By Merv Hecht Restaurant Snap Shot
Buddha's Belly, a new addition to Downtown Santa Monica, hits the spot. The interior with its clean lines in a light, airy setting enjoys a nice corner position with plenty of shaded light so you don’t feel closed in. The cuisine is a combination of many of the popular Asian dishes from Japan, China, Thailand, Korea and Vietnam. The service is fast and friendly. The food is tasty and eclectic.
WHERE: 205 Broadway. WHEN: 11:30 am to 10 p.m. — 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
BEST DISHES: I prefer the “starters,” especially the rock shrimp tempura. Not only is the shrimp delicious, so is the glass noodle salad and the cream tobanjan sauce. The portion easily serves two. The chicken and shrimp Vietnamese rolls with two dipping sauces are fresh and tasty, without being heavy. Most of the lunch crowd seems to prefer the salads.
BEST FEATURE: You can get in and out quickly but still have a wide choice of a lot of different dishes and flavors.
WORST FEATURE: Because it’s basically fast food, and it comes out fast, not everything is fresh and made to order — the Albacore and avocado roll, for example, tasted like it was made earlier in the day.
WHAT TO DRINK: Sake, wine, beer, teas, soft drinks, or try the herbal tonics for something different. Forget the wine list, but there’s a nice selection of beers.
BOTTOM LINE: This is a great addition to the local eating scene. Where have all the Chinese restaurants gone? For a quick sushi break this menu has something for everyone, and hits the spot.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 20, 2008. Read the original PDF.