Once again we had a fabulous time at Buddakan! Delicious food & drinks, very safe environment, wonderful ambiance and amazing server!!:) Suzie provided awesome service & perfect recommendations along with a delightful personality...total win! We'll be back to see her soon.:) read more

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We came here for dinner with a group of girls on a bachelorette weekend. Buddakan's reputation proceeds it in many ways - from the ambiance, the food, the vibes, the drinks, the prices... yet we were still all beyond impressed with our entire dining experience. We decided to follow the waitress recommendation and dine mostly family style. We ordered some apps plus about 1 entree for each person, but mostly shared our dishes. Some exclusions since we had some vegetarian eaters and ordered 1-2 meat dishes. I managed to taste everything and each was better than the next! To start, we ordered 3 appetizers - // Edamame Dumplings ($16) truffled sauternes-shallot broth. I believe these came 5 to an order and we added one, but I can't be exactly certain. These were quite possibly the best thing on the table all night. Fluffy clouds of whipped edamame encased in tender dumpling dough - oh my goodness. We took one bite of these and quickly contemplated ordering 5 more orders and feasting on these alone. Not going to lie, we came pretty close, but in the end we refrained. // Mushroom Potstickers ($12) mushroom mix, pickled lotus root ponzu sauce. These were phenomenal as well! A bit crispy on the outside, it was a nice comparison to the soft dumpling texture. They were earthy, flavorful, and fantastic. Almost a meat-like texture from the mushrooms, and a definite crowd pleaser. // Tuna Tartare Spring Rolls ($16) served with crispy shallot, chili ponzu. Three came to an order for these guys, so we ordered 2 orders since there were 6 of us. I didn't actually get to eat this one, because at 8 months pregnant I know I shouldn't be eating Tuna tartare (although I was VERY tempted) - the general consensus from the table was that these were amazeballs. Thankfully, someone graciously offered to eat mine. The dinner entrees were fantastic. My friend and myself ended up splitting most of the Sea bass as our main dish which was amazing. Thoughts on all the dishes below: // Pan Seared Sea Bass ($37: haricots verts, butternut squash, maitake mushrooms, truffle jus). AMAZING. I've had a thing for fish lately, and this one was stellar. The sea bass was super thick and delicious, a beautiful crust on top with perfectly flaky and juicy center - YUM. The verts and mushrooms added a nice element to the dish too! The fish was super flavorful without being overly salty, which I sometimes find, especially in asian cuisine. // Shrimp Lo Mein ($23: x.o. sauce, scallions). YUM. I was worried that the shrimp lo mein and the shrimp pad thai would be similar, but they were both very different in flavor, noodle texture, etc. The shrimp wasn't a side-kick in this dish, it definitely stood up on the main stage - so delicious! // Shrimp Pad Thai ($27: shrimp, bean sprouts). Again another delicious dish. Pad Thai usually seems like the safe and go-to choice for those who don't like thai food, so it's not typically my order. However, this dish shone bright, and was super flavorful. The shrimp was delicious, and didn't cower down in comparison to the rest of the dishes. // Black Pepper Beef ($30: wok tossed rib eye, crispy bird's nest). Truthfully, I wasn't the most interested in this dish, because it was pretty basic - but I tried a piece of the meat - it was delicious! It a bit on the sweet side but nice and peppery as well. The crispy birds nest was an interesting addition as well. /// Crab fried rice: We ordered this after most of our plates were on the table. One of the girls in the group wanted it - honestly, I though 'who orders fried rice?!' but.... wouldn't you know it, this was damn delicious. We all started out by saying we just wanted a small bite to try, then everyone (EVERYONE) took more and more. It was the first dish completely finished on the table! There might have been more on the table, but the other dishes escape me. I just know everything I tried was incredible. They even had mocktails listed on their menu - I had one, and asked the bartended to make it 'less sweet' - it was delicious, and I felt like I was part of the gang with everyone having a cocktail. Our waitress was absolutely great - she answered all our questions, and silently giggled when she overheard our typical bachelorette-y conversations. At the end of the meal, she even brought out a dairy free coconut sorbet with a sparkler candle in it for our bride. We obviously all shared the sorbet, and it was light, delicious, and so yummy! We couldn't even fathom looking at the dessert menu, but I'm certain that it is probably choc-full of wonderful delicacies. My one complaint, would be we were seated next to the kitchen - right by the open flame and plate warmers. It was a bit warm for my taste, but thankfully we were dressed for the 96+ degree day outside. Still, I would have preferred to be a bit further from the kitchen. The plus side was that we had a circle booth which was GREAT for table conversation and seating. read more

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Amazing food and vibe. One of Phillys best spots in my opinion. Loved the dessert menu as well!!

Came here for dinner with my boyfriend. It took some time to get a reservation but we were so excited to dine here. The edamame dumplings were great! Can never have enough of them. So so delicious. We also ordered the asian caesar salad and the chinese eggplant very very good. I highly recommend the salad, the half was a huge portion. My boyfriend ordered the tea smoked short ribs. It was a massive portion and he loved it. For my entree I ordered the miso black cod which was inedible. The waitress was very nice and friendly. I like the appetizers more than the actual entrees. It is very expensive here. I will likely only return for appetizers. Ugh those edamame dumplings, so good. read more

Great outdoor experience late August but accommodating for a picky vegetarian like me did not seem satisfactory to me. Our waiter appeared overwhelmed and was not able to offer me options.. I did not particularly want the "fried tofu," instead wanted steamed tofu.. taste was also average at best yet presentation was adequate. read more

Buddakan - Eggplant and deep fried tofu - Asian Fusion Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I think this is one of the best places to be in the city for a fine dine experience. The food and ambience is great. Just that the service a bit delayed. So make sure you order all at once lol read more

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Cool vibe in this place! Asian fusion was a nice change! The server recommended the preset sharing option from the menu so our group of 8 could experience several things off the menu and it was great! The lobster rice is amazing -- all food and drinks were great! read more

Service was a bit slow and the waiter forget to put our drinks in however the food tasted very good. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere. I've been there a few times and I never leave unsatisfied. read more

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Unfortunately my pictures came out blurry, so apologies for not including along. This was our second time at Buddakan and first time celebrating our birthdays. The service was fantastic again and we were loving the romantic classy ambience. The highlight of the night was definitely the peking duck (their best known dish) along with the tasteful bar cocktails. This is definitely a place we would return to again! read more

Don't waste your time reading this, just go eat. Take a few people to try more food. Everything is delicious. Have fun read more

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Dined at Buddakan Philadelphia for dinner to celebrate my anniversary with my boyfriend. The food was exceptional as always. We ordered the king crab tempura for an appetizer. The sauce it came with was a little salty but the presentation was nice. We got the shrimp lo mein and lamb chops (medium) for our entrees to share. The lamb chops were more on the medium rare side than medium and a little to red for my liking. For dessert, we had the chocolate mousse with white chocolate ice cream. Our server was very knowledgeable on the menu items and specials and very attentive. This location does not give off the same ambiance as the New York and Atlantic City locations. There was just something missing. We always dine at Buddakan for celebrations and we have been given a complementary dessert in New York and champagne in Atlantic City, however, this location did not do the same. (Not that we are looking for anything for free, but it is a very nice gesture from the other two locations.) Overall, I had an enjoyable experience. The food was good and so was the service, however, I would probably choose to dine at the other two locations. read more

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We live in Colorado and decent Asian food is hard to find. While in Philly, it was a goal to have a delicious meal, Buddakan came highly recommended, and it did not disappoint. We ordered the dumpling sampler on repeat to start our meal because everything in it was delicious!! And left us wanting to more. We then shared lobster fried rice and a Mongolian beef dish followed by desert - the donuts and mousses. Everything was on point and the wait staff was so attentive. Though expensive we felt the value was there and prices were reasonable for the quality and quantity of portions. would definitely recommend checking this place out - be sure to get a reservation as this place books up! read more

Asian-fusion restaurant in a modern setting with great service. The descriptions of the plates are a little off, but it is delicious. We had the rock shrimp bao, monkfish, and dungeness crab sticky rice. The shrimp bao are delicious. The shrimp are crispy, fried, and served in buns. Technically they are not bao, but delicious nonetheless. The monkfish is described as "fried medallions" but it was more like "delicious chunks of heaven." It was firm and flaky like cod, but it melted in your mouth. The crab sticky rice is good, but it reminds me of a typical fried rice type of dish. Overall good on everything, but alot more expensive than a traditional asian restaurant. Adding "fusion" to the name really drives up the price. read more

Finally went into Buddakan on a lazy rainy day and it was a good decision. The dumpling sampler was good, the edamame truffle ones were amazing! The pork and shrimp came next. The Korean kimchi fried rice was flavorful and the cashew chicken was good too. We ordered a side of the schezuan fries which we expected to be French fries with the schezuan sauce, but it turned out to be fried thin potato strips with mustard on it, very misleading description. The dessert bento box was fabulous - features many textures and variants of chocolate desserts. The interior features a big Buddha and the dining area is huge. The faces of random people on the seat covers was a little weird to me in this otherwise upscale restaurant. Pricing was a little high but portions were also decent- maybe suitable for a bigger group in order to try many dishes. read more

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Elegance, service and flavor describe this upscale trendy restaurant chain. If you want to impress this is where you take dates. Come here for the ultimate experience. read more

Buddakan is one of the best Asian fusion restaurants in Philadelphia hands down. Serene, romantic, and elegant atmosphere (dim lighting, tea candles, ambient chill music)--perfect place for any occasion--romantic or casual date, birthday celebration (they put a sparkler on the birthday dessert), or if you want some really great food with a relaxing atmosphere and hand crafted cocktails. All of the menu items are perfect for sharing. Do not leave without trying the edamame dumplings they are clouds that melt in your mouth (the same women have been making them for 20+ years). The cinnamon doughnuts have been on the menu since it's doors have opened and they are also delicious. Peking duck is the best I have ever had. I have not eaten anything I don't like. read more

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I have been to Buddakan twice now- once for restaurant week about 2 years ago (great deal) and most recently in July of this year for my husband's birthday. I planned to get a group of 10 people together to surprise my husband and we ended up having an AMAZING dinner. we sampled a ton of appetizers from the tuna tartare spring rolls to the rock shrimp bao buns to the pork belly to ALL sorts of dumplings (edamame, crab & lobster, shrimp and chicken & ginger). Everything was phenomenal. We all had our own entrees so I can't speak for everyone but I had the wasabi tuna tataki and it was delicious. Our service was great, our server handled the large group VERY well. We were seated a little bit after our reservation time but were not much bothered by it as we were enjoying a drink at the bar anyway. In general, I love the decor and the whole space, but was just a little disappointed by our table which was the closest to the kitchen and didn't have an excellent view of the room (although I had my back to the room and was facing the kitchen). Regardless, both of my visits have been full of good drinks, even better food, and excellent service so I would not hesitate to come back! My two cents: if you want an asian-fusion Starr restuarant, I prefer Buddakan to Morimoto :) read more

My hubby and I used to frequent this place but they've changed the menu since the last time we've gone so we don't go anymore. They have great chow fun and apps. Their king crab tempura with yuzu ponzu sauce are the bomb dot com! I hope they always keep that on. Update- We went back and the food was still good but the service from the start left something to be desired. We had a 5:15pm reservation and being that was a wintry early evening with wet sleet conditions, we were hoping that the staff opened the door about 10 minutes earlier than opening hours so we can stand inside the lounge and wait until they were ready to seat us. But no. The door was locked understandably and waited patiently. Around 4:58 we tried the door again, still locked. Then other guests started gathering around the door, and one of them called the restaurant and asked them to open the door. The staff said they don't open at 5. At 5, the door was unlocked. But no staff came to open the door or greet any of the guests. Some guests expressed their displeasure that they were waiting outside by the door in the wet wintry conditions. The hostess offered no apologies or kind words and was rather rude. We were seated right away since we had reservations. The food was ok. The General Tso Soup Dumplings were a disappointment as the wonton wrappers were way too thick and the broth was salty. Not worth it. The eggplants were greasy. For all the hype, I've had better pan Asian fusion cuisines. I'd rather spend my time and money where they were appreciated. read more

I've dined at the Buddakan in New York a few times and it's truly one of my top 5 restaurants. I felt compelled to leave another review for the Buddakan in Philadelphia because it was just that good. The food was somewhat "tastier" than the NY location. The serve was also great. I started off with the general tso dumplings of course and they were to die for. I had the snapper and it melted in mouth. This location is smaller than the NY location but it packed a punch. The food was exceptionally good here. Will return the next time i am in Philly read more

We tried the chef's tasting menu which is fabulous! The taste and the amount!! It can easily feed 6-8 people (we are a group of 4). Def would recommend it. read more

I came here for my 22nd birthday with a group of 11 people. I was elated because I was expecting our table to be in front of the Buddha but instead we were placed upstairs. Anyways, I ordered a rice dish and it was delicious ! The rice reminds me of Sampan's rice. If you're looking for a great dish with a fancy atmosphere, this is the place ! read more

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What a phenomenal dinner spot. The ambiance, waitstaff, and of course the food made our experience incredible. If you are coming here, you need to try some assortment of dumplings. We also really enjoyed the whole fried fish. The pork tenderloin was perfectly cooked and melted in your mouth. One of the best restaurants we've been to so far in Philly. Will definitely be coming back. read more

Restaurant Week Review! Overall Value: Wow, such high hopes based on the other reviews - I really don't get it. Watered-down tasting "Modern Asian" food (whatever that means) at a price that just isn't worth it (not even at restaurant week prices). Just go to Han Dynasty or any number of places in Chinatown and get the good stuff. The Food: This was $35/person restaurant week prix fixe menu. For the most part, it was aggressively bland and underwhelming. I know the quality usually takes a bit of a dip during restaurant week, but wow I cannot imagine ever paying full price for this stuff. Tuna Pizza: The bread on this was way too thick and flavorless, totally masking the flavor of any tuna. Could have used a spicy mayo or something to inject some flavor. Chicken & Ginger Dumplings: Also pretty bland, even with the dipping sauce. They were fine, just not as good as run-of-the mill Chinatown spots. Pan Seared Bass: This one really disappointing, because the reviews were all so positive. The fish and every component on the plate were just so bland, like they were afraid of flavor. The fish was very tender, which was nice. But removing the skin - and thus, no crispy skin on what is normally like a $37 dish - should be a criminal offense. Beef Chow Fun: This was actually pretty good - the beef short rib is rich in flavor and a little goes a long way. Also decent portion and good chew to the noodle. That said, the flavor was a touch bland, and no way is this worth a price premium. Dip Sum Doughnuts: These were really good, although I really didn't get any "five spice" flavor. They just tasted like regular sugar doughnuts (albeit really good sugar doughnuts), so if you do come, you should definitely get these. Pillowy soft + variety of dipping sauces is a win. That said, no way are these worth $12(?!) normally. They aren't revolutionary or mind blowing, they are just good sugar doughnuts. Candy Bar: This was not very good. Waaaay too dense and too sweet, with nothing to cut the sweetness or balance the dish in any way. Space and Pace: Super modern atmosphere plus giant Buddha. Having a giant Buddha seems pretty cultural appropriation-y to me, but if you're going to do it, at least remember to appropriate some flavors while you are at it. Smh. Service: Service is very good here - extremely attentive waitstaff (maybe overly so, they come around like every 2 minutes). All very friendly and accommodating. read more

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Everything was amazing ! I will definitely come back !! I enjoyed my self and staff was so sweet

This was my first time at the Philly location; however, I've been to the Atlantic City location (which closed permanently due to COVID unfortunately) quite a few times. I never had a bad experience and the food/service was always excellent in AC, so I expected no different from this location. When I first arrived, I was relieved to see the semi-enclosed booths for the outdoor seating. I had made reservations in advance, so I figured my party would get one of these booths. INSTEAD, we were seated in the open-air on the sidewalk, which was quite cold and uncomfortable. Somehow it didn't sit right with me that we were paying the same price as the more comfortable patrons while being completely out in the elements, despite having a reservation. It was especially bothersome when other parties seated on the sidewalk were being offered to move into a booth. I just don't believe you should have to sit entirely outside if you made a reservation. That should be reserved for last minute walk-in's. The service also left much to be desired for. I do empathize with the difficulties of serving tables during COVID with outdoor dining, but our server first dropped my boyfriend's beer and promised to bring another free of charge, which took at least 30 minutes. Meanwhile, he was favoring other tables and giving them better service. It almost seemed like he was ignoring us and didn't even come back to check with us. After we'd already FINISHED our entrees, he told us "your dinner will be out shortly" which speaks volumes on his lack of awareness of our needs. I did want to order dessert and another drink, but everything was taking so long that I didn't even want to bother and by that point, we just wanted to get out of there. The food was pretty mediocre aside from the spare ribs and edamame dumplings. I would not return to this location or recommend it to anyone. read more

This place is good. It has SUCH a weird vibe but in a good way. Food was delicious. Staff was nice (we were clearly underdressed lol (jeans and nice-ish shirts on a Saturday night). read more

We came here for my wife's birthday and also wanted to check out their prized dise Peking duck. Our conclusion: the place is great for duck. Born and raised in Beijing, I am always skeptical of authenticity of Peking duck elsewhere outside Beijing. But this one is coming close. The skin is not yet as thick and oily as the one you can have in Beijing but the duck was roasted to perfection with crispy skin and tender meat. The pancakes and other complements are presented also correctly. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience here. The service was also great. Our server Katie was very sweet. I would recommend this one for anyone nostalgic of Peking duck or just want to experience Asian cuisine with superb service read more

This is hands down the best dining experience I've had in Philadelphia in the 6 years I've lived here. From the drinks to the unique food options to the impeccable service, it was a delight from start to finish. If you want to feel like royalty for a few hours, come here. The cost is worth it. Also, if you're a vegetarian like me, you will not be disappointed. Be sure to ask for the tofu buns. They are not on the menu but they make them special for vegetarian diners and they were divine. I am so happy I took my boyfriend here for his birthday - it was a night to remember!! They have very safe and cozy outdoor seating and do temperature checks. I can't wait to dine inside and see the interior that everyone raves about once I feel safe doing so. Go Buddakan!! read more

It was great! The food was amazing and came out of the kitchen well paced. Shrimp boa buns were great and so was the pork tenderloin. Tristan was our server and he took excellent care of us. Highly recommend!!! read more

Pros Good ingredients, attentive service, posh atmosphere Kans unimaginative flavor profile especially for a Starr restaurant, everything super salty, super expensive for what you get Conclusion: go to Chinatown if you want Chinese food! read more

Despite the high reputation of its past, I would say that Buddkan seems to be somewhat degenerating as "one of Philly's finest", given my past experience here during restaurant week. The decor and ambiance is still fabulous - trendy and sleek. But the food portions are legitimately minuscule and just mediocre in taste. Honestly, their fried rice, house salad, ribs, etc were the exact same things you could get better almost anywhere else but served in fancy tiny bowls at duodecuple the price. Service was cordial and efficient, but they came out with a wrong order of dumplings (gave us an extra edamame instead of chicken). All in all, I just came out feeling like, where did my money go?! I've heard that it used to be much better, so I'm not sure what changed, but I wouldn't plan on returning anytime soon. read more

Buddakan - Asian Fusion Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ive been to the nyc location and i am definitely disappointed with the PA location. I went there around 12 noon 2/6. We ordered: edamame dumplings: fire.... best item on the menu imo and highly recommended. tuna tartare spring rolls: 3pcs 16$ - was pretty good. decent value should be atleast 4 pcs for that price sweet and crispy jumbo shrimp: 4 pcs - 24$ not worth it. Tasted very salty and the shrimp was pretty small. You guys def couldve done atleast 6 pcs. wok cashew chicken: 19$ - good portion but again too salty. Overall: def recommend to try atleast once but i def would go to nyc location over this one if you are closer to nyc. 3 star because the waitress was thoughtful and attentive. The seat covers with peoples faces on it felt wierd and didnt look like it went with the decor of buddakan. read more

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Really excited to try this place out for restaurant week; however, after was really disappointed. Came for lunch (restaurant week) and honestly the portions were baby like. After lunch, our group of 3 (2 other girls) were still hungry and we had to go a nearby sandwich shop to fill our hunger. The food taste is flavorful and cooked right, but not worth the price in my opinion. If you want asian food just go to Chinatown for 1/10 of the price and be full. The dessert was great! Dim Sum Doughnuts were amazing. Also really enjoyed Mocha Caramel Bombe. Pros: The ambiance of this place is awesome with a modern and clean environment. The host and waiters were all happy and helpful. Street parking not too hard to find Dessert! Cons: Portions Price Maybe I just eat a lot, but would not recommend based off of food and price. There was nothing on the menu that amazed me besides the dim sum doughnuts. read more

Buddakan - Asian Fusion Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This place had really great food! The pricing was a bit much but we kind of knew that going in to it. The dishes are good to be shared and it was a fun experience with a cool atmosphere in the restaurant (like the big Buddha ). read more

I only write the occasional review for great or terrible experiences. Buddakan was bad...just bad. The food was totally underwhelming. We got the lobster fried rice - no flavor. The dumpling sampler was bland. The pork tenderloin was covered in a sauce that felt like it came from a can. The tuna was, ok, I guess. The atmosphere was a mixed bag. Not too loud. And very clean. But some tables were very tightly packed. The first table the hostess took us to was in-between a large beam and massive birthday party. No thanks. We ended up sitting near the bar. The only saving grace was the speed of service. All that bad food came out quick!! Don't go here. The food is sad...nothing made up for that... read more

Great food. Must try their ribs. Service is always great. There is an upstairs as well. Great ambience. Probably best to make a reservation.

The ambiance is gorgeous. The food was mediocre at best. However, I'm vegetarian and the options were limited and lacked flavor.

Amazing food and atmosphere. This place is a knock out hands down. Enjoyed everything I tasted here and eve thing is so unique !!

This place is never a disappointment. Lovely ambiance, amazing food, wine list just perfect to match the food, and great service! read more

Buddakan - Asian Fusion Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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My dinner at Buddakan made me want to be a better person. The type of person that deserves this level of deliciousness in their life. From beginning to end, with the exception of freezing our asses off outside, everything was spectacular. I've been to Buddakan before during restaurant week but to be a real paying customer is next level amazing. We started off with a pitcher of zengria which was refreshing and delicious. We sampled the dim sum and agreed the edamame dumpling is the runaway winner. Our dinners were truly a feast for the senses. Visually stunning and equally delicious. The lobster dish my boyfriend got was almost overwhelming it was so gigantic. The presentation was perfect and of course the taste was phenomenal. We also ordered Mongolian lamb chops and found them to be the best lamb in the city. And there was a year where my boyfriend tried all the lamb in the city so that declaration actually means something. All of this amazingness was followed up by some dip sum donuts...a delicious donut and delicious pun! Impossible to resist. Our waiter Isaiah was wonderful-very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. He also hooked us up with a little heater so we didn't die out in the elements. Buddakan is so much more than a restaurant. It's an experience. And it shouldn't be missed. read more