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I like the interior in here; lots of natural lighting makes it very pleasant! I did the wonton soup + two bao combo which I think is an excellent deal for the money and quantity of food. The wonton soup had great depth of flavor, lots of little ingredients in the broth, and the wontons were plump and delicious. I wasn't super impressed with the bao -- the chicken curry was kind of bland and needed some saucing up. The pork bao had more flavor, but couldn't stand alone, either. I'd definitely return when in the mood for this type of food at a good price!
My sister and I shared three baos: the red bean, chicken curry, and spicy tofu. The buns were super soft and fluffy, but I was expecting the fillings to have a bit more flavor. Still a good spot for a quick snack!
Cute little spot right next to Project Matcha. Street parking, but usually pretty easy to find a spot. The bao are super good, and a better price than other spots downtown. The service is super fast, and very friendly. I've been there several times and will definitely go back soon.
This place is absolutely amazing! The young man at the counter was very friendly and explained the food to me throughly. Small seating area but zero complaints here! Definitely recommend and definitely returning. 10/10
first time to bao bao while waiting for my girlfriend to get Matcha next-door. The service was really good since I was undecided on what to get. Didn't really like the bao! But the dumplings were made to order and super freshly cooked. The ambience had a lot of seating outside and inside
5/5 - cucumber salad was so good! Comes with some thin noodles and the flavor is superb. 4/5 - One pork bao and one mushroom. The pork filling was pretty small. Mushroom was better! 4/5 - Wonton soup was lacking in flavor, but the portion is large. 2/5 - I was the first customer on a Friday at 11:00. It didn't seem like they cleaned from the night before? The entire table I was sitting at was sticky, the weather rug hasn't been vacuumed in probably weeks..they have a communal water dispenser that I didn't try but was in bad shape from the outside of it. I do recommend their food, but maybe for take out. I wouldn't sit for a meal again probably.
My partner and I came here for lunch, and absolutely loved it. We ordered the five baked bun mix and match, the 8-piece veggie dumplings, and vegan suan la fen. For our bao buns, we ordered the mushroom and the spicy tofu. The buns came out first (within 5 minute of ordering). The tables are pre-set with soy sauce, vinegar, and what looks like house made chili oil/crisp. The buns were packed with tasty filling. The spicy tofu was my favorite, especially with a little vinegar and chili. The soup was excellent and very filling. I was excited to see that most of their menu can be customized to be vegetarian/vegan, which is not always the case. Excellent broth, great flavor-- the veggies tasted super fresh. The dumplings were also good. We got them stir-fried and they came out piping hot! The location is nice, and there's a nice view from the windows. There isn't a ton of seating, but it's a cute place to eat and the ambiance inside is nice and calm. The service was great, and the woman behind the counter was very helpful and did not make us feel rushed while we stood at the counter and looked at the menu. You bus your own table here, and you can grab to-go containers off the counter whenever you're ready, which made this place feel laid back and casual. We got a punch card on the way out (1 punch per bun purchased and 10 punches gets you a free bun) and will be returning!
I came here with a friend as we were close by. They have a nice selection of baos, and we tried 3 (pork, curry chicken, and spicy tofu). While the flavors were great--with curry chicken being the best-- I think the fillings were not sufficient. They had a new spicy wonton, and I think that was the best dish. They make their chili oil in-house, and the wonton was so good, it was like wide rice noodles. Super cute place though. A small store, but they make use of every available space for seating. The staff was great. They have street parking. Would come here to eat their spicy wonton again.
I loved the vibe of this place and the customer service. And the server was super friendly! The food did not hit for me. The cucumber salad was actually good. But the three bao I got were not good. I had one mushroom and two spicy tofu. The flavor/seasoning wasn't doing it for me. I added vinegar and chili garlic oil, but it was just not hittin. It was also more dough than filling than I wanted. I was pretty disappointed with the meal but I loved the vibe. I would try something different if I ever went back, but they are known for their bao so that was the unfortunate part. Maybe the meat ones are better.
Having eaten chinese baos (steamed buns with fillings) my entire life, I know a good bao vs. an average bao. I'm slightly disappointed that a place that specializes in baos & dumplings could make an item that was so average, both in flavor & in size. We had a large steamer (5 baos) @ $16, trying 4 varieties: pork, curry chicken, spicy tofu, and mushroom. Actually surprised that BBQ pork (the most quintessential & famous of Chinese baos) was not a menu choice. Flavors were muted and amount of filling and size of the baos was pedestrian. Similar to how big baos in frozen bags are (vs. restaurant-quality baos). For the price, I expected more both in quantity & taste. None of the flavors really stood out. If you're unfamiliar with baos, this might be a good place to try some. Or if you're hoping to try different flavors, this might be the place for you. But for those who know Chinese food, best to seek out a good authentic restaurant or dim sum place instead.
Excellent service | Delicious baos We unexpectedly stumbled upon this great find. We were greeted by a friendly worker who suggested to try their pork bao since we were looking to buy the 5 pack. She was so kind, she threw in 2 extra baos for us!! It was a great way to sample their flavors, so now when we return we'll know what to get more of. We ordered these flavors: mushroom (vegan), chicken curry, pork, and sweet lotus. Wow - please do yourself a favor and get the pork! My mouth waters as I write this review. The sweet lotus is for those who like a nougat taste like black sesame. The vegan mushroom is full of flavor! The chicken curry is really good with a little bit of spice for those who like a tad spicy. Great prices. I want to come back and try one of their noodle soup dishes. This place is great! Great atmosphere too. It's next door to Project Matcha.
Very affordable and filling without feeling overly stuffed. The bao are perfectly steamed and filled with the perfect amount of filling. The filling we had were the spicy tofu and vegan mushroom filling. I love spice but the mushroom was my favorite. They had hot chili oil and a black vinegar that was phenomenal. The dumplings were cooked perfectly with a nice crisp and chewy texture. Everything was packed perfectly. We took it to-go but the restaurant is airy and has great windows for people watching.
Bao Bao was a nice restaurant with Vegan options I went to with my sister and will be buying a steamer to come back and start getting frozen Baos
I'm a big fan of Bao Bao for a tasty snack well under $10. The chicken curry Bao and pork Bao were really tasty. Each was $3.80. Standard chili oil in little cups to go if you like it. Counter service and the baos were ready immediately. I want to come back for the other offerings. Clean shop with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating right before the east side entrance to the burnside bridge. read more
4 months ago
Stopped here after visiting the Matcha Project and got the spicy tofu bao. The bao texture is incredible. The tofu and noodles and veggies inside could have been a bit better cooked, but the flavor was good. I would come back here and try other bao but was a bit limited since I'm a vegetarian, but was happy to see that they did have some options. Service was quick and efficient. I ordered and immediately got my bao. There are a few tables inside, but I got mine to go and it came in this pretty packaging. The bao was pipping hot. I almost burnt my hand. read more
4 months ago
5 months ago
I like the interior in here; lots of natural lighting makes it very pleasant! I did the wonton soup + two bao combo which I think is an excellent deal for the money and quantity of food. The wonton soup had great depth of flavor, lots of little ingredients in the broth, and the wontons were plump and delicious. I wasn't super impressed with the bao -- the chicken curry was kind of bland and needed some saucing up. The pork bao had more flavor, but couldn't stand alone, either. I'd definitely return when in the mood for this type of food at a good price! read more
Cute little spot right next to Project Matcha. Street parking, but usually pretty easy to find a spot. The bao are super good, and a better price than other spots downtown. The service is super fast, and very friendly. I've been there several times and will definitely go back soon. read more
4 months ago
This place is absolutely amazing! The young man at the counter was very friendly and explained the food to me throughly. Small seating area but zero complaints here! Definitely recommend and definitely returning. 10/10 read more
first time to bao bao while waiting for my girlfriend to get Matcha next-door. The service was really good since I was undecided on what to get. Didn't really like the bao! But the dumplings were made to order and super freshly cooked. The ambience had a lot of seating outside and inside read more
5/5 - cucumber salad was so good! Comes with some thin noodles and the flavor is superb. 4/5 - One pork bao and one mushroom. The pork filling was pretty small. Mushroom was better! 4/5 - Wonton soup was lacking in flavor, but the portion is large. 2/5 - I was the first customer on a Friday at 11:00. It didn't seem like they cleaned from the night before? The entire table I was sitting at was sticky, the weather rug hasn't been vacuumed in probably weeks..they have a communal water dispenser that I didn't try but was in bad shape from the outside of it. I do recommend their food, but maybe for take out. I wouldn't sit for a meal again probably. read more
My partner and I came here for lunch, and absolutely loved it. We ordered the five baked bun mix and match, the 8-piece veggie dumplings, and vegan suan la fen. For our bao buns, we ordered the mushroom and the spicy tofu. The buns came out first (within 5 minute of ordering). The tables are pre-set with soy sauce, vinegar, and what looks like house made chili oil/crisp. The buns were packed with tasty filling. The spicy tofu was my favorite, especially with a little vinegar and chili. The soup was excellent and very filling. I was excited to see that most of their menu can be customized to be vegetarian/vegan, which is not always the case. Excellent broth, great flavor-- the veggies tasted super fresh. The dumplings were also good. We got them stir-fried and they came out piping hot! The location is nice, and there's a nice view from the windows. There isn't a ton of seating, but it's a cute place to eat and the ambiance inside is nice and calm. The service was great, and the woman behind the counter was very helpful and did not make us feel rushed while we stood at the counter and looked at the menu. You bus your own table here, and you can grab to-go containers off the counter whenever you're ready, which made this place feel laid back and casual. We got a punch card on the way out (1 punch per bun purchased and 10 punches gets you a free bun) and will be returning! read more
I came here with a friend as we were close by. They have a nice selection of baos, and we tried 3 (pork, curry chicken, and spicy tofu). While the flavors were great--with curry chicken being the best-- I think the fillings were not sufficient. They had a new spicy wonton, and I think that was the best dish. They make their chili oil in-house, and the wonton was so good, it was like wide rice noodles. Super cute place though. A small store, but they make use of every available space for seating. The staff was great. They have street parking. Would come here to eat their spicy wonton again. read more
I loved the vibe of this place and the customer service. And the server was super friendly! The food did not hit for me. The cucumber salad was actually good. But the three bao I got were not good. I had one mushroom and two spicy tofu. The flavor/seasoning wasn't doing it for me. I added vinegar and chili garlic oil, but it was just not hittin. It was also more dough than filling than I wanted. I was pretty disappointed with the meal but I loved the vibe. I would try something different if I ever went back, but they are known for their bao so that was the unfortunate part. Maybe the meat ones are better. read more
4 months ago
1 month ago
Having eaten chinese baos (steamed buns with fillings) my entire life, I know a good bao vs. an average bao. I'm slightly disappointed that a place that specializes in baos & dumplings could make an item that was so average, both in flavor & in size. We had a large steamer (5 baos) @ $16, trying 4 varieties: pork, curry chicken, spicy tofu, and mushroom. Actually surprised that BBQ pork (the most quintessential & famous of Chinese baos) was not a menu choice. Flavors were muted and amount of filling and size of the baos was pedestrian. Similar to how big baos in frozen bags are (vs. restaurant-quality baos). For the price, I expected more both in quantity & taste. None of the flavors really stood out. If you're unfamiliar with baos, this might be a good place to try some. Or if you're hoping to try different flavors, this might be the place for you. But for those who know Chinese food, best to seek out a good authentic restaurant or dim sum place instead. read more
Excellent service | Delicious baos We unexpectedly stumbled upon this great find. We were greeted by a friendly worker who suggested to try their pork bao since we were looking to buy the 5 pack. She was so kind, she threw in 2 extra baos for us!! It was a great way to sample their flavors, so now when we return we'll know what to get more of. We ordered these flavors: mushroom (vegan), chicken curry, pork, and sweet lotus. Wow - please do yourself a favor and get the pork! My mouth waters as I write this review. The sweet lotus is for those who like a nougat taste like black sesame. The vegan mushroom is full of flavor! The chicken curry is really good with a little bit of spice for those who like a tad spicy. Great prices. I want to come back and try one of their noodle soup dishes. This place is great! Great atmosphere too. It's next door to Project Matcha. read more
3 months ago
Very affordable and filling without feeling overly stuffed. The bao are perfectly steamed and filled with the perfect amount of filling. The filling we had were the spicy tofu and vegan mushroom filling. I love spice but the mushroom was my favorite. They had hot chili oil and a black vinegar that was phenomenal. The dumplings were cooked perfectly with a nice crisp and chewy texture. Everything was packed perfectly. We took it to-go but the restaurant is airy and has great windows for people watching. read more
6 months ago
Bao Bao was a nice restaurant with Vegan options I went to with my sister and will be buying a steamer to come back and start getting frozen Baos read more
3 months ago
2 years ago
Came in Christmas Eve with the gal pal hungry and it was our last first time here. The first bite to the last was just fantastic. You order at the counter, and find a spot to eat (limited seating), and wait for the goodness. The lady behind the counter was just awesome. Will def come back for everything we got! read more
I recently stopped by Bao Bao on my way home from the convention center and it didn't hit like I hoped. I got just one vegetarian bun to-go. They heated it up for me and sent me off with a cute paper holder (that didn't do much to protect my hands from the heat). The filling was fairly bland and the dough was a little gritty, like it was day-old or stale. Maybe it was an off day! I'd give them another shot based on past experiences and a lot more options on the menu. I'd also like to try their frozen steam-at-home bao sometime. read more
2 years ago
7 months ago
8 months ago
Kinda funky, contrasting neighborhood--riverside condos and homeless encampments. several fine places to eat around here though. been meaning to come to bao bao for awhile, and we not disappointed. The bao had a good proportion of filling--i had a pork and a mushroom--and the dought nicely spongey and light. The wontons were great, the broth a little thin but had good bits of seaweed, chicken & glass noodles. Friendly service, the food came quickly. read more
Tasty bao buns. Ratings for each 6 flavors. 1. Red bean bun (by far the best) 2. Mushroom 3. sweet lotus 4. Chicken curry & pork tied 5. Spicy tofu (actually spicy so if you like spice you might like this more) We also ate both the pork and veggie pan-fried dumplings and those were quite tasty as well. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
Stopped in as this was on my list of places to check out. First of all, the owner is an absolute joy and it is obvious she is very passionate about the food and the service. Extremely helpful in navigating us through the menu. The Bao buns were excellent but I want to focus on some of the other dishes: Congee: Had heard of the dish, never experienced it. The owner said she likes it for breakfast. My partner, who is of Mexican heritage absolutely loved it. Zha Jiang Mian Noodles: this was my favorite. The fresh cucumber and carrots added the perfect crunch and the flavor was amazing. Cucumber salad. Absolutely wonderful. My partner outright claimed it for leftovers. The pan fried dumplings are excellent. Yes, the tables are a bit small but the service is refreshingly excellent, the food is on point, and overall, this was a great experience. read more
1 year ago
Been meaning to try this place so finally made it in for lunch recently. Nice casual dining spot with counter seats and a few tables, as well as sidewalk tables. Service was friendly and nice. I ordered the zha jia mian noodles and made it a combo, which means adding two steamed buns. First, the noodles came out looking fresh with all the vegetables, but the meat sauce and noodles were disappointing. There was a lot of liquid in the bottom of the bowl (zha jia mian is not supposed to be soup noodles) and the noodles themselves were overcooked. For the buns, I had the chicken curry and then the pork. The chicken curry was good and had a nice flavor, but the pork was like a meatball inside a steamed bun, and it wasn't very interesting or flavorful. I had high hopes for this place since it has been around for awhile and seemed popular, but I just didn't find the items very authentic in the way they prepared things. read more
8 months ago
Business owner information
Sabrina Z.
I am sorry that you had bad experience BUT We respectfully disagree…
In Portland for a huge gathering of almost 7000 educators. Most of the restaurants around the conventions center were not prepared for all of the delegates. Knowing better, I ordered online before heading over to pick up. The line was out the door when I got there. Still had to wait for my order but I received it before some that were in line before I got there, were still waiting. Customer service was great. I had the pork bao. Thought it would be char sui but it was ground pork. It was pretty tasty and I could definitely taste ginger, yum. Also had the chicken curry which had a little kick in it. The texture of the buns were perfect but they could have had a little more sweetness. I also ordered the fried dumplings. These were cooked nicely , personally I liked them a little crispier. The filling was fair, not sure what was missing but a bit bland for me. Lastly, also ordered the cold noodles with shredded chicken. This was great and the noodles were cooked perfectly. This is a great spot and only a 10 minute walk from the convention center. May be hitting them up tomorrow as well. read more
Yum buckets of steamed Bao goodness.. it's an overflowing product of flavor and texture. It's a hand held pocket of food that makes you wonder.. why can't I just stuff my face full of these... OH WAIT. You can, and this place makes you dream of Bao Bao all the time. I was looking for a place for my family to have a quick lunch... we like Baos and my kiddo loves steamed dumplings.. so guess what, they make that here, and it's good. I had the Pork and Chicken Curry buns and they were just yummy in all facets of desire. Yes, they screamed goodness, moist and wet with fillings that soak into the bun... like a tasty sponge, you want to naw on. Everything tasted house made, which is exactly what you want and need in your life. It was for me. The place was clean, and all the necessary condiments were on the tables. The service was good, nothing to scream about, but I do say, get a spot at the bar that faces Into the kitchen.. to watch all that food that you are about to eat, being made. Love it, recommend. read more
2 years ago
I am so happy to discover that the Bao has improved tremendously since I first tried them back in the early days. I had the mushroom bao and the spicy tofu. Both were tasty enough and left me satisfied The inside is clean and cozy with intimate seating throughout and an eating bar. The kitchen is open and I can see the cooks making my dumplings The pear tea was delicious and the super nice hostess was friendly and welcoming. read more
I had gotten myself project matcha and spotted this spot on the way there. I was super intrigued by it and decided to forgo my original plans to eat at a spot I know I enjoy to try this spot, which I had never tried previously. Honestly I am sad to say that I was disappointed, but not surprised. When I saw all the stellar reviews I thought this place would be amazing. Honestly it just tasted ok but nothing special. I gotten myself the pork bao and it tasted like any other bao I've ever tried before. If not just a tad bit more disappointing for me, the meat wasn't particularly flavorful or aromatic and the bread wasn't particularly pillowy and soft. It really was just average tasting to me. I had also gotten myself a small tray of xiao long bao. To be honest they didn't really have a whole lot of soup in them and the dough was a little thick. I usually love xiao long bao, but I'm not gonna lie it's the first time I didn't really want to finish my xiao long bao. Something that was off-putting to me was that the spoons were all a little dirty. I tried to use the cleanest one I could find in the cup holder but even then it still had what I hope is just water stains on them (I found a crumbs on some of the other spoons)... I really wanted to like this place but honestly I don't really see myself returning as it didn't meet my expectations. The service was good though. read more
I refuse to eat the corporate food in convention centers so, while in Portland, a friend and I took a short street car ride to this lovely little place! The staff was friendly, the tables clean and the service quick. We both had the crisp, fresh rice noodle salad. I had freshly fried tofu and she had flavorful shredded chicken and we were both happy! We took a large steamer of bao back for friends and they gave rave reviews! Don't pass up this spot. read more
Clearly, this is a hotspot for lunch, because everyone attending the AEA conference was in this one little place. Their chicken curry, red bean, and spicy tofu baos were incredible, and worth the long line! I also enjoyed the cucumber salad and lemonade. read more
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More info about Bao Bao
545 NE Couch St
Portland, OR 97232
Lower Burnside, Central Eastside, Kerns, Northeast Portland
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(503) 477-8911
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http://www.baobaopdx.com
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Ask the Community - Bao Bao
Hi. Where is the new location?
Hi.we are at 232 SW Washington st Portland, Oregon
Is the cart back in operation at the new location on 3rd?
Yes,we open from 11am-4pm Monday-Sunday
I couldn't find you at the address. Didn't you move to somewhere near SW 3rd Street? Can you give me the new address?
Hi! We are on SW 10th Ave. Between the El Rodeo and Anna Thai Basil carts.
Where exactly is this place? I cannot find them anywhere 😞
We are located on SW 10th Ave between Washington and Alder St. We’re currently updating the cart and plan to reopen sometime next weeks. Looking forward to seeing you!
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