This was a really cool experience. It starts with how well decorated the place is - it's easy to forget you're in midtown. Each dish was also presented beautifully. Five flavor plate - a nice amuse-bouche that went through a series of flavors: Hawthorne jelly for sour, yams for sweet - butter melon jelly for bitter, mushroom.and black pepper for spicy, and radish cracker for salty. The bitter melon was my favorite and definitely wasn't that better - it had pleasant spices almost like a chutney. Next was mushrooms in a light cucumber sauce, followed by a savory and thick 18 vegetable soup. This was a nice back to back contrast of light and simple with rich and hearty. The next three courses were aiming to imitate meat a little more. The first was a grilled mushroom over fragrant green millet. Then, sweet and sour tofu skin, and another grilled mushroom covered in a curry sauce. Of these, the tofu skin was my favorite as the bright course in between the savory ones. Next was rice in a savory broth with peach jelly, and then a nutty noodle dish with a smooth and creamy sauce with a nice blend of spices. These helped round out the meal, and the noodles were especially tasty. To end was a dessert made from berries and sweet potato, almost with the texture of ice cream. Reservation is required and the meal is prepaid except for tip. The whole thing came to about $130 each after tax and tip. I found the meal to be less heavy than most other tasting menus and very creative. read more

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Bodai Vegan serves imperial-style Chinese cuisine on Midtown's east side. The food is light and clean; the chef prepares ingredients minimally so you taste the natural, earthy flavors. Served as a progressive prix fixe menu, dishes arrive one after the other. We started with a delightful five-flavor plate--each bite focusing on a different taste profile--plus cucumber-sauced mushrooms and a grounding Bodhi Buddha soup. Rich matsutake mushrooms and sweet-and-sour riblets followed, paired with bowl-steamed rice and noodles, before finishing with a refreshing sweet potato dessert. Service is smooth. Our server, Hannah, paced the courses briskly and professionally, perfect since we had a show afterward. Still, block out at least an hour and a half to truly enjoy the thoughtfully curated meal. The space is fully wheelchair friendly with wide pathways. Because it is strictly reservation-only, plan ahead. It works beautifully for celebrations or a romantic evening. read more

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Had an amazing experience dining here, the food was delicious and thoughtfully presented. Think elevated Chinese temple food. In terms of a prefix menu I thought this was really good value per person. The atmosphere that they created was very tranquil and serene even though the tables were a little bit too close to each other. The chairs were too heavy for my liking. If I'm being a bit nitpicky, I felt like the chopstick rests and the fake flowers detract from the decor a bit and it feels a bit tacky but overall, the ambiance was good. My favorite dishes were all at the beginning where I really liked the Five flavor Plate (my favorite taste was the bittermelon one). The cauliflower mushroom dish was also really unique but my favorite dish of the night was Buddha jumps over the wall. The dry ice presentation was stunning. There were eight types of braised mushrooms, and texturally, the dish was just so interesting and umami. This was the pinnacle and highlight for me. It kind of tasted like a Chinese cream of mushroom soup haha. If you like mushrooms and soy, you would really like this tasting menu. There were times I felt some dishes were a little bit too salty (roasted matsutake), but as far as tasting menus go, it wasn't bad overall. While the presentation of the dessert was nice, it was really impractical to eat and a little bit difficult. I also wish there was more of dessert that's a bit more than two bites haha. read more

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The Prix fixe menu experience was amazing. When you walk in you are transported to a different place, the decoration and ambiance was amazing. Food was delicious and plated beautifully. read more

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Amazing ambiance. Only two tables per seating time and there wasn't another party so we essentially had the whole restaurant to ourselves. The decor and background music made for such a zen environment. All the courses were super unique and creative. Really good value for money imo ($99 pp). read more

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Bodai is New York's hottest new plant-based restaurant that nobody is talking about. Dining there is an experience. They are reservation only, and you pay in advance when you book. The restaurant is small with only about two tables, so the experience is intimate. When you enter, you are transported to a whole world that makes you forget you're in Midtown Manhattan. We LOVED our experience here. We appreciated that the menu is focused around natural ingredients like mushrooms and vegetables and fresh herbs. And more mushrooms. (Lots of mushrooms lol. But each one unique and not overly mushroomy.) The first course was a real work of art, with five individual bites, each representing a different flavor (sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty) - kind of like five amuse-bouche bites. The rest of the courses spanned a diversity of flavors and textures from the crowd-pleasing sweet and sour "riblets" made of pear and tofu skin to the clean, refreshing zhajiang noodles to the incredible Nepali mushroom with pepper sauce. There wasn't a miss among them. We ate every bite and felt satisfied by the end, though overall it is a light meal. Each dish is meticulously crafted to be equal parts delicious and beautiful. We were charmed and fascinated by every course that emerged. Many (most?) of the dishes featured ingredients I had never tried before or even heard of, such as cauliflower mushroom and peach gum. This experience begs comparison to dining at Eleven Madison Park. Both are plant-forward rather than fake meat-forward. Both are impressive and delicious - honestly pretty similar overall. At $99 per person, Bodai feels like a much fairer price for such a luxurious and unforgettable experience. We would love to return in a few months when the menu has changed over! read more

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I have been trying for two weeks to get a reservation for one. I went to the restaurant but the door is closed because you have to have a reservation. Then I called two different numbers and once they answered me and told me I have to email to make a reservation for one because the automatic reservation system only accepts reservations for two and above. I emailed them twice and I also reached out both on the dm and comments on their Instagram. If this is how little they care, I can't imagine actually being at the restaurant. Very disappointed. They could at least respond. read more

Very good food, exquisite decor, impeccable service. I had to give 5 stars. It was unlike any dining experience we have ever had, starting with the locked entry door. Initially uncertain if we should enter through the neighboring hotel we quickly discovered we needed to use the ring doorbell to gain entry. Greeted by our kimono clad server we were seated adjacent to a serene zen garden. The entire dining area evokes a serene outdoor environment to to point of having stork statues on the table holding incense burners. Extremely well thought out, the overall effect is understated and complements the food to come. We both enjoyed a glass of Pinot Noir; I also ordered 'herbal fruit tea' which actually worked out quite nicely; I would do the same if we were to return. As noted earlier, service from our kimono clad server was impeccable . Our server unobtrusively monitored as we progressed through the tasting menu; bringing each 'course' after an appropriate interval. Tea was was promptly refilled without asking. Quite possibly the best service we have ever received at a restaurant. The food was very good. Honestly I don't even know what were eating for most courses (despite being told as the courses were served), but I do know it was good. They provide a menu in a nicely decorated box. For the menu items which actually described what was served, it appeared most items included obscure mushroom varieties. Well, the varieties were obscure to us, I am sure many (most?) of the patrons would recognize them. Needless to say, it was expensive. Although we could definitely see ourselves returning, our initial reaction was that we needed to 'cleanse' at some 'hole in the wall' restaurants first. Repeating myself again, it was unlike any dining experience we've ever had. read more

Loved this experience. Every dish was incredible and plated impeccably. And the ambiance was stunning, loved the zen garden! The staff were also super helpful and knowledgeable about ingredients. Overall, one of my new favorite plant-based tasting menu experiences, so glad we celebrated our anniversary here! read more

Bodai Vegetarian Restaurant - Dessert - Vegetarian Near Me - New York, New York

I had a great time here! Looking for vegetarian, high-end meals can be a challenge but Bodai fits the bill! The menu was a true celebration of mushrooms especially, and I love mushrooms so it worked well for me. Each dish was a great size and I felt full by the end but not overstuffed or weighed down. Fantastic rich umami flavors and interesting textures throughout the courses, and the dessert was super refreshing. The tea didn't do much for me, but I'm not a tea expert. The non-vegetarian menu I can't speak towards but it was cool seeing other tables get their dishes. Decor was a little over the top, but it was nice! Felt like a real escape from midtown. Even the silverware felt so thoughtfully presented. Service was lovely. Would definitely return with other vegetarians or folks looking for an interesting experience! read more

This could be one of the Best Dining Experiences I've ever had! Let start by saying I'm a meat eater, but I chose this Vegetarian restaurant for a Birthday Celebration for my dining date. It was MAGICAL. Chef Guo is a True Master of this Cuisine. I've eaten in dozens of 4 and 5 star Restaurants and this one ranks in the Top 5 for sure. The restaurant only holds 12 people MAX. On our night we were the Only patrons which made the experience that much more special. The interior of the place is exquisite and meaningful. Each piece is hand selected. An imported tree that signifies Health and Well Being is the centerpiece. The plates and food platforms, eating utensils (beyond silverware) are each unique and special in their own way. Superb personable Service. You are transported to another land. But, the Star is clearly the FOOD. It's a LEVEL UP from almost any place I've ever eaten. Chef Guo transformed 9 incredibly rare mushrooms with dozens of other spices and flavors into 9 tasting courses that are perfectly arranged and timed. The taste of each course defies the palate. An appetizer eaten in sequence perfectly starts the meal, mushroom 'soup' that tastes like perfectly cooked noodles and broth, Riblets that emulate a Filet Mignon... just amazing. The Knife work and plate presentation is the most precise and elegantly delegate I've ever seen. The most finely chopped and crafted ingredients in shapes and on a beds of minuscule broccoli flowers and rice. Just incredible! Even a special and symbolic dessert was prepared for my Birthday partner. I was completely full and my palate was completely satisfied after the 9 courses. This meal totally overdelivered in every way. Worth every penny. If you want to have a really special and Magical dining experience you should try this Vegetarian Wonder of a Restaurant. After 50 years of dining out BODAI truly stands alone in my book. read more