Above average, noodles were better than bao. I'd come back. It just doesn't have that wow factor. Quick and easy. Had to ask for water if you want any. read more

To be fair, this is the closest BAO near the new Battersea Power Station. Same food. The BPS location should be closer to ZERO.. it took 35 mins to get our lunch - when there were more staff in the kitchen than the guests. We did early lunch to beat any rush. 2 teas, one small dumpling appetizer and two noodle bowls (not huge by any standard) . An hour and 55GBP later, Too expensive e for what it is - I would rather eat at Wagamama. read more

BAO - This is what a 4 GBP small glass of tea looks like at BAO. And that's how full it was when I received it. - Taiwanese Near Me - London, XGL

an expanding empire with a bao in the victoria market hall also. also with double prawn stack, thick fried bun but dip in the sauce from the taiwanese fried chicken to add extra flavor (since more bun than contents) read more

Me and some friends came here for dinner one night on a recommendation from others. The wait was about 45 minutes so we went to the bar next door to have some wine while we waited. I would definitely make a reservation ahead of time if you can. The way the place is set up is very unique, we ended up sitting at a bar. We ordered a lot of different things including the mushrooms, the broth, the chicken dishes, and some different bao's. The best dish was the chicken nugget type of dish with the green sauce. We dipped everything else in that sauce. The mushrooms where okay, I would probably go for something else next time. The broth was amazing, and I would definitely try at least two bao while there. We got a large variety as you can see on our order slip and all of it was good. read more

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Consistently awesome. Friendly & attentive staff, deliciousness AF, and amazing homemade tea. Nothing else to say. OK, so Yelp wants a bit more. Here goes: awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome Just go. Often. read more

BAO - Chicken Karaage (gtfo) - Taiwanese Near Me - London, XGL

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The food was amazing and quick. The service was really quick and the people were very helpful and nice. The only thing stopping me from 5 stars is it felt a bit crowded in the space and people seemed a bit smushed. Would return again!!! read more

BAO - fried chicken bao, classic bao, and aubergine and wonton crisp appetizer - Taiwanese Near Me - London, XGL

I love baos, and this was a fantastic place to try some unique ones. I got the Black Cod Bao (which I saw highly recommended from youtube), and the cod was so incredibly soft and tender. It was blackened on the outside in a sesame like bun, which also added to the aesthetic. In the past, I only had traditional pork baos, but this came with a burger-like sauce that really mixed in well. Every bite was juicy, tender, and full of umami. My friend got the beef shortib, which was actually quite small, but a good bao. I kind of wish the baos were bigger for the price, but overall, this was a really unique and great environment (you sit around the kitchen/waiters like in a japanese ramen bar).For appetizers, we got the beef cheek nugget in chili sauce, which was really great, but not too special so I'd pick something else next time. Finally, the drinks were also decent (we both got a cocktail!) and refreshing. read more

BAO - Black Cod Bao - Taiwanese Near Me - London, XGL

One of the best meals I've had, ever. No, seriously. Ever. I think every human should have the privilege of tasting that sweet corn at least once. Or twice if they order two servings, as I did. Staff was helpful, informed about their menu and they accommodated me at the bar because I didn't have a reservation. Best bao buns. Go. Go. Go. read more

This place rules!!! Definitely book a reservation as this restaurant is tiny and fills up fast. I've never had a bad thing here and I do recommend going with a friend and sharing. It's always fun to try a bit of this and that. My favorite options are the baos that incorporate peanuts . It's a fast dining experience, not the place to sit and catch up with someone for long periods of time. There will be people waiting for your table and it's best to get a move on upon finishing! read more

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The first thing anyone will say to you about Bao will be about the queue, which is a real shame because that is not what dining should be about and Londoners seriously should stop putting up with it. A note your number and message you system (as at Hopper's could work well and wouldn't piss of your clientele). Instead we got to watch on as staff oddly did not seat anyone for ages despite many people leaving. This branch did however have a shorter queue than the Soho one and after about 9pm (on Sat night) didn't have one at all. On to the fun stuff - the food is really yummy and reasonably price. My favourite was the cod black bao (I went back for a second) and we liked the classic bao too. The pork belly one was nice but could do with something to left it a bit - something herby, limey etc. The rice bowl with bone marrow was interesting - had a rich smooth flavour from the marrow and the shortrib was nice although wasn't what I was expecting from my experience of shortrib from Korean BBQ - this was more like a beef cheek. Staff were nice and generally things moved pretty promptly once we were in there, although they forgot one of our orders and it was hard to order a second drink (get the plum sake, it's delicious). Overall don't get too excited about it but you will experience some tasty, somewhat unusual and reasonably priced food here. read more

BAO - Cod black bao - Taiwanese Near Me - London, XGL

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Saw two chairs at the bar empty so my boyfriend and I quickly jumped inside and grabbed them - this place is usually packed so we saw an opportunity and immediately took action. We ordered two bao's: the classic and beef short rib. Both were absolutely delicious! The classic is braised pork with crushed peanuts - can it get any better?! And the short rib, my favorite, was so juicy and tender, I had to stop myself from ordering another one. The class was £5 and the short rib was £5.75 + they add gratuity so it's a bit on the pricey side but still very delicious. The staff was also incredibly helpful and nice! Would definitely recommend stopping here for a bite whilst visiting good ol' London Town. read more

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This Bao place was only decent at best! The portions are very small for the 5 pound price tag per Bao. But that's not the worst part..... their meat is not fresh!! It's like the ramen pork they cook in the morning and serve all day sitting their until someone orders then they just add some sauce. The bone marrow rice was also very disappointing it's 90% rice 1 egg a few pickles and a little bit of bone marrow. read more

BAO - Taiwanese Near Me - London, XGL

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This highly anticipated second Bao is now open for business! Phew, we are no longer confined to queuing up exclusively at Bao in Soho. This Bao (just a 5min walk away from Goodge St station) has more seating than the other branch and a slightly different menu. The old favourites such as 'classic bao', 'confit bao', 'lamb bao' and 'daikon bao' are still available but the starters, rice bowls and sides are all different. Most sorely missed by me and my friends was the 'Horlicks bao' that cannot be ordered here but was a highlight on the Soho menu; in fact there is no dessert on offer here except milkshakes that are simple but smooth and sweet.  Highlights in this new menu include 'crispy prawn heads' for those of us who enjoy a seafood snack but beware that the eyes of the prawns will be visible for those who don't like to see the eyes of their food, 'duck hearts' for those desiring something a little different - a bit like eating liver but softer and is well complemented with dressing, and the 'Sanbei octopus' is a more straightforward cooked seafood snack on offer. My favourite in this newer menu has to be the 'Cod Black bao' whereby the black cod is cooked to just the right temperature, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, sandwiched between the tasty black sesame bun and uniquely flavoured with Ng sauce and mild hot sauce. A downside to this newer Bao is that they seem to have downsized the size of their baos and their fillings. I'm not sure if this applies to the other branch as well but quite literally two bites could finish off one bao. To have a filling meal then becomes that much more expensive.   In conclusion, this branch of Bao is worth a visit (particularly for reduced queuing times), but I do prefer the menu (for food and drinks) provided at Soho. In terms of seafood and vegetarian options, the menu here may be more preferable. read more

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5 stars for the food, 3 stars for the service. We arrived at about 1230 on a Friday and the place was packed. They seated us at the bar and said that because they were so busy it would take about 10 minutes to take our order. Sure! We didn't mind. Once we'd decided on the set lunch menu. £15 for a bao, chicken chop and a rice dish plus an extra £3 for a wine or beer we then waited about 15-20 minutes for someone to take our order. The staff just kept ignoring our requests. We also ordered the lobster bao to share. Our drinks came immediately followed very quickly by the baos. These were absolutely fantastic! We had the classic pork. We wished we just ordered a bunch of these to keep eating! Not long after the chicken chop came out - we were told to mix the egg yolk and hot sauce together and dip the chicken. Yum!!! So so so crispy and so rich and spicy! After this we probably waited another 20 minutes for our rice dish to arrive. During this time we weren't asked if we wanted any more drinks. Once the rice did arrive I asked if our lobster bao was coming. Looks like it didn't make it into the computer so she added it to our order. The rice was good but didn't stand up to the deliciousness of the bao and chicken chop to be honest! After waiting another 10 minutes (!!!) we finally got the lobster bao. It's a fried bao filled with a mayonnaise lobster mix topped with chives. Yum!!!! Definitely worth the splurge. We definitely want to come back and try the other bao. The food really is fantastic - they just need to get their service a bit more on the ball to accomodate what looks to be perpetual busyness! read more

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Had a really good meal -- had forgotten how good Bao is! Every bao was mouth-watering, not to mention their amazing rice dishes. I also tried out their dessert, which was interesting but very filling and tasty. Small but good selection of cocktails and wine as well. Service was well-intended but average at best. They brought out the wrong things sometimes and at some others, took forever to bring what we had ordered. I felt service could have been more prompt overall. Generally good staff members though, so I believe it's just a matter of improving their efficiency. Ambience was cosy and hip. The ground floor layout was of bar-style, whilst downstairs had a few proper tables. Noise level was moderate to high, so would not advise for any fancy gathering. Very good for casual and friendly meals. read more

BAO was our favorite stop in London, and I highly, highly recommend it to all travelers visiting the area. We made reservations to the Fritzrovia location a few weeks beforehand, and we were extremely happy we did so, because when we stopped by the Soho location, we were told that the wait was upwards of 1.5 hours. Honestly speaking, there wasn't a single thing that we didn't enjoy from the menu. Our only regret was not being able to try more. A few items that really stood out to us were: - Fried Chicken Chop with Soy Cured Egg - One of the best pieces of chicken I've ever had in my life, ridiculously moist - Cod Black Bao (Battered Cod, Lemon Mayo, Hot Sauce, NG Sauce, Sesame Bao) - Perfectly cooked cod and interesting toppings - Classic Bao (Braised Pork, Peanut Powder, Fermented Greens, Coriander) - It's classic :) - Peanut Milk + Yakult Float - Delicious and so unique! If you have a small appetite and usually dine with a partner, I recommend ordering one of each bao on the menu to share, plus 2-3 side dishes. read more

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Was able to reserve a table on a Friday at lunch. The fried chicken, lamb and classics were delicious. Each person had two Bao each. Not enough to fill us up, but sufficient. The flavors, texture, and quality were superb. read more

So strange that this location is so different from the one in Soho. The line is shorter here..........perhaps that's the reason? The house salad was a bit too tangy for my liking at this place. The Soho location had a more savory taste with lots of salted egg for their house salad. I was also pretty disappointed they didn't have the meat rice bowl here. I opted for the eggplant rice bowl, but it was only meh. The confit bao was also disappointing. The only dish I liked was the traditonal Taiwanese pork bun. I also tried the fried chicken, which was cooked perfectly - the chicken was tender and the breading was cripsy. The only thing is the sauce ruined it. All in all, for the price I'm paying, the food better be wayyyy better. read more

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I must be honest it's basic Taiwanese street food for to much money when you consider the portion sizes! Certainly the noodles would not do for a main for one + 12.5% service charge. I like to leave a tip but why add service to the bill without asking. We sadly won't be returning. read more

After going to BAO in Soho just the previous week, I decided to come here for dinner because I may be officially obsessed with the baos. This location is bigger than the Soho one, and it's nice because it's two levels, and you can make reservations for the downstairs area, where you can also see them cooking all the food. Even though this place is bigger, I wouldn't recommend coming with more than 4 people. 2-4 people is a good party size so that you can try a few small dishes and then get baos for everyone. The last time I went to BAO in Soho, I made the mistake of ordering about 50% small dishes and 50% baos. I learned the hard way - this time, we had a party of 4 and each of us got 4 baos, and we got 3-4 other small plates to share amongst everyone, which was definitely the way to go. BAOS - I tried 4 of them, but I had tried the confit pork one at the Soho location, so I didn't try it here. I listed them from my most favorite to least favorite. The bun is so fluffy - it's like biting into a soft pillow and it's so fresh. Each bao is expensive, but they are delicious and each bite is amazing. Classic Pork (£4.50) - This one is still one of my favorites, the pork is flavorful, not salty, and I love the peanut powder sprinkled on top. Don't miss this one. Daikon (£4) - This one is an underdog, I didn't get it the first time, but my friend raved about it. I finally got to try it and it was amazing. It's a deep fried square of turnip and it's breaded on the outside for some crunch and texture. It's crispy and soft all at the same time and then it has this spicy sauce drizzled on top. Don't get fooled by this one vegetarian bao option thinking you'd prefer all the meat ones. I will get this one and the classic pork one every time I come back. Confit Pork (£5) - This was the pork belly with fried shallots on top. I got this one at the Soho location and thought it was great. It's not pork belly with skin on it, but it's delicious nonetheless. Beef Shortrib (£5.75) - This one had a lot of stuff going on - it was in the classic white bun which I liked, but the meat almost had too much seasoning/spices going on. It was good with the egg/mayo emulsion/sauce on top, but I preferred the more simple baos. Also, this one was the most expensive of all of them, and I didn't feel like it warranted the highest price tag. Cod Black (£5) - This was interesting - it wasn't your traditional white bao bun, which is what I like best about the baos. It was a piece of cod, coated in some black thin paper-line edible wrapper. It was good and I'm glad I tried it, but the sesame bun - while fluffy), wasn't as good as the traditional baos. I'd probably pass on this one. It was a bit salty for my taste too. SIDES XO Sweetcorn with spiced beef butter (£3.50) - This comes in a tiny bowl, but it's very tasty! I'd recommend this so everyone can have a few spoonfuls. It's flavorful, not salty, and they must use a lot of butter because it's extra good. Fried Chicken Chop with Soy Cured Egg (£6.50) - I liked this better than the fried chicken nuggets at the Soho location. There's more of this spicy red sauce, and the egg yolk is runny and perfectly cooked. The chicken itself was moist and the breading wasn't overly thick and overpowering. If there's one side to get, get this one! Chi Shiang Rice Bowl with Mapo Aubergine and Pickled Cucumber (£6) - Pass on this - it was like rice with eggplant and wasn't exciting or unique to me. We all had one bite and left the rest. DESSERT We got the peanut ice cream wrapped in a paper roll with coriander. Imagine a spring roll (with edible rice paper) stuffed with peanut ice cream, peanut powder and cilantro. I'll admit the cilantro was a bit weird of a combo, but it worked. It was unique and I'm glad we tried it. We shared amongst 4 people which was a little difficult with basically an ice cream roll, but it's worth a try. I liked this better than the ice cream bun they had at the Soho location. Overall, it's a pricier meal that will run you about £30-35 per person but the baos are delicious. 4.5 stars for this location - I like that you can make reservations, the baos are excellent, and I think I prefer this menu over the Soho location because of the chicken and dessert. Just make sure to proportionally order more baos than the side dishes. read more

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So Bao Fitz is easily one of my favorite places in London. I think I go almost weekly for their bone marrow rice (exclusive to the fitz location). It's so simple yet so filling. Bao can be fairly affordable. They have £15 lunch deal where you get a small starter dish, a bao, and a rice bowl (pork or aubergine). It's absolutely worth it. Also they have some REALLY good mocktails. I love the grape soda. Overall, I highly recommend Bao Fitz. read more

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Big fan of BAO. Recently opened one nearby my hood and decided to come by this branch. Place is definitely nicer and has more space than the one in soho. I didn't have to queue. There's a basement with an open kitchen, and long tables that are good for groups. The open kitchen has a bar table where you can catch all the action. At the top you have an open bar concept which is great for pairs or threesomes. The menu here is slightly different from the on in Soho. The BAO buns are the same, but it seems like there's a slight difference in the dessert and starters. What we ordered (3 pax): Xiao Chi (Starters) Ginger Prawns & Crispy Head (£4.75) Beef Cheek & Tendon Nuggets (£4.00) Duck Hearts, Chilli Garlic (£5.50) Fried Chicken Chop, Cured Egg (£6) x2 Bao (Buns) Classic: Braised pork, ferments, coriander, peanut (£4) x2 Lamb: Shoulder, green sauce, soy pickled chilli (£5) x2 Cod Black: Fried Cod, Ng sauce, hot sauce (£5) x2 MUST TRY Chia Shiang (Rice bowls) Mapo Aubergine £5 Food here is served hot and fast. The service is excellent, staffs are patient to run through the menu with you. The starters are reasonable sizes, good for sharing. If you're adventurous you should get one of each. You'd be surprise how feeling their food can fill you. Slightly disappointed that they didn't have the Horlick ice cream :( they don't serve desserts here either. Quality of taste here is not as good as the one in Soho. All in all it's still worth coming by to try some of their food which you won't get them in Soho. read more

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Really small store but with fast turnaround so the wait is not that long. If you go between 1 and 1.30pm, the wait is normally 15-20mins. The bao and other dishes have great flavour and service is always friendly! I do find the set lunch menu a bit too heavy in portion size - however if you are ordering just only bao, you probably need to order 3-4 to fill up your tummy. read more

Staying in London for one night was super excited to see this pop up in restaurants near me. Had eaten at the original and loved it, even with the queue. This time was able to walk in and grab a seat at the bar in a slow Monday night. Shrimp heads were off but I ordered 5 dishes - beef tendon croquettes, fried chicken, tomatoes, black cod and pork confit Bao. Came super fast and looked delicious. But unless you have a salt fetish I can't recommend. Food was all super salty and despite drinking half a litre of water I still feel ill. Maybe my fault ordering by myself (would have been more variety had I shared) but overall I actually regret this meal. Gets three stars for the vibe and fact I can't believe this is the norm. read more

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Bao, Fitzrovia - the only solution to beating the crowd in a non-reservation restaurant is to go early. I could not forsee myself having dinner as early as 17:30 hours and to queue for 90 minutes like I did before. We went for lunch. With babies, push chairs and the girls. Luckily, Cassie could sneak out for lunch. I was there earlier than I expected and was gladly surprised to be first in line. So excited, I insta-ed, tweeted and Facebook-ed it! Within minutes, I received numerous congratulatory comments followed by their curiosity as to what I thought about the place. So, I was not the only one who was not keen in queueing. Bao in Fitzrovia opened in summer 2016 with their signature baos and a few side dishes. Their style and dishes is very similar to the first Bao restaurant in Soho. Bao in Fitzrovia has upstairs and downstairs. The outlay resembles their original outlet with bar seats, but the downstairs is made much more interesting by being at a chef's table. For the first time being in a group, we had a chance to be seated right away! beef cheek and tendon nuggets £4.00 - just as I knew Bao would do a good deep fry, the nuggets were meaty, compact with meat and in a way I didn't mind if they were not as perfectly shaped. It was a good first dish to remind me of Bao. crispy prawn heads £4.75 - growing up in an Asian family who chew and suck the juices of crustaceans, I did not find any speciality to this dish but I find that I can eat prawn heads without being judged! fried chicken chop, hot sauce £6.00 - good, well seasoned fried chicken in a yolky hot sauce. It's really difficult to share the dish! raw langoustine, dulse, aged soy, oyster leaf £5.00 - my favourite. The flesh was so juicy that I thought I tasted mango. Forget all the baos now, serve only this to me! tomatoes, plum powder £2.75 - I was reluctant to order this dish because to be honest, it was just tomatoes. They probably use the best cherry tomatoes but it is still tomatoes, right? Pairing it with the plum powder, I find, was genius! The plum powder is so commonly used in Malaysia to dip with fruits and, tomatoes are fruits, right? sanbei octopus £6.00 - good texture to the octopus and I enjoyed the sauce that it was marinated in. beef shortrib, marrow, eryngii £6.75 - a slight let down compared to the rest of the dishes and to their original guinea fowl in the first Bao. The baos were consistently good. The fluffiness of the buns, the taste of the filling and the presentation were maintained across all three of their outlets. Having their baos now, I thought that their buns were a little too fluffy. I would like my bread with more texture and not just to deflate when I take my bite. classic bao (braised pork, ferment coriander and peanuts) £4.00 bao confit (pork belly, crispy shallots hot sauce) £4.50 bao lamb (shoulder, green sauce, soy pickled chilli) £5.00 bao cod (fried cod, ng sauce, hot sauce) £5.00 - it was a good bao. Black looking food is very appealing. Clever twist. It was definitely going to be a comparison between both the Baos. That was why I had to think about which and why was it that I preferred one to the other. Was it the first because it set the precedence? Or was it the second because the second lived up to it? It was a bit of both. The style of food was very similar. I felt I enjoyed the first Bao because it gave a better insight to what they could do beyond baos. On the other hand, I also enjoyed the second Bao because of their unique combination of dishes and flavours. Having slept on the matter, I preferred my first Bao experience. But with the two outlets, where would be your first Bao experience? And that was why Bao is good. Not only the food wow-ed but it kept different aspects of conversation going. Well done, and I hope to see what is coming next! Average spend on food per person: £30.00 - £35.00 read more

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Since visiting Bao Soho for the first time I've craved and craved these little Pillowy Pockets of Goodness. I was pleasantly surprised at the size of Bao Fitzrovia as it has two floors. We arrived around 7pm and waited in line outside for about 45 minutes before we were seated. After following the host down the stairs we were seated at a bar-type table overlooking the kitchen. Since we'd waited in the line for a while we'd already decided what we wanted to eat. So we filled out our menus ad handed them in almost immediately. We ordered two Bao each (the Bao are quite small so I suggest ordering more if you're there for a proper meal). I opted for the 'Confit Bao' (which was a favorite of mine from Bao Soho) as well as the 'Cod Black Bao' (which is a new Bao for the Fitzrovia location). My husband chose the 'Confit Bao' as well as the 'Classic Bao'. Service was very quick- 10 minutes after ordering the Bao were on the table in front of us! I was very excited to try the 'Cod Black Bao'- it was very tasty- the batter was perfectly crisp, airy (And Black!) and the Bao had a great amount of sauce on the bun. The 'Confit Bao' was perfectly balanced with the sweetness of the meat and heat of the sauce. Last but not least the 'Classic Bao'- spot on spices, fresh coriander and my favourite part- the crushed peanuts! Overall- I'm still in love with Bao. Service was quick (despite the 45 minute wait), waitstaff were attentive and the food spot on. read more

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Where: Goodge St, London, UK The Dish: Cod Black Read more... Value: £15pp Food Review: To eat: Crispy Prawn Heads, Cod Black and Daikon. This may seem like an extensive menu for 1 person, but trust me it is not. All portions are small so multiple dishes may be ordered from this select menu. To start with I had the crispy prawns head, crunchy and over in a bite, however the sauce was amazing and you spent more time loving the sauce and using the prawns head as a scooper, although at £2 it is a bargain. Next the Bao's. Bao's are soft Taiwanese cloud like buns made from milk and steamed. The Cod Black had a charcoaled thick piece of cod with a crispy exterior and soft white flesh inside accompanied with a spicy dressing. Beware, this has a kick! Next the Daikon with panko daikon and pickle making this a tangy tasty treat allowing a nice contrast. To drink: Iced Hibiscus tea and Pomegranate A cool refreshing with a subtle kick of flavour to combat the food. The sweet delicateness of the pomegranate lingered in the back and topped with ice. When I next visit I would: Sonbei Octopus and order more than one Black Cod Halal: N/A - fish is available Location Review: Located on the road next to Goodge St station allowing easy access from public transport yet secluded enough for passer-bys not to gaze in on. Interior Review: Small and compact the restaurant revolves around the bar with the kitchens located below. The restaurant is entirely set on stools and ate on the counter with its crisp white exterior. As it is around a bar, there is limited seating available. The Service: As only 15 people in restaurant and set around the bar, service is immaculate and easy to order Sum up: Small and snappy menu with quick bites to eat, warning multiple dishes do add up so watch out. read more

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What a great addition to the Fitzrovia food scene. I've been here twice now, and both times I didn't have to queue. Already a big plus in comparison to its older sister in Soho. The layout of this restaurant is much more open, which may be partly due to it being a corner shop with tons of windows. The seating area encircles the working area where BAO staff diligently make drinks as well as complete other chores. I was pleasantly surprised by the different menu. Don't worry though, the food is just as good! While I definitely enjoyed the (new addition) cod black, I wish I could've had the fried chicken or Horlicks bao too! As much as I love the fried chicken bao at Soho, I think I'll stick to Fitzrovia in the future to avoid the long depressing queue. Unfortunately, BAO still isn't great for groups. I would say it's ideal for couples and groups of three. read more

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Always delicious small plates! The service is attentive and super friendly. One of my favorites that I must eat at while in London! read more

BAO - Classic bao and crispy cabbage! - Taiwanese Near Me - London, XGL

One of my most enjoyable counter dining experience. All buns were fun to eat but Really enjoyed their black cod boa. Also had their beef cheeks nugget which if I had to do it all over again... would skip the nugget and get all baos instead read more

BAO - Taiwanese Near Me - London, XGL

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Walked in to a half empty restaurant around 18:45 on a Tuesday and sat down by myself at the bar. When the waitress came by she asked if I had a reservation or had just walked in. When I said I had just walked in I was told there was an hour and a half wait for walk ins. I was a bit confused, so I appealed that I was dining alone and really wouldn't be very long, that I just wanted to get a few bao & be on my way. She said they didn't have the seats because they had reservations. I walked by half an hour later and it's still very much half empty... It really feels like the whole thing could have been handled better. There are so many great places to eat in London that have great customer service, my first impression at Bao suggests this isn't one. read more

Our last dinner before flying out, for our first visit it was worth it. We actually wanted to come here a couple days prior for lunch but they had a mini flood. We arrived 15 minutes before 530pm when they opened. We were the first to be seated. The seats are bar stools surrounding a central area where they prep drinks. We ordered 3 baos to share, two small plates, and the two specials (mussels and a rice bowl). First off, the portions here are pretty small. You can really eat up a bill. The 3 baos - beef, classic, and pork. They were all very good and we could prob have eaten another 3 or 4. The pork loin was very good and came with about 8-10 slices. Not too filling. The taiwanese salad was really good and we ate it up quickly. I think the specials can be hit or miss. First off, they took forever to come out. We only got 4 mussels.... like that is not enough food. The rice bowl was done really well with two pieces of well cooked meat, half an egg, and chopped up celery. Overall, the food was delicious but it was ~60 pounds and I can tell my husband was still hungry. The drinks looked really good. If only, we didn't already order 60 pounds worth of food. read more

My friend and I came here for lunch on a weekday. The waiting time was around 15mins where we had to stand on the other side of the road. BAO seems to be a Western/Taiwanese fusion that tries to assimilate Taiwanese "small eats" culture. The food was delicious, however the portions were very small and very expensive. Thus 30mins later, when we had finished our food, there seemed to be an exchange of eye contact between us and the waiters as if urging us to make room for new customers. We ended up paying £20 each for a 45 min dining experience. Can't entirely say it's worth the money. read more

BAO - Kale (house) salad £3, soup £3, Taiwanese fried chicken £5 and Trotter nuggets £4 - Taiwanese Near Me - London, XGL

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Thank goodness Bao is expanding beyond its wee Soho spot. Bao in Fitzrovia has around-the-bar seating at ground level, and additional seating in the basement (pro: you can see the chefs at work! Con: well, it's a little cave-like). Same system applies at this location: you sit down to a 'check off what you want' menu, and hand it to the server. If you haven't been to Bao before, the server will talk you through some options and "must eat"s. You then hand your enthusiastically checked menu off to the server, and await your food, which comes out quickly and as soon as it's ready. The menu varies slightly from the Soho location, which is a nice touch. Although the bao are not to be missed - the classic with crushed peanut is a must, as is the pork belly and, oh, what the heck, get the lamb and the black cod, too - I might prefer Bao's other offerings even *more*. Small share plates on offer include fried Taiwanese chicken with a cured egg yolk (GET THIS GET THIS GET THIS), fried beefy bites with a curious green sauce, and raw langoustines. In addition to these small plates there are slightly more sizeable dishes; of these I have only ever had the beef short rib with rice, which had marrow marbled throughout (need I say it? It was AH-MAAAAZE). There is an extensive tea list (hot and cold) as well as cocktails. I thought it was gilding the lily in the moment but, in hindsight, truly regret not seizing the opportunity and going for one of their two signature milkshakes. In and out for 15GBP/head. I wasn't stuffed after, but I'm sharing this only to dispel some of the reviews stating that it is "pricey". For the inventiveness and NOM-factor (high), I felt it was totally reasonable. That said, I know I could have blown a lot more money at Bao, especially if I indulged in their cocktail menu. Yelp note: obsessed with Bao's graphics? Me too. There is merch for sale! Totally adorable totally affordable totes for 5GBP. read more

Pricey, but great. Modern Taiwanese comfort food. + Pork baos are spot on. Fluffy bread, juicy pork belly, just the right amount of supporting veggies/spices + The beef shortrib rice bowl was also well-balanced and delicious. Cleaned that bowl out completely. ~ I enjoyed the shrimp heads ~ Raw langoustine was decent, but wouldn't write home about it read more

12.30 Monday afternoon, and no queue - yay. Simple and elegant restaurant with a large seated bar area surrounding the kitchen, cool relaxed vibe, yes. Friendly staff and quick service, yes Great reading menu, yes. Really great food, yes (especially the black cod bao, confit pork belly bao & the tomato sides), Hyped? yes, Worth it, yes. read more

I truly thought this place was simply okay, for I have had better bao buns at different places throughout London. A little bit disappointed actually.. My favorite bao buns are from "Coqfighter" at Boxpark in Shoreditch, personally. Highly recommend going there instead! This place is a bit too overpriced for the amount you're getting. Simply okay. read more

For the price you pay, the size of a bao is rather small. I had the classic bao, which consists of braised pork, peanut powder, fermented greens, and coriander. It arrived warm on my table, and tastes just as it smells - delicious. The bun has a soft yet firm texture, although it was slightly thinner than what I expected. The braised pork was flavored and braised nicely, a little bit sweet and not overwhelmingly salty, although it was slightly disappointing to see pulled pork instead of a chunk of braised pork. The coriander to balance the flavor out. The peanut powder was my favorite part, which adds to the overall taste and texture. I had a nice first bite into it, but what proved to be a problem later was when the bun got soaked with the juice from the braised pork, which breaks the bun in half and let the rest fell out. It was a bit of a mess in the end, but it shouldn't be a problem if you finish it fast, which isn't hard as the bao is not big. Even though the bao was good, it was a little bit overpriced given the size. The service were average, although I appreciate that they do not rush you. The ambiance in this Fitzrovia location is very friendly and chill, a nice place to sit and enjoy. Sometimes it gets loud since the bar is in the center of the store and it is a rather small space, but not unbearable. Having had real gua bao in Taiwan and being a Taiwanese myself, I might have been a little harsh in criticizing BAO. Despite the criticism about the price, it is nice to see Taiwanese food being appreciated and acknowledged in London, and it definitely fulfilled my Taiwanese food cravings. read more

BAO - Classic bao, with pulled braised pork instead of a whole piece. - Taiwanese Near Me - London, XGL

I just love bao! The ones here have buns that taste slightly sweet and works well with the meat inside. The classic bao is a must-try! The pork belly one looked great too. The lamb one was a little spicy and didn't taste as good. Love the ambience and the long round table format (which feels a little Japanese). read more

BAO - The classic bao - Taiwanese Near Me - London, XGL

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Although portions are fairly small and they have a long waiting queue, the food is amazingggg!!! The different flavours blew me away. 100% recommend anyone to try the peanut ice cream with coriander. Sounds unusual, but tastes unbelievable. read more

BAO - Daikon and Cod Black Bao with House Salad - Taiwanese Near Me - London, XGL