Made dinner ressys here as I was visiting Philly for the first time and heard so many good things about the famous edamame dumplings. Parking was easy to find outside, and I was welcomed and greeted nicely upon entering. They provided me with a veggie menu upon seating me, which I really appreciated. I also had the pleasure of being waited on by the very handsome Vinny. He checked in on me often and made sure I was enjoying my meal. The edamame dumplings were pretty good! I had imagined whole edamame beans, but they were mashed inside, which was definitely a surprise. Also had the wasabi mashed potatoes, which had a very unique flavor that I hadn't had before. Overall my dining experience went very well. I accidentally dropped one of my chopsticks, and a gentleman picked it up immediately and got me a new one. Inside the ambiance was relaxing and the lights were dim, but I was still able to take nice pics of my meal. Highly recommend if you're in the area :) read more

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Everything was delicious! My only gripe is the price of everything. Nothing was "wow" to the point where it commanded the price they charge for each dish. Interior is upscale, great for a business dinner. Service is kind and attentive. We'll likely be back, because we haven't had a bad meal yet. Everything was delicious! My only gripe is the price of everything. Nothing was "wow" to the point where it commanded the price they charge for each dish. Interior is upscale, great for a business dinner. Perhaps that's where the price tag comes from. Service is kind and attentive. We'll likely be back, because we haven't had a bad meal yet. read more

Absolutely amazing. Everything was delicious. We celebrated a 50th birthday and had a predetermined menu. Appetizers included the edamame dumplings, Sichuan pork wontons, Cantonese spring rolls, and tea-smoked spare ribs. All were great-- The spare ribs and pork wontons were divine! Entrees included the wasabi crusted filet, pan seared chilean sea bass, grilled lamb chops, and lemon sesame chicken. Again, everything was wonderful but the filet, sea bass and lamb threw it out of the park! Sides included the korean beef fried rice, wok gai lan, and wasabi mashed potatoes. The fried rice... dangerous! Oh so good. Service, of course, was wonderful. I've thought about this place ever since! Cannot wait to go back. read more

Haven't been to Buddakan in years but thoroughly enjoyed it on New Year's Eve. The place was packed and our table of 12 was impressed by both the selections available as well as the high quality of the food. I won't try to describe what others had but the 2 of us shared the absolutely delicious special Sashimi in citrus-soy with sizzling oil. This was one of the best Sashimi's we have had in a long time and it was a very generous portion. We also shared the perfectly prepared Whole Peking Duck with moo shu pancakes. Others at our table got to taste it too because again the portion was so large. For it being a special night, the wait for our food was never long and our server, whose name I regrettably don't remember, made the night very special. So if it's been a long time since you've been here, come back again - you'll be impressed. read more

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Service was excellent for I assume a busy night which is every night, blessed by Buddha they are.

Great service, tasty foods, good for gathering party, dining room quiet a little bit dark, but that's not bothering enjoying the dinner. Also valet park is in front of door entrance, very convenient, and self parking is very close by. read more

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Food was incredible and the vibe is very cool. Our server made some good menu and drink suggestions and with one in our group with celiac we had great choices for our group. The edamame dumplings were so delicious (not gluten free). Our reservation needed to move by an hour and they were accommodating. Sat upstairs and really enjoyed the atmosphere. read more

Buddakan - Cocktail - Asian Fusion Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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This place was always on my must visit list when I go to Philly. I was familiar with the NYC location and had a great experience there. Buddakan is located in the Old Town section of Philly. It was very quiet and empty when I walked there. It seemed to be an odd place to put a high end restaurant when Rittenhouse was a couple blocks over. I was impressed as soon as I entered to see the waterfalls coming down and the large Buddha statue in the middle of the restaurant. It makes you feel as if you are transported to a different place enjoying the peaceful experience and fine dining. The one thing I wish I could have changed was the lighting. I need the lights to be turned on so I can look around and actually enjoy my food. I was not a fan of the darkness in the restaurant. I ordered the lobster fried rice and a glass of Nigori Sake. I took my advice from the waiter as he was more experienced with the menu than I was. The sake was okay but highly expensive for a tiny glass. I am not much of a sake expert so I would skip that the next time I am here. The lobster fried rice was okay. I was not amazed as I thought I would be. It seemed the same fried rice that I could get from any other Asian restaurant. For $26 it didn't seem to match the price point. If I do come back here I will plan on trying some of the other options to see what I prefer. I loved this restaurant but didn't enjoy the food on my first time here. read more

Buddakan - Asian Fusion Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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This was a fun find to try during Restaurant Week. I went with a friend and was pleasantly surprised by the cool, chill, relaxing vibe of Buddakan - there's low lighting, but a chic Asian flare to the decor and atmosphere. The chairs have faces adorning them of the owners' friends. The servers were quick and efficient. My meal included the tuna pizza, black miso cod, and dessert of the dip sum donuts. Everything was beyond delicious and all came at a price of $45 for RW. I will be back! read more

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A delightful day to spend here. It's Mother's Day and we enjoyed the crab fried rice, which was again a big hit. So hot and so delicious and flavorful. The barbecue pork just fell off the bone and was so amazing and so delicious. The service is exceedingly wonderful. I'm also smitten with the covers over the chairs because it shows us the owner's friends who posed for photographs!! Absolutely charming, and wonderful ambience. I had a wonderful time again!!! read more

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Went to Buddhism with colleagues and I recommend going with multiple people so you can share. They serve family style which is great. Our server was attentive and explained the dishes perfectly. The restaurant is large and inviting. The food was yummy but for Asian food, Sampan in Philly is my go to, so good! read more

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Been living in Philly for many years but hadn't been to Buddakan yet. I'm upset I hadn't gone sooner! Everything we tried was delicious. The tuna tartare spring rolls and the spicy rock shrimp bao buns were stand outs. Everything pictured was incredible, and we also enjoyed the shrimp lo mein, edamame, and korean beef fried rice. Dessert was SO good. I would recommend getting the donuts, but we also enjoyed the winding road chocolate cake. Our waiter was super helpful with answering our questions and giving great suggestions. We also loved the ambiance. Perfect lighting and nice seating. We will be back! read more

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We came here while visiting Philadelphia. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, with a mezzanine level looming over the floor. They have about a 10 foot Buddha watching as well. We were seated fairly quickly and the waiter explained the ordering process. Most things were served family style. They started us with soup dumplings and then the calamari salad then the lemon sesame chicken. My wife also had the crab fried rice. All items were cooked fresh, seasoned well and tasty. Cocktails were very good. Service was a little spotty at times. For Asian the price was more than most. It was a good dinner. read more

Buddakan - Asian Fusion Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Visited for a fancy girl night and had such a lovely time. Our waitress was particularly amazing! I personally loved the edamame dumplings and highly recommend them. I ordered the Korean Beef Fried Rice as my entree and was also very happy with it. The lighting in the restaurant was so nice. Really enjoyed the experience. read more

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Good Asian fusion and big portions! We came for buddakan week, which had a 3 course menu at a set price of $45, and everyone in our party got that. We expected to get partial portions since each person got an app, entree, and dessert and the menu is meant to be sharing sized, but everything ended up being full sized portions! I had the hamachi carpaccio and miso black cod, both of which were delicious. I also had relatively low expectations because I'm usually not a fan of Japanese fusion, but I was pleasantly surprised at how good everything was. The staff were also very accommodating when we were running ~25 mins late (we called to let them know), which was absolutely not expected and kind of them. I would return, especially for buddakan week. read more

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What a wonderful experience - from the hostess as we entered to the delicious food to the server - everything was great. We were warmly welcomed and recognized as first time guests. We were promptly seated and our server was great. He explained the menu and offered advice when requested. All of the food we tried was excellent. We ordered Dim Sum Doughnuts for dessert and it came out with a sparkler since it was our first visit. Such a fun surprise - we all loved it! The restaurant was clean and really pretty. I wish we lived closer!! read more

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After going to the one in New York a couple months ago, I recall the food being so good that I wanted to make the original my 'going out' dinner while in town. Arriving a little after their opening at 5p, I requested sitting at the bar, but was given a choice of upstairs or down. It's been so long I forgot there was one upstairs, so I decided on that to avoid the crowds that were sure to come. It is certainly darker up here compared to downstairs. Looking over the menu once more, I decided on the lemon sesame chicken but in lieu of the jasmine rice that comes with this, I went for the vegetable fried rice-minus egg-and the coconut curry foam on the side, just like I had the other month. I added an iced tea and took a look around this upstairs area, which had quite a few smaller parties on this earlier side of the evening. Even the white seat covers with people on them were still on, this place has certainly stood the test of time. I liked the fact that some of the menu items were still available (I had the wok cashew chicken last time while here at this location) and almost went with that, but wanted to give the newer lemon sesame dish a try. And I'm glad I did, this was SO good. Topped with sesame seeds, the chicken was already cut in the lemon sauce with half sliced lemons decorating the plate. This was enjoyable to the point where I only left one end left since I was so full. The rice was just as delicious as last time, and the coconut curry foam added unexpected flavor. I think I'll just keep this on the rice next time since it isn't so strong. Bartender Rachael was great! I really enjoyed my time here; things really haven't changed in some ways and although quite a number of Starr restaurants have gone under, I'm glad this one has remained. read more

Buddakan - Asian Fusion Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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We had a nice dining experience here and would recommend it. I would like to return to try more things on the menu. Everything we ordered was really good. We got the Peking Duck, chargrilled aged beef, and dim sum sampler (added a third of each one for our party of 3). My only complaint was the Chinese mustard sauce drizzled all over the Szechuan fries with the steak. It didn't taste good and it made the fries soggy. If the menu had mentioned it, I would have asked for the mustard to be on the side. The Peking Duck was really good! They deboned the entire duck which is unusual. The dim sum sampler was tasty. The edamame dumpling was a pleasant surprise. The shrimp dumpling was ok (the filling was too chunky and it fell apart after one bite). The pork wonton and chicken Ginger dumplings were very good. We got the strawberry dessert and the chocolate cake with banana buttercream and caramel peanuts. The strawberry one was described to us as a "deconstructed strawberry shortcake" but there wasn't really any cake. The presentation was nice but we didn't care for it. The chocolate/banana/peanut butter one was better. Our service was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. read more

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This place is always popping! High energy, packed with guests, people constantly moving around. A usable wouldn't be available for three more hours so we went to the bar upstairs. The bartender was skilled, nice and very helpful! We enjoyed cocktails, ribs, sea bass, cauliflower and crab fried rice. The ribs were a dish I remember from over a decade ago and they are just as I remembered! Tender and flavorful, just enough sticky sweet sauce. The accompanying cole slaw was tangy and delicious. The cauliflower with cashews, peppers and a savory sauce were tasty that night and when reheated the next night. The sea bass was melt in your mouth perfection. We finished they night with doughnuts and dipping sauce, a perfect ending. read more

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I went here for the first time to celebrate a birthday. The ambiance was great, dim lighting and very intimate setting. Even though the restaurant was crowded, the food came out timely and still hot. I got the Spirit drink and it was okay, a little sweeter than expected, but still good. For starters, we got the tuna tartare spring rolls, which was delicious and the spicy rock shrimp bao buns- delicious as well. Our server Vincent was also very accommodating to the size of our group and the appetizer portions. For the entree, I had the lamb chops, which was cooked to perfection and a large portion. We also got crab fried rice and Korean beef fried rice, both were great options. To end the night, Vincent brought a cake and sparkler to celebrate the birthday, which was thoughtful. I'll definitely be back. read more

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I've been to Buddakan for the last 10 years and themed is still great. Lots of vegetarian options. We went for restaurant week this time, and they had a separate vegetarian menu which I loved but so hard to pick from. Highly recommend! read more

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Buddakan has taken the throne as my forever go-to restaurant week dinner choice. Good food and good service every time, and there's always an abundance of good menu options to choose from. Appetizers wise, the edamame dumplings, lobster egg rolls, and spicy rock shrimp bao buns are all exceptional. Not on the restaurant week menu, the lobster fried rice and the pan seared sea bass are my absolute favorite main dishes. The dim sum donuts of the dessert menu are a fun way to end the meal. The jam, chocolate sauce, and gingered cream cheese steal the dim sum donuts show, and everything is packed in a cute takeout Chinese container if you're too full for dessert. Definitely one of my Philly favorites! read more

Buddakan - Miso Black Cod - Asian Fusion Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I came in tonight while on a work trip and saw it was restaurant week. Often that can mean lower standards and smaller portions, but not here. I had the tuna pizza, the miso black cod, and the donuts. Check out the pics - beautiful presentation and absolutely delicious. Also really fast compared to what I thought would happen given how busy. Great service at the downstairs bar - and killer ambiance. It's also close to Independence Hall if you're sightseeing. I would recommend Buddakan to anyone in the area. read more

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Been here before for dinner and came back thjs time for Restaurant week. Food quality for restaurant week was as good as regular dinner menu. Food was not overly seasoned and perfectly balanced. Will definitely come back to try the rest of the menu! Ordered: 5/5 shrimp bao: bao was ridiculously soft and shrimp was well seasoned and moist 3/5 tuna pizza: tuna was good but flavor profile was not balanced in my option. Could be better. 4/5 black cod: soft and flavorful. Mushrooms and radish were a nice touch. 4/5 beef Chow fun: pricey for what it is but softest chow fun I've ever had. Beef quality was also good. 5/5 chocolate cake: not too sweet and full of chocolate flavor, would get again! 4.5/5 coconut mousse: a bit sweet but super fluffy mousse with drizzle of mango. Monarch: not too sweet, pretty and yummy Service: polite and normal overall Ambiance: not too dark inside. Can get a bit loud, huge Buddha statue in the middle. Restrooms are clean lol read more

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My first experience at Buddakan was all the way back at the AC location in 2006. It was my 16th birthday and my personal awakening towards fine dining and experimental cuisine. All these years later, the food still holds up and the restaurant was the perfect place to celebrate my 35th birthday. The restaurant was packed for a Thursday night without an empty seat in the house. We waited a few minutes for our table to be ready and made our way to the bar to grab a few cocktails while we waited. I will say the cocktails were probably my least favorite part of the meal. Nothing wrong with them, but they felt somewhat dated compared to what's out there these days. Once seated, we ordered a ton of my favs from back in the day. I was happy to see the menu did not change all that much. It's also a testament to how ahead of its time this place was 20 years ago. Every single bite was excellent. My personal favs? The edamame dumplings are some of the best single bites you'll ever have. The pork belly bao buns are absolutely delicious. The crab fried rice is perfectly executed. The crispy calamari salad is a total sleeper and a very nice portion. And of course my favorite -- the wasabi mashed potatoes. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable. The ambience still holds up. The entire experience was quite enjoyable. Thankful this place is still around. The menu means a lot to me and has led to an adulthood of foodie adventures around the world. read more

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This was my first time at Buddakan and wow! It was absolutely delicious. We ordered the chicken and ginger dumplings as an appetizer and they were perfect. I ordered the wok cashew chicken as my main and it was cooked to perfection. It came with a side of rice as well. My boyfriend ordered the char grilled aged beef and really liked it as well. He didn't love the fries it came with, but if you like shoe string fries you'll like it. He ended up ordering the mashed potatoes with it as well and thought they were delicious. Everything is super well portioned so sharing is definitely encouraged. Our waitress was great! She gave us the run down on the restaurant & was very knowledgeable about the menu. The atmosphere in there was insane as well. The low lighting and beautiful decor makes this a perfect date spot! read more

Buddakan - Char-Grilled Aged Beef - Asian Fusion Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I would eat here everyday if I could. Seriously amazing and great service. 10/10 always! read more

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My family and I came here for dinner to celebrate my sister's birthday. We had a great server & experience. The atmosphere was moody & relaxing. Food was delicious! The espresso martinis were so yummy! Highly recommend. read more

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ambiance was not what i was expecting. i thought they'll be playing some buddha remix songs but it's more like chill bar songs. Food was great but the seabass was debatable, the sauce and the fish as well as the mushroom are not a good mix and for 39$, it should be better. But other than that the food was excellent. Service was amazing! Our server came to check on us multiple times and make sure we're comfortable every now and then. Drinks are highly recommended, we had a couple mocktails and cocktails and they're amazing! read more

Buddakan - Chilean Sea Bass Lobster Fried Rice - Asian Fusion Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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We were visiting Philly from Arizona, and after indulging in tons of amazing food, I found myself craving some upscale Asian cuisine. After a bit of searching, I came across Buddakan and luckily snagged a last-minute reservation. The ambiance is stunning--definitely a spot with a cool, vibey atmosphere that's perfect for a night out. We kicked things off with the Cantonese Spring rolls served with a mustard-style dipping sauce. They were so good we ended up ordering a second round. Next came the General Tso's Soup Dumplings--and wow. I'm not exaggerating when I say these were unforgettable. I've craved them multiple times since we've been back home. If you go and don't order these, you're seriously missing out. For mains: my daughter loved the soup dumplings so much, she ordered another round as her entrée. My other daughter went with the Shrimp Lo Mein--great portion size and full of flavor. My husband and I shared the Wasabi-Crusted Filet, which was perfectly cooked and delicious. I expected a bit more wasabi kick, but overall, it was still an excellent dish. We don't usually go for dessert, but when my daughters spotted the "Dip Sum Doughnuts," we couldn't say no. The presentation was adorable--they spilled out of a takeout-style box and came with three tasty dips: seasonal fruit jam, chocolate sauce, and a gingered cream cheese. Every bite was a hit. Buddakan is absolutely a place I'll recommend to anyone visiting Philly. My only complaint? They don't have one in Arizona--please open in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area! read more

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My first experience at Buddakan was in NYC's Chelsea neighborhood in 2008. It was a magical experience, starting with the decor, ambiance and unique vibe, to an unparalleled selection of Modern Asian cuisine. We went to the Philadelphia location last week and had the same experience as I had in NY. Starting with the Shrimp Dumplings - small one bite jewels with ginger and scallions - gently covering them with the delicious soy sauce provided, I could eat a dozen. We then had the Pork Belly Bao Buns - which we covered with a deliciously flavored Napa cabbage. The strips of pork were tender and sticky with a sweet savory bite and were complimented by the cabbage. I wanted to mention, we poured soy sauce over the buns and these little 'sliders' were heavenly. Next, the star of the meal, the Miso Black Cod. It's a fish unlike any other - the rich buttery fish is marinated in miso and broiled. The sweet and savory flavors of the miso glaze pairs perfectly with the mild subtle fish. Of course, we had a side dish of Lobster Fried Rice, which goes so well with the fish. I found myself taking a bite of fish, then one of the rice. The meal definitely met our expectations - Buddakan, Philadelphia or New York - either location is delightful! read more

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So, I have to say Buddakan has been one of my favorite restaurants for years. Also one of my go tos for delivery because it travels well. I went on Sunday 8/10 and was completely baffled by the lack of service and hospitality I received at the bar. After we ordered, the cleaning and break down of the bar began. And from that point on we were completely forgotten about. The bartender almost walked right out to leave with backpack on without even acknowledging us or letting us know she was leaving. She did end up stopping to give us our check after she realized I was annoyed. But All done in haste. The experience just was not good and not how I expected to spend 200$ on a Sunday for Asian food. I'd still recommend delivery , just not sure I'd return to the bar after that read more

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The ambiance and vibes were serene! We loved the food - my husband got the edamame dumplings and he was obsessed! the service is really what stood out the most, my husband is allergic (not anaphylactic) to shellfish and our waiter went above and beyond to ensure nothing had shellfish and took the allergy very seriously. His service was top notch, and probably one of the best we've ever had! read more

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A restaurant week find and a true gem! I did the 3 course menu for $40 during restaurant week and it did not disappoint. The service was great and attentive from the moment I arrived until I left. The place was packed on a Friday night, so definitely recommend making a reservation. I had the fire roasted edamame, lemon sesame chicken & chocolate mousse. The edamame were a bit spicy and so delicious. The entree was good, nothing to rave about. The dessert was amazing. I'm not even a big fan of chocolate and ate every bit of it! read more

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I've been to this location & the one in Atlantic City (that is no longer). It has an elegant feel to it with the dimmed lights and all but judging by the bathroom I'd like to see what the place looks like with the lights on. The cocktails were delicious but half the size of establishments nearby but with the same price point. The food came out very quickly and was good but nothing amazing. The potstickers were my least favorite. The dessert was also very underwhelming. The waiter was good and checked in on us often. He even tried to spice up the night by putting a sparkler in our dessert which was fun. Fortunatly and unfortunaly there are a million other amazing places in the city and this is one I won't be returning to. read more

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Loved Buddakan! They had $40 restaurant week menu and a FULL vegetarian option! We were so excited for this!!! We got the mushroom potstickers, tofu buns to start. These were both SO yummy! We then got dragon tofu and kung pao cauliflower which we really enjoyed. These portions were great and we really were full after these! Finally, we ended with the dim sum doughnuts and the sorbet trio (banana, chocolate, and coconut). Didn't love the sorbet trio, but the donuts were great! The vibe of the inside was super vibey and nice. service was kind and speedy. Really enjoyed this place and am excited to come back! read more

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Service was lovely, food was great but the vibe; it really depends. My friend and I dined for her birthday. We had the ribs, chicken fried rice, steak, chocolate cake, fried donuts and drink. The drinks were delicious. The ribs were falling off the bone, the fried rice tasted homey but it was also seasoned well and steak were cooked perfectly. Chocolate cake was delightful and the donuts, probably would skip it the next time -- not worth it. The service was lovely. Our waitress accommodated every single one of our weird request and were very kind thru out the whole night. The only downside was the ambiance. The floor was a bit slipper and sticky at the same time. Bathroom was not clean and out of tissues in some stalls. And during dining it was so loud that I could barely hear my friend, the waitress or the servers cleaning up the table most of the night. It didn't feel like I was in a restaurant, it gave bar vibe especially with the homeless lady squatting right next to valet booth. This is the 2nd time I've dinned here. Food definitely better than my first time but the ambiance was definitely worst. Hopefully, it was because it was during restaurant week and it will be better next time. read more

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Trendy Asian fusion restaurant. The staff is friendly and service is prompt. Thr food was just super heavy in terms of sauce and salt content. Also, the Miso cod was full of bones. I think that a higher end place should de bone the fish they serve. read more

We came for Restaurant Week and it was incredible. We started with the shrimp bao buns and tuna pizza. We preferred the shrimp but both were good and the tuna was melt in your mouth. We got the beef chow fun and miso cod for our mains. The portion sizes were huge and both were really well prepared. For dessert, we got the dim sum donuts and the chocolate cake. The dim sum donut might have been the highlight of the whole night! The chocolate cake on the other hand was very bland and tasteless, and was by far the worst bite of the night. Overall the ambiance was nice and the service was great. The food came out fast and our water cups were never empty. read more

Buddakan - Spicy Rock Shrimp Bao Bun - Asian Fusion Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This place never disappoints. This wasn't my first time coming here, and it for sure won't be my last lol. Came here to celebrate a special day, and the staff here made our day feel special by taking great care of us. Our waitress was so nice, accommodating, and congratulated our graduate. We got a complimentary dessert with a sparkler for the special day. The manager even came to our table to greet us. Service like that makes coming back such an easy decision. The food here is phenomenal. Idk if you've ever been, but if the answer is no, change that lol. I got the aged beef last time (which slaps btw), but I got the crispy fish of the day this time around (I gotta watch my figure) lmao. That fish was BUSSIN. It was crispy on the outside, moist on the inside, and served over some sauce that tasted like it dripped down from heaven lol. Everything else we ordered was great. The table legit went quiet when we all got our food. Come check this place out because the food and the vibes are here. read more

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