Are you looking for the newest hottest place in the Tower District?

Do you like to be the first person to try the next best spot?

Well for those of you that love the Tower, and are looking for something more modern and upscale but don’t necessarily have the funds for it, the Laughing Buddha is here.

The newest place in the Tower opened just in time to participate in the Mardi Gras parade and get the business from all the foot traffic. Not yet advertising this new place is rolling the right way by just word of mouth.

“We already have customers that have come in everyday we’ve been open”, says co-owner Joe Montoya. It is always exciting seeing new restaurants opening and having the success that they have received.

Classifying themselves as an Asian-fusion bar and grill; the Laughing Buddha serves up everything from comforting Phad Thai to Kowpiak. When asked about Kowpiak, server/bartender, Vanhsy Vongsa explains, “it’s a Laotian version of chicken noodle soup. We make are noodles in house from tapioca and rice flower. We garnish it with onions, cilantro, and fried garlic.”

The food is definitely delicious and affordable. For lunch the most expensive item 7.99 and for dinner the most expensive item only being 8.99. I would recommend eating family style ordering a couple entrees and ordering as many appetizers as possible.

One of the best sellers is the orange chicken, but don’t get it confused for the rock hard stale orange chicken that is available at your local Panda Express, this orange chicken is perfectly seasoned, with a mild orange flavor. It was perfectly cooked, and looked gorgeous with garnishes of orange zest.

The appetizer list has something for everyone from the sweet and savory chicken lettuce wraps to the spicy chicken wings.

The chicken lettuce wraps were my favorite. The mixture of chicken, water chestnuts, and hoison sauce were perfectly paired with the cool crisp pieces of iceberg lettuce. The sweet chilli sauce adds some complex flavors leaving your palate tingling with sweet and spicy notes all at the same time.

Make sure you have your ice water or cold beer ready when you order the deep-fried hot wings. These are some of the best wings in town, but you cannot be afraid of a little heat. The wings have everything you look for in hot wings, they are crispy, sticky, messy, and will get you too sweat like it’s the middle of July. This appetizer is one of the dishes that plays on the comforts of bar food with the flavors of Asia.

For those of that are of age and gets tired of beer or wine easily, the Laughing Buddha has been working on some sake cocktails. Using sake and juices to make nice cold refreshing drinks. “Vanhsy’s love juice” is definitely the way to go, using raspberry flavored sake and a mixture of juices creates a nice sweet drink that cools down some of those spicy items on the menu.