIt was my first visit. I had high expectations. The service and ambiance did not disappoint. The food did a little. The drinks were superb. I would give Buddakan another shot.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat NightStarting with the valet parking and quick seating, the service was fabulous. Our waitress was quick to define dishes and make recommendations based on our preferences. The salads were big enough for two people and very good. The Miso Black Cod was flavorful and tender. It may have been the best cod I have ever eaten. The Five Spice Duck Breast was very good. My wife had the Wasabi Crusted Filet cooked medium rare. Soft, tender and full of flavor are words that describe it well. At the end of the evening we were so full we could not even order dessert. The only drawback is that we found the restaurant noise level was high for our liking5/23/2013 12:00:00 AMSo Good!We went for dinner and drinks and everything was wonderful. Our server was extremely attentive, and the entire staff was so friendly. We really enjoyed ourselves!5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMComplete Experience!Behind the impressive doors lies a delightful dining experience;
atmosphere, attentive service, beautifully presented delicious food.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMI thought that our serverI thought that our server was extremely helpful and for having quite a few tables, very attentive to our needs. The food was delicious and I would definitely recommend Buddakan to anyone. I'm a big fan of Stephen Starr restaurants in general I love the feel of his locations and the food is always way above par.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMFinally got there!Everyone raves about this destination restaurant and we decided to finally try it. Was an excellent but pricy experience. Titan tab exceeded $200 for two. We will return, but with a more discerning eye on what we order.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMSome of Philly's finest!We dined a Buddakan during our stay in Philadelphia for a work conference. I initially made a reservation for a large group of 8 but due to fluctuating schedules we ended up only three. The hostess was gracious when I called only 2 hours before our reservation to inform her of the change. Our table was spacious (set for 5) for three which enabled us to order two sides in addition to the two appetizers and three entrees we had already decided upon. Every dish was exquisite. We had two alcoholic beverages each and shared dessert. Eating family style is really how you must enjoy the many dishes at Buddakan. The bill was split and more affordable than dinner at Amada the night prior. Overall, Superb. A must if you are in Philly.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways amazingThere isn't much I can say other than the reason that Buddakan has been here for so many years is that it's always amazing. Always fresh, always new, and just simply perfect. My favorite place by far.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful place for lunchBeautiful ambience, great service, and a nice value for lunch -- the "bento box" special offers three dishes (your choice from a list) for $15. The portions were very reasonable and the food was delicious. A highlight of my visit to Philadelphia.5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMI took a very special ladyI took a very special lady on a first date there and the place worked it's magic. On the way there I didn't think that I'd get another date with her but after we left.....I'll probably get 10. Thank you for an enjoyable evening........and making my job easier (smile)5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food and service was perfect.The food and service was perfect. We came with two other couples and everyone had a wonderful time. The family style serving was fun for everyone to share. We started with Zen-Gria which gave the night a perfect start. The Calamari salad was delicious. Do not miss ordering it. The entrees were all perfect. We had scallops, and shrimp as fish dishes. We had short ribs which were the best, the filet was like butter and the pork tenderloin was perfect. Do not miss leaving room for dessert. The doughnuts cannot be skipped. We loved the chocolate bento box.
Service was perfect with just the correct attention to our needs. A perfect night was had by all. We will be ack soon.5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of our favorite restaurantsOne of our favorite restaurants to go to when we visit our daughter. Great ambiance! Great food!5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing experience at BuddakanExtremely good food, reasonably priced, loved the atmosphere! Our server was really great too...will definitely be recommending and returning :)5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMAn outstanding restaurant,An outstanding restaurant, which desreves its reputation. The food was very interesting. We ate variations of dishes that we had never tried before, and liked them all. The decor, too , was outstanding.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMDeliciousI wasn't entirely sure what to expect from Buddakan and originally thought there would be a greater selection of sushi but this is an entirely different dining experience. The portions are healthy and perfect for sharing so you and others can try multiple items. We had the sashimi, the spare ribs and the crab sticky rice and everything was amazing.
It was a little cramped in the table we were in but all in all a great dining experience in Philly.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Food, Inconsistent ServiceThis was my first dining experience at Buddakan and my first impressions were very positive. In the beginning, the service was great and our server was very attentive. We ordered the steamed shrimp dumplings and the calamari salad for appetizers. Everyone loved both dishes but the calamari salad was a table favorite. Drinks were served on time and water glasses were continuously filled. For entrees, we ordered the sea bass, the dungeness crab sticky rice, the black garlic chicken, and a side of chinese eggplant. All the food was delicious but we received someone else's entree instead of the crab sticky rice and had to wait for it to arrive. Then we waited 20 minutes for dessert menus. Disappointing end to an otherwise great meal.5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMBest in PhillyThere is no better restaurant on Philadelphia. It has been A number of years between visits and it only gets better. You will not be sorry for either lunch or dinner.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat lunchI can't say enough how great the service was there. The watress we had for lunch on Tues was so very nice and friendly. Food was also very good. We really enjoyed it!5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways a fave!Every time we go to Buddakan it seems to get better and better...between the food and the the service, and the atmosphere is a plus! Buddakan is one of our favorite spots to eat.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMFun place with good foodThe sea bass is fantastic. Try the buns they are good too. Nice cocktail menu as well.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AM