I recently decided to give Bao Express a try when I noticed their special offer on Panfried Juicy Pork Dumplings for $3.99. Although I was excited to taste their offerings, my overall experience had its ups and downs.
The wait time surprised me a bit as it took around 15 minutes for my order to be ready. Considering their name suggests quick service, I expected a faster turnaround especially with 0 customers in the store at the time. The atmosphere was quite calm, with only the waitress and the two cooks, who seemed to be enjoying some cantaloupe slices from their open kitchen.
On the bright side, the highlight of the dumplings was the crispy skirt - a thin and delightful layer attached to the dumplings, also known as "dumpling lace." This added a lovely contrasting texture to the soft, steamed dumplings, making them quite enjoyable to eat. The flavor of the Panfried Juicy Pork Dumplings, was good, but I found the filling to be rather average and lacking in size. However, the major drawback was the paper container used for serving. Due to the heat, it stuck to the dumplings, causing most of the soup to spill when I tried to lift them out. It was a bit messy and definitely took away from the essence of juicy dumplings, which lies in the soup within the dumplings. While the crispy skirt was a fantastic touch, it would have been even better if the soup hadn't spilled due to the container issue.
$3.99 was quite reasonable for what I received but probably not if it was at full price. The dumplings were still a yummy treat that satisfied my craving. With some improvements in service and container design, it has the potential to provide an even more enjoyable experience. read more