Budai Gourmet - Albuquerque

I've finally found my favorite Chinese restaurant! I went with a friend today and ordered the mini shrimp dumplings, ma po tofu (extra spicy), salt and pepper short ribs and beef stew in clay pot. Everything was so good and flavorful! The mini shrimp dumplings were soft, tender and tasty. The ma po tofu had little bits of pork in it and was full of umami flavor and soft tofu. It's the best I've had so far in NM. Salt and pepper short ribs were super tender inside with a light and crispy exterior and perfectly seasoned. There was no prim and proper way to eat them, so we just dug in. The beef stew in clay pot was impressive! It came sizzling to our table and the aroma!!! So flavorful with tender beef, Napa cabbage and clear glass noodles on the bottom. So very good! We had just missed the lunch rush. The service was polite and efficient. Our server seemed to be happy to see us enjoying our food so much. Very nice guy. We were so happy to be seated at a comfortable booth. So many restaurants seem too modern and almost sterile. This place has a warm and comfortable feel. This is a place we'll go out of our way to visit again. I can't wait to take my husband next time!

I received amazing service and felt like part of the family at this restaurant. The food was top-notch, delicious, and made with great care.

This little gem serves something very special....soup dumplings. Yes, they are smaller than usual however, the size allows for a full mouth bite size. The sauce is bomb. And they serve in stainless steel which is more sanitary than the bamboo steam things. If you're a new Yorker missing Chinatown, this is your place!

If you're looking to satisfy a true Asian craving for dishes like Szechuan, or if you have specific ingredients in mind that aren't on the menu, just ask the owner, "Miss Elsa," and her talented chef husband will prepare your favorites for you. They may scold me for saying this, but these two owners have been creating a special entree just for me almost every week. It's simply incredible and tastes delicious. This hidden gem of a restaurant is a wonderful discovery. Don't miss out on trying Budai "the bomb" Restaurant located in the far north center near Sprouts and Petco. You won't be disappointed. I'll be back next week for my usual!

I have visited this restaurant four times now, and the Chinese food is consistently fantastic. It is the best we have ever had, and the whole family agrees.