It was a pop-up over the labor day long weekend, so the menu was pretty different.
Dry aged duck was definitely my highlight, thought it was cooked really well. The crying tiger sauce was too funky for the duck (IMO), but otherwise a really great dish. Duck korokke was good too, loved the truffly bulldog sauce. Steak had good dry aged flavor, but was a little too cooked for my taste. Nice touch pickling the peppers before grilling them.
Concurring opinion that duck was a highlight. Enjoyed it best by itself. My other highlights were the mango dessert, the fish (but Iâm biased towards fish these days), and the stone fruit salad (though I donât know if this is all that different from other offerings around town and just speaks towards my enjoyment of a good peach salad). The steak was also cooked more than Iâd like to see in a steak.
Pretty satisfying meal overall! Would be tempted to go to a pop up again but would have to see. I went back and it looks like his pop ups can sell out in under 20 minutes, which is not too surprising as he has a very strong social media following.
Budonoki is?
Iâve only had really fun meals here with dishes that punch above their weight class given the price there.
Iâm not sure what itâs rated, so hard to assess.
PSA: there is a mute button
Heâs back, baby.
I believe heâs been muted.
Your duck photos are perfection @PorkyBelly.
I see a lot of articles going around about Budonoki so reviving this thread with a review of my most recent visit. Overall, Iâm adding this to my list and totally going back to try new dishes.
Overall the food was a delicious fusion of Thai and Japanese flavors. I think the best way to do Budonoki is to order one of everything with a large group of 4-6 people so each person gets a bite. We were a party of 2 and the amount of food was overwhelming. We wanted to try everything but we couldnât do it 
Another tip, personally I thought its better for two people to either stick to all Thai or all Japanese dishes than to combine both but getting a mixture of the two could work for large groups.
The staff was very accommodating and super friendly. There was a longer wait than usual for our reservation so they compâed our first round of drinks. 
Hard to capture the whole front but the sign is up high and the menu posted outside.
They call them snacks but these are all the food items. Portions are meant to be shared.
The pressed sushi is âwhat theyâre known forâ.
Naem - The server recommended this to start and it really hit the spot! Third favorite.
Joshikai - âGirlâs night outâ drink that comes with a cute mug. The drink was great but definitely on the sweeter side.
Wings - Great but not really worth it for a party of two. Only need a piece each.
Negima skewers - Pretty good!
Grilled pork jowel - Another great dish. Second favorite!
Aburi Salmon pressed sushi - I thought this was meh. Maybe if you come just to eat the pressed sushi then youâll enjoy it more. You can also come with a group and share it so its not overwhelming. I thought it was too heavy when combined with everything else we ordered for two people. It also didnât fit very well with the Thai flavors of the other dishes.
Close up of the pressed sushi (looks great though!)
âBudo-gnocchiâ - Named after the restaurant, this was my favorite dish. The texture and temperature of the rice cake felt perfect on a cold night. The cheese and truffle tasted so good! I wish I had this earlier in the dinner. It was so unique and you canât really find this anywhere else so I would come here just to eat this dish!
Strawberry milk soft serve - a great ending!
Stars were out at Budonoki tonight, a restaurant Iâve really come to like. Jordan Okun was eating with Phil Rosenthal, and Daniel Levy came in without a resy so he had the worst seat in the house smh.
Love the Thai dishes here, specifically the naem and pork jowl. Prefer the build your own hand rolls to the pressed sushi. Adore the chefâs salad.
Really fun food, in a way we perhaps donât see a ton of anymore. Pretty affordable, though Iâd pay an extra 20% to listen to some Phoebe Bridgers or Mazzy Star or Kendrick Lamar.
Budonoki: Your Neighborhood Izakaya
I wish my neighborhood had an izakaya like this.
My girlfriend & I had a lively & delicious night at Budonoki last weekend.
We had the fruity & seasonal Masumi Arabashiri.
Spicy Tuna Handroll Set
Loved the DIY tuna handrolls. Flavors are on point and the nori is perfectly crispy (ask for extra).
Chilled Tofu w/Chili Crisp + Cucumbers
Hokkaido Scallop Crudo w/Market Fruit + Spicy Cilantro Vinaigrette
Sweet, tender, firm scallops. Orange & kumquat. Spicy, vinegary, cilantro sauce. Delicious.
Negima - Jidori Chicken Oyster + Tokyo Negi, Galangal Sauce
Okay, you, wrapped in crispy skin! And punchy sauce. So good. 
Charred Japanese Sweet Potatoes + Miso Koji Butter, Chives
Gah! This is yummy @porkybelly! My friend declared it her favorite dish and got no argument from me. 
Black Sesame Soft Serve
Things are startinâ to get really blue up in here. We were quite satiated but wanted soft serve to round it off - a light, creamy, nutty, not too sweet ending.
Music is bumpinâ, vibe is lively but cush. Menu is tasty. Drink list is legit and fun⌠I mean, who else has sake bombs on the menu today? 5-star service. I arrived first and hostess asked if I preferred to wait or go to the table (to the table please) and instead of plopping me there to wait for a server she asked if Iâd like purified tap or bottled water and do I want to order a drink while waiting. Sake please!
Such a good time!
