Buddha Bodai
$$ - average
Dim Sum
Authentic Chinese vegetarian cuisine
This Chinatown restaurant is described by some as the "most authentic Chinese vegetarian restaurant" in the United States. Rather than importing their mock meats like most restaurants, Buddha Bodai makes them all from scratch.
By train:
Take the M, 6 train stop at City Hall
Take the F train stop at Eastbroadway
- Kosher
Added by Gregory on Jul 9 06 (updated Jul 16 06)
Reviews
A bustling crowd, replete with Buddhist Monks and Nuns, observant Jews, Tai Chi 'players', hippies, court officers and tourists enjoy the extensive, superb and Kosher menu.
Though not advertised on the menu, most of the rice dishes, like Ginger and Pine Nut Rice, can be ordered with brown rice.
The Chinese vegetable dishes can be ordered with any sauce on the menu, such as Three Cups Chicken sauce. Kent is an elegant and efficient Host, and Head Waiter Johnny speaks passable restaurant Hebrew.
This menu is almost too extensive! It was very difficult to choose an entree. The Sesame Chicken was very good. They have many "typical" vegetarian Chinese fare as well as many unique appetizers and entrees (I was a little scared of the Veg Jellyfish appetizer.) Overall, I was very satisfied and plan on going back.
Buddha Bodai has a huge menu with many innovative vegan dishes and some traditional Chinese dishes using mockmeats. I found their garlic-pepper chicken to be filling and tasty, without being oily or heavy. Their walnut shrimp was good, but a bit too sweet for me. Their cheesecake was simple, but great tasting, but their ice cream was too icy, dry and flavorless. On a whole, this is a great restaurant, though.