We celebrated the Lunar New Year at Budhai and enjoyed a few dishes we hadn't tried before. The shrimp dumplings are steamed to perfection. I ordered the chicken lo mien which is highly addictive. And Hubby had the Singapore noodles, which are very thin noodles that have some heat, as well as curry notes. We shared the flowering tea which is delicate in flavor and warms you up on a cold night. The restaurant was busy, but we felt the staff took good care of us. read more

Budai Gourmet Chinese - Mini pork buns - Chinese Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Luckily I went here recently, as I didn't know they were closing. They had very good Taiwanese food. Very flavorful dishes, very fresh, and very accommodating making vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free food. I don't like to get the more typical American food too often- it tends to be too salty, saucy, oily, and just not my preferred flavors. This place was different. Really good where you taste all the garlic and other herbs and spices, while also really tasting the vegetables and other food itself. read more

Since I arrived in Albuquerque in 2009, I've eaten at Budai often and especially on Christmas Day for those of us who don't celebrate. The food had always been good and the service too. However, this past Christmas did not feel the same. We are used to the hour wait, no problem but the staff is down to only two servers who worked their tails off! The wait for the check was too long as the owner was running around hurriedly like that day just too much. Over time, a few table were either removed near the back but there is a family style round table for more than 6 folks. The good thing is that the menu is a set menu for the day. I think it's easier for the cook and staff as well. Bravo! However, this may be our last year there since the food did not meet our usual expectations. Thanks for the memories. read more

This reviewer is split. I'm not sure if it was an off day for Budai for one member of our dinning experience but.... My dinner was fabulous. Highly recommend garlic beef. The flavor was phenomenal. The other dinner ordered the beef stew in clay pot, I tried it-it was flat. Flavor wise. Not a big fan of it. Our table also tried the egg rolls, shrimp dumplings, and the green onion pancake. The shrimp dumpling was authentic and delicious (I felt like I was back in China visiting authentic). The egg rolls and pancake were over fried and oily. Can't help but wonder if there was two cooks or something with how different everything was. I would be willing to return, but my dining partner would not. read more

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Tried the Pork Dumplings this time and they were perfectly cooked. Delicious. Budai Gourmet delivers! read more

Didn't know what to expect from Taiwanese cuisine in Albuquerque, but this was about it. Ordered ahead of time to-go and the dish was prepared within 15 minutes which was nice. I ordered the Beef Noodle Soup and the soup base itself was pretty good, spicy, and rich with flavor - maybe almost a bit too spicy. The noodles and other bits of the dish were forgettable. I felt like the beef they utilized wasn't quite right as usually in this dish, the beef is in the form of beef chunks not bulgogi-type beef cuts. The weirdest part about this dish was the fact that it was almost $20. Overall, this is what you would expect from Taiwanese cuisine in Albuquerque. read more

I've finally found my favorite Chinese restaurant! I went with a friend today and ordered the mini shrimp dumplings, ma po tofu (extra spicy), salt and pepper short ribs and beef stew in clay pot. Everything was so good and flavorful! The mini shrimp dumplings were soft, tender and tasty. The ma po tofu had little bits of pork in it and was full of umami flavor and soft tofu. It's the best I've had so far in NM. Salt and pepper short ribs were super tender inside with a light and crispy exterior and perfectly seasoned. There was no prim and proper way to eat them, so we just dug in. The beef stew in clay pot was impressive! It came sizzling to our table and the aroma!!! So flavorful with tender beef, Napa cabbage and clear glass noodles on the bottom. So very good! We had just missed the lunch rush. The service was polite and efficient. Our server seemed to be happy to see us enjoying our food so much. Very nice guy. We were so happy to be seated at a comfortable booth. So many restaurants seem too modern and almost sterile. This place has a warm and comfortable feel. This is a place we'll go out of our way to visit again. I can't wait to take my husband next time! read more

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The service is very fast at this restaurant. I ordered and it came within 5 minutes. The prices are also probably average for places nowadays. I ordered a chicken dish and I found the chicken a little fatty. My friend ordered the same thing and loved hers if I come back I will probably only get vegetarian or tofu as the proteins I consider ordering. read more

Stopped in to give this place a second try. Regretted it. Over an hour later the inside of my mouth still tastes of salt. Scallion Pancake - 2/5. This came out a bit burnt. We were very hungry, so we ate it anyway, but I wouldn't recommend it. Compares unfavorably to making one from a frozen packet at home. Cashew Chicken - 3/5 Edible, if a bit too salty. Taste was largely as one would expect from standard American Chinese fast food. Three Cup Chicken - 2/5 This recipe is supposed to be equal parts rice wine, soy sauce, and sesame oil, and does not call for thickening with starch. In this presentation of Three Cup Chicken, the soy sauce completely dominated the flavor of the other ingredients, and it was served with a thickened slurry of sauce. A very poor presentation of this dish. Rice - 2/5 Cold. At over $30 per person with tax and tip, I'd like to see Budai step up the quality of their offerings substantially before I feel comfortable recommending it. read more

In summary, it's flavorless, small-portioned, poorly timed, insufficiently packaged and the dining room is too warm. It's pricy for the quality and amount. The kitchen is slow. There is a surcharge for using a credit card. Pass on this place. The famous greeting was absent and they seemed stressed. The Yelp hours were not updated as of 10/2/24, suggested update. They were 15-10 minutes from closing at 3pm and reopen at 5pm. The petite Asian woman up front was adamant that we would have to come back another time. Oh well, we were just going by the Yelp hours. Now this rating is only based on how we were treated at the front desk. Flavorless or weak flavor in the general Tao and garlic sauces and canned sweet and sour sauce. The fried rice had very little carrots, egg, and no peas. But for now, we are going back to a great place up the road where we have always been welcome even near closing time, China Luck. read more

Budai Gourmet Chinese - 4 shrimp with garlic sauce $16 - Chinese Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Please reopen somewhere!!! This is my favorite place to eat and it's gone, so sad. The food on the service was really good. read more

The food tasted okay but the fried rice wasn't fresh or even warm to the touch also service is very slow including getting the bill however the staff if nice it's not the first place on my list to go again. read more

Budai Gourmet Chinese - Sweet and Sour Chicken with fried rice lunch special - Chinese Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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We went in for Sunday lunch and there were only 2 other tables. One group left and another came in. We were surprised that it was not packed. The service was adequate, but not too attentive. The food though was superior. The dumplings were great, both the steamed and goyza. The egg drop soup was steaming and tasty. We all adored the eggplant with garlic sauce, and the green beans with garlic sauce. They were heaping plates of each family style. The sesame chicken with broccoli and the beef lowmein were good as well. We will make a point of coming now regularly. read more

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Stopped here for lunch recently and ordered the mini shrimp dumplings, mini pork dumplings, and salt and pepper short ribs. Egg fried rice for the little one. Everything was pretty dang good. The mini shrimp dumplings were true to size and served hot with house-made sauce (maybe soy, fish sauce and house stock of some sort). The desirable seafood flavor truly came through in each bite. The pork dumplings were paired perfectly with a white vinegar and ginger sauce, I believe. The salt and pepper short ribs were both tender and crispy (have to watch for little chunks of bone). Could've used a bit more vegetables to go with the ribs and the white rice was pretty bland, but all in all, very satisfied with this meal and the friendly service. Low key decor inside with comfortable booths and a quiet atmosphere. Will certainly return. Cheers. read more

Budai Gourmet Chinese - Mini shrimp dumplings and egg fried rice. - Chinese Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Beautiful, crazy, Budai can't help but amaze me. The way that this food dances, ain't afraid to take chances, And wears its flavours on our lips. Yeah, Budai is crazy but her crazy's beautiful to me. We dined on our takeaway of Kung Pao Duck....succulent duck, that karate chopped its way with veggies and sauce to come out the clear winner; Competing for second place, was the entrée Black Pepper Lamb, that was surprisingly missing pepper, but, was juicy & scrumptious..:) Yeah, Budai's delicious crazy, she's crazy, she's crazy, But her crazy's beautiful to me. Thanks for tuning in to me verse. Best, Avram L. Combs Jr. read more

Budai Gourmet Chinese - Beautiful Crazy to Me..:) - Chinese Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Great food and good service. The food is very flavorful and the staff is very friendly. Our meals came out quick and everything tasted fresh. I had the garlic beef with veggies which was delicious and my boyfriend had the combo fried rice which he also enjoyed. Prices were a bit high for the portions but we enjoyed our meals and would visit again. read more

Budai Gourmet Chinese - Garlic beef with rice - Chinese Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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this is my new favorite chinese spot. everything was so amazing i don't know where to even begin. the menu is pretty big, which is nice. they have duck on the menu which i don't eat but i know they don't have in a lot of places. i had the hot and sour soup, pork ribs (not the salted ones), onion pancake, eggrolls and crab rangoon. my partner had the pork belly and he was pretty crazy about it. none of it was too greasy and the flavor....how do i even describe it? it was this really nice blend of spices. i can't really put my finger on why it was so delicious but it was. it was kind of an east coast chinese dining experience. and of course the service was impeccable. i'm certainly going to be going back and will be working my way through everything i usually eat on the menu. i also noticed there are many regular customers who seem to have been coming for years. it's the best chinese food i've had in many years and definitely the best i've had in albuquerque. read more

This is definitely the best Chinese / Taiwanese restaurant in ABQ. All the dishes were delicious and authentic. Food came quick and service was great. Will be returning to try more of their menu! They can also make a lot of their dishes gluten free if needed. read more

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We had takeout again and once again everything was delicious. We tried Lemon Chicken and Shrimp with snow peas. We always get xtra rice and sweet and sour sauce. They are very nice and very accommodating. We will certainly be back in the future. Definitely delighted with Budai!!! read more

This gem is hidden in a strip mall off of San Mateo. Stuck between a juice bar and a Dollar Tree. The facade of the building is unassuming but make no mistake. This restaurant has been recipient to many "Best Of..." awards over the years. My sister, son and I visited ate here on Thursday, February 24, 2022. Elsa, the vivacious co-owner, greeted us at the door. After sitting down, she told us her husband made all our great tasting food, but that he wouldn't cook for her at home. We ordered Jasmine tea, three pots, and it was delicate and light. It wasn't, however, decaffeinated, as proven by my inability to sleep that night. Elsa suggested the steamed pork buns appetizer, which came with 10 of the pillowy soft buns. They were juicy and flavorful and paired nicely with the dipping sauce. For our main course we ordered three dishes and shared. The crispy flounder with broccoli featured a large fillet with a vinegar, tart sauce. This one ended up as my favorite. The clay pot beef we ordered off the "secret" menu. It came with glass noodles, Bok choy, and scallions and came out boiling hot. The succulent beef had been cooked in that pot for hours. This dish came out number one for my sister and son. Last, but not least, we had the pork belly. This one had nice fat, but I think all of us prefer crispy to tender pork belly. All these dishes came with a sidekick of rice. At the end of our meal, Elsa showed us the wall of celebrities that had graced their restaurant over the years. Her husband and son were in most of the photos, and as she talked; I could tell she was very proud of them. Jackie Chan, Richard Gere and Miss New Mexico had all visited their restaurant. I must say, the restaurant is worthy of the "gourmet" in their name. All the dishes tasted exceptionally delicious. For three main dishes, an appetizer, and three pots of Jasmine tea we paid $75.28. read more

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Not sure what happened but tonight's dinner was a disaster. My wife's Jalapeno Shrimp was 95% green pepper and my Sha Cha duck had little bits and pieces of duck. read more

It's high time I update my thoughts on a Chinese cuisine staple in the 505, Budai. It's one of my favorite spots to take novice and adventurious eaters alike, because the American Chinese menu standards (think Sweet & Sour, Kung Pao) are clean, flavorful and crowd-friendly, whereas you'll also find some unique dishes once relegated to a "secret menu" -- but no longer. These dishes, offering delights such as Mongolian beef tongue and oyster omelette, were my go-to around here for years, and I'll admit I was sad to learn the menu disappeared. But have no fear: the ever-gregarious co-owner, Elsa (you can't miss her, she's always the first friendly face you'll meet as you walk in the door), can handle special orders and now features several of the shall-we-say "exotic" specialties on the main menu (see "Chef Exclusive"), and upon a board by the register. My most recent go-around was easily the most pedestrian foray I've encountered, I went with the Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup, and it was a delight, particularly with a heapin' helpin' of Elsa's hot pepper sauce. The order fed two people and provided that comfort thing that udon noodles appear destined to deliver, oh Heavenly Creator, whomever you are, thou who created the udon noodle, my eternal gratitude to you, nood dude, er, dudess. read more

Budai Gourmet Chinese - Taiwanese beef noodle soup - Chinese Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

In the mood for Chinese and having gone by this restaurant multiple times it was time to stop. The sign said open, but there were no cars parked around the shop. So we enter a dark room and are greeted at the door. She explains the seating area of the store is closed between 2-5pm. They are usually only open for take-out. But business is slow so they'd be happy to seat us. Ok, great 1st impression. Can it hold? Menus and drink order arrives. I find something I rarely eat - Mongolian Duck, so that, Mongolian Beef, BBQ Pork Bao & wonton soup. the Bao comes 1st - it's a work of art, a steaming bowl of soup comes right behind the Bao. Followed by our entrees. The Duck was excellent, a few pieces had a small amount of fat on them. Just enough to add flavor. Duck is naturally greasy. But this dish wasn't, the meat was tender and the chef was able to walk that fine line between tender and overly greasy. Like wise the Mongolian Beef was tender. Both dishes were flavorful and not too spicy. I see why it consistently get 5-stars. read more

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It had been a while since we ate at Budai. They pretty much closed during Covid so we noticed they were open again and we went back. They did not disappoint! I ordered Kung Pao chicken and my husband ordered Walnut Shrimp. Both dinners which we shared, were great. The chicken was perfectly Seasoned and the shrimp in my husband dinner were huge. We will definitely be going back. The service was prompt and attentive. They have pretty much gotten back to pre-Covid food and service so if you haven't been there in a while go back and get a true gourmet Chinese meal. read more

Budai Gourmet Chinese Restaurant in Albuquerque http://www.budaigourmet.com/contact-us.php It's owned and operated by a Taiwanese family. In my opinion, it's definitely the best Chinese restaurant in Albuquerque, if not in the whole state of New Mexico. My wife and I will never eat elsewhere if we decide again to go for Chinese food. I especially liked Orange Peel Chicken, popularly known as Orange Chicken. Budai's version is definitely out of this world. So tasty, crunchy yet tender inside. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Budai Gourmet Chinese - Chinese Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Great delicious food! This place was recommended by a friend wow I love it! Yes it's a little pricey it worth it! The combination lomein was delicious! We also had sweet and sour pork. Along with some other plates. The portions are pretty big. They were quite busy with take out orders which made us have to wait on service. But they are very friendly! Will definitely be going back read more

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Love the mini pork buns here. Food is always delicious, and waitstaff are always welcoming.

I had never been to this place. I was invited by someone and I was happy that I was. The food was good and flavorful. There are a lot of different options. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The were attentive to our needs and it was worth the visit. I would like to go again and try other things. read more

Soo yummy! My hubs said it was authentic and not heavy. Their xiao long bao was as good as dtf for me, really! Very clean and friendly. Wish I lived closer so we could come here more often. read more

The three cup chicken is really good! We love it! And we always have something to take home for dinner. Delicious food!

Budai doesn't ever disappoint. I always ask for their "other" menu to get their original Chinese dishes that isn't on the regular one. Being Asian and raised in Hawaii, coming to the mainland and eating American-Chinese food doesn't always hit the spot. Budai offers some dishes that brings me comfort from food back home. Such dishes as their dumplings with the broth inside and their Chinese eggplant with pork. When dining in Budai, the service is always great and they take care of their customers. read more

Great service and great food. I love their maps tofu and pork belly special! Would recommend to try.

Proper xiao long bao in New Mexico?!?! I've been craving these for a long time. I'm stoked to find them in my new city. They're a little overpriced, and they could have used more soup, but considering how hard it is to find these outside of NYC, LA, or SF, I give them 5 stars. The rest of the menu looked delicious as well. I'll be back for sure. read more

Budai Gourmet Chinese - Xiao long bao - Chinese Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

This place has never been a place for a cheap meal but it was so good that i had been patronizing it ever since i moved to Albuquerque (12 yrs), but no more. I got a take out order last night that consisted of a large order of hot and sour soup (which was neither), two orders of veggie eggrolls (tiny and tasteless) and Kung Pao Shrimp (very bland). The tab was $43 after she added on a fee for using my debit card. For that money i can get a tasty feast at most of the restaurants i do still like in Albuquerque. She is just cashing in on her former glory now. That won't carry her very far. I'm glad i got to enjoy it when it was still great. Bye read more

We were asked, literally, "what are you here for?"....ummm, the deliciousness that we can smell coming outta that kitchen right now????....oh, no....its 3:02 and the dining room closed at 3:00..... I can't deal with less than kind.... read more

Food was ok nothing special Service was good the day I was there it was cash only CC machine was out of service, place was a good size and calm looking. read more

In a strip mall, doesn't look like much form the outside. I was seated right away and the young server was there right away to take my drink order. Ordered the General Tao chicken and the pork buns appetizer. Pork bun was very good. Soft sweet bread outside wIth a sweet pork filling. They were much larger than I anticipated. I wasn't sure if I was going to have to get the entree to go. Genera Tao chicken was next. It was good. Hot crunchy chicken and plenty of it. The sauce was a little thinner than I'm accustomed, but the flavor profile was good. The young waiter checked in with me several times. Great service, good food, great price. read more

Best Chinese food in town!!! Talk about amazing comfort food. The food itself is has so much flavor without over powering the food. The prices are decent for the amount of food you get. The jalapeño chicken dish is my favorite! read more

Best soup dumplings in Albuquerque (the other places I have tried in town are Noodle Works and It Dim Sum). Amazing dishes, the lunch special is so so good. I have tried so many things (probably over half the menu by now) and everything is so great. Every tofu dish is amazing and so different. I am always impressed read more

Lunch today. Ordered Taiwanese noodles with shrimp. Very bland. Asked for hot mustard. Served very diluted. Asked for low sodium soy sauce. Waitress did not understand what I wanted. Asked for sweet/sour sauce to give the food some flavor. Did not help. Served thin and cold. Two star experience at best. See no reason to return. read more