4.5 stars overall My husband loves wontons we wanted to give this place a try and had food to go, we had their Chinese broccoli beef - the broccoli was a bit on the bitter side (deducting half a star( loved their beef chow fun (without the bean sprouts), had their soup dumplings, which are absolutely delicious, tried their wonton soup, which was okay, it's not our flavor profile but it was decent; the food was good, will definitely have it again Can't comment on the service or the ambiance as it was a to go order. My husband says it was clean inside read more

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4.5 stars I was craving some dim sum, but unfortunately Redwood City does not have very many options. I opted to visit Bao. I parked in the parking garage near the movie theaters (horray for free 1.5 hours parking!). I arrived on a Friday morning, right around opening and we were seated immediately. We were given an iPad to order and after noticing there were none of our (somewhat niche) favorite dishes, we ordered the Combo for 4 people. The combo came with hot and sour soup and baked BBQ pork buns, along with our choice of additional dishes from a set list. We chose the six-piece soup dumplings, tofu eggplant, Chinese broccoli with beef, beef chow fun, and the Portuguese egg tart. I thought that the hot and sour soup was hot and barely sour, but it was loaded with meat, tofu, and wood ear mushrooms. The BBQ pork buns tasted great and were interesting; it was a mix between a pineapple bun and a BBQ pork bun. The Soup Dumplings were good, but annoying to eat. Because they were steamed in their own foil wrappings, we were not given soup spoons. It was hard to peel them out of their wrappers while still preserving all the juice. The dumplings were very tasty and the wrappers were just the right amount of structural integrity. The tofu eggplant dish was much too sweet for our taste buds, but it wasn't terrible. The Chinese broccoli with beef dish was very good. The beef was velveted very nicely and was very tender. My only complaint would be that the Chinese broccoli was barely cut, so be sure to chew if you get this dish. The beef chow fun was a bit of a let down; it was kind of bland, but it did feature the same large chunks of beef that the Chinese broccoli beef featured. Finally, the Portuguese Egg Tarts were silky and very flaky (though they did have a strange fruit surprise in them). Overall, I would return for their lunch combo. It was great value (in this economy) and the dishes tasted good. The staff was very friendly and promptly filled up our waters. read more

Really great dim sum spot in the area they got a display of their in house made dough for their dumplings for you to see how fresh they are. Everything was as expected except the Sichuan xlb I thought was off tasted like a curry indian xlb. Not a fan. The egg custard buns are a great dessert perfectly baked buns. I would also recommend the hot and sour soup, har gao and chicken fried rice. Wish they had some pickled cucumbers. Worth visiting if you are in the area craving dim sum. Be sure to get there early when they open since the place is small and usually has a crowd. read more

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We walked in Thursday around 7pm. It wasn't too busy since the restaurant was half full. We ordered a bottle of cold sake, Hot and Sour Wonton Soup 酸辣馄饨汤, Shanghai Xiao Long Bao 上海小笼包(6), Pea Sprouts with Garlic 蒜蓉豆苗, Sichuan Xiao Long Bao 四川小笼包(6), Salt & Pepper Pork Rib 椒盐猪扒, Yang Zhou fried Rice 揚州炒飯. Almost everything was good. Not overly salty. The xiao long Bao's were ok but has thick the skin. The wontons in the hot and sour soup were really good. read more

Bao - Hot and Sour Wonton Soup 酸辣馄饨汤 - Dim Sum Near Me - Redwood City, California

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Came around lunch time on a weekend and was able to be seated after a 5 minute wait. Ordering is via a tablet, which is nice since you can see a photo of each item before ordering. Dim sum prices are between your standard dim sum place and Palette Tea Garden. Quality also matches the prices, which is a good thing. Everything tasted really good. Highlights were the scallion pancakes (nice and crispy), fried shrimp balls (massive and full of meat). I would pass on the string beans noodles. Slightly under spicy side, and although the taste was fine, I thought it was a bit overpriced. The sweet bao special is nice to have for little ones as it provides a variety of cute steamed desserts. read more

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Outstanding food, great staff and the location was also nice. Couldn't have had a better experience for a spontaneous experience. The salt and pepper pork wasn't my favorite but the bbq pork, chicken and egg custard were fabulous. The Mongolian beef was also great. read more

Bao - Outstanding. - Dim Sum Near Me - Redwood City, California

Unassumingly tasty dim sum spot that's open pretty late for Redwood City. Came with my team after an event and needed some comforting food and beer. Casual atmosphere and then give you an iPad with all the menu items on it for ordering, however, they will personally take your order from you. Ordered a whole arrangement of dim sum items. I was really impressed by the salt and pepper pork, as well as all the steamed dim sum items. The skin of each dumpling was very thin and generously filled. Fried rice was also an unexpectedly tasty dish. read more

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We came here for lunch for the first time and ordered the Steamed Pork & Shrimp Shumai, Steamed Sticky Rice Wrapped in Lotus Leaves, Vegetarian Lover, and String Beans Fried Noodles. Overall, the food was okay. The shumai and sticky rice were enjoyable, and the portions were decent. However, we were disappointed with the String Beans Fried Noodles. We specifically ordered it for our son because noodles are his absolute favorite. As soon as he took a bite, he immediately said it was spicy. He is very sensitive to spicy food, so he could not eat it. At first, I couldn't tell because I was already eating my meal with chili sauce. When I asked the staff, they mentioned that the noodles contained a little spice. Unfortunately, this was not indicated on the menu. It would be very helpful if the restaurant could note that the dish has a slight kick, especially for families ordering for young children. Another small issue was the water served. Considering how hot the weather was in Redwood City earlier that day, it would have been nice if the water had been colder. Overall, the experience was okay, but clearer menu descriptions regarding spice levels would make a big difference for families with kids. read more

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We ended up here at about 830pm on a Thursday night right before closing. Ordered an array of dim sum and dishes. It was all tasty and fresh, albeit a tad bit expensive, but this isn't a hole-in-the-wall joint. Definitely a more modern, if not a bit sterile, atmosphere located just a few blocks from Redwood City Square. The fried rice was a surprise winner for me. I'm usually not the biggest fan, but it was flavorful and not greasy. The shrimp varieties of dumplings were my favorite. I personally found the xlb not as flavorful, but also not greasy. Overall, a solid spot for dim sum/Chinese. If I lived locally this spot would be in rotation. read more

Bao - Salt & Pepper Chicken Wings 椒盐鸡翅 - Dim Sum Near Me - Redwood City, California

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The best dumplings ever!!! I think this is the only next best place from din tai fung!! I am coming back here again and again and again.

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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Beef chow fun was served with a bowl of rice. Cold brew green tea is herbal like chrysanthemum tea without honey. If you order with a touchscreen, you have to approve what you select before it's added to your ticket. Pork and shrimp shumai was savory. The shrimp toast seemed unique in that I've never had it coated with fried noodles before. read more

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We dined at Bao after an event with my work colleagues, and we all left very impressed! Definitely a gem if you are craving dim sum, dumplings, and more! I had a lot of favorites including the shumai, hargow, stir fried green beans, salt and pepper pork ribs (my favorite dish of the night), fried rice, and the lava buns. Everything came out hot and fresh, and it was easy to tell they care a lot about quality. The XLBs and potstickers were good, but I think I'd opt to try more of their menu next time around. As mentioned though, the salt and pepper pork ribs were the standout. Crispy, thin, fried to perfection with some serranos, add a perfect level of spice. If I could I'd eat that everyday! Once we ordered, things started coming out in waves an we felt the pace of the dinner went really well. We came in close to closing but they welcomed us with open arms and provided exceptional service. If you are craving Chinese food or very solid dim sum, definitely worth a try! Side note: I misplaced a receipt for the meal, and I was able to contact them and they were able to give me a copy for my records. I thought this was gonna be a hassle, but they made it super easy and seamless. Thank you Bao team! read more

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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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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We've been ordering from this restaurant through DoorDash for a long time, and our orders are over $100 every time. Unfortunately, this time I'm extremely upset and disappointed. We ordered the Pan-Fried Chicken Pot Stickers, and the meat inside was completely raw. The outside wasn't fully cooked or properly pan-fried either. What makes this even more concerning is that I ate THREE of them without realizing the chicken inside was completely raw. I am honestly furious and extremely worried about getting sick from this. This is a serious food safety issue. I really hope I don't get sick because of this. We've been regular customers, but after this experience, I'm seriously questioning whether we can safely order from here again. read more

Bao - Raw chicken in the Potstickers - 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

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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I decided to spoil myself a little after returning to the area after finishing my degree. I found this cute Bao shop that does the cutest art on their dim sum! One of them has a very neat Hello Kitty design that stayed together rather well even after being packaged into take out. The steamed bao special had a custard bao, a lava bao, a red bean bao, and a sesame bao. The prices are very reasonable here and I would highly recommend trying their Minced Beef soup as well. I can't speak on the service part as this is take out, but the interactions I did have with the staff are very pleasant. I would recommend trying here if you've got a dim sum craving. read more

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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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Great delicious food and not a bad price. The service is excellent and technology on point. I am planning on dining there again very soon!

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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This place was incorrectly labeled on Apple Maps as an 88 Bao Bao location, so we were confused when we showed up and it was a different company entirely. Making matters even more confusing, there's a banner outside the restaurant to order food online--from some other restaurant in San Francisco! The food at Bao was pretty good though, if a bit expensive (pricing was Palo Alto level, not what we expected in RWC). Serving sizes were ok, though the beef noodle dish had surprisingly little noodles. The dessert was very good, so we left happy. Protip: park in the underground lot around the corner to get 90 mins free. Everything else is paid, even on Saturdays. read more

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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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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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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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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Food is amazing! Price for fried rice way too high!!! I guess the way it is now!!!! Everything I ordered was real good!!!! read more

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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