Buddakan
French Wine Meets the Dragon's Den
Chelsea · New York · Asian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 19, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The room hits you first — 30-foot ceilings, Buddha statues, the kind of theatrical energy that makes you want to order something expensive. Then the wine list lands and it turns out the drama isn't just for the décor: this is a France-forward program with real range, tucked inside what most people assume is just a scene restaurant. The Wine Spectator Award of Excellence it's held since 2018 is earned.
Selection Deep Dive
The list leans hard into France and makes no apologies for it. You've got Burgundy covered by the reliable Drouhin and Jadot houses, Rhône represented by Guigal and Chapoutier, and Alsatian bottles — Riesling and Gewurztraminer — that actually make sense against the kitchen's spice-forward flavors. Bordeaux classified estates and a scattering of international names (hello, Cloudy Bay) round things out without diluting the French identity. At 150-200 bottles it's not exhaustive, but it's curated with a clear point of view, which we'll take over a bloated list any day.
By the Glass
Twelve to eighteen options by the glass is a solid spread for a restaurant this size, and prices running $12–$18 are reasonable for the neighborhood. The selection tracks the bottle list's French sensibility, so you're not stuck with generic Pinot Grigio pours — expect Rhône whites and the occasional Alsatian to show up here. Rotation isn't aggressive, but if you're working the glass program strategically before committing to a bottle, there's enough to explore.
Guigal Côtes du Rhône (by the glass) — $14
Guigal's Côtes du Rhône is one of the most consistently overdelivering bottles in French wine. At the by-the-glass price point in a room like this, it's the smartest drink in the house — honest, food-friendly, and nobody at the table will feel shortchanged.
Alsatian Gewurztraminer
Most people at Buddakan are eyeing the Burgundy or reaching for a cocktail. But Alsatian Gewurztraminer is the sleeper pick here — aromatic, slightly off-dry, and built to handle lemongrass, ginger, and black bean sauce in ways that a crisp Chablis simply won't. It's the wine the menu is quietly begging you to order.
Dom PĂ©rignon 2013
At $325 a bottle, the Dom is doing what Dom always does at restaurants — charging you for the name and the moment. It's a fine Champagne, but you're paying a significant premium over retail for the privilege of popping it in a loud dining room. Save that budget for a serious Burgundy or Rhône bottle that will actually hold up in conversation.
Alsatian Riesling + Chilean Sea Bass with Black Bean Sauce
The sea bass is rich and umami-heavy from the black bean sauce, and it needs something with enough acidity and aromatic lift to cut through without getting bulldozed. Alsatian Riesling — dry, mineral, with just a hint of stone fruit — does exactly that. It's one of those pairings that makes the food taste better and the wine taste better at the same time.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Buddakan is a better wine restaurant than it has any obligation to be — the room is built for spectacle, but the France-focused list has genuine thought behind it. Markup runs steep on the trophy bottles, so play it smart: stay in the Rhône and Alsace lanes and you'll drink well without the sticker shock.
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