Sauce Magazine has announced this restaurant as closed.
Janelle B.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Saint Louis, MO
Phở with the soy eggs added is solid — not the best I’ve ever had, but good, and convenient. Unfortunately, the last three times we have attempted to go here, it’s been closed. What’s the deal? We’ve pretty much given up at this point.
Paul M.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Saint Louis, MO
Loved it. Excellent Ramen, great spring rolls. Laid back staff and environment. Couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Update: Got some Phở delivered hoping it would be as good as their Ramen. They missed the mark. There was no flavor in the broth and the noodles were pretty slimy. No go.
Carl C.
Rating des Ortes: 1 Saint Louis, MO
I dont think you should run a business if you cant pay your employees! I would not go out of your way to go there… better asian food within 5 min on S grand… and more nightlife
Julie C.
Rating des Ortes: 1 North Olmsted, OH
The owners of this business are disreputable… they probably had a nice Christmas holiday as they didn’t pay some/all of their employees for a month, and then right before Christmas wrote a payroll check that bounced 3 days later. I’m all for the small business but when your business model doesn’t work, don’t line your pockets then lie to and rip off your employees. If they are able to do that to people that work for them I can only imagine what corners they would be willing to cut in regard to the food they serve.
Bayley B.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Saint Louis, MO
Went to Lucky Buddha this past weekend to get my Porkopolypse fix. It’s still as delicious as ever(missing jalepenos though, which is unfortunate). Still a great sandwich. I’m sad to say fiancé ordered it, so I had to get something else. I ordered the beef bahn mi(also missing jalapeño). It was just okay, rather bland. The meat needs a spice rub or a kick. Since we were still hungry after eating our sandwiches, I got the ramen with chicken. I found it pretty bland, too. The chicken didn’t really have much spice, combined with a blah broth and noodles. I wouldn’t get it again. We also got the chicken wings, which have changed since this restaurant opened. They were missing the spicy kick! The spicy kick made the wings some of the best drunk food I’ve had; without it, they’re just not worth ordering. I’m not sure who is taking all of the heat and spices out of my favorite Lucky Buddha foods, but it’s depressing me. I was happier with the sevice this time. The server didn’t know much about the food or how it was prepared, but he was quick to fill our glasses and talk to the kitchen about what he didn’t know. Overall, an okay experience. Would’ve been a 3 star experience, but the service was great. Not sure if I’m planning on being here regularly until the food improves.
Brittany W.
Rating des Ortes: 2 St Louis, MO
I have been here 3 times and each time the food taste worse than the time before. This place is on a steady decline. When this place first open more than 6 months ago I gave it 4 stars. The last time I thought that it was an off night. But tonight I picked up an order of dumplings and ramen and can’t get myself to finish either. I don’t think I’ll be coming back here again or recommending this place to anyone else
Dalena B.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Saint Louis, MO
Great ramen and wings! My friend and I got the ramen bowl with beef meatballs($ 13) and their Thai marinated wings($ 8). Since I do not eat spicy, I had the chef toss the wings in their sweet mango chili sauce(normally served as the rangoon dipping sauce). We were very happy about the quality of the food and the hip automosphere. Will definately be coming back!
Dredge K.
Rating des Ortes: 1 Atlanta, GA
this is a cute place with friendly staff that i really wanted to like. but it was literally the worst meal i have had in a long time. i’d rather have instant noodles. thai chicken wings ramen with pork phở with beef
Justinne G.
Rating des Ortes: 1 Ridgeland, MS
Heard good things, but overall disappointing to the point that it became comical. We were told the drink menu was old after unsuccessfully ordering three draft beer and one bottled beer which they no longer had. Finally settled on wine and they were out of the one I ordered as well. Sixth times a charm? After the drink fiasco, our table ordered apps. First veggie spring rolls which to our surprise had meat in them, we had to send them back. I agree with other reviewers all cabbage and unappetizing, served with plain soy sauce. Chicken wings were pretty good, I could eat them again. The«goons» we’re tiny, no lobster found but very fishy in taste and the 4 that came with the order were bite-sized and felt over priced. The best part was when they told us we couldn’t have appetizer plates because they were out, but the restaurant was maybe 25% full. We ordered phở for the main course, it was average, I could eat it again but it wasn’t memorable. Three from our table added the lemon chicken. It tasted like the pre-grilled freezer chicken that was microwaved and added to the phở. A really rubbery feel. Each of us had to pull all of it out to finish the phở. Even though it was an up charge and we all complained and left all the chicken on the plate, we were still charged for it, which was disappointing. Staff seemed new and not well organized although each of the two who off and on came to the table were nice. Overall it was memorable as probably the worst dinner I’ve had in St. Louis. I hate to complain, hope for their sake it wasn’t the norm.
Quincy A.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Kissimmee, FL
Love stopping by this place from time to time; whether for a refreshing adult beverage or for a pleasant bite to eat! Staff is always friendly and eager to answer any of my probably simple questions in regards to their cuisine(difference in noodles, ect, ect)!
Brooke B.
Rating des Ortes: 4 San Diego, CA
Came here for dinner after hearing great reviews. Really enjoyed ourselves. They were out of draft beer, which was a bummer but not a game changer. I got the summer smash cocktail which was delightful and tangy. Definitely recommend. We had the Thai fresh spring rolls, the dipping sauce was unique and the rolls full and fresh. Ramen and phở were good, the highlight was the broths. The complexity was there and definitely stole the show. I agree with previous reviewers, prices are a little high… But we’ll definitely be back!
Sean B.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Saint Louis, MO
I’ve been hearing great things about Lucky Buddha and finally got around to eating there last night. It was okay, but disappointing as I was expecting much better. The service was strange. We were seated by a young woman who said she’d bring menus and then never showed up again. The guy who waited on us told us up front he wasn’t a waiter but had been roped in to waiting tables for the evening. He tried, but had some issues. Everything about the place seemed very haphazard. They were out of all of the draft beer on the menu and many of the bottled/canned beers. The food was not as good as I’d expected. We had Thai Spring Rolls, which were okay, but far too much lettuce in them and not enough other ingredients. I’d heard that the Porkapocalypse Ban Mi was terrific. When it arrived at our table it was, again, just okay. Mostly bread. Good bread, but still… Very little pork in the sandwich and the horseradish was perhaps waved over it, but not spread on it. I’m hoping that Lucky Buddha was just having an off night and that if I stop in again I’ll have my opinion changed.
Grant P.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Vernon Hills, IL
What an interesting little place. First started off with some drinks: we had the Summer Smash and the Buddha Mule. Each drink was made and presented very well by the bartender and tasted incredible. We got the Fresh Thai Spring Rolls as an appetizer. Only came with two, but with the size of each one, you only needed two. Came with a dipping sauce, looked amazing, and tasted better. Came out pretty quickly too. For our entrees, we both got Banh Mi. Unfortunately, this is where I took a star away. Given the size of the appetizer, I was looking forward to the portion size. What came out felt like I had ordered another appetizer. The one spring roll I had before felt like it was about the same size. The Banh Mi was really tasty and was presented well, but it was almost entirely bread(baguette). I had to rip off most of the bread since I couldn’t get my mouth around it, and what was left was barely a sampling of their cuisine. Again, it was REALLY good, but felt like it was only an appetizer. I haven’t had any of their other items, as this was my first time here, but what I did have(and the very relaxing atmosphere) will definitely have me back. They have a very diverse menu including Phở, Ramen, and a variety of salads and desserts. I don’t normally get sandwiches since restaurants usually use a lot of bread to add cheap volume to your food, and this was no exception. I recommend staying away from the Banh Mi, but only based in the portion size; it tasted really good!
Lydia L.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Saint Louis, MO
Not bad. Lucky Buddha has a fun environment, easy to access location, and unique menu. Beef tataki and radish salad– tender flank steak. the marinade didn’t stand out in a bad or good way. the portion was excellent for sharing between 2 people as an appetizer. Banh Mi sandwich with scallion beef– the beef cut was a little thick, and while the mustard was delicious, it was surprising. The best twist on a banh mi is still probably at Quincy Street Bistro. Pork belly steamed buns(2) $ 7– a little pricey compared to an asian restaurant for steamed buns, but tasty nonetheless. The pork belly was an exceptionally fatty cut. Five spice crème brûlée(because they ran out of the cake?) — a little on the runny side for a crème brûlée. We really liked the five spice seasoning with the hard caramelized sugar. I’d come back to try the ramen and for happy hour.
Jimmy X.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Saint Louis, MO
Please leave my Asian food unfused. I share the sentiment of Christian, I do not like writing poor reviews especially for a new restaurant that is just getting started. But, I hope that things will improve. The neighborhood is S Jefferson and is definitely in a sketchier part of town, but gingerfying with a lot of new exciting things happening nearby. There is an outside patio and parking lot across the street. The restaurant was well decorated with cool animé type posters, clean, and large bar to hang out at. The food could definitely be improved Wings — well decorated and priced appropriately. They were crispy, tender, and overall cooked well. The sauce was more salty than anything else and not in the least bit spicy. Spring rolls were ok and tasted pretty good. Peanut sauce would’ve been a plus. The vegetables could’ve been a little fresher The buns were interesting and served more as a dish than an actual bun. We got the duck with it and the duck was cooked perfectly. Banh mi was made very well and bread was perfect. The cooked well and vegetables were fresh. The phở… was terrible. The broth was salty and did not taste like phở. I didn’t quite understand how you could pick the meats you added to the phở(pork? beef? fish? all which cost extra btw insane!). I’m not sure how the broth was made for the phở, but I think it was largely canned. The service was ok and overall the food came out at a reasonable time. I’m not sure if Lucky Buddha accomplished what it wanted to. I think a good Asian Fusion place should have something truly unique, but it just seemed to have made regular asian food slightly worse.
Carrie C.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Saint Louis, MO
My key message here is this: Must try the wings. Must. Try. The. Wings. A crispy crust is melded to chewy skin and coated with a sauce that has some heat barely waved over it. Don’t let the description of «chili sauce» deter you if you don’t like spice. My hubs has zero tolerance for heat and he loves them. However, the tiny little red chili slices that are one of the Phở accompaniments are hotter than the fires of hell. Well, maybe a slight exaggeration, but whoa those little suckers really pack a punch! And I love spicey. I thought the broth was savory in a mushroom umami sort of way with a definite earthy layer to it. Some might find it a tad salty but I happen to like that. The pork dumplings were just right and again, even though the menu description said the peanut sauce was spicy– it was not at all. My son gobbled down his skewer of lemongrass chicken and happily slurped quite a few udon noodles before I set the Phở bowl on fire with the demon peppers. The cocktail menu had some interesting choices and several local breweries such as 4 Hands, Urban Chestnut, and Schafly were on tap. We did have a bit of an issue with our drinks being rung out at the full price, not the happy hour price, but this was quickly fixed without issue. There was also live music, which was quite good, just loud for the smallish space. The atmosphere is urban/hipster combined with neighborhood bar. Prices were reasonable for the quality and freshness of the food. I’ll be craving those wings soon. Real soon.
Christian K.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Saint Louis, MO
Apparently, Buddha isn’t sharing his luck with anyone else. It pains me to write a bad review for Lucky Buddha. I am well aware how difficult it is to get a restaurant off the ground. I’ve seen friends try their hands at it. It’s painful and difficult. However, there are a few that definitely need to change for this Vietnamese place. First of all, the prices are out of hand. I have been all over town trying different Vietnamese places, and Lucky Buddha has the highest prices. Spring rolls were seven for two. Phở with no meat starts at ten dollars. I have never paid more than ten dollars for a bowl of phở with meat. Also, I had a sandwich, eleven dollars without side. And now the execution. The spring roll was poorly constructed. The rice paper was just hanging from the wrap, no elasticity. The meat inside was hard and dry. The meatless phở was super salty. I’ve never tasted such a salty broth anywhere! The portion wasn’t any bigger than any other bowl that I’ve had, again this one without meat. The Banh Mi sandwich was actually pretty decent, sizable and tasty. However, for eleven bones, I feel like I should get some sort of side with it. The service was fine. We didn’t wait long. The people were friendly, but between the price and lack of quality, Lucky Buddha definitely needs to step up its game.
Jon M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Saint Louis, MO
Lucky Buddha is a new and upcoming restaurant you should definitely try. The food is delicious, the staff is super friendly and they have good music. The back patio is huge and pet friendly. The chef is really creative and everything is fresh and made in house. Check them out!
Kay X.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Saint Louis, MO
Phở Sho I am digging Lucky Buddha! Every living being has the same basic wishes, to be happy and eat good food and those wishes will surely be met here. Lucky Buddha boasts on having traditional dishes from all over Asia yet adding a modern twist to their food and handcrafted cocktails. From the gate I must say the flavors here totally read upscale but it is in a cool corner spot in a lively south city neighborhood. For appetizers we went with the Crispy Fried Thai Marinated Wings and the Vegetarian Thai Spring Rolls(napa cabbage, bell peppers, enoki mushroom, mung bean noodle, shredded lettuce, chive, cilantro, basil, wrapped in rice paper w/tamari mint sauce). I must say the wings were a true stand out; not just of the two appetizers we ordered but also in general. You know how you go to some places and they douse wings in sauces? At Lucky Buddha the wings were not masked with tons of sauce and the flavor was to the bone. There was spice and acidity, they were so bright and just had great notes going on. My drink was the Thai Basil Smash(Old Grand Dad Bonded whiskey, lemon, strawberry, thai basil, simple syrup) and it was a prefect compliment to the meal. The interior here is fun with an old school feel, the crew is hip and our Server was delightful. He fully explained all the flavor profiles and delicate intricacies of each item. He didn’t «just» work here, there was real pride and it made me comfortable and excited about everything we ordered. For the mains, we went with the Kimchi Chicken Banh Mi Sandwich(kimchi chicken, fresh french bread, pickled daikon, carrot, cilantro, cucumber with a togarashi mustard); and Lemongrass Chicken — Phở Noodle Bowl(toasted seaweed, scallion, cilantro, basil, bean sprouts, limes, Udon noodles, lemongrass chicken & Vegan Phở broth). Both dishes were beautiful plated and taste as gorgeous as they looked. From my travels I can say there are lots of Phở peddlers out there yet this Phở was a perfectly composed steaming bowl of deliciousness. Rule of thumb, sip the broth and savor the complexity of the broth first — then add in the herb and vegetables garnishes. For a vegan broth there was major depth, the spices and aromatics were on point too — not to mention everything was exceptionally fresh. The Chef came out and gave our table a personal touch too. I gave him a fistbumb and told him I could taste the integrity and the love. Gracious service, culinary charisma — I really like this place. Give Lucky Buddha a try — you will certainly be in for a treat.