Buddakan New York
New York, NY 10011
Phone: (212) 989-6699
- Price:
- $$$$
- Cross Street:
- 16th Street
- Directions:
- A, C, E; 1,2,3 at 14th St; L at 8th Ave
- Specialties:
- Chinese Food
- Best of Citysearch:
- Trendy Scene 2006
- Hours:
- Sun-Mon 5:30pm-11pm, Tue-Wed 5:30pm-12am, Thu-Sat 5:30pm-1am
Editorial Review for Buddakan New York – by Erin Behan
The Scene
The cacophonous front lounge bursts with suits and slinky skirts balancing martini glasses as harried staff seek the next table. The interconnected dining rooms seem to multiply: The crown jewel being the sunken ballroom, with soaring ceilings, impossibly large chandeliers and a 30-foot-long communal table. Small touches--stuffed birds, bright porcelain vases, and Buddha icons--help personalize the 16,000-square-foot space.
The Food
Happily, the Chinese fusion fare resounds louder than the din from that nearby table. Sweet rock shrimp, battered, fried and drizzled in a chili sauce, satisfy the comfort food faction; and dumplings stuffed with edamame gussy up the traditional starter. Expertly prepared seafood--a generous plate of toothsome snapper dressed with lily bulbs, a silken black cod, and very messy Dungeness crab in nose-clearing chili sauce--puts thoughts of the sometimes slow service to rest. Land-lovers should try the tea-smoked chicken, whose infused flavor defies expectations. The well-balanced chocolate mille-feuille ends the meal on an artistic note.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
What to DrinkExperiment with sake: Harushika's sparkling Tokimeki is a cross between sake and champagne and makes an excellent opener. End the meal with one of Buddakan's exotic teas, such as Silence, a lightly scented South African tea that's caffeine free.
Where to SitRequest a seat in the quieter downstairs "library" room if the catacomb-like upstairs rooms aren't to your liking.
When to GoThe cocktail lounge stays open until 2am Sunday through Thursday and Friday and Saturday night until 3am. Expect it to be as crowded as a nightclub after 9pm.
User Reviews for Buddakan New York
08/16/2008 Posted by roahmed
The moment I stepped into Buddakan NYC, I was amazed by the atmosphere. The top floor is a lounge, and is also beautiful, but the moment you step down the stairs and into the high-ceiling dining hall, you will be mesmerized. The service is a little slow, but the food is good, and the waitress we had was very sweet. Everything is served family style, so it let's you get a taste of many items off the menu. I would recommend the Chili Rock Shrimp a choice for an appetizer, and for an entree Sweet and Crispy Jumbo Shrimp- very tasty! Although it's a bit pricey, it's worth every penny and is definitely great for a special occasion. Make sure you make a reservation for the downstairs portion!
Pros: Ambiance, lots of choices, family style
06/25/2008 Posted by sandungita
My friend moved to NYC about a year ago and for her birthday I wanted to create a very "SITC" moment so boyfriend suggested I take her to Buddakan. He said that the food was great and that she would enjoy the environment (eye candy etc.). We went on a Friday night and were having a great time until we ordered dessert. The dessert was nicely decorated but when we began to munch on it, we found a long strand of hair in the middle! I was super embarrassed. Refusing to make a scene, I quietly called our waiter. He was astonished and couldn't believe it. They ended up paying for our drinks as a form of apology. It was horrible and so disappointing. I would not recommend this spot.
Users Like You Also Viewed
Irving Mill
116 E 16th St
New York, NY 10003
Morimoto
88 10th Ave
New York, NY 10011
