02/02/09

Great Food, Reasonable Price, and Great Ambiance

by IACYOO

Great food. I had the the sour apple soju martini with the albacore avocado spring rolls and the alaskan black cod all reasonably priced without sacrificing quality.

• Pros: Great Food
• Cons: no complaints

08/29/08

Great neighborhood place, allergy aware

by legaleditor

We have lived by Buddha's Belly for three years and had never been in--primarily because I was concerned that my husband, who has a pepper allergy, couldn't survive a place sure to have bell peppers and chili sauce out the yin-yang. However, returning home from a long day at work yesterday, he suggested (to my surprise) we try it out.

It was 9:30 pm on a Thursday and we had our 11-year-old in tow (hey, it's still summer vacation!) and we got seated in a booth right away. The restaurant was busy, but not overly crowded, and the music was definitely not overloud (I noticed someone else said the music was too loud--maybe that's just on the weekend?).

Well, long story short (too late, right?), the wait staff was extremely attentive about my hubby's allergy. They seemed to know most everything in each dish we asked about, and were quick to insist on double-checking with the kitchen for things that they were even a little unsure about. Very refreshing in a city chock full of wannabe actor/waiters who think "allergy" means "dislike." (We once asked a waiter at PF Chang's why my husband's meal came with bell pepper spirals on top of it, and he said, "Oh, it's fine--it's just a garnish.")

Anyway, hubby ordered three generous appetizers (Har gow, simple and super good; chicken lettuce cups, very yummy; and rock shrimp tempura, excellent). My son and I got to order spicy food for a nice change of pace (we basically never go out to Thai or Mexican places because of the allergy). We all enjoyed our food very much and had a really great service experience.

To those complaining that this is not "authentic" Asian food, I would say Buddha's Belly doesn't really sell itself as such. It's kind of like complaining that an action movie wasn't "serious" enough. It's tasty food, nice ambience, and attentive wait staff. For us, that made a great Thursday night dinner.

• Pros: Great service, yummy food, allergy conscious
• Cons: Valet-only parking ($5), can be very busy at times

08/18/08

Bad Food at its Worst

by saulcook27282728

My friend suggested PF Changs and I in turn suggested Buddha's Belly. And so we went. It was T-E-R-R-I-B-L-E! We had exactly what the waitress suggested and we were completely unimpressed/disgusted by the food. It was the kind of food you would expect from a Food Court at the mall.

It should be called BOOdha's Belly. Or BADha's Belly.

08/11/08

Uneven, but plenty of great menu choices in a snazzy location.

by zenmonkey

It's best to visit this restaurant with someone who has been there before. Their food is wildly uneven. Some of it is just inedible, such as the damp and way overbattered tempura or the wildly fatty filet mignon. However, dishes like Korean steak, calamari salad, vegan tofu salad, and especially the ahi tuna burger are excellent, as are most of their appetizers. Be sure to try a lychee soju; one of my favorite cocktails in L.A. I have never encountered anything but charming and friendly service. This place is a favorite as I stick to what I know is good, and whenever I bring people and advise them on the menu, they love it as well. Also very easy for vegetarians to find a variety of delicious options.

• Pros: When it's good, it's great; lovely service; enjoyable ambience
• Cons: Parking can be a challenge; a number of bad menu options

07/23/08

Best Pan Asian

by restaurantfoodcriticLA

It is no wonder this restaurant is still so popular after all these years... it is consistently great and very Affordable. The service is friendly and welcoming, the food is delicious, and the restaurant is very comfortable -- perfect for a night out with friends or an early dinner with family...you can't go wrong.

I put them to the test with an office party for 40 people in their bamboo party room. It was a huge success and I've been a hero ever since.

Favorites entrees: Sweet Chili Shrimp, Black Cod, Korean Steak

Favorite Starters: Tofu Lettuce cups, Ahi Tuna Tartare

Favorite Drink: Mojotos -- even had someone in Vegas tell me the best Mojitos are at Buddha's Belly in LA

Dinner for two: Roughly $45 (Half the price and twice as good as any restaurant at the Grove 1 block away)

• Pros: Service, Food, Prices

07/11/08

Everything was just mediocre

by joannahbrown

Not what it's cracked up to be...yes it's more affordable than the koi's and katanas of the world, but the food doesn't come close. the miso cod was probably the worst i've had in LA

05/01/08

Hip and casual dining spot for fresh, affordable Pan-Asian fare.

by Contributor

The Scene
This sun-drenched, airy dining room is welcoming and bright. Funky, oversized paper lanterns and a giant Buddha statue add liveliness to the simple space. Outside, lush bamboo shields the patio from busy Beverly Boulevard. Servers cater to neighborhood locals with friendly efficiency.

The Food
Popular Asian dishes are gussied up with fresh ingredients. Seaweed salad, a mixture of wakame and hijiki in a tangy sesame-ginger dressing, is cool and refreshing. Chilled Vietnamese shrimp rolls, packed with shrimp, cilantro and crispy rice vermicilli, gets a flavor boost from a spicy-sweet sake reduction dipping sauce. Thai beef salad is a carb-light feast with strips of tender sirloin steak, juicy tomatoes and sweet onion tossed with mixed greens in a lemongrass dressing. Japanese-style Alaskan cod glazed with a sweet miso sauce is baked until flaky and light. A cup of coconut-infused homemade tapioca pudding serves as the finale.

04/06/08

Scrumptious!

by afrange

Buddha's Belly offers consistent service and wonderful cuisine. It's a great spot for a girls' night out or a weekday dinner date. The miso-infused eggplant is a yummy starter and the albacore-avocado spring rolls are delicious. For the main course try the spicy peanut noodles -- they are rich, but divine. On the lighter side, the cod entree is a favorite of mine and is served bento box style with sides of pickled cucumbers, ginger-edamame rice and steamed broccoli.

• Pros: variety of menu, consistency of food and service, ambiance

04/02/08

Good, reasonably priced food, very creative!

by vlmSantaMonica

This is the second time I've been to this place (I visited the restaurant in Santa Monica, that just opened). I find the food very creative in taste and presentation. The Rock Shrimp Tempura was insane--so good and very beautifully presented. I had the Tom Yum Koon which had a lot of flavor. My boyfriend had the Green Curry, which was good over all, though I found the chicken to be a little bland. The food was served hot, almost too hot, actually. The service was excellent. Everyone was friendly. Definitely not a bad place to go! I'll be back!

• Pros: Creative dishes
• Cons: The Santa Monica site needs more ambiance

02/23/08

A favorite

by ck2003

A great restaurant with good food, reasonable prices (for food and alcohol) and lively atmosphere. I have enjoyed everything I've tried on the menu -- but the seared ahi tuna salad and singapore seafood noodles are favorites. It can get loud inside, so you may want to sit outside if you are looking for quieter conversation. I have taken many out of town guests here and they have enjoyed it as well.

• Pros: food, prices
• Cons: as always in Los Angeles, can be difficult to find street parking