Buddakan

We went to this really trendy Chinese restaurant. The vibe was very night clubby, and also Gen Z.

Basically when you get in it’s like a Vegas style check in (have people behind a hotel like counter). After, you basically wait in the bar area before you get seated (even if you have a reservation). The bar area is actually quite large, and really good for a pregame (could also go to this restaurant without eating and just chill there). And the DJ was very on point playing great top 40 edm music.

After about 10 minutes we did get seated. We got the chow mein with beef, the dim sum sampler, and something that is like pop corn shrimp (it wasn’t called that, but basically an Asian version of it). Honestly, would get everything again.

For drinks got an Aperol spritz and whisky on the rocks. Can’t go wrong with either of those.

On a side note, there was a downstairs area which looked like it had bomb seating. Also, this place is near the Google office and Tao night club. Would be down to go to this place and explore the area at night next time.

Update (7/21/2024): we went back here for a friends bday. There was 15 of us, so we had to do a fixed menu. The menu is listed below, it I think the highlights for me were the lobster fried rice, the jumbo shrimp, and the cod. Other food was great, but it was just a lot of food (need to pace myself next time).

Ye’s Apothecary

So this is labeled as a speak easy, it really it’s just a late night Chinese food place with a full bar / cocktails.

I would go back again for a late night meal. We got the Sui Mai, XLB, noodles with beef, and Szechuan beef. Would get everything again but the beef (pictured below, it was not what I was expecting since it was crispy. Usually it’s not like that).

For drinks, think I just got whisky on the rocks (the usual).

Jing Fong

Went to this place for dinner in the upper west side.

Overall, great food. The domain (especially the Siu Mai) was excellent, and even the crispy Cantonese chow menu (got the vegetable one because a friend I was with is vegetarian).

The white food pictured below (some sort of rice noodle) was also great.

This place also had lychee martinis!

Harborview Restaurant & Bar

A really great dim sum place (you can’t tell by the name, but apparently the Chinese name is more representative). Quality of all the dishes we got was great (from the Siu mai and hargow to the fried rice and chow mein).

Definitely coming back here for dim sum / brunch.

R & G Restaurant

Ok, so I give this restaurant several thumbs up.

First off, they have lychee martini as the first drink in their cocktail menu. 👌

For the food, I would get everything again (except maybe the mussels). We ordered a nicely peppered Dungeness crab, hot and sour soup, calamari, oxtail, chow mein, fried rice, and one other fried dish (I wanna say short ribs).

Real Kung Fu Little Steamed Buns Ramen

We popped into this place before catching a show on Broadway that was at 7pm. Service here was fast, and we were out within an hour.

We ordered a bunch of dishes to share. The only dish I wouldn’t get again from below is the “Ramen” (I would barely call that dish a ramen… it was basically noodles and beef in soup). Everything else was great (although the Michelin recommended bun didn’t seem too special, but I would get it again).