Buddah's Belly, a Thai Restaurant & Lounge: An Insiders Guide to Seoul

In my opinion the most delicious Thai food in Korea is the Buddah's Belly restaurant in Seoul. Each time my friends and I dine there the service is great and the Thai food is consistently delicious. The decor and atmosphere are sophisticated and romantic, with dark walls, plush red velveteen booths and appropriate mood lighting. I highly recommend this Itaewon restaurant to impress that special date or anytime you would like to indulge your taste buds.

Buddah's Belly Thai restaurant is conveniently located in Itaewon just above the Ushmania restaurant on the second floor (there is a black metal stairway on the outside of the building). Buddah's Belly Thai restaurant is one of the many delicious restaurants to be found on the street behind the famous Hamilton Hotel. In this area you can also find Indian, Italian, Korean, American, French, Greek and other fine ethnic foods. To reach there by subway simply take Line 6 (the Brown Line) to the Itaewon station and use the Hamilton Hotel exit. Take the uphill side street just beyond the hotel and turn left when you reach the cross street.

Buddah's Belly Thai restaurant offers classically aromatic Thai dishes prepared by a genuine Thai chef. Entrees are reasonably priced and cost on average 12,000-18,000 won, with five appetizers temptingly priced around 5,000 won (try the scrumptious vegetarian spring rolls), four salads (try the spicy green papaya salad) and six soups hovering around 8,000 won.

There are many delectable Thai entrees including: Tofu with sweet and sour sauce (12,000 won), chicken with cashew nuts (14,000 won), pad see eew (12,000 won), steamed mussels with basil (16,000 won), yellow curry with crab or seafood (20,000 won), stir fried beef with broccoli and oyster sauce (15,000 won), shrimp with asparagus (20,000 won), and stir fried chicken with ginger (14,000 won).

There are delicious vegetarian Thai dishes as well as chicken, pork, shrimp and beef options. Buddah's Belly offers the traditional panang, massaman and red and green Thai curries with coconut milk, the green being my personal favorite. These are served in a bowl with plenty of delicious curry sauce with a side of white rice. You can also choose from several fried rice dishes and stir fries as well as wide and narrow rice noodle entrees. The pad-thai at Buddah's Belly is fabulous their version being savory and not sweet. The peanuts are always served on the side for those who might have an allergy.

Each dish at Buddah's Belly Thai restaurant is accompanied by pots of wet and dry hot chilis and Thai fish sauce so you can season your food to taste. This especially lends itself to sharing dishes, which is quite common in Korea.

Buddah's Belly Thai restaurant also serves beer and top shelf cocktails along with house wines by the glass and full bottles as well.

This fine restaurant is available for private parties and also serves take-out.

Buddah's Belly Restaurant and Lounge: Itaewon 1 Dong, Yongsan-Gu. Reservations, questions and take-out orders can be accomplished by phone 02-796-9330; buddahsbelly@korea.com.

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