The Original Buddha Bodai Kosher Vegetarian Restaurant 佛菩提 image

The Original Buddha Bodai Kosher Vegetarian Restaurant 佛菩提

Restaurant Chinese restaurant Vegetarian restaurant Vegan restaurant Dim sum restaurant Kosher restaurant

Kosher vegetarian mock-meat dim sum & other Chinese dishes in a casual environment. People often mention vegetarian, meat, good, restaurant, vegan, delicious, rice, recommend, dishes, service,


Address

5 Mott St, New York, NY 10013

Website

www.buddha-bodai.com

Contact

(212) 566-8388

Price rating

$ $$$

Rating on Google Maps

4.40 (1.9K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Tuesday: 11 AM to 9:15 PM
  • Wednesday: 11 AM to 9:15 PM
  • Thursday: 11 AM to 9:15 PM
  • Friday: 11 AM to 9:15 PM
  • Saturday: 10 AM to 9:15 PM
  • Sunday: 10 AM to 9:15 PM
  • Monday: 11 AM to 9:15 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: vegetarian (45) meat (32) good (32) restaurant (30) vegan (26) delicious (24) rice (21) recommend (21) dishes (20) service (19)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Michael C. 3 years ago on Google
    I came here on a Saturday for dinner for indoor dining. The place is really clean and the tables had dividers in between which I appreciated. For food, we got the Fried Taro Duck Entree, Lobster in Black Bean Sauce, and Pan-Fried Noodles with BBQ Meat. I didn't realize all the dishes had some deep-fried element, but it was not bad. The fried taro duck entree came with duck sauce on the side and was on top of some shredded lettuce. The "duck" was actually made from bean curd. The "lobster" was alright. It came with some broccoli and candied walnuts. There was no black bean sauce, but it came with a side of sweet mayo. It's similar to the mayo shrimp dish in Cantonese cuisine. The pan-fried noodles were great with the BBQ meat. That was my favorite dish. It did not make me miss meat at all and the sauce was pretty good. I would love to come back and try more dishes! Definitely a win even if you are not vegetarian.
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Arty Z. 2 years ago on Google
    It was my first time eating vegetarian Asian food and I was really impressed with the quality. I got the Buddha Bean Curd Roll (the outer wrapping had a bite to it, similar to cabbage rolls) and the BBQ Vegetarian Meat Bun. The rolls had a nice savory and slightly sweet sauce, and the buns were very soft with a very sweet savory filling (some flavors in it of black sesame paste). The prices are quite logical too!
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sung H. 1 year ago on Google
    Possibly my favorite vegan-friendly eatery in NYC. I’m a dimsum kinda guy, and they’ve got everything. All the dimsum to satisfy your dimsum needs. They also have a lunch menu where you can order hot food, and it comes with your choice of rice and soup. But I would recommend sticking with just dimsum bexause you’re here for dimsum!! Not saying their lunch menu is bad, it was actually very enjoyable. The menu can be a little frightening so plan ahead.
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Josh L. 11 months ago on Google • 836 reviews
    Bustling restaurant serving vegan (and Kosher) Chinese food in Chinatown. The environment was casual, service was friendly and efficient. When seated they give you a pot of tea which was great. They have a dim sum menu, extensive menu of Chinese staples, lunch specials, etc. Ordered the BBQ and Spinach dim sums, and 2 lunch specials - chicken fried rice and general tsos chicken. The dim sum was tasty, the general tsos was crunchy and delicious. Meal was filling. Coming here was a cool experience, enjoyed our time here
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Connie C. 2 years ago on Google
    We always purchase cha-siu from this store when we are in Chinatown. Yesterday it was our first time to have sit down meal from there. The place is clean, and the service is good. They offered set lunch with very reasonable prices (Mon-Fri). We had Chicken noodles & General Tao, both are delicious. Their dim sims are tadte good too. It is worth to give it a try.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Raphael 8 months ago on Google • 116 reviews
    Vegetarian food can be so amazing, and at Buddha Bodai I was able to have some of the best vegetarian dim sum I've had so far. The food was so flavorful and the texture of the dumplings were simply perfect. I went family who were not vegetarian, and while at first they did not have high expectations, they were just completely blown away!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Minh P. 11 months ago on Google
    Fully vegan dishes, many of the Asian classics and a decent dim sum list. It's not mindblowing Asian food but very, very solid and satisfying - and you can't beat the price in NYC! Weekday lunch specials for under 10 bucks with great portion size. Just the right spot for vegans visiting NYC who don't want to go broke :D
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Angela V. 1 year ago on Google
    Quiet and delicious right in the heart of Chinatown. Free tea. Get the ribs with black bean sauce special. It's literally the best thing I've eaten in forever. Baked meat buns and dumplings were delicious as well. Definitely try to go before 4 so you can order from the Dim Sum menu. All vegan dim sum is a dream come true.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jennifer L. 1 year ago on Google
    Great imitation meat! The sesame chicken was delicious as were the dim sum appetizers. Would recommend staying away from the vegetable options (mapo tofu was a little bland and I would have replaced eggplants with an imitation meat option)
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Chiqui G. 2 years ago on Google
    Having a vegan boyfriend limites my lifestyle. This place is AMAZING. Portions are big so you can share. I recommend getting the fake meats rather than the tofu!!. Loved the orange chicken and the fried rice. Dumplings are delicious.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 A Vegetarians E. 2 years ago on Google
    The most phenomenal vegetarian dim sum in Manhattan Chinatown! The food is absolutely delicious and the service is phenomenal. My friends who eat meat say they cannot tell the difference! The food is incredibly flavorful and the staff is wonderful here. Competitive prices for one of the best experiences I had while in Manhattan! Thank you for this gem of a restaurant
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Jack W. 3 years ago on Google
    Ever since I got my vegetarian Laksa in Singapore, I've been on a search for the same dish in the New York. I couldn't believe it when I saw Laksa on the menu. I came here multiple times now for dim sum and lunch, but this was the first time ordering Laksa. Laksa: 5/5 So good. On par with the amazing one I had back in Singapore. This is a must try if you like Laksa. The soup base is flavorful and it has the right combination of vegetables. Perfect noodle soup and a hidden gem. 3 Cup Chicken: 3/5 So crunchy, so tasty, but not without a sacrifice. There's nothing to balance the dish. Imagine getting french fries and that's it - no ketchup, no sauce, no nothing. This is exactly what this dish is, but it's so crunchy and tasty. Do give it a try if that doesn't bother you. Cedar Fried Rice: 1/5 Quite lacking, I'd say. Went to a similar chain back in Queens and their cedar fried rice was so good, so thought it might be the same here. Unfortunately, it was just rice, cedar flavored and salted. I would not get again. Service Great! Super helpful staff and very accommodating. I always like coming here because of that. Ambiance Quite normal! Outdoor dining due to Covid and limited indoor dining. There's hand sanitizer at each table, so I appreciate the resource to keep the community sanitized and clean. This was my third time coming here. I would come again. As a vegetarian, this is a must stop if you're in Chinatown.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Tiarnán B. 1 year ago on Google • 101 reviews
    Food was excellent, especially the orange chicken and bbq meat special fried rice. Comes with complimentary tea which was nice touch. Service could have been improved but overall well worth a visit, absolutely delicious vegan Chinese food 😊
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Alma 2 months ago on Google • 17 reviews New
    We ordered something off the chefs special. The food we ordered was nothing like how it was described on the menu. It was cold. Which should’ve been specified in the menu or mentioned by the server. It was cold plain noodles with peanut drizzle and not spicy like the menu specified. Wasn’t a chef special more like a chefs leftovers. It wasn’t my first time here. The service is usually lousy. But the lousy food and service combined made me embarrassed to even bring anyone here. I also work for tips so I know I need to provide an exceptional service to be earned good tip. Hire some enthusiastic ambitious servers and steer away from leftovers on the chefs special. This was my last attempt trying to re-like this place.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Christian P. 2 years ago on Google
    I usually don't write any comments, but this place was so good that I had to share this with you. Walked around Brooklyn bridge and stumbled into this restaurant because of the good rating - and it was a delicious dinner. It was so good that we went there again for lunch. So if you near Brooklyn bridge for sightseeing etc. go there - I eat meat and totally recommend this place!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jacqueline B. 1 year ago on Google
    We stopped in to eat while visiting the area. It's a nice restaurant, we had good service, and I loved the food. Delicious! We had spring rolls, vegetarian orange beef, and vegetarian pineapple chicken fried rice. Yum!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Polina B. 1 year ago on Google
    Note that dimsum is only served until 4pm. The menu is so diverse and there are so many options. My favorite was the duck and stuffed bread (I believe it was in the appetizer section). I also ordered the ribs in black bean sauce and was really disappointed. The texture was weird and flavor bland. The tea is amazing! Aside from the ribs that I described earlier, I loved everything, and definitely recommend it. It's pricey for dinner. Lunchtime is cheaper.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 My Dao N. 2 years ago on Google
    Recommend? Yes. I got the house special congee with breadsticks, bean curd rolls, steamed taro dumplings, and green tea paste bun. The congee with breadsticks was like heaven in a spoon. It's perfect for fall. I can't describe the flavors, but the taste is familiar and simply brings me home. If I have the chance to come back I'll try the two kinds mushroom congee. I didn't care much for the bean curd rolls and the steamed taro dumplings because of the stuffing. One of the ingredients had a slight crunch and I didn't care for that. The green tea paste bun had a hint of floral. It's definitely not like matcha green tea. I enjoyed this very much towards the end of my meal with the hot tea.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Buschauer 8 months ago on Google
    Enjoying vegetarian Dim-Sum for the first time, it's difficult to compare it but to non-vegetarian Dim-Sum venues. What stood out the most at Buddha Bodai was the impressive array of vegetarian Dim-Sum options. It's evident that the restaurant went to great lengths to craft a vegetarian alternative to nearly every conceivable Dim-Sum dish, and they achieved this marvelously. While the dumpling skins and bao texture were average, the flavors overall were delightful, offering a wholesome and healthy alternative to the traditional meat and seafood-based Dim-Sum dishes. We left with our taste buds satisfied and are eager to return for another experience.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Maria B. 3 years ago on Google
    Lovely restaurant, perfect for vegan, vegetarian and kosher meals. The staff is welcoming, polite and efficient. The food, excellent, clearly made with utmost care and according to standards. I recommend Buddha Bodai Kosher wholeheartedly!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Meitalism 3 years ago on Google
    Everything we tried was delicious! Very good dumplings with perfect dough-filling ratio. Staff was was kind and attentive. Very low prices. don’t miss out on the shredded turnip pastry it’s perfect!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Lesio 3 years ago on Google
    Combination of Kosher, Vegetarian and Chinese. Wow. Located in lower Manhattan between 2 bridges - Brooklyn and Manhattan. Very friendly, cozy place for people with special requests. You like Chinese but vegetarian, no problem. Kosher? No problem. I am not so principal regarding vegetarian diet but my family is so we went there for dinner. Everything was very tasty (I like meat and I ate everything). Try vegetarian BBQ meat cuts - delicious! No indoor seating starting this Monday but they will be open with outdoor tables. Check it out. Highly recommended
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Felicitas O. 6 months ago on Google
    Excellent!!! Used to go to vegetarian dumpling house for years because a friend of mine prefers the food there but honestly. Feel BB is cleaner and more pleasant all around. The food was great and well received by my 4 German guests- none of them vegan or vegetarian. 😂😂 both kids were convinced the vegan meat was a total scam and we were instead given real meat! We came for dim sum as this was on their to do list and they absolutely loved it!!! Awesome times!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Eloise J. L. 5 months ago on Google • 295 reviews
    Lots of delicious options for dim sum. There were so many choices! People here are very nice as well. Generally, I think 3-4 dim sum dishes here per person will fill you up. I loved the Buddha bean curd roll, steamed meat ball, and the beech mushroom rice roll. The fried sticky rice was good but needed a tiny bit more salt. I would order it again. I didn't care for the ribs since the meatballs are much better. My husband had the shrimp dumplings. Definitely recommend to any vegetarian! Will return

  • 1/5 KP P. 3 months ago on Google • 46 reviews New
    I was very much looking forward to this restaurant. It’s obviously very popular and caters to a very specific group of people. We had placed our order and excited for our food to come. The biggest problem was that one of the dishes was cold. This tells me that either their food is frozen or they are feeding left overs. When we politely told them that the food was cold they questioned us. They also barely speak English. We could actually see what they were doing because we sat right at the table where you can see inside the kitchen. The food came out in 2 mins. Which means they simply nuked the food in the microwave. Very disappointed.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jignasha A. 7 months ago on Google • 27 reviews
    We order Singapore style noodles, spinach rice rolls, and “fish” curry. Everything was delicious; however I really recommend the rice rolls. The spinach rice roll was the best and is usually hard to find at an all veg place. Next time I go I would totally just order rice rolls and dumplings :)
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Lydia P. 3 months ago on Google • 10 reviews New
    Popular for a reason! Very popular with my vegetarian and pescatarian friends who miss classic takeout dishes like orange chicken and lo mein. The dishes here can be a bit hit or miss - I would definitely recommend any of the chicken, duck, or lamb dishes, but the dumplings are a little bland, and very uniform in texture. If you’re a vegetarian in New York, absolutely come here. Pictured are the General Tso’s, the lamb with vegetables, and the pork lo mein. (All fantastic.)
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Becky C. 2 years ago on Google
    Wow, I was not expecting to love this at all and man was I shocked! I am a meat lover and rarely enjoy vegan options. This food was fantastic! I enjoyed almost all of the dishes we tried. I didn’t miss the meat at all, except in the vegetarian bbq bun. There were a lot of peanuts so beware for allergies. Service was pretty slow and we were the only people in the restaurant. However, this is a great option for dim sum even if you aren’t vegetarian. Will definitely return!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Matan H. 3 years ago on Google
    Best lunch deal in the area! Quick service and outdoor seating. I got the General Tso & BBQ meat fried rice 💯 One of my favorite places in Chinatown!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Krish M. 3 years ago on Google
    As a vegetarian for many years, I can’t say that I’ve taste really good Chinese/Asian food. I’m very picky but the food was tasty, full of flavor and the SOY was awesome ! Would definitely come back for the “Chicken” Lo Mein. The seafood wasn’t my forte (but I’m that wasn’t the fault of the restaurant just my picky ness). Would’ve given a 5 star if the bathroom was cleaner , but the staff was friendly and kind. The prices were manageable, would recommend and would return !
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Bluequeso a. 2 months ago on Google • 7 reviews New
    Normally I won't write a review. However, this time I do feel disrespected and unsatisfied with paying for that type of service. Yesterday (02/24/2024) my friends and I came here for dinner (around 8:20 pm) and we understood that it was about to be closing in less than an hour so we didn't ask for much. We ordered (1 stir pan-fried noodle for ~$15) (2 pan-fried crispy noodles/for ~$16) 1 tofu cheesecake for $5-6 and mango pudding for $5-6. The chicken pan-fried crispy noodles were a little bit salty 🧂🧂🧂 but we didn't bring this issue up since we still can eat it but we need to keep refilling the water. We were getting rushed out but we were not the only table (there were like 4 more tables of people still there). We paid the bill while still eating (again. We understand it was closing time but still). We didn't say anything until my friend finished his meal and wanted to get a water refill (the waitress came to clean up our table and refused to give my friend a refill) He said “Our kitchen is closed and there is no more water” then we asked another guy and he gave the bottle of tap water from the fridge (not even inside the kitchen) 💢💢💢 Do you need to cook the tap water or what!? Why the kitchen is closed and we can't have any tap water? The food was salty and we needed water we paid for the food =$70 and 18% tips = $80-90 Even though they did give the “TAP WATER” none of them apologized instead just talked behind them. And when we left, there were still like two tables of people inside. WHY DO YOU NEED TO TARGET US? and not the foreigners? P.S. I love this restaurant tbh, I will come here at least once a year, since 2022. But yesterday I was disappointed, we paid for it and we were finishing our Meal and that waitress refused to service us with any more water… At least you guys (at least one person) should apologize for this attitude.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jason Z. 3 years ago on Google
    I have been coming to this restaurant for the past decade. Absolutely enjoys the services and food at this location. For anyone on or just simply like plant-based dishes, this is an absolute spot I would recommend and vouch for. There are so many dishes I would recommend; a few I suggest you try are the bbq pork (dimsum or side dish), shredded shiitake mushroom w. broccoli, house special tofu, pineapple fried rice.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Archie B. 2 years ago on Google
    Vegetarian barbecue tastes like Halloween candy! Chewy and great but needs more spice. Very busy so slow service, but no discredit to the workers! Chairs in outdoor booths are lacking a bit. I like the heaters and the doors though! Tea - delight Best vegan cheesecake
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Michelle L. 2 years ago on Google
    Where has the place been all my life?! As a vegan I usually have two things I can eat on a dim sum list, so having almost 30 items to choose from was already a winner. The food was so delicious. The bbq bun is better than a lot of regular dim sum places. The rice rolls is were so good, we got the mushroom and another flavor which I forgot. This is my happy place. Would love if they didn’t use single-use plastic for sauces, less waste is better.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Lauren R. 3 years ago on Google
    OMG! one of my favorite places I've ever eaten. There are tonnnnns of vegetarian and vegan faux meat options(even jellyfish and shark fin!!!), plus meatless staples. The menu is labeled clearly making it so easy to order vegan. Everything we ordered was incredible but the sesame chicken in particular was out of this world. Very much enjoyed my visit here!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 isabellagoria 1 year ago on Google
    We had the sesame chicken (AMAZING), wonton soup (broth wasn’t good but the wontons were) and the veggie dumplings. Food was great, but the service not so much. We waited 20 min after seated and had to flag down someone for water which then he forgot about and had to continue to ask. We’d go back for the food, but the customer service needs major improvement.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Yusuf D'Almendra Q. 5 years ago on Google
    Very good food and a nice atmosphere. It can be a bit of a wait if you arrive in peak hours but it's nice and quiet of you go as soon as it opens. The service is good and friendly, but there is little explanation of what each dish entails. The food itself is delicious, which I can testify to having tried the sweet and sour "vegan chicken", dumplings, spring roll and sweet meat buns. It's slightly expensive for a Chinatown restaurant but the food really is very good.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Zachery B. 3 years ago on Google
    Great food. Awesome prices for the lunch special
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Karmen C. 3 years ago on Google
    Buddha Bodhai is my favorite food spot in Chinatown! I love all the tasty vegetarian options. My favorite is the cha siew cheung fun and the pumpkin soup.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kevin R. 3 years ago on Google
    Their meat substitutes come as close to the real thing as anything else I've tasted. Fantastic outdoor dining facilities. All the dim sum was delicious! Can't wait to go back.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dinah P. 3 years ago on Google
    The food here is outstanding. The staff extremely accommodating. I highly recommend the veg.prawns with broccoli, and the sesame veg. Chicken. Dim sum also! Also had veg. Seafood noodles.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sherry R. 1 year ago on Google
    Dim Sum with friends - great time & good food. Loved everything - most surprising was the tripe & best BBQ & least favorite was fried oysters … too much breading.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Po S. 1 year ago on Google
    Great variety and affordable prices! Packed with people but like most Chinatow n spots seating is fairly quick and super efficient. Definitely want to go back and try their lunch special! LOVED the cumin veg chicken
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Angel 1 year ago on Google
    This is my go to restaurant for dietary diverse guests since they have it all. I strongly recommend the BBQ meat, it’s their best meat substitute on the menu. They updated several things, removed the outside seating and re-did the menus to include pictures. If this location is full, there is a second location 600ft away on Mulberry, but that location lacks swag and is much darker/dingier. VEGAN AND GLUTEN FREE OPTIONS
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 陈翁鑫 3 years ago on Google
    Bad food :(
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Gia A. 1 year ago on Google
    Food was good, but not exceptional. We got the ‘chicken’ fried rice and the mushrooms with black bean sauce. The fried rice was good, but not spicy (we asked for very spicy). The man at the front desk insists on the full party being there before seating, even if it’s for 2 people and there are empty tables -_- Honestly just a mean move to inconvenience patrons.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dominic 4 months ago on Google • 227 reviews
    Beautiful place in Chinatown! Great vegetarian restaurant with plenty of options. We eat meat so we’re curious on how it would taste but it was phenomenal! Had the bbq beef steamed buns and Singapore thin spicy noodles. Both were fantastic. They serve hot tea as soon as you sit which is awesome on a nice cold day.

  • 1/5 Zoey Z. 1 month ago on Google • 89 reviews New
    I’m writing this as I’m eating as I think the food had way too much salt and msg alike stuff that I need to take a long break to continue. This restaurant was recommend by two non-Chinese tour guides, so I thought I must check it out. Looks like they try to mimic the flavour of meat by overdoing the cooking. It tastes too salty and the oil is overcooked so also has a funny taste. I can’t say I enjoy the dish very much. I’ve had much better vegan Chinese food in the past. Maybe I just had a lemon or something. But I won’t be returning so can’t say it for sure. Edit: at the end when I get the bill I told the waiter(also seems to be the boss or son of the boss) the dish doesn’t taste good. He said in a very unpleasant tone that I should’ve told him at the beginning so they can re-made for me. But they never checked on me and most of the time were in the kitchen. I meant I didn’t expect a discount or anything. A simple apology was what I was looking for. Apparently he didn’t intend to do anything for me, only educating me and accusing me. Btw it’s 4 hours later, my tongue still feels burnt by the msg or whatever they put in the dish.

  • 4/5 Ana C. 3 months ago on Google • 52 reviews New
    wow! the vegetarian options are amazing! you can’t even tell it’s not real meat! the servers don’t speak that well of english and it took about 1/2 an hour to get our food though, but definitely a great meat alternative place!

  • 3/5 Hannah W. 4 months ago on Google • 27 reviews
    I once ate at this restaurant about once a month since my barber was right across the street, but got tired of its food after maybe 5 visits, and found other, better, eateries around the barber shop. One day, after a bad experience with steamed buns nearby, I decided to give this place another try as it had been many years since my last visit. It's always crowded, as it's very popular with non-vegetarian diners. I ordered Laksa, and it came in a huge bowl - yes you can always expect very generous servings here! But the Laksa tasted quite strange, with a tomato based broth (instead of coconut milk) that was very sour, and with cheap chili paste that tasted ... cheap. It was full of button mushrooms and fake meat that smells and tastes like a block of chemicals. The best feature of the Laska was hand-made noodles. I'd have those noodles again even just by themselves! However, this may just be my last visit to this restaurant.

  • 5/5 Leo M. 1 month ago on Google • 12 reviews New
    I came here for lunch alone today. This is my favorite vegetarian restaurant. There is no need to queue,I come here at 12pm. There are various dishes. The shredded shiitake mushrooms with broccoli are my favorite. This restaurant 100% recommended

  • 5/5 M V P. 6 months ago on Google
    My favorite vegetarian restaurant in NYC! I hadn't been back in a few years but was happy to find everything just as amazing. Staff is friendly and helpful while food is affordable and delicious. These dishes are unique in that many of them are near impossible to find with vegetarian alternatives. They are also Kosher! I took my order to go this time but if you dine in, they serve you a fresh pot of tea included with dining in (so FREE). 10/10 place to visit!

  • 5/5 Andy L. 3 years ago on Google
    I turned vegetarian 10 years ago. This was the first and still my favorite vegetarian restaurants all these years! The staff here is as good as it gets – tip them well!

  • 5/5 Rachel B. 3 years ago on Google
    I definitely recommend this place! My dad loved the turnip cakes and we will absolutely be back for more!

  • 3/5 Swetha M. 3 years ago on Google
    The service was very good and the food taste was ok

  • 5/5 Jermaine E. 3 years ago on Google
    I certainly like the dishes and service, excellent area close to where I live. The cashiers are always super nice. Highly recommended.

  • 5/5 Alroy L. 3 years ago on Google
    Great vegetarian alternatives that are close to the meat version of the dim sum dishes. It is a good spot to go to if someone in your party is allergic to shellfish. When it rained, they brought out patio umbrellas to cover the tables. They have plastic partitions between the indoor tables and most of the outdoor tables. They have an alert button at the outdoor table to "pay" or "call" for assistance which I am not sure works as they didn't come over when we used it (we had to flag someone down later on). I'm not sure if the batteries needed to be changed or if perhaps they thought it was another table that placed the call. Bathrooms are spacious.

  • 5/5 refik d. 3 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) Delicious. The hot and sour soup is amazing ... (Original) Lezzetli. Acılı, ekşili çorba muhteşem...

  • 4/5 Tess U. 3 years ago on Google
    Everything was good but nothing we tried was absolutely “wow” worthy. Definitely a good spot for veggie friendly Chinese food so you don’t have to worry about little things like whether the oil touched meat or if something is cooked with a fish sauce. Portions were sizable and the price was decent. Service was quick and they start you with tea as opposed to tap water which I thought was a cute touch. We dined indoors and there wasn’t anyone else at the time so we felt safe doing so. They also have the tables decently spaced out with large plexiglass shields between them.

  • 2/5 Ron E. 3 years ago on Google
    The sweet and sour "chicken" tastes like fried kruellers and the hot and sour soup is really spicy.

  • 2/5 deland n. 3 years ago on Google
    The food is not good, the last time I bought the dim sum to eat at home all tasted, and they all became smelly. It is impossible to give the smelly food to the takeaway customers😡😡

  • 3/5 Seth G. 3 years ago on Google
    OK vegan Chinese.

  • 5/5 Joe M. 3 years ago on Google
    Everything was superb

  • 5/5 Joel P. 3 years ago on Google
    Delicious food!

  • 5/5 mcLa t. 3 years ago on Google
    Famous vegetarian place in Chinatown. Outdoor dining available, Vegetarian dimsum served all day . Special lunch dishes with soup and rice. And many more delicious including desserts...

  • 5/5 Mark K. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice private booths for outdoor eating and the food is a great example of the Buddhist veggie meat tradition.

  • 4/5 Mehul V. 4 years ago on Google
    A great great great for vegetarians! Close your eyes and point at a thing in the menu and it will be delicious and it will be vegetarian. I recommend the Chow Fun Ribs with mixed veggies in black bean sauce ! Yum! Also any of their pan fried noodles. I will definitely be coming here again.

  • 4/5 Bryan L. 3 years ago on Google
    A great vegetarian restaurant that captures the essence of light, refreshing, vegetarian food. You don't miss anything while eating here. However, there is a slight overreliance on crunchy textures for the dim sum, and the shrimp dumplings could not really be called veggie shrimp dumplings ..there were more of a crunchy celery dumpling

  • 4/5 Law Office of Olga M. Arandia Legal A. 3 years ago on Google
    Delicious and plentiful. I had left overs that were much appreciated and enjoyed. So grateful to find this place! Wait staff kind and obliging. A wonderful vibe. :)

  • 5/5 Harry O. 3 years ago on Google
    Been here plenty of times with friends but always brought in my spare ribs from 8th Ave. Tried the absolute best and most “punchy” hot and sour soup along with the mixed vegetables and brown sauce. These sauces are so delicate they don’t overpower the simple flavors from vegetables. If you’re a vegan (which I’m definitely not) you must try Buddha Bodai. The owner, Lawrence, will not allow you to go unnoticed.

  • 5/5 Aizhamal Nurmamat k. 2 years ago on Google
    Our vegan friend took us to this place. Though I'm not vegan, I enjoyed some of the dishes. Staff are super friendly, place is orderly and clean.

  • 5/5 Clarice L. 2 years ago on Google
    Came for lunch on a Friday and sat outside. Each section has a fan that you can turn on when it’s warmer. I’m not vegetarian, but heard great things about this place and loved it. We got the pea pod leaves rice roll, kabocha pumpkin pastry, fried taro custard, Buddha bean curd roll, and BBQ meat buns. Only thing I might not get again was the Buddha bean curd roll. The BBQ meat buns were incredible, really similar to actually having the BBQ pork. Excited to come back!

  • 5/5 P P. 2 years ago on Google
    This restaurant caters to the vegan wanna be in this vegetarian. I randomly chose this restaurant while visiting the city based on reviews. What a pleasant and unexpected food journey!! The menu is expansive, may be a bit overwhelming because I really needed a mini personal buffet where I could try everything on the menu. Service was good, quick and efficient. The food was fresh and delicious with very generous portions.

  • 3/5 Serdar A. 2 years ago on Google
    We came for lunch after reading the reviews. Overall, clean restaurant, easy location, good food. However there is room for improvement on Dim sum menu, for example; If you order a coconut rice ball, it is filled with peanuts.

  • 5/5 Alba S. 2 years ago on Google
    I love this place. Have been twice this week. Everything is so cheap and the portions so big. Two people could eat with one menu for $8.5 I recommend chicken curry if you like spicy. And the buns. All this was $17. In love!

  • 5/5 John T. 2 years ago on Google
    Very good vegetarian dishes that even carnivores will like. All the mock (i.e., vegetarian) "meats" taste just like the real thing.

  • 5/5 Leonor S. 3 years ago on Google
    Delicious vegan food, lots of options and friendly staff! BYOB and very inexpensive. Loved it! Strongly recommend the stuffed tofu with eggplant & pepper

  • 5/5 Monisha S. 3 years ago on Google
    Ever time I come here to eat something new and end up ordering the same, the food here always bring fresh taste. Out door eating is well managed and give it 10 to 15 minutes for pick up since in-door eating is not allowed for safety reasons.

  • 5/5 Marissa B. 3 years ago on Google
    Great food love this restaurant

  • 2/5 Pavan S. 2 years ago on Google
    Absolutely delicious dim sum appetizer. Triple mushroom noodles was awesome but ribs with black bean sauce was absolute disaster. Could not even eat couple of bites.

  • 5/5 Viv K. 2 years ago on Google
    We arrived around 130pm, the restaurant was packed and busy. Food was delicious and good portion. Its amazing how they can make so many dishes that are plant base and healthy.

  • 5/5 Marilyn-Joy M. 3 years ago on Google
    I haven’t been here in over six years since we moved to the West Coast and I am STILL thinking of their “BBQ pork”! I hope the restaurant is hanging in there, can’t wait to visit again when we finally make it back to NYC.

  • 5/5 Rose R. 3 years ago on Google
    Still open!! We picked food up for our roommates birthday dinner yesterday and it was the best! Take out and limited outdoor seating! This is the best vegan/vegetarian Chinese food In the ENTIRE manhattan area. If you don’t know what to do, order fried taro balls, bbq beef (a must) and chicken lo mein. But you could probably blindfold yourself and still pick An amazing meal.

  • 5/5 Tracy M. 3 years ago on Google
    All vegan Chinese food in Chinatown!

  • 5/5 Sophia V. 3 years ago on Google
    Best vegan restaurant in nyc

  • 4/5 Simran S. 3 years ago on Google
    Vegetarian, mostly vegan. I enjoyed the outdoor dining, service was as expected, the food however... Something is missing in the flavor. I think it may be a lack of onion and garlic, or maybe because there is no MSG. Something. But I enjoyed the meal!

  • 5/5 Lonni B. 1 year ago on Google
    Good price and quality. Service was very fast and with a lot of vegetarian and vegan options. Too bad that tofu is not added to most of them without a supplement though. Nice place and kind staff. Tea is excellent and service fees are added automatically on your check (with a very reasonable %).

  • 5/5 Kuo L. 3 years ago on Google
    Fantastic food!

  • 5/5 Dustin Z. 3 years ago on Google
    Wonderful ambience and very friendly service. The meals were crisp and delicious. Will absolutely recommend this place to my friends. Convenient rates and generous meals. Great work.

  • 5/5 Leah 1 year ago on Google
    This was such an amazing restaurant! I am not normally a tea drinker but the tea they served was delicious! All the food was beautifully presented, great portion sizes and prices, and absolutely scrumptious! I came for my birthday with my family and it was a really nice atmosphere! The art work was really stunning (especially the one with the house on the fish:) the staff were very kind and patient. I highly recommend this restaurant especially if you are vegetarian, lactose intolerant, or gluten free. They have lots of great options for people with dietary restrictions. Thank you to all the staff for making my birthday very special!


Call (212) 566-8388 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Quick bite
    • ✓️ Comfort food
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Vegan options
    • ✓️ Organic dishes
    • ✓️ Healthy options
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
    • ✗ Wheelchair accessible parking lot
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Brunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Takeout
    • ✓️ Delivery
    • ✓️ Curbside pickup
    • ✓️ No-contact delivery

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