Golden Buddha Restaurant

I’ll give them 10 stars. The food is amazing. The service is amazing. I just love this place.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Love this little 'hole in the wall' place. Don't let the outside fool you. Amazing food and super nice owners!

We tried Golden Buddha after reading mixed reviews and were pleasantly surprised. The owners greeted us warmly, our order was ready in about 15 minutes, and everything was fresh, hot, and flavorful. The interior is dated, but that’s not the point. It’s a long-running family spot that focuses on good food. Some reviews mentioned cold food, but ours was steaming hot, likely just a delivery issue. Overall, a great experience and we’ll definitely order again!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Wonderful food, they definitely deserve more customers.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Food is good and the portions are large
Initially the building deterred me from going but the people inside were really nice and it was clean so I’ll be back.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I had been craving some General Tzo's chicken for a hot minute, and its probably been 20 years since I ate food from here. The flavor of the main fish was everything I had hoped for, I did not particularly care for the fried rice. It seemed just like white rice wirh soy sauce. Was better mixed with the dish. I haven't eaten much Chinese take out in general, and the food sat heavy with me the night I ate it and the next morning.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 5

EDIT: This time I got the Gen Tso's Shrimp + Beef Fried Rice. The Gen Tso's Chicken is excellent, but the Shrimp was disappointing. It was 50% broccoli, and the shrimp were not really Jumbo; they were at least 30-40% breading. Also, the steamed rice tasted a little off. The Beef Fried Rice was excellent as usual (maybe just a tad too salty, but still delicious).

ORIGINAL REVIEW:

Well, I can't believe it. The other reviews were right. I've driven by this place for 2+ years now and never even considered trying it because of how it looked. And now I'm kicking myself.

I still think Sohao is probably the best Chinese food in Gainesville. But the beef fried rice here is better. Just, wow.

I don't know how to explain the taste, but chicken/beef fried rice has been my favorite dish since I was a young child, and this has the particular taste that I've only encountered once or twice since I was a kid, and not for a decade or more now. (The fried rice that comes as a side with the entree is nothing special at all--you have to order the entree fried rice to get what I'm talking about.) Easily the best fried rice in Gainesville, maybe Florida.

I got the Gen. Tso's lunch special and the beef fried rice, coming to $18.20 (this is March 2025). The Gen. Tso's chicken was very good, maybe even as good as at Sohao. It was spicier than I was expecting (which I very much liked--but fair warning to those who can't handle any spice).

I didn't get the soup that's supposed to come with the lunch special, but I don't like and wouldn't eat the soup anyway, so no complaints there (but double-check your order if you want that, I guess).

Others have raved about the spring rolls; I thought it was just fine, nothing special, really, except for the size (very large, as you can see from my photo). It was good though--the kind of crispy papery skin I prefer to the thick kind.

Similarly for the portion sizes: definitely plenty of food, but comparable to other places like Sohao. But certainly no complaints on how much food I got, especially for the price.

I will definitely be back; I really hope they're consistent. Oh, and the lady running it was very nice, and she did indeed bring the food to my car.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 4

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Beef Fried Rice

Look old but the family was nice

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 2

Service: 2

I was looking for Chinese food online and I KNEW BY THE WAY THE PLACE LOOKED that the food was gonna be good. This place has been in business since I was a kid. The food was good. The prices are great. Definitely gonna go back.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I must have gone on the wrong day. I had been waiting with anticipation to eat food from this place, so high are the ratings. The General Tso's chicken came in one giant clump of fried meat. The chicken was dry and thready. The beef & broccoli sauce was like water. Really disappointed, and I won't be returning.

The price at this place simply cannot be beat. Now, that alone is often a good enough reason to eat somewhere, especially if you're a broke student. But on top of an unbeatable price and an amazing portion size that made me feel like I was back in 2006, the food itself is good. I got General Tso's lunch combo and almost could not believe how much food I got for $8. If you want good, cheap, and plentiful food then you have to eat here.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This place has great food and great service. The food wasn't too expensive and you get HUGE portions for what you pay. Everything was fresh and delicious from what I ordered and I can confidently say this place is one of my favorite Chinese food joints.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Dumplings

Best takeout Chinese place in Gainesville. Humble but very clean kitchen.

Food: 5

Service: 5

First, food taste and freshness is inconsistent my husband and I are here three days in a row and let's just say, it wasn't like the 1st time. Second, like the fact that they deliver. Third, the spring rolls are really good. In conclusion, need to improve on food freshness and consistency. In the photo was day three and the chicken wings weren't fresh at all they tasted like they were cooked the day before then refried they were so hard I didn't even bother eating them all I ate were my 4 spring rolls. Haven't been back since.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 3

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Spring Roll

I'm so disappointed. I've been passing by this place for years and judged it by it's appearance. Listen, this the best food you can get for the money. The lunch specials give so much food I'm scared to see how much the dinners get. The veggies taste fresh and the rice isn't greasy at all!! I been there 3 times this week. Im still mad..... 😁

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 5

Service: 4