Cancel

Open app

Search

Bao

4.3 (449 reviews)
Open 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Order Bao Takeout or Delivery

Bao Photos

Business Info

BAO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Classy
Outdoor seating

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - Bao

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Bi Feng Tang Har Gow (4)
Terence T.

For two people we definitely stuffed ourselves full with this order. No wait time at 7pm, we sat and ordered quickly. My partner is pescatarian so previous dumpling restaurants have had extremely bland tasting vegetable bao or no consideration for that diet The vegetable bao here was flavourful, maybe strongly of mushroom but it did have flavour! And so this gives it some plus points. Bi Feng har gow is basically deep fried har gow. Usually deep frying things makes them better but this was a miss for me. Other dumpling dishes were pretty decent, nothing to write home about but made well, solid tastes The green beans were excellently cooked. Great flavour. Would be back again!

Salt and pepper veggie
Sydney J.

I ordered vegetarian xiao long bao and salt and pepper veggies from them. It was a nearly 30 wait for them to get my food ready, but a person who ordered after me got their takeout first. I'm not sure if it's because the restaurant makes fewer of the vegetarian items than the meat ones? Vegetarian xiao long bao: It was so-so, the insides weren't adequately seasoned or flavorful. I wish they made a version that was more comparable to the meat version since I was disappointed by this and would not recommend it. Salt and pepper veggie: It does taste like salt and pepper tofu in flavor profile, but with battered vegetables, kind of like tempura. Pretty good. I liked the kabocha, there's also mushrooms, green beans. I was pleasantly surprised by this one.

Pot stickers.  The best ever. ‼‼‼

Oh my goodness what a great FIND. Just came out of a movie at the RoxIE around the corner and was so hungry. And I stumbled on this restaurant that had dim sum and regular Chinese food. I was so hungry. I ordered too much but I ate most of everything. The broccoli beef was amazing. Stirred fried green beans were amazing. The potstickers that were fried are like incredible! And the barbecue pork bun steam was so good. it's a little loud in here, but who cares the food is so effing good! I will most definitely come back. Wow Valencia Street has changed when living here 30 years ago. Or maybe it's even longer. But the array of the different types of restaurants and ethnic cuisines is incredible. But this place is super exceptional. You have to kind of look for it because it doesn't jump out at you. And from the outside you think why would I go in here? But the food is phenomenal. I love it.

Pan Fried Pork Pot Stickers (5)
Yuri H.

We arrived about an hour before closing. They were preparing to close. There was one other party there wrapping up their dinner. It took the staff a while to take our order. The wonton soup dumplings were average. The pot stickers greasy not my favorite. The sesame donuts were the highlight. The decor was standard. I probably will not return. Not good, not bad.

Chicken Fried Rice
Anh T.

On a Saturday night, our group of 4 waited 30 minutes before being seated on the farthest inside table. Shanghai Xiao Long Bao: Broth was delicious and bao wrapper was tasty and not sticky! Steamed BBQ Pork Bun: soft, fluffy bun with good pork savory filling. Steamed Shrimp Har Gow: nothing too special, but juicy shrimp Spicy Wontons: This was one of my personal favorites since the chili oil was not too spicy, but it complemented the silky texture of the wontons. Stir-fried String Beans: Good & garlicky Pan-Fried Pork Pot Stickers: The pot stickers were slightly difficult to separate since the crispy skin stuck together, but they were deliciously crispy Chicken Fried Rice: We ordered this later into the night as we felt there wasn't enough food, and the fried rice hit the spot for filling up our stomachs! Steamed Egg Custard Bao: Pillowy, cute decoration on the outside and sweet (but not too sweet) egg taste on the inside!

Wendi K.

The sweet buns are so CUTE and heavenly tasting. We had some of these catered to a company event. I tried the sesame bun (black swirl) and the lava bun (panda shaped). So I suppose this review is based off those two flavors only. They are fluffy and fresh and I 100% approve of the filling to bun ratio.

Shao long bao, Steamed Pork & Shrimp Shumai  (4)
Manny Y.

Wanted to get some dumplings today so I came back to Bao. The food was good, but I found the Singapore noodles to be a bit salty this time.. I ordered a shao long bao,pork and shrimp shims in, Singapore noodles, pepper beef. See photos. I came around 2 pm on Sunday and they close lunch at 2:30 pm. I didn't have to wait for a table. You order by writing in a menu piece of paper. I ordered a bit much. Sinnpire Noodles came first. (Odd because I thought dumpling would come out first) I also got pepper beef, shao long bao, and shunning with pork and shrimp. No complaints except the Singapore noodles was a bit salty. Service was good. As for ambiance, they have outside seating as well inside.

Coconut Bunny (4)
Lisa X.

Visited Bao with some work friends. Great selections of dim sum. Tasty and very cutesy. I love the panda face baos, the coconut bunnies and the corn shaped pudding is just adorable. Besides being cute, all the dim sum tasted delicious. I also like the xLB. On par with another restaurant that's known for xLBs. Service was courteous. And the ambiance is lovely. Friends and I had a great time. Located on Valencia and 17th St.

Shrimp balls and Mango Swans
Kevin P.

I had a really great experience here! The service was fast and efficient!! I barely had to wait, and everyone I spoke with was friendly and attentive. It's nice to see a place that actually delivers on both quality and speed. Everything was clean and well-organized, which made the whole visit even better. They also have a ton of options, so whether you're in the mood for something classic or want to try something new, you'll definitely find it here. The menu makes it easy to mix things up each time you go. Overall, a solid spot that I'd happily come back to again.

Mary M.

An excellent spot to enjoy authentic Chinese food. The space is small but pleasant, the food is exquisite, and they also offer a great menu at very reasonable prices. Always a good place to come back to.

S L.

we don't live too far from this restaurant every time we passed by it's always busy , we had been this restaurant many time. all the dumplings fresh made in house and the staff very nice , we like coming to this restaurant!

Fried Shrimp Toast
Divya K.

Loved everything we ordered. The ambiance here screams comfort Asian food restaurant. Service is pretty quick too. I love the shrimp roast at dumpling time but the one here may have topped that. Custard buns were just okay.

Jackie M.

Good vegetarian and vegan options. I appreciate that the menu was clearly labeled with what's vegan, but I wish there would've been a symbol for vegetarian too (I initially overlooked some yummy bites that contain egg, but no meet). The service was fast and friendly and the space felt busy, but not too crowded or overwhelming when we dined in on a Saturday evening.

Pan Fried Chives & Shrimp Dumplings (5)

See all

Photo of Erin Y.
57
85
150

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Annie B.
63
165
40

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 2

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Luna K.
1
78
43

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Marc B.
241
1223
2185

5 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Loved the food. Restaurant was loud but fitting for a large group of friends, which I went with. Loved the soup dumplings

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Yih R.
190
544
1646

3 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Rhea G.
27
96
107

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 18
Thanks 1
Love this 12
Oh no 1

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 129
Thanks 2
Love this 127
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 107
Thanks 1
Love this 106
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 12
Thanks 0
Love this 11
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Mary L.
4
38
22

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

1 year ago

We got dinner here. It was pretty good. I liked trying a lot of different dishes. I love egg custard bun and theirs was just fine.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

Page 4 of 12

Bao Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Bao

Is the dim sum menu open for dinner as well?

Yes

Are the coconut bunnies or the mango pudding corn vegan?

Yes

Are you open new years day?

Yes we open new year day.

Are the vegetarian dishes vegan? No dairy, egg, or oyster sauce.

Yes, all the dishes marked vegetarian on the menu were actually vegan. I asked about a noodle dish that sounded vegetarian from the description but was not marked, I was told it was not marked because noodles were made with eggs...so I think many… Read more

Does this restaurant have outside dining with heaters ? Also do they accept service dogs?

They have outside dining, but they don't have heaters. The last time I was there, I was cold sitting outside! Bring an extra jacket! I don't know whether they accept service… Read more

What is the little sour fruit in the egg tarts?

Yes, two tasty sour-ish raisin-like fruits were incorporated into (or atop) the tarts. There is no much of the flaky pastry, not enough of the (slightly overcooked) filling in this dish at Bao - not worth the price.

Are there any vegan options?

I think some of the vegetarian options are vegan, as they don't seem to contain dairy.

Do you have calorie counts for each of your buns and dumplings?

No, they don't.

Do they take reservations?

i only saw a paper/pen sign up on the door

Is it safe for people with shellfish allergies to eat here? I see there are dishes that don't contain shellfish, but I worry about cross-contamination, or shellfish in the kimchi.

View All 12 Questions

You might also consider

Verify this business for free

People searched for Chinese 157,404 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

Verify this business

San Tung

San Tung

4.1(8.8k reviews)
2.6 miInner Sunset
$$

The Wings. There's two kinds, but I think it's the original braised chicken wings. Get them, have…read moreyour life changed.

So we finally got here! The line was long, but honestly the wait wasn't bad at all -- probably only…read morearound 30 minutes considering how far down we were on the waitlist. Once they started calling tables, it moved really fast. When we were seated, we ended up sharing a table with two other groups of two. I actually didn't mind it at all because there was still enough space between everyone to have privacy. It also made the experience feel more social -- I ended up chatting with the people to my right and left about the food. Everything we ordered was really good. Their popular dry fried chicken absolutely lived up to the hype and was probably my favorite thing on the menu... besides the cherry pork. I feel like nobody talks about the cherry pork enough! It was SO good -- kind of like a sweet-and-sour pork without the sour. I dipped it in soy sauce because I loved the sweet and salty combo together. The dumplings were also really good. The wrapper was thin and delicious, but my boyfriend said he wished they had a little more protein filling and less leek. The green beans are always a hit. The only thing I probably wouldn't order again was the black bean sauce noodles. Maybe I just expected a different flavor, but to me they honestly tasted like regular lo mein. I'm also not a huge noodle person in general, so I'd probably skip them next time and order something else instead. Forgot to mention their prices are on point! Definitely recommend to any of the tourists. I think the weight is definitely worth it and I love being able to take home my leftovers and eating them for lunch and dinner the next day.

Photos
San Tung - Inside

Inside

San Tung - Garlic string beans

Garlic string beans

San Tung - Chicken wings

See all

Chicken wings

Four Kings 四大天王 - sichuan cabbage

Four Kings 四大天王

4.2(430 reviews)
2.3 miChinatown
$$$

Throwback to the 90s with good food, fun atmosphere, and friendly staff. Imagine all the 90s HK pop…read morestars and movie stars, they're all here on the walls! We ended up ordered 1/3 of the menu, probably. Everything from their speciality squab to the limited time menu items like Singaporean chile crab. Everything was really delicious (only complaint is the crab sauce drowning the bread, order the bread to be on the side to avoid this situation). The popular dessert item was the red bean shaved ice, which was very nice to balance out the meal.

WHAT A GEM in SF Chinatown! 5.0…read more Hubby secured hard to get reservations and the very next day, I see a friend post her visit on IG Stories. I asked her, "What's good?" Her response... "Everything!" That's all one needs to say. At the entrance, clearly marked are signs reading, "Reservations" and "Walk-ins". Since we had reservations, we waited only a few minutes to get seated at the bar. The bar makes it easy to converse with your partner and to peer over as the fire from the range springs up from the kitchen. Our server brought us some "Free Bites" of roasted peanuts and smashed cucumbers. She was such a pleasant lady with quite the wit that made me laugh between courses. We ordered a full bottle of Negori sake. Note: if you do not finish the sake bottle, they cannot pack it to go for you, so drink up! Obviously, we couldn't order everything on the menu. For our first visit, we definitely wanted their special dish, Fried Squab. It was delicious! The meat was moist and the dipping salt with Sichuan peppercorn paired perfectly! Just don't focus too much on the visual... the head and claws. Hot Mustard Jellyfish Salad ~ I loved the "crunch" of the jellyfish and the hot mustard marinade was just spicy enough to start a slow burn up the nose. Beef Chow Fun Noodles ~ Delicious and so very savory. I was amazed at how flavorful this dish was without being salty. Clay Pot Rice w/Chinese Sausage & Bacon ~ Loved how the entire pot was seasoned nicely. The sauce did not only sit at the top, but penetrated deep down into the rice. XO Escargot w/Milkbread ~ I've only had French Escargot and these are just as good, if not better! Fish Fragrant Eggplant ~ Another savory and very umami dish. Red Bean Shaved Ice ~ Always a refreshing dessert. Dig in for the surprise in the center. We had such a nice, cozy dinner here. Even while at the bar, we never felt for lack of space. They paced the dishes out perfectly, so there was always room to eat and enjoy. Looking forward to returning and trying more items on the menu.

Photos
Four Kings 四大天王 - View of kitchen

View of kitchen

Four Kings 四大天王 - Sichuan cabbage

Sichuan cabbage

Four Kings 四大天王 - Creamy potato salad with tofu dressing

See all

Creamy potato salad with tofu dressing

Palette Tea House

Palette Tea House

4.1(1.9k reviews)
2.9 miRussian Hill, Fisherman's Wharf
$$$
Locally owned & operated
Speaks Mandarin

A beautiful Michelin-recognized tea house experience with amazing service, flavorful food, and a…read morereally unique atmosphere. Stopped by Palette Tea House with The Kid after FoodieLand thinking we were just coming for tea... and ended up having a full experience. We sat at the communal high-top table in the center of the restaurant, which has a small pond built into it with little goldfish and even a tiny rubber duck sitting on the rock formation -- such a cute detail and definitely adds to the ambiance. Our server Ken was fantastic and incredibly knowledgeable about the menu. He recommended the Iron Goddess tea, which ended up being excellent. The Kid ordered the Milk Aroma Oolong, which surprisingly tasted almost like milk tea even though it's just brewed tea. Each tea comes with its own kettle, and Ken even came back to refill the hot water for us. For food, we ordered the Wagyu Beef Fried Rice, which was a huge portion and easily shareable. Very flavorful and well prepared. We also tried the Sichuan Seafood Dumplings and the Iberico Pork Dumplings, both of which were delicious. One order is definitely enough to share. The dumplings come with several dipping sauces including soy sauce, vinegar, chili oil, hot mustard, and a cilantro-based sauce that had a slightly sweet, horseradish-like flavor that really stood out. Service throughout the meal was amazing. Even without a reservation, we were seated immediately. As a Michelin-recognized restaurant for 2025, it definitely felt like a special treat and lived up to the experience.

Out to a new place for dinner with family…read more Palette Tea House Server - Westley, was so good in helping us pick the best dishes and drinks. Jordan Chardonnay, 2022 Russian River CA Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon, 2023 Alexander Valley, CA Fort Point Villager IPA Dinner Chinese Olive Fried Rice Cumin Spicy Lamb "Longevity" Noodle Palette Soup Dumpling "XLB" Sampler (5 Pieces) Chicken Soup Dumpling "XLB" (3 Pieces) Black Swan Tara Puff (2 Pieces) Lotus Wrap Abaline Sticky Rice Wok Fried Gai LAN and Shitake Mushroom Desert Steamed Custard Dumpling Durian Custard Bao Wow, I could not say which one was my favorite dish. Every dish was great. In addition to the deserts. The deco was real nice and colorful. The had Peking Ducks all set for roasting on display. Must visit.

Photos
Palette Tea House
Palette Tea House
Palette Tea House

See all

Hon's Wun-Tun House - Wonton Noodle Soup | ig: whaevaeats

Hon's Wun-Tun House

4.1(664 reviews)
2.4 miChinatown
$$

With plenty of restaurants trying to get you thru the door in Chinatown, I was so happy to try out…read moreHon's Wun-Tun House! There will be a little bit of a wait if you come at lunchtime, but the changing of tables is so quick, it's worth the wait. My table got many items to try out, including a number of dumplings and main dishes. We have no complaints! The servers were on top of their game, and every time a menu item was brought out, they would cross it out at the table, to ensure all our food was brought out. Each dish came out piping hot (especially the dumpling and wontons), and my favorite main dish was definitely the Braised Seafood + Tofu in Clay Pot. Pair that with some rice and your set. This place was such a vibe! Totally recommend; all our food came out quick --- everything was made-to-order, and they got nothing wrong. 10 out of 10!

Memorial weekend Saturday - got walking in that day, I asked the person who sat us if any of the…read morenoodle dishes had soy (they all have soy), she asked if I was gluten-free and I said no, allergy to soy so I will get something else. This person who took our order asked if there were any allergies, I said soy and her eyes lit up while she calming asked, 'soy-sauce', and I list soysauce and all the soy things that fall in that umbrella. I order my item, the chicken wings and item to share: the pan-fried dumplings, while my partner ordered one of the noodle soups. She comes back later and points out that the noodle soup has soy - much apperciated because people sometimes share, etc. And I said it was just for my partner. -- The chicken wings were plump, crispy, the first two were 'heathly', didn't taste the salt, and the rest were packed with flavor. If you're looking for consistency there is a #1 spot in Chinatown for chicken wings which I will not disclose in this review. But, otherwise, for flavor - I like it here. My partner said he didn't find the ones here oily but I said the bottom ones were a little and I did enjoy it. The panfried dumplings - the meat was succulent and delicious, I didn't think there was enough soup, these ones are smaller than other places, but the meat is massive. They were good, not my favorite ever, but I think the meat was the best hands-down anywhere. - It was very busy with perhaps locals and tourists. The table on our left were these two white men in the architeture field - super vulgar and sexist talking about people they don't like, it would defintely be an HR red flag. And then to the corner on the right, there was this little family who hadn't had soup dumplings before - the grown kids ate with their hands and the parents with forks (I love to see people trying new things), I didn't see all of this going on but I asked my partner who kept looking over.. Yes, my partner was judging you but kudos to trying new things however it is. - For large parties - you'll have to wait awhile. QR waitlist kiosk thing in at the front. ** I truly apperciate food safety and staff being attentive which makes patrons more confident and are able to make more safely informed decisions when ordering.

Photos
Hon's Wun-Tun House - Come here to sign in. Then sit until they call you.

Come here to sign in. Then sit until they call you.

Hon's Wun-Tun House - Braised Tofu + Seafood in Clay Pot

Braised Tofu + Seafood in Clay Pot

Hon's Wun-Tun House - E3 柱侯牛腩雲吞麵 Beef Brisket Wonton Noodle Soup | $14.95

See all

E3 柱侯牛腩雲吞麵 Beef Brisket Wonton Noodle Soup | $14.95

Harborview Restaurant & Bar - Dim sum much?

Harborview Restaurant & Bar

4.1(1.9k reviews)
2.6 miFinancial District
$$
Outdoor seating
Happy hour specials

It's a nice Memorial Day weekend so we came back for dim sum. We were pleasantly surprised the dim…read moresum was much better than the last visit. The service was also attentive. Our server Shao was helpful and quick to respond. They have plenty of outdoor tables, as well as indoor seating. Shrimp dumplings were 5/5 (plump and fresh) Sui mai were on point 4/5 Honey BBQ pork 3.5/5 Walnut shrimp 5/5 Steamed spareribs 4/5 Steamed Chinese broccoli 4/5 BBQ pork pastry 5/5 Steamed peach bun 5/5

I keep wanting to like this place so I keep coming back to try it and each time I am reminded why I…read moredon't want to come back. What's good. The view is great What not so great. Everything else. Food should be better prepared. Thought they have a Michelin star and food is so sloppy for the price they charge and the service always felt robotic. We had whole duck and the soup $80 and the duck came with bones! Wow. Z&y Beijing duck for similar price is way better. The soup came out also more watery also with bones and mustard green. It was just okay but unimpressive The braised tofu and vegetable for $28 is again just average. I was going to give this a three star but then a 20% gratuity is auto added for our table for 2 people. Plus the final check still comes with room for tip. So if someone didn't hear that gratuity was included already they can accidentally overtip. Shady business practice. Alas a lipstick on a pig and I have tried this place at least 5 times over the last 5 years. I keep thinking they may improve. I am wrong and won't be back. It's a place for show but doesn't really have refined Chinese food.

Photos
Harborview Restaurant & Bar - Black Sesame Mochi with Grated Peanut

Black Sesame Mochi with Grated Peanut

Harborview Restaurant & Bar - Enjoy dining or Happy Hour on our spacious patio!

Enjoy dining or Happy Hour on our spacious patio!

Harborview Restaurant & Bar - Baked Coffee Lava Buns with Crunchy Sugar Crust

See all

Baked Coffee Lava Buns with Crunchy Sugar Crust

Bao - chinese - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...