Buku

I was super please with their Sunday brunch. Super sad I couldn’t try everything because of me recently becoming a brace face but the things I did try were amazing. Their brunch was very cultured and had a lot of variety. My favorite thing was the omelet station with about 6 different types of cheese and the Bloody Mary, of course!

Was dying to try this place and honestly felt a tad disappointed with some of the food items when I was expecting everything to blow me away. The location and restaurant décor are awesome. I was able to find parking around the corner. The server was extremely nice and helpful when ordering.
We started with the lumpia and tuna tataki then shared the Vietnamese crêpe for our entrée. Dessert was the crème brûlée trio. I loved the lumpia, dessert and cocktails. The tuna tataki was not the best, it tasted fishy and the ginger was imitation. The imitation ginger was strange to me because they used a slice of real ginger in my cocktail. The crêpe was filled with mostly ground meat and only one or two shrimp which was a shame. The summer rolls on the entrée were all veggies and not traditional. I would go back but would change up what I order.

The place was very nice, didn’t seem busy when we went. The server was nice. The restroom is nice and clean, they even had mints lol. My husband ordered BuKu Ramen ($ 20) and I had Duck Larb ($ 12). The ramen had so much going on. My husband said it was good but not worth it for $ 20. I really like my Duck Larb, the fish sauce was on point. The veggies were so fresh. Then my husband wanted to try the Grilled Pineapple– Coconut Gazpacho, which had real crab and I cant eat that, but the server was so nice to get it split for us so I could try it. It wasn’t that great, the flavor was bland. The mixer with the cabbage and the pineapple coconut sauce wasn’t good at all. The texture was clumpy, felt weird in my mouth. Overall it was okay, pricey, server was good.

Great food. New experience… this Asian Fusion restaurant had a great selection, clean and friendly environment and good service.

Walked to this little gem while attending Animazement with two teenagers, who were both starving. Restaurant has an extensive gluten free menu, which is a bonus for me, and Nathan assured me that everyone there was knowledgable on avoiding cross contamination. We had gluten free sushi, gluten free empanadas, ramen, pad thai, and duck. All of them were amazing. The service was phenomenal. They offered a special to those dressed in costume (which was a shame that I made my kid change before we went out!) Will definitely return next year!

Good place to bring a date.
Filipino food wasn’t great but it’s only because I know authentic filipino foods from a mile away. Disappointed by the halo halo but some Americans will probably like it.
Sloan, our waiter, was good.
My tip: Go big or go home.
Get the KBBQ.
Get the NY steak.
Pad Thai was eh. I’ve had better.
You know, the food isn’t all that but it wasn’t bad overall.
Clean bathrooms too and phenomenal service. I would’ve given it 3 stars for the food but the service we received was exceptional!

My husband and I made reservations on Saturday night last minute. I almost wished we didn’t because there was plenty of seating and we got stuck in a corner right next to the kitchen where the food comes out. I did not get to enjoy the beauty of the restaurant.
Our dessert, trilogy crème bulee was amazing! Best thing I had all night. We had a spicy salmon roll which was delicious and crab flaunts that we started with. The crab was great as well but a little of the spicy side. The food came out quick and was plated beautifully.
We ordered Ramen to share. It was the most expensive Ramen I have ever had and it was a big let down. The 12 hour broth was flavorless and luke warm. The dish also desperately needed salt. But besides that I really enjoyed my dinner.

A friend and I popped in for a late dinner last night, and it could not have been a more perfect experience. The food was all delicious, but the highlight of the evening was definitely the service. Our server Jason was friendly, knowledgeable, and personable. It felt like chatting with a friend as opposed to just rattling off an order. Kyle recommend an awesome dish for us (Chinese steamed buns!!), and Nathan suggested an incredible bottle of wine that was everything we wanted and more.
I can’t speak highly enough about the food and service here. Everything came together for an awesome start to our southern road trip. Oh, and I was blown away when we got the bill. The prices are totally reasonable. We definitely could not have shared a bottle of wine, two small plates and a large bowl for under $ 100 at home!

Mezcla de comida oriental, con un poco de Caribe. Deben mantenerse en lo oriental es exquisito. Deben probar las empanadas. El servicio es de primera. Volveremos por aquí. Deben pedir los platos como tapas y compartirlas.

I walked from my hotel to Buku for a late lunch the day I flew into town. Unimpressed by the colorful language of a few of the server/​manager people who were mingling around me (I stayed for a while to catch up on work while I ate).
My server was great — he offered helpful suggestions and was around just enough.
I had the ginger pear salad to start followed by the mussels. The salad was pleasantly delicious and flavorful. The crispy wontons, sweet pears, and savory edamame were SO good. Not something I normally would have ordered, but did based on my server’s recommendation. The mussels tasted awesome. Great white wine broth.
A little spendy for what I had, but really good. A perfect spot to prepare for my business meeting the next day.

I’ve been to Buku twice now. The first one was actually about 5 years ago, and I remember I sat in the bar area with a friend and ordered the Scottish Salmon. I also remember my meal being quite good (they still have the Scottish Salmon on their menu).
Flash forward to a recent weeknight and I finally made it back to Buku. I’ve actually wanted to return sooner, but just never found the time. I went with a large group, and started with the Hawaiian ahi tuna poke. The dish was smaller than I thought it would be (that’s what she said), but they do call it a small plate, so fair enough. I did enjoy the flavors and thought the spice level was just right. I think the price was around $ 14, but worth it if you are a big ahi tuna fan (like me).
I also ordered a main dish and chose the Ramen bowl. I’m not a Ramen expert but thought this was a good choice. The broth was very flavorful and the bowl was filled with pork belly, egg, veggies and plenty of noodles, so was very filling I actually had to take about half of it home which made me feel better about paying $ 20 for a Ramen bowl since I was able to get two meals out of it.
The price and décor of Buku are very upscale (I love the flowing water wall!) and the service prompt and professional. I really dig Buku’s global street food theme, and I think Buku is a great restaurant for Raleigh and would even fit well in a larger city like D. C, Charlotte or ATL. I will definitely return to try more of their global culinary offerings.

Whether it’s for lunch, dinner, brunch or a special event (Triangle Restaurant Week, Raleigh Beer Week, etc.) Buku rarely disappoints. I’ve had the pleasure of dining at Buku on multiple occasions and am always pleased with the quality, creativity, and overall deliciousness of the Buku experience.
Lunch has a great variety of Asian-​inspired dishes and everything else you can think of — on a recent visit I had the ramen noodle salad — a delicious (and huge) bowl of noodles mixed with edamame, seaweed, veggies, and a fantastic sauce. Sitting on the patio on that warm day made the experience even better.
Dinners have been diverse experiences from group dates, regular dates, and my favorite, special events. While Buku’s small plates are fantastic on their own, I find that Buku excels at Triangle Restaurant week and special dinners, where they can really highlight their abilities. Unlike other restaurants during Triangle Restaurant Week, Buku always tries something new and exciting and makes the menus interesting. I’m always a huge fan.
Finally, if you want to go to Buku after going to Buku the night before, check out the endless brunch options. Imagine an entire room filled with everything you would ever want to eat — meats, cheeses, waffles, salads etc. — and it is all for you! While pricey, Buku brunch is an excellent experience and guaranteed to fill the needs of everyone in your party.
I always have a great time at Buku and look forward to future dining experiences!

I come here every so often for drinks and am always dumbfounded as to how poorly the staff knows how to mix drinks. Regardless of who is serving behind the bar during Happy Hour, the drink is either way too strong or mixed incorrectly. Maybe it’s unfair to single them out — I am a self-​professed gin fan and they only carry a couple varieties. Yet gin always winds up on their specialty drinks menu so I believe it’s reasonable to expect some basic knowledge.
I appreciate the atmosphere and convenience, which is really what keeps me coming back. I’ve never been excited about the food, especially in relationship to the price and perceived excitement.
In short, there are other locations in downtown Raleigh I would consider long before resigning myself to Buku, but if it’s the option presented among a group of friends or colleagues, I’ll reluctantly consent.

What an amazing brunch buffet on a valentines day! I first booked the table for lunch but later changed my reservation to brunch instead as recommended by my friends, I am glad that I did that! It was truly an awesome experience for us. Buffet spread was huge ranging from pastries to briyani. Though I didn’t have an appetite to taste all but with what I had everything was delicious. Service was excellent even with large crowd. I always like my glasses to be refilled with water every now and then but very few restaurants does that and Buku was one such place to do that! Of all my favorites were omlette and waffle station. I would highly recommend this place for anyone!

Brunch at Buku is a once-​a-​year experience for me. It’s a smörgåsbord board of delicious brunch foods, all you can eat for for low… well not low, but reasonable for the amount and quality, price of $ 20.95 (all you can drink Larry’s coffee is an additional $ 3.50, but they also have a variety of juice drinks, specialty coffee drinks and, of course, alcohol). Brunch is only served Sunday’s from 10am-​3pm (remember, alcohol can’t be served in NC until noon, so keep that in mind if you’re planning on a little something extra to drink). I highly recommend making a reservation on OpenTable, brunch is a very popular option, and their patio is the perfect way to enjoy some beautiful NC weather on a Sunday morning.
The brunch options range from waffles and french toast to a meat carving station (with roast beef, ham and chicken), toast and English muffins served with delicious homemade jams, egg station (with handmade omelets), greek salad and cold salad options to about ten covered dishes including: breakfast burritos, creamed kale, eggs, sausage and bacon, mac and cheese, Chinese dumplings, and so much more. And if you’re not full by the end of that, they also offer an array of dessert options: cookies, cakes, brownies and even macaroons. The experience is well worth a visit, but the post-​brunch fullness merits a once-​a-​year stop. Until next year Buku!

We went to Buku last evening for a birthday dinner. Seven people were in our group. We were able to sample many /​most of the items on the small plates menu and in most cases we ordered multiple so that all could sample them. We also tried all of the deserts. I must say that Halo Halo was a big hit. This very unusual Filipino inspired dessert offered varied and wonderful flavors. It is light enough to be enjoyed even after a big meal. Some have commented that it really is not authentic Halo Halo but then not being a purist I don’t care. It was wonderful! While the food is generally asian and the sushi was very good I believe that each dish is offered in Buku’s unique style.
The service was excellent. We were concerned about their ability to handle a large group but we found that they especially cater to groups and saw at least eight large tables — most much larger than ours set up for the evening. We were in a semi private room with three other large table settings that had later reservations. This made our evening extra special. The waiter was especially helpful in providing suggestions, having the kitchen cut the servings into smaller pieces so that we could share and being especially attentive to our needs.
We did not arrive with a preconceived notion on what to expect from each Asian Fusion dish so I cannot comment on the «authentic» nature of each dish. The presentation was very well done and each one in its own right had a unique appeal. We did not try any of the large plates because we wanted lots of variety. With lots of small plates, drinks and dessert the bill can easily get into the $ 50 to $ 60 range per person, but after all this was a very special occasion for us.
We would recommend this place and will come again.

Yummy! Went here for a quick bite during work hour lunchtime. It was virtually empty on the lounge side. Our waiter was enthusiastic, friendly and knowledgeable about the dishes. We ordered the chaat, a salad and some empanadas — all were great. I love how there’s a variety of food options and a few things under 10 bucks. Too bad NC doesn’t have happy hour because this would be a great place to hit up after work. I sat facing the street and it felt like I was in a big city. A very unique dining experience in Raleigh.

Great food. Had the pad thai with shrimp and it was so flavorful, probably one of the best I’ve had in a while. Can be pricy but a fun environment and was great for our larger party of 9. Food tasted fresh and the server was fantastic as well. Will definitely try again!

Pretty good Asian fusion, but not the best. Lovely venue — large, modern, and quite exquisite. I had the steamed buns, edamame, and the ramen bowl. Steamed buns were presented beautifully, and tasted pretty good. Edamame was good as well — seasoned with salt and spices. The ramen was very mediocre. The broth was the most disappointing part. Flat, thin, and completely bland. Otherwise, the rest of it was decent — good pork belly, good eggs, good noodles. The broth was just really sad.

Buku gets my vote for one of the best restaurant ambiances in Raleigh. The dim, cool lighting, accent water feature trickling down the entry wall, and deep color palate evoke an earthy vibe, fused with the sleek lines and clean elegance of a modern restaurant. This fusion — like the world fusions on the menu — strike a perfect balance between modern flaire and traditional flavor. Everything on the menu, from the bibimap to the pirogues, is delightful. No matter what you choose, you won’t be disappointed: each dish is packed with authentic spices and ingredients — never skimping on quality or portion size. The biggest problem you’ll encounter at Buku is simply trying to decide what to order … Because it’s all fabulous.

I finally got out to try Buku tonight! I had heard really great things. We had the PEI mussels, steamed buns, and crab flautas as small plates and my girlfriend and I each got big bowls of ramen for our main meal. I would say that the steamed buns were really flavorful, the flautas and mussels were great, but the ramen took the top pick for dinner. It was really really good.
The reason I would give Buku 4 stars instead of 5 is that while each dish was great they weren’t the best or cheapest in the area for that particular type of dish. I think it’s pretty expensive for what you get but the atmosphere and variety of sharing foods are why I would recommend Buku. I was advised by our excellent waiter that the menu is seasonal as well, so there will always be cool new things to try!

Can I just say how very disappointed I was ! :(I have been to Buku for brunch a couple times and loved it ! I looked at their menu for dinner and was so so excited just looking at the spread of asian fusion flavors ! but i was very very disappointed — the portions were off, the server made bad suggestions, we ordered too much food — and the food was bad ! nothing seemed authentic or had good flavors ! definitely not going back

4 stars for the overall experience. After all, it is Asian Fusion.
Just a heads up though… You may have guessed it, this is not your authentic Asian restaurant. Authentic asian isn’t even a correct phrase. There is nothing authentic about the food if it covers a whole continents worth of cuisines under one roof. Korean, Thai, Chinese, Filipino, etc all the Asian countries have differences and distinct variations to their cuisine. There are Many similarities among certain cultures, but still have their own «badabooms».
Why the 4 stars? It may not have been authentic Korean or authentic Filipino food, but the food was good! Our server was awesome! The restaurant is set up so that it yells fine dining. Our group enjoyed our food and dining experience.
In our group of 4 adults and 1 toddler, the following are some of the dishes we had:
Chinese steamed bun — bbq pork with pickled carrots and radish in a flat steam bun wrapping it all up like a Taco. Not exactly what we were expecting, but it was good in its own way. We were expecting a white conical shaped flour bun with pork or chicken stuffing like a dumpling.
A small plate with duck (don’t remember the name) — so apparently the menu changes every so often according to our waiter. We were expecting a picture we saw on here. It was roasted or grilled duck meat with a side of noodles and an egg, sunny side up. Completely different. A cold salad like dish, like a chicken salad… Thai style. For what it was, it was good. Spicy, with a little citrus zing, meat probably pulled off of a roast duck
Tom Yum Soup — I didn’t taste it, but according to my wife and my friend, it was a very strong and salty flavor, but had the right Tom Yum flavor. (Thai cuisine)
Buku Ramen — definitely not your authentic Japanese ramen, which I think is what they were going for. Not sure what base the soup had, but it was good. I wasn’t crazy about it, but it was definitely «finish the bowl» worthy.
Halo Halo — a Filipino dessert I hadn’t had since my high school days back in San Francisco, Ca. The friends I dined with are Filipino and they hadn’t had any since being stationed out here either. We were all excited to try it. It had the Ube ice cream and some of the fruits and flavors… No ice?! Too much coconut custard! (Halo Halo doesn’t have custard) It was that similar flavor, but definitely not the real thing.
There were a couple other small plates that were ordered, but I didn’t taste it nor did anyone describe it, other than, «it’s not quite right, but it’s good»
So, like any other all encompassing «Asian» restaurant, they do the justice of having the right textures, smells, flavors, spices, names, etc… Just not in the right context or order. It’s like going to an Italian/​French restaurant and having pizza sauce on penne pasta with pepperoni and cheese, and a 16″ quiche with mushrooms and bell peppers topping it cut into 8 slices (probably a bad analogy). I mean it’s fun, it tastes good, but it’s just not quite right.
In the end, I guess «Asian Fusion» is exactly that.

Freshest flavor ever!
Everything is prepared fresh!
Yummy Yuzu Ramen Noodle Salad for lunch. More ramen than greens but great seaweed and edamame, nice nice flavor. I also started with Tom Yum. Wow! Spicy, but I loved it. I always get raita and Nan. This place rocks. Every staff member loves food and is just super amazing. The buku pot is great and large enough to split. Most of their portions in fact are a bit too much for this gal who has been living all over the world. The veg dumplings, and aloo chaat were amazing as well. It is mainly all Asian cuisine right now as that’s where the menu is focused on. Their food is honestly cuisine that I crave.

I tried Buku for the first time and went for their Sunday brunch buffet. The buffet was $ 21 a person and another $ 3.50 for coffee. The buffet was pricey, but there were definitely some great options on the buffet line. They have all of the usual breakfast items including eggs, omelets, breakfast meat, waffles, french toast, and various bakery items. They also have lunch items including hand carved meats, fried chicken, salads, vegetable sides, fresh fruit, and an assortment of desserts. The meats were definitely the best options from the buffet. The hand carved roast beef was absolutely delicious. It was bloody rare in the middle and roasted perfectly, coming to an incredibly mouth watering tenderness. The baked ham and fried chicken were also great options. The ham had the perfect amount of salt and the fried chicken was super crispy and seasoned really well. I would also recommend the lumpia sausage and freshly prepared omelets, waffles and french toast. The waffles and french toast were made to order and you can load them with awesome fruits, chocolate, and nut toppings.
Despite the their many great options, I wasn’t too impressed with the side items that were on the buffet line. Their mac n cheese was just okay, and the other hot vegetable items like truffled kale, chipotle corn, and curried vegetables weren’t bad, but just not really good. I preferred the fresh salads however, which included the thai cucumber, shredded asian slaw, and chickpeas. All of the bakery items were fine, but nothing amazing. I did not like the asian dumplings at all. They tasted either undercooked or the dough was just too thick. The fresh fruit and desserts were a good way to conclude the meal as those were pretty good.
Overall, the brunch buffet had many items that were good, and many that were just okay. The price wasn’t worth it for me, but I did enjoy the roast beef, fried chicken, waffles, and french toast the most. I do think you get good quality food, but buffet was decent to me.

I dined here with a friend this past Tuesday and I made a reservation through opentable without any issues. Buku is located downtown next to the RedHat offices. It is situated on the corner of Blount Street and Wilmington with complimentary valet parking.
When you walk in there is a hostess who was very pleasant and checked us in for our reservations. There were a few holiday parties going on and we were seated in a booth near the kitchen.
Our server Joshua was amazing. Every server is not equal and i enjoy dining in places where the wait staff actually are passionate about what they are doing. Not only did Joshua give us excellent drink recommendations he suggested a few small plates to try.
We ordered the rosemary nino and the pear fizz. Both were great options with fresh ingredients. For the small plates we ordered empanadas, filipino lumpia, and the tuna tataki roll. My favorite out of the three was the filipino lumpia. The cilantro chutney was nice touch on the lumpia.
For our entrée we decided to share the pan seared chilean sea bass which was excellent. I love sea bass and buku cooked it perfectly. For dessert we had the warm apple tart and the Larry’s cold fashion to drink.
Everything our server Joshua recommended was amazing and I thoroughly enjoyed my dining experience.

What originally drew me to Buku was seeing a photo of their seasonal arepa dish on Unilocal.Even though, as I came to find out, that they do not have arepas anymore, they still have a lot other great food to choose from.
Came here on a Sunday night. It was most likely emptier than usual since the North Carolina State Fair was in town. Wanting to balance out my dinner, I decided to get a Ginger Pear Salad and their Baja Crab Flautas.
The salad was really good — a healthy amount of dressing and plenty of fresh toppings including pears, almonds, edamame and carrots. The flautas were also pretty good, but I expected more. It was pretty much crab and cream cheese — I expected a little more of something, but it was still tasty.
If you’re in Raleigh and find yourself with Asian food cravings, swing by Buku!

My best friend hosted her bridal shower at Buku this weekend. I can’t say enough amazing things about this place!
First, the staff was beyond amazing! So attentive of everything we needed from start-​to-​finish. To include hopping on a ladder to hang a sign for us. Once the shower began, our attendants were top notch. They set up a mimosa bar for us and made sure our glasses were filled at all times! (Speaking of mimosa bar, they had not only OJ and cranberry juice, but peach and strawberry purée!!)
The menu was delicious and the food came out quickly. And to top it off, the space is very modern so it served as a great backdrop for the event.
SO, if you have an event I HIGHLY suggest you have it at Buku! You will not be disappointed. And if you’re just hungry, I also HIGHLY suggest you go to Buku!

An awesome experience and mouth watering desserts deserve five stars, but Buku loses small points for super sweet sangria and chewy sushi. Still one of the best places in town.
After falling in love with the chocolate soufflé during a quick stop at the bar, I pledged to come back to Buku. To honor this vow, the other night a friend and I dined on the beautiful outdoor patio.
Our server, Steven, was friendly, attentive and knowledgable about the food. He immediately informed us of their drink special: white sangria. Naturally, we got a pitcher ($ 20). I enjoyed it thoroughly, though I will say it was a little too sweet, and I am a notorious fan of sweet wine. They also drained most of the fruit out and served it without ice. These are stylistic choices, and perfectly respectable ones at that. I just prefer a fruity, icy sangria personally.
I ordered the Buku roll (no cucumber), and my friend ordered gazpacho. The sushi was tasy with lump crab and yellowfin tuna, but the thick seaweed was hard to bite into. I’ve had sushi with thinner nori, which I’ve found easier and more enjoyable to eat. The guzpacho, again, was a stylistic flavor-​profile that is empirically good, but not for me. This cold green soup had a powerfully fresh flavor and was beautifully plated. Less the spoonful she gave me, my friend ate every drop.
Finally, we got what we really came for: dessert. It was national dessert day, and I specially sought out Buku for the chocolate soufflé with almond ice cream that I’ve been obsessing over since my first visit. It was delicious, as per par. We also tried the tiramisu. Served in a tall glass flute, the layered coffee-​flavored pastry looked beautiful. Steven brought out a Kahlua-​honey infused sauce that he poured on top. I thought that brief interaction at the table brought the dessert presentation to the next level.
Overall, the meal was still a little pricey, and the sushi wasn’t my favorite, which is why Buku didn’t get the five stars from me. This will definitely become one of my go-​tos though!

I’ve been to Buku several times and I’ve always enjoyed it. The atmosphere is great for date night and generally fits my mood for going downtown. The menu has a good selection of different types of food, so this is a great restaurant to bring groups to. I generally don’t have dinner downtown very often, but Buku will remain in my list for when I do.
One of my visits was during Triangle Restaurant Week and I ordered a mix of dishes from the regular menu as well as one of the special 3-​course meals. I probably wouldn’t order off the special menu again, but the regular menu items were excellent as always. I really like the small plates best, and I would recommend ordering a bunch of small plates over ordering entrees here.
My favorite items are the Jamaican Lamb Patties and the Filipino Lumpia. The empanadas, dumplings, and chaat are also good, but they are also easier to find at other restaurants in the Triangle area. Many of the items are naturally gluten free or vegetarian, so this is a great place for people with dietary restrictions.
Buku offers a diverse menu with great small plates, solid vegetarian and gluten free options, a classy atmosphere, and good service. I would definitely recommend Buku for dining downtown, and I’ll certainly be back myself.

Wow overrated much? I had high high hopes because hey, it’s buku! Everyone’s heard of this place and it’s supposed to be asian fusion! and they serve ramen! and phở! and arepas! wow!
Except i was not wowed in the least. We got the ramen and I made the dire mistake of ordering aforementioned arepas and i’m not sure what i was thinking when i did. I guess I expected something even somewhat similar to those at guasaca? But no, they literally handed me thick, bland, cornmeal arepas, plain. With a side of honey butter or something. So I was basically eating cornbread and butter. It was. anticlimactic to say the least. Buku y u do this to me?!?
Oh and the ramen? Also bland and underwhelming. If you want decent ramen (by raleigh standards, not nyc/​la ok?) go to sono.
oh, at least this place looks nice.

Fui ao Buku jantar com uma amiga que não via há muitos anos, escolhemos um lugar descolado mas que não fosse muito caro. A idéia daqui é servir comida «de rua» de várias partes do mundo, então você pode escolher um sushi roll, uns dumplings/​guiozas e outras entradas e pequenas porções.
Ambiente é bem bacana com uma música lounge, o serviço é muito simpático e atencioso.
Escolhemos um roll de salmão crocante (salmão picante, abacate, flocos de tempura, chile verde, yuzu aioli), os Chinese Steamed Dumplings (barriga de porco com legumes em conserva, e tamarindo-​hoisin), e as flautas. Achei ideal pedir essas três porções para duas pessoas, saímos super satisfeitas sem exagerar.
Voltarei ao Buku sem dúvidas.

We went here for dinner on a night that they had a large private party in the bar. While the service was super friendly it was a little slow at times. We ordered 4 small plates and 1 large plate. The small plates (Chinese buns with pork belly, Thai green papaya salad, Filipino Lumpia, and Duck Larb) were all outstanding but the large plate (the samosa pot pie) was just ok. The small plates had lots of flavor, spiciness, and fresh taste. Their menu is changing to a fall menu in a few weeks.
The ambiance inside was nice and it wasn’t too loud.

FIVE STARS FOR CONCEPT, DESSERT AND WINE.
The halo halo is a flavor explosion of taro ice cream, coconut, jackfruit, and tamarind. I can’t say that it much resembles the dessert I had in manila, but it’s so yummy that I don’t care at all. Other members in our party got the tiramisu and German trifle and were very pleased as well. They also have great coffee and tea offerings so you can enjoy those instead of Food if you’re not up for a meal. The service here has been superior each time I attended.
I love that they have an eclectic mix of street food from all over the world and will be returning to try the meals. Note that it is brunch only on Sundays til 5 pm.

The quintessential French beaucoup (bu*ku), adj, n. pl. or adv. meaning An abundance; a lot. We learned it day one in Madame Slater’s French I class, «Bonjour mes eleves! Comment dit-​on en francaise, „Thank you very much“ a l’homme sympa qui ont achete un diner pour toi?» I don’t know how this «definition» correlates with bu*ku’s raison d’etre, but I love the adventurously ambitious and ecoconscious menu.
Bien sur (of course), I begin almost all my meals with a libation. Ce temps (this time), I ordered the Rickety Ginny (Hendrick’s Gin, Thai chile, lemongrass, ginger, lime, soda), an iteration of my favorite/​familiar gin and tonic, but with a spicy kick/​twist. Easy on the spice, good on the cucumber, perfect with the gin.
We had been thoroughly briefed that the menu was largely made up of petite assiettes (small plates) so we ordered quatre (four) dishes. We started with the Colombian arepas. They (the two arepas) reminded me of a dense, unsweet molded cornbread draped in a thick cilantro flavored almost salsa verde. Prochain (next) came the sweet, creamy, mild vegetarian Massaman curry with a side of ordered rize blanc (white rice). Aussi (also), we ordered the Hawaiian yellowtail poke with cashew, lime plantain in sweet soy. I hate all things horseradish and therefore all things wasabi and the poke was like a poke salad mixed in wasabi cream sauce — not to my liking, but despite the nasal passage clearing wasabi, the poke was quite light and refreshing! And for the nights pièce de résistance (at least for us), the Paneer (Indian cheese, kale, sweet onion, cardamom) — Yum! I love how bu*ku cleverly prepared this traditional Indian dish with the superfood kale — we cleaned this plate like an OCD neat freak.
I like bu*ku — je me plais (literally, it pleases me). The adventurous and diverse menu and not to slight the clean, contemporary décor will keep me coming back. But what’s the deal with the depressing photographic art in the bathrooms? Or is it depressing? Touché