Carrie Bradshaw Went to Buddakan, So I Did Too.

Let’s talk about Buddakan! Buddakan NYC is located in Chelsea Market on 9th Avenue. Not only is the location a beautiful area in New York, but this restaurant is also nonetheless stunning. Buddakan is one of New York’s most famous dining spots. It has been featured in popular culture and on television shows such as Sex and the City.

Now, I know what you’re wondering- “What type of food is at Buddakan?” Let me tell you, it’s the delicious type! Buddakan offers a wide range of Asain dishes and other Eastern delicacies. I attended the restaurant for a close friend’s birthday. To say the least, it exceeded our expectations. Since we were eager to try everything on the menu, we collectively decided to order multiple dishes and split them so that everyone was able to indulge in the experience. We ordered a combination of special fried rice, dim sum, sushi, and other seafood dishes. My personal favorite dish was the “Vegetable Fried Rice.” It was not like your ordinary vegetable fried rice, this one featured coconut curry and pineapple to add a hint of sweetness. Another one of our table favorites was the “Cantonese Spring Rolls.” These spring rolls contained shrimp and chicken to balance the seafood and traditional poultry. All of the dishes we tried at Buddakan were a pleasure to devour, I couldn’t get enough! 

As always, dessert is my favorite part of every meal. The dessert menu had a wide variety of options to choose from which made it very hard for us to narrow down our choices. Since it was one of my friend’s birthdays, the staff at Buddakan brought out a free Cheesecake for us to enjoy. However, we had our eyes on the “Mochi Donuts” since we had received the menu. They were nothing like I had ever tasted before. I was always used to Mochi being cold, not at Buddakan though! These donuts were warm on the inside with a sugar coating on the outside. I never ate something so fast in my life.

Looking back, I wish I savored them a little more! Ultimately, my advice for attending Buddakan would be to have a plan ahead of time for how you want to eat. Looking at the menu before and deciding to split multiple dishes was most effective for my group, however, something else might work for you! 

Now, let’s talk about the ambiance. Not only was the food exquisite, but the atmosphere in Buddkan was also nothing like I had experienced before. The place had an exclusive feeling, and it was amazing to feel a part of it. Buddakan’s lighting was dim, being lit up by ornate chandeliers that featured gilded accents. These light fixtures and dark booths contributed to the lux feeling I received while walking through Buddakan. To add, there was nothing like the infamous view from the staircase. When you first go down into Buddakan’s dining area, there is a large staircase that looks over three large ornate chandeliers. Upon walking in, I knew that this place was already going to be more fabulous than I had imagined. 

Finally, let’s talk about cost. I understand that as college students, attending Buddakan every weekend is not a luxury we can all afford. However, I definitely think this place was worth the price! In order to be more cost-effective, my group decided to split the check. We found that this method was more economical for all of us. After carefully doing the math, it turned out that the cost we had all paid was cheaper than if we all paid for our own dishes. It was a win-win for everyone! If you’re looking to experience one of New York City’s most famous restaurants, I definitely recommend you keep Buddakan in mind!