Search Your Favourite Restaurants.

Name: Buddha Ruksa
Address: 3520 SW Genesee St, Seattle, WA, 98126
Telephone: (206) 937-7676
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.99

Buddha Ruksa

3520 SW Genesee St, Seattle, WA, 98126

(206) 937-7676
Store is closed

Buddha Ruksa Menu

Appetizers

Fresh Salad Rolls

Spring Rolls

Satay

Crab Wonton

Calamari Rings

Prawns In A Blanket

Bags Of Gold

Fried Fresh Squash

Fried Tofu

Sample Platter

Fried Banana
Soups

Tom Yum

Tom Kha

Vegetable Soup
Salads

House Salad

Vegetable Salad

Trout Salad

Yum Woon Sen

Larb Gai

Beef Salad

Yum Moo Yang
Main Course - Stir Fried

Swimming Rama

Garlic

Ginger

Basil

Sweet & Sour

Phad Pak Rum Mit

Phad Prik Khing

Spicy Eggplant

Broccoli Oyster Sauce

Beef In Oyster Sauce

Cashew Chicken
Curry

Red Curry

Green Curry

Yellow Curry (kaeng Ka-ri)

Panang Curry

Mussamun Beef Curry

Forest Curry

Prawn Pineapple Curry
Seafood

Seafood Medley

Scallop Prik Pao

Garlic Fish

Three Flavor Fish

Choo Chee Salmon
Grill

Nuea Yang

Gai Yang (thai Barbecue Chicken)

Vegetable Grill
Noodles And Rice

Phad Thai

Phad See Iew

Rad Nah

Phad Kee Mao

Rama Noodle

Phad Ba Mee

Ground Meat Noodle

Kao Soy

Thai Fried Rice

Pineapple Fried Rice

Basil Fried Rice

Yellow Curry Fried Rice

Garlic Fried Rice
Signature Dishes

Crispy Garlic Chicken

Prawns & Pumpkin Curry

Wonton Phad Thai

Crispy Duck

Lemongrass Chicken

Spicy Long Bean

Crab Fried Rice
Side Orders

Steamed Jasmine Rice Or Brown Rice

Sticky Rice

Steamed Noodles

Steamed Vegetables

Peanut Sauce
Desserts

Black Rice Pudding Topped

Mango And Sweet Sticky Rice

Ice Cream

Fried Ice Cream

Healthy Meal suggestions for Buddha Ruksa

Appetizers

Fresh Salad Rolls [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spring Rolls [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Satay [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crab Wonton [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Calamari Rings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Prawns In A Blanket [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bags Of Gold [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Fresh Squash [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Tofu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sample Platter [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Banana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Soups

Tom Yum [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tom Kha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetable Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Salads

House Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetable Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Trout Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yum Woon Sen [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Larb Gai [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yum Moo Yang [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Main Course - Stir Fried

Swimming Rama [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Garlic [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ginger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Basil [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet & Sour [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Phad Pak Rum Mit [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Phad Prik Khing [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spicy Eggplant [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Broccoli Oyster Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef In Oyster Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cashew Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Curry

Red Curry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Green Curry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yellow Curry (kaeng Ka-ri) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Panang Curry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mussamun Beef Curry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Forest Curry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Prawn Pineapple Curry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Seafood

Seafood Medley [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Scallop Prik Pao [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Garlic Fish [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Three Flavor Fish [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Choo Chee Salmon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Grill

Nuea Yang [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gai Yang (thai Barbecue Chicken) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetable Grill [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Noodles And Rice

Phad Thai [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Phad See Iew [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rad Nah [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Phad Kee Mao [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rama Noodle [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Phad Ba Mee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ground Meat Noodle [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kao Soy [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Thai Fried Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pineapple Fried Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Basil Fried Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yellow Curry Fried Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Garlic Fried Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Signature Dishes

Crispy Garlic Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Prawns & Pumpkin Curry [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Wonton Phad Thai [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crispy Duck [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lemongrass Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spicy Long Bean [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crab Fried Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Side Orders

Steamed Jasmine Rice Or Brown Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sticky Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steamed Noodles [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steamed Vegetables [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peanut Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Desserts

Black Rice Pudding Topped [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mango And Sweet Sticky Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ice Cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fried Ice Cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

Write An Anonymous Review

Eleanor S.

I've been there 3 times and they are always so busy, so recommend you make reservations. Serve is good. The food is authentic Thai and delicious. Staff is friendly.
(4)
Julie S.

I want to love this place. But the flavors are just blah. The Tom Kha (sp?) had a few tiny overcooked shrimp. The Swimming Angles had 5 giant bland hard chunks of tofu. The Phad Thai had almost no flavor. Just sad.
(2)
Jason P.

Like all the other reviews say the crispy garlic chicken is what to get here, but other than that the food is not all that great.
(3)
Ivan S.

I should trust my friends on food choices, especially if they complain about getting fat. I'm getting fat too and they've learned to trust ME when it comes to food. I think we should amend the old adage "Never trust a skinny chef" and add "never trust a skinny restaurant critic." Anyway, back to my friends. Come out to West Seattle and we'll eat at Buddha Ruksa. It's a great thai place down the street from our house. So even though we're the ones who don't know where we're going, we've got to meet YOU? I was also in Yelp panic as I hadn't had a chance to validate this choice against a thousand of my closest friends. But after ordering, that's when the reminder happened. My friends are getting fat for a reason and with thai food this close, I can see why. I ordered the garlic chicken. Entrees come in generous portions. No matter. I ate the whole thing any way. We also had some bags of gold, satays and rice which all made me happy. Fat and happy. The prices were very reasonable which I always appreciate. I only wish it could've been spicier, but I didn't specify spicy. It's probably a good thing as, after one look at my Indian friend, they probably would've thrown us enough peppers that the only thing to fix my burning tongue would've been to felch Iceman. And you know how your tongue sticks to cold objects, so it wouldn't be pleasant. So even though our eastern time zone selves were eating at 1am for us, five corpulent stars.
(5)
Kyla C.

I've been wanting to check out this place for awhile so I'm glad we finally got around to it the other night. We accidentally went in through the side door...the one with the restaurant sign and lights and "open" sign...yeah, apparently that's the side door, FYI. After we found the host stand, we were seated and I ordered a Thai beer which was light and refreshing. My husband didn't really like his margarita (black currant or something). We shared the sampler platter as an app and there were a lot of delicious friend goodies to sink our teeth into. I enjoyed the fried squash and the crab wontons the most. We also shared some beef with broccoli and garlic sauce, pad thai with chicken and a side of brown rice. Everything was very tasty and enough for lunch leftovers the next day! I would definitely return and even order in for pick up next time.
(4)
Kyle V.

IF YOU LIKE RESTAURANTS THAT DON'T CARE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS Thanks for the horrible service and incorrect order. It started with placing my order @ 6:30pm. I made it very clear 3x that I wanted the yellow curry fried rice not the yellow curry he said Yeah... I know the difference. very short and rude service from the start. I pick up my food and am assured yes yes fried rice yellow curry. I go home and sure enough... not correct. Missing a whole portion of food the yellow curry fried rice but at least I got some relish. Then I call to explain and am answered I start to explain then go to ask a question and no ones on the other end you are just talking to someone else.. hello hello... no response still talking to someone else. Guess what long time customer GONE. Thanks a lot but I guess when you are always busy your customers don't really matter. Ill spread the word. No response from them. Called and called. Emailed etc. No response and charged for a whole entree that I did not receive. No credit back. Thanks Buddha Ruska. You are not the only game in town
(1)
Jei K.

I have only ordered the takeout here, so I can only comment on the food. The crispy garlic chicken and sweet and sour chicken are to get morbidly ill for. That is all. Yum yum yum yum nom nom nom nom...
(4)
Kate S.

I would give this place 5 stars if the service was up to par with the food. There is always a bit of a wait at this place, and honestly that speaks well. The food here is amazing, but if you do not call ahead for take out or a reservation you will have some time on your hands. The dining area is small, and the wait staff always seem a little spacey/inattentive. There have been 2 times I have gone here when I had to refill my own water, after waiting a good 15-20 minutes before even getting to put my order in. However, even with a busy staff and long wait the food makes this place worth it. There has not been a single dish I have tried that was not excellent. The crispy garlic chicken is probably their most popular dish with good reason! The flavor is insane. Their duck is great as well, flavorful and delicious and not greasy at all which you might come to expect from eating at other Asian places. My personal favorite Thai dish is Phad See Ew, and it is amazing here. Plan for a wait here, but its worth it :)
(4)
Shawn J.

All show and a little go. After a full day of hiking we were ravenous. We heard that it was worth the 35 minute wait. Great ambiance, but with the crowd the staff got a little forgetful. We weren't offered anything to drink while we waited. The server got 2 orders wrong. One of our parties meals arrived about the time the rest of us were finishing. While the duck, pumpkin curry, and spicy string beans with chicken were good, the beef in the pad si eu was extremely tough. It required a knife which I wasn't given. We were left sitting and had to finally ask to get our bill.
(3)
X X.

I've ordered many different dishes at Buddha Ruksa- fish, chicken, tofu, noodle dishes, curries, and rice. Flavor wise, nothing I've tried has wowed me. After giving them a fair shot to leave a better impression than just "meh", I can't say I'll be eating here again.
(2)
Jose M.

I Looooove this place, one of my favorite Thai restaurants in West Seattle. Service is fantastic, Great atmosphere, good spirits and good food.
(4)
Ali H.

The crispy garlic chicken is perfection! And everyone that works there is wonderful!
(5)
Mat R.

Good, solid Thai food. The restaurant is nice, great ambiance with all the Thai wood carvings and what not. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is that it's a little on the pricey side for what you get. Enough that I kind of don't feel like it's worth the money if you're getting take out, but is if you eat in the restaurant. I do have to give them props for an interesting menu that expands beyond the Thai standards... I had a pumpkin and shrimp curry that I enjoyed quite a bit. Oh, and their crab wontons are fantastic.
(4)
kristine k.

I've eaten here a few times and I really enjoy it! Big thumbs up for the spicy long bean dish. This place is my go-to Thai restaurant in West Seattle
(4)
Mary W.

Had yet another great lunch at Buddha Ruksa yesterday. They never fail; the Garlic Fried Chicken is just the best damn thing. Even tho I breathe (and burp!) garlic for hours afterwards, it's so worth it. The crispy cilantro and basil leaves on top just complete the greatness. If you haven't been, go - it's affordable and really just good.
(4)
Le M.

When I worked at WaMu, one of the managers strongly suggested Buddha Ruksa for their "crack chicken". WaMu's gone, but Buddha Ruksa's still standing. Crack is where it's at, baby! WHY GO THERE? Two words: Crack Chicken. In the menu, it's officially christened as Crispy Garlic Chicken. (But honestly, there are several unique and authentic Thai dishes that are just as delightful.) WHATCHA GOT? As I mentioned, crack is where it's at, Whitney. But my standard Thai-test of tom yum soup, chicken satay and pad see-ew were all delivered to satisfactory perfection. Is it the kaffir lime leaves in tom yum instead of lime juice other digs use? Is it a secret marinade recipe on satay that Col.Sanders didn't find in rural Kentucky? Even the flat noodles of pad see-ew are cooked right, not sticking dry or sloppy wet. You can taste all the distinct Thai spices and flavors. I'm ready to get addicted. The crack chicken is tender fried chicken, loaded with garlic, high on chilies, and dancing with crisp basil leaves. I usually push basil on the side of my plate, but these are the bomb. I'm hooked. YOU GOT SERVED. Polite and attentive staff without being too eager to please - the way I like it. The walls are vermillion sparsely decorated with Thai wood carvings. The location? Well, let's just say it's far from everything, somewhere on Gennessee street, which adds to the allure of getting your crack chicken in the 'hood of West Seattle. SUGGESTIONS: Call for reservations or be ready to wait. On Mondays, they're closed. Don't make my mistake of driving all the way, crossing the nastiness that is West Seattle Bridge, only to have withdrawals.
(4)
Catherine F.

120 reviews can't be wrong, right? Wrong. Buddha Ruska- I'm disappointed. I ordered tofu phad thai, two stars, no sprouts. What I got was a big greasy mess of noodles, with 1/2 teaspoon of peanuts, without spice at all. It was gross. I will give them this- the tofu was great- there was just only about four chunks of it. I love soft tofu in phad thai but most places only fry it. The tofu in my phad thai here was perfect, I just wish I had more of it. When I walked in, I noticed that it was a cute little restaurant with nice ambiance, but it was absolutely insane. The seating was limited and I was next to three fifty-somethings complaining about children in restaurants. I guess parents should never go anywhere. But I digress. I walked up to the front to order and I waited for about three minutes. I got annoyed that I was ignored but quickly felt bad because I saw how busy they were. My total- for just tofu phad thai- was $10.65. No rice. No drinks. No nothing. I waited ten minutes for my food (which is reasonable) and inspected it upon receipt. It looked right but didn't smell spicy, and my bag didn't have any silverware. I waited another three or so minutes for chopsticks. Glad I checked- I assumed all to-go orders got chopsticks. Like I said, it was a giant greasy mess. There was hardly any sauce, there was no spice, and it was really sweet. Really Americanized. I dug for the peanuts and only found a small deposit. There were about four pieces of tofu buried under the sloppy pile of noodles. Gross. The only pro is that because it was not at all spicy, I could share some with my toddler. I would not and will not return. I feel gypped that I wasted my $10.65 and 1000 or so calories. I ate it because I bought it and because I was starving, but I'll never get those calories, that time or my money back. Don't even bother.
(1)
Jennifer H.

Beautiful food and cocktails. Very efficiently run restaurant, especially considering the popularity. You will have to wait at peak times, but it will be worth the wait. The "Pumpkin Prawn Curry" and the "Gingertini"...fahgetaboutit!
(5)
Carl M.

Food is amazing here. But success has apparently taken it's toll, the dishes are smaller now, and the service is lacking. Probably burn out and growing pains, the place is always packed. 45 min waits are the norm and the food is worth it. What is not worth it, is the service from the host, I think she is the owner or one of them. Saying she is rude is being kind.. Her tone is condecending and is short with everyone. I started this review 5 months ago but before I completed it, I wanted to make sure these things weren't just bad days and or an anomaly. Hire more people, go on vacation, but don't ruin your business. This is your wake up call. PS We've eaten at Buddha Ruska over 20 times; this isn't just a rant.
(3)
Sonya L.

Hands down the best Thai restaurant I have ever eaten at. I had never even heard of it before my boyfriend's family took me, but I was certainly happy to find out about it! We started with Tom Yum hot & spicy soup, which was delicious and VERY spicy. We had it without meat and it was still very flavorful and delicious. After that we had quite a few different dishes: Rad Nah, Spicy Eggplant, and Kao Soy (all with tofu). Each dish was beyond excellent. The noodles in the Rad Nah were flavorful, the eggplant in the Spicy Eggplant was soft and tasty, and the Kao Soy was to DIE for. The combination of the coconut milk, peanut sauce, and noodles was very enjoyable. I will certainly be having that dish again! The staff was very pleasant and accommodating. Our food came promptly and our unused dishes were quickly removed from the table. Waters were kept full, which was very nice considering the 2 star spicy was often quite spicy in places! The interior is warmly lit and cozy. It's surprising to discover such a wonderful place is almost hidden away while you drive into West Seattle. I highly recommend this restaurant. It's quite fantastic.
(5)
Erin O.

Friendly staff, great food, good wine selection! One of my favorite go to spots in West Seattle. Just sitting here thinking about it makes my mouth water!
(4)
Chet F.

I have been wanting to eat at Budda Ruksa since the first time I heard of this place. And boy I was not let down. Every dish that came to our table was delicious! There were 4 of us dining and we all split our dishes. I would order them all again! Prob my fave was the ground meat noodle. Not an appetizing name, but a delish dish! I have struggled to find a great Thai/Thai fusion place since we moved out here over a year ago. Now I can say this is my favorite Thai in all of Seattle, so far. The sampler platter appy was a great way to get the mouth salivating.
(5)
Robyn S.

I have to say, that at first I wasn't sure how much I would like Buddha Ruksa mainly because of how nice it looked inside the restaurant. For me, the best Thai restaurants are usually hole-in-the-wall places. However, I am happy to report that I absolutely LOVED this place! Everything we tried was delicious. I started off with their Oolong Tea-ni cocktail, which was probably one of the best cocktails I've ever had. Then we tried their Tom Yum soup - I've had better, but still - it was pretty darn good. Then for entrees, we chose beef pad see ew (AWESOME!!!) and the crispy garlic chicken, which is just as good as Chantanee's version in my opinion. The service was great, the atmosphere was perfect (even if it was a bit too fancy for a Thai restaurant if you ask me...) I would 100% for sure come back here again!
(5)
Beth P.

So, I finally found it! The Massuman curry to die for! I want to eat it every night for two weeks! Came here for my birthday dinner on Friday night and had a reservation. Seems like the best way to do it on a weekend as they were very busy. We were seated right away and the service was quick, we never waited very long (the spring roll appetizers beat our drinks to the table!) for any course and the check returned with the charged card really fast. Great service from start to service. But back to my original point.... the food was just plain delicious! After trying a number of other thai places in West Seattle, this is my new favorite by a long shot. Must. get. more. curry. YUM!!!!
(5)
Lindsay S.

My friend and I went here on a Sunday night and didn't expect it to be busy, but decided to call ahead anyway. Good thing we did! Buddha Ruska is a cute neighborhood Thai spot in a West Seattle. The service, wait staff, and ambiance were both great, but I've had better Thai in Seattle (could've just been what I ordered, though). The fresh vegetarian rolls didn't have tofu in the them, as most do, and the tofu in my vegetable stir-fry dish was too soft for my liking. Portions are really big (especially for the price). Definitely intending on going back and trying some of their other dishes.
(3)
Joy H.

The restaurant is located on some crazy one-way streets and was a bit hard to find. There wasn't any parking, but there were plenty of street parking around. Once inside, the decor was very nice. We went around 9pm and got seated right away. After reading all of the fellow yelpers raving about the garlic crispy chicken, we decided that we HAD to order it. We also got an order of spicy eggplant and pad see yew. Overall it was a decent restaurant. Nothing to rave about . . . I definitely like the flavors of Chantanee more. The garlic crispy chicken had these yummy crispy basil with the dish. It had good flavors, but the meat was a bit overdone. The eggplants were good, but it wasn't amazing or anything. The pad see yew had broccoli, chicken, and noodles. That was it! I'm used to it having so much more goodies inside. Prices were reasonable . . . probably wouldn't go out of my way to go back though.
(3)
flitter k.

Pretty decent. It smelled wonderful when I walked in. A bit noisy and hard to hear my table companion, but it could have been worse. We started with the fried squash (which was butternut cut into really thick "fries" and tempura battered), very good, nicely cooked and the flavor was good. The Seafood Medley was just so, so, Very fishy and the calamari was overcooked, though the chunk of salmon in there was delicious. I really didn't care for the rest of it. Finished off with a tasty mango and sticky rice.
(3)
Garbiel A.

Best thai food I've had since I moved since I moved to Seattle. oh man, for real. So delicious. The service was almost comically fast (we sit down and order, girlfriend goes to the bathroom, and food had already arrived by the time she got back. Seriously. I struggled not to pick at it.). Beth gets the garlic chicken thing, I get the pumpkin curry thing with prawns. Pumpkin-friggin-curry. I won that round of "who ordered the better dish" but not by very much. Both dishes were savory and sweet and oh-so good. I can't wait to go back. Really.
(5)
Erik V.

Crispy. Garlic. Chicken. Enough said... But everything else is also excellent and I can't find another thai place in Seattle that even compares.
(5)
Amy S.

So goooooood!! Great service!
(5)
amber m.

It was a Friday night, so service was strained. Our order came out in halves, about fifteen minutes apart. Everything was quite tasty, especially the tom kha soup, and I'll have to go back to explore the menu, but will avoid the weekend rush.
(4)
Meagan O.

My family and I have dined with Buddha Ruksa on many occasions and no matter what we order it is all delicious. Phad Thai, Crispy Garlic Chicken, Crab Wanton - anything, it is all amazing! I would give them 5 stars but the two times we have picked up dinner to go it was on the cold side when it reached our plates (and we only live 5 minutes away). Other than that, I suggest dinning in and bringing family - the portions are generous and the ambiance is lovely.
(4)
Chris W.

I eat a lot of Thai food, and this is one of my favorite spots. Stellar Phad Thai and very good curries. The Tom Kha soup isn't my favorite (which is one of my staples at a Thai restaurant), but I can let that slide due to the excellent all around food in most other categories.
(4)
Amanda S.

I wanted to like this place based on all these good reviews, but I just don't see it. We ordered one of their "Signature Dishes", the Wonton Phad Thai and it was not good at all. It's not entirely clear from the description, but it's a few hard-ass wontons served over some bean sprouts. This was dry and unappealing! There are no noodles in this! The second dish we got was the Crispy Garlic Chicken that everyone brags about, but it was nothing special whatsoever. We'll probably try it again since maybe we just went on an off night, but so far I'd much rather spend my calories over at the Chantanee Thai restaurant in downtown Bellevue.
(2)
Brad W.

Crispy Garlic Chicken. Nuff said. Panang, Green curry are delicious and prepared correctly as well as the Pad Thai. You can't go wrong at this restaurant.
(4)
Eliza J.

Amazing crispy chicken! Everything we ate was amazing, and the place was booming. Friday night, to go orders were lined up the entire time we were there, and I am so glad we went early (6pm) because we were sat (4 top) right away and by the time we left there was a huge wait! We went last Friday and yesterday my husband wanted to go again, good stuff!
(5)
Erickson E.

Sometimes tastes just vary; that's the only explanation I can offer for why I don't like Buddha Ruska as much as others seem to. I find their food somewhat plain. The item I've had most often is the chicken phad thai, and every time I wonder "What's the big deal about this place?" It's been decent, fresh tasting and seems quite a bit healthier than other versions of Phad Thai -- maybe that's the problem, I like my Phad Thai to be hearty and dense with flavor. Overall the restaurant does a fine job, and next time I get invited here I'll willingly go. If it's up to me, though, there's just other Thai food I prefer.
(3)
Audrey P.

One of the best Thai restaurant ever. Yes, that dramatic.
(5)
Liz L.

Buddha Ruksa is great. My husband and I are going down the menu. One of our favorite dishes is the panning curry with brown rice and of course the garlic chicken. But one of my favorite things at Buddha Ruksa are the COCKTAILS. The bartender there is super talented. They are delicious. I would go as far as saying that they are the best cocktails I've had in West Seattle. I love the atmosphere too. It's a perfect date night with great service, great food, and great drinks.
(5)
Hai Yen N.

Made a reservation here for seven people for my birthday last month. We were seated by the bar and it was very loud there as the kitchen was also right there and servers and cooks were yelling to each other to run business. Nice decor though: dark walls, solid wood tables and little Thai accoutrements scattered here and there. Our group ordered red curry, phad kee mao, crispy duck, wonton phad thai, the much-raved about crispy garlic chicken and two rice noodle dishes that I can't recall. All the noodle dishes were flavorful with fresh vegetables and definitely I'd rate 4/5 stars for taste. The red curry was rich and savory, a standout dish. The "crack" crispy garlic chicken was a touch too pungent with caramelized garlicky flavors but was enjoyable. Probably doesn't deserve the "crack" reputation though. The crispy duck had good flavors but wasn't actually crispy and lacked something I can't put my finger on. The wonton phad thai was bizarre, crispy wontons stir-fried with bean sprouts and scallions, no phad thai noodles to be found. The food left a good impression on me even if the atmosphere didn't. I am curious to go back for a date or just a one-on-one dinner to see if the atmosphere in the main dining room is quieter and more relaxed. I want to try more dishes here too. My tip is to stick to your Thai favorites and don't go wandering into weird territory like duck and wonton.
(4)
Craig R.

The location is, i would consider to be, quite elusive if you have minimal knowledge of the West Seattle landscape. It's worth punching into the g.p.s. or whatever you people that drive do. The dining room has a nice aesthetic. I enjoy eating here on weeknights when it's not as busy (a.k.a. dinner time, Friday & Saturday nights). The decor is just dark enough to be cozy without feeling creeped-out. I love Buddha Ruksa. I have to admit, though, I eat the same thing here every time and haven't tried much outside of my usual order. We get this same order every time and we've never been disappointed: -Fresh Spring Rolls w/ peanut dipping sauce -Red Curry w/Tofu -Crispy Garlic Chicken (This is the best!!!) -White Rice The total comes to right around $30 and usually results in a late night snack or an unusual, yet delicious, breakfast. The service has always been speedy and polite. That's all I ask for. Overall, Buddha Ruksa is just a fine place to eat and I'm happy to have it in the vicinity of my abode. Eat here.
(4)
Natalie H.

This place is solidly OK. Nothing to write home about. Saw a bunch of rave reviews so decided to try it and it was OK. The service left something to be desired and the prices were presumptuous for what you got. The food was edible, though a little bland. The ambiance is cute and cozy.
(3)
Amanda L.

I went to Buddha Ruksa at the suggestion of yelp and I was not impressed. We ordered the calamari app, pad thai, and crispy garlic chicken. The good: Ambiance was lovely and location was unique. The calamari was EXCELLENT! The bad: Service was weird. They took our order and brought out the main dish along with the appetizer. Then checked on us every 30 seconds for about three mins. Then we didn't see them until we had to flag them down for a check. Very inconsistant. Noise level is high. I could barely hear my husband across the small table and my ears rang from the noise all the way home. This was beyond normal restaurant levels. We didn't talk on the trip home so we could recover our hearing as if we had just come back from a club. Food was not what everyone goes on about. I loved the calamari, but everything else was bad. The garlic chicken was covered in little burnt bits and I don't think it was supposed to be that way. There was an odd after taste too. The pad thai was nothing that great either. We may order the take out calamari, but we will not dine there again.
(2)
Tina D.

This place was one of the first places I've tried Thai cuisine at. I was hooked to Thai food thanks to Buddha Ruksa! Their crispy garlic chicken is always delish! And I love love love phad see ew!! Especially the broccoli!^^ The food can sometimes be too oily. The service is always great here. It seems like waiting on a busy night for your table is always hectic and annoying, but when you're seated at your table the ambience changed and you get super chill and relaxed! I love the dining experience here. Parking is always a pain on a busy night, but worth it. It's been a while since I've been back because of the distant, but I can't wait to come back to get the garlic chicken!
(4)
Michael B.

These guys are on and off with me. I try to support my local W.Sea establishments, and I have been here multiple times, and I wanna like them more, but honestly, they disappoint me sometimes. PROS: Crispy garlic chicken, Duck dishes, Curry, beer selection, "The Jack" by the glass, service, location. CONS: Fish balls being passed off as scallops, green lip mussels instead of local penn cove mussels, normal mushrooms mixed in with my shitakes, tons of bland tasting decoration on some plates that always gets trashed afterwards, charging $2 for brown rice with a $17.95 dish, higher than normal thai prices. Summary: Stay away from the seafood and go for the fowl instead. Expect some cheap veggies mixed in with your expensive veggies. Prepare to pay for good and bad quality, and if it looks to good to be true, it probably is.
(3)
Kelly J.

Hands down, this is my favorite Asian restaurant in West Seattle. The food is flavorful with excellent quality ingredients, the wine list is good, and the dining area is intimate and cozy. I've found the service to be polite, striking the right balance between attentiveness and privacy. The only downsides have been long waits to be seated and fairly consistent mistakes on take-out orders. We definitely prefer to eat at Buddha Ruksa vs take-out.
(4)
Pat A.

The food here is very authentic. The service is great. AMBIANCE - A SPACE - B (just a little small but that also means you get quick service as well) SERVICE - A FOOD - A+ We ordered Special Duck Noodle, Pumpkin Curry with Prawns, and Vege Glass Noodle with Tofu Soup. The flavor is very authentic (and this is coming from someone who grew up in Thailand). Love to visit Buddha Ruksa again soon. ;o)
(4)
Dave G.

Yes. it's true. Crack Chicken. You can even order it that way :) They know you want the Crispy Garlic Chicken. And, frankly, they do a Salmon dish with the same preperation, and I prefer THAT to the chicken dish. Authentic, amazing Thai food. Great wine list, great service, great takeout...a true West Seattle gem.
(5)
Shauna H.

Seattle's drowning in Thai restaurants. Every neighborhood has at least a dozen, ranging from the mildly sketchy strip mall noodle shops to the so-expensive-and-fusion-it's-almost-unrecognizable places. Buddha Ruksa is the perfect mix - amazing, fresh food, great selection, fair prices, good location, and ample street parking (where you can sometimes even see giant dogs pretending to drive cars). I've been here three times, having discovered this place a few months ago. Each visit has been fantastic. I've never had to wait for a table, I've always been pleasantly surprised by the menu options, and I've typically tried something new (instead of the Pad See Iw that I order at every other Thai restaurant in the galaxy) and have enjoyed whatever I ordered thoroughly. The beef salad is delicious and was a good option on a night when I wasn't totally hungry but still needed some energy, and the fried squash and crispy garlic chicken are both completely delicious. The service is fast, attentive without being intrusive, and the ambiance is conducive to good conversation with your lucky dining companions. The only thing wrong with this place? They're closed on Mondays - the day of the week I inevitably crave Buddha Ruksa the most.
(5)
erin b.

Went in Saturday around 630p with no reservations, we were told a 30 minute wait... But it only ended up being a 5-10 minute wait. Score: 5 pts! The ambiance of the restaurant was very upscale, yet warm and inviting. The hostess and waitstaff were all very nice and efficient. Score: 7 pts! Menu was extensive and had the tried-and-true Thai favorites, but also some interesting additions... For an appetizer we got the crab wontons and asparagus fries. LOVED the asparagus fries, they were only lightly fried, tempura-style, and the sauces for dipping were very spicy. On entree's, I opted for the Dungeness Crab Thai Fried Rice, and it was fantastic! Just the right amount of crab meat too. Score: 20 pts!!!! If you like Thai Iced Tea, you have to try it... Tastes a bit like Horchata at Mexican restaurants, but better. Yum Yum. I would highly recommend Buddha Ruksa to anyone looking for good Thai food.
(4)
Liz M.

This place is excellent! I arrived around dinner time and was promptly seated. The server was polite and attentive. The ambience was nice though the layout was slightly crowded. The food was very good. I had the pad see ew with extra chicken, yum. I'll definitely be back here when I'm in West Seattle.
(5)
Melissa M.

I went for lunch and found it to be an adequate experience. It's not worth going out of your way to visit but if you're in the neighborhood, it's serviceable.
(3)
Shuang G.

I love Thai food and have been fortunate enough to sample Thai food on three continents...some good some bad. I read the reviews for Buddha Ruksa on yelp and was excited to go try it out. I was rudely confronted by a woman when entering, all she said was "other side". I replied, "what other side?" perhaps my car was parked in a no parking zone is what crossed my mind. After a few more rude " other side" I finally was told I had entered through the exit. As soon as I was seated I was rudely asked what I wanted to drink before even putting down my bag. I told her I needed more time and she rudely stomped away. Te yellow curry was so-so...not the best but not the worst. Crispy Garlic Chicken was too salty, had a burned taste, and just had a KFC pop corn chicken taste. The pad Thai was not spicy even though I requested extra spicy ad only had five pieces of tofu. Our drinks never came, I had to remind them when they brought is our food.
(2)
Teresa C.

Yummy!! Took my son for his 20th birthday, along with his girlfriend and my other two kids and we all loved it. My son's girlfriend had been there many times with her family, and we went based on her recommendation. Great recommendation! The decor is really cool, the place is casual with the perfect noise level, service was very good and friendly and the food was dee-lish! We had the crab wonton, calamari, fried banana, phad thai with prawn and chicken, basil fried rice, crispy garlic chicken, the special green bean, and various desserts including mango ice cream. OMG we were all stuffed and happy when we left! Must go back again and again!
(5)
Erica W.

I wish I could say I enjoyed the thai food here but i just dont. I'm sorry it doesn't take 20 to 25 minutes to cook chicken satay...really? Especially when i'm the only one in the restaurant. I practically live with people from thailand and it doesn't take long to cook thai food at all. And the Ba Mee I got, wasn't good, the noodles were soggy and the bok choy was bad. The peanut sauce and cucumber salad were good but why did I have to pay 4 bucks for it? Overpriced. the guy who took my order couldn't understand me, i basically gave up and just pointed to what i wanted. My thai bf and I have had better ba mee at thai go at westlake or southcenter mall. I'm 99% sure I will not be returning.
(2)
Won M.

Seattle is a city with so many Thai restaurants. And so many good ones. For that reason, I hadn't really ventured out to new Thai restaurants. I felt that the group of Thai restaurants in my list were good enough. Once again I was defeated by my own arrogance on restaurant knowledge. Coincidentally and fortunately, it was Buddha Ruksa who straightened me to the right path. (Wow... Where da hell am I going with this one?) I wouldn't say that this is the most authentic Thai restaurant but more crosses the Pan-Asian/Fusion Asian flavors. Packed with flavors in every dish, Buddha is blissfully tasty by using more modern Asian flavors. What is the modern Asian flavors? It is trying to pack most flavors and texture possible into one dish. For example, their famous dish is the Crispy Garlic Chicken. This dish is just goodness jam packed with: spicy, crispy, chewy, salty, sweet and crunchy all packed into one. Yes, I sound like a Doritos commercial but it's true. It is deep fried wooie gooie goodness. Next dish I tried was the Duck special. Tasted like they took boneless duck and lightly battered in batter composed of hot peppers and various Asian spices and fried it. Took the deep fried goodness and tossed it in sweet sour spicy and fish sauce salty sauce. ghghhgahghghg.... so good. One word described this indulgent dish: Unctuous Buddha is a busy place so I suggest people to get there early. Luckily we got there early and found the line out the door. Service is...ok. Not enough servers for the whole place. i.e. 4 stars.
(4)
Lee T.

I have waited waaaayyy too long to do this. I have been a regular customer here for a few years now-that should say it all. So far they are my favorite Thai food place in West Seattle (for sure) and the rest of Seattle (so far). My review is based on a combination of the following: -quick service even when they are slammed -attentive and friendly -yummy Thai Iced Tea -consistently good food I have tried a variety of their dishes-curry, noodles, etc- and I have been pleased each time. I have only been disappointed twice when the food was too salty, but that was 2 out of many, many visits. It has proven the exception and not the rule.
(5)
Em A.

This place was given high praise by friends, so I was very excited to check it out. We waited a long time for a seat even though we had reservations. When my food arrived, the chicken was too dry to eat, and the Phad Thai tasted like it was made with sweet catchup. It was not good at all. I was surprised, because so many people love this place. Maybe it was an off night? Or maybe it was just the Phad Thai?
(2)
Katy Y.

Let me make this short and not so sweet. I love food and I love trying all kinds of foods at all price levels. My husband and I walked into this place and were politely reprimanded for entering through the exit, which was not clearly marked. We then ordered the garlic crispy chicken (which was a signature dish), the beef salad, and the ground chicken with noodles. The crispy chicken had a burnt flavor and it was dry. The beef salad was watered down and overpowered by a lime dressing, and the ground chicken was gooey and heavy on the cornstarch. If you are looking for good and tasty authentic Thai food, this is NOT the place to go to. Plus the service was wretched. One of the servers was especially rude. She was either having a bad day or just in the wrong profession.
(1)
Megan B.

One more nod to the crack chicken. And the crab (crack) fried rice. And the atmosphere is lovely. But I've gotta be honest: the burly white "bouncer" guy who is always there seems really unfriendly to me. It's probably just my perception, but I'll admit it's a deterrent. But nonetheless, still one of my favorite affordable yet fancy places to dine in town.
(4)
Jim C.

Incredibly delicious "Crack Chicken" a.k.a. "Crispy Garlic Chicken" that I've never had anywhere else. Ever. It's in a universe all its own. My biggest "complaint" about Buddha Ruksa is that they don't have a place in Ballard or Fremont or Greenwood making this food. It's going to be very expensive (and very "ungreen") for me to keep driving to West Seattle to get this stuff!
(5)
Neil W.

Three words, CRISPY GARLIC CHICKEN, oh can I add fresh salad rolls, ooh... and the steak salad with beer... and, well I can go on and on, but just go and check the menu out for yourself. This place is one of the best in the city and I don't mean Thai; this place is one of the best restaurants in Seattle. The food is dynamite and, in some cases, unique. The atmosphere is perfect. I love the fact that you can feel comfy in there with shorts and a T-shirt, but get a little dressed up and it is a great date with my wife! The service is fast and nice, how often do you get that? The prices are perfect. I just wish I lived closer.
(5)
Billieann F.

Great Thai food & wine selection. Great intimate dine in setting, perfect enjoying great company. Also, great for take out!
(5)
Russ G.

Buddha Ruksa is a great Thai place, and as a repeat customer, I always look forward to either getting something to go or dining in. In my opinion, it's definitely one of the best Thai places in town, and for the price, I think a lot of folks in other neighborhoods around Seattle would agree, given a chance to try it over here (in the distant reaches of West Seattle). Buddha Ruksa sports a pretty extensive menu, in which they seem to excel at everything they make - - I recommend trying the crispy garlic chicken, nuea yang (a grilled and marinated flank steak), the yellow curry, or if it's available (doesn't seem to be on the regular menu but was a special the last night we visited), the pork belly - simply awesome. They offer a pretty extensive wine list at very reasonable prices. Overall, a great dinner anytime - especially in the cooler months when a hankering for that hot & sour soup develops. Highly recommended.
(4)
Kristin H.

Um yummy is what I have to say. We are frequenters to Buddha because it is so delicious. Top picks (we really should try other things, but these are our faves): Fried Fresh Squash: Best ordered if dining there Crispy Garlic Chicken Panang Curry Chicken Phad Thai: One of the best in town!! Don't be afraid to order four star if you like spicy, sometimes not as spicy as we like. Their cocktails are quite good too. The Oolong Tini hits the spot with the spicy dishes.
(5)
Gene D.

Find any excuse to dine here. Maybe traffic over the bridge was heavy. Perhaps the fridge is making a funny sound, or the Seahawks lost again. Anything it takes to return to this room. The flavors are intense, the staff is great and I always order too much.
(5)
Patti A.

The food is always absolutely fantastic and the service is always great! I particularly like the warm atmosphere in the bar area.
(5)
Kate C.

Tried this place for the first time after hearing rave reviews about it. We made reservations for a Saturday night. The service was great. The food...not so great. The sample platter was all fried food and horrid. We ordered simple dishes (phad thai and swimming rama) and both were just alright. They forgot to add the 3 star spice to my husbands so he wasn't too happy to be missing his spice / heat. I wanted to like this place but we won't be back, the food just wasn't very good. I've tried nearly all the great Thai restaurants in Seattle and keep going back to Jamjurree on capitol hill (on 15th). I think the only reason anyone goes to Buddha is because its about the only thai restaurant in West Seattle.
(2)
David S.

A friend insisted that I had to try this Thai restaurant. I am very critical of most Thai restaurants in the US having spent many months in Thailand. I have to say I was very impressed. Very authentic and the service was excellent. We will be back often.
(5)
Amie S.

Talk about best-kept secrets! Tucked away on an offshoot of a busy main drag that's mostly populated with vacant auto lots, this haven of flavor sits in a mostly residential area next to a Budget Blinds and across the street from a sketchy-looking convenience store. Not exactly a location you'll wander by when you're hunting for a good meal. Once you approach the restaurant itself, though, you begin to sink into the calming, earthy elegance of their oasis of deliciousness. As you walk in, you pass the bar, with a small but cozy lounge area. Downstairs the space opens up into a large, comfortable dining room with big windows to let in plenty of light. But on to the most important part - the food! The first time I ate here I was kicking myself for not visiting sooner. Like, years ago. To make up for it, I had to come back again and again and sample half the menu. One day maybe I'll make it all the way through, but some of my favorites are too good not to order every time. The ultimate go-to items are definitely the crispy garlic chicken and the thai barbecue chicken, which comes with the yummiest, stickiest steamed rice in your own little bamboo steamer. I know it can be hard to motivate for a trip to the west side, but that scrumptious little pillow of sticky rice is as good a reason as any!
(5)
Brian C.

Yes you have to go to West Seattle to have good Thai food. Inside she doesn't look like much but Capitan, pull this boat over I'm getting me some Buddha Ruska! The Tom Kha is amazing! I had the Prawns and Pumpkin Curry just because it sounded so interesting and let me tell you WOW!!! I could feel myself glowing after I ate it! The spicy long bean was a great compliment. I will go back here for sure!!
(4)
Garret A.

Buddah Motha Focking Ruska... This place is seven kinds of good, and if you don't know you better ask some body. Crispy Garlic Chicken.... everyone talks about it here, but is it as good as everyone says? Hell Yes!! People say everything takes like chicken. Well take my word for it this is one chicken dish that does not taste like your run of the mill chicken. It has full basil leaves, lots of garlic and the chicken is oh so succulent. I have an appetite for Ruska cause me so HONgry... lol...
(5)
Ajay P.

Good food and great price. Recommend the Chicken Satay and Crispy Garlic chicken.
(5)
Alicia O.

I don't know when i will stop craving the crispy garlic chicken. It is sooooo good. I mean, its the most flavorful thai chicken dish i have ever had. yum. The thai tea is awesome however the water refills came rarely, not a big deal. The decor is great, bathroom clean. very nice thai restaurant.
(5)
Xenia A.

I had never had Thai food until I went to Buddha Ruksa for the first time with my boyfriend. We ordered fried rice, crispy garlic chicken and I ordered this meat dish I can't remember the name of it. The meal was really good. Everything was cooked perfect and I love spicy food. My boyfriend has been there before so he knew what was really good. I highly recommend this place. We went when there was no wait, but it does get crowded and the wait could be up to an hour. It is worth the wait though!
(5)
Damien G.

I recently had dinner here with my girlfriend on a Sunday afternoon. when we showed up it was relatively empty. When we left it was packed and there were people waiting to be seated. If you don't like waiting get there early. We ordered the fresh salad rolls which were ok, nothing special. I ordered the Phad Thai with the seafood combination for my main and was thoroughly pleased. The 4 isn't really crazy hot but the temp was perfect for me. My girlfriend had a dish with eggplant and tofu that was pretty marginal and by the time the check came, she was pretty disappointed with the dish. We both agreed that the Phad Thai was the obvious winner. From what I've read on here it seems like a popular dish. I think we'll give it another go in the future to see what else they do right. : ) Cheers!
(3)
Shelbi ..

I was hesitant to try this place. My friend kept telling me how great of was but I didn't believe her. My husband wanted to try it, so I read the reviews and asked him who suggested this place? Thinking maybe it was someone who didn't really know Thai. So I prepared myself to be disappointed, we ventured out, and I ordered my favorite dish. I was thrilled to be wrong! The dish was excellent, quality of the veggies was great. Would have given them 5 stars but the noodles were a little soggy. Nice atmosphere and quick wait staff.
(4)
Edna B.

This truly one of the better Thai restaurants around - they are always busy and for a reason. Great trout salad, Pa Thai, fresh spring rolls - all around the food and service has always been great.
(5)
X O.

LOVE this restaurant, I am a huge thai fan and quite picky. My favorite is coming for their well priced lunch menu, where you also get soup on this side. Love the pad si eww, the red curry, garlic fried rice are some of my favorites! Definitely recommend.
(5)
Jacquie P.

Doesn't look like much from the outside so we were pleasantly surprised to walk in and find such a cute, inviting little restaurant. Loved the decor and the soundtrack and the little window-side table. And I can't help but give 5 stars to an establishment that serves beer in a cold, pre-frosted glass. It's a weakness. Garlic chicken, spicy eggplant, and red pumpkin curry were outstanding and all lived up to their price point. Service was quick and attentive and we left full and happy and only wished that we had more leftovers for lunch the next day. Big, big recommend!
(5)
Joe L.

Top 5 Phad Thai in Seattle. Bomb!
(4)
jina m.

I love this place! Most definitely the best Thai I've ever had. Crispy garlic chicken(aka crack chicken) is the bomb!!!
(5)
Katie B.

I love the food here! SOOOOO good. The service is great too. Drinks are a little pricy, but when I got my "Cucumber Counterbalance", it was worth it.
(4)
Janson L.

Food: 4stars atmosphere: 4 stars price: 2 stars parking: 1 star The food is fantastic. One of the best Thai food places in seattle. The chicken dish we got was a bit burnt but otherwise a great experience.
(4)
Dana M.

I am always going to get something different from the garlic chicken and pumpkin curry but I never do. It is soooo delicious! Great for take-out but also a very nice space to sit for dinner.
(5)
ColorBlind B.

Honestly I don't have a whole lot to add to the reviews that have already been posted. I started going to this restaurant about 5 years ago when i lived in West Seattle and to this day it is consistently one of the most consistently delicious Thai restaurants in Seattle. Got take out last night, Crispy Garlic Chicken (Yes it is as good as all the reviews say), Nuea Yang (Grill Marinated Beef w/sticky rice), Pork Pad Thai and brown rice for 2, $38 out the door. Generous portions and absolutely amazing flavors. Nothing to complain about at all. BTW, dining room was absolutely packed an there were people waiting at the picnic table outside. If you live in Seattle and you like Thai food (why would you be reading this review if you didn't), YOU HAVE TO GIVE THIS PLACE A SHOT...
(5)
Daniel S.

This place is pretty damn good and very often has a line out the door. I'm a big fan of their curries and have sampled numerous other plates. I've never had anything bad their or heard complaints from anyone I've gone with. If you want Thai done right, go here.
(5)
Nick M.

Found this through yelp and it delivered. I got the crispy duck A (5 heat). It was excellent. The duck was very crispy, though it did get softened by the sauce, which I guess is the danger you face. The sampler appetizer was fine too. Crab wontons area guilty pleasure for me and certainly aren't even going to be authentic, but their's were actually very good. They put a lt of work into them, wich is odd, but appreciated.
(4)
Stephen D.

I went here with my wife for my birthday dinner. I read some comments about the place being snug, I was not bothered by the set up. We arrived about quarter to five and the place we almost empty. By 530 it was pretty much full. Heard about the garlic chicken being very good but I love thai noodle dishes. It was nothing special from other places, very good. Only disappointment was I ordered a three star and barely tasted any spice. We really enjoyed the crab wonton's for an app.
(4)
Mark M.

My brother took me there at the busiest time of the evening and with a smooth turn over we were seated in a few minutes into a very full establishment. This was on a typical Thursday. We went for the Crispy Garlic Chicken. He claimed it was the best I would ever eat. I'm pretty fond of my local Thai place and its Crispy Garlic Chicken. But my brother was right. It was some of the best I'd ever eaten, and prepared differently enough from my usual place that I'm planning on taking my wife there so that she can compare. The scallops were cooked perfectly. My suggestion is go with the house favorites. And if you like spicy, they do a one to four rating. I suggest at least three. This is not one of those places that adds another tablespoon of crushed red peppers to increase their heat. They have other spices on the shelf they use.
(5)
Andy J.

Disappointed. I'd heard great things about this place from a lot of my friends, and driving through W. Seattle one night I took the time to navigate it's odd location and give it a try. Nice ambiance and fast service are why I'm giving 2 stars, not 1. As for the food, I ordered Tofu Radna, which consisted of 4 components, Tofu, Broccoli, wide rice noodles, and sauce. The noodles and sauce were fine. The tofu was borderline rancid, with that sickly taste that you sometimes get AT HOME, when you store tofu in the fridge, and you have to slice/wash off the part that's gone bad. A restaurant should have that issue handled. The broccoli was so hot that it burned my tongue severely on the first bite. It actually still hurts 24 hours later, as I write. Since everything else in the dish was at an edible temperature, and the broccoli remained overly hot until I'd eaten most of everything else on the plate, I have to assume that they had microwaved the broccoli to get it that hot. I should have asked for the waitress to take my meal back after I tasted the first morsel of rancid tofu, but I was in a hurry, on my way somewhere, and hungry, so I just took one for the team this time. I have to assume that they do a good job with their meat-based dishes, based on what I've heard, but, as a vegetarian, I won't be going there again.
(2)
Avian N.

It was a soggy, rainy evening, I hadn't eaten a bite since my breakfast oatmeal, work was a bit slow, and I am really tired. My 6pm meeting is scheduled at Buddha Ruska. I'm really not a fan of Thai food though. First stepping into Buddha Ruska, the deep brown colors and soft lighting reminded me of the classy 13 Coins. The space is a bit tight, and every table was at capacity. Luckily, my company and I reserved a table for 3. Here's what we had: Panang Curry, 2 stars: DELICIOOOOOOUSS!!!!! Crispy Garlic Chicken: OOOOOOMGGGGGG!!!! with brown rice. Holy geezus, these two platters fed THREE adults who were dying of hunger. Customer service was great, pricing is really reasonable for the quality of the food. Killer. Great place if you're on a second date. I'm going back this Saturday. Yay!
(5)
Sanjay F.

Buddha Ruksa is a neighborhood treasure. This was my very first time eating at the restaurant, even though I've wanted to come here for dinner for several years now. The restaurant itself is ornate and tastefully decorated- not in any sort of cheesy way either. The line-up on the for that particular Saturday night was very long. I tried to call earlier in the evening to make reservations but was informed that they didn't take them. So we got there around 8pm and waited for maybe 30 mins. to be seated. Fortunately I couldn't stop staring at my date- not in a creepy sort of way; but in a flirty way to pass the time and converse and get to know each other more. . We opted to skip apps and wine and shared the two cocktails that we did order. I can't remember which ones they were; except one was a mojito and the other was a martini of some sort. I do remember that mine tasted better than hers so we swapped. I'm easy going like that. She ordered the yellow curry and I had the basil stir fry with beef. Both dishes 3 stars and they were awesome- perfect amount a spiciness. Best food, best service, very good prices (most dishes around $10). I don't consider that expensive because living on the Eastside the past few years- lunches alone are around $10; so that's my basis for good pricing for dinner. Very good stealthy service. Little did we know, the tables around us were empty; we ended up closing the place down. The date, the food, everything was perfect. It couldn't have gone any better.
(5)
Brian C.

My wife and I have eaten at quite a few Thai places in the greater Seattle area, but only for Buddha Ruksa will we drive across town. You need to make a reservation if you want to go during a remotely popular time, but assuming you do, be prepared for an onslaught of spicy heaven. A few of my friends have become Crispy Garlic Chicken loyalists, ordering nothing but the tasty signature dish. Beyond that, I have also thoroughly enjoyed their prawns in pumpkin curry and steak-based Nuea Yang. Don't be afraid to get a sample platter as an appetizer with a large group if you feel like some fried food. It's crispy and delicious. The service has always been great whenever we've been able to get a table. They'd check on us appropriately throughout the meal and were really quick when getting drinks. If the goal is to get us in and out quickly to funnel more people through, I haven't been able to tell. We have just been treated well. When all of the above is combined with completely reasonable prices, Buddha Ruksa comes out as one of the top Thai restaurants in all of Seattle.
(5)
Nick W.

Mixed, but raw chicken twice equals I will never go back... really, can't cook chicken - twice?
(2)
KT S.

I love eating here!! The first thing you notice when you walk in is the AMAZING wood carvings all over. Hand carved and HUGE, you can not miss them. The people who work here are super kind and quick at their job. I am picky when it comes to Thai food but there is nothing i won't eat at this place! Definitely a great place to take a date.
(5)
J P.

Haven't been here in ages but need to go again. The only thing I've had on the menu is the crispy garlic chicken and it is so good! Gotta go back soon when I get to Seattle again!
(4)
Donna C.

I would actually give this place a 4+. Definitely worth the drive from Cap Hill to West Seattle - particularly since it's so conveniently located just off the bridge. Garlic chicken totally rocks as does the curry and the standards (phad see ew, phad thai, etc). Appetizer sampler was just ok.
(4)
Orlene C.

If you are craving Crispy Garlic Chicken, this is the place to go. Their version is amazing! Way better at the restaurant fresh and hot over take out at home.
(4)
Russell H.

I think the secret to this place is knowing what to order. I had the worst Beef with Basil ever. The meat was tougher than shoe leather. I also ordered the Priking (sp) green beans with pork...again dry over-cooked meat. Also, both dishes had more of a broth than a sauce. The Pad Thai was good though. I was hugely disappointed. This place gets packed so it must be good. I will definitely strike those two dishes off the list.
(2)
Nikki W.

I love this place, I've been addicted to it for years. I'm a west seattle girl and most west seattlelites know of this place, it's tucked away and could pass for a house, so if you didnt know of it, you would most likely drive right past it without realizing it was a restaurant. With that being said, the only downfall this place has is their phad thai. It used to be amazing, now for some reason it's bland and not very good, and this is coming from someone who usually orders about a 2 or 3 star, not even the spicyness adds a ton of flavor. I don't know if they changed chefs or recipes or what but maybe go for a different noodle dish. Phad Kee Mao, Phad Seew, those are both good. The crispy garlic chicken is the way to go, also their lettuce wraps are fresh and flavorful. I haven't seen them on the menu in a while but you can still order them, try them out! Closed on Mondays and packed any other day, expect a wait anytime after 5 o'clock.
(4)
La' Akea S.

Best Thai food in the Seattle area! Gets busy on a weekend so reservations are helpful for larger groups.
(5)
Jacob T.

Three dishes I really enjoy; Phad Kee Mao, Green Curry and the Crispy garlic chicken. The Crispy Garlic chicken is really what keeps me coming back. Phad thai is so so but the dishes I mentioned before are really well cooked and they hit on the spice level I request each time. The restaurant setting is nice and intimate. The customer service provided by the staff is pretty good, more than I expected for a small restaurant.
(5)
David L.

What can I say- this is the best Thai food in Seattle. Your safe bet in the ever popular pad thai is really good here. But as other reviews have stated, the crispy garlic chicken is where it's at with this place. GOOD. The venue is nice, although parking can be a pain (there is no parking lot, and you must find street parking in the residential area that this restaurant is located in). It can also get quite busy here, so be prepared for a wait and hectic environment if you're planning to come here for dinner.
(5)
T T.

Excellent food! Great service! The crispy garlic chicken is crazy good and somehow the crispy garlic tofu is even better. Great seasonal specials. Amazing green curry. Beautiful ambience, too.
(5)
Ruby S.

Terrible service. The staff was so rude and unwelcoming. We came here because they were known for their crispy chicken. Well I'm sure it was crispy but since they forgot about our table since we were in no mans land dining closet it was soggy and lukewarm. Then we just sat there for almost 45 minutes without being checked on. Finally I got up to pay and the whole staff was sitting down to their dinner. Bleep that.
(1)
Jeff J.

Thanks Crystal M. for the recommendation. I've been back several times since randomly reading your recommendation and the crispy garlic chicken is always terrific! (Well, perhaps 1 time out of ~6 I felt the garlic chicken was only a 4 out of 5. Otherwise, it has been 5 star every time!) I started writing this review ~ a year ago when I last visited. Finding the review unfinished in my todo pile just now makes me want to head to West Seattle for lunch right now! I've sampled a lot of Thai food in Seattle over the last decade. And, while I'm not sure that Budda Ruksa is authentic to the style (I'm no expert), I can say that it's excellent in comparison to other Seattle options, and well worth the slightly higher prices than your typical Thai spot.
(5)
Brad B.

Extraordinarily tasty. Had 3 stars spicy on all dishes and it hit the right balance of spicy kick while enhancing the flavors of the entree. The Crispy Chicken is addictive... when we finished the actual pieces from the serving plate, my friend and I were picking at the remnant bits and mixing them with rice. We also had a Mussamun curry and Phad See Eew... both were very, very good. Will definitely go back.
(5)
Keith C.

There are five million thai places in Seattle. Yup, that's right. Five million. That said, you MUST go to Buddha Ruksa. Yes, its in W. Seattle and a pain in the ass to get to - but the food is outstanding. Get the crispy garlic chicken, pad thai, spring rolls, lemongrass chicken. All outstanding. I've been for lunch and dinner and would go for breakfast if they offered it. :) The decor is very soothing and the waitstaff are fantastic. Very nice. Go, eat and enjoy.
(4)
Sandie L.

A cute hidden gem in the West Seattle area. I love the atmosphere of this restaurant. Inside it reminds me of being at a nicely dressed sucken livingroom with close but not too close scattering of tables. Some tables are seated by windows almost floor to ceiling windows of a not so busy street. But beware, dining space inside is small so making reservations is best. While waiting one Saturday early evening, It appears from my visit a lot of guests were ordering take away. Also noted were guests appearing from the nearby neighboorhoods. Guests included families, couples, and small parties. The best dish of this night was the trout salad. My friends who I was with who had been here a few times before have routinely ordered this dish because of its fresh tasting ingredients and mixture of fresh flavors. The fish was lightly fried but still tastey without any grease. Phad Thai is average. Nothing unique or bad about this dish. A good staple. Crispy duck in curry sauce was average. Duck is cut up with bones and very crispy. Curry was average with good flavor. Green tea ice cream had a powdering taste which I would NOT order again. For South African wine lovers, they do have a nice bottle of red SA wine! What I enjoyed most about this visit is their choice of decor, uniqueness of its atmosphere and above average customer service!!!
(3)
Brandon R.

We have been searching for a good Thai Restaurant since we moved out here. This one hit the mark! The crispy garlic chicken is lives up to it's reputation!!! Definitely worthy of checking out! Service was a tad slow but that was completely understandable considering how packed they were. I will definitely be returning!
(5)
Debra H.

Finally made it to Buddha Ruksa with friends last week for a late lunch. Parking was easy and the time being closer to 2pm, easy to get a table. We were seated promptly by a lovely server who brought us a bowl of soup while we looked over the menu. My friends had been there many times and we decided on the crispy garlic chicken, a red curry, and a noodle dish (phad see-ew?). Service was great as was the food, can't wait to return.
(4)
Danielle F.

Three words - Crispy. Garlic. Chicken. Everything else is good too.
(4)
Kathy C.

My sister's friend recommeded this place, so bf and I decided to check it out. She could not stop talking about their crispy shrimp, so we had to order that and of course, pad thai. Both dishes were solid 4.5; I really liked the fact that their phad thai wasn't smothered with ketchup; and their crispy shrimp was super crispy and light. Unlike other thai places, the crispy shrimp was not greasy and heavy. Even though i don't live in west seattle, i would totally come back to try other dishes. I think it's almost like the best thai restaurant in seattle - the thai places in cap hill (where i live) have not been good lately. The ambience is also nicer than a lot of other thai restaurants - it's not pretentious and not too old school; it's just the right amount of thai decor.
(5)
Dorcas B.

My experience here is 50/50. Sometimes, the food is very good... sometimes really mediocre. Lately, I've had a bad run and I don't think I'll be going back. I've gotten takeout 3 times in the last month- same dish- worse each time. Last night, it went in the garbage after a few bites. I hope they can rebound!
(2)
Michael M.

Pros: The garlic chicken is as advertised, amazing! We also ordered the pad thai, which was good, but nothing too special. We tried both with 3/4 stars, but it wasn't spicy enough for us (next time we're going 4/4). Cons: Parking is a little weird if you haven't been there before. The place isn't that big inside, but we ordered take out so I can't comment on the service. Overall: Nice little restaurant! Will definitely be coming back.
(4)
Dennis S.

This place, located right off the West Seattle place before you hit the junction, is outstanding. Their dishes are consistently outstanding good. I really like their garlic chicken; it's total mouth orgasm. It's also on the lunch menu, which is an excellent value. Other dishes on the lunch menu are also good, including the Phad Thai, which I rarely order at any Thai restaurant, but this place does a good job with the dish. The ambiance is also great at this place. I like seeing all of the real wood that they use on the interior. The service is also good. A great little hidden gem in West Seattle.
(4)
Lyssa D.

We stopped in for lunch today. I'm giving Buddha Ruksa 3 stars because, I've eaten much better Thai in New Mexico, and i sorta expect Thai in Seattle to be epically better. My cutie was at a 2... But it had some winning qualities all the same. I'll start with the good, it's really nice to be greeted with a bowl of soup, especially tasty soup. I liked the crispy garlic chicken, that said I've never had it before, so I can't compare it. I can say it wasn't like chicken jerky. It had nice flavors and I liked the crispy cilantro on top. The not so good, we ordered the Pad Thai, sadly it was very underwhelming. There was just something missing, and every bite I took had a hint that oil was off, not completely rancid, just off. However, I when I ate the pad Thai with some crispy chicken, it tasted fine. The service was fine, the staff was sort of friendly, but when our order was taken, no drink order was taken, so I called several times, "sir, excuse me, sir" no response. So, I got up and chased the server down, and he seemed a little annoyed with me, like "I was coming back for your drink order, just sit back down trigger." I pushed on through that and told him we wanted hot tea anyway:-). The food was served quickly and overall it was solidly ok. I wouldn't make some crazy drive to eat here though.
(3)
Brian B.

Tried to order on the phone. Was told 35 minutes. Hour and a half I'm still sitting here waiting.....
(2)
Susan H.

I have been eating at Buddha Ruksa for years now, ever since they opened - have always received excellent service and great food. Tried a lot of other Thai places, but I still like it here best. Totally addicted to the spicy eggplant! One of the things I like is that they do keep the 1-2 stars mild...like it should be! If you want it hot, then choose 3, 4 or 5! This way I can bring my 70+ parents here and they can enjoy their food as well.
(5)
Kay R.

Super fantastic service over phone, alway busy, and great reviews. Called in for a Togo on the beef curry, and was delicious. Ordered 2-star spicy and could have gone hotter. Generous portion and very fair pricing, thank you Ruksa!!
(5)
Eddie R.

Best Pad Thai I have ever had. I frequent this place during my lunch time with coworkers. The atmosphere is chill and always busy. The wait staff is friendly and very attentive. If you are in the area and looking for good Thai food, I strongly recommend this place.
(5)
Bridgette F.

Perfect service. Delicious, fresh food. And great atmosphere. I got tofu pad thai and the flavor was a little sweeter than I'm used to but it was so fresh and incredible. The best pad thai I have had. I would also recommend the Black Rice Pudding for dessert. So delicious. This place is busy, and unless you want to sit in the bar, you should make a reservation (found this out by going on a Saturday night at 6:30). You can also get it to go, which dozens of people did during the short time we were there.
(5)
Jenny K.

3.5 stars My colleague raves about this place so my girlfriend and I decided to check it out after our fabulous massages @ Yarrow Spa. We got there a little after 9PM on a Tuesday and there were maybe 5 other groups there. The atmosphere was more classy and intimate than what I'm used to at at Thai joint, definitely a plus! We ordered a bottle of red wine - on special for $20 - and shared the pad thai and drunken noodle dishes. Loved the generous portion sizes, the 4 hot sauce options and freshness of the food. As for taste, the food was a little on the salty side but overall good. For the price, location (I enjoy West Seattle!) and atmosphere, I am definitely interested in going back to try more menu items soon!
(3)
Jim P.

Delicious spicy garlic chicken.... I've been thinking about you since the last time we met. Thank you for being there for me, until we meet again. Jim
(4)
Chris H.

Great food! Got takeout it was SUPER busy and the waitress was pretty short but the food was great had the crispy chicken, pineapple prawn curry and crab fried rice. All three were 3 in heat I like my food spicy and it wasnt hot enough for me but the flavor over all was great my new favorite Thai restaurant
(4)
Yumiko K.

I just had to try one of their signature dishes: prawns and pumpkin curry. I've had pumpkin curry before, but I'd like to declare theirs was one of the best I'd ever tasted. I love how the pumpkin (kabocha, I believe) chunks were cooked so tender that they dissolved in my mouth. The coconut curry sauce was mild (even though we did order 4 star spiciness...), rich, creamy, and perfect with brown rice (or noodles). There were a generous number of prawns swimming deliciously with the tender and sweet pumpkin chunks in the dreamy coconut cream sauce. Spicy Eggplant was, again, deceivingly not spicy, but definitely not unflavourful. The eggplant chunks were cooked so perfectly that they were gleaming bright purple and delicious with sweet basil and red bell pepper. Friendly, prompt service was a huge plus as well. I love Thai food, and I love Buddha Ruksa!
(4)
Ryan S.

Best Thai food ever! The Crispy Garlic Chicken is incredible and thats a understatement. Everyone should try this place and you'll taste what I mean.
(5)
Molly S.

Possibly best Thai food in West Seattle. Order the crispy garlic chicken...even if it isn't on the menu. Spice levels are consistent which can be an issue sometimes. Definitely worth checking out, but can be pretty busy during dinner time.
(5)
Matthew A.

Ummmmmm, just ridiculous. No seriously, the crispy garlic chicken is just ridiculous. I've never actually been in the place so I really can't comment on the place itself. The "veggie"'s sister lives in W. Seattle and we've ventured over a few times to spend a little family time. On a few of those trips now we've ordered take out from Buddha and there's never any question about what to order it's always the crispy garlic chicken. The stuff is so good it's referred to as "crack chicken" around that house. Yes, we always get some noodles, rice, or fresh rolls as well I think they're good, I just can't remember because the chicken just steals the show. Listen, the only reason this place isn't getting 5 stars is because I haven't actually made it there to experience the service.
(4)
Aaron M.

My uncle is a bonafide foodie, so when he says this is the best Thai food in all of Seattle, I take the recommendation very seriously. Whenever I come up to Seattle to visit him we always eat well, and lunch at Buddha Ruksa was the beginning of an amazing weekend of indulgence. I had the Swimming Rama, which I usually see on Thai menus as Pra Ram, but this name was much more fun, and the dish was the same. Their homemade peanut sauce was sweet and flavorful and easily some of the best I've had, the pork was cooked perfectly, and the bed of spinach underneath was wonderful tender baby spinach. I also loved that I could choose my spiciness on a scale from 1 to 5. I went with 4, which was hot enough for me to take notice, but not so hot that I couldn't enjoy every last bite. Very cool. Other folks at the table ordered their green and yellow curries, which were quite good. Bonus: you can choose between brown or white rice. Yay!! The only thing I can find to say bad about this restaurant was that my wooden chopsticks had absorbed the flavor of their dish-washer detergent and tainted the flavor of each bite. I guess I shouldn't suck on my chopsticks so much.
(5)
Tom B.

Great place, even has a nice dining room, but a pretty crappy location. But despite looking like a blank wall that might as well be the side of a U-Haul franchise or something, it's generally packed. Busy enough that you can't even call in an order on a Friday night. Once you find it, though, you're well rewarded. Or, should I say, once you find it and find parking, you're well rewarded. Nicely decorated and comfortable dining room, friendly and efficient staff, smells great even from a block away. Prices are good too--we fed five people and had leftovers for $60. Tom Yum soup was nicely rich and deep, just the right amount of spice for the atypically low one star we ordered. Bags of gold were crispy and delicious, the crispy garlic chicken seriously smelled good from fifty feet away, the beef with oyster sauce was solidly briny, and the phad thai had plenty of sweet and tangy goodness. Good thai, or at least pleasantly servicable thai, is pretty easy to find around town. This place is a bit of haul for me, given that it's in west seattle, but it's probably worth it--tons of good flavor in a nice setting.
(5)
Dest S.

I have lurid dreams about the crispy pork in chili jam.
(5)
George R.

I love thisrestaurant, but their follow up to their mistake is horrible. I've been there only twice, but it's only because I live on the Eastside, Bellevue. This is my little brothers favorite Thai restaurant, by far! All my friends who live in West Seattle, RAVE over their food. My wife had never been and we were in the area so we I took her here last night. She loved it! We ordered the long bean dish w/ beef, crispy garlic chicken, and lemon grass chicken for myself, my wife and 3 year old son. We couldn't stop eating and almost finished all 3 dishes. :) The one dish we did not get any stars (lemon grass chicken) was mainly for our 3 year old and we ate probably only half the dish. We were excited to bring it home and eat it again the next day, but when the server boxed and bagged it for us, they forgot the lemon grass chicken dish. Not a big deal, until I called that night. Expecting amazing service like I had that night, I was surprised when the representative who answered made me feel as if it were my fault that I did not bring this dish home. Again, we did not box up our meal and when it was given to us it was already in a bag so we trusted their staff and went home. She then asked if I would like to pick it up. When I told her I lived in Bellevue and it was already late she offered to keep it and I could pick it up later. I advised that I might be able to pick it up by 11:30am, but wasn't 100% sure if I could. Today I had to work longer and could not make the trek to Seattle to pick up 1/2 a dish of lemon grass chicken. I called and a lady named Anne who said was the Manager answered. When I told her I could not make it, she asked if I wanted to throw it away? I said, "Sure, but what could you do to make me continue to love your restaurant." She said, "Nothing." Literally!!!! I was in shock and my blood started to boil. I asked if she thought I was in the wrong for leaving the dish that I had paid for, that you all boxed up and forgot to give me and now she says she can do nothing? I was getting upset to say the least. She put me on hold (thinking she was going to ask what she could do.) When she came back to the phone she said she'd take my name and give me 1/2 credit of a dish next time I came in. I was APALLED and getting even more mad. From what I saw at your restaurant on a Wednesday night, saving 1/2 a dish revenue shouldn't hurt you and since it was your fault, a simple customer service of taking care of your customer next time would have been more appreciated. I was and still am in shock. She said this never happens and I'm sure it doesn't but when it does, I would expect better service, but did not get it. I hope they improve and discuss with their staff what to do when there are mistakes that happen so that you wouldn't get a customer like me who may not even go back for that 1/2 dish of lemongrass chicken.
(2)
Sarah G.

A friend introduced me to Buddha Ruska. We do take out because we have young children, but I have never been disappointed. The crispy garlic chicken is superb, and the rest of the dishes I've tried are average or above average. It is the crispy garlic chicken that keeps us coming back. I will never call it "crack" chicken though, and find it unappetizing and a bit odd to do so.
(4)
Nicole N.

This update review is for a recent lunch that I have had at Buddha Ruksa. Their dinner menu is fantastic but their lunch menu is not so much. Their restaurant was pretty much empty during lunch time and now I understand why. The menu for lunch is pretty small and there aren't many good dishes. I have tried the curry fried rice and noodle with peanut sauce. Both of the dishes taste really bland like there is no flavor. The peanut sauce was quite runny and not so good. Plus, their customer service is horrible during lunch time. All of the waiters and waitresses stay in the back to talk and fool around. When I want to ask for some soy sauce, there is no one around. If you want to eat at Buddha Ruksa, go at night ... At lunch time, this place is just bad.
(3)
Leslie M.

Great experience at Buddha Ruska for dinner tonight. We arrived around 6-ish and only waited a few minutes for a table. Not bad for a Friday night. Our server was attentive and never let our water glasses go empty. Crispy Garlic chicken was definitely tasty but I wasn't blown away by it. Don't get me wrong, I would order it again, just don't expect it to change your life. Rama Noodles were also good with a generous helping of peanut sauce. Servings were large and you could easily share two entrees between three people. I was catching up with a friend I hadn't seen in months so we stayed at our table quite a while after the check was paid. The server kindly asked us if we wanted anything else. When we said no she said "there is a bit of a traffic jam for tables". As someone who has waited and waited for people to leave after they are done eating, I really appreciated her asking us in a kind way to wrap it up. As we left the restaurant there were at least 3 or 4 parties of 2 people waiting so the request for us to get moving was not unwarranted. Plus, it's good to note that eating a little on the earlier side will result in less of a wait. I took off one star because the room we were in was very noisy and the ambiance was a bit lacking. Additionally, we weren't asked if we wanted to see a dessert menu or if we wanted refills on our beer. Not huge issues especially on a busy night but not a 5-star experience. Bottom line - definitely worth trying at least once. If I lived in the area, I would probably be back.
(4)
Mallory M.

Buddha Ruska is pretty good. My family and I have gotten takeout a few times, but we have never attempted to wait in the long lines that fill the small place! I agree with other yelp users when they say the dining experience is 50/50. The crispy garlic chicken is a hit, but sometimes it just tastes off.. I would recommend trying it though it is delicious. I am vegetarian and they offer many options which I like. Overall, it is worth a try. Slightly on the pricey side but still worth a visit.
(4)
Mary F.

I have been coming to B.R. since it opened. It rocks. I have done mega take out, dined in, the works. The food is for the most part very consistent and delish. THe set lunch menu is o.k., good, but the dinner menu is much better. I was disappointed to see so many reviews dis the Phad Thai. I disagree. It's the best in town, not overly sweet like most Thai places. Yup, the crispy chicken is the bomb! Service can be slow but they are good most of the time. So busy at times it's a wonder the staff can manage. Give it a try, if you have a bad day, don't give up... try again!
(4)
Anthony S.

The food is excellent but way over priced. Tom Tom or The Thaitian are just as good but not with the quality ambiance. If getting take out skip Ruksa and goe to the forementioned. Ruska gets VERY busy. Expect long waits on weekend. Good wine list.
(3)
Priyanka M.

I went to this restaurant thinking another overhyped Thai place in Seattle. I now see what the hype was about. Incredible food, pretty ambience and great customer service sets this place apart from all the other Thai restaurants in Seattle area. Love their garlic fish which is cooked whole as well as their curries. I'm a big fan of their Phad Kee Mao as well. The downside to this place has been their wait time. The wait can get too long without a reservation. It hard to make reservations over the weekend since they're already booked for the day. It can get pretty loud in the restaurant so if you're looking for a quiet dinner, this is not the place.
(4)
A K.

Awesome waitress and food. I have lived in West Seattle for many years and never been to this place, last week I went and it was amazing!!!! The drinks will kick you on your As*. And the crispy garlic chicken is like crack!
(5)
Robin M.

Hands down my favorite Thai restaurant in Seattle. Go, you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Malcolm L.

Garlic chicken is fuck me in the a$$ amazing
(5)
Denice R.

Really like this quaint little neighborhood restaurant. I've been welcomed warmly and service is attentive. My food selections are always as good or better than anticipated. I find it a comfortable, unassuming place to get some good Thai.
(4)
Anna L.

I'd go there again for the crispy basil garlic chicken, but I'd have it TO GO.
(4)
Lorine C.

Looking for a place to satisfy my Thai food cravings before heading to the airport, I consulted my smart phone before deciding on Buddha Ruksa. It was purely on that fact that it was close, and I was in a hurry. And boy am I glad I did! I could smell the delicious spices and aromas of Thai cooking wafting down the street even as I parked a block away. The wait staff was friendly and went above and beyond to accommodate us when we explained that we were in a hurry to catch a flight. Since we couldn't wait for a table, we were seated at the bar, and our bartender-turned waitress was only too happy to take our order. I had my favorite crab fried rice (which only a few Thai restaurants have) and my boyfriend indulged in one of their stir fried noodle creations. Both dishes were phenomenal. While it was prepared hot and spicy just the way I like it, the spices didn't overpower the flavor of the other ingredients in the dish like the crab and veggies as some restaurants tend to do. Mindful of our rush, the check and boxes followed shortly after the food and the whole tantalizing experience took just under 40 minutes. I look forward to returning to this restaurant when I'm back from my travels and thoroughly enjoying the experience!
(5)
Scott O.

When I'm in West Seattle for dinner, this is one of my faves. Crispy Garlic Chicken is always excellent, but even better IMHO is the Long Bean with Tofu (you can also order Long Beans with beef or chicken). Great atmosphere (you forget you're just off of 35th & Fauntleroy), staff is both warm & attentive. My one gripe is the lack of spice. Most Thai restaurants in Seattle pull punches when it comes to spices, but no matter how much I ask for extra heat at Buddha Ruksa I'm always disappointed. They will offer to bring out a tray of spice condiments, but it just doesn't do the trick. Maybe it's a regional thing or a personal choice; but it's the one thing I miss. All in all, great food, reasonable prices, great staff. A good pick for anything from "let's grab a bite" to just short of fine dining.
(4)
Renatta S.

Yummy in my tummy! Love the garlic chicken, lemongrass chicken, spicy eggplant. Service is always great and the atmosphere is cozy. The Thai beer is perfectly chilled. I did have a friend that complained about lack of spice, but my dish was spiced just fine. If you have time, wander over to the minimart across the street and check out the posters on the wall. teehee.
(4)
Anthony B.

One of the top Thai places in Seattle...it has been recommended many times, so I thought I would drive to West Seattle and give it a go. I had the red curry dish, and it was superb! The wait to be seated was a little long, but other than that, this is up there with the best of them for me.
(5)
Lindsey H.

Our venture to Buddha Ruksa was only the second time my boyfriend and I have had Thai food, so we didn't really know what to order. We decided on some house specialties, the crispy garlic chicken and the wonton pad thai. Both were delicious. So good, in fact, we had to bust out the leftovers later that night. I absolutely will be going back, as soon as possible. It was affordable and had a friendly atmosphere. The only thing I didn't like was the fact that the server brought out my boyfriend's food about 10 minutes before he brought mine. It was torture!
(4)
Brian A.

I enjoy good Thai food, and this is some of the best I have had. The bags of gold are one of the tastiest apps I have had. Get two orders of them instead of the sampler. Some of my favorite main dishes are: Crispy Garlic Pawns - I have had the chicken and it wasn't as good Basil with chicken Scallop Prik Pao Other than expensive cocktails (something like $9 for a regular sized premium Vodka...and beers are about $5 each) my main complaint, and hence -1 is that nearly every time I have been there the temperature of the room was way too hot. I guess maybe it adds to the authentic ambiance...but they could try to cool it down a little. Buddha - I am a fan...but you really need to get a fan that rotates.
(4)
Owlburt L.

My fiance and I have been trying to find good authentic Thai food in the Seattle area since we moved up here 2 years ago from So Cal. We haven't found anything we really liked but we're hopeful we will. We went here last night as a 2nd choice since Thai Palm's said they were supposed to be opened but ended up being closed. This wasn't my first choice since it seems to be a Thai restaurant that cater mostly to Americans (no offense but I've been to Thailand 4 times and was craving authentic Thai food). The place is really nice. Kinda reminds me of the nice restaurants in the luxury hotels in Bangkok. Traditional look with a western flare. That should have been an indication of the food. The service was excellent. Everyone was really nice and quick. And most importantly for me. The Food. The food was good but not authentic by any means. If you have had real authentic Thai food, you will notice the food here tastes similar but is much more toned down to cater to their customer base. I'm not saying it's bad, it just lacked that "kick" that Thai food normally has. They have the same ingredients as authentic Thai food (i.e. lemon grass, lemon leaf, etc.) but they used very small amounts of it to not offend their patrons. I would say this is a great place to take someone who never had Thai food before since it is toned down but if you're looking for authentic Thai food, keep looking. And so my search continues...
(3)
Kelly K.

Yes, the garlic chicken is amazing...I've had better peanut sauce and phad thai, but pretty darn good...
(4)
Matthew C.

Awesome for take out. All the noodles dishes I have had (Pad Thai, Pad Seeiu, Pad Kee Mao) were great! Sometimes can be a long wait because its such a hopping pick up thai place. The actual restaurant space is not that appealing to me, as its really dark, but I will return for pickup.
(4)
Paul G.

Crispy Chicken is high recommended!!!!!
(5)
Mandy L.

DELICIOUS! The best Thai food I have ever had. We had the appetizer sampler first to taste a bit of everything. It was all great and some of the items were pretty unique. The pad thai was really good but the crispy garlic chicken ( a.k.a. crack chicken) was amazing!! Staff was really friendly too and the atmosphere is nice. Can't wait to go back. Make a reservation though, they were PACKED and we had to wait a bit. Worth the wait though.
(5)
Anne B.

I am very disappointed in my experience at Buddha Ruksa. It started out with my friend having to order/ask for his coffee 3 times. We had fresh rolls as an app, they were good, not great due to too much lettuce. He ordered CASHEW Chicken, and it came out with NO CASHEWS!!! Hello, it is in the name of the dish, I think it is a key ingredient! When he told the server, they said they were surprised as the kitchen was slow. I ordered Tom Kha, vegetarian style. I told her I did not even want any veggies, just the broth and some brown rice to add to it. When my soup arrived a couple minutes after his order, I noticed there was chicken in my vegetarian dish. The server was not apologetic, just took it away to go talk to the kitchen. Not exaggerating, I had to wait 10-15 minutes for my soup to be replaced and remember they already told us after they messed up his dish that the kitchen was slow!!! When it finally came out, again, no apologies, just served it to me and walked away. Well, at the end of the meal, he asked to talk to the manager about the experience and possibly receiving a discount. We again waited, then were told he was busy with a birthday and would be over shortly, she returned and said he was still unavailable and would talk to him about it. It was so loud in there with the poor acoustics that we almost had to yell at each other to hear one another. In the end some type of discount was applied, nothing was actually comped on our ticket and they really seemed to have no concern for the mistakes that were made with BOTH of our meals. I am extremely unimpressed with the customer service and kitchen and will not return. The only reason I gave them a 2 star and not 1 star is that when they got it right, it was decent Thai food, but by no means the best Thai in Seattle. If you want tasty Thai check out Thaiku or JhanJay!!!
(2)
Gabriela S.

This place has ok Thai food. I tried their signature Crispy Chicken dish and it was merely ok. The service is good and the prices are great but my search for great Thai food in West Seattle continues. I will continue to drive to North Seattle to my favorite Thai place until I find somewhere that makes me want to stay in West Seattle.
(3)
C C.

Not bad Thai food it was good but great Thai I think not. The wait for a table on a Friday night was 45 minutes; very noise dining area. Forks were laying directly on the table, gross. A huge no, no in my book! Friendly staff even in such a crowded busy place. I'd go back if friends want to go there and it wasn't no the weekend.
(3)
Ali M.

One of the best thai restaurants in the city. Be sure to go on an off night if you don't want to wait. Everyone seems to be finding out about this little gem. Quality food, great drinks and of course I love the crispy garlic chicken!
(5)
Andreea P.

Food is consistently good. I just bought some crispy garlic chicken and broke my own rule of no eating in my precious car. I devoured half of the portion and was so wonderfully full. The cost is more than most of the Thai places I frequent on the eastside, but the portions are large. The big negative is that they're always jam-packed, so service suffers. Give it a try, you'll love it!
(4)
Tim L.

Absolutely phenomenal both times I've eaten at Buddha Ruksa. The portions are decent sized and priced appropriately. The flavors are bold and long-lasting, clearly a seasoned chef is combining the flavors there. As is mentioned, the crispy chicken is wonderful, a must have at your table. The black sticky rice pudding for dessert is great taken home and savored hours later. The atmosphere and ambiance is wonderful, it's an oddly shaped dining room, but seats plenty and has wonderful decoration. Waitstaff is attentive, sometimes maybe a little too attentive, and know their menu enough to make appropriate recommendations even with dietary restrictions. My big gripe is something I'm sure most people couldn't care less about. No free refills. The cost to run fountain soda is terribly low, and it would be helpful if the menu listed that there are no refills on soda. It was annoying to sip through my soda ($1.75 in a pretty small glass filled with ice) through my appetizer and then have none for my entree. There wasn't even an offer to refill it "this time", which would have been appropriate. Like I said, most won't care, but it really miffed me. Overall, I've been back and will go back because they food is amazing and the service is prompt.
(5)
Amanda C.

I don't get the hype here. I've gone at least three times, and each time I'm disappointed. First time I got my favorites - panang curry and pad thai. The curry was watery and the pad thai tasted burnt. Next time I got the garlic chicken, as recommended by fellow yelpers. Again, disappointed. I don't know why people like this place so much. They surely aren't authentic. They atmosphere is very cool, I agree, but the mediocre food isn't worth it.
(2)
Dan M.

By the popularity of the place, you'd think this is the only Thai place in WS. It is simply The Best in the city. Every dish I have had is outstanding, the service is great, the value is decent, out of towners love it. (I bring guests here often - it helps too that it's walking distance from our house.) Crispy Gariic Chicken (or Tofu)? Incredible. All of it, everything on the menu is terrific.
(5)
John E.

After more visits, I have more thoughts: I can handle their four star hot, but three stars and liberal doses of the condiment chili/garlic stuff is better than the four star level, flavor-wise. The ginger-tini and Oolong-tini are exceptionally tasty, but do little to put out the fire. Beer is your friend, here.
(5)
Nancy W.

We do not live in Seattle and 20 years ago I had amazing Thai food here so I was excited to be back. Unfortunately the food, at least at this restaurant, is not authentic like it used to be. We were given the choice of 4 hotness levels ordered 3 just in case and it came a 1. The tamarind sauce on one of the dishes was sweet not sour and I believe had pineapple juice as a sweetener which lead me to have a reaction. The only OK dish was the prawns with pumpkin curry. Go to Pok Pok in Portland if you want REAL Thai food.
(2)
Mary M.

I love Thai food and Buddha Ruksa is one of the best I've had in Seattle. You gotta try the crispy garlic chicken. Its out of this world good! Hidden gem since I've drove by this place many times and never seen it until I was meeting up a friend and had to goggle map it but still kinda got lost.
(5)
Kristin W.

No way! If you eat here and you think this is good Thai food at all you are missing out! I tried the red curry and the pad thai and was extremely disappointed. The worst part? This place is more expensive than any other Thai restaurant I have been to and that is pretty sad. The details... My chicken pad thai was supposed to be 2 stars (had to share it with the kids) and tasted sweet, if anything. I didn't know it was possible to make bland pad thai but Buddha Ruksa pulled it off. It was greasy and oily, the noodles did not soak long enough so chewing them was nearly impossible. The sauce was disgusting. The fish sauce used in pad thai, I have found, is usually a 'special' recipe sort of deal, or at least a good brand. I will almost put money on the idea that this place buys their fish sauce from the safeway down the street (I have tried that, too... yuck!) The chicken had NO flavor, the tofu was small and fried, in some places even black... The red curry was something similar to what you would make at home when first attempting curry (it's not easy!). It was paste-like and extremely lacking in flavor. Once again, chicken had no flavor and that added to the bland-ness. I told them I wanted 4 stars about ten times and the lady did not seem to figure it out and instead gave me 2, then when I informed her that was wrong she gave me a little cup of peppers... If you have a few extra minutes of travel time I HIGHLY recommend Thai Siam in Ballard (15th and 80th) or Thai Tom's in U-Dist. (If you go here, be prepared to wait outside for a bit, but WELL worth it). I had loads of homework, and felt like finding something super close to home and will never do that again, I should have just made a PB&J :(
(1)
John S.

Their specials of the month are usually even more delicious than the restof twirl already scrumptious menu. I thoroughly enjoy the bags of gold appetizer, the vegetable fried rice and of course the already well reviewed signature dish...their crisp chicken or tofu.
(5)
Joseph J.

Two of my pet peeves at Thai restaurants: one, they dumb down the spice level to suit the lowest common denominator. two, pad thai that is overly sweet, oily and ketchuped. You won't find that at Buddha Ruksa: order something 3 stars and you will get some heat. Also, the pad thai is more sour than sweet - owing to the use of tamarind over ketchup (I'm guessing). Throw in nice service, good portions and you have all the ingredients for a great Thai restaurant. They have had some minor issues with consistency over the years I have found, but overall the food has been very good and authentic. This should be the go to place for Thai food for anyone in west Seattle or anyone heading through on their way to the ferry.
(4)
Jonathan A.

I am a newbie to this restaurant, but I had the signature crispy garlic chicken, and that was enough for me to give this place 5 stars! The portions are very generous. I am busy guy, so I greatly appreciated the speedy service. I will be back soon, and as much I enjoyed the crispy garlic chicken, I will be sure to check out other dishes as well.
(5)
Manuel W.

Best Thai restaurant in West Seattle. I would go here regularly when I lived there for a couple of years. Curries, noodle dishes, appetizers--it is all consistently good. Everyone raves about the crispy garlic chicken but I don't think it's that great.
(4)
Jon E.

I went here with my girlfriend Wednesday night for a nice evening in West Seattle after a long trip back east. It was mildly disorganized when we arrived, as one of two servers ran around showing people to their tables. We were seated in the main dining room, where I had a view of Taco Time, Starbucks Drive Thru, a KFC with 5 lighted pictures of The Colonel, and a billboard for a used car dealership. My girlfriend had a slightly better view of the industrial-sized Reznor brand air conditioner hanging from the ceiling. I decided to get the Crispy Duck and my girlfriend had something with tofu. We also started with spring rolls. The food was nicely balanced with sweet, sour and salty flavors. But it wasn't fantastic, as both of our dishes were very mildly flavored. Thai Tom and Typhoon serve much more interesting dishes. Service was kinda a bummer. Our waitress only came by once for our food order, and once we were finished eating, we waited approximately 15 minutes to be asked how we were doing. I tried to signal we were done 5-10 minutes into the wait by incrementally moving our finished dishes to the side of our table, but no one noticed. After we got our check, another 10 minutes before they picked up the credit card. Many people have given Buddha Ruksa five stars previously. Five star restaurants in my mind have awesome service, nice views, amazing food, or some interesting kitch not available elsewhere. Buddha Ruksa doesn't have these things. It's very average. But the food's fine, and for West Seattleites, the restaurant is convenient when you have a hankering for Thai.
(3)
Ryan C.

meh! i don't know why the many stars! i think this place is expensive! despite the nice ambiance, prices shld be lowered! came in to get the well-reviewed CRISPY GARLIC CHICKEN, it's not as good as what some said.. sometimes i don't really trust caucasian tongues! (sorry guys but it's true!). it was basically fried chicken breast strips, and then sauteed with chilli paste (the spicy ones, not the beans). so it was spicy but sweet at the same time. kinda greasy but it was only so-so. i personally don't like breasts (on chickens, but women - HECK YEA! back to reviewing...) it was a little dry, breast meat tend to dry up when fried. if they used dark meat, i might like this dish better. a bowl of rice was $2, regardless of white or brown. the bowl was the size of curry bowl. chicken dish was $10.95 + $4 RICE = $16ish after tax. i ended up paying $10 for one dish with rice... EXPENSIVE! if they have lower prices i'd bump it to 4 anytime. might come back with a bigger party so i can try more dishes! for now, a 3 it shall be!
(3)
Tasha L.

My boyfriend and I absolutely love this restaurant!!! It is without a doubt the best Thai food restaurant that we have found! The crispy garlic chicken is a must. And all of the curries are so flavor-filled, rich, and creamy. The service is fantastic! I highly recommend making reservations even on a weekday because this place is popular, which is always a good sign of a great restaurant.
(5)
Leah P.

Crispy garlic chicken!
(4)
Jon S.

Good luck ordering... We had grabbed take-out once before here, I remember liking their panang curry and the 'crack chicken' everyone speaks of. So, we decide to grab take-out on a Sunday evening. I call, and am asked if I can 'please hold', I say sure. I thought it was a bit odd that a place doing take-out would put people on hold at all, but I understand if they're busy. They put me on hold which really means setting the phone down and letting you listen to them pass out orders and take phone numbers for other folks. 5 minutes of this was enough, so I hung up and tried to call back and tell them 'no, I won't be put on hold, I'd simply like to order 4 items.' I call back and she says 'hold please' and tries to shuffle me back into holding. If they can't take my order then I won't ever be back. I don't recommend them at all.
(1)
Erich B.

Fantastic panang curry, also had the bags of gold as an appetizer which was delicious. The only reason I'm not giving this place a 5 star after my first visit is that I thought the garlic chicken which was listed as one of the house specialties was on the so-so side as the chicken was pretty dry.
(4)
Singto K.

Buddha Ruska is as good as Thai food in Seattle gets! This is coming from a Thai person whose eaten Thai food since exiting the womb. *Bumped down to 3-Stars, the food has been slipping and inconsistent as of late!
(3)
Karen D.

I just had to resist licking the take out container from the crispy garlic chicken and phad see iew. It is spicy and sweet and so irresistible! This is a favorite for the whole family when we are in W. Seattle!
(4)
Matt C.

OK, fellow yelpers. On three, we hoist Buddha Rusksa's Crispy Garlic Chicken up on our virtual shoulders and parade it through the streets of the Web singing its praises and calling it the Best Thing Ever in the History of Everything. Oh my gawd, three thumbs up. Yeah, the wait can be awful and parking is tricky (esp. if youre used to more lavish parking accommodations as you have on the east side of the lake), but this is one of those times when the fight is worth the payoff. I'm inclined to say this is the best Thai in Seattle, which is odd given the great Thai places we have here, esp in the ID, but seriously, I think these guys beat all. yes? no?
(5)
Amanda S.

I give it 4 and a half stars. It's not perfect, but it's better than just a 4. My boyfriend and I discovered this place shortly after we moved to Seattle from out of state. I'm a creature of habit so I usually stick with the Pad Thai, but my boyfriend is way more adventurous and has tried numerous dishes here, and he's always pleased. We make it a point to bring our visitors here when they come into town. We no longer live in West Seattle, but we make the trek to Buddha Ruska when we want great Thai food. There has always been a wait when we've gone, but have usually been seated rather quickly. The service is great and the staff is really friendly.
(4)
Joe V.

This is one of the beat Thai restaurants in Seattle. Went there again recently and confirmed this. Excellent lettuce cups, OK pad thai, Excellent rispy garlic chicken,Excellent panang curry.
(4)
Peg M.

Three words crispy...garlic...chicken... 'nuf said!!
(5)
Tommy K.

One day, a few weeks ago I was going on a walk and noticed a tiny Thai restaurant on the corner. I could smell fresh chicken all the way across the street, and it was then when I decided that was where I wanted to go to dinner the next time I ate out. When I first arrived at Buddah Ruska restaurant I noticed a huge line outside, this worried me that the wait time would be enormous but surprisingly they were able to seat me in less than 20 minutes. The hostess was extremely polite and friendly. When I sat down at the table the two things I noticed immediately were the extremely tiny chairs that felt like they were glued together. I could her little cracking noises as I sat down. Second I noticed the lighting was set very dim throughout the whole restaurant. The lights created a feeling of satisfaction as well as it made me feel extremely comfy as if it was your own home. As our waiter arrived at our table, he told us all of the daily specials as well as answered all of the questions that we had about the menu items. I was very impressed with his knowledge; it made me feel that he cared strongly about creating the best experience for his customers as possible. The menu was full of entree choices ranging from several different types of chicken to noodles and rice. Everything that you order you can pick how spicy you want it. They go on a star system; with 5 being the hottest. Finally I decided upon the crispy garlic chicken. Several friends have recommended that it is the best item on the menu. It was also the first thing the waiter suggested for people new to Thai food. As it arrived at out table, before I even took the first bite, I could already tell it was going to be delicious by the smell of the freshly cooked chicken with the 3 star spicy sauce that I chose on it. The dish was served with fresh white rice and a side of peanut sauce for dipping. This was in fact one of the best chicken meals I has ever had in my life! You could tell that the cooks put lots of time and effort into preparing this meal fresh and making the flavor tremendous. It was spicy but made the chicken taste delicious. During the course of the meal the attentive waiter stopped by at least 3 times to check on us and fill up our water glasses. As soon as we were done with our meal they took our plates and brought us the bill. The bill amounted to under $25 dollars for two, which is a lot less that I imagined given the quality of the food that we ate. I will DEFINITELY make Buddha Ruksa a monthly ritual. I would highly recommend this place to anyone who loves food!
(5)
Sinny S.

I'm super picky about Thai restaurants. Happy to say, Buddha Ruksa is one of my favs. The staff is more than accommodating, I've never waited more than 5 minutes to be seated, and the food comes pretty quickly. Try the Sample Platter if you can't make up your mind about an appetizer, its a great way to test out the restaurant's taste. I've had the Tofu Phad Thai & Tofu Phad See Iew a million times and it tastes the same every single time, delicious! People love the Crispy Garlic Chicken and I do too, except I get the tofu version, its just as great. I always order everything 4 stars but I suggest starting out with 2 stars because their stars are true to spice levels. I like that its hidden. But if you know your way around the Admiral District, parking should be no problem.
(5)
Martha G.

Did lunch here and thought it was fantastic flavor for the price. Staff was quick and courteous. Worth trying and we will definitely go there again!
(4)
James R.

I've lived just blocks away from Buddha Ruksa here in West Seattle, but was never able to find it. It has no outside signage and perhaps they don't need it, because the place was packed and there was a takeaway line that stretched out the door less than an hour after opening Sunday afternoon for dinner service! Their signature dish, Crispy Garlic Chicken, was such a beautiful dish you almost didn't want to eat it! But now I know why others call this the "crack" of chicken dishes!! My companion had the Yellow Curry Tofu, 3 stars out of 4 spicy, and it was Amazing! I don't usually eat food with a a lot of "heat" to it, but I'd have eaten that all day long as well! We started with the appetizer platter and Everything was perfect. The decor is beautiful, the service was immaculate and the prices were extremely good. Buddha Ruksa stole my heart and my taste buds! They are my first "go-to" for Thai now, hands down!
(5)
Jim R.

Hands down my favorite Thai place in all of Seattle. Whether dining in or taking out, the food is always wonderful and the staff very friendly.
(5)
R R.

Not air conditioned. Incredibly salty food. Poor ambience, very hard for the hard-of-hearing to hear a word. Not nearly as wonderful food as I'd been told. Peh.
(2)
ruthy g.

So far this is the best Thai I've had in Seattle. It's super cozy, clean and modern inside. The service is fast and friendly and the food is freakin awesome. This is the first thai place where I ordered the 4 star spiciness and they delivered! It was spicy! I didn't have to add any chili paste. Me and some girlfriends shared the chicken lettuce wraps (sooooooo good), the tofu pad thai and the panaang chicken curry--the spicy creamy sauce melted in my mouth--the best curry I've tasted. I wish this place was closer!!
(5)
David R.

Worth it for the garlic chicken alone. I've never had a dish here I didn't like, but I'm hooked on this one dish. Excellent food, reservations are definitely a good idea.
(4)
King C.

One of my favorite Thai restaurants in Seattle. This place is always packed! You can't miss the garlic crispy chicken. And the wait staff -- they're the best -- nice, friendly, and helpful!
(5)
Ozzy G.

Emmmmmm still going here for the amazing food, fabulous service and ohhhh yeah THE FOOD!!!!
(5)
Larry M.

Fantastic wine list, delicious monthly specials, nice ambiance and warm staff. One of my favorite restaurants!
(5)
Carol H.

Seattle is drowning in run-of-the-mill Thai restaurants but this is not your Thai friend's grandmother's restaurant. It is clean, modern, and cozy. When I ordered the Phad Thai (I know, boring) I was shocked how amazing it was in comparision to any other Thai place I had tried before (with the exception of Tao in Las Vegas.) If you can make some so boring as Phad Thai amazing it's worth trying any of the other dishes. If you are getting take out expect a 10-15 min wait. They are very quick but also very busy.
(5)
Alan H.

Amazing! I went here for lunch one day after reading the Yelp reviews. This is clearly one of the best Thai restaurants in the city. The food is fresh, the service is great, and the prices are comparable. The interior is interesting and unique. Its all dark wood, but it has a modern, pleasing feel to it. I choose not to order off the lunch menu, but instead I ordered the crispy garlic chicken from the dinner menu. Instead of the normal super bready chicken I get, this almost had a tempera type batter that was barley detectable. The sauce was nontraditional and yummy. As other reviews have mentioned the duck does look like its a specialty and looks amazing. I will be going back for dinner just for the duck.
(5)
Suzie B.

Crispy garlic chicken...oh how I love thee, let me count the ways. One of the best Thai places in Seattle. I just wish they had another one closer to my house!!
(5)
Dan G.

Some of the best Thai food. Great atmosphere, and great service. I'd definitely go back.
(5)
Eva G.

I'll spare you my story of one of the dates I had here...lets just say I was there by 7:30 and was at my local QFCs register with Starbucks Ice cream and gossip mags by 9:30. Anyway..the trek from Kirkland isn't worth it - especially since you can't even find decent parking. I'm a home owner and hate it when people park infront of my house. i'd be charging a fee if I'd live there. Food was average and I felt cramped in the dinning area.
(2)
Steve L.

Hands down my favorite Thai food and best staff anywhere!
(5)
Stephanie K.

I'm a bit of a Thai-a-holic, so I don't impress easily with just any ol' Phad Thai! ;) It was THE best I've had! It wasn't laden with that orange color that so many places put on their noodles. It was PURE perfection, an array of flavors! Also had the Green Curry, and that's what you get pretty much- LOTS of green curry sauce with some eggplant and maybe a few pieces of protein... all the same, DELICIOUS. :) Lastly, we go the notorious Garlic Chicken- worth the rants! WOW. My friend suggested leftovers over some greens. Can't wait for tomorrow's leftovers!! There was also a birthday party next to us, and they turned off the lights in the dining room so he could be sung to with a scoop of ice-cream sandwiched by two fortune cookies (Thought those were reserved for Chinese food- Rose brand so who cares! Right?!). Regardless I thought it was sweet. We ate in the new "bar", so they've expanded a little by reducing the kitchen area. They should cover some of those things up with a curtain. Aside from that, the ambiance was great... even a little romantic. As for children friendly, I don't think I'd recommend eating in such small quarters with little ones. But maybe they won't be heard over the noise in there, small space- remember? Saturday night, the waiting area was continually packed. Our service was still attentive, and friendly. :) Oh most importantly, PROMPT- white rice was brought out and we asked for brown- BOOM, it was brought right out! I base my stars on inside ambiance; moreover, food- and it was SUBLIME! :) Next time, I'm saving room for dessert, is it possible in such a YUMMMY place though?
(5)
samantha k. s.

One more nod to the crispy garlic chicken, the extra creamy, brilliant red curry tofu, fiery sweet sour Tom Yum, yummy yellow curry noodles. No regrets but no extreme praise for the spring rolls. Great sticky rice. Great black rice pudding dessert. You know. All quite yummy. But why has nobody yet mentioned the fabulous energizing soap in both men's and women's rooms? It's worth a mention. That's all I'm saying. I really like this place. I want to go back again soon.
(4)
Jessica K.

Very good thai food. Not the very best that I have had but pretty good. They are a little spendy though so it isnt my first choice. They have a few specialty dishes like the garlic chicken which is really good. If you like thai food I would at least give it a try and decide for yourself. The inside of the restaurant is pretty nice. If you want some privacy though I would sit in the bar. Tables are pretty close together in a small room.
(4)
Tim E.

Incredible! This is the best Asian/Thai restaurant I have ever been to. The only problem is trying to get in or to have them answer the phone to place a take-out order. . . they are that busy. And for great reason. This is one of my favorite restaurants because the food is flavorful, wonderfully presented, unique. . . it just has everything going for it. The service is always friendly and prompt. The ideal restaurant with a perfectly comfortable vibe. We are vegan. I strongly recommend the crispy garlic tofu and/or vegetables. These are not on the menu, but they will make them for you! I'd eat here every day.
(5)
Yiling W.

Solid good place to go for food, no idea on authenticity. The main room is a little warm and humid..service was very attentive. A little on the expensive side, but less so if you prudently order family style (it's big portions anyway).
(3)
Melissa R.

This place is so good, my husband and I cook dinner 5-6 nights a week and treat ourselves to take-out here on Sundays. We love the pad thai, crispy garlic chicken, and lemongrass chicken dishes best. Their fresh spring rolls aren't the best out there, but they're good too. Their take-out is consistently on-time except you have to sometimes factor in waiting in line to pick up (b/c they are so popular).
(5)
William G.

this a real sweet spot only a few miles away from alki beach right off the w seattle bridge it makes you feel comfortable and not rushed at all with great appetizers love the bags of gold and crab wonton and all of the phad thai dishes are great make sure you make a reservation at least 30 mins before you actually show cause you might end up standing outside if you cant hit the bar great place for a pleasant relaxed evening out i can usally get out of there on two dishes two appetizers and a couple drinks for around 50 including tip
(5)
Ray I.

After a recent mention in Seatle Magazine we had to try it. The crispy garlic chicken with fried basil and red curry tofu were a great Friday night take-out dinner. So good that when the question of dessert came-up later in the evening, finishing the leftovers was a mutual decision. To my delightful surprise Buddha Ruksa was a regional highlight in USA Today, today. Perfect timing. In a saturated & competitive Thai restaurant market West Seattle has a prize fighter.
(5)
Kristen R.

I just got back from this place (less than an hour and a half ago) and had to write about it. This is the best Thai I've had in Seattle. A little hard to find, and a bit out of the way for anyone who doesn't live in West Seattle, but definitely worth the trip! I showed up with 5 other co-workers for lunch a little after 12, and they got us in right away. Since it is in the mid 90's today, the servers were super attentive with our water which was much appreciated! Although they didn't have AC, the fans sufficied and this typically wouldn't be a problem anyway... heatwaves that bring Seattle up to the 90's are quite rare. We had heard great things about the crispy chicken, but everyone decided on other options. The interior was decorated nicely, and the place was spotless. I have never gone to a lunch with co-workers where everyone seemed 100% happy, especially not on a hot day like today. I ordered the green curry with chicken which is a little out of my comfort zone (I am currently easing into being a curry eater) and I was very pleased with this dish! The size of my order was huge and I ended up taking over half of it home. Lots of eggplant, but TONS of chicken which is rare these days. The protein seems a bit skimpy everywhere due to our lovely economy... not at Buddha Ruksa! Other dishes in my party included the garlic chicken, pad thai, and swimming rama. All looked and smelled delcious, and as I stated before, everyone loved their meals! I will be returning soon for that crispy chicken!
(5)
Amol P.

I had read that this place is small, so we put our name down on the wait list over the phone. As we stepped in, we were pleasantly surprised that the lady at the front desk knew our name. She seemed to be doing double duty, managing the front desk as well as serving customers efficiently. We were promptly seated. While we were waiting, we read about the plethora of rave reviews hanging on the wallside about the crispy garlic chicken. We were definitely not going to miss out on all the hype. We started with the Thai lantern cocktail which was quite refreshing although we felt that the passion fruit flavor overpowered the ginger and lychee. Nevertheless, it was a good start to the meal. For entrees, we had the halibut cheeks panang and of course the cripsy garlic chicken. The crispy garlic chicken was sweet and spicy although I personally would have preferred more spice. The halibut cheeks panang curry was sumptuous as well. Most impressive was the service and the turnaround time on our order. We were almost hoping to order our fav mango sticky rice but our server was honest in admitting that they did not find good mangoes in the markets which is why they decided to not have that on the menu. Of course we could not finish all the generous portions offered, so we continued to enjoy the delicacies the next day as well. All in all, it's a good stop for sampling the best that thai cuisine has to offer.
(4)
PJ H.

Loved it! Amazing! Wish the parking was better and it was more affordable like other Thai places but indeed worth it once and awhile.
(5)
Nina F.

We have been told that the crispy garlic chicken is the best ever so we had to go. This place is so over rated. The crispy garlic chicken was not very good. The phad thai was gross.
(2)
eats a.

the best thai food i've had in seattle. the service may be a little curt, but the food makes up for it, and the ambiance is relaxing and pleasant for a night out, without needing to dress up.
(5)
Caitlin R.

I am not a fan of Thai food. My boyfriend, however, is, and after reading reviews for this place, decided I would be flexible and go here with him. I tried the crispy garlic chicken and it was pretty tasty considering I didn't expect to like it. The waitstaff are attentive and friendly, and give good suggestions if you are a spice-a-phobe. The prices are reasonable and the decor is warm. If my boyfriend is craving Thai food, this is the only place I'll go.
(3)
Zebarina H.

Okay, this is a little slice of Thai heaven. It was so good last night that I have to go back this afternoon for lunch. I have been several times in the last few weeks and I can't stop. I have lived almost 2 years in West Seattle and drove by numerous times. It is in a weird location to navigate towards. You drive by and think, "Hmm, I wonder how you get over there?" You have to get over there. We have had the tom ka gai, rad na, phad thai, the famous crispy garlic basil chicken, fresh rolls, pumpkin shrimp curry, but oh my god- the lettuce cups on the special sheet were to die for! I haven't eaten something like that in so long! Something that makes my taste buds sing...As to rest of the food it is really delicious and light. I haven't had anything that was not good. The service is always pleasant and nice. The servers share the room so you don't have one server, but many. The inside is dark and simply decorated. It feels comfortable, clean and cozy. The wait can be kind of long, but not always. They also serve lunch. The price is generally inexpensive. So........good....
(4)
Doug E.

Strolled in on a Friday night feeling a bit under the weather with my girlfriend. Wow was it packed! We were seated in between two decently sized tables, and boy was it awkward! Our waiter kind of stared at us with uncertainty after I said table for two, maybe I just looked sickly pale? Our waitress got us started with some drinks and appetizers, and immediately after she left another waitress came by and asked us what we would like... We started off with some green tea and spring rolls; typically appetizing. I couldn't help but notice that the table next to us asked their waitress for dessert, only to have another waitress come by and give them their check as soon as the other waitress left to get them their dessert. Just a tad uncoordinated, but then again they were pretty busy that night. We ordered the Tom Kha and that was also nice and refreshing, but my girlfriend made the mistake of biting into a nice chunky piece of ginger; whoopsy daisy! We got an order of garlic beef and broccoli that tasted like the cook literally slipped on the kitchen floor and dumped an entire container of red pepper flakes into the pan! Jeez! Garlic was an afterthought when trying to find the flavor in this dish. The tables are so smashed together in the back, when the table next to us got up to leave, one of the lady's bottoms was literally centimeters away from my food; WHOA! Please don't let one rip for God's sake! In the very back, there is literally enough space to barely squeeze yourself through (sideways), and you can hear every word being said two tables away from you. Buddah Ruska- Please please PLEASE do something about the positions of your tables in the back! It is very uncomfortable to try and enjoy dinner, especially when you are trying to have somewhat of an intimate date. Until then, I think I will be sticking with Pailin in the Admiral.
(2)
A B.

Really, really good Thai food. Service is very friendly, though not always as prompt and attentive as it might be. The only dish I can't recommend is the appetizer sampler, as everything is fried; each is good on its own, just too many fried dishes on one plate. The reviewer who didn't like the curry dish or pad thai is dead wrong, I'm afraid.
(4)
Lance S.

There is definitely a lot of competition for Thai restuarants in the area but this one is a solid contender. Everything I've tried here has been really good, the most memorable being the lemongrass chicken. The serving sizes are meaty and there is a huge wine selection. Really cool atmosphere too, with salvaged architectural pieces hanging from the wooden walls. And usually someone always tries to walk into the place through the wrong door which is always amusing. Oh, one last thing. Closed on Mondays!
(4)
Amanda H.

Good atmosphere, decent prices and friendly staff, albeit a little unattentive. To their credit, though, they had a packed house when we were there and they may have been a little understaffed. Don't get the forest curry-- this was the only time in my life I've ever sent back a meal at a restaurant. It tasted like cleaning product. I think they may have gone a little overboard on the lemongrass or something. I did try some of my husband and his friend's meals, though, and those were good. So it may have just been that particular dish I ordered. They were nice enough when I sent my food back and didn't charge me for it. I'd give it another shot -- I'll just order something different next time.
(3)
Barb A.

Best Thai in West Seattle. Try the Panang and Yellow Curry. Delish. Very busy so make sure if you are ordering out or eating in you call.
(5)
David H.

Good food. Great atmosphere. Yes, I am being redundant - see other reviews for more details. ... I just went again last night, and it still think this place is excellent. I will even give a few details to stay on par with the rest of you thorough Yelpers - I am a master of brevity.: Mussumun Beef - Tasty, but the beef was dry. Panang Chicken Curry - Excellent. Garlic Stir Fry w/Prawns - Mmmm...the sauce was delectable...lots o'garlic, bring your toothbrush. Phad Thai - no, this was not that good. Since I know this dish is a favorite for a lot of you, I would steer you clear. I have had better. I would eat here for Thai when not near Thai Tom in the University District.
(4)
Scott M.

After reading the reviews I drove to W. Seattle to try this place and overall I was disappointed. I had their Phad Thai and Spring Rolls. Quite frankly the spring rolls were terrible. It might have been because the sauce was bad, but in my mind, spring rolls by themselves are meant to be dipped in some sort of sauce. The Phad Thai was better and actually was more tasty the longer it sat. (I suppose that has to do with the spices getting more time to sink into the food.) But it was not worth the drive over the bridge passing numerous Thai restaurants with adequate Phad Thai and other selections.
(3)
Mariela M.

Decidely average Seattle thai food. After hearing it was fantastic, I dragged a business associate out to this restaurant for a lunch meeting. It was pretty far out of the way for them. I ended up feeling sheepish after a very average meal with below average service. The fresh spring rolls are average and the entrees are sort of blah. Maybe I didn't order the right thing. Service was slow and unsmiling. I won't be back. Many other great restaurants in our fair city.
(3)
Danelle E.

Best Thai food I've had in seattle.
(4)
Aaron V.

It's worth going for the garlic chicken but check out the scallop based curry it's freaking amazing!
(5)
Wan Q.

Food was terrific and delicious and deserved 5 stars. Service stank and brought it tumbling down to 2. We went as a group of 6 to dinner at 7:30 on a week night just so we will miss the dinner crowd and get a table faster. Not to mention of the raving reviews here, but also from my 3 co-workers who goes to this place pretty often. Got seated pretty fast and food came pretty fast and all. This is where it goes down hill. We were only there for 1.5 hours and I was with some of my old co-workers, so we had plenty to catch up. Finished our dinner and the cheque came, but we weren't ready to go yet, however I noticed there were on 3 occasions the waitress would pretentiously try to fill our water when you can blatantly tell they are trying to see if we had paid, and on the third time, she just puts her hand on the cheque even though we had not out our card down yet. We wouldn't mind leaving if they were all full and in need of a table, but this is close to 9 and there are plenty of tables around us that are empty and some still had people eating at them. On our way out, the waitress stopped us just to tell us that she mistakenly forgot to charge the gratuity charge for bigger parties and we already put tips on the damn credit card receipt. WTF?!?!? Don't you guys have any shame in treating your usual customers and stopping them in their track for your mistake. Advice to Buddha Ruska: Don't freaking keep peeking over people's shoulders and pretend you are interested in filling their water, when all you really want is to get them to pay their bill even though you don't freaking need the table and you are not closing. Also, if you f-up and forgot to charge gratuity for bigger parties, please just swallow the fact you have less tips and not stop people in the track right in front of the door, so your usual customers would actually come back again for many more times in the future and more chances for you to get more tips.
(2)
Chris K.

I like all kinds of Thai and am not a Thai snob by any means. What stands out for me at Buddha Ruska is that their flavors are so much more refined. Many Thai restaurants cater to the American palette with overly sweet dishes. Buddha Ruska does not fall into this category. Everything I've had comes across as understated and subtle. I could eat there weekly and not grow tired. We had both fried and fresh rolls, followed by four shared dishes, two vegetarian and two not. I never got around to the seafood dish, so I can't speak to that one, but both vegetarian dishes were delicious. The crispy duck dish bordered on the divine. I have not had duck in probably 10 years. This duck was smoked and pan fried to make it crispy, then chopped into pieces and served with vegetables, etc, over rice. OMG, I could have eaten the whole plate. If you eat meat, you MUST try the duck. You won't be sorry.
(5)
Angella T.

I've been to quite a few Thai restaurants in my time but Buddha Ruksa wins hands down. They have wonderfully appropriate ambiance and consistently amazing food! I personally love their crispy garlic chicken and their spicy eggplant. Who knew I would love eggplant?! The light Thai (Singha?) beer is amazing too. The people are very congenial and helpful and the takeout is just as consistent! I highly recommend this place for dinner with friends & family or a cozy dinner date!
(5)
MaryEllen R.

Best Thai food I have had in a very long time. We shared swimming rama w/chicken, green curry w/prawns, garlic chicken (we messed up and didn't ask for the fried one, which I would like to try next time as I here it is known as crack chicken, and the pad thai - which was average, but the others were out of this world and the lunch menu was a great value, even the soup that came with it was good. Spinach, eggplant and broccoli were both delicious and fresh
(5)
Nathan C.

This place is amazing! It's sort of hard to find the first time you look for it but once there, the food is absolutely delicious, servers are friendly and quick and atmosphere is great! If you eat here you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Wen D.

Tom Kha meh Bland to-go soup in plastic. It wasn't cooked. I don't know why I was told to wait 15 minutes.
(1)
Mr. F.

Huh. What to say? I had wanted to go to Buddha Ruksa for at least a year after first hearing a friend rave about the "crack chicken." Happened to be in West Seattle today, so I stopped here. We ordered the fresh rolls, which were both fresh and rolls. The mint in them was a very nice addition, and its freshness was welcomed on a hot summer's day. The crack chicken (also known as crispy garlic chicken)? It was...okay. We ordered it three stars out of four; it wasn't at all hot. The flavor was just shy of burnt, and the crispy, fried basil didn't add much to the dish's overall flavor. I've honestly had better Thai dishes from food carts in Portland. Food enjoyment is subjective. Most people seem to long for the crispy garlic chicken at Buddha Ruksa. Even though we weren't two of those people, we seem to be in the minority. So give it a whirl. The people who run the place are friendly and seem worthy of your hard-earned dining dollars.
(3)
Emmy W.

In 34 years, and after eating in Thailand two different times on vacation, I have to say without a doubt this is the WORST food I've ever had in my ENTIRE life, so much so I drove from SHORELINE for the second time to return it. Another milestone, the first time I've EVER RETURNED FOOD. I'm frequently on line, and love, love, love to stumble upon new, exciting food. When I came across the crispy garlic chicken dish and it's description, *especially* the fact many, many people attest to this... I was incredibly intrigued and it made me hungry all week, so much so that I eventually made the 30 minute drive down to purchase it, ordering it on Saturday evening. I ordered the tom yum soup with seafood and the crispy garlic chicken, known as the "crack" chicken... in fact this dish is so infamous with Buddha Ruksa when you google it the search engine quickly finishes the entire sentence and not the one word, indicating it's been looked up a lot. Due to these rave reviews I was tempted to at least sneak a taste of it on the way home I was so excited, but didn't, I waited. And then, the moment of truth. I tasted this supposedly great chicken, and I was thinking... huh... ... ...'the fuck?!?!?! This is awesomely BAD! And not only bad, not even remotely edible on an empty stomach, that fuckin' bad... should I say the word bad again?! Alrighy. that was a total bust... at least I had the tom yum soup with seafood to fall back on, how can one screw up a such common soup like that, right? Well... wrong! Ha! It turned out the soup was way, way, way, WAY worse than the chicken... I discussed the chicken because first because that was the infamous, main course. The soup was beyond terrible, the brothe literally tasted like cleaning cleanser, like they sprinkled comet or 409 in it, I couldn't believe it. I tried it lukewarm and then heated it up, and low and behold, just as awful! Holy ram that big rod in me daddy, Batman! Now, I'm one to give people the benefit of the doubt, and if the food is just mediocre I can at least finish it because to add to it I *was* super hungry, and that will be enough to over ride the situation and I'll eat it anyway, but that wasn't enough, that food was again=AWFUL, and I made a point to drive it back on Sunday evening. As I indicated at the beginning of my review, in 34 years I've been on this planet, and being the foodie I am, I'm just beyond shocked at how unbelievably bad this food was, despite the rave feedback and many 5 star reviews. I'm not one to go out of my way to complain, or give an unflattering review, but these items being passed off for food was and is horrid... I need to get my point across!!!! Two drives down from Shoreline to West Seattle (30 minute each), and two back (another 30 minutes each), translated in to TWO HOURS of wasted time. I returned the food as a matter of principle, not money, I have plenty of it. They reluctantly agreed to give me the refund, and the charge back on my credit card is still pending (it's only been a day). In closing, I have to say something good, they were very friendly, and fairly pleasant about me getting my money back (I arranged it with the manager on the phone first), so I'll give them that. I don't know what the rave reviews are all about, because I'm shocked and miffed that it turned out the way it did when the reviews and popularity of the chicken dish in specific. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone... in case I didn;t get my point across in my lengthy assessment of this joint, and if you do go despite what I wrote, get something else!
(1)
Jgirl S.

I had a hard time deciding whether this place deserves a 3 or 4 stars...maybe a 3-1/2 stars. Hubby and I have been here MANY times. We've learned over the years that we prefer to eat their food at the restaurant than getting take-out. It just seems to taste and look better at the restaurant. (I guess that could be normal for any take-out food??) Food: The best Thai restaurant in West Seattle. Hubby and I always used to get their fried calamari as an appetizer, but haven't in a while due to his diet restrictions. The batter on them is so good. I miss them, but that's ok. I really do not need to fill my stomach with fried food. We have tried multiple dishes here and are always satisfied. A quick few notable mentions: Their skewer appetizers are delicious. We typical get the beef one's and I just love the dipping sauces with them. Their crab fried rice has a nice amount of crab in it. They do not cheapen out and give you only a few small pieces of it. Hubby loves their crispy garlic chicken and I recently had their special of crispy garlic salmon. Both were delicious and the portion sizes were huge! We had leftover lunches for the next day. I really enjoy their shrimp phad thai. It is not too sweet or "ketchupy" tasting. Their drink selection is good. We have not sat at their bar to eat and drink, but we would if the timing was right. On occasion, hubby will get their thai ice tea and he really enjoys it. He says it is very sweet, but it is supposed to be that way. Service: Service is always great. You are always greeted right away and your server is always right on top of everything. We never have to get anyone's attention for something. Atmosphere: It is casual place with somewhat dimmed lighting. You will see a wide variety of customers and everyone always seems to enjoy themselves. The typical dinner hours are always busy, so that is a compliment in itself. A typical dinner will cost us $70 +/-. That includes 1 appetizer, 2 glasses of wine and 2 entrees. We feel right at home here and will continue going.
(3)
Taylor C.

GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE...It was soo busy when I arrived but we didn't wait long to be seated and our food came right away also. I ordered the curry fried rice it was amazing and my boyfriend ordered the crispy garlic chicken it was to DIE for.. Im glad It's so close to our home and we will definitely be coming back soon.
(5)
Ted O.

Buddha Ruksa is my favorite Thai restaurant. I love the crispy garlic chicken. The waitresses are always so nice and sweet. This place does get pretty busy and it is small. But I'm almost always willing to wait to eat the crispy garlic chicken. Check it out!
(5)
Liani S.

Ambiance is nice. I've had better Thai food, but it's pretty good for being so convenient to West Seattle.
(3)
Kristin K.

Wonderful food and great service at this restaurant. Lucky was my server and she was intuitive, unobtrusive and professional. When I was deciding between two red wines, she poured samples of each. I ordered tom yum chicken soup and phad see ew tofu, and both were excellent! The four chili choices on the side were the perfect compliment. I'll be back!
(5)
Nick K.

Every time I come here, I give myself a Hand Job.... No no no no......not that kind! The hand job I speak of is when they bring out one of the the yummy-est dishes ever, I rub my hands together in excitement as they place it in front of me. But before that moment of glee is to be had, I have one thing to say.... "What the HELL?!" That is what I say EVERY time I go here and I'm sure everyone who goes here says the same. Why, you ask? Because there is NO parking! None...zip ...zero. So, like a drug addict going to his dealers, I park in front of the neighbors house (literally) and run in to get my fix on. I walk in and yes, there is a 5-10 minute wait, so like my drug addict friend, I start pacing the floor, looking for any opportunity for instant gratification. If the to-go lady said "Jim, your order is ready", I scan the crowd and if I don't see an immediate taker, I think to myself "I could be Jim!!" I have been here about 15 times and have tried about 1/2 of the menu, and I have liked everything I've tried. I would have tried everything at this point, however I am being drawn more and more to my drug of choice, The Crispy Garlic Chicken. It is a blackened crusty oily goodness that is the source of my earlier said hand job. They fry or grill the basil until it is crispy which really makes me structure my bites with a high basil-to-chicken-ratio for maximum yummy-ness. Make sure you got some cool beverage handy as it is spiced none too bashfully. I remember this one time when these 2 old ladies who were sitting next to us left, I couldn't help but notice that they DID NOT finish their Crispy Garlic Chicken. And yes, I was seriously considering a plate swap with my now empty plate of CGC...it's that good.! :) With the non existent parking and the wait time, I'm all about ordering it to go. I place the order and immediately head to Bakery Nouveau to grab a few almond croissants and 7-11 for my cold beverage. I double park as I run in to get my CGC, which is now waiting for me. Roll down to Alki and park to the right of the Salty's parking lot, right on the water. So I got my almond croissant, my cold bev, and enjoying my Crispy Garlic Chicken parked on the waterfront. Life is good :)
(4)
Dina A.

I went twice to this place... the ginger chicken was AMAZING. Best i'e ever had at a thai restaurant. The spicy string beans were also great. The crispy garlic chicken, was good but overhyped on yelp, and the chicken satay was tasty (but the peanut sauce was not very good). I didnt like the barbeque chicken though, it was too bland. Be prepared for a *very long wait* though. If you're willing to sit at the bar it won't be as bad.
(5)
Colleen W.

Buddha Ruksa is definitely one of the best Thai restaurants in Seattle. That says a lot when there must be hundreds to choose from. My faves: -The crispy garlic chicken is heavenly fried chicken with spicy caramelized garlic and spices topped with fried basil. -The phad thai is consistently fresh and spicy - no ketchup noodles here.
(4)
Michusty S.

Meh.... Definitely have had better, not worth the wait (took 45 minutes to get food). Crispy Garlic Chicken was good but not as good as all of the reviews have said. Waiters seemed very hurried and lacked good customer service. This may have been because we came at prime time (8pm on a Friday night) but we probably won't return again...at least for a while.
(2)
Becki H.

This place is ok but not good. Way over priced for bland boring food. You are paying for their expensive interior and that is it. The service doesn't make up for their lack of quality food either. They have messed up in one way or another half the times I've been there and when you ask for them to correct said mistake they are not too happy about it. For more details read on... I have been here multiple times (not by my choice) and tried multiple different menu items hoping maybe the first dishes I tried were just a little "off" those particular nights. I was really hoping to like this place because there are so many good reviews and for a while I thought it was the only Thai place in this area of West Seattle (Thank God I found Bangbar Thai on California- a true 4 almost 5* indeed!). I really don't get it to be honest. I don't understand why Buddah Ruksa is rated 4 stars on Yelp or why they are so busy. I'm guessing these people haven't discovered Bangbar yet for themselves. The "famous" Garlic "Crack" Chicken is boring. Doesn't really taste garlicky and is basically some chicken thinly breaded, deep fried and slapped on your plate dripping oil. The noodle dishes are bland and the noodles themselves are poor quality and old at times. The fried appetizers are good as it's pretty hard to screw those up. The curry tastes funny to me although I can't quite put my finger on what's wrong with it. Possibly too sweet I'd say. On a funnier note- I generally order a 4 out of 5 stars for spiciness at most restaurants. I've ordered the maximum 4 stars here on multiple visits which is only comparable to 2 or maybe 3 stars at any other restaurant. Don't try to explain to them that you want it even spicier than 4* because they will be quick to tell you that "4* is the spiciest". "Um... I realize that. Can you please make it hotter? Like 7*?" "No 4* is the spiciest" *facepalm* Why can they not make it spicier? When I used to eat REALLY spicy food I always asked for hotter than 5* at any other restaurant and they always figured out a way to do it. Why can't you Buddah? Why can't you??
(2)
Tim B.

Voted the #1 Thai restaurant in North America by a very prestigious food magazine (OK, that's not technically true, but it is my favorite Thai place, so that counts, right?). I'm lucky enough to live 5 minutes from Buddha Ruksa in West Seattle, so I've been popping in there for years. I usually do take out - like 5,000 other people on any given night of the week - but also dine in on occasion. Simply put, the food is amazing. Standbys like pad thai and green curry chicken are done just right, but the local favorites like "crack" chicken and kao soy are exceptionally great. I like my food on the spicy side, and the heat level here is also spot on, which almost all Thai restaurants screw up; don't ask me why. Low lights, friendly wait staff, prompt service, and reasonable prices complete the picture; this family just got the restaurant thing right. I'll travel for business, eat out the whole week until I'm sick of it, come home...and order take out from Buddha Ruksa. That's saying something.
(5)
Samantha J.

I love the food here, especially the crispy garlic chicken. The cocktails are fun too and some are made with ginger or lemongrass or basil and other delicious ingredients you dont often see used that make sense with the menu. They are always busy and it seems the busier they are the nicer the servers are, usually polite and attentive. I also love the swimming rama, pad see-ew, and fresh or fried spring rolls. Worth it, even if there is a long wait. You can get it to-go also even though the menu doesnt seem to be posted online and it is hard to get thru the phone system, still worth it!
(4)
Jon H.

Three of us went to Buddah Ruksa on Valintines day. This was our first time there. As usual, we each ordered a shared enteree of our choice making sure we ordered the crispy garlic chicken ( a friend highly recomended it). He was right. the crispy garlic chicken is a winner. It is done to a turn and has pieces of slightly charred garlic that tastes out of this world good. It is the carmelized coating that brings this dish to life. Because one of us is not a heat lover, we ordered all dishes as 1-star heat. They brought a tray mixed hot sauces for Merle and I (we like hot 4~ 5 star), so everyone was happy. The red curry(beef) was very good with nice hints of coconut, bamboo shoots and basil. A little extra hot sauce brought it to life. The cashew chicken was flavorful, but very few cashews were to be found. In fact, the only one to find a cashew was Jean, and she only found two. The portion sizes are reasonable, not excessive. Don't expect to have loads left-overs to take home. All in all we liked BR very much and will return to try some new entrees
(4)
Ashley D.

For a place that is constantly busy, overpriced, and doesn't deliver, I'm not really sure what the fuss is all about. The noodles are generally safe, but I was completely underwhelmed by the crispy garlic chicken. I've also gotten rancid tofu, so good luck with that. I'm going to stick with delivery from Thaitan.
(2)
Martin S.

DELICIOUS!!! Food is incredible and the drinks are great! Good service. The crispy garlic chicken (crack chicken) is a must!
(5)
Kandyse L.

My boyfriend and I decided to try this place after reading all the great reviews. The first time we went to eat here, there was such a long wait that we immediately walked out; however, the second time we were able to walk right in and be seated immediately. The food we ate here was amazing. The flavor of the phad kee mao was to die for, and the only thing that makes me rate this place a 4 star is the spice. While we did order Thai spicy, or 5 star spice, our waitress was very surprised and asked if we knew how spicy it would be. While we said yes, I have a feeling she did not convey that to the chef. The food we received did not have any spice to it. All of this was completely blown away by the fact of the flavor being so delicious. We will definitely be coming here again!
(4)
Daniel C.

This may be my favorite Thai restaurant in the whole world. As other reviewers have pointed out, the crispy duck is really the highlight of the menu. A fair amount of the food (especially our appetizer platter) had clearly spent some time in a deep fryer, however it was not laden with grease like so much fried food, but instead was light and crispy and delicious. The sauces were all superb, and the seafood (shrimp, scallops, and mussels) was tender in ways that stir-fried seafood rarely is. Zero complaints from anyone in my party of five.
(5)
Mark V.

I finally made it to Buddha Ruksa and I was not disappointed. I was told by my friends to try the crispy garlic chicken. It was AMAZING! I also had the yellow curry chicken, which was just as good. My friends call the garlic chicken crack-chicken, because you get addicted and you can't get enough. Well look out Buddha....I'm coming back soon for my next fix!
(5)
Crystal M.

My mouth waters every time I think about the crispy garlic chicken. That chicken dish was exceptionally unique and addictive! MMMMMMMMM... SOOOOOOO yummy! This restaurant is worth taking the ferry and busing there from Kingston! Yes.. it's THAT good. Very romantic for date night.. yummy cocktails and high end food at a reasonable price. My only complaint was that it was freezing in there.. but then they turned the heat up for me.
(5)
Rob L.

Fantastic place. As pretty much everyone here already notes, the Crispy Garlic Chicken is great, but so is pretty much everything else on the menu.
(5)
kyle t.

good little spot if you live in the area, really recomend the eggplant dish which goes great with the very reasonably priced dead guy ale 22 oz
(3)
Kanani K.

The Yellow Curry fried rice and Pumpkin and Shrimp curry was to die for! This place made me believe in Thai food again. Don't settle for Pad Thai, this place can offer you so much more.
(5)
Jenny N.

This restuarant has been around for a couple of years now. It has all the usual thai dishes plus some truly excellent specialties like a curry dish made of prawns and pumpkin. I also give thumbs up the wine list and the fact that they hav obviously put thought into selecting bottles that will pair well with items on the menu.
(4)
Jessica G.

I live within easy walking distance of Buddha Ruksa and have gone there (mostly for takeout) about twice a month for the last year and a half. It's certainly not the best Thai food in town, but it's easy, fast, predictable and consistent. Great for late nights at the office when I don't feel like cooking! I like the house salad, beef salad, stir-fried basil chicken, lemongrass chicken, pineapple fried rice, basil fried rice, phad pak rum mit, and the red curry. I have not been impressed with the phad thai or the nuea yang. On busy nights (Friday evenings especially) the staff tends to be overwhelmed and frazzled and they often make mistakes, so I always check my order before walking home with it! Having lived in Berkeley, CA, Oakland, CA, and now Seattle, I am a bit spoiled by an abundance of good Thai restaurants, so I just can't give this place more then 3 stars. But....I'll probably be there later this week!
(3)
Robert C.

You must eat here if you like Thai food. The prices were good and the food was the best. They get busy, so if you don't want to wait, make a reservation! Well worth the trek to west Seattle!
(5)
Elizabeth D.

This was probably the best Thai food I've ever tried. I was visiting from Boston and wanted some good Thai food and this place was definitely what I was looking for! I'd definitely recommend it!!!
(5)
Christine S.

I feel weird writing this because everyone I know and all the people who have reviewed this place love the crispy garlic chicken. I've tried this dish over 5 times and I've decided it's just not crispy enough and sometimes the chicken can be dry....I don't get all the love. I wish I did though. However, I love their curries and peanut sauce though.
(4)
Sparrow E.

Went a few times and the food was good but then I got take out the other night and found a huge clump of hair in my phad see ew, and I'm not talking a random strand--it looked like something from the drain. It was so gross I actually took it back to show them and when I did they casually said "sorry abou that." Granted there wasn't much they could have done at that point but I was a little distressed that the reaction was so apathetic. If you get noodles, eat carefully.
(1)
Erin W.

A hidden gem in West Seattle. As good as Wild Ginger without the parking hassles and big check at the end of the meal. Great ambiance, great food, great service. We'll definitely be back.
(5)
Colleen P.

Went back again for lunch with three other coworkers and same deal with splitting the bill...they refused to do it. Plus their lunch menu prices seem rather steep so I don't know when I'll be going back to Buddha Ruksa to dine in. Order take-out, you'll probably be much better off. On a side note, I will say I once found a hair ball in one of my noodle dishes and got horrific food poisoning after reheating some phad thai (that could have been my fault as I left it unrefrigerated for too long). I can clearly overlook those things since I keep going back since the food is good.
(2)
Nouveau B.

Lunch is really good here. I often find myself returning from a meeting downtown right around lunch time. They always give me a good table, are courteous and right there with the service. I lived in Thailand a long time and the food is very authentic for the most part. The red curry is excellent. Lunch is not inexpensive but worth every penny. The ingredients are fresh and real. Too many Thai restaurants use ketchup as a base for their phad thai-they don't. Even though that is a dish I rarely order, I do use it as a standard bearer. Just one funny comment, I was recently asking for donations for a local, well known charity and they flat out refused and acted offended that I asked. Can't everyone donate one little lunch-it was off putting and more than a little stingy of them. One star less for that. I like that when I am alone, I am not shuttled off to a dingy corner and the service is prompt. When I am not alone, the whole group is treated well-always. Sometimes they expand my favorite table for my group of friends who have to come after I have raved about it-little things that make a good restaurant.
(4)
Pamela L.

4 stars only because it is hard to give a 6 dollar restaurant 5 stars. This little place tucked away off of the west seattle freeway is awesome. The service is quick and friendly and the food is always good. I always get the same thing phad kee mao and it is always delicious, fresh and quick! I looooove thai food!!!!!!
(4)
Me H.

For the directionally challenged this place can be a bit hard to find but once you find it you'll be happy you did. This is now my favorite Thai in West Seattle their crispy garlic chicken is pretty tasty as well as their Phad Prik Khing, Panang curry, crispy duck, OK everything I've had from here is excellent. I've also have always had good luck ordering off their fresh sheet/daily specials. If you haven't been go but be prepared to wait or order it to go.
(5)
Ash M.

After reading the raves on yelp about the crispy garlic chicken, I have to admit I was disappointed. Crispy garlic chicken - when they brought it to the table, it looked amazing and promised so much, but on tasting it I wasn't blown away by either the flavors or the crispiness. Perhaps the chef wasn't having his best day, but this dish really wasn't all that amazing. I prefer the crispy garlic chicken at Chantanee. Green curry - I found the flavors were just too subtle and the dish was more on the bland side. Considering their website mentioned "Thai cooking brings together the most diverse spices and aromas. Fiery and mild, salty and sweet, sour and bitter. ", I was again let down by their flavors.
(3)
Kris C.

Food is 6 stars, absolutely awesome, especially the garlic dishes and the specials, I think that last one that we had was the phuk puk??? The decor leaves a bit to be desired however. Quite small and boring. But, the food...awesome. The service is a bit ridiculous, I am a bit worried that they know what I am going to have the second that I walk in the door, I barely have the order out of my mouth and they seem to be putting the dish in front of me. They are faster than fast food drive thru!
(5)
will m.

i've reviewed a couple of thai places in the region and this ranks as one of the best. the food here is very delicious and the flavors are so well balanced, that flavor hits your tastebuds in all sorts of directions, sweet, hot, flavorful, sour, it leaves you wanting more. i always order the chicken phad thai and garlic chicken with some steamed rice, my wife usually orders the tom yum, a hot and sour soup and chicken curry. my wife, being a die hard simply thai fan and basil fan (san francisco) actually liked this place and she's usually harsh on thai places. the place is a little small and really dark especially at night, probably to bring a romantic mood or something, so the ambiance is good to bring a date. the place can be hard to see from the busy street and parking is horrible since it's street parking. food and service is great, the car situation, not so great.
(4)
Anon Y.

Very good food. This and Sawaty Thai on Bainbridge are our two favorites in the Seattle area.
(5)
Aloha O.

This place is pretty over rated. Their Tom-Kha Gai was okay, pad thai was okay, pud kee mai (sp?) was pretty good, crispy garlic chicken was okay and their curry was straight up gross. Not worth the trip or the hype.
(3)
Sean H.

Killer food, a good selection of authentic Thai dishes I have not seen other places. Of course, the garlic chicken is awesome! I love the Tom Kha soup. Great atmosphere and good service, it's a winner! Best Thai I have had in Seattle.
(5)
Erika L.

AMAZING. must try crispy garlic chicken. haven't seen it at any other thai restaurant and it's awesome. :)
(5)
Jamie R.

So I went here because of the superb reviews here on my ever so favorite YELP. It was my birthday and I invited a handful of friends so it was important that is was great.... and it WAS! Our server was so nice... wishing me happy b-day in Thai and he took lots of pics. For appetizers we got the fresh rolls (A+) the spring rolls (A+) and the fried squash which was so divine I have to give it an (A+++). Entree wise the pad Thai was mm mm good, the red curry was the best I've had. My hubby got the garlic crispy chicken which was just as good as previous reviewers had mentioned. A friend got brave and ordered the wonton pad Thai which has no noodles... just crispy wontons and shrimp, and bean sprouts etc. She didn't say much over dinner because she was to busy stuffing her face! Since it was my b-day i got free Green Tea ice cream... not so good... you would have to really be a strong green tea fanatic to love this stuff. Picture dumping a tea bag into your mouth, ACK ACK. Minus the ice cream all in all I HEART BUDDHA RUKSA in a very big way!!!!
(5)
Lisa S.

mmm...yummy.
(5)
Bonnie G.

We went here for dinner this month with my Mom's group and had a great time. The service was good and the atmosphere was nice. The food was excellent. I ordered the Prawns w/pumpkin curry and it was delicious. We'll be going back!
(5)
Jessica D.

It's unfortunate that the only thing this restaurant cares about is getting you in and rushing you out. The service is absolutely horrible- food comes out in literally minutes after you order and freezing cold. The crispy chicken had a few pieces that were still pink and looked like they weren't fully cooked...Not once did they come by to ask if we needed anything else. To top it off, they added on a beer we didn't order. Make sure you double check your bill and be prepared for an unpleasant experience with food that was probably prepared hours earlier. Have been here a few times but it had been awhile, and I will NOT be back.
(1)
Monkey T.

Fence mended, locks changed, Blue Angels overhead and now, Monkey gettin paid! In grub, that is... Monkey do: *Special* RICE CRISPY w/CURRY appetizer- pretty good, different, but not for $12 PHAD THAI PORK- good, but pork so dry. we dipped pork in curry appetizer PHAD SEE IEW TOFU- deliciously perfect CRISPY GARLIC CHICKEN- came for this and although it is better this time... the NUEA YANG- grilled flank steak w/chili lime sauce & sticky rice- was the highlight of dinner! The five of us killed it. No leftovers. We did do reservations this time for our Sunday dinner. The corner table against the wall, furthest from front door is the hottest place to sit and they know it. If you are seated here during the sweaty hot summer months, refuse. Unless you're into that kind of thing. The two of us returned another time to share the CRISPY GARLIC CHICKEN. It came out hot and fast... questionably fast. Taste great, but the bigger hunks of breast were not fully cooked. Gah!!! Bumped up another star from last review, but CGC is inconsistent. Always great service, even when busy.
(4)
Juston T.

Don't order late at night. Food is not fresh. The Crispy Garlic Chicken is amazing normally. Not tonight! Tastes like rubber. Cooked and reheated when ordered most likely. Crab Rangoons were good at least. Wishing this place was consistent. When it's good it's good. When it's bad it's bad. Sadly it's more often the later these days. Where has the quality control gone?
(1)
Mav M.

Great place to have lunch. I came here around 11:30 and no crowd. Excellent thai food at a good price. Dishes are $8-16. Crispy Garlic Chicken- easily my favorite here. It is pretty impressive that they actually made chicken breast moist, crispy, and delicious. Pad see iew- good flavors, and better than most thai restaurants in the area. Spicy eggplant- its ok, not spicy at all. More sweet. Service was quick, and friendly. Parking can be hard to find during peak hours of lunch/dinner.
(4)
Annette L.

Gosh, after so many of our friends were talking about this place we had to try it. I am very pleased that we did. We were greeted an seated immediately. I do recommend that if you do not get reservations that you arrive close to opening. They are so friendly and helpful with making food and drink choices. We were given plenty of time to make decisions and then the food arrived very quickly. Everything was seasoned perfectly. We had a table full of appetizers! The calamari is some of the best I've had with the tastiest fried coating. Loved the crispy spring rolls and the crab rangoon. The pad se ew had the most flavorful broccoli. I am not a huge fan of wide noodles but I tried to eat all of my friend's broccoli from the dish. The garlic broccoli chicken is okay. The basil rice is wonderful. The drinks are not only pretty to look at but they are crafted well. If you are in the mood for Thai - believe the hype! They are great.
(4)
Maxine B.

Some local friends treated us to a meal here. Love Thai and this place does not disappoint. There was a special of a crispy chicken that was really yummy. The service was good. It's a small place so reservations are recommended. They can work on their atmosphere a little, but otherwise it's great.
(4)
Latifa S.

Pad Thai near Alki? A good thai places are worth traveling for. This one might be one of them. It's cute, tiny yet not so tiny. It's passed Alki in west Seattle. One can come grab lunch and go sleep it off at a beach. Totally can. Food Love- *Pad Thai!! Get it extra burnt. Get it hot and get it good. It is pretty tasty. I'm not a big fan of massive portions of food but this pad Thai? This I will take. Yummm! Liked- *Nam tok- this could be much hotter. It's s grilled beef flank steak salad. Need more heat but love the fresh grilled taste. *Pad keemao- tasty *Thai ice tea- yummmmmm!! Least favorite *Crispy garlic chicken. This ones solely based on taste preference. I'm sure it is great for people that love deep fried and sweetened chicken. But for me, this was like eating fried sugar-- literally all caramelized and ish. Eeek!!! Not a fan at all!!!! Service is also a ok. Lunch prices are much more tolerable than non lunch prices. I think pad Thai after 3 pm is a good $15+. I like this place for this area. There isn't many to choose in west Seattle when it comes to Thai restaurants. So it does the job. It is cute too. if I'm not in the area, I'm ok skipping it all together.
(3)
Jarenn N.

I ordered take-out from Buddha Ruksa on a Sunday night thanks to a recommendation from someone in the West Seattle Area. Food - 3 stars (not the best Phad Kee Mau or Yellow Curry Fried Rice compared with other places I frequent such as Bai Tong, Royal Orchid, or Lanna Thai). Service - 1 star (the cashier was RUDE! She didn't acknowledge me at all, just told me the price of my order, and THREW my card across the counter at me. She had an attitude and she is the reason I will not go here again) Parking - 1 star (the streets nearby had NO parking so I hopped out of my car while my boyfriend circled the block) Price - 3 stars (average compared to other similar places) Overall, the food wasn't as good as I'm use to at other places across the Puget Sound and SERVICE WAS THE WORST I've experienced at any Thai place. Too bad.
(2)
DeAnne E.

After a bad experience at Bai Tong in Southcenter I've been seeking a replacement. I've always want to try Buddha Ruksa but always felt I had to plan a trip out to West Seattle. One night after work my friend and I decided to give it a try. When my friend and I walked in their whole front counter was covered with to-go orders. I've read the reviews about the crispy garlic chicken so that was something I definitely ordered. We also had the usual entrees: Phad Thai and fried rice. Everything we had was delicious. I'm surprised that people have gotten bad service. When we walked in we were seated right away. Someone visited our table at least 3-4 times to make sure everything was okay and they made sure our glasses of water were filled. It's possible that weekends are a totally different story. Thai restaurants in the south end and downtown can't compete with this place. If you live in West Seattle then you are very lucky to have a good neighborhood Thai restaurant.
(4)
Demonica M.

The best Thai food in Seattle! The service is always great, and we had the most fun and energetic host when we ate here two days ago. I wish I got her name but I'm sure we'll be back soon again. We ordered the phad see iew, fish three flavors (crisp fried trout smothered in a tangy spicy sweet sour sauce), wonton phad thai, and Massamun curry (subbed fried tofu for the beef). Everything was really delicious and I'm glad we went with a group - it allowed us to sample so many different flavors. Although the the food is terrific, the highlight for me is the mango sticky rice. The mango was perfectly ripe and the rice had a savory, almost buttery kick to it. Highly recommend it! The wine is fairly extensive and the bottle prices are moderately priced. We enjoyed 2 bottles of wine for $20 each. I'm ready to go back! P.S. We tried the famous "crack chicken" on our first visit and it was dry and the sauce tasted on the burned side. I recommend skipping it and enjoying the rest of the wonderful menu.
(5)
Jennifer B.

I'm not a fan of the name but the food was great. I had 0 expectations for this place and the food was really good. The server was nice. It was so packed and loud. We ordered tons of dishes for 6 and I enjoyed all of them! If I'm ever back in West Seattle I'd come back.
(4)
Eryck Q.

Excellent service, and great food! A very busy restaurant, but we were seated quickly. We enjoyed the pumpkin shrimp curry dish as well as the pad thai the most! We've had lots of thai food and this restaurant doesn't disappoint!
(4)
Stephen M.

This is one of the places that keeps on getting even better with every visit. We caught them on a surprisingly light Friday evening (spring break?) and had our first dining in experience. Unlike our traditional take-out routine, we got more creative with the menu this time, going with the crispy duck with cashews (option "B") . The tempura asparagus special looked appealing, too, but will have to save that for the next visit. Portions in-house run much larger than what you can expect for take-out. Ordering 3 dishes gave us 1+ meals for the next day's lunch. Rice is extra. Tables tend to be close to one another, so the restaurant has a tendency to get a bit loud. Not too worry--your mind will soon be fully focused on the food and forget about the West Seattle-ites to your left and right. The bar across the street just closed, so that once off-limits lot now seems to be an option, though its gravel may be a turn-off to some would-be parkers. Highly recommend for both dine-in and take-out. Would love to see delivery.
(5)
khushi a.

Don't go there if you want to eat good food or be served right !!! I ordered garlic fried rice and it was stale and you could see dried rice with a layer of oil on it. I called the server and complained about it. And she says - No it's not stale. We make everything fresh. To which I suggested she take a bite. And she asked if I wanted a replacement. I thanked and asked for pad Kee Maw with a 3 star which means medium spice. Sure enough she comes back with a plate with a layer of red chillies spice all over the dish. I could not eat more than two spoons and had to walk away hungry.
(1)
Willy M.

Jimmy Crack Corn........that crispy garlic chicken is pretty darn good! Great Thai restaurant!!! I dont live in W.Seattle but I totally dont mind driving here for dinner. You may drive past this place as it is on a neighborhood street corner and its all street neighborhood parking. One way streets can make it tough, but traffic rules dont apply to some other drivers and they can do whatever they want. Annoying. Anyways, dining room isnt too large so most likely there will be a wait for a table unless you come in at 4:30pm for dinner. They do take reservations though. Staff is friendly to put your name down on the list and will give you updates on how much longer and are quick to seat you when ready. Sometimes when Im waiting up front, the phone is ringing off the hook for take out. They are busy during dinner time. Food has been always good. We tend to always get the crispy garlic chicken which is super flavorful, garlicky, nice thai basil, and "blackened" of some sort. Just get it! We also get the pad see eiw with beef, my favorite Thai noodle dish, delicious wide rice noodles and good veg. I always ask for the little spice tray to add more chilis etc. On these rainy, cold months, the Tom Kha soup totally hits the spot! Very delicous! You can totally taste the lemongrass, lime leaves and coconut milk in this tasty soup! I love over-ordering so I can have leftovers for the day, definitely one of my favorite Thai food places. Price is slightly on the high side but Im happy with their food.
(4)
Xavier A.

Had the special, Mango Fried Rice. My ladyfriend had a more traditional dish, I forget which. The food was incredible and the service was SPOT on. We eat Thai all the time, and I have to say this is our favorite Thai spot in West Seattle, maybe even our favorite Thai place in the whole city! We also love Jamjuree in cap hill.
(5)
Roger B.

It can be tough getting in here during prime hours so I limit my trips to off-prime. That gives me a chance to experience their wonderful food without getting stressed about waiting for a table. The first time you go here use your GPS as you have to circle around a bit to get there. The first I saw the Ithe place I tried driving directly there. That didn't work. My fave is the Pad Kee Mao with chicken but I love all of their curry dishes as well. Their hottest level is not insane and easily doable by those of you who like a good burn. The staff is fantastic and I love the aesthetic.
(4)
Kim V.

I'm fearing that I might be too liberal with giving out stars lately, but if I could give this place 10 stars I would. Best curry I've ever had from a Thai restaurant hands down. I ordered for pick up and was told it would be ready in 30 mins, awesome. As I was walking to the restaurant I could smell the delicious food coming from inside and daaaamn the food was good. I got the prawn and pineapple curry and my boyfriend got the panang with seafood curry. Perfect amount of spice, perfect amount of food, delicious seafood, oh man. We both agreed that no other place in town beats this joint and we're super happy that we can walk there! I think it's going to be tough to top what we had tonight but I can't wait to go back and try this place again. Tip- usually really busy so if you can order ahead do it!
(5)
Amani Ellen L.

Updating my review based on the lady in front only. I may have had a shit day but the least I hope for is neutral people when I order to go. This was my favorite place when I lived up the street. The lady let me stand right in front of her for a couple minutes without even looking at me and once I signed the slip she snatched it out of my hand. I felt like I should take it back and erase the tip. Snotty front lady and long wait means plenty of time to write a shitty yelp review. Seriously half an hour for soup and your signature dish. Both of which are premade. Hoping food is as delicious as it used to be. If not, you'll be hearing from me.
(3)
Jenny L.

We had take out from this pace, Tom Yum soup, vegetable salad, seafood medley and Nuea Yang. They were all excellent.
(5)
Brittany V.

Anyone who rates this Thai place below a 4 is bananas!!! Being that Thai food is my favorite, I have eaten at countless Thai places around Seattle and on the greater east side and buddha ruksa is THE BEST. I have been here several times and they are always perfectly consistent. Every dish I have ever ordered here has been amazing! The service is ALWAYS awesome and on point, your food comes out fast, the prices are great and they have a cute location. You will have trouble finding a better Thai restaurant in this area, good luck... I wouldn't even try! This place is gold.
(5)
Anthony B.

A West Seattle gem! We made the mistake of showing up around 7:30 on a Saturday. The place was packed to the gills and they were still slinging more take out orders than Domino's pizza. We weren't starving so we just settled in for the wait. We ordered some delicious apple based cocktails at the bar and they were more than willing to transfer them to our food tab! Between the two of us we split the Sampler Platter, Kao Soy, and the Crispy Garlic Chicken. It was a smidge more than filling for two. The Crispy Garlic chicken was fantastic. Not a crispy as I was expecting but the rich umami flavor made up for it. The Kao Soy (Noodles in Yello Curry with Pickled Veggies) was absolutely top notch. Creamy and spicy it is one of the better Kao Soy in Seattle. This place does get busy so avoid typical dinner times. But their service and quality are top notch! And provide ample reason for me to drive all the way down to West Seattle.
(5)
Joe S.

My favorite restaurant in West Seattle and favorite Thai place of all time (Even counting my sting at Thailand during my tour in the Army). The staff is very friendly and know us by name. The more you go the more VIP status you receive. The crispy garlic chicken is money! We have it every visit. I also recommend chicken pad Thai, stir fried garlic beef and broccoli, fried rice or brown and fried spring rolls. Ask for the spice jars with your food. If you live lemon drops, this place is for you! Khans down the Best lemon drop in the city!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND RESERVATIONS! Do not show up on a Friday or Saturday evening without them. It takes about an average of 5 calls before their phone rings and someone answers. Just be patient and keep calling, they are very busy taking to go orders. Go visit, you won't be disappointed. And try a lemon drop :)
(5)
Brittany Z.

We walked in on a Friday night at prime dinner time. The hostess was super sweet and took our names down promptly and let us know it would be a wait. She ended up seating us at the bar 20 minutes later. The bar tender was also incredibly sweet and took our orders, made eye contact and was smiling the whole time. Did I forget to mention this place was PACKED. And I have never seen so many take out menus on a counter before in my life. They were mobbed and everyone was still so amazing. Our food came out so fast and so delicious. Seriously awesome place. Hooray !
(5)
Arnold P.

We've dined in a couple times, but tonight was our first time getting to-go and it was a success! We always get the garlic chicken and pad tai with some type of animal mixed in. It's always delicious and the best we've had in West Seattle. Get the garlic chicken and savor it slowly...mmmmmmmmmm
(4)
B B.

Awesome! Clean tasting and always busy. I consider that good. Take out can take a while but they are always good at letting you know what your wait will be.
(5)
Katie K.

Some of the best Thai food I've ever had. Their garlic crispy chicken, and I recommend you get spice level four, is to die for. I never ate there in the restaurant, we just always got our meals to go. I always try to get something new off the menu but it never fails that I would always get the crispy garlic chicken. As seen in the other reviews I do agree that the earlier you get there the better. Parking is terrible, good luck with that.
(5)
Nick S.

I lack in experience when it comes to Thai food. Why? Because it seems trendy. And I would be right. Why? Because every time the food comes out the same. As a category or style the food always seems overcooked, lacks in freshness and it cooked in too much oil which masks the flavors. Maybe it is the American way.
(2)
Henry C.

This place is dope. 5 star based on multiple factors Food: Garlic chicken was good, but i think there's more hype on yelp that is really should have. Pad kee mao was a good portion and cooked very well, one thing that makes this better than average is spices, you can taste more of the authenticity here than your generic thai restaurant. Tom Ka was off the hook, get it, and get the prawns. Real prawns, none of that shrimp dick shit. Environment: the mood was delightful, good spacing, not that I care so much. Service: great, always someone to there to take care of you, but they won't annoy you by asking how is everything every 10 mins. Eat at this joint
(5)
Calvin T.

I've been here twice now--once for lunch and another time for dinner. I had a curry both times. I didn't think there was enough food for the lunch portion. The dinner was much better. I had the Forest Curry (tofu) which was nice and filling. With Thai tea and tip it was $20-ish. While the food is good, I don't think I would go here on a regular basis. Maybe date nights.
(4)
Danielle M.

The food is quite good, the interior, rustic - reminds me of restaurants in Thailand, but the prices are much higher. Long wait ... Which I don't do for any restaurant. The only reason I waited more than 15 minutes is the very charming hostess who chatted with us and gave us a glass if wine while we waited.
(4)
Reimi D.

So, this place gets some pretty good reviews, which is why my hubby and I decided to finally try it. By the way everyone was describing the "crack" chicken, we had our hopes up pretty high. We eagerly ordered it, and yes, it was good but that's it. Just good, which is what it's supposed to be since you are paying for it, but it wasn't a showstopper for god's sake. It was basically pieces of chicken breast in a sauce with some garlic. As I was eating the chicken, I wondered why everyone was so head over heels about it and I wasn't. I think it's because West Seattle doesn't have a lot of Thai restaurants, or (and I'm so not trying to diss here so please don't get crazy offended) maybe the patrons of this restaurant haven't really had chicken cooked in different ways, Asian style. Because if they had, they would know there is nothing "Thai" about the crack garlic chicken. Maybe everyone is stoked because it's not Chinese orange chicken or lemon chicken? I don't know. We also shared the green curry, and like other reviewers noted, it was crazy salty. Whyyyy??? Like it tasted like someone accidentally dropped a bowl of salt into the pot and they hoped no one would notice. We asked for medium spicy and there was NO spice at all. Again, whyyyyy? The "bags of gold" appetizer was pretty good, I must say. It was basically shumai wrapped in another won ton wrapper and deep fried, but it was probably the highlight of the evening. Service was ok, not horrible but not great either. All in all, if you are in West Seattle and you want some Asian food and you're not super familiar with Asian food, I'd say give Buddha Ruksa a try. You'll probably love it. But if you've ever had really good Thai food, possibly authentic, then I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed. Hint: if you go to a Thai (or Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, etc) restaurant and you don't see one Thai person (or Chinese in a Chinese restaurant, Japanese in a Japanese restaurant...) in the restaurant, then the food probably isn't rad. Case in point.
(3)
Lam H.

Had an amazing chicken phat tai! Experience is amazing and the staff is super friendly! Phat tai was gone in several minutes. Definitely will go again soon.
(5)
Janet Y.

Considering this has become one of our go-to places, I had to upgrade my rating. We end up coming here at least once a week. The pad thai, drunken noodle, crispy garlic chicken, and the red curry are AMAZING. I have to rank Buddha Ruksa as one of our favorite Thai restaurants of all-time, and we've had Thai around the country. It's usually pretty busy, so my husband and I order to-go at least 30 minutes before, and we have no issues.
(5)
Adam W.

Amazing! I've been here multiple times during the various days of the week either to dine in or for carry out, and each and every time the food is exactly how I expect. Amazing! I moved here about a year and a half ago and whenever family or friends visit this place is definitely one of the places I can't wait to take them. You must try the crispy garlic chicken (aka crack chicken). Even if you don't really want it. Order it and take it home it is SO GOOD! Take it to work, eat it for dinner, it's delicious! If you're dining in the Bags of Gold are yummy and the Spring Rolls with the Plum Sauce are very refreshing. The Pad Thai is also very good as is the Vietnamese Fried Rice. This place gets very busy very quickly so if you want to avoid the crowd get there early.
(5)
Israel M.

One of my favorite Thai places in Seattle.... good food and fairly consistent. I'm not going to say it's the best Thai ever like a lot of the reviews on here but I try and visit regularly if I'm in the area. Do really like the crispy garlic chicken, Pad See Ew and Phad Thai...the pineapple fried rice is also really tasty. The service is always fast and friendly. They always keep your water full too which is important if you like your food super spicy like I do. It's situated a little strange location wise on the street. I think it might actually be a converted house. The parking can be rough at times but definitely worth the effort. There's not a whole lot of seating so expect a 15-20 minute wait if you've got a party of 4 during the evening dinner hours.
(4)
Mark C.

Really good food but there's a long wait to get a table. I like the panang curry and the crispy tofu. Everything is good. One star deduction for the long wait.
(4)
Ariel R.

Hands down the best Thai I've ever had, on the west coast or anywhere else. The crispy garlic chicken was possibly the MOST DELICIOUS chicken dish I've ever eaten. I can't recommend the food enough. The service was a bit slow, and the wait was a bit long, but once our food arrived we stopped caring pretty quick. I can't wait to return next time I'm in Seattle.
(5)
Sharon C.

This is my #1 favorite place for Thai food! I'm so lucky to be living right next to this tasty piece of heaven. One not so great thing is the wait. The last time I was in, I called ahead and made reservations and I still waited a good 15-20 minutes. But besides that, the Pad Thai here is SO worth the wait. I order it with brown rice (which is enough to share with another person. I also tried the Panang curry and it was also amazing. Sometimes I like to get the Thai iced tea and it was really, extra sweet! A little to sweet for my liking, but not worth taking a star away. This place is worth checking out for any Thai food lover that's in West Seattle.
(5)
Gnat S.

This is not Thai food. This stuff is too sweet or too drenched in lime. Actually you don't even need to eat here to figure it out. Just look at the menu. I wish I had. The vegetables and the seafood have airport tastelessness. The sticky rice was too glutinous. The seafood in my soup was overcooked. The vegetables in my soup were undercooked. The noodles were overcooked. The curry was disgustingly sweet. Awful. Just awful.
(1)
Colleen J.

excellent thai food at an excellent price! we will definitely return. tip-go early this place fills up quickly.
(5)
Toshi C.

I lived in Seattle for a good number of years, including a year spent in West Seattle. Buddha Ruksa has consistently been the best Thai food I've had in Seattle. My wife and I are so taken by it that we had our wedding rehearsal dinner there. Favorites: Crispy garlic chicken and the rama noodles. The only downside is that others have realized that it is awesome, so there can be waits, both for picking up takeout orders and to be seated.
(5)
Jay M.

I Love My Crack Chicken! We've been coming to this neighborhood Thai restaurant for years. A lot more frequently after Thai Thai closed down. The place isn't huge, so arrive early or order to go if you come for dinner on the weekend. Another option, which I opted for, is to walk in, order to go then head across the street for a cold pint/schooner at WS Brewery. Finish your beer and pick up the food 25-30 minutes later. We, like so many, always get the Crispy Garlic Chicken. While I was waiting to order, the guy in front of me was getting it, the guy on the phone was getting it, at the bar they were eating it, and the waitress was coming out of the kitchen with it for the dining room. It's popular. It's yummy. I'm not a big heat guy, usually 2* is great, but I could order these hotter. Other dishes we often get are the Phad Thai, a Curry of some type (meat and sauce color varies), the Pad See Ew and the Pad Kee Mao. The green beans, while pricey, are tasty too. Tonight the crack chicken was amazing, well a little too oily as you can see in the photo, but the flavor and texture was spot on. I was worried with how slammed the kitchen was that dish quality would be rushed or otherwise suffer. The Phad Thai - just OK. Texture was right, there was good amount of chicken, sprouts/carrots/peanuts in a corner and a lime wedge. Hmm no egg, is there usually egg in it here? It was Lacking in flavor, save a little heat in bites from the 2* and the lime juice I squeezed in. I wish I would have gotten the Pad Kee Mao. This visit was probably a 3.5 star, but this restaurant is one of my favorites, one that I frequent often - and those get the Five Stars! Parking gets tough around here, you might need to walk a block or two..
(5)
Gina H.

LOVE LOVE LOVE their Crispy Garlic Chicken and brown rice!! Really gonna miss this place when I move!!! They also have fun drinks if you wanna sit down inside.
(5)
Zaky M.

Buddha Ruksa is your typical Thai restaurant with the usual menu consisting of pad Thai, pad kee mao, beef salad and so forth. One dish that caught my attention is the crispy garlic chicken and I must say it's DELICIOUS! Never had it before. It's actually chicken on crack. I love the service there. The staff are so attentive and friendly. I will keep on going back.
(5)
Tom S.

My favorite Thai place in Seattle. The crispy garlic chicken is especially amazing, but literally everything I've had here has been fantastic. Great, attentive service, and really nice decor.
(5)
Adrienne B.

This is my preferred place for Thai takeout in West Seattle. I say takeout because I have actually never eaten inside the restaurant, though it looks very nice. I have been to Thailand so I am super picky about my Thai food here in the states. I must say, this place is pretty great. My go-to dish is chicken Pad See Ew. They are never skimpy on the meat and use just the right amount of sauce. The crispy garlic chicken definitely tastes like garlic, but that's a good thing. The sticky rice is also good, though sometimes it's too sticky. Parking is tricky as there is no lot, and limited street parking directly in front of the restaurant. Also be prepared to wait if you don't call ahead. Overall, this is a great place to grab dinner if you live in West Seattle.
(4)
Peter C.

Being a Part Time Buddhist I'm always searching for the Wright Path to Enlightenment! This is where Buddha Ruska Comes in to my Rife. Buddha Ruska is one of the places I turn to Meditate Ova PHood and to put me in A PHood Coma. Most of the time the only Reason I come to West Seattle is to Kick it and Walk Around The Beach on Alki, Getting Snow Ice to Pretend I'm in the 808 Again, or To Sea Da Buddha named Ruska!! Food: Prawn Pad Thai- This is one of my favorite Dishes to order at any Thai Restaurant. I love a good Balance of Sweet, Tangy, Tamarind Sourness (but not too much this isn't a Warhead or Sour Patch Kids, a Good amount of Heat (So I can Spit Hot Fire like Dylon in the Chapelle Show), and Most Important to Bring me Back to My Asian Roots Dat Wok Phalvor!!! So important. I always go for Prawn when I get Noodle Dishes because Beef Kills the flavor of the dish most the time, Pork is just Pok, and Chicken just kinda sucks. If I did get something else other than Prawn for Pad Thai I would probably go for Tofu to Bring Dat Monk Outta Me!!! The thing about Pad Thai at most places wherever you go is that it can be quite an Inconsistent dish. This may be due to the Cook, Wok, Fire, Lack or Overuse of Certain Ingredients, MSG Doses, Foodborne Illnesses, Heat, and whatever the case may be If you have it Perfect Once You May Never Get that same Euphoric Feeling or Foodgasm for the dish again. But here at Buddha Ruksa I'd say 8.5 out of 10 Times this Dish comes out FugginPhantastic!!! When it comes to Pad Thai I am a Master At Determining What Pad Thai is good and what Plain Sucks. (Note: I am an Amatuer Food Coneseur I am no Expert) Crispy Garlic Chicken- This dish should be Renamed Crack Garlick ChickCan. This is the Best Version of the Dish I have ever Had! The Chicken is Phried and Glazed with this WondaSauce of a Glaze! After that it is Sprinkled with Crispy Basil Leaves that was Grown by Ung Bac The Muay Thai Warior to give it that Kung Pao!!! I love how each piece is Unique it's like how a Pearl Necklace Maker sees the Attention to Detail with each Pearl they Use to make that one PuuuRRrrrFect Chain or 2Chainz. Now you have chunks of the Crack Chicken that are Super Densely Breaded and Fried and Even are slightly over Burndt these are MY DIMEPIECES, you have ones that look like General Tso Chicken I call these Eye Candy, some that are mostly White Meat and not too much of that Good Stuff, all in all once ordering this Dish you will take time Evaluating, Searching Deep inside your soul, Coming in AutoTune with your Chi, Becoming one with your Karma to Love and Appreciate this Dish. ( I heard recently that the Dragon From Mortal Combat is the Part Time Fryer in the back on Weekends to make this dish so good) Khao Soi- Curry, Noodles, Spice and EveryThang Nice!!! What's not to Love Don't Hate GetChoSelf Sum!!! Thai Tea- This is on my Top 3 Spots to get Thai Iced Tea. Tea flavor is so potent, the Creamyness is on Point, and I usually get 2Cups.
(5)
Tia M.

My all time favorite place to eat. A bit small and crowded but always excellent service and the food ah the food. I eat here every time I'm in Seattle.
(5)
Stephanie L.

I'm giving them two stars based on a to go order. The restaurant itself looks pretty nice and it's got a very busy environment so maybe I just didn't get their best. Anyways, I got three orders of pad Thai to go. They told me it would take about 20 to 25 minutes. I had tried calling ahead to place my order over the phone but didn't get an answer. After I had already waited for about 25 minutes the guy that took my order looks up and asks if I have already been helped. I told him I was waiting on a to go order and gave him my name at which point he looked down and my order was sitting there among about 10 others. I was kind of bummed that I waited so long even though my food was waiting for me. I know it's tough to remember specific faces when it's busy but as far as service goes I didn't feel like I was taken care of very well. When I got home the food had gone pretty soggy, it tasted very vinegary (not in a good way) and for being chicken pad Thai they were maybe three tiny pieces of chicken. I also specified that I wanted it medium heat and there was zero heat. Also, on the yelp menu it says pad Thai is $9.50 and I was definitely charged more. Overall I was pretty disappointed and won't be going back.
(2)
Madel V.

When we arrived, the place was packed. We were told there's a 45-minute wait. Since we weren't hungry, we decided to wait. We only waited 20 minutes before they showed us to our table. We placed our order for appetizers (fresh spring rolls and fried tofu) and entrees (crispy garlic chicken and beef pineapple fried rice) at the same time. After a few minutes, they served the fresh spring rolls. They were a bit bland but the peanut butter sauce saved it. (I think it was around this time that the table behind us placed their order.) After a few more minutes, they served us fried spring rolls. We told the woman who served it that we didn't order fried spring rolls. We called our server and asked him to check on our fried tofu. He said 'it's coming, it's coming, the kitchen is a little busy.' It finally came after a few more minutes. It's better than most tofu I had. We finished both appetizers and a several minutes later, we saw the next table behind us being served their entrees. When our server came, we asked him to check on our entree. He said 'believe me I put it in.' We said we were just wondering because the table behind us already got their food even if they ordered after us. The server said 'but you ordered 2 appetizers.' We weren't sure what that meant so we asked if we ordered 1 appetizer would our entree be here sooner? He didn't like that question and he said 'it's not about that' and left our table with a scowl on his face. We were more confused than ever! We were just asking and I believe we were being polite. When he finally served our first entree, he was not smiling at all and when my husband said thank you he averted his eyes. We continued to be nice to him and say our thank you'd when he served our second entree and filled our water glass. The crispy garlic chicken was phenomenal. I loved the smaller bits of chicken because they were crispier. The beef pineapple fried rice was just average. We probably won't be coming back here.
(1)
Becca C.

Delicious pad thai. Gets very busy at lunchtime. Parking is annoying but doable.
(4)
Jeff W.

I think this is the BEST Thai restaurant in Seattle. The pad see ew is amazing in addition to the crispy chicken. The service is great and believe its West Seattle's best kept secret!!!
(5)
B J.

6/5/2014 Ambience. A. Very crowded and few tables. Reservations recommended. Otherwise, call for take out. I just wouldn't recommend anything fried unless you were able to eat right away. Gets soggy in the travel. Service A+. Very friendly in greeting and serving. If you need help when busy just get their attention! Food A+. Tonight was perfect. Perfectly spiced with moist Halibut coconut curry. Drunken noodles were stir fried tender chewy noodles. The crispy garlic chicken tends to get over cooked and a little dry but the spices and caramelization of the sugars and spices are delicious. This month appetizer special of dried shrimp with condiments to wrap in a special leaf is different and lovely bites of explosion. I recommend use the Thai chili sparingly as that one bite can get hot! The tender green beans were fresh and country with a spicy garlic sauce. Love the wine selections and the special cocktails. I had the spa lemonade. Perfect with fresh lime from the garden and cucumber Alice. Very refreshing on a hot day. Price A. Good for the value and experience all around.
(5)
Shannon D.

HANDS DOWN the best Thia food in west Seattle and some of the best Thia food in Seattle. GET THE Crack Chicken a.k.a. "Crispy Garlic Chicken." You wont be disappointed.
(5)
Yulia C.

Pros: DELICIOUS (recommend the thai iced tea, pad kee mao, crispy garlic chicken) Pretty inexpensive Fast service Available for take-out Nice ambiance inside Cons: Almost always packed (but this just reinforces how great this place is) Small Hard to find parking (doesn't apply to me as I live across the street but something to consider) Sometimes it's hard to get through on the phone to place your take-out order when they're slammed
(4)
Neal C.

Though I can't speak to any items on the menu other than the Crispy Garlic chicken, I can easily rate Buddha a 5 star based on their signature item. Crispy chicken (with no real breading-- just garlic, some chili peppers, sugar, and what seemed like cornstarch just for a little batter.) Super crunchy on the outside, soft white meat within. Sweet and spicy flavors, with plenty of chili flakes but not too much oil. The service here was really great as well. Friendly servers who make the experience top notch. This was just a gem in West Seattle.
(5)
Cassie B.

This used to be my go-to Thai place when I wanted something good. ** The service is ALWAYS terrible here. But for good food, I can sometimes forgive, forget and chow down! However, now the food is matching the service. My food was (A) not as spicy as requested and (B) the spice caddy was not brought to the table and (C) the service is still terrible. I'm not going back. It's a terribly crowded place, so I guess my opinion is in the minority, but there are places that have better quality service and food.
(2)
David G.

Food and staff 5+ Too freaking noisy to have a conversation. My ears are ringing. Seriously my ears are ringing.
(4)
Kayan H.

My friends and husband really like this place and have been coming here for years, so I had really high expectations. I'm torn between a 3 and a 4 so will go with 3.5 (which rounds to a 3 overall in my book.) Service was fast and good, nothing special there. We had a super early reservation so the place wasn't packed. There were some hits and misses on the food which explains the 3.5. Between the 6 of us we shared family style: Phad see iew beef - pretty standard Thai fare. Problem was that the beef was not tender at all and it was dry and chewy, so that killed this dish for me Crispy garlic chicken - pretty good Crispy garlic tofu - i actually think i liked this better than the chicken, even though we ordered it vegetarian (i.e. without the fish sauce) Spicy eggplant - okay. we ordered this with tofu and i just didn't feel the tofu picked up any of the flavor of the dish like tofu is supposed to. The eggplant themselves were okay, nothing spectacular. Vegetarian curry - this was pretty awful. watery, not a lot of favor, probably should've gone with one of the curries that had coconut milk. Thai iced tea - standard fare, I don't know any Thai restaurant that has messed this up. I had been craving papaya salad and was disappointed to find that they didn't have that on the menu as a regular item, only sometimes as a special.
(3)
heather c.

As an avid Thai food fan, finding buddha ruska has been a god send. Everything on the menu is delicious. Best pad Thai and pad see ew in Seattle. Panang curry and crispy garlic tofu are also regulars of mine. It is a little loud. The secret is to get there early, take out or snag a seat at the bar. Good for vegans- friendly and flexible staff. We love going there and seeing the friendly faces after a long day working in the yard!
(5)
Matt K.

I've never eaten inside the restaurant. I've only ordered food from Buddha Ruksa as take-out. The parking situation around there is not the best so I try to just find a little spot I can shoehorn into for a few minutes and have my son run in and pick up the order. That being said, the crispy garlic chicken is uh-mazing. No joke. It's one of those things that I have a really hard time stopping eating once I start. I'm sure it's probably really terrible for me, but whatever. That's all I've ever had from Buddha Ruksa but that's enough. My 15-year old son usually gets the Pad Thai and he finishes it off in no more than two minutes. So he likes it.
(4)
JoAnne B.

Pros: The restaurant is pretty. Cons: The price is too high for the porition and the quality of Thai food.
(2)
Loren B.

I admit the food is amazing but man, the service is always awful. Seemingly impossible to get through over the phone to place to go orders and the hint of arrogance of the "we are the best thai food in WS" resulting in poor service has finally lost me as a customer. I'm much happier over at Bang Bar!
(3)
Edward M.

We were in West Seattle and had a fixing for thai food. Looked up best thai restaurants in Seattle and Buddha came up. We read the reviews, then ordered a bunch of stuff to go. Overall, everything was pretty tasty. The food definitely had some good heat to it. We like spicy food and ordered everything 3 star out of a possible 4. The portions were generous, much better then most of the places I've been on Capitol Hill. The only item that was small was #29 a tofu broccoli item. Not a very big portion, so I would skip ordering that the next time. This was a great place for take out, especially if your too lazy to cook. The restaurant is pretty cute too, nice little bungalow. I wouldn't mind eating there also.
(4)
Margarita K.

Food is delicious! But the service is greatly lacking. Perhaps it is just the mannerism of the staff, but the people seem standoffish, and less than pleased to take care of you.
(2)
Anthony Z.

Best Thai in Seattle that I've been too and I've been to alot because I'm actually from Seattle! PS I dont like yuppies :)
(5)
Jessica E.

Was craving some tummyyummy soup. Ordered in for pick up. Not very pleased, it has hard leave and hard pieces of lemon grass. Just ugh. I had to pull something out of my mouth almost every bite and that's not cute. Also got cashew chicken that was okay, very small portion for dinner plate. And don't even get me started in the rice. What is it with places charging per rice order? $2.00 for an order of rice? I guess I'm just used to rice coming WITH a plate. I mean.... I just don't get it.
(3)
Chris B.

This is some of the best Thai food I've had in Seattle. The dining room is cramped and some areas of it are downright uncomfortable so I would recommend ordering for take out.
(4)
Megan C.

Crab Fried Rice is the most amazing I've ever had!
(5)
Lili P.

One of the best restaurants in the west Seattle area. The restaurant is always busy, so I've mostly ordered take out . It's a standard Thai menu and they have a couple daily chef specials , so if you order take out just ask what they are. It's been awhile since I've ordered from here and For some reason I was really craving phad Thai today. The phad Thai here is definitely the tamarind based sauce , not the ketchup red version. Also it isn't very saucy .. It's more of a drier style noodle which I really like And it's just subtly sweet . Add a few wedges of limes and I am in heaven *thumbs up! I also ordered trout salad and it was beautifully packed! 15 mins later I get home and The trout is still deliciously crispy. It has a nice gingery , tangy, spicy cabbage slaw on top of the filet of fried trout. One of the specials today was the taro fried rolls. It's stuffed with fresh taro and some water chestnuts served with a plum sauce . I love taro however the filling needed something aromatic , like maybe a hint of cilantro, to enhance the flavor. The dishes are pricier for a stAndard Thai restaurant but the portions are very generous and the food is consistently good. Phad Thai around 11$ and trout salad 15$.
(4)
Madison G.

Super busy. Not sure if this place takes reservations or not, but it would be a good idea to make one if they do. This place is packed with everyone in West Seattle who loves Thai food. Not a fan of their crab wontons here, but that's about the only thing from here that I don't like. I'm pretty boring and get the chicken phad Thai an beef / chicken pad see ew. You won't be disappointed. Fast and friendly services, as well.
(4)
Tom F.

I love Buddha Ruska, they have a wonderful; Panang Curry and their Crispy Garlic Chicken is incredible! They are great for carryout and wonderful for dining in. I have nothing bad to say about them, go and enjoy wonderful Thai cusine.
(5)
Anthony W.

They are hit or miss lately, not sure what's changed in their kitchen but my order tonight of pad see ew was really flavorless
(3)
Gilad B.

Strong 4 star. Great food, great drinks, good overall. Their garlic chicken dish is out of control. Try it.
(4)
Dom M.

Really weird experience. I've maybe had service like this at a bad restaurant in Europe. Our waiter acted like he could barely stand to be near us for more than 30 secs. He practically ran from us when he left our table. No one offered us anything other than taking our order, so my boyfriend walked up to the bar and requested two beers. The waiter dropped soup off at our table, took our orders, then someone brought the food. It was decent Thai food, there are no complaints in that area. However, about 30 mins later I had a strange reaction - my face flushed and I got a rash from my face down to my decollete and arms. I can't help but imagine the waiter put something in my curry!
(3)
Wickerlady V.

Lovely ambience, nice service and delicious food. We had an all vegetarian meal. Went here a day before Valentine's day to escape the crowd. Finding the place is easy, and street parking at 9 PM was super easy too. We got the best table in the house, and ordered some Marimoto soba beer. Definitely try it, it is a light and tasty brew by Rogue, and is perfect for thai food, better than thai lagers! The deep fried spring rolls were yum and quite filling. Those of you who've read my reviews, you already know that I ordered pad thai :) We ordered pad thai and basil fried rice with a yellow curry side. Somehow, the 3/5 spice felt closer to 4, because of which my burning mouth couldn't experience the flavors too well. The Beer helped. Seriously, try it. Basil fried rice was slightly less spicier, and was flavorful. pad thai also felt a little oilier than normal. I didn't mind it, but I felt like having some hot water afterward. Notwithstanding these mix ups, I still thought the flavors were very well done, and will defly go back to try their pad thai again, this time 2/5 spice :)
(4)
Liz K.

Called ahead for 4 and was a little worried that they wouldn't be able to accommodate us. They said we may still have to wait. However, when we arrived, we were greeted by a very nice lady who sat us promptly. Our table shared the crispy garlic chicken and it was amazing. I could get just that and be happy. I order pad kee Mao and was very satisfied. It was delicious. My husband ordered some other noodle dish very spicy but I know he enjoyed it because there was little conversation coming from his side of the table and a clean plate at the end. Portion sizes were substantial but not overwhelming. We will for sure be back.
(5)
Mia D.

I just absolutely love their Crispy Chicken Curry (Signature dish) and their Phad Thai is amazing... You do need to prepare in advance by either making reservations or waiting a long time.
(4)
Lucia C.

Service is always friendly and their crispy garlic tofu is the best! If you are going on Friday or Saturday, make reservation as this place is popular
(5)
Monica T.

I've gotten lunch takeout from here multiple times, and every time the food is SO GREASY. Be prepared for a pool of oil at the bottom of your poorly seasoned stir fry.
(2)
Kasi W.

i was in town visiting friends. the yellow curry was fantastic! so many times restaurants will try to "fancy" up the curry with random veggies. this was perfect and not too spicy. they charged for the white rice - which i thought was a little odd considering you need it for the dish. also, their front hostess is anything but polite. it was busy and she never even acknowledged me. luckily a waiter came over and helped me out and he was great. i still highly recommend.
(4)
Gloria K.

It's an easily passed spot, as the location is somewhat hidden and doesn't stand out. But I'll tell you one thing, once you find your steps to this little gem, you'll find it in your sleep. West Seattle has a ton of hidden gems, but this place? I don't even know where to start. It's a small joint with dazzling food, so expect a wait for dinner as their rush can get pretty intense. Maybe try take out? Food is just as amazing. The dim lighting really sets the mood. Service? Outstanding. Always kind and welcoming, although English may not be 100%. They've got your givens. The noodles, curry, and the average starters. However, their food is anything but average. Taste bud orgasm! Not too salty, not too sweet. Try the seafood combo pad see ew! And don't forget the fried ice cream for desert. You'll die, it's so good. Dream up a perfect dinner night, head over to Buddha Ruksa. And if you plan to dine during a typical dinner rush, maybe try calling in a reservation? It'll save you the wait! Now close this review and get your butt over!
(5)
Jeremy V.

In my opinion, there are much better Thai restaurants out there. We ordered the garlic crispy chicken and portion was too small and burned. Asked for a dish with shrimp and eggplant (don't remember the name) and was horrible. After I saw the good reviews online I expected something way better than what we got.We went to Buddha Ruksa after so many people recommended, The food was not as good as Thaitan, not fresh, not tasty, smaller portions. They only have better marketing and nice space, but as far as food, Thaitan has such a better food quality, freshness, great taste. The only thumbs up would be the environment, but personally, I don't like paying for it! I rather like having a well prepared food. I tried 3 times Thaitan here in West Seattle, and they were SO MUCH better and cheaper. Overall, I don't recommend this restaurant. Regarding Thaitan, In my opinion, this is the BEST Thai restaurant in West Seattle. Everything you order here is always EXCELLENT! It's a small place, not fancy but since I like paying for good food, I am happy going there. Now we go to Thaitan 2-3 per week. My favorite dishes are: crispy garlic chicken, drunken noodles, chicken with spicy eggplant and fried rice...hummm!!! I love this restaurant! Great place to order to pick up, and have a great meal at home, or at Alki with an awesome view....
(1)
katy A.

Very good slightly dressed up traditional Thai. This place was really really good but also really really hyped so I was only kinda impressed. Its on my street though so I'll give it 4 stars. I was kind of miffed because I had a reservation but still had to wait 15 min. Its a popular place! The crispy garlic chicken is a must.
(4)
Nicki N.

Loved the Crispy Chicken!
(4)
B J.

LOVE THIS PLACE!!! There is nothing else in this world like the crispy garlic chicken!!! Try it, you won't be disappointed :)
(5)
Miami N.

They have best thai food I've had. They are slightly spendy but the food never disappoints me. My only gripe is that I swear they take the phone off the hook sometimes. They'll be unreachable for looong periods of time when you want to order take out. Other than that they're great!
(4)
Brad E.

This place is delicious! My favorite by far is the crispy garlic chicken. They have great curry as well. One tip, they do get busy... So if your feeling impatient I wouldn't suggest going on a popular night, or just call in an order.. Other than that, this place is awesome!
(5)
Seattle G.

4 stars for my favorite Thai food! I have oy ordered take out here but the good is wonderful. Big hits are the chicken pad Thai, Tom kha soup, green curry and fresh rolls. Steak salad for lunch is a favorite as well. A word of advice, make sure to speak clearly and ask the person taking your order to repeat it before hanging up. Food is consistently good and their customer service is always exceptional.
(4)
Robert F.

Best Thai food in West Seattle. The vegetables are nice and fresh. We have always ordered carry-out, but the interior of the restaurant appears to be nice and cozy. We'll try dining in one of these days. If you decide to give it a try and order carry-out, make sure to order at least 30 minutes before you want to pick up. Because it's good, it's popular and requires a longer wait time.
(5)
David G.

3.5 stars. I like many places better in San Francisco: Larb Gai minced chicken in spicy lime juice, tossed with onion, mint leaves, basil and cilantro. garnished with a wedge of cabbage and sticky rice. Nothing special okay flavor just not amazing. Swimming Rama stir- fried with chicken on a bed of spinach, topped with homemade peanut sauce. Again okay dish but nothing special Yellow Curry. Spicy yellow curry, with coconut milk and potato, carrot, served with a cucumber relish and tofu. Great spicy flavor..one of my favs. Phad Kee Mao:stir- fried fresh wide rice noodles plus egg, onion, broccoli, bell pepper, tomato and sweet basil with special chili sauce. Very good but dinky portion....where did the order go?? And finally the garlic chicken is the friggin bomb. crispy fried chicken, sauteed in a rich garlic sauce, served on the top of crispy greens.....Fuck it I should have ordered 5 orders of this....it was damm good....chicken is sorta charred and dusted in amazing garlic.
(3)
Melissa C.

Oh my god! Is there a level of stars for OH MY GOD? this place is the real deal. If you like Thai then DO NOT MISS
(5)
Matt B.

Crack chicken. Crack. Chicken. I've been here twice - dine in once, and take-out once. Both times, crack chicken. Dining in is only OK. The tables are crowded in, so there is very little room to navigate between tables. I had to be extra conscientious just to avoid falling into someone. The service when you're in there is marginal. It took a strangely long time for someone to come over and bring us water and menus, and another fairly long time for someone to come back to take an order. Water glasses were refilled regularly, but they had a lot of people doing that, so it wasn't an issue. But the crack chicken. Spicy, garlic, and chicken. Really good stuff, and slightly dry (which I don't mind at all). Now, I'm a person who likes a LOT of spice, and I ordered my chicken as a 5 on a 1-4 scale. It had a little bit of heat to it, but nothing that I would consider "extra spicy." So that was very slightly disappointing, but everything else about the meal was awesome. So yeah - try the crack chicken. The second time here, order something else. But make sure you have the crack chicken. And, you know, gimme some...
(4)
J A.

Just stick to signature dishes. I ordered Rad Nah for take out and it was a flavorless gray corn syrupy concoction that smelled like a*#$. I think they kick out so much food that quality is starting to suffer. The crispy chicken is really good though. I will give these guys a break for a while.
(2)
Cherie M.

The food is very good. Can't complain about that because we've had take-out once and dine-in once and not had a bad dish. I agree with the others here, customer service and service in general is atrocious. They must think because they are so popular and packed (we had to wait an half hour on a Tuesday night) they can treat people any way they like. I would think that ultimately that would start to bite them in the patootie because there will be those (my husband, for one) who will not put up with it. We arrived to a full "lobby" area and the guy at the desk was taking a long phone order. He didn't address us for at least 5 minutes and umpteen servers walked by without acknowledging us. We finally got on a waiting list and were told it would be 15. It was 30. At one point they had 4 to-go orders sitting on the counter, the guy continued to be on the phone, and the chairs in the lobby were never empty. Our server had to be asked twice for my beverage. She pretty much didn't come back after she took our order. The various dishes were delivered by others. I asked for one of my dishes with no scallions and it was covered with them. She, they, no one asked if we liked our meal or had what we wanted. They are either under-staffed or they just don't care. I like Thai food okay, so I can't say I am a particularly good judge. My husband LOVES it, but he won't be back because, even though we are big supporters of small business owners, we don't support people who don't get that it is ALL ABOUT COMMUNITY.
(3)
Loren G.

This is my family's Thai food standby and has been for the last 9 years! The curries and the appetizers here are the best that we've had in the city so far. There are 2 or 3 other Thai food places that are closer to our home, but we keep coming back to Buddha Ruksa! Keep up the good work!
(5)
Sac-Nicte C.

Crispy garlic prawns always deliver. I haven't ordered a single thing that I don't love. Delicious basil martini, too. Great atmosphere. The price is a little high, but for the quality of food and cozy ambiance, in my opinion it's totally worth it. Great "team" mentality on the staff's part, too. No one was "too busy" for us or "not out server".
(5)
Sam N.

Buddha Ruksa is pricey for Thai, but the food is excellent. There's a distinct possibility I'd sell my body in exchange for their crispy garlic tofu, too, which is arguably the best tofu I've ever had. Sadly, however, nobody on their staff has propositioned me w/such an offer ... yet. ;-)
(4)
Megan A.

Two words: crack chicken. Sometimes when I am practicing Muay Thai, the smell from Buddha Ruksa wafts over to the gym and I begin to crave some crispy basil garlic chicken. After class, I usually go and stare longingly through the windows, much to the dismay of the customers. The chicken is tender with a smokey flavor and is complimented by the slightly sweet basil. I even enjoy the tofu version of this meal and I don't even like tofu. Texture is nearly as important as taste - it is the crispiness that keeps me coming back. The line for those ordering take-out is usually longer than the line for those waiting to eat in, so be prepared to wait a few minutes to satisfy your crack chicken addiction.
(4)
Katherine T.

My review is based off of two separate trips to Buddha Ruksa, one where we ordered take out while the other was a dine-in experience. A few weeks ago, our favorite Thai food truck was closed for a period of time due to Christmas and we were itching for some delicious Thai. I have had Buddha Ruksa bookmarked on my Yelp for quite awhile and this was the perfect chance to order. We called our order in - Pad Thai, Crispy Garlic Chicken and an order of fried rice. The order was prepared quickly and the food was fairly delicious the first time. Everything was super flavorful, the fried rice was awesome and the chicken was pretty darn good, slightly dry but satisfying. The guy who rang us up had some attitude when we attempted to pay with Amex. As a person who works in a similar environment, it's customer service 101 not to be a dick, keep in mind we weren't those pushy people who insisted they try and run the card. The second trip, we had a party of 4 who wanted to have an early dinner at 4:30pm on a lazy Sunday. We enter, about 3 tables are occupied and they place us in the very middle of the room. Since my sister had her newborn with her, we requested if it was possible if we could sit at the unoccupied booth. The hostess was a bit awkward and refused due to a reservation at 7PM... She responded in a defensive way, we told her "Okay, we were just curious". A little weird but I respected their policies while the rest of my party was a bit peeved. We ordered Spring Rolls and Bags of Gold for appetizers. Pretty tasty, both came with a sweet sauce for dipping. Entrees we ordered included the Crispy Garlic Chicken and the Pad See Ew with beef. Overall the flavor was great, but the garlic chicken was a bit stringy and dry. My biggest issue was the beef that came with the Pad See Ew. The noodles and egg were freshly stif fried, but the beef was clearly a pre-cooked item that they throw in last minute. Not only was the beef tasteless, but the first bite I put in my mouth I had to work for a good 3 minutes until it had to be spat out into a napkin. I think that they should consider stir frying the beef fresh to order, even if it sacrifices a couple extra prep minutes. No one wants to chew on old rubber bands. Service this second time around was uncomfortable in an amount of ways outside of the "reservation at 7" situation. We had various employees coming to our table every 2 minutes asking if we were ready when we had placed the order with our waiter just minutes ago. When dishes were delivered to our table, the server would hand the items to us instead of placing it on the table. It also took the waiter a good amount of time to see we were ready for the check while chit chatting with the other employees just 10 feet away. Try caring more about the patrons in the business, you'll enjoy your job more. For the record, we were out by 5:45 and managed to make pit stops at Bakery Nouveau and Cupcake Royale. All in time to make it home at 6:30. This place has a great location and good flavors, but unless some changes are made, the customer service isn't worth paying for someone to wait on you.
(2)
BrieAna W.

best in west seattle
(5)
Brad H.

Came here today and ordered 2 lunch specials to go. Comes with brown or white rice. Kinda annoyed I have to pay extra for sticky rice. Also annoyed that the cup of soup is only for customers who are dining in. When questioned, the server said I'd have to talk to the owners. When I asked if I could speak with the owner and or manager, of course none of them were working at that time.
(1)
Susan R.

Is it possible to make that 10 stars? I love everything about this restaurant. The food is consistently spectacular as is the service. Crispy Garlic Chicken, it must be said, is one of the best dishes I've ever tasted. The curries also delight as does the Three Flavored Fish. However, mouth-watering food is not all this neighborhood restaurant offers. I'm amazed that the wait staff always seem to recognize me although I eat here maybe once a month. One waitress in particular should really have her own comedy show. The space itself is large windowed with dark wood and tasteful decor. Hands down this is one of the best restaurants in Seattle with the best Thai food anywhere: fresh, full-flavored, and beautifully served. Even my foodie friends from Massachusetts agreed.
(5)
Danna L.

Service was ok, food was bland, the tofu in one of our plates had soured and tastes like it had gone bad. The calamari was not seasoned - and came plated with piece of burnt something from the fryer. Our curry was really salty, so much so that we didn't even eat it. Let's just say we won't be going back
(2)
K T.

Haven't had everything on the menu obviously, but more than pleased with what we have tried every time. We like take-out and this place can be take-out hell with the volume of business they do and the utter lack of parking. We do it but it is usually mid-week and before the dinner rush. I think any service complaints are due to the volume of business again.
(4)
Vy T.

Hmmm...I have kinda mixed feelings about this place. Five of us decided to beat the rain and winds, to come here-wait for 40 minutes. I just looked at Yelp and ordered quick since we were all hungry bears. Garlic chicken, pad see eww, pad thai, pinapple fried rice and a sampler appetizers. Yes their garlic chicken is BOMB but everything else were okay. Pad thai and see eww were underseasoning. Fried rice was too wet and hmmmm...have big chunk of Chinese sausages in it. Kinda off! And portions were kinda small or is it because the place was too busy?! Service was fine.... I might be back and do the garlic crack chicken togo :)
(3)
Maria A.

Uggghhh tried calling about 15 times to place an order for takeout. No answer or straight to voicemail!!! I'm so irritated! The food is great but come on ANSWER YOUR PHONE!!! They lost an order for 4 people tonight.
(2)
Lisa L.

The crispy garlic chicken is amazing! And so is the crab fried rice. You can see the chunks of Dungeness crab and there is a generous amount of it. Thai iced tea is also really good. I've been to plenty of Thai restaurants in Seattle, and this is one of the top.
(5)
Vik M.

The cashew chicken and the garlic chicken were amazing!!! I cannot even begin to explain how delicious their food is. Definitely try this gem out! PS- 1-2 stars is not spicy AT ALL... definitely order spicy level 3 for a mild kick (they go up to 5 but I don't want to put my intestines through the trauma of a level 5 pad thai)
(5)
Shannon T.

Best service. Great food.. would go back anytime.. staff were so friendly and food was cooked to perfection
(5)
Marybeth C.

Before you look at my star rating, please read my story on their HORRIFIC customer service. On a Wednesday morning, I tried calling for two hours to put in an order for an afternoon pick up. After no one answered their phone, I came in around 1:30pm to put the order in in person. The restaurant was packed, there were 6 people sitting in the waiting area, and two other people standing at the counter - I assume waiting for their pick-up order. I stood at the counter for 10 minutes before anyone addressed me. Waitresses walked past, back and forth, never asking if I had been helped. Finally, a man who had been standing behind the counter, who had even made eye contact with me multiple times while I stood there waiting, finally asked me, "What do you want?", I calmly said to put in an order. "Did you call?" "Yes, for the past 2 hours, no one answered" - and with that he threw up his arms, "I don't have time for you, leave, leave" and waved his hands towards the door. I was embarrassed and shocked by his rude confrontation. The people around me seemed embarrassed, too, but kept their eyes on the ground. I couldn't believe I was addressed in that way, I was too embarrassed to respond. I turned around and left - mad, disappointed, full of shame, and with an empty stomach. I am now instantly reminded of the Seinfeld Soup Nazi. The only way a restaurant can get away with being shockingly rude to a customer is if the food is simply incredible. And their damn Garlic Chicken/Tofu is the most amazing dish ever. I never, ever order tofu but the way they caramelize the dish, the tofu becomes so yummy - it's crispy and soft, amazing. The chicken can get a little chewy, so I think from now on I'll order it with tofu. Their pad thai sucks. Despite how embarrassingly rude they were to me... I'll probably go back. Is that sad?
(4)
Gary W.

The Good - great menu great value nice decor - The Bad - very crowded no TV at the bar - The Ugly - wine per glass is expensive based on the quality of the wine
(4)
Daniel R.

Cute and cozy Thai restaurant in Seattle -- to be very honest probably the most delicious Thai food I've ever had, but then again, I don't eat Thai food often, but still, it was very delicious. All dishes we had were delicious but my favorite had to be the garlic chicken!
(5)
Trevor R.

I would say the food here is amazing, but the truth is, I don't really know much about the menu because I've only ever ordered one thing... Crispy Garlic Chicken, otherwise known as Chicken Crack. It is ridiculously good. I think about it in the middle of the night... seriously.
(5)
Katherine C.

Have not been disappointed in this place yet!! I took my two skeptical friends to this place. It was such a hit!! My one friend realized how bad the Thai food was in her area after eating here. We ordered the Sour Soup with shrimp...Nom Nom!! We ordered brocolli beef, Fried rice, their signature garlic roasted chicken, and broccoli beef.. The food was perfect. It was nice watching the "wow" expression cross their faces. It was so good, we returned all two days for some more garlic chicken. Definite hit!!
(5)
Candace M.

Sooo good , still talking about the crispy garlic chicken! Wonderful service topped off a great experience !!
(5)
Anthony C.

Best Thai I've every had, nothing bad to say about this place. Crack chicken is delicious, crab fried rice, spring rolls, mojitos, curry. Hoping to try it all.
(5)
Mister S.

Disappointed. This place has great Yelp reviews. We had to wait 45 minutes it was so busy, so I was really hyped it was going to be good. But the food was just ok. Nothing special, just average Thai food.
(2)
Sean S.

Soft ambiance with cozy seating. Service is good and the food is awesome! Had crab fried rice (excellent), brussel sprout with pork belly (excellent), and garlic chicken. Street parking only from what I saw but they do take out, which I saw a lot of people doing.
(5)
Bryan N.

Everyone here writes about the "Crispy Garlic Chicken"... and yes, it is very good, IF you get it cooked right. Maybe I have bad luck, but it's really a 50% chance if my chicken is actually juicy and not dried out. Again, don't get me wrong, the Crispy Garlic Chicken is fantastic if not over cooked/cooked right. Aside from this famous dish, everything else is as good as you will get in Seattle. Tip - If you order Phad Thai, ask for a little more Phad Thai sauce.
(4)
Amber L.

Excellent thai place thank you again yelp. We had a big party 14 people and came in late but they were awesome. We had pad ke ew which were excellent the pumpkin chicken wonderful shrimps with hot pepper. The tastes and flavors are awesome, not to over the top. The service is excellent (we were right by the kitchen though) and the food is some of the best we have had. Make the trip.
(5)
Shehryar H.

Terrible service. Called to make reservations, they picked up and put the phone aside for 5 min. Decided to drive in and their was an hour wait. Very unfriendly hostess. Horrible experience.
(1)
Julie H.

In case you are wondering, yes that is a huge long black hair in our pumpkin curry to go order! We were so disgusted by this we didn't eat the rest of our food that we ordered :( I called to tell them about it & they really didn't even care, mind you it was a week later because we went out of town, but REALLY? They said it was their "policy" to do something for you that night. So unless you call right away I guess you are screwed. She actually wanted me to bring it in to show her as if she didn't even believe me...she can look at the pic! She did eventually give me a free entree after I put up a fuss, but really should I have had too? The truth is I won't even go back free entree or not. The way she (Ann) handled this was terrible & left a bad taste in my mouth. It's too bad because we would order from them all the time. They lost a good customer & all she had to do was make things right! We will be going to Bang Bar for our Thai food from now on! VERY bad service!!! Stay away!
(1)
John J.

Food is really good, but the service is some of the worst I have ever seen. If you can, order out and save yourself the hassle....although you will be lucky to get through in placing an order on the phone. Best option is to walk in, place an order, go home for 40 minutes, and then drive back to pick up your bowl of soup. But seriously, delicious food!
(3)
Chris W.

Best Thai restaurant in West Seattle....one of the best in the state for that matter. Wonderful dishes, rich in flavor & spices. They are extremely consistent with their dishes as well. Every time we visit, the food never disappoints. Great ambiance & a very friendly staff. You'll want to get there early or order your food to-go as this place gets packed up fast. Happy to have this a regular spot.
(5)
A M.

I've found this place to be really inconsistent, which makes it hard to go back. I've had pretty good food at times, but have also had pork that was dangerously undercooked when they were really busy. The gross out factor thus outweighs the pretty good food you get when they are firing on all cylinders.
(1)
Pixel C.

This place is awesome. I eat here often when I'm in the area. One of my ways of judging a good Thai restaurant is their peanut sauce, let me tell you its is up there with Mae Phim downtown. (Another favorite place of mine). I've never had bad luck with service or with their food. Regardless of how busy or slow they are. (Waits can be longish during dinner rush, because everyone knows this is the place in West Seattle to get Thai.) All of my take outs and dine in has always been prompt and on the ball. I highly recommenced their Salad rolls and their beef pad thai.
(5)
Clint W.

We came here and the staff was all decked out in Halloween costumes! It was packed and we crammed in the bar to grab a quick dinner. Dark and noisy, with people crowded around waiting for a table, it wasn't the greatest place to land to eat. After some fried spring rolls that were piping hot, we grabbed some phad kee mao, pork belly with green beans and a stir fried basil dish with shrimp. Solid dishes, with the exception of the pork belly. Although she loved the dish, I thought the pork was fried to diamond hardness. I get crunchy, but these were like little rocks in my mouth and I didn't enjoy that them much. I got more enjoyment out of the green beans, that had that a citrus accent to them. Lemongrass? Not sure, but they had a nice twist to them. I haven't been here in awhile and it wasn't as great as I remembered, but still very solid.
(3)
Cucteen V.

My friend and I arrived shortly after they open so it was fairly empty. Including us, there were two other parties seated. We came from out of town so navigating to find the place was somewhat confusing as there weren't any visible signs from the road when you're going northbound. When we first walked in from the entrance on the bar side, the bartender, or maybe server, saw us but failed to acknowledge us. Not even a simple "hi" or "we'll be right with you." Instead, she continued with the lady that stood in front of her. Another server came from the main dining room. She prompted us to seat ourselves wherever we liked, which we did. Our server (can't recall his name) was unenthusiastic, but still helpful. We ordered their signature 'crack' chicken, pad khee mow, and panang curry. The food was AMAZING! Despite the mediocre service, I'd definitely return for the food. I suppose, growing up around a diverse group of asians and as an Asian myself, I've learned quality customer service is not integrated in the culture. Oh well, I came for the food anyways. The price was somewhat on the pricy side, but the quality doesn't disappoint.
(4)
julia p.

Amazing food, especially the garlic chicken! Had swimming Rama last time... Now in going to have problems making a choice!!
(4)
Vladimir K.

We thought this place sucked. Upon sitting down they plopped some chicken soup in front of us which was a waste because it tasted like Campbells and my GF is a vegetarian anyway. A noodle dish with peanut sauce looked nasty, it was a pile of vegetables with a blob of peanut gravy carelessly dumped on the plate, looking like somebody took a dump on it. Green curry had like 2 little slices of bell pepper in it, and the beef used in the curry was tough and not cut up correctly, so it was in this big weird piece. Fortune cookies were stale. Service SUCKED. Upon leaving, we contemplated the reasonable possibility of spraying fountains of hot vomit all over the pavement.
(1)
Christina K.

Buddha Ruska, rub my belly! This place is awesome -- the food is cooked at least pretty consistently well for me everytime I have been there. It's an overall well-rounded place and I love their menu selection. Waitresses are frequently smiling and interior decor is beautiful. Dishes ordered: Seafood pad kee mao, shrimp panang curry, garlic chicken, pad thai, spring rolls, appetizer sampler
(4)
robert S.

I really love this place and the food , which I don't have anything bad to say about BUT, the take out orders are a rip off ! what you get is nothing compared to the serving you receive if you eat it there. I realize that they can't put the same amount in the take out containers as if you were to eat it there, but they shouldn't be charging you for a full portion, when they don't even attempt to fill up the containers. tonight is the last time i order take out for $33.00 and open the package and each item is only partially filled and half empty. Sorry Buddha Ruksa..whomever you have on quality control for making sure your clients are getting what they paid for..should be fired ! I rating this only for this issues and not the food !
(1)
Dennis S.

Amazing. Great service. Quality food. Have been twice and have loved everything I've tried. The fresh rolls are the best I've ever had.
(5)
Lorin S.

The food is definitely worth the wait! Every time I've been it's extremely busy, but the service is always great and the food is fabulous. I love the quality of ingredients used here. You can even order take out if you'd rather not wait for a table--it's always hot and delicious, even when I get home.
(4)
Clara T.

Food was great, but 50 bucks for Thai food is a little steep for my cheap ass. The Mango Mojito was so sour and delicious, I gulped it down like a camel drinking water. Crack chicken is really good here, but I like the basil chicken! The bags of gold are hard to eat, and taste funny without the sauce. I will be back, the place has a nice atmosphere, and I would like to try the bar side! It looks really cozy over there! Oh, and they don't accept AMEX! BOO!
(4)
Ann W.

After I missed out on a friend's bday dinner at Buddha Ruksa because of work, my friends all raved about the food and told me that my husband and I HAD to go. I was so excited that I practically left my husband behind in the car after we parked because I was running across the street to the restaurant! Clearly this is a Thai restaurant that caters to the western taste but I really liked how the decor and furniture weren't over the top and gaudy (I'm looking at you, Green Leaf). It was subtle, simple, and cozy. I have to give props to their music selections....all the girls were there! Toni, Mariah, Whitney, Aaliyah! We ordered the much hyped crispy garlic chicken, phad kee mao, and the prawns and pumpkin curry. The crispy garlic chicken was not at all what I expected. It was served luke warm, which was the first strike. It really wasn't crispy unless you ate the burnt pieces. It wasn't all that garlicky either. The chicken was also very dry. And why the whole thing was literally covered with handfuls of herbs is beyond me. (For a much better crispy garlic chicken, try Chantanee in Bellevue. Pricey and overly fancy, but it is a delicious dish.) Moving onto the phad kee mao, it was pretty standard. Nothing bad about it but nothing great. The favorite of the night was the prawns and pumpkin curry. Although we ordered it mild, it was still pretty spicy. There were tons of prawns and huge pumpkin pieces as well as red bell peppers. I loved that they didn't skimp on the prawns as I have come to expect from more expensive Asian restaurants. This dish was just delicious and hearty and I would return to eat this any day. Overall, it was a pretty okay experience. The food is too pricey and the overall portions are too small, but this is to be expected in a westernized Asian establishment. It is definitely not Chinatown, but you are paying for the ambiance and location, I suppose.
(3)
Maddie R.

Buddha Ruska is a nice little neighborhood Thai restaurant in West Seattle. I tried the spicy green beans, the crispy garlic prawns, and the pad thai. They weren't kidding..those beans were spicy! Even though I ordered a 1! The crispy garlic prawns were a tad bid burnt but still delicious. I can definitely see why this is a favorite. The pad thai was good..nothing to write home about. It was a little bit drier than pad thai I've had other places. Not disappointed just not Wow'ed. This place is also not the cheapest restaurant you could eat at. I paid $43 (before tip) for two entrees and a side. Anyway, if you live close to this place, definitely try it. It's not worth coming across town for, though.
(4)
Stephanie K.

If I ever move away from West Seattle, I am packing up the entire staff of this restaurant & taking them with me. Cannot be without that crispy garlic chicken! *insert Homer-like drooling here* Everything else here is solid, but the crispy garlic chicken is truly outstanding, every single time. Even when you get it to-go!
(5)
Joshua B.

Great Thai where you can taste the care they put in their food all for a great price. I've been here twice. I love Thai food and it's about a five minute walk from my apartment. The first time I had the combo appetizer and some pad thai with chicken. I'm not personally a fan of fried spring rolls (I prefer fresh), but everything else in the combo was deep fried deliciousness. Of note, the fried squash had a wonderful sweet flavor that didn't even require any sort of dipping sauce. The pad thai had delicious noodles, great big chunks of chicken and lots of fresh, crispy sprouts and other greens mixed in giving it more of light feel to what is normally a heavy dish. The second time around I got the famous crispy garlic chicken and some crab fried rice. The chicken with three stars of spice (their requested spiciness level is based on a four star system) was great for a southern boy like me who likes some good zing with certain dishes without having to take a sip of water after every bite. However, the chicken was riding a fine line between well cooked and over done. The crab fried rice was amazing! The rice had great flavor and texture, again seeming a little lighter than normal fried rice. They did not skimp on the chunks of fresh crab (not krab) and with it all mixed together gave a rich and savory taste I had not found in any other Asian dish.
(5)
Joy P.

two star review for two star heat when 5 star was asked for! i know i'm going to catch hell for this review from some loyal local west seattleites but i think the scorn will come because we don't have a lot of g-o-o-d thai options on the peninsula. i've tried so hard to give buddha ruksa chance after chance but being someone who loves her food super spicy, no amount of begging or asking more than once when i place my phone order gets me a reliably consistent spicy take out dish. maybe they don't believe their customers can handle the heat and they err on the side of caution to avoid bad reviews. the quality of the food is good and sometimes the wait can be long but when what i'm craving is a spicy phad khee mao and what i get home is the wimpiest five star i've ever had, something needs be said. i've done take out here enough times for them to get this right and it's just not reliable enough to keep coming back. sorry, buddha ruksa. i'll be going down the street and a little further away from my house but at least when i next come home expecting five stars, i'll likely get it.
(2)
Claudia C.

a little hard to find for the first time and parking was minimal but the food was amazing. great flavor with a good balance of spice and awesome staff. will definitely be revisiting this place.
(5)
Marjory B.

Walked in at 6:30pm today. This place was craaazy busy, both with people waiting for tables and waiting for takeout. I ordered takeout and water was brought to me while I was waiting which was nice. Only took about 10 minutes for my order to come up. I ordered the crispy garlic chicken, of course (since so many of the reviews on Yelp raved about it) and the vegetable pad thai. They both smelled and looked delicious upon opening the containers. Taste, however, was just alright - not amazing. I will admit despite the some of the mediocre reviews, I had high expectations but am going to chalk it up to it being dinner time on a Saturday evening.
(3)
s s.

The food here is very good, as is the service, the people that work here are all super friendly
(5)
Linh N.

My expectation was too high. Being from West Seattle and loving Thai food as much as I do. I was dying to try Buddha Ruksa. I kept hearing all my coworkers and clients talk about it, so one night I dragged my boyfriend out for dinner. [ He's not too fond about trying new places since he already has his favorite.] We got there around 6:30 on a Thursday night. Was not busy. First thing I notice was the decor, loved it. Wait wasn't long at all. We ordered chicken satay, pad see ew, crispy garlic chicken, and two Thai coffee. Chicken satay: Very flavorful and season perfectly, but the peanut sauce was lacking some flavors. Pad see ew: I was actually really disappointed about this dish because I love pad see ew. It was bland and there was no flavor to me what so ever. Even the chicken taste plain in this dish. Crispy garlic chicken: I kept hearing amazing reviews about the crispy garlic chicken, but it was overly salty and taste burnt. I don't know, I couldn't see what all the talk was about. The thai tea was probably the only thing I enjoyed. They made it strong and not sweet like other places. So, why two star? Well we encounter a rude staff on our way in and I did not like that during our dining the waitress were just standing around gossiping. Being someone that use to work in the food service industry, I didn't think it was very professional at all. Overall food was okay, service could have been better. Was definitely our first and last trip there.
(2)
Rikta N.

I went here with a group of friends and we ordered multiple dishes to share. I wasn't too impressed. The food is a little underwhelming. It felt like the flavors were not fully developed. The crispy garlic chicken with basil that everyone raves about was good but I have had better. The service was good albeit a little slow. Overall an ok experience.
(3)
P. B.

Awesome Thai food in a beautifully-decorated restaurant with an intimate feeling. Made same-day dinner reservations which was probably a good idea because the restaurant was pretty full on a Wednesday before 6pm. Impressive. Solid wine list and monthly specials. The crispy garlic tofu (subbed out chicken) was delicious. Perfectly seasoned and the soft tofu was a nice dichotomy with the crispy exterior. Also had the pad kee mao (great) and a pumpkin dish that was a monthly special. Highly recommend.
(5)
Spencer R.

The garlic crispy chicken is better than sex
(4)
Nanditha G.

Crab fried rice is amazing!! Everyone's right about the crispy garlic chicken. It was soooo good. We were just visiting Seattle and we'd definitely stop here next time we're in Seattle! :) I took a star off because the yellow curry fried rice was burned at first, but we asked them if that's how it's supposed to taste like and they remade it. It was pretty good after.
(4)
Matt O.

I've eaten here a half dozen times now and can confidently say it's the best thai food in all of Seattle. The crispy garlic chicken is out of control and totally earns the name 'crack chicken' and their Phad thai is too die for. This is coming from a guy who loved in Thailand for a year so believe me when I say Buddha Ruksa is worth going out of your way for.
(5)
Johnny D.

Went here for lunch and they gave us complimentary soup. Filled with veggies and stuff compared to just broth. Prices were decent, around $8.50 a plate. no appetizers on the lunch menu or never received an appetizer menu. Place is kinda small, 12 tables about, can get pretty loud. There is a bar in the other room with a sorta cool dim vibe. Ordered Pad Thai and Pad Kee Mao both 2 stars out of 4. Didn't received my rice that's supposed to come with our meals. Says it comes with rice in the menu for the lunch special. Other guests received rice except us. . . . We got a plate full of food instead of half entree half rice. Wasn't sure if you had to ask for the special. wasn't clarified by waitress. Pad thai wasn't as tasty. Didn't really have much flavor other than the bean sprouts and lime. It just tasted like grilled noodles. didn't even taste the tamarind in the pad thai which is key. 2 stars wasn't even spicy. Pad kee mao was ok. Have had better. probably won't come back
(2)
Maggie D.

Definitely, one of my top five favorite Thai restaurants in Seattle. I am obsessed with the crispy garlic chicken! My fav app/entree Thai dish is the papaya salad and they only serve it sparingly. Please bring back the papaya salad.
(5)
Steve S.

Ask me if I really like Thai and you will get a resounding YES! So much so that I enjoyed my fav in Mukilteo for lunch, and when one of my best friends in the world asked if I wanted to try his go to Thai place for dinner, well...yeah, of course!! It was obvious from the moment we walked in that my friend was clearly a well known regular. Wow, the flavors....amazing. The service, well the nice ladies took excellent care of us, but I almost cried from laughing so hard, it was absolutely one of the best experiences I have enjoyed for some time.
(5)
Mae T.

great food! love the crispy garlic chicken, the bathing rama and the pad thai. a lil bit pricey but worth it!
(5)
Lvbebe B.

Plain and simple....great food, lots of options. Always fresh, flavorful. We are regular togo orderers, at least once a week we pop in for some chicken pad thai goodness along with a stirfry.
(5)
Joe M.

I usually get take out from this restaurant. Food is excellent, totally hooked on the thai chicken:) A must!
(5)
Ian B.

This place is very good Thai food, and it's possibly great if you are going to spend money one of the most expensive items on the menu like the duck, one of the specialty items. However, if you're just looking for some fresh Spring rolls and Pad Thai, I personally have tried better. I will say that they do a very good job with the spiciness where the spiciness does bring out the flavor in the food without becoming overpowering. However, I've had Pad Thai at other places around town that I like better--which is better quality at a slightly lower price such as Naam Thai Cuisine. My main problem with the Pad Thai here at Buddha Ruksa might be slightly stylistic. It just seems to be missing some key ingredients like the basil... In terms of service, the food is delivered quickly and it's much easier to find seating before 6 pm.
(3)
Ananda S.

Nice decor that transports you to Bangkok. Excellent, friendly service and the wait staff genuinely wants to get to know you. Food is fantastic and is comparable to what you get in Thailand. My wife and I have enjoyed each visit here and we use this place to celebrate our family events. The place is popular, so be sure to place a reservation.
(5)
Nick A.

This is legit Thai food. And it's not housed in a sketchy, dirty establishment as many good Thai places often are. I followed other Yelpers' suggestions and got the crispy fried garlic chicken and basil fried rice (with pork), along with the usual measuring sticks for a new Thai place: Pad Thai and Pad See-ew. The Pad Thai was average, but overall the food was fantastic. We'll get the crispy fried garlic chicken every single time. It was that good.
(5)
Sarah R.

With at least 30 visits under my belt... I think it's time for an update! Everything is still AMAZING. The food is unbelievably good, the service is excellent, the bathrooms are clean, & the atmosphere is great. Fresh spring rolls, pad kee mao, crispy garlic chicken/crispy garlic tofu.. ALL fabulous. I also enjoy the cashew chicken and the curry. But they aren't part of our "regular" order. Because this is a very small restaurant, you should expect to wait. Especially on weekends. The staff works quickly and efficiently to take care of everyone. But there are only so many seats! After traveling all over (including Bangkok), I can still say this is my favorite place for Thai food.
(5)
Ann E.

It's good solid Thai. Nothing special. Again trying to figure out what all the fuss is about.
(3)
Beatrice L.

cant go wrong here. really my FAVORITE thai place. I wish sometimes that they had multiple locations now that i dont work in west seattle ! phad thai here is the best phad thai anywhere in seattle. thaT's for sure. u kno sometimes the spicy level at thai places can vary depending on whos cooking, when you order etc. here, it's been consistent every time!
(4)
Sally R.

Terrible service, shitty curry. My waitress asked how our food was, I started to explain that I felt their massuman curry was a bit bland and mid conversation my waitress just turned and walked away. In fact she never came back. I had to find another waitress whom I belive to be the manager and she took away the curry and did not even offer myself and my boyfriend another dish but agreed to comp the curry. Then the manager goes on to explain that her coworker must be having a bad day and she was breaking glasses all day and apparently that's a bad omen. Seriously the nastiest curry I've ever had but great garlic chicken. Service is terrible.
(1)
Daniel R.

This place is good, but not amazing or anything out if the ordinary. The crispy garlic chicken was good, I rescind trying it out. Now they have spice levels from 1 to 4, if you really like spicy meals ask for level 5 because it's not spicy at all. I asked for level 5 and it did no damage at all. It's a nice place to go to, friendly host, but it's not anything out of the ordinary. I probably wouldn't go back any time soon.
(3)
Jinah Y.

Food first ... 1. Seafood Tom Yum soup - The seafood was fresh, the mushrooms were raw probably because they're were ginormous pieces. I really wish they would've cut them into smaller slices. Wouldn't order this again because of the overpowering hulk mushrooms 2. Pad Thai - Underwhelming, tasted too fish saucy. The sweet aspect of it was missing. 3. Garlic Crispy Chicken - If you like burnt chicken jerky this is your dish. The chicken was probably in the deep-fryer too long and with the seasoned batter it caused it to turn black. Didn't taste any garlic. I'd rename the dish "Not-so-garlic carcinogenic chicken" and judging by the other reviews it seems like everyone has experienced this. Service next ... I made a reservation - when we got there they told us we didn't. They even showed us a handwritten list that didn't have our name on it. I didn't care to argue whether I did or didn't. She kept emphasizing she didn't have our name but said she would get the next table for us. What she meant to say is she'll get the next table after the next 4 tables got their tables. She gave us vegetarian spring rolls gratis for our trouble - which was great because there would be no way in hell I'd ever pay for them - i.e. they were blah. The wait staff is very nice - I will give them that. It's ridiculously busy and I'm not sure why. It must be the water. The water with lemon was pretty on point. The music - early 90's RnB baby making music. Monica, Brandi, Boys II Men ... That was probably the best part of the dinner. Because I love listening to that kind of music while I eat. If you're looking for consistently well-flavored/prepared Thai food Bai Tong in Tukwila wins hands down. They have a ridiculous amount of 4-5 star reviews ... I don't get it. Looks like I'll be paying a visit to Jack in the Box later tonight.
(1)
Christine A.

Gooood Thai food! Friendly staff, and a comfortable place to escape to during the Seattle drizzle. The food was really great; Basil Fried Rice w/ Chicken; a bit of sweetness from the basil, but spicy still - loved it, and the Trout Salad too. Excellent seasoning and flavors! The Thai iced tea was delish and refreshing. Nice place for a chill evening.
(4)
Megan W.

I am so happy that someone recommended this place. We have only had carry out, but it was awesome! The crispy garlic chicken and crab fried rice is the best.
(5)
Nina N.

Probably one of the better thai restaurants in seattle. Great customer service, Great food, and always busy! I love a busy asian restaurant because it means fresh food!!! great fresh ingredients, and the turn over is a little faster because you can see everyone salivating while waiting for their food. I wuv this place!!!! Too bad it's in west seattle :( what to order - crab fried rice - phad kee mao - shrimp spicy eggplant!! I loveeeeeeeeeee eggplant! - kao sao sp? curry noodle dish!! SOOOO GOOD!! - phad prik khing - whatever meat you want. I always get chicken What I ordered and didn't like very much - garlic chicken it was on every table, and every time I order it, I wanted to like it, but it was hella salty, and it wasn't for me. I don't get the chicken crack dish as one of my friends called it, but it definitely was edible. but I will never order it again. But that still doesn't discourage me from coming here, and telling all my friends about this amazing thai restaurant!!!! :) I loveeeeeeeeee it here!!! crab fried rice to go please! :)
(5)
Anita T.

Amazing Thai food! Crispy garlic chicken and pad see ew are super yum. Definitely make a reservation (even on a weekday), otherwise you'll wait a bit. Regret that I didn't discover this place earlier!
(5)
Suzanne R.

My hubs and I love this place but hadn't been in awhile. We had two of his good friends in town from out of state, so we decided to drive out from the east side just for BR. We also had my brother and my friend who loves good Thai. We talked crispy garlic chicken the entire way over. Oh, how garlicky it is! The multitudes of crisped, caramelized garlic, the garlic dragon breath you're left with and just don't care. Oh how we wanted it. After we were done talking about it, two others in our group also wanted it. Sadly, on arrival, it just did not live up to our memories. There was no spice, no bite, no overt garlic flavor. There was garlic, but it was more an ingredient in the crispy coating than the show-runner. My friend said the chicken in her dish was dry, perhaps overcooked, so she wishes it had been sauced up to make up for that. Don't get me wrong, the dish was still tasty, but it was not the behemoth of flavor it once was, falling flat of expectation. Perhaps it was an off night for CGC. Unfortunate that it happened after we talked it up to out of town guests, but we will be back to try again. I'd give 3.5 stars if I could; hopefully later I can increse the rating. Other dishes: Bags of gold: Full of yummy stuff but perhaps too much fish oil, not my favorite flavor. Phad thai: Very oily, ok flavor, more what you'd expect from a mediocre Thai place. Crispy duck with panang sauce: WIN. My new favorite dish there; I will order this again. NOMNOM. Not sure why they put lettuce all over the plate, could use a better side/garnish, but does not matter because the duck is so good.
(3)
Kris C.

This is the best Thai restaurant that I have tried in the Seattle area and luckily it's 3 miles from home. It's a right off the West Seattle Bridge so everyone should try Buddha Ruska. I always get the Red Curry with shrimp and my boyfriend always gets the famous Crispy Chicken. I love my dish but the boyfriend "giant puffy heart" loves the Crispy Chicken, so if poultry is your bitch, he heartily suggests you try it out. The Thai coffee and tea is rad and we have never had to wait long for a table. The only negative is both of the dishes we get don't come with rice so you have to pay extra for it, but that seems pretty common in the Pacific Northwest.
(5)
Melissa A.

Oh my....Buddha Ruksa. We love this place. We usually fight over whether we're going to have the crispy garlic chicken or tofu. It's our favorite dish! Phad thai and Phad Kee Mao are solid dishes too. I feel like they're different (much better!) than other places. Service is always friendly and efficient. And they always seem to indulge our toddler's need for attention. Which she/we love.
(5)
A P.

This restaurant has great interior and friendly staff. Parking can be a hassle to find in the street. Here is why I gave it 2 stars. We have been here 3 times. The first time they burnt my friends food. We didn't want to complain but we decided to give them another try. The 2nd and 3rd time the food was very mediocre. For the price, I expect a lot better food. If the entrees were priced around $8 then I would probably give it 3.5 stars. For the price and food you get, 2 stars.
(2)
Jimmy M.

Place was packed but it was with the wait. The crispy garlic chicken was the best! Would definitely go back for that dish alone. Be prepared to wait especially on a Friday night.
(5)
Kate M.

Ordered Phad Thai, uploaded a photo. First bite screamed soy sauce to me. I understand Phad Thai is oily. I expect nothing less. But it lacked the creaminess of peanut sauce. As in there really wasn't much but noodles. I recommend Phnom Peng in the U District for Phad Thai. Oh, and the rice was dry. That was really disheartening. They serve water with lemon. Service seems hurried. But not rude. Neither completely friendly either. Clean bathrooms! Beautiful decor. Seems small on the outside. But surprisingly open on the inside. Tables are a little crowded together. I'm Asian, so I expect a little more for Phad Thai from a Thai restaurant.
(3)
Tien N.

My former coworker Pheara and I dined here. I'm not much of a West Seattle junction adventurer but this place has blown up at work with it's amazing feedback so I had to try! They had excellent papaya salad! The drunken noodles as I recall, wasn't as flavorful as I wanted it to be and the Phad Thai was not at all my favorite. I guess I've been so exposed to many Thai places i have grown a distinct taste for certain dishes. I would go back if it's convenient but maybe not for awhile
(3)
Kristine H.

I hate climbing on the band wagon and echoing other reviews... but when it comes to the Crispy Garlic Chicken, I have to echo what others have said. It IS like pure crack with succulent pieces of chicken spicy with chilies and garlic... and those fried basil leaves! Whew, it's good stuff indeed. Okay, now onto the rest of the review. I met a friend here for a lunch date and we arrived after the lunch rush. The restaurant was empty with the exception of another table that finished during our extended meal. We were talking a LOT and never felt rushed by the server to hurry and leave. She and I ordered several appetizers and split an entrÃ©e, pleased by everything that we had. I especially liked the calamari that was lightly dusted in rice flour with the sweet garlic-chili sauce. I could have made a meal of entirely that with some jasmine rice. Parking was tricky with only a few spaces in front of the restaurant. I ended up parking in the neighbourhood behind and walking a couple of blocks. And take care to not block someone's driveway. When I was leaving I noticed a wrecker removing someone's car and by the overheard conversation, it was for that very offense. Service was expedient and attentive without being obtrusive. The bathroom was clean as was the table and place settings. I'd come back here if I was on the west side and wanted Thai. And I'd definitely hope to have a lunch companion to split the calamari and their crack chicken with... or that might mean more for me! Note: I checked the option for wheelchair accessibility. This applies to half of the restaurant. The other half is down a short flight of stairs. If this is a concern, I would recommend calling ahead to ensure that your guest can be accommodated.
(4)
Ben E.

Delicious! I had the Chicken Tom Yum Soup and Crab Fried Rice to go. Perfect for two people when you're too lazy to make your own food.
(5)
Lauren D.

My favorite, favorite, favorite place to get Thai, hands down. Crispy garlic tofu is my jam! Waitstaff is pretty friendly too.
(5)
Gabe F.

The only reason I'm giving two stars is because the Tom Kha was excellent, and some of the best I've ever had! The drinking water was gross and very soft, calamari was completely overdone and chewy, and the crispy garlic chicken had a burnt garlic flavor without any sweetness. I poured the remaining duck sauce from the calamari on the chicken to give it some flavor. I won't be visiting here again.
(2)
Chris M.

One of my favorite restaurants in West Seattle. When I have have a craving for Thai food, this hits the spot. The food is great here - consistently good. It's not the most convenient location and finding parking can be a chore but it's worth it! Their garlic chicken is soooo good.
(5)
Gretchen F.

The food here is good and they are crazy busy. I'm kind of a green and panang curry snob and they make the cut - almost. I remember it being better over the summer. Maybe since they one Seattle's best Thai recently, the quality has gone down. I wouldn't say it's the absolute best but almost, as I said.It's nearly impossible to get through to order ahead on the phone but its worth the wait as the ambiance is good and the bar area is nice. Someone said to try the Basil Martini. I might do that sometime. Their Tom Yum Soup is a healthy choice on a cold winter day and is also yummy -no pun intended. But I would rather have the opportunity to order a small cup portion that was half the $9 price as an appetizer to dinner. Oh well. And I would prefer smaller mushrooms in the soup and not the gigantic floating cheap mushrooms that they put in there. I've been eating Thai food since Thai food became popular in Seattle in the late 80s early 90s. Citywide quality has overall gone down and the abundance of unique ingredients has slowly diminoshed. Buddha Ruska makes it at 75% of perfect for me.
(3)
Kat in the House s.

I was on business in Seattle and dined here with a local. I enjoyed the atmosphere and food very much... I would really like to give it a 41/2 star rating. It won't earn the perfect five because of the fact that the Tom kha soup had HUGE, yes Huge pieces of tough lemongrass pieces and 50 cent sized pieces of galanga. The entire soup was hard to navigate... There's really no discreet way to spit out such inedible items. I ordered the Panang chicken and my dining companion choked down on the Thai BBQ chicken- which was the size of a trash an lid. Fabulous entrees! I also enjoyed the cute basket the sticky rice appeared on our plates. A must dine in the city!
(4)
Farzeen J.

our favorite thai restaurant in west seatte!! If you forget to make a reservation, be prepared to wait; although it is never too bad. The Tom yum soup with shrimp is delicious, especially if you want to cure a cold. The pad khi mao with beef, and crispy garlic chicken are our favorites too. service is fast and friendly, and the interior design is great!
(5)
Jenn M.

I wonder if there are new owners. This place "used" to be consistently great. We ordered Pad Thai and Cashew tofu with brown rice for take out. Well, no brown rice and they gave me chicken instead of tofu. My husband had to drown his pad thai in peanut sauce to kill the fish taste and the chicken tasted gamey. Sadly, most of it went into the garbage.
(1)
Sarah L.

Came here for dinner about a week ago with my boyfriend. As we walked in we were lead into the dining room where the ambiance was romantic, comfortable and intimate. The lights dimmed, each table lit with a candle of its own. We were seated promptly next to the window, immediately noticing the small detail of the decor, the tiny buddha statues bordering the edge of the window. We began looking over the menu which was refreshingly versatile but we once again went with classic favorites, two star heat Phad Thai and Fried Rice, along with the crispy garlic chicken which I had heard great things about. The food arrived shortly and it all looked absolutely scrumptious. The Phad Thai not overwhelmingly large but the fried rice plentiful. The chicken looked the tastiest and it lived up to its good looks. The food was all amazing and of course we ended up with plenty of leftovers which our server was happy to box up for us. The service was impeccable as well and they obliged our every request. Overall I was very satisfied and can not wait to return to try some of the other dishes on the menu...and get a second helping of that garlic chicken!!!
(5)
Maren H.

If you're hungry for Thai and standing outside this place, go in. It's cute, the servers may be friendly if they're not too busy and the food is okay. Maybe I heard too much hype but I find their food to be run of the mill good. I'm not unhappy when I eat it, but I dont' crave it either. I get their curry dishes and it's decent. Not bad, not great. I find the prices to be pretty high for what I get too...
(3)
Michael T.

Wow! What a great find! Just moved into the area and stumbled across this place when some friends were in town visiting. Great little bar; really good food and nice pours on the drinks, They have a Huge following (and I thought I'd actually discovered someplace new! ; ) Would recommend reservations even on off nights as they get really busy, even on normally quiet nights. Wonderful staff from the front door to the servers, very clean and just an all around cool place. Highly recommended.
(5)
Sara A.

The best Thai food I've ever had! Every time we are in the area we have to stop here. The Crack Chicken is my favorite! So addicting!
(5)
Laura L.

Perfectly solid Thai, but in a city where Thai food is plentiful, and awesome. I had heard good things about Buddha Ruksa, and truthfully, there was nothing bad about our meal. The fried appetizers were delicious, and dare say, cracky. My signature Lemongrass Chicken was a bit underwhelming on the lemongrass, but was tasty just the same. I tried bites of my companions' food, and it was also good, but not spectacular. This place was quite a bit out of the way for me, so I wouldn't recommend a long trip to get here, however, if you're in the neighborhood, it's solid Thai.
(3)
Sandy Y.

WOOHOO! As soon as I was introduced to this place, I was in love! Having visited Thailand, this place is the real deal and legit! The people who own the restaurant are straight from Thailand and they know what real Thai food is all about! There's a reason why this place has crazy carry-out every night and a wait almost every weekday. No matter the night, this place is a sure thing and you don't want to miss out! I've come to Buddha Ruksa more than a few times and now that I've moved away from Seattle, it's always on the list of places to eat when I visit... it's that good! The lettuce wraps are scrumptious but unfortunately they are a special item. A must-have is the crispy chicken- it's like crack! I don't know what it is, but I just can't get enough! Just thinking about it right now makes me want to exceed my daily caloric intake to savor the deliciousness even at this late hour! Who cares, it's SO good! The crab fried rice is also a hit. You can't go wrong! Curries are also pretty delicious as well as the pad see euw but again, I have yet to really have anything that's been disappointing. Lucky, the front hostess is a gem and so sweet and on top of her game! The staff are always friendly and keep things moving! Definitely make reservations for large parties. All I can really say is YUM, YUM, YUM!
(5)
Lei L.

This place is good but really over-rated for the price. I would come back again but not on a whim. If it was a special occasion gathering sit down dinner, than sure I'll come back but otherwise, nothing superbly grand tasting about their food. It's thai food done right so I'm giving it 4 stars for taste. I'm docking off a star because it's a little pricey. They do have a great bar though and make lovely mojitos.
(4)
Andy T.

Wow! The Crispy Garlic Chicken ("Crack" Chicken) was AMAZING!!! Worth that alone to go to this must go restaurant in West Seattle! I also tried a bite of the Roasted Duck and that was delicious too!
(5)
Alice C.

Wow!!! I came with a friend last night for dinner- we split the satay, spring rolls, an order of phad thai (sans bean spouts) and the greatly mentioned garlic crack chicken. On a Saturday night, it was busy (I made a reservation, but I didn't see anyone waiting), but the service was on top of bringing out food and checking on customers like icing on cake. Our waitress made sure we were doing okay and refilled water repeatedly without being overly intrusive or awkward. The pad thai was good- I usually don't order it, but my friend is a stickler for it, and I wound up liking it a bunch because it was A) tasty, and B) ketchup free. I believe it was about $10, but we wound up having leftovers. The crack/garlic chicken was also good- crispy without feeling super heavy, and spicy and garlic infused without being overbearing. This could be a perfect entree with a side of rice. We wound up discussing nerd comic book stuff with the guy sitting next to us- glad to know the Seattle freeze can be broken! I want to come back.
(4)
Sarah W.

My favorite Thai place in Seattle! The garlic chicken is something you'll crave. Definitely make a reservation since it's a small restaurant and wait times can be long.
(5)
Sherry S.

It's about time I tried this place. BR has been hyped for years and I've been wanting to try it for a long while. Not to mention all this talk about the "crack" chicken. So, I entered with two questions in mind - Is this place as great as everyone claims to be? and, How much crack is really in that crack chicken? The first thing I noticed about BR was how small it was. I'm not so much of a clausterphobic kind of person but here, I couldn't help but feel like the next table was in my bubble. I felt like I couldn't really have a conversation because the next table was too close so they could hear everything I say but also, because they were so close, they were too loud. Anyway, the BF and I ordered... 1) Of course, the Crispy Garlic Chicken I was expecting to take a bite into heaven but reality hit. It was more like burnt, extremely crispy, poke at my gums chicken. Yes, the chicken did have lots of flavor but I think me not being so amazed by the flavor has a lot to do with my background and preference. I thought it was okay and nothing special. Just some ordinary chicken with lots of flavor - but not delicious on the spot flavor... if that makes sense. 2) Panang Curry I thought the panang curry was pretty good. It had the right amount of saltiness and sweetness to it. My bf disagreed and thought it was too sweet. I'll go with my opinion :) 3) Phad Kee Mao This was good but not the best I've ever had. Yet again, it was just how phad kee mao at most places taste and was good enough for me to think, yeah this is what Phad Kee Mao tastes like. No complaints. But, no rave. 4) Yellow Curry Fried Rice I guess you could say this was good also but not amazing. Yeah, it had lots of flavor but again, nothing to rave about. It tasted how you would think Thai Yellow Curry Fried Rice would taste like. The service here was on average okay to good. Everyone was friendly minus one who was, no offense, a bit too demanding and made us feel a bit rushed. Overall, BR is a good Thai place. They do have a lot of umph in their flavoring and you could tell they put a lot of effort into infusing all their dishes with that Thai-feel and taste. It's not my favorite but it's definitely nowhere near the worst. It just hasn't lived up to its hype for me. However, I do look forward to giving BR more chances for that. BR deserves higher than a 3 and for now I'll give them a 4 but wouldn't say I'm a fan yet.
(4)
Kelly P.

I had their spicy beef salad. I ordered a 2 on spicy level and had to ask for more kick. HOWEVER, you can always add spice, not take away. Next time I will know to ask for a 3. I ordered a fun chocolate expresso martini (I think? It is on the bottom of the drink menu in specialty drinks) after dinner. It was clear which is how a chocolate martini should be, in my opinion. We arrived at the end of their rush on a Thursday (around 7pm.) The service got progressively better as the rush cleared. I will go back at peak hours to determine their management/efficiency. The ambiance is great. Dark, intimate. Incandescent lighting. The decor on the far left wall looks like a bunch of x-rays, but that may just be because I am in the healthcare field!
(4)
Zoranna C.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PLACE!!!! My god, best thai ever! IM A HUGE FAN OF THE PANGANG CURRY AND PAD THAI! the service is amazing and the ladies that work here are nothing but sweetness! but get there early or have a reservation for they get PACKED! and its no fun to wait, although that food there is worth the wait! ALSO TAKE NOTE: THEY ARE CLOSED ON MONDAYS!!!!!
(5)
Alanna M.

This is my ultimate favorite place for Thai food. I am somewhat critical of Thai restaurants because Thai food is very similar to my own traditional style of cooking. One of my pet peeves is Phat Thai tasting like it's drowning in ketsup. As far as I know.... Phat Thai is not traditionally meant to taste like spaghetti. I don't think you can really go wrong with any of the dishes here. The garlic chicken is one of their specialities and it really is pretty good. It's accompanied with fresh fried Thai basil which is nice. I love the seafood medley cooked in a red chili paste. The decor is nice and doesn't look like they just threw things on the wall. Lots of traditional wood Thai carvings. Staff is friendly too. It can get busy during the rush and I often time like to take my food to go.
(5)
Ke'ala B.

I have been here many times and the food has either been amazing or awful. I think it really depends on the cook. I went here for dinner one night and ordered Phad Kee Mao which is usually amazing, but I think they gave me someone's order from hours before because the food was cold. There takeout dishes are very small, they don't even fill the container. Last year I only gave them a five dollar tip and when I checked my bank statement, they had added ten dollars instead of five. I haven't been back since.
(2)
A M.

Very busy but they got us in quickly! The menu is quite long which made me kind of wary I usually prefer for restaurants to excel at just a handful of dishes rather than be just sub par with 20 other dishes. But no not the case! I'm no thai food purveyor but this place fit the bill!
(4)
Monty H.

I've come to Buddha Ruska numerous times. My wife and I love it! We usually order the pad Thai and the crispy garlic chicken. The food here is delicious!!! The only reason I gave this place a 4 and not a 5 is because when you place an order to go and pick it up the quality just doesn't seem the same as its not as tasty and seems like they just mush it up in a box. However, we go here all the time and I recommend everyone to try it especially the garlic chicken. Make sure you eat it there to get the best experience!
(4)
Kate T.

We just moved to West Seattle and this place was highly Recommended to us. We ordered take out last night and was NOT disappointed! We ordered the crispy garlic chicken, chicken pad Thai, Thai fried rice and crab wontons. Probably the best pad Thai I have ever had and I LOVE pad Thai! Go! Go! Go! We will return again and again!
(5)
Adam ..

Best Thai in Seattle. Location is fine, but prices are cheap enough to make this great for takeout, too. The only thing is it can be inconsistent. e.g., the Pad Thai has come super sweet with an overabundance of sauce. So we've had a couple of bad experiences, one of which left us wondering if we'd come back. But I'm glad we did. The majority of the time it is spot on and wonderful. We enjoyed the Crispy Garlic Chicken, Pad Thai, Massamun Curry, Swimming Rama, and Panang Curry.
(5)
Grace Y.

The crispy garlic chicken is tasty. Would not recommend the pad thai. Generally I thought the food was OK, but not as good as the reviews would suggest. Service was friendly and quick. Atmosphere very cute, somewhat chic, with a full bar.
(3)
Cheryl R.

I think the food at Buddha Ruksa is good, but not stellar. Especially the "crack chicken" everyone raves about (which is not special or outstanding at all). My personal faves on the menu are the spring rolls or fresh rolls, Tom Kha soup with seafood, and the very tasty pumpkin curry. They also offer brown rice (in addition to the traditional jasmine), which I really appreciate b/c I prefer brown rice hands down over white. And besides, it's better for you! ;-) I find that most Thai food restaurants are ridiculously expensive for what you get, and sadly, Buddha Ruksa is no exception in that department either. Lunch specials are the way to go if you're looking for any kind of bargain pricing for your meal. The restaurant space itself is quite lovely (even downright romantic, if you're lucky enough to get one of the window tables), and despite people complaining here on Yelp about the location &/or parking, I've never had any problems with either. There also plenty of parking on the surrounding neighborhood streets off of SW Genesee or 36th. The service is fair. You won't be ignored exactly, but good luck getting drink refills, ordering an extra dish, getting a "doggy bag" for your leftovers, or your check when you're ready to leave, etc. Even when the place is dead empty, I can't seem to ever get a servers attention. All in all, you won't leave Buddha Ruska feeling ripped off (the food is certainly better than most of the Thai places in West Seattle anyway), and you may even have enough left overs to take home (assuming you order more than one dish per person). But it'll cost ya.
(3)
A C.

Nice atmosphere and goid foid though drinks seemed pricey and even four star spice wasn't spicy.
(4)
Paul N.

Love this place! The crispy chicken is amazing (you have to ask for it). Hard to spot it if you don't know the area and the tables are a little cramped and service at lunch can be slow but the food makes it worth the wait! Nom Nom!
(4)
Sansa S.

Crispy garlic prawns are awesome if packed with 5+ star heat! Chicken phad Thai, Isaan style is the way to go for a true authentic Thai. Service is a hit and miss at times. You don't always get the number of stars desired but ask for the spice tray instead!
(5)
Topher X.

The different sizes and spices in the Crispy Garlic Chicken makes it unique and delicious. The green beans are great with just the right spices. This place can get very noisy. If you want something cozy and romantic, you won't want to go there during their busy times.
(4)
Tom S.

We went here because we wanted to support Dining Our for Life and found a great little Thai restaurant! Who knew you could get something without coconut milk and it rock! I loved the menu, the staff was fun and helpful and the general vibe was very groovy (I'm kinda old, ok!). The place was busy and they handled it with ease. Check this place out for a great meal and fun time!
(4)
Alicia W.

Go right now and get the garlic (crack) chicken. To Die For.
(5)
Wendy A.

Seattle has an abundance of mediocre/not too bad Thai food, but a scarcity of really good Thai food. We ate here last night and our minds were blown. We got lamb satay as the appetizer, and I was blown away -- the seasonings, the excellent peanut sauce, the tender meat. My crab fried rice was great -- plenty of crab and egg, very much a comfort food, and the rice grains were separated and firm in a really excellent way. My husband's Crying Tiger smelled so good I had to try some, even though he ordered 4 stars and I am a total wimp, and he agreed that it was pretty much amazing. It came with a cake of glutinous rice on the side, which is unusual but a great addition -- really helps with calming down the fire, if you're a weakling like myself. Our friend got the crispy garlic chicken, a dish I haven't seen on other Thai menus, and it too was just excellent. We were too full for dessert, which is a shame. We'll have to plan better next time!
(5)
Audrey H.

They take reservations but people who don't make them are still willing to wait (including us). This is one of our favorite restaurants since moving to W. Seattle. The service has always been friendly and helpful. We like to say that our daughter practically grew up here- we've been here since I was pregnant with her and she just tried their crab fried rice recently. As for the food- top notch Thai food! Their crispy garlic chicken is an obvious favorite but they do have specials where they do a salmon or duck version (both delicious!). Of course their crab fried rice has tons of real crab! If you judge a restaurant by their pad thai, BR does make a very good pad thai but we rarely order it. We also love the spicy long beans and trout with garlic sauce. Everything we've ordered has been delicious! As for the ambiance, this place is very family friendly which we appreciate. But this also is a great place for couples or a group of friends. Either way I think you'll love the place and the people that work there.
(5)
Aiko C.

The "crack chicken" and curry fried rice was the bomb! Believe the hype, people! It's amazing thai food!
(4)
Shirley C.

I simply adore this place! I'm extremely happy that I live so close to such an awesome thai restaurant. The prices are little more expensive than normal, it's about $10 per dish but it's definitely worth the price! The place is cute restaurant with great customer service. All the cashiers, waitresses/waiters are very pleasant to speak to. They're very helpful and the customer service is superb! They have fairly big portions, as well! They also have a classy bar, as well. I love the: Phad Thai Spicy Eggplant Phad See Ew Thai Iced Tea! Must try for those who love thai food. You won't regret it!
(4)
Trace S.

Yes, the "crack chicken" is great, usually overcooked but spiced and glazed perfectly! However, If you like crispy garlic chicken, go to The Thaitan on California Ave (it's better). I'm not going to go on a huge rant about this place, it's decent ,and for sure a great Thai joint. Not the best Thai in Seattle however, I've had better for much cheaper.
(3)
Nathan R.

Rounding up on 3.5 stars I was a little surprised about Buddha Ruska - not necessarily by how good the food and service was (which it was), but mostly by the decor/ atmosphere inside. I'm used to the hallowed houses of Fremont with their homey vibe going on- and quite frankly I haven't eaten Thai outside of Frellard since living in Boston, so eating in a low-lit, real restaurant was just something I wasn't expecting...but I digress. We were hungry and we were in West Seattle, I asked a local where they recommend- and he told me Buddha Ruksa's the place...and it is. Sure myself, wife, 4, 2 and 5 mo old felt a little out of place being seated in the middle of the room- but the food soon settled our nerves. Great phad thai- NOT ketchup-y I'm happy to report, and the Rad Nah lived up to the first half of its name. My kids wolfed it down as quick as you can say Rad Nah and the portions were generous enough to accommodate all of us. If you're in this neck of the woods- stop by...just don't come in sweatpants and track jacket.
(4)
Stephen P.

I take colleagues here for work and they all love it. We've ordered many things off the menu over several visits. Can't say I've had a dish I didn't enjoy. Phad Se Iew is one of my favorites.
(4)
Sara Q.

pad thai was a little oily.. okay very oily but i will say it had nice flavor to it. i would eat it again without hesitation. i didn't think the service/receptionist lady was very nice at this restaurant, but at least the service was pretty fast for how busy it was in there. i wouldn't go as far as to say it's the BEST thai food in seattle, but it was passable and seemingly very consistent. will have to come back!
(3)
Penelope P.

Last week, hoped for a better gastronomique experience but alas, I hate this place even more. Ordered the infamous Garlic Crispy Chicken. GAG. Huge awkward, uneven pieces (it takes time to cut nice bite size pieces) of chicken soaked in some kind of sweet n sour icky, glueey, sticky, store bought brown crap sauce. Was that descriptive enough! Next, the garlic rice. HhhhhMMmmmm what exactly is that taste? You will not find any fresh pieces of garlic. I think they use some kind of cheap garlic flavoured oil, nothing fresh. The flavor is quite bland although at 2 stars, they try to blow you away into the deep dark crevices of hell with FIRE. Seriously, I eat hot, spicy food often and 2 stars was unbearable and I had to jump in Puget sound to cool down! All kidding aside, this place is just awful. I don't understand why so many people dine here.
(1)
Rye D.

The Curries here hit the spot! After trying many different curries in Seattle and not being super pleased. Buddha Ruksa has stolen my curried heart!! I love the rich flavor and and spice of the yellow coconut curry with pineapple it's a must have! Definitely a west seattle gem.
(4)

Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.

Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.

Address : 3520 SW Genesee St
Seattle, WA, 98126
Phone (206) 937-7676
Website https://www.buddharuksa.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

Claim Restaurant

WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES

Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online

Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.

Search Your Favourite Restaurants.

Buddha Ruksa

3520 SW Genesee St, Seattle, WA, 98126

Buddha Ruksa Menu

Appetizers

Soups

Salads

Main Course - Stir Fried

Curry

Seafood

Grill

Noodles And Rice

Signature Dishes

Side Orders

Desserts

Healthy Meal suggestions for Buddha Ruksa

Appetizers

Soups

Salads

Main Course - Stir Fried

Curry

Seafood

Grill

Noodles And Rice

Signature Dishes

Side Orders

Desserts

Eleanor S.

Julie S.

Jason P.

Ivan S.

Kyla C.

Kyle V.

Jei K.

Kate S.

Shawn J.

X X.

Jose M.

Ali H.

Mat R.

kristine k.

Mary W.

Le M.

Catherine F.

Jennifer H.

Carl M.

Sonya L.

Erin O.

Chet F.

Robyn S.

Beth P.

Lindsay S.

Joy H.

flitter k.

Garbiel A.

Erik V.

Amy S.

amber m.

Meagan O.

Chris W.

Amanda S.

Brad W.

Eliza J.

Erickson E.

Audrey P.

Liz L.

Hai Yen N.

Craig R.

Natalie H.

Amanda L.

Tina D.

Michael B.

Kelly J.

Pat A.

Dave G.

Shauna H.

erin b.

Liz M.

Melissa M.

Shuang G.