BAO Borough This is a sister restaurant of the Michelin Bib Gourmand BAO, but it's not the original that earned the distinction, and that showed unfortunately. The dishes were all good, but none were particularly excellent. I had: Aged Beef Rice (£14.75) - Incredibly salty, but I like it like that. Classic Bao (£5.50) - Good, but not distinctive. Meat was a bit dryer than it should, and bun wasn't soft and hot. Beef Short Rib Bao (£6.50) - I preferred this to the Classic pork bao and it was quite good, but again, not distinctive. Grilled Cucumber Salad (£5.50) - A nice side dish, but was swimming in oil, so not as healthy as we hopped. House Salad (£5.50) - Mostly kale with some dressing, a nice addition to get some greens. Service was a bit chaotic, it was sometimes unclear how we should order or from whom. At last call, we asked if we needed to order dessert now, and one server said we could order that later, but when the time came, we were unable. The setting was a bit compact, and most of the chairs are stools with no backs. I feel like this place was designed to be half the price, but the Michelin designation spoiled that. It'd be hard to leave full for under £35-£40 without drinks, and for that pricing, I'd at least like a proper chair and elbow room. read more

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So yummy! The wait staffs are very friendly and helpful. The interior reminds me so much of the little restaurants in Taiwan! Very casual setting and we all sit on stalls. Beef rice: great potion of beef but it's pretty spicy - not just from the black pepper but i think they also added chilly oil. If you can't take spices, perhaps ask if they can take it easy on the chilly? Baos: I've tried all of them and I love them all. The bun is very soft and spongy with a bit of sweetness to it. I could have it all day everyday. Roasted aubergine: wow! Please order this. It's like an Asian version of babaganoush! The fried dough is a fried version of their bun - so yummy. read more

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Borough's Market in London is the home to many a restaurant. One of those is Bao. My wife and I decided to give them a try. We wanted to try more than one place at Borough's Market so we only ordered two items to share. We placed our order at the window for a takeaway purchase. Waited about 20 minutes before our order was ready for us. There were no outdoor tables or seats available near Bao. So we just ate our food standing around the corner. We tried their 3pc Fried Chicken and a Classic Bao. They both tasted good. For the price we paid though, we did not think it was worth the price tag. Still, it was an A-Okay experience. read more

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Last Summer, I was eager to find the best bao bun in London and, as I lived locally to Borough Market, I tried this quite early on. I think the issue with some places in London is that they become easily overhyped. This was the case here. The portions were incredibly small and not worth the prices charged. To have an adequate meal would probably have been pricy. We ordered buns to go, served through a small hatch. The service was fine- it was literally a person taking an order through a hatch! There was nothing friendly or personal about it! It also wasn't quick. The buns themselves were fine. I found the bun slightly more rubbery than I'd have wanted and there wasn't a lot of filling. Visiting in the week also meant we waited and ate in a slightly empty Borough market which wasn't particularly nice or ambient. I still felt hungry after my meal. read more

Decided to get carry out lunch to take back to eat in my hotel room while on recent vacation in London. There was a crowd around the carry out window but this did not deter me. The line to order went quickly. Know what you want when you get to the window - the staff seemed impatient and wanted to rush me. I placed my order and paid and stepped aside. The wait was not long before I was called up to the window where they were about to hand me the cardboard tray with my bun and a greasy bag with my fried chicken. Since I had a long walk back to my hotel, I asked for a bag. And a fork - they don't have forks but they did offer chopsticks. My bao was fat and loaded with delicious pork. I was shocked how crispy the chicken was and it did not taste greasy despite the grease soaked paper sleeve it came in. The meat was tasty and I would certainly return. Meal cost £10 which was $12.80 USD. Pricey but tasty. read more

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Bao was delicious and fulfilling, one of our favorite meals here in England. Our favorite were the chicken wings, fried chicken Bao, and Horlick dessert Bao. In total we ordered 5 buns and 2 small plates and a boba to share between two people, spent just under 70 pounds. The portions were small and if you do portion to price it is not the most economical for sure. But come here for the freshness and quality of the food - they take time to cook each Bao and small plate and we could taste the freshness and effort that went into each dish. So from that standpoint, it was really worth the wait and money. Rarely do we say "wow" when we take a bite of food but this place made my husband say wow 4 times. I personally feel this restaurant's price point and focus on food quality targets a different foodie segment than the one it immediately serves. I don't think people go to Borough market to get a full and expensive meal - they go there to taste different things. I can see the takeout counter working to its advantage but the restaurant may get more appreciated in a part of town that is more supportive of sit-down quality and cozy small plates. Better product-market fit. read more

Service was kind & quick Everything was so delicious the chicken skewer moist & cabbage excellent the vibe, relaxing, and fun and the bao was soft like a lovey pillow ! read more

Bao is overpriced in my opinion. In case you didn't know, the Borough Market is closed on Mondays. So when we went on a Monday and were starving, with Bao being right there and being open on a Monday, it was one of the few places to eat for lunch. That made it very crowded, and so we opted for take away. We ordered 3 baos and the fried chicken to share, plus a soda, and spent $50 for take away. They were smaller than we anticipated, and three of us were left still hungry. Of the three we tried, curry cheese, original, and short rib, the cheese was my favorite. The fried chicken came with 4 pieces, but were also much smaller than we expected. All in all, even though the food was good, I would not recommend Bao because of the prices. read more

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Came to here today to visit the food trucks. They don't work on Monday. Found this gem and decided to try their Bao Bubble tea and their Moiyake Mushroom Rice and Soy Egg. Service excellent and I was told they will close soon. The ambiance is fun. Come in and support this business! read more

Bao Borough - Lunch menu - Chinese Near Me - London, XGL

Before my trip to London, this resto was on my food to eat research list. Coming from Vancouver, Canada, I'm spoiled with 5 star Chinese food. With a little hesitation, this resto turns out to be authentic Taiwanese. Pillowy soft Bao! We got the Bao 15 which comes with a Bao, Fried Chicken and Tofu Rice. Fried Chicken lacks a bit of the 5-spice powder 五香粉 characteristic of Taiwanese fried chicken while Mapo Tofu rice came with very few pieces of tofu, mostly sauce. But eaten together with fried chicken is quite filling. But the Bao is for sure good! read more

Went to the market but they were closed for filming so I decided to eat at one of the places around the market. Bro was exceptional. The fried Taiwanese chicken was crispy with a great five spice flavor. The shrimp nap and especially the bun was outstanding. I recommend getting pickled veg as it's a great palette cleanser and also a nice contrast to the fried food and rich baos. read more

Bao Borough - Fried chicken. Pickles. Fried chicken Bao - Chinese Near Me - London, XGL

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With the intense line, we decided to order takeaway for a couple of baos. Takeaway still took almost 20 minutes. The baos we ordered were both good - combination of the meats and sauce flavors, however, not worth the wait to try again. read more

Bao Borough - Chinese Near Me - London, XGL

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Delicious baos! We got the classic bao and the prawn bao to go. There was one small table outside the restaurant that we used to chow down on our baos. The baos were a pretty good size (maybe about four large bites each). Both of the baos were packed with flavor and had a good amount of meat inside. It's hard to go wrong with baos! read more

Bao Borough - Chinese Near Me - London, XGL

This place was amazing! I was visiting London from New York and knew I had to visit Bao at Borough hall! We went up to the window to order and then decided to get a table and sit inside. Everything was delicious! The portions are small enough to share a few dishes! Definitely recommend! read more

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We were looking for a spot to have lunch while in Burough market. We spotted Bao, it's on a corner in Burough market, it has a take out and dine in option. We have our name to wait for a seat. Staff was very nice and we got seated in 10 minutes. We looked over the menu and ordered one of their set lunch. The fried chicken Bao was crispy and tasty, the rice we had was too salty. Food taste did not blow me away. But, it was a fun little place with cool selection. I would go back as info like the ambience and maybe will try other items on the menu. But, with so many options in the market, I don't think it will be my first pick. read more

Bao Borough - Bao Burrough entrance - Chinese Near Me - London, XGL

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The Best Thing I've Ate This Year I had to travel across the pond, but I finally found the best thing I've eaten this year: BAO 40 Day Aged Beef Butter Rice BAO has multiple locations but their BAO Borough branch in the amazing London Borough Market has to be their best ~ grab a meal and supplement with the amazing Borough Market food In addition to their signature baos, they have the most amazing rice and side dishes. The drinks were meh, but I will be dreaming about that aged beef and maitake rice bowl for years! 40 Day Aged Beef with Taipei Butter Rice £11 3/4 / Maitake Mushroom, Rice, Soy Egg £8 3/4 / Home-style pork jowl £6 / Curry Cheese Bao £5.5 / Bao Bubble Tea £5 / Grapeade £5 BAO Borough (London, United Kingdom) BAO Borough accepts credit cards and has indoor dining and limited takeout available (the rice bowls are not available for takeout) read more

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Bao borough is a hip chinese restaurant on the edge of borough market offering baos and rice bowls. The baos are on the small side for the price but incredibly delicious. My first visit there I tried their £15 set lunch menu of three items. First was the classic bao which had truly amazing caramelized pork with dusted peanuts on top. Second I had the glazed tofu with pickles on top, which had a good sear on it but was not as good as the bao. Last was the maitake rice, which had delicious grilled mushrooms with a note of spice to it. Very savory and delicious. As far as the authenticity of the restaurant most of the staff and customers were not asian, which always gives me pause. The staff were very plesent though and happy to give recommendations for the menu. Overall it was on the pricy side, but all the food was excellent. I would like to go back and try the other baos, especially the short rib bao! read more

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Another fantastic solo dinner spot! I came here after my visit to Sky Garden and had a quick dinner consisting of a pork bun and the mouth-watering aged beef rice bowl. Nom nom indeed! read more

Bao Borough - Chinese Near Me - London, XGL

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It was my fist time eating a BAO and it was great. At first I was not happy with the service but as soon as the lady came to take our order and explained everything, all changed. The plates are very small and the menu is limited and expensive. Everything was delicious and I recommend the sake bottle with the prawns bao. read more

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had a pork bao bun and it was delicious! the people were really nice and helpful, and super quick service.

This review is for the takeout menu service. We ordered the short rib bao and some fried chicken (4 pieces). I didn't realize the short rib bao would have such a kick to it, but it did. He liked it and said it was as authentic as it gets. The milk tea was delicious and I only wish the portion was larger. It was a small cup, half filled with ice and it was like five sips and you're done. I also wish they would sell their dessert menu (from the main menu) in the take out window. I really wanted to try the Horlicks bun, but they didn't offer it. in an area where there is a ton of options, I would say Bao is a decent contender. read more

Very decent ... safe and good food . Solid . I wish it was not as expensive and perhaps a bit overrated read more

Bao Borough - 40 day aged beef butter rice - Chinese Near Me - London, XGL

They make a mean bao. This one was one of our best "quick eat" finds in London... Shrimp BAO, 40 day aged beef and butter rice, Maitake Mushroom are AMAZING. Not to be missed... read more

The steak with rice was pretty good but a bit too salty. The lines were very long, even with their takeout bao window. The service was not very smooth nor polite. read more

Bao Borough - Chinese Near Me - London, XGL

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Very good place for Bao buns! I had two Bao buns: one Beef Short-rib and one Curry Cheese, and they were both tasty and interesting. I also shared some Chicken Wings, Pork Jowl and a 40 Day Aged Beef on Taipei Butter Rice which was the best dish of the meal, really well seasoned! Their Bao Beer is also fine. It is not a cheap place but it is fair considering the good quality of the ingredients. Service is good, friendly and they suggest you how to eat some dishes. read more

Bao Borough - Chinese Near Me - London, XGL

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tried 3 gua baos takeaway. soft buns with fried chicken, pork classic, shredded beef with the classic the best and spicy fried chicken. pretty good small bites so you can try other things at the market read more

this place's aesthetic was up my alley! i loved the atmosphere and how nicely wholesome it felt when we arrived! we made a reservation and they brought us to the table then explained how to order! it was quite easy as the food was all really tasty! however, the portions are on the smaller side for how much you're paying! we ordered fried chicken, five baos and the 40 day aged beef rice to share! i would love to try one of their many other locations and see what specials that particular location has to offer! it was slightly packed but there was enough space and places to hang out belongings so we didn't have to have them on us while we ate! the food came fairly quickly as well! i saw they offered t-shirts for sale which the design looked super amazing, as all their posters do too! read more

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The "40 Day Aged Beef" is amazing. This place is pricey but good. Highly suggest dine in to eat it fresh. read more

Bao Borough - Chinese Near Me - London, XGL

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Bao makes some really satisfying baos but has really been able to round out the menu with some delicious dishes. The lunch special is of particular note since you are able to try a variety of Bao's highlights while saving a few pounds. With the lunch menu (15 pounds) you can get your choice of bao and it comes with spicy fried chicken and a shittake mushroom rice bowl. I went with the chicken nugget bao, which is exactly what it sounds like. A really well cooked nugget in a good bao. The spicy fried chicken was decent but nothing particularly special. The mushroom bowl though, that was a highlight. Very flavorful, lots of umami and salt that is well complemented by the rice. Worth a stop and you get to avoid the crowds at borough market. read more

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This was my first ever Bao bun experience (got the classic) and I have to say I was not expecting the bun itself to be as sweet as it was. The meat was seasoned so it offset how sweet the bun was, but I wasn't 100% sold that it offset it enough. read more

Bao borough is absolutely fab! My second favorite of the Bao locations after Bao Fitz as they all have different menus. I'm a big fan of their beef rice bowl, fried tofu and curry cheese bao! It keeps me coming back. Their cocktails are also lovely and wonderfully strong. read more

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This was my first time I'd ever been to a shop that specializes in BAO. OMG, I had to go. I stopped in for a quick bite in the Borough neighborhood before meeting up with a friend. The location seems off the beaten path, looking very unassuming outside with a modest pick-up window, yet it's quite large inside. I took a seat at the bar to get the quickest service. I ordered their "classic BAO" and "chicken nugget BAO". To drink, I opted to try their "Yakult Float." When my two bao had arrived, I was worried it wasn't a big enough snack for me, but it ended up being pretty filling. The classic bao was made of slow braised pork belly, pickled lettuce, dusted with peanut powder in a steamed hot sticky bao bun. AMAZING. The chicken nugget bao was fried chicken in the shape of a nugget, iceberg lettuce, slices of onion, Szechuan mayo and BAO hot sauce. DELICIOUS. The depth of flavor in these tiny delectable buns surpassed my initial expectations. I could've easily had second helpings of both of these. Honestly, if I hadn't been short on time, I would've ordered one of everything on the menu! The Yakult float was the perfect ending to my meal. It was made of fermented pineapple and clear soda, topped with Yakult foam (for those who haven't had Yakult yet, it's a drinkable yogurt). I'm glad I stopped by Bao and had one of the most memorable meals during my week-stay in London. I'll definitely be trying their other restaurants in the other boroughs next time I'm in town. read more

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My friend and I went in during Happy Hour and split a pitcher and the dry-aged beef bowl with the egg yolk. Portion size was fair (not huge), but the dish we got was so so good. Very flavorful, lots of umami, and super well balanced. Definitely would recommend it! The pitcher was pretty standard, but it was a pretty good Happy Hour deal. The ambiance of the restaurant was pleasant and casual, and felt like a nice place to hang out with friends and relax. They even have a karaoke room! read more

Great Bubble Peanut Milk Tea. The Classic Bao is really good as well. The walk up counter makes it really convenient to order and go. read more

Terrible slow and rude service, tiny portions and expensive. Food was tasty when it arrived but limited menu I would not return. read more

My family of seven went to this establishment founded on yelp but the experience was disappointing. We went there for lunch and when we were seated my five year old daughter didn't find anything on the BAO's menu to eat. She then said she would like to have chocolate ice cream which BAO doesn't have on their menu. I left my family ordering their lunch so I could go get her a cup of ice cream. Upon returning with the cup of ice cream I was accosted by a waitress telling me that I cannot bring any food there so I will have to leave. I could understand if it were other food but a cup of ice cream for a child. I found it a bit harsh and unreasonable. I will never go back there nor can I recommend to anyone!! Good thing there were options in that same area and we found something better. read more

Bao Borough - Worst experience in London - Chinese Near Me - London, XGL

the service was a little sporadic and ordering was slightly confusing, but the food was delicious and portions were VERY generous despite what other reviews have said. read more

Solid place. My favorite dish here is the 40 days aged beef with butter rice, I can eat like 3 by myself...it's THAT good!! My favorite bao here is the short rib bao, super flavorful as well. Came here on a Wednesday around 6 and the wait wasn't bad at all, my table of 2 was seated almost immediately. Highly recommend coming here!! I'm thinking about the beef and rice dish and it makes me sad because I can't get it back here in the States. read more

While the bao buns are good, getting past the rude guy taking orders is quite trying. This venue would be better served by having better and more friendly staff interfacing with customers. read more

Went there today and was about to give a big order but just waiting for my brother who went to get a scoop of ice cream nearby for my little niece who is 5 years old. One of the attendants, a guy abruptly blocked him on the way back into the restaurant where we were and aggressively told him he cannot enter with the small ice cream. My brother told him that he was with us and we were eating here and the ice cream is just for the little child. He continued to act aggressively towards my brother. Seeing this we walked out the restaurant right away after being treated absolutely horrible. I defiantly would not recommend here whatsoever it makes no sense to come here if you are going to be treated like trash. If there was a negative 5 stars I would put that. read more