Buddah’s Belly isn’t new. The restaurant has been on Beverly Boulevard in Los Angeles for a decade now and in Santa Monica for five years. But it’s one of those places that isn’t always on the tip of foodie’s tongues, but it really should be. The chef, Kevin Luzande, actually hails from John Sedlar’s award-winning Rivera and Playa restaurants where he served as Chef de cuisine for three years. Chef Kevin has also been hailed as Zagat Guides ’30 and Under 30’ promotion as one of the best chefs of 2013.
The place is pseudo-funky but the food is honest and delicious and the service, every time we’ve been there, has been excellent. The wine selections could use improvement especially since they only serve red or white house wine by the glass or carafe which is just about drinkable; but the food more than makes up for the wine digression.
Every dish is delicious, and there are plenty of them. For starters you have a plate of spicy edamame, chicken wings, chicken pot stickers, Korean fried tofu, miso soup and more, all in the $3 to $10 range.
There are also salads such as Buddha’s chicken Salad, Thai Curry, Seaweed, Papaya or Salmon ranging from $6 to $14 and soups from Tom Yom Koon Thai Ramen to BBQ Pork Ramen for $11 and $12. And then you have noodles and rice such a personal fave Pad Thai that’s just $12 and is wonderful with shrimp, chicken breast, tofu and flat rice noodles with great spices. The Chicken Pad Thai’s good, too for just $9 and so is the rest of th is category especially the Ginger Fried Rice ($12) that’s mixed with sirloin stead, bay shrimp, egg, shiitake mushrooms, sweet red ginger, red onion, green beans and crispy spinach.
Then there’s a whole list of large plates from Black Cod for $22 to Wok-tossed Vegetables with Tofu for $10 (and lots in-between). For dessert t here’s ice creams, sorbets, a Green Tea Tiramisu, Chocolate Mousee Timbale and Chocolate Fondue, priced from $5 to $12.
Buddha’s Belly is located at 7475 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, 323-931-8588.
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