The former home of Jefferson Avenue Bistro is seeing new life as Lucky Buddha, which opened doors in late February. Since The Scoop reported its pending opening in January, the Asian restaurant at 3701 Jefferson Ave., underwent a name change, switching from a hungry Buddha to a lucky one.
Chef René Cruz’s menu of Asian-inspired comfort food draws from Japanese, Thai, Korean and Chinese cuisines, to name a few. The lineup features several vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, and carnivorous diners certainly won’t go wanting, either. A generous list of appetizers includes three spring roll options, gyoza, spicy fried chicken wings and a selection yakitori skewers. Look for three house-made dipping sauces, like a soy packing deep umami flavor, thick peanut sauce with hidden heat and a light tamari-mint sauce.
Five fresh salads offer variety in texture, temperature and crunch with ingredients like green papaya, mung beans, pressed tofu, radish, shiso leaf, cabbage, cashews, peanuts and deceptively hot chile threads.
Entrees are divided between large bahn mi sandwiches, pillowy steam buns and large noodle bowls. All are customizable; choose from fillings like sake-braised shitake mushrooms, chicken coated in house-made kimchi, beef tendon, char sui pork or pressed tofu. Noodle bowls feature rice noodles, mung bean noodles or udon with traditional pho or vegan broth.
Asian-inspired desserts include five sorbets with flaky texture akin to Italian ice in flavors like lychee, ginger-lime and chile mango. A creme brulee holds flavors of five-spice powder, while a lemon grass and basil seed cake is served with lemon grass ice cream.
The 80-seat dining room features vibrant blue walls decorated with Dragon Ball Z and other anime and film decals. Another 20 seats are available on a front patio, but it’s the large back patio that general manager and bar manager Naomi Roquet said will be the real outdoor draw when it’s ready in a few days. Nearly 80 seats and a separate bar will let guests enjoy dining al fresco while playing cornhole and washers.
While guests wait for their chance to toss a few washers, they can sip one of five house cocktails, a carafe of sake, Japanese whiskey, soju or shochu. If Asian spirits aren’t up your alley, opt for one of six local beers on draft or a bottle of the conveniently named Chinese lager, Lucky Buddha, as well 11 other beer options. Wine by the glass is also available.
Lucky Buddha is open Tuesday through Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday from 5 to 11 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
-photos by Michelle Volansky
This article appears in Guide to Beer 2015.