Buddakan

Buddakan has held its ground in the Chelsea Market corridor for long enough to become a fixed point in the Meatpacking District's dining map. It is a signal that this STARR Restaurants property keeps delivering on a consistent basis. The New York City restaurant scene is unforgiving of mediocrity, Buddakan's 2025 Opinionated About Dining Casual ranking (#578 in North America, up from #591 in 2024) suggests it is moving in the right direction.

For a first-timer, the core proposition is Asian Fusion at a mid-range price point (cuisine pricing lands in the $$ tier, meaning a typical two-course dinner runs $40–$65 per person before drinks). That is a reasonable ask for Chelsea, where comparable large-format dining rooms frequently charge more for less. If you are used to the approachable price structure of Dimes but want something more formal, or if you find Hortus NYC too health-forward, Buddakan positions itself as the middle path: crowd-pleasing, dramatic in scale, priced for a regular dinner out rather than a once-a-year splurge.

What to expect as a first-timer

The kitchen is led by Chef Zachary Taylor, with wine direction from Mikayla Cohen and operations overseen by General Manager Dragana Bjelica. The wine list runs to around 170 selections with an inventory of 2,000 bottles; France is the program's strength, pricing falls in the $$$ range (many bottles above $100), and the corkage fee is $35 if you bring your own. That corkage rate is fair for New York. If you are a wine-first diner, the list is worth exploring, but if you want to keep the bill controlled, a cocktail or two is the more economical entry point.

Service runs dinner only, which is relevant if you are planning around a Chelsea afternoon. Monday through Thursday, doors open at 5 pm and the kitchen runs until 11 pm. Friday and Saturday extend to midnight, with Saturday opening an hour earlier at 4 pm. Sunday also opens at 4 pm and closes at 11 pm. Book for an early Saturday slot if you want the room at its finest without fighting late-night noise levels.

Booking is rated Easy here, which is genuinely useful in New York. You do not need to plan weeks in advance the way you would for Smyth in Chicago or The French Laundry in Napa. That accessibility is part of what makes Buddakan work as a Meatpacking District anchor. It handles groups, walk-ins are more realistic here than at most comparable venues, the scale of the room means a last-minute table is not out of the question on a weeknight.

Why this address matters in Chelsea

At 75 9th Avenue, Buddakan sits inside the Chelsea Market building, one of the most foot-trafficked blocks in lower Manhattan. This is not incidental. The location functions as a natural endpoint for a High Line walk, a dinner destination attached to a food-market afternoon, or a pre-theatre meal for nearby venues. Large-format Asian Fusion restaurants at this price point are not common in the immediate neighbourhood. Tao offers a comparable dramatic-room experience further uptown, but the Chelsea Market context gives Buddakan a distinct logistical pull. You come here because the neighbourhood and the format both make sense on the same evening. For more options in the area, the full New York City restaurants guide covers the broader field.

For comparison internationally, Dos Palilos in Barcelona and Aalto in Milan both work the Asian Fusion format in European contexts. What Buddakan does differently is scale: it is a large room designed for the energy of a full house, that is exactly the experience it delivers.

If you are planning a full evening in the neighbourhood, the New York City bars guide, hotels guide, and experiences guide are worth cross-referencing. The wineries guide is less directly relevant unless you are planning a broader trip.

The practical summary

Buddakan is the right call for a first-time visitor who wants a reliable, mid-price Asian Fusion dinner in a high-energy room without the booking difficulty or price ceiling of New York's tasting-menu circuit. If that is what you need from Chelsea tonight, book it.

Quick reference: Dinner only, $$ cuisine pricing ($40–$65 per head), $$$ wine list, 170 selections, corkage $35, open from 4–5 pm daily, closes 11 pm (midnight Fri–Sat), booking rated Easy.