Bao is a must try restaurant in my opinion! The restaurant is located next to tons of parking, making it pretty accessible, and it was quite popular when we went. You order off of a tablet, and the servers are very nice and accommodating, suggesting items that we would be interested in. We ended up ordering a ton of food, including the shrimp shumai, soup dumplings, and squid, but the dish that impressed me the most was the bbq pork buns. They have a nice crust to them, and I would say that they're the best I've had in the Bay Area! read more

Bao - Dim Sum Near Me - Redwood City, California

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We tried Bao again recently and I thought the food was pretty decent! It's a bit expensive given the amount of food you get though. We tried the Sichuan soup dumplings and I liked the flavors! The dumplings all stuck to the metal trays though so I kept popping mine as a result. The Sichuan fried chicken was good. It was lightly fried. Pea shoots were also pretty decent. Some a bit tough to eat but could be the nature of pea shoots. Service was friendly! read more

The younger-looking moron working there immediately assumed I'm a delivery driver. Without a proper greeting or acknowledgment shouts "driver!" and points at a to-go order that isn't mine. I had placed an online order for myself: baked pork buns, and baked pineapple custard buns. Two orders each for a total of $38. Best to eat the food there because the buns do not hold up when ordered to-go. I'm also pretty certain they were not homemade because they are suspiciously similar to the buns other dim sum restaurants in the area serve, both in appearance and taste. They probably don't give a crap about discriminating based on appearance, but thought I'd write this review to let my anger out. Thankfully, my credit card company refunded my money (thank you, Chase!). read more

One of my favorite meals on my recent visit to the SF area. The fried rice was so savory and delicious without being too oily. The steamed shrimp dumplings and the soup dumplings were so tasty. I tried salt and pepper pork short ribs and they rocked my world! They were so crispy and light at the same time. Amazing flavor! The lava bun was also a highlight. Loved the food, fantastic service. Love that they have a selection of wine and beer too! Highly recommend! read more

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Bao Chinese Dumplings is a solid spot! You order on an iPad, which makes it easy and straightforward. Service was totally fine and everyone was kind, but it was a busy Friday and it showed, only two servers working (with a few runners) and things could've moved faster during peak time with a little more staffing. That said, the food was amazing. Everything tasted fresh and you can literally see it being made right in front of you, which I loved. There's something about that transparency in the cooking process that makes the whole experience better. Great food, friendly team, and I'll definitely be recommending this place to others. read more

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We came as a party of 4. Boyfriend and I parked in the parking garage behind the restaurant. It's free for the first 1.5hr, and it was a convenient spot behind Bao. It's a cute location, nice and clean interior with pretty lamps Tea is not free, which is a shame, because the authentic Chinese restaurants will always offer complimentary tea. We ordered everything from their touchpad menu, and got: 1. Shrimp Har gow 2. Chicken dumplings 3. Chicken potstickers 4. Kimchi beef potstickers 5. Shanghai chicken fried noodles 6. Beef Chow fun 7. Shanghai Xiao Long Bao 8. Steamed chicken bao Between the 4 of us, we were all stuffed! Service was nice and quick. Price-wise, I think it's kind of overpriced for what you can get at other Chinese restaurants in the Bay Area. read more

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I walked in on a weeknight and was seated immediately. I ordered the soup dumplings as well as some sweet and some spicy. The waiter warned me twice that I had ordered a lot of food (I'm not a big guy, but I like to eat) then didn't really talk to me again. Not that this was an issue, as there is a little Japanese woman running around this place with hustle in her bones. I was comfortable and well taken care of. I've been hesitant to write this review, but here goes: I just didn't like the food. Sorry! Everyone was very nice, awesome location, and I've heard great things about this place. But the spicy wontons tasted like starch and chili oil to me, and every single soup dumpling split open between the chopsticks before it made it to my mouth--and trust me, I know how to use chopsticks! That's all. Everyone here was friendly and service was great--but at the end of the day I paid over $100 for a meal I didn't like. For the record, though--I did eat it all in one sitting. read more

Bao - Dim Sum Near Me - Redwood City, California

There's never a wait here and service is quick, so if you're looking for a spot with good food and no wait time this is the spot! As long as you don't mind the higher prices. The quality and flavor is definitely there, but you can find more affordable options that are just as good in the bay. This place is a bit pricey with smaller portions sizes. I'm only giving it 3 stars because while the food is still good, I probably wouldn't come back since there are better dim sum/chinese restaurants in the area at lower price points. read more

Bao - Dim Sum Near Me - Redwood City, California

Pretty good dim sum and nice tea. Our top favorites we tried included the singapore style fried noodles, baked bbq pork bao, fried curry taro puffs, baked portuguese egg tart, and the sweet bao special. Everything generally tasted good, besides the beef chow fun. Not enough flavor imo. For dishes with shrimp, they were all nice and meaty. Large shrimp which was not overcooked. The baked bbq bao had nice flavor from the outer shell being a bit sweet vs the savory bbq pork. Curry taro puffs were also very tasty and flaky, with a nice smooth taro filling inside. Really nice. The baked portuguese egg tart was hot and creamy, very custardy, with a rich flaky pastry shell. The sweet bao special was a nice option to try a sample of their baos. Our favorite was the custard flavor. The singapore style fried noodles were nicely cooked and included lots of toppings. All very good, very tasty. The tea is also pretty good quality, with refill of hot water if you want to drink more. Easy to order on the ipad. read more

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Great Pao and friendly staff. The Black season bun, lava bun are so delicious Love love the spicy malak wonton read more

On some level, I felt like I wasn't supposed to like Bao. It's not catered to the traditional Asian diner and yet, it puts out some tasty food. Most every meal, except the kimchi beef bun, tasted authentic. The beef chow fun had really good 'wok hei', the bao was super fluffy, and the dim sum was all plump and juicy. I would say that some of the sautéed dishes had an over reliance on sweet and sour sauce and that generally, most dishes were small for the price, but overall I actually could see myself return if in the area looking to scratch an Asian food craving. read more

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Clean and open seating, friendly staff and fast service. Great place to curb your dim sum cravings. Garlic stir fry Pea shoot - pricy but the veggie is pricy itself, garlicky and tender, no hard chewy strands XO radish cake - classic dim sum, fried well Shu Mai - juicy and soft yet has a slight bounce to every bite Fried shrimp balls - juicy and fresh shrimp fried to perfection Cha Shu buns - soft fluffy buns, sweet and savory pork filling read more

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Wow!! Wonderful little spot in DT RWC, popped by for a quick dinner while visiting someone. Service was lovely, and the very best way to judge service is how they manage when things don't go perfectly. They were quick to understand and make it right so you could have your best experience. I will definitely come back with more people so I may try more dishes, but the Chinese Broccoli was perfect. The steamed pork buns were yummy and I don't know why I never thought to add wontons to hot & sour. Prices were also very reasonable Definitely worth visiting again and again read more

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Honestly came here with low expectations that were pleasantly exceeded. Our favorite item were surprisingly the potstickers, which were nicely fried with a great texture even though the pork filling could have been more flavorful. The steamed chicken and vegetable dumplings and the broccoli were standard but tasty. On the other hand, I'd skip the Xiao long bao, which were hard to eat in the aluminum cups. The bottoms got stuck, causing them to break and lose their soup, and I wish they'd just served them normally with a spoon. They were also served without vinegar, and the skin and filling were nothing special. A little pricy but not abnormally so for the area. read more

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The food is flavored very well... I didn't even notice I only ordered vegetarian items while I was solo dining here! Be warned though... the food here is REALLY GREASY! I recommend the XO Turnip Cakes forsure! Very delicious. Crispy on the outside and the texture was ideal (super soft) inside. I looooved the XO sauce as always too. The String Bean Noodles were tasty! They did not skimp on the green beans luckily... Lots of flavor. A little spicy and garlicky. Not a must try, but I enjoyed this. read more

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It is way too expensive here, starting at $8.50 for pork shumai. But if you are in the area and don't want to drive to Sunnyvale, at least most of the items here are good. All the food came out fresh and hot. My top favorites were the truffle beef baked bun (reminds me of black pepper steak cubes), sesame steam bun (the black and white swirly one), and the crab xiaolongbao. The pork shumai was solid. I did not personally try the baked bbq pork bun because I was too full. I did not like the spicy wonton because the meat was very firm but also tasted almost undercooked. It is not that spicy but definitely has the numbing spice and I prefer a peanuty sauce like at DinTaiFung. The egg lava steam bun was a huge letdown because it was not runny at all, it was gooey basically like the custard one. The red bean steamed bun was too sweet but I do like the roughly smashed beans that gave the filling some texture. read more

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We stop by for lunch for the first time and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the dim sum, broccoli beef and the baked pork buns. The pork buns were so good we took an order home. I'd drop in to this place in a heart beat! read more

Came here for early dinner with the whole family. We ordered beef chow fun, seafood with XO sauce, crab xiao long bao, pea shoot, beef scallion and shrimp ball. Everything was delicious. Highly recommended!! read more

This restaurant is in down town Redwood City, down the street from the movie theaters, I had seen people come in and out many with door dash or large orders to go, and now I see why. What an amazing experience. From its easy ordering system, to how clean and welcoming the family is, to the traditional plates served with hefty amounts? The taste and elegance meet all of your expectations and more. Perfect for date night or family night. Highly recommend. New favorite. read more

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I'm pleasantly surprised that Bao made its way from SF and now has a location in Redwood City. As a pickier dumplings critic, I enjoyed all the dishes I tried and the ambiance was great too. It's a very modern interior and the dining room is constantly moving. Service was good and I enjoyed the experience. Food tried: Baked BBQ Pork Bao: 5/5 A must order! The BBQ Pork filling is on the sweeter side and it's quite smooth. The bun is thin and stretchy and holds the meat filling perfectly. Sichuan Xiao Long Bao: 4/5 Just the right amount of numbing Sichuan spice, the XLB is similar to the regular XLB but it has a dipping sauce that enhances the numbing sensation. There's a thin wrapping which usually showcases mastery in XLB making. XO Pan Fried Radish Cake: 4/5 I love pan fried radish cake, and when XO, scallop sauce, is in the title, I'll be trying it. This was delicate and savory, with daikon strips. Only critique is that there was a piece of radish cake where the radish was fibery. Spicy Wonton: 4/5 The spicy wonton is one of my favorites at dumplings places since hot sauces can be so different. This was alright and not very spicy. The wontons were also one of the biggest that I've seen in this dish, filled with shrimp and greens. Stir Fried String Beans: 5/5 A classic vegetable dish for pairing with any Chinese cuisine dinner. This was very delicious with the grilled red onion and was a huge portion. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Overall, the ambiance of Bao is spectacular and it's located in the no cars portion of Redwood City which is nice. All food tried was yummy and I would come again. I even recommended my mother to come here with her friend. read more

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Service was excellent, and food came out relatively quickly. Prices were reasonable given the quality of the food, and I liked how comprehensive the menu was. What I ordered: - Shanghai Xiao Long Bao (10/10) - Steamed Vegetarian Dumpling (7/10 - not enough filling / vegetables) - Scallion Beef (9/10 - the scallions were massive, and there were more ginger pieces compared to what I expected) - Pine Nut Chicken Lettuce Wraps (8/10) -Baked Green Tea Mochi (8/10) read more

Bao - Pine Nut Chicken Lettuce Wrap, Shanghai Xiao Long Bao, Stir-Fried Scallion Beef, Steamed Vegetarian Dumpling - Dim Sum Near Me - Redwood City, California

One of those busy weekend nights in RWC. While we were standing around like hungry refugees waiting for a table at another restaurant, my family stumbled upon what would become our new obsession. There we were, kids getting increasingly hangry and my wife giving me that "this better be worth it" look, when Bao in Redwood City basically rescued us from a family meltdown. The dumplings got our picky eaters to stop complaining - and that's saying something. The xia long bao (soup dumplings) are da bomb! Beware the "hot soup in mouth" dance if you have them too quick. The baked BBQ pork buns were an instant hit with everyone. They have these ridiculously cute dessert dumplings that look like tiny works of art. The kids spotted them and immediately went into full "we NEED those" mode. Honestly, they're almost too adorable to eat. The service is attentive and fast, with an easy way to order on a tablet that they leave at your table. Everything tastes fresh too, not like they're just nuking frozen stuff in the back and crossing their fingers. We've been back multiple times now and definitely now one of our go-to spots. A great addition to the RWC restaurant scene! read more

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Service was good, food was incredible for a quick lunch! So delicious and filling, thank you! The restaurant is sweet and very lively in color and decor. But the food was Great!! ---- ¡El servicio fue bueno, la comida era increíble para un almuerzo rápido! Tan delicioso y abundante, ¡gracias! El restaurante es dulce y muy animado en color y decoración. ¡¡Pero la comida estaba genial!! read more

Bao - Beef Soup & Cold brew green Tea - Dim Sum Near Me - Redwood City, California

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I'd take a bullet for those beans! Seriously, they were that good. Even as a total meat lover, I was completely won over. The little character-shaped baos were adorable, my daughter absolutely loved them. The custard one was my personal favorite. Honestly, everything we tried was delicious, but those two really stood out. Service was super quick and the staff were really attentive. I also loved the tablet system they use for ordering, it made it so much easier to see the names and details of the dishes, especially since they're not things most people are used to. Big plus in my book. read more

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Check out BAO on "THAT ONE DISH" channel on YouTube It's great to have a good dim sum - Bao place in the area. Harry the manager help guided us on how to order the dishes because they give you an IPAD to order. We ordered a bunch like the spicy dumplings, Shang Hai Noodles, Pine nuts chicken lettuce wraps were good too. And we had the special steam dim sum. So so good. We went on a Monday afternoon so wasn't that packed. But they said on the weekend it gets pretty crazy. Love the painting inside, made you feel like you were in Hong Kong. read more

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A bright, lively dim sum spot in downtown Redwood City! We came as a party of 2 on a Sunday for lunch and had to wait for around 10 min. You can make reservations on Yelp though. This is more of a smaller and casual restaurant so there isn't seating for large groups like 10 people. You order via an iPad. They have a good variety of dim sum and dishes like noodles and rice. The best part for me was that they do special plates where the plates come with one or two of each of their specialty baos or shrimp dumplings. So you can get a taste of each instead of having to order whole sets separately. The baos are super cute too! Overall, everything tasted good. The prices are on the higher end as expected for Redwood City. The staff were friendly and very attentive. If you're in the area craving dim sum, this is a good option! read more

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I really like everything I have had here. Always consistent and good flavors. There's a parking garage right behind there so it is easy for pickups too when needed. Service is always good, friendly and fast. I love their noodles and soups. Every time I come here I know I can count on good Chinese food. I will always be back read more

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Came here after we watched a movie in downtown RWC, and I love how cute their dessert buns are! I've also never experienced service this great at a dim sum spot before. The servers were crazy attentive, especially the one who seemed to be the manager, and I'd choose Bao over other spots just because of that. The whole shrimp shumai was the best thing we had that night, but the sweet custard baos were also really satisfying as a dessert. Bao also has plenty of seafood-only and vegan options for those who don't eat meat, so they definitely have stuff for everyone. While things are fairly pricey, especially for dim sum, the quality kind of speaks for itself in my opinion. (The tea is so expensive though. :/ ) Will be back with friends! read more

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A friend and I were hanging out nearby and craving dim sum so we decided to check out Bao after discovering another restaurant was only offering takeout. Bao is on a really busy street in downtown RWC and parking is very difficult to find, especially on a weekend. We parked in a nearby neighborhood and walked over. This is definitely one of those places that prioritize an aesthetic over really tasty food or portion size. For example, I never thought I would describe a dim sum place as chic but this was one of those. You order all menu items on a tablet, and while you do see some of the traditional dim sum items available, the taste wasn't anything remarkable nor merited the high price points (presentation was nice though, and I guess that's what you pay for). For the prices we paid I would have expected more mind-blowing flavors and bigger portions. Service was great as they repeatedly came by to refill our water and were generally pleasant and nice, though the waiter seemed surprised we walked in without a reservation (even though we came for an early dinner and the place wasn't filled). Overall, this restaurant is catered more towards English speakers who like the idea of dim sum. If you want something more authentic, there are lots of more affordable places to check out (though plates won't be as pretty). read more

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Came in on a Monday afternoon for lunch and was able to get seated right away. The workers were immediately ready to be at your service. They were really nice and polite. The place is clean and you can tell they are new. The food was like any other dim sum. Very tasty and delicious. The only thing that sets it apart from other places is the high price. $9.50 and up for 4 pieces shumai is crazy. Other plates are around the $20-$30 range and the portions aren't that big. I've definitely been to other dim sum places that are just as good and are cheaper in price and more generous with the quantity. read more

Bao - Shumai - Dim Sum Near Me - Redwood City, California

NEW must try dim sum spot in downtown Redwood City. @bao_redwoodcity serves a variety of dim sum dishes and modern Cantonese wok & fried dishes that you don't want to miss out on. It's in a cute area, service is super nice and attentive, and there's a parking garage right next to it for convenience! Everything was delicious and they have the cutest baos, but don't sleep on their green tea mochi! Would go back just for that lol read more

Bao - Dim Sum Near Me - Redwood City, California

Had a reservation for 4 at 6PM on a Sunday. It was pretty busy already so glad we had something secured! We were seated quickly and were given an iPad to place our order. Once we made our choices, we had to call over a server to input a code and send our order through. It was pretty easy to flag one down, though! Everything was SO GOOD, and food came out fast! We ordered the Xiao Long Bao (both Shanghai and Crab), Beef Chow Fun, Spicy Wontons, Steamed Pork & Shrimp Shumai, and Baked BBQ Pork Buns. Overall everything had a good amount of filling / protein was not skimped on at all. The dumpling skin texture/thickness for the Xiao Long Bao was perfect! I also loved that each dumpling came in its own tin to prevent any soup spillage. Spicy Wontons weren't quite DTF, but still very tasty in itself! Steamed Pork & Shrimp Shumai and the Baked BBQ Pork Buns were some "classics" we ordered, and were solid as well. I felt like the prices were reasonable for what we got, some items may be a bit pricier than other places. I would say that the amount of protein in each serving really made up for it though. Staff was super nice and checked on us often to fill our waters and clear out any empty dishes. We also lingered a bit to talk and catch up and we weren't rushed out at all. Interior aesthetic is well decorated and clean. Tables may look like they're a little close together I think there's plenty of room between each table. Since food comes out so fast, I think the customer turnover is pretty quick as well! I would definitely recommend Bao and can't wait to come back to try more dishes! read more

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Came here on a Friday night and the place was very busy which was promising! I enjoyed the dumplings that we ordered, especially the steamed pork and shrimp shumai which can't with a whole shrimp on each dumpling. The XLB was nice and juicy but I personally hate trying to get XLB out of foil trays. Just a personal pet peeve! Our server really talked up the fried rice so we gave it a try. If I'd known it would take so long to come out, I would have skipped it. The fried rice was just ok and not worth the 15 minutes we waited after the rest of our dishes were already cleared. The atmosphere is really nice. I appreciate the updated decor compared to other local dim sum spots. The staff were attentive and helpful with ordering. Lots of families came with small and big groups. You can make a reservation but you might still need to wait for a table. read more

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We stopped by on a weekday night, they were pretty busy and not completely full. You order from a tablet with categorized menu. Pea sprouts and string beans noodles were decent. Price seemed steep for the fried chicken wings, you only get 4 pieces for about $12. Definitely won't get it again. Xiao long bao were very disappointing. They were on individual tin cups and tasted like frozen ones. Service was okay but a lot of items on the menu seemed a little overpriced for the quality and quantity. read more

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We stopped by for dinner on a Saturday evening and the place was bustling with people. Thankfully we were able to get a table without a wait but recommend making a reservation to guarantee yourself a spot. The food we tried was tasty--siu mai, salt and pepper fish, HK noodles and spicy won ton were solid. The XLBs weren't our favorite as the dough was a bit thicker than we like although the filling and soup were tasty. Service was warm and friendly and the overall vibe was causal and welcoming. Give this place a try! read more

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I came here last night with my fiancé to grab a meal before our show started. It's a few minutes away from the Caltrain station in Redwood City and the walk was very pleasant. As soon as we entered, we were acknowledged by the staff. They were busy tending to other customers, but they signaled that they would be with us soon and seated us after a minute. The restaurant was very cute inside and very clean. It wasn't too crowded and there were still available tables when we arrived. The waitress asked if it was our first time there and, after answering yes, she gave us a tablet to order from and briefly gave us an overview of the menu. We ended up ordering a few dimsum dishes, some main dishes, and a dessert platter of assorted steamed buns. The dimsum came out first and all of it was hot and fresh. I accidentally burned my tongue because I was so eager to eat the food. The shumai was excellent, but I think the spicy wontons were my favorite. Both dimsum dishes were incredibly flavorful. The Shanghai noodles were good and the vibrant bell peppers added a lot of freshness, although I'd probably want to explore another menu item in its place if I were to visit again. The only dish I was disappointed with was the salt and pepper fish. The dish was nice and crispy on the outside but it was pretty salty. I had to wash each bite down with water or eat more noodles to get the taste out of my mouth. The dessert buns were absolutely delicious and not too sweet. The two egg custard buns had a rich filling as did the nutty black sesame bun and the red bean bun. All I could think about afterward was how delicious everything was and how I'd love to go back the next time I was in the area. read more

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5 stars for the service! The staff were quick, attentive, and friendly. Water glasses were refilled often, food came out quickly, and dishes were cleared from the table often. 4 stars for the food. You can see the chefs making the dough for dumplings, baos, etc. so those were the best items. Baked bbq pork bao, dumplings, xlb, steamed red sesame bao (piggies) were all fantastic. Turnip cake was delicious too. Fried shrimp balls were undercooked, so we sent them back. The tables along the west side by the windows are right in the sun, so be careful if dining there in the early evening. They should invest in some shades. It was packed on a Friday night, but they do take reservations. Overall, pricey but good food. Dim sum is freshly made and available all day. read more

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Made reservations via their website. At 5:30pm, there were still quite a few tables open; however, at around 6pm, the place filled pretty quickly and stayed busy until about 8pm. Staff were friendly. They checked on us often and kept our water glasses full. Didn't rush us out when we were done. We ordered quite a few items: Xiao Long Baos, spicy wonton, baked truffle beef bao, Westlake soup, chicken potstickers, kimchi beef potstickers, pan fried turnip cake, and based custard buns. The truffle bao was light and not dense like I thought it would be. I liked the crunchy top of the custard buns. Everything was good. Some items may be a bit pricey for what it is in comparison to other places. Nothing in particular stood out, but glad to have given Bao a try. read more

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The staff in this very bright, clean and very husy (on a Saturday night) restaurant are great. Tending to us with just the right amount of attention and actively refilling our waters whenever they ran low. They have a good selection of dim sum options including some unique ones and other typical Chinese dishes. The Mongolian beef on a sizzling platter was our favorite. The other dishes were fine. This would have been 4 stars but the price was high for the portions and quality. It's a nice option if you want dim sum in downtown RWC, but for Chinese food more generally, we will stick to our favorites elsewhere. read more

Bao - Mongolian beef and Green beans - Dim Sum Near Me - Redwood City, California

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Yum!! The inside is small but we didn't wait too long for seats - there's quite a few tables for 2s and 4s, the wait might be longer for a larger group. Food came out fast! Lost one star from me when the curry puffs came out not hot, but everything else was piping hot. My favorite was the assorted buns - especially the custard filled and egg yolk filled ones! The chicken wings were also the Most Ginormous wings ever. read more