Laughing Buddha — Restaurant in Dhaka Metropolitan

Went there for the first time last week and can say it is now one of my favorite places in Dhaka to have authentic Thai food at.

Firstly, the ambience is absolutely beautiful! The dim-lit separate dining spaces gives you full privacy to enjoy a lovely dinner. The decoration is also nice to take pictures at.

Secondly, the food tastes amazing! It has true authentic Thai taste, and we finished it right away!

My personal review of individual dishes are:

Sirloin steak - namtok sauce drizzled on top is sour so avoid if you don’t like but I would still say to try it cause I loveeed it and reordered another

wontons - filling used is delicious, outer layer is bland

deep fried red snapper - also a lovely treat for your tastebuds

House special Tom Yum soup - avoid if you don’t like sour taste but I do so it had authentic flavours and hints of lemon

seasonal mango, orange juice - Very refreshing, would recommend

Deep fried prawns dish - prawns were deep fried and then coated in a sauce, and i was expecting them to be fully deep fried and crispy so was a bit disappointed. However taste is alright but maybe not for the price!

Red penang chicken curry - Lovely!!! Authentic taste with hints of lemon and spice throughout

Mixed fried rice - Alright, nothing special.

Beef Black Pepper - Get this! So good, you get that rich kick of black pepper and sauce with every bite!

Khao Sei - This we took after recommendation of PetukCouple but it was disappointing, too sweet for my liking and felt like average noodles in gravy. The meat felt out of place and had a bland taste.

Vegetables with oyster sauce - Again alright nothing special, adequate to go with the extra amount of meat you’d be eating.

Fried Chicken - This was my least favorite. Bland and was too tough to bite into and chew. Couldn’t properly even finish one.

Lastly, it is a fine dining place so complaining about the price really doesn’t come here. I would complain if it weren’t worth the price though but majority of the dishes tasted worth their price points so I don’t mind.

Overall, if you want to spend a fine day with family, friends or a date, give this a try at least once!

thanks for reading this long...

Laughing Buddha is a popular restaurant in Dhaka known for its Asian and fusion cuisine, particularly focusing on Japanese, Thai, and Chinese dishes. Located in a prime area, it attracts diners looking for quality Asian flavors and a comfortable dining experience.

The good: Laughing Buddha offers a wide variety of Asian dishes, with a particular focus on sushi, dumplings, and noodle-based meals. The freshness of ingredients and the authenticity of flavors are often praised, with standout items like ramen, spicy Thai curries, and sushi rolls. The restaurant is also known for its vibrant and visually appealing plating, which enhances the dining experience.

The bad: Some customers have noted that the restaurant can be a bit pricey compared to other local Asian options. Additionally, service can be inconsistent during peak times, leading to longer wait times for food.

The ugly: Due to its popularity, Laughing Buddha can get quite crowded, especially during weekends, which may lead to a cramped and sometimes noisy dining environment. There have also been occasional complaints about the availability of specific items, particularly sushi, during busy periods.

Seating capacity: The restaurant has a moderate seating arrangement, which can fill up quickly during peak hours. Reservations are often recommended for larger groups or weekend dining.

Ambiance & decor: The decor combines elements of modern and traditional Asian themes, creating a cozy and inviting space with dim lighting and tasteful decor that aligns with the Asian cuisine.

Service: The staff is generally knowledgeable and attentive, although service speed may vary during busier times. Improved training during peak hours could help streamline the experience.

Overall: Laughing Buddha is a popular choice for those seeking Asian cuisine in a lively, modern setting. While it has some challenges with crowd management and pricing, it remains a favorite for quality Asian dishes and a unique dining...

Having heard some good reviews and recommendations from friends, I finally tried out Laughing Buddha last week. Unfortunately, my experience has been quite the opposite.

I found them somewhat unprofessional. I called to reserve a table for four and they told me it wasn't required because the restaurant wasn't busy that night. I reached the venue in 14 minutes to find out that they didn't have any tables!! However, after complaining they arranged for a large table which I believe they were saving in case a large group showed up.

The round of appetizers were good and the Tom Yum soup was also full of flavours. It was the main course which I found distasteful.

For the main course I ordered Mixed Fried Rice which again although non-Thai, is something that my wife is fond of. I ordered some steam rice for myself and some Stir Fried Fresh River Prawns in Lime Sauce and some Crispy Chicken with Tamarind Sauce. The Mixed Fried Rice had large strips of chicken and hardly any prawns. Even the waiter failed to find any prawn in the rice .. so basically they served Chicken Fried Rice instead of what we ordered. The Stir Fried Prawns were not stir fried at all and were boiled and served with vegetables. They were really tiny and very few in number and ended up being a vegetable dish with some prawns! And the Crispy Chicken with Tamarind Sauce turned out to be deep fried chicken served with some Tamarind Sauce!! The last one was on my account but I guess the waiter could have told me it was fried chicken that I was ordering (why would you have fried chicken as a main dish anyway!)

Like I said, I found them extremely unprofessional and am definitely not going back again. They wasted a perfectly good evening, not to mention the BDT 8,500+ bill that came with it.

Somewhere, Buddha was...