The Original Buddha Bodai Kosher Vegetarian Restaurant 佛菩提

This is my go to place for work lunch and it is the perfect greasy Chinese food without having any worries it’s cross contaminated with meat. The soups and desserts aren’t great in my opinion but every entree and dim sum I’ve had has been amazing! Updated from previous review on 2026-01-14

I had a lovely experience at this restaurant. There are ample vegan options in their large menu. The menu has the vegan options as the norm and clearly indicate any non-vegan dishes. I had a Ho fun noddle dish with barbecue faux meat which was delicious and filling. I highly recommend visiting this restaurant and I will surely return to eat more of their dishes. Updated from previous review on 2026-01-11

We got the gluten free beef chow mein and it was a very underwhelming dish. They straight up brought exactly that and nothing else. No vegetables in the dish, no soy sauce and no chili sauce. For the cost, a little crazy. We had to channel the vegetables previously cooked in the same wok through the noodles to pretend to enjoy it. A little effort in dish would have gone a long way. When you order ask what else is in your dishes before trusting the menu. I get simplicity but for $20 bucks that was under simple.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 2

Service: 2

This is one of my favorite restaurants in the entire world. The vegetarian/vegan food is immaculate and the staff is extremely friendly. If you can do Dim Sum take that chance, or any chance to come here. I love the vegan chicken especially.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great delicious food, many and authentic vegan options. Huge portions. Very good value for money.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 4

this is one of the best vegetarian meals I've ever had!

This place has a nice atmosphere and the food was great I gave it three stars because the take away was when given the check a worker/server that never interacted with us insist on telling us about a tip it's my choice to choose to tip or not it's not for you to tell my about a tip so I won't be returning to that establishment. I've experienced this many times with Asians it's not nice at all when that's done to me I don't and won't leave a tip because I shouldn't have to be told to leave one

The other similarly named location on Mulberry St is the actual original chef and food. This Mott St is just the original physical location only of the old restaurant, not food.

The landlord here took over the place and tried to keep the name to fool people into coming, but the original chef left and opened the Mulberry location with the food that made the place a hit.

The staff here were pretty short and unfriendly and the menu has way less options than the Mulberry Street spot. People may say the food is the same, but not as good to me.

Glad to have finally tried them both but won't be coming back here. Try them both for yourself if you want though.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 2

Service: 2

On a long awaited return to NYC I was looking forward to my favorite Chinese restaurant, but nothing is forever. Welcome to this excellent restaurant So happy they were there! Wonderful freshly made all veg food. And many dim sum options!

The male waiter had such an attitude. We were a party of 6 and have been doing a dumpling tour. This place was on the dumpling list, and we placed 2 orders of dumplings, and a drink for one of our family members. The waiter proceeded to say, “Uh this is a restaurant, you have to order more.” Of course, we responded with “oh we just wanted to share. Of course we know this is a restaurant (we’re not stupid), but we just wanted the dumplings.” He proceeded to keep saying “this is a restaurant, you need to order more.” In the end, we left because we didn’t want anything more. There’s no sign or knowledge before hand that you have to spend $15 minimum for EACH person. Looks like a nice restaurant, but it’s upsetting how the staff wasn’t as kind when ordering. He had a lot of sass towards us not ordering more.

Atmosphere: 3

Service: 1

Yesterday I went to this restaurant and the experience was terrible! To start with, we arrived an hour before closing time and the waiter mentioned it to me. The food was average. I ordered the sesame chicken and it was salty. While we were eating, they brought us the bill and at that moment they wanted us to pay. They didn't wait for us to finish eating and there were other people there, but I repeat, they only told us. Once we finished eating, they brought us the bill again, but this time the cashier came and asked us to pay the tip in a rude and abusive manner. As we were leaving, he told us repeatedly to come back early, something we will never do again because I read the reviews and they all have the same opinion. Do not go to this place!!!!

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 2

Service: 1

Mushroom noodles. The meal was perfect except for the lack of mushrooms. Mushrooms are cheap. There shouldn’t be a lack of mushrooms. I think there was 1 piece of mushroom. Besides of that gripe, the meal was perfectly salted and oiled. Flavorful and good portion.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Mapo tofu rocks,

Usually all chinese places give a liquid like water with tofu, but here it’s so savory, flavor filled, spicy and up for grabs!

The cedar fried rice tastes awesome, usually has a motor oil/wok taste to it - but thats what I bought it for.

Tasty chow fun, mild, flavor rich and yummy.

Beef coriander soup was okish.

Don’t get the dumplings, they seem fresh but just have a bland doughy taste.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 4

Lovely people and great service! The food is amazing

I love American Chinese, and I wanted to bring over a dinner for myself and a vegan friend. I was pretty shocked that they had char siu and general tso's that tasted _exactly_ like the real thing.

In fact, I'm still reeling that it's one of the best general tso's I've had in the city - crispy, perfect marination flavor, chicken texture and only missing a small bit of chicken meat flavor.