Review Bodhi Restuarant Bar - Sydney

4.6/5 for me. The staff there were so welcoming even though we had arrived early. Our server was very friendly but could have improved by keeping to our own picks rather than their suggestions. The food however was incredibly flavoursome but also very light. It was a very satisfying meal without feeling like you needed to wear stretchy pants to the restaurant. Pretty big fan of the sliders and the eggplant was a table favourite. Would have loved to see a little more spice to the curry but the chef's have definitely learnt how to create "duck" at a similar taste to the original. Overall great vegan experience and would definitely go back

The food is absolutely amazing and the dishes are very diverse and special. The cocktails are top quality as well. The ingredients felt like really good quality and the preparation was on point. One star deduction because some of the staff wasn't so polite. Not the new waiter though, who served us most of the time and who was very helpful and friendly.

Sublime experience of vegan food. We dined outside under gorgeous trees in the courtyard. Loved the setting and the seating. The food started arriving shortly after we sat down and the offerings didn't stop. Every plate contained something tempting, using fresh and delicious ingredients. Everything was perfectly presented. The staff were wonderful and attentive. Our waitress made excellent recommendations about food dishes and the amazing cocktails on offer. The Tipsy Bunny was a standout as were the vegan desserts. A marvellous gastronomical experience.

Stunning vegetarian food and cool concept. Don't worry about studying the menu. Just sit down and grab pieces to try and share as they are offered at your table. All of them were good and there is enough variety to delight everyone. The only issue: You start and eat way too much too quickly so there is no more space when even more interesting dishes appear. Clear reason to come back!

An amazing restaurant with great food! The place had a lively welcoming vibe and the staff were very helpful and friendly. Our dishes were full of flavour and fresh ingredients. We especially loved the taro gnocchi - yum! Would definitely come back again when visiting Sydney,

Unfortunately we didn't have a great lunch at Bodhi. Arriving a few minutes early for our table (5mins max), they didn't let us take a seat in the empty restaurant so we loitered around. Besides the crispy wonton, most other dishes weren't very tasty, with the dumpling skins way too thick and chewy, oily or too much sweet sauce added. We couldn't finish some of the dishes. The service was also a bit chaotic. There were some newbies being trained but it was a bit uneasy to see multiple plates of food going back and forth, with servers talking all over them. One server kept speaking to us in Cantonese even though we only spoke English, and when we paid the bill, the guy at the front grumbled because our first server hasn't put our table number on the system. So the vibe amongst the staff felt a bit.. Off. Not sure why there are so many good reviews for this place. Sure the location is nice and it's nice to have a vegan place, but the flavours, service and value for money wasn't there for us. Wouldn't recommend it for vegans or non vegans.

Decided to get lunch from this place on my days visit to Sydney. For some reason I don’t like Asian food but after visiting this place I felt i have not eaten from the right places. I enjoyed every dish and loved the variety of options they had. I wish I had that big space where I could try every dish. And not forget the cocktails were the best. I will keep visiting this place.

Exceptional vegan food and beverage list. What a fabulous spot for a nice lunch; sitting outside under the trees in the shade or there are a few tables inside with huge open doors leading to the outside. Excellent wine, cocktails and mocktails available. The food just kept on coming and you can say 'no' or 'yes' to whatever you want...nobody takes offence. My family who are meat eaters loved the vegan dishes and enjoyed the majority of the yum cha. There were just a couple they didn't like but that was only due to their own personal preferences. 'pork' buns and Mango crepes are sensational. This is a must go to for any vegan, or actually any non-vegan.

The food was delicious, and I have no complaints about the flavour or presentation- the service (for lack of a better word) left much to be desired. I made a reservation for my boyfriend's birthday for 4, and I requested a piece of cheesecake with a candle to be brought out at the end of the meal. When we arrived, we stood for a few minutes without being greeted- although it was only 5:30 so the restaurant was not that busy and I saw multiple staff members standing around. When we were seated, the woman explained the pairings menu (she seemed quite keen on us ordering from this menu), but it was quite some time before our server came over to take our order. We were not prompted to order drinks- the server seemed quite uncomfortable actually. We all ordered cocktails and then I proceeded to order appetisers, and then the mains for us to all share. Two appetisers showed up very quickly, then one of our mains arrived, and then our sides of rice after that. The remaining appetisers arrived and I was dumbfounded that our drinks had not yet come- I thought they were not ordered correctly. As the last main came, and we were eating the food- our cocktails arrived. We ordered more appetisers (after finishing what was ordered)- it was strange that there were so many different people bringing our food, but if we wanted to ordering something else, our server had to be sent for, and we had to then order with him. The table was cleared within mins of us finishing an item/drink (I kind of felt as if they were rushing us out the door). We sat for 15 mins or so after the table had all been cleared chatting (I was also expecting the piece of cake/candle I requested in my reservation as deserts were not offered- not that I didn't feel I couldn't have ordered one!) We happily paid our expensive bill (we had ordered multiple cocktails in addition to our food), and stood just outside the entrance saying our goodbyes. At this point our server came out, asked who's birthday it was, shook my boyfriend's hand and wished him a happy birthday, and then apologised for not bringing out the cheesecake. We all enjoyed the food/cocktails, but the experience left much to be desired. I would be hesitant to recommend this restaurant to a friend.

The best gluten free restaurant in Sydney CBD, thank you for the addition of the little gluten free flags so I don't have to bug the wait staff to ensure my meal is gf!

LOVED everything except- It would be nice if you offered your $4.50 leaf as a complimentary entree/appetiser/hors d'oeuvre because we all know that costs approx 10 cents to produce (at absolute most; 40 cents)...and the portion and presentation are not worth the value you've placed on this dish. You would have had my heart forever with such a giving gesture of free tasty lil leaf, instead of leaving me with the feeling that I got ripped off. Free or no more than $2....The rest our our meal was delicious and the atmosphere & service were brilliant! The crispy eggplant, san chow boy, all the dumplings and sweet potato spring rolls were especially divine. Thank you for the yummy wholesome food and nice dining experience :)

Surprised by the negative reviews regarding the service. A group of 4 of us dined at Bodhi last night and absolutely loved it- service included. My favourite dish was the eggplant dish and the sticky date pudding was to die for!

Never had vegetarian or vegan meals before. But, our granddaughter is vegan so we gave it a try. All I can say is that this was one of the best meals we ever had. Highly recommend. Staff was outstanding and loved the outdoor seating with blanket and heater. Just wished I could have persuaded the chef to part with the recipe (for our use only).

beautiful atmosphere, beautiful food, beautiful service, beautiful location. came here for lunch on my birthday & will definitely be back. just one thing- since they're a vegan establishment, it would be great to see them move towards an entirely vegan wine list (currently some of the wines are marked vegan but not all). other than that, spectacular!

Amazing food & drink options, super yummy, very quick service & lovely location to dine day & night. Highly recommend checking this place out! We will visit it again :)

Absolutely amazing food. I was looking for a vegetarian/vegan restaurant for when my daughter came over to Sydney to stay with us. We were so impressed not only with the taste and quality of the food but also the amazing waitering staff. Such a fantastic night. We will definitely be back. Thankyou for not only beautiful food but amazing service ��

You’ve converted me!! The food was amazing. Such a creative selection of vegan food. The service was top notch too. Thank you �

The staff are friendly and we always manage to get a table quickly, even without a booking. But I would recommend making a book for the weekend as it does get busy. Food is always fresh and delicious, with lots of variety. And it's all vegan �

Try the Sweet Potato Spring rolls honestly the best things ever, you can't go wrong with any dish :D

I love this place! Food with friends, food was amazing, my non vegan friends would never have known if i hadn't have told them it was vegan. The venue is just so beautiful and the cocktails were killer!

This place made me fall in love with char siu and vegan dining.<br/>The ambience, food and service was top notch and I’d recommend this place for one of the best vegan meals you’ll have in Sydney.<br/>If only they could make the seating a bit more comfortable with back rest, it would score a perfect 5!

Vegetarian feast with set menu yum cha, prawn dumplings were my favorite but everything was great. Great location.

Bodhi is a hidden vegan Yum Cha restaurant under the plaza outside St Mary's Cathedral, and overseeing Cook and Phillip Park. As a person who grew up in Cantonese Yum Cha culture, I would say not only do these vegan dim sum look good, they also taste amazing! They do believable substitute for meat, especially their prawn dumpling. Have been there for lunch and dinner. During lunch time, the waiters / waitresses bring out trays of dim sums and walk around. While at night, it's more like a restaurant and bar, which serve interesting cocktails. Definitely will come back again! :-)

Considering it was busy due to Valentine's day, the service offered was friendly and quick; the food, however, was not on par with this. We had the special banquet and all the food (from entree to dessert) was bland. This was surprising as such Asian food is typically full of flavour, even when vegan.

Still producing consistently good quality dumplings. I first discovered this place in the 90s and it has not dropped in quality or popularity. Nestled under beautiful established Moreton Bay Fig trees by the famous cathedral. Wonderful varied menu with lots of vegetarian and vegan options too. Very friendly to people with allergies which gets them extra points from me. My favourite are the sweet Japanese pumpkin dumplings.

expensive

Cannot recommend. Interesting concept yum cha but staff is not helpful to explain to newcomers how many dishes should be expected. Also were annoyed when asked what was inside the dishes and had no clue what they would recommend. Wanted to love but when the stars of the dish: prawns, veggies, tofu were wrapped in very dense carbo loaded sheaths, seemed like trying to cut costs and fill you up without feeding you properly. found dishes to also be bland.

This place is enough to convert any meat-lover to vegan. Who knew vegetables could be so tasty? The menu is inventive and really elevates vegetarian cuisine to a new level. The dim sum menu with mini share plates is particularly good with many dishes to choose from. The 'prawn' dumplings taste just like the real thing. A must for vegetarians and lovers of good food!

To have a vegan restaurant in the heart of Sydney is brilliant. After trying 6 dishes from their yum cha menu what became obvious is that these guys don't know much about flavour. Vegan should not mean bland but it does at Bodhi. At least the staff were great.

Had a really enjoyable meal with a hugry belly. The menu was too good n made be difficult to choose. Each item was so tempting. My dish had veggies fried in excellent squash sause n good flavour on thai ginger galangal. This place is must visit fir vegeterian Indiand.

We came here for Yum Cha and were pretty skeptical on how everything would taste, but loved all the dishes we ordered! Definitely a must-try if you want to experience Yum Cha with a twist. Staff were very polite and patient when explaining each dish to us too!

Situated right next to a park so its a nice location. Tried their yum cha that serve all vegan food. Food and service were great! Would definitely visit again

Simply amazing! Each dish was so flavorful and to top it all off everything is VEGAN... I could easily take any meat lover here without having to worry about them missing out... <br/><br/>Easy to miss, as the entry is quite unassuming. However, not one to miss! Meat lovers give it a try you’ll be surprised.

As a hardcore carnivore, I was reluctant to go here for a work lunch, I was totally wrong! <br/>This place is a hidden gem, amazing yum cha, really fresh and great service. <br/><br/>The cocktails and wine are really good too. Check it out!

The food at Bodhi was delicious, however be aware the menu does change for dinner and lunchtime service. We were eager to try their yumcha menu however we were still very impressed by their dinner time offering. The food was delicious and came out very quickly. The staff all very informative and helpful. We will defiantly be returning to try their lunchtime yumcha. The food is tapas based, very nice for sharing. The Ginger/carrot/broccoli dumplings were mouth-watering as was the miso eggplant. The deserts also ticked all the boxes, the creme brûlée was something else.

Well hidden away from the crowds under the forecourt of St Mary & surrounded by greenery. It was no normal yum cha, no Asian aunties flagging down a waiter, nor the rowdy chatters from tables, nor dim sum trolleys crashing into each other. The place was semi open, the indoor section was very moody, but the outdoor section was very relaxed. Although the dim sum offers looked awfully like the normal ones, but these vegan version definitely tasted a little different. Not bad, just not like the real deal. The dumplings were the best, the glass noodles was very gingery & lemongrass tangy. A bit pricier as well. Unless you're vegetarian, you're better off going to a normal yum cha.

Ok, so to be honest we wanted to visit this place for their yumcha. Unfortunately, we went there for dinner and we were told that their yumcha is only for lunch. Anywho, we still decided to eat here and am I glad we did that! The cocktails were great (mine was suggested by a really helpful server), we ordered the tempura veg prawns as an appetizer. It turned out to be made of sweet potato and was really tasty. For the main course, we ordered the mushroom with lemongrass, mango, asparagus, tamarind sauce, which had a funky flavour and was so fresh. For dessert, we ate the chai brulee and it was perfect. All in all, everything was delish, fresh, healthy and moreish. Have to come back to try their yumcha!

Okay, so I believe I have been giving 5/5 lately because of the great experiences at restaurants.<br/><br/>So, Bodhi Restaurant was recommended to me by my friend in Sydney (who is also an avid Asian foodie). Since it was the Vivid Sydney time, we had to walk all the way from the Opera House. The restaurant was jam-packed and we were fortunate enough to find a table for two. Yes, and almost instantaneously, my friend ordered for a Vegan Laksa with duck flavor. It tasted so good that I was blown away by the lingering flavors and the abundance of vegetables. Although I didn't know how to use the chopsticks, I was given a fork by a polite staff member who understood my struggle. :)<br/><br/>Even after several months, the memories remain fresh and cherished.

Bodhi Restaurant & Bar is a pricey vegan restaurant. I ordered the crisp chicken skewers, mushroom & asparagus dumplings & steamed bbq bread bao. One point for the food but none to the price, drinks & service. I ordered a mocktail & was given a cocktail version. I asked a waitress to confirm the drink was a mocktail after it came out tasting alcoholic. Gees I’m so glad I’m not allergic to alcohol. When the bill came I had to argue with a different waitress that I had a ordered a mocktail instead of a cocktail drink as I was charged a cocktail drink. They eventually removed the cocktail drink from the bill but having to dispute & being served alcohol when I requested not to made the dining experience less enjoyable.

I am obsessed with Bodhi!!! It is such a wonderful concept with a 100% vegan menu, which I love. Everything is so fresh and flavorful and the staff are always so friendly & so willing to help you out and give recommendations. The menu is quite pricey so be prepared to spend quite a bit, particularly if you are going to yum cha, as it is easy to unknowingly spend more than anticipated. However, price aside, I would definitely recommend Bodhi to both vegans and non vegans looking for a delicious yum cha experience.

Ordered the salt and pepper shrimp, was just a weird tasting fish cake, give this a miss. The sweet potatoe spring rolls are really good. The duck wrap was smeh but I guess it’s good for a Vegan restaurant . Never really had other fake duck meat to compare as I eat everything. Service was decent. I think this is a very viable place for vegans/vegetarians <br/>

I hope Bodhi reads this! Such a fantastic restaurant, although it is pricey (I think mainly because of the location). Finally tried it for Dinner for our anniversary the other night - service was great and proof again that vegan food is just as good. Tempura prawns, dumplings and peking duck was great.THE ONLY REASON THIS DOES NOT GET 5 STARS is the eggplant main we had at dinner. The description didn't sound like it would be battered. Bodhi - we believe that most people would find this dish impossible to finish. The batter is very thick and oily and there is not enough eggplant, so you literally are paying for and eating batter. The sauce was great but I think a lot would struggle with it. It would work WAY BETTER as lightly floured cubes of eggplant that are fried and then placed in the sauce. It would come across as a bit classier too. Will return though and hope to see they change the eggplant dish.

This place is hidden near the St Mary’s cathedral.<br/>A vegetarian friendly place with lot of options.Has mock meat dishes for people who like to not give meat in their meals a miss.The cocktails are really nice and must try.

Very disappointed, have travelled 60kms and the girl with the accent at the reception table said that there were no tables available. Did not even let us know whether to wait or if we could make a booking. So we then called the restaurant and the manager called us back, told us we could have made a booking/reservation but we told them what happened. Please educate your staff as we were really upset with the way she greeted and handled us.

Yum, yum, yum. Such a great variety of yum cha delicacies and more. <br/>Located in a shaded area adjacent St Mary’s Cathedral, Bodhi’s is a vegetarian’s delight with a huge range of dishes, with many an interesting take of traditional Chinese dim sum such as barbecue pork buns, steamed dumplings and prawn rice noodles with soy sauce. There is also a gluten free offering so this really is inclusive dining.

Came here for dinner with friends and it was an enjoyable experience. The food is really good and the ambience is nice too. There's minimal lighting outdoors. Staff were very nice and friendly.

*ALLERGY SUFFERS BEWARE - AVOID AT ALL COSTS*<br/><br/>While the front page of their menu emphasises that they can cater for allergies and dietary requirements, you can imagine my shock as a severe nut allergy sufferer when the waitress came over to tell our table AFTER we finished eating one of the dishes that it had peanuts in the sauce.<br/><br/>Our group of 10 explicitly informed the waitress and other staff upon entering, seating and ordering (3 distinct times), that I am a severe allergy sufferer AND that we will not order any dish which contains nuts.<br/><br/>While they all acknowledged this, obviously it translated to nothing, and to add insult to injury, after informing us one of the dishes I had consumed had peanuts in the sauce, the next dish to arrive at the table had cashews drizzled on the top.<br/><br/>Apparently the food was delicious according to my colleagues, but I wasn't able to enjoy much of it at all and felt sick for the remainder of the evening, and having to self administer medication to avoid a full blown attack.<br/><br/>And while you may expect this long winded story to have redeeming element of it (such as the wait staff or manager checking on me or even offering free dishes/drinks), no such thing happened - in fact they attempted to actually charge for the dish that could've nearly hospitalised me...or worse.<br/><br/>If you're an allergy sufferer, heed my warning - don't take the risk.<br/><br/>Their customer service shows how little they care or empathise with the patrons that dine there, despite their premium price.<br/><br/>And to the restaurant manager/owner - either get it together and train your staff properly, or don't bother pretending like you care about allergy suffers in your mantra, when instead you tell your staff that the issue was because "the person who takes your order and then brings the food out differs sometimes".

Went here for my birthday- staff were friendly and food was amazing. Lucky I made a booking since it looked like it was getting really busy. <br/>Defiantly will come back again!

Awesome 👏 delicious 😋 vegan 🌱 food I’ve ever enjoyed across the globe 🌍 .. a bit tricky to find on google maps. Hit your destination and then walk further and you’ll find it hidden a level lower after a short flight of steps. Don’t give up!

Three of us went for lunch at this vegan yum cha restaurant. Foodwise, expensive, but fulfilling. Staffs were all very friendly. Interesting vegan experience.

Came here with my non-vegetarian friend for dinner after work and we both loved it! The mock meat tastes just like the real thing! Our personal favourites were the sweet and sour “chicken”, the Japanese pumpkin dumplings and the creme brûlé, although we liked all of it. Price is a bit steep though.

I've been wanting to come along to Bodhi for many many many months. I was so very excited after hearing all the wonderful things about it from so many people, and the fact that it's all vegan was even more enticing. Located in Sydney's CBD right near St Mary's Cathedral, Bodhi has become a real favourite.

Im not a vegetarian and so didnt have any real expectations for this place but it completely blew me away! All of the dishes we ordered were delicious and very flavorsome. Would definitely return!

Went there for dinner one night. The food for vegetarian friendly was very creative and tasty but there were some dishes that were doused in sauce to compensate for the lack of meat. Some dishes too salty or sweet I would recommend easing off on the sauce a bit and putting it in a side for extra dipping. Also don’t call a bao a “slider” it confuses people.

I’d been wanting to go here for so long. Seeing great pics everywhere. We easily got a booking on a Sunday night and seated at nice table inside. There’s also plenty of space to dine outside. There’s a big menu and everything is vegan and vegetarian. We ordered the san Choy bow which was ok but the filling could have been much more flavoursome. The dumplings are amazing (we tried the pumpkin, as well as mushroom. However they only come in 3’s. The restaurant would not accomodate and serve 4, even for little extra cost. This happens in every other restaurant I’ve been to. How many people seriously go out in threes? <br/>The mushroom curry main on a birds nest was delicious and the silken tofu salad was ok.<br/>All four of our party did not like our desserts at all (but I guess that’s because we’re not actually vegan and you can’t beat dessert laden with butter and sugar!<br/>Anyway service was pleasant, food came incredibly quickly but it is quite pricy.

This restaurant is one of a kind as it’s the only fully plant based vegan yumcha/dumpling restaurant that I know of. There’s a huge selection and variety in terms of baos, dumplings and other dishes. We ordered the shiitake and chicken dumplings, along with the mushroom medley with coconut creamy sauce in a pastry basket. Both dishes arrived promptly and they were delicious and fresh. However this restaurant is a bit on the pricier side ($9.50 for three dumplings) so I would only come here occasionally - definitely not for daily casual dining.

This place blew my mind away! Whenever I try out new places, I am always apprehensive and this was no exception. I was also skeptical about whether I will be full after the meal (because I was never full after having a vegetarian course – always went back home to stuff myself). Located close to St Mary’s Cathedral, this place boasts a beautiful oasis for patrons, like myself, to dine and have a good time. We had the option to sit inside or outside under the  luscious fig trees. The ambience was definitely 10/10!

Vegan friendly? 10000/10 <br/><br/>This place needs to be on the top 5 of the vegan restaurant checklists, especially if you love asian food and/or you’ve turned vegan and you’re truly missing that yumcha.<br/><br/>You can either choose the dishes that are offered by the waiters (hence the name yumcha) or you can choose to either everything off their menu for it all to arrive and you can get that nice photo 😉 <br/><br/>The staff are super lovely, very attentive and accomodating. They’ll introduce you to the method of service if you haven’t been to yumcha or bodhi before. The atmosphere is also beautiful and very peaceful as you’re surrounded by green serenity, and Hyde Park. <br/><br/>All that aside, the food? Everything is made fresh, and it is truly, so freaking good. I must admit I ate until I was almost sick because I couldn’t get enough of all the food choices. I would say the flavours are so authentic, and since transitioning to veganism, that they satisfy that yearn for true asian food I had through childhood. <br/><br/>You can order the classic char siu bao or har gow (imo this dish wasn’t my favourite), and they have dumplings on dumplings on dumplings. SO GOOD. Their springrolls? oh MY GOODNESS they’re the fresh kind and they leave you feeling fresh (fried food leaving you feeling fresh?!! say whaaaat). I could go on about all their dishes because we must have ordered 3/4 of their menu; but why do that when you guys can visit and have a taste for yourself. <br/><br/>By the time desserts came out, unfortunately we had really eaten to the point where we could eat no more, not even dessert. But their range is incredible, they have mango pudding, custard lava buns (yes i know right), mango pancakes, and so much more. <br/><br/>My vegan heart is warmed everytime I visit bodhi, my childhood memories are relived and my cravings are always always satisfied ......well almost. <br/><br/>Because; the only thing missing is the truely classic egg tart. Please Bodhi fill that ultimate craving one day. For all my HK people 💓

Went here on a trip with my vegan friends, was excited to have my first experience to sample a Vegan Yum-Cha menu. The location is pretty good; right next to the beautiful St Mary's Cathedral and in the shade of some massive trees. The place itself has a few seats inside the restaurant and a bunch of seats outside. We decided to sit outside as it was nice breeze and not too hot. The hostess explained the process of ordering and off we went. Started with Mushroom dumplings which were pretty good. We got the Chicken Steamed Bun which wasn't too good, We tried the Spicy Beetroot dumplings which again were very average imo. Had the Glass Noodle Spring Rolls which were well made, although the Prawn sauce was a bit too sweet for my liking. Had a bunch of other things like the Shiitake Mushroom & Asparagus Dumplings which were average as well. The mango pancake (a fav dessert as per the waitress) was very substandard as well, with the pastry to filling ratio a bit out of whack. We had an iced Coffee, ice tea, etc from the drinks menu which were alright. The service was a bit hit and miss, some of the waitress were pretty helpful and had a smile on their faces, whereas a few others did not smile at all and took forever for them to get back to us if we requested something from them. Took a while before they even brought any water to our table. All in all there is a lot scope for improvement and unfortunately will not warrant a return visit.

Amazing azian vegan restaurant. Lovely ambience, many choices of drinks and an amazing experience of new flavors on the food menu. The desserts also were very tasty. We all 4 on the table loved it.

Lovely and quiet spot that is easily missed because of the obscure location. It’s a true hidden gem in the hustle of the city. Waiting staff were very attentive and accommodating. This would be a place I would visit again and again.

What a place! Delightful vegan dumplings and cuisine in a beautiful locations. The service process is not the 'norm' like most restaurants, as they come around with hot food for offer without you needing to order. The 'chicken' and corn dumplings was my absolute favourite alongside the spinach dumplings!<br/>A place where you can eat till your hearts contend that is reasonably priced as well!

Great for a trio at lunch (bc the plates have three of each item on them). Cocktails are great, nice on a hot day as the shade really makes a difference - cute and ambient. I went as a trio and we got 5 plates, plus mango pancakes and a spinach platter with cocktails for each of us and spent under 200$. I really recommend this!!

Probably one of the worst service experiences of my life. We had to wave our arms around every time we wanted to get the waiter, they never approached us. It took 40 mins to get our wine, it took 1hr 45 mins to get a tiny salad that was one bite each. We ordered the taro chips with avocado salsa and just got diced cucumber instead of avocado. And at the end of it all we were all starving because the dishes were so small. Will not ever return and I don't recommend to anyone. There are other much nicer vegan and vegetarian places in Sydney.<br/>On a side note, we came here for dinner where it is only a la carte (not the usual yum Cha style), so that could have impacted the service experience.

The place is cozy and the staff are friendly. They serve vegetarian Yam Cha for lunch. We sat down outside and had nice breeze which was great even though it’s a pretty hot summer day. I thought the food was average. I enjoyed spinach dim sums and shiitake dim sums but I was not into soy meat & sea food ones. I liked a mango pudding though. It’s fresh and tasty! Overall, it’s not bad and like the concept of the restaurant but I will probably not go back. I much prefer other Yam Cha places...

Everything I ordered was absolutely delicious ! Up there as one of my favourite restaurants!!!<br/><br/>Would high recommend the teriyaki tofu salad and sweet and sour "chicken".

Flavour was delicious! Especially the teriyaki tofu salad and sweet and sour “chicken”. Staff accommodated the birthday request and our dessert come out with a sparkler and candle.

What an incredible dining experience!<br/>This yumcha style Chinese restaurant was vegan meaning we could eat anything on the menu.<br/>Everything we ordered was DELICIOUS.<br/>On top of this, the restaraunt has such a cool modern vibe and the outdoor location makes it very summery and relaxed.

Have to admit I came here with extremely low expectation - how can I satisfy myself without meat<br/><br/>The result was shockingly amazing - Bodhi served some of the best Chinese food I have had in sydney. Loads and loads of flavours, unbelievable texture (can no longer tell the difference between tofu and chicken/beef/prawn), lovely atmosphere amoungst all the trees and lights<br/><br/>I'm going to trick my meat loving bf to come here and see if he can tell between tofu and meat

Ordered various Yum Cha dishes, most are tasty but the vegetarian pork bun’s taste was quite bad. There were lots of dishes that try to mimic meat which I always find it weird. <br/><br/>Will I go back: yes but only if I’m out with a vegetarian friend, otherwise I prefer going to a non vegetarian yum cha place

First time trying out a vegetarian restaurant - loved this cute little spot, food was delicious, especially the "duck" (tasted just like duck). Tried the "chicken" and the crispy egg plant dishes as well which were also tasty. The cocktails were also on point, would come back for more!

delicious food, and feels even better that it’s cruelty free. even hubby who is a meat-lover LOVES the food here. everyone we bring here says they are pleasantly surprised that the food tastes so good without any animal products. mango pancakes and the sweet corn dumplings are our favourites. we’ve been here a few times and will keep coming back. only reason this is not a 5 star rating is that food is quite pricey, but this might be due to the fact we eat quite a lot. between two of us we usually spend about $70. special nights for us!

This was a lovely Restaurant and an awesome experience! It was great food and great service! I recommend it to everyone as you can always find something on the menu. Had an awesome time!

Really yummy food for vegetarians and non-vegos- the flavours are so tasty you forget that you aren't eating any meat!<br/>Only complaint is that it's on the pricey side.<br/>Great service, location and ambience.

Hidden in the shady fig trees next to the majestic St Mary's Cathedral, the cozy vegan restaurant is popular for its wide variety of vegetarian dim sums. Bodhi is probably one of the better yum cha establishments though none of dim sums stood out. <br/><br/>After getting a seat in the crowded restaurant, the service team will carry a large tray of dim sums, walk to your table and ask if you were interested to pick them up. There is a slight impulse to order the dim sums because you don't really keep track of its price. <br/><br/>My girlfriend and I helped ourselves to many dim sums: red bean pancakes, spring rolls, steamed chive dumplings, taro "prawn", beancurd skin. There were hits and misses: the red bean pancake was delicious and crispy and the spring rolls were fresh. However, the dumplings and taro were dry. The dim sums were prepared and fried in bulk and some had probably turned soggy because no one ordered and picked them up.

Bodhi is a beautifully presented restaurant that has the feel and look to match the Asian influences in the food. I was very excited to try a range of items on the menu having heard great feedback and read the reviews. Most of the meals ordered were delicious and difficult to believe they are Vegan. I particularly loved the dumplings of which I tried the Japanese pumpkin. However I had to give this place at 3.5 for two reasons. Firstly, the service was not attentive enough, I waited quite a long time before being asked if I was ready to order. Secondly, the other dumplings dish I was hoping to try with mushrooms and asparagus ran out. I do not believe this is acceptable as it demonstrates a lack of professionalism and organisation. The server was also unwillingly to check with the kitchen whether some could be made to order. Overall, all the dishes fresh, tasty and exceed my expectations especially considering none contained animal products. Although, experience as a whole was negatively affected by the service and lack of organisation which are crucial.

Delicious. For someone who isn't vegan, all the soy meats tasted like real meat and was very good. A bit on the pricey side with dishes starting from $7 and only 3 pieces per dish. Overall a very good food experience.

Okay, where to start.<br/>I came here for a late lunch. It took a few minutes for the staff passing me by and ignoring me to notice me standing next to the "wait to be seated" sign.<br/> I had to stop one of the girls and ask for a table, literally.<br/><br/>Then I went in and was given a table at a dark corner behind the cashier when the entire restaurant was empty. When I asked to change my table to sit somewhere else the waitress got annoyed.<br/><br/>Then as soon as I sat down she told me that almost half of the menu isn't available (the fried and seared options) because they close at 4. (It was 3:09) then I got confused and asked if they've run out of food and she responded no the kitchen closes at 3:30 that's why. (Makes sense to you? Yeah, exactly)<br/>Then another waitress comes and tells me only three of the dishes are unavailable. I mean, clearly there's a communication issue between the staff.<br/><br/>I then asked about the fold noodles and since I hadn't heard of it before I asked if the "folded noodles with plum, peanut and soy sauce" option comes with those ingredients inside? And she said yes. So I ordered the dish. And I got a dish with rolled plain gooey rice noodles with three small sauces on the side (not homemade, but those bottled ones)<br/>And there was no soy sauce amongst them, but "hoisin" instead which I really dislike.<br/><br/>That wasn't the only dish with the wrong description. I ordered the tofu and mushroom puffs and there was no tofu to be found! Only mushrooms and peas in a bean curd skin.<br/><br/>I also got the creamy corn and chicken dumplings. There was just whole and roughly mashed corn inside. No chicken substitute or textured protein. No creamy filling. Just bland sweet corn.<br/><br/>The food was very average. But the service really sucked, I mean why was the waitress so unfriendly and annoyed? And why is the restaurant taking customers if the kitchen's half closed?<br/><br/>So I thought I'd give the cashier a feedback, hoping he shows some understanding. <br/><br/>As I walked to him he said hi, that's 16 dollars. I told him I had 4 dishes and it must be more. Then he went "okay, 30 bucks then." As if he didn't even do the calculations! I was all like what's happening here!<br/><br/>Then I told him that the description of that dish and what the staff told me about it didn't match with what was served. He said oh, sorry. Just that. And continued to charge me for it.<br/><br/>You know what I hate more than anything? Restaurants that make you unhappy and go ahead and charge you all the same like nothing's happened. I paid for a dish I wouldn't have gotten if I wasn't misinformed about <br/><br/>Don't see what all the hype's about. I'm not going back and i don't recommend this place.

Situated across the road from Hyde park and a five minute walk from St. James station, Bodhi is a yum cha offering many vegan substitutes to your typical yum cha dishes. We arrived at around 11am and there were lots of spaces (either inside or outside) to sit at. We ordered over 10 dishes to share amongst a group of 5 and were left feeling satisfied - the bill amounted to about $25pp. Our personal favourite dishes here were the BBQ bread bun, Custard bun, Flaky Taro ball and Black sesame hedgehog. The faux meat tasted very similar to real meat and the flavours fused well together. Service was friendly however service time between presenting each of the dishes could be improved. Overall, we had a pleasant dining experience at Bodhi though prices may be a bit expensive.

Nice vegan restaurant - food, ambience and service wise. Great place to bring your date for a fine vegan treat, haha. One downside is that some dishes could be slightly bland.

Incredible vegan food. Sweet and savoury both good and a good variety. Absolutely incredible sticky toffee date pudding with nice cream! Beautiful scenery - outdoors there's fairy lights and inside has a bar and is quite cozy. Short walk from town hall station.

Ticked off another restaurant from my Sydney wish list...desserts make this place! Dumplings were a little bland at times but the desserts are incredible. Highly recommend the custard buns & passionfruit doughnuts!

Came with vegan daughter. Seated promptly for second sitting on a Friday night. Cocktail was delicious.<br/>Started with edamame beans which was a very generous serving. Delicious, but you can only have so many beans in my opinion! My daughter on the other hand couldn't have enough ...<br/>Pumpkin dumplings were pretty good.<br/>Eggplant tempura style dish was good, but not outstanding.<br/>Mushroom medley on pastry dish was okay.<br/>Desserts (sticky date pudding, and a tapioca dish) were really good.<br/>Service was fantastic, and our waitress was very pleasant and attentive. <br/>I thought food was okay, but certainly wouldn't rave about it. <br/>$140 for 1 cocktail, 2 vodka/tonics, 1 beans, 1 dumplings, 2 mains, 2 desserts.<br/>Daughter loved it. I would go again, but not rush to get there.<br/><br/>

I ordered an ice chocolate once and asked if it was blended or mixed. The man there told me it was blended with an annoyed attitude. Once it got to the table the drink was mixed with chunks and pieces of powdered chocolate that wasn't mixed properly, the drink tasted like just plain milk and gagged when chunks of dry powdered chocolate was swallowed and said the drink was blended ice as well. The latte i ordered came out cold and the froth wasn't steam properly there was too much bubbles.

Bodhi is such a wonderful location nestled in the trees near the Cathedral. Their staff are very polite and attentive which made the experience lovely. <br/><br/>The food is so delicious. It's all vegan and they use meat alternatives but you wouldn't even know. It doesn't have that mock meat vibe and everything thing tastes completely unique. Each dish was full of flavour. My favourite was a prawn pastry roll with sesame seeds. The sweet potato slice was also delicious!

Very family-friendly environment with such a huge range of vegan dishes! I didnt particularly like the dessert even though it looked very aesthestic, but the staff are extremely accomodating and will definitely be back to try more of their lunch dishes (however the food here is very pricey)

When I phoned Bodhi for a reservation I was asked to leave a message with details for a booking. When I showed up, the Manager said that they had not listened to the answering machine, and that we would be required to wait at least 1 hour for a booking. There was an unsatisfactory explanation provided. Disappointing.

This restaurant is one of the most popular vegan restaurants in Sydney, and is known for their colourful array of dumplings and dainty atmosphere. The location provides a lively atmosphere for friends and family to enjoy a meal under the trees, sheltered from the sun; which is great for the warmer months. The food, however, was too expensive for the tiny portions served. $7-$10 for 3 bite-sized dumplings is unacceptable and ridiculous. We were left with still slightly hungry stomachs after ordering countless yum cha baskets of several types of dumpling and noodles. Diners can often get carried away with ordering, as the prices may seem decent at first, but the bill escalates quickly after eating what seems to be an endless amount of bite-sized dumplings and other dishes. But you're probably still wondering why I rated Bodhi 4.5 stars.<br/><br/>The food was delightful and every bite was filled with plant-based goodness. All the dishes are easy to eat and light, perfectly seasoned, accompanied by complementary soy and chili sauce.  The idea that every dish was prepared without harming a single animal was astonishing, it was amazing how dishes didn't require meat to be delicious. I recommend the rice noodle folds with vegetarian prawns; this dish was believable in a sense where the texture and flavour of the mock meat matched real prawns perfectly. No traditional food carts were on display but instead overly confronting waiters presenting cold pre-made dishes. I walked into Bodhi expecting high quality vegan food and they delivered. All in all, traditional yum-cha provides almost flawless and efficient service and food on every occasion but Bodhi Restaurant's cruelty-free dishes and laid-back ambiance outshines it's flaws.

Lovely food everytime I've come here. Every dish with the exception of the "Tom Yum noodles" was excellent. It's in a really good location too, however quiet and surrounded by trees so it might be difficult to spot. Only downside is, it's not cheap.

The best yum cha I've ever eaten - and I'd eaten a lot prior to becoming vegan. The staff catered well to a busy public holiday lunch service, not spectacularly though. Will definitely be back for more and bring my friends

Food was fantabulous. Light, warm and very well balanced in taste. I was delighted and enjoyed eating the well thought through dishes. The service was also excellent.

Delicious food, especially the dumplings and desserts. But staff was slow to accomodate. They would always come back to reconfirm the order or come<br/>Back to us once we ordered to tell us that they no longer had that particular food available...

If someone didn't tell you first you'd probably not realise you weren't eating meat as it's cleverly disguised. They offer sausage rolls, pork buns etc etc. I actually found this quite disappointing as I'm not sure why you'd dress up a vegan meal as containing meat. I'd expected something different: that the fillings would be vegetable/nut/pulse based combinations. The best dishes were such as those ones eg the veggie curry puff. I'm a meat eater but happy to go veggie as was invited by veggie friend. Nice place, loved the location. Would go again if I was invited but wouldn't go out of my way to go there.

The food was so good out here! The highlight was the Peking Duck, everything was vegan and we were confused to what we should eat. Two tapas and a main is the perfect combination for two people. We also tried the rose wine which was really good, it is one of the best places to celebrate a birthday dinner!

Bodhi is quite randomly placed in a park, but it adds to the experience as you are dining amongst nature and the it's quite a gorgeous set up.<br/>I came here for lunch for the yum cha as I am quite the yum cha fan and the experience was wonderful! We enjoyed 90% of what we ordered (which was ALOT of dishes) and we were quite surprised when we went to pay as it was a bit more expensive than what we had anticipated, but it was a positive experience nevertheless and I feel like every one should try here at least once as everything is so delicious!<br/>Everything is vegan, but would definitely be enjoyable for anyone!

This restaurant got recommended by a friend and we loved the food. Seriously wizards in the kitchen. Great location and atmosphere too. The food came out VERY quickly. Staff was friendly. Definitely recommend their san choy bau!!!

Omg I love this place. Since it's quite expensive I only eat here very occasionally with friends, but it's worth it. Just go here and I guarantee you won't regret it. The only downside I can think of is that the service can get a bit lacking when it's busy, but that's to be expected and it doesn't hinder the experience. Otherwise, the food is wonderful and the atmosphere is more than pleasant. I also highly recommend sitting by the heat lamps when it's cold 😊

Menu very overpriced and my group of 4 left hungry and dissatisfied. Service was terrible, we had a booking which they lost, took a ridiculous amount of time for someone to come and take our order and for meals to come out. Will not be coming back.

Bodhi will forever have a special place in my heart ❤️ because, this is where I learnt to use chopsticks 🤗<br/>So was it worth the effort to learn using chopsticks? Absolutely!!! The food was not just amazing but was super super cute 👌🏻<br/>We had a farewell lunch with my colleague here and were sceptical about vegan concept as most of us were non-vegetarians. But anyway, the food was so tasty and interesting and I lost myself enjoying it so much that I completely forgot to take most of the food's pictures(which I normally don't)<br/>It was definitely a fun and interesting experience.<br/>There are 2 reasons why I didn't give the other 0.5. One, we sat outside on a very hot afternoon and I was literally sweating through out my meal. The second being an expensive banquet for not huge varieties(and they forgot to give us tea, that's part of the set menu. Yes, it doesn't matter if it is a hot day, but I still expect to be offered the chance to upgrade it for an iced one😆). Of course we forgot too!!<br/>Ok soo..overall, Bodhi is a nice place during breezy evenings and chilly afternoons. The best for vegans!!👌🏻👌🏻

Had dinner there last night for my birthday, it was incredibly disappointing.<br/><br/>The service was awful.<br/><br/>All night we felt either ignored or rushed. The food came out within 10 minutes of being ordered, all three dishes, so we couldn’t actually fit it on the table and had a couple of plates precariously hanging over the edge of the table.<br/><br/>I couldn’t believe how quick the food arrived, maybe it was so quick because the portion sizes were so small? The san choy bao allowed a sprinkling of soy mince on each leaf (if that) and cost $17.50 – it felt like a rip off.<br/><br/>It was either the small portions or the fact that it is all pre-prepared, which is just as disappointing.<br/><br/>We were allowed one drink order and two glasses of water each. Possibly because we were there for such a short time, we came, we ate and left. Not a celebration, no atmosphere, just a quick meal of precooked food and a glass of wine.<br/><br/>Wouldn’t recommend, will definitely not go back.

Quietly tucked away from the busy hub of Sydney cbd, this restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating. <br/><br/>It was my second vegetarian only restaurant and I loved it. The mango slices with chilli salt was to die for and the laksa was one of the best I have ever tasted.

Bodhi had been on my list to try out for the longest time. It’s vegan yum cha, and although it’s not the only place that does it, it is certainly the most well known. I really couldn’t hide my excitement when we sat down, and the hardest part was not being able to try everything that was brought out.<br/><br/>The food as a whole was enjoyable with my favourite’s being the summer rolls, bbq char siew squares, and broccoli and ginger dumplings. Didn’t find the chicken dumplings that great though. I would have loved to try some of the sweet dishes also as they looked incredible, but really didn’t have the stomach space after all the savoury.<br/><br/>Service was really lovely too which was a great plus. I was a little taken aback when we went to pay as I didn’t quite expect it to be that pricey (more than any other yum cha I have been to including other vegan ones), but because the overall experience was great it was worth it.

Such amazing vegan/vegetarian food and location wise, it wasn't bad. <br/>Too bad the service was so bad. It took forever for staff to come around and take your order. Then I was given someone else's dumplings instead of the main I ordered. My partners food came out so late that my gf and I had almost finished eating. <br/>It also took forever for them to come out and take our orders for dessert, then my partner got the wrong dessert!<br/>We looked around and noticed that it was also taking a long time for people to get served. <br/>All in all good food but could do with better service. Not sure if we will come back as having to wait around for service and food then having the wrong thing given to you is worth the hassle.

Talk about fine dining vegetarian restaurant with an amazing bar... Can't get better than this place. If you manage to find a table outside venue better. Everything is worth trying once at least

The best things in life start with a V.<br/><br/>As a failed temporary vegetarian and now reformed carnivore I am continously skeptical about meatless meals. However with my bestfriend being a proud member of the vegan church I have decided to expand my horizons.<br/><br/>Bodhi is an institute of vegan/vego goodness. It's a must try experience for anyone of any dietary needs and choices. Their menu is best described as an orgy of classic yum cha goodies with a modern new age twist. The great thing about Bodhi is that unlike other vego restuarants is that their menu isnt just comprised of salads and a selection of faux meats but so much more.<br/><br/>Ambience wise its definitely a solid date spot- set at a secret semi-outdoor location under St Marys cathedral and the swimming pools. Tealights and candles set the mood with wafts of asian spices perfuming the air as each dish gets delivered. <br/><br/>To sum it up: Bodhi is a cute date spot with food so good that it will moisten any carnivores mouth... Oh man thinking of those fame duck pancakes is making me see the light and its a delicious bright "collared green".

One of the best Asian food I have tasted! As an Asian, wandered the place in Sydney for our business trip and spot this restaurant along the way. Can't get enough of them dumplings and prawns. I would recommend this place!

The food and service on both visits was great but I have recently had a very bad experience trying to book a table for 15 friends.<br/>I emailed twice, called twice and left a voicemail. When I finally got them on the phone the man I spoke to was pretty ignorant regarding my booking and said their policy for groups over 10 people need to be paid in ADVANCE! <br/>I have never heard this before and organise plenty of events bother personally and professionally and have never been told this.<br/>He was rude and dismissive. Even though I emailed my reservation over a week previous they did not take it and when I called within a week of the date they said they are fully booked. <br/><br/>Very poor and I expected a much higher level of customer service from this type of business.<br/><br/>Based on this experience I would not recommend this business. There are plenty more compassionate and friendly businesses with a much higher level of customer service.

Love their vegan dim sum at the park! Yummy choices and great alternative for those who can choose mok meat, personally enjoyed the fried options, service was great too - def worth the visit

Okay if you had told me that everything was meat I would've believed you. Bodhi is the bomb when it comes to vegan food. The food here is delicious and almost flawless. The main issue that I have is the costs. Compared to a regular yum Cha place expect to pay quite a bit more. However if you were to come with a big group as I have, it does make everything more affordable but only marginally so. Despite not being a vegan, I would freely come back here again. It is just that good.

The food here is really incredible. We went with two vegetarian's and two meat eaters and everyone enjoyed all of the food. The peking "duck" pancakes were the highlight and I would recommend everyone order them. The only downside is that the service is a bit lacking, it gets annoying after a while to basically have to grab a server to get their attention. Though all the food and drinks we ordered came out really quickly which was surprising considering that they were really busy at the time.

Was very disappointed with the food. What we ordered was very bland. We ordered the tofu sliders which dry without any flavors. Laksa was way under cook. And the fried eggplants were too oily. Wait staff were great, but food was not good.

was surprised by how busy the restaurant was. we ordered a lot of food so i was glad that the servings weren't massive. shared: <br/>- sweet japanese pumpkin dumplings <br/>- green tea choysum dumplings <br/>- shiitake mushroom and asparagus dumplings <br/>- steamed bbq bread buns <br/>- stir fry green bean, shredded tofu and enoki, with a spicy chilli bean sauce<br/>-  sweet potato and yam tempura spring rolls<br/>- fried taro chips with fresh wasabi salsa of tomatoes, daikon and cucumber<br/>- salt, pepper, coriander, tempura vegetarian ‘prawns’<br/>everything was vegan and super tasty but my favourites would have to be the 'green tea choysum dumplings', 'shiitake mushroom + asparagus dumplings' and 'sweet potato + yam tempura spring rolls'. for any meat-eaters, don't be put off by the whole 'vegan' thing with Bodhi, because I can ensure you that this restaurant doesn't make you miss meat AT ALL. everything was so delicately crafted and it's actually the best dim sum I've ever had!

This restaurant is extremely lucky for its location. It's location, service and great vegan yum cha really make it. Located underneath st Mary's cathedral. It serves seasonal yum cha although a littler pricey than traditional yum cha - going with a group will solve that. Service is extremely friendly and accommodating. Would definitely come back!

What an amazing vegan restaurant!! tucked away under the stairs near the cathedral, the beautiful lights that surrounded the outside area, just picturesque!! The food here was also fabulous! I immensely enjoyed the fresh watermelon and cabbage dish, well seasoned and refreshing. I also had the shittake mushroom and asparagus dumplings, such brilliant flavours! I tried my guests 'chicken' steamed bun and it was also heavenly. (I wish I had gotten pictures, I was just so hungry I needed to dig in!) I highly recommend the cloudy apple cocktail (can't quite remember the proper name), very nice! <br/>Lost 0.5 because my edamame beans were waaay too salty. I dug under the pile of them to ensure I didn't get one with too much salt. Considering that that's my only complaint, I highly recommend Bodhi to anyone looking for a filling, lovely vegan night out. And for you meat eaters, you won't even miss the meat!

I have seen this place all over Sydney Vegan Instagram pages so I thought I'd have a look! <br/><br/>I have been to multiple Yum Cha restaurants and it was exactly the same. Waitresses came round offering a huge range of delights. Some just vege based and some with faux meat. I have quite a hatred for faux meat because most of the time it tastes like plastic, however here it was done well. I loved the mix of fresh and fried foods, everything tastes different and were very flavoursome. <br/><br/>The staff were super friendly and efficient. They were helpful and had good suggestions, the price probably isn't as cheap as yum Cha usually is but still not expensive and we did eat a lot!! <br/><br/>I would recommend this to everyone including meat eaters. Thanks!!!

Beautiful food, great service and really nice location. Loved the ambiance of sitting outside with birdlife chattering in the trees. Fairy light and candles added to a really beautiful setting

Not as good as it used to be. Still good though. The staff are a little confused. Had to ask a few times for service, love the food. I hope they get back on track, love eating there.

Felt like trying a vegetarian spot and this was one on the list to tick off. The food was really good and we were pleasantly surprised at how well the food passed off as meat. The 'prawn' and sweet and sour 'chicken' were beautifully flavoured. Wasn't too much of a fan of the dessert though.