Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Bao's Cafe

    3.8 (241 reviews)
    ModerateChinese
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Bao's Cafe Photos

    BAO'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Bao's Cafe

    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

    Sesame chicken
    Kat L.

    Ended up here on a Thursday dinner. We ran out of options and we just pulled in H-E-B and saw this cafe and decided to give it a try. I had the salted pepper prawns and shrimp fried rice & hubby had the sesame chicken it was good. I was so thrilled as the serving was plenty Service was good and [[HIGHLIGHT]]ambiance was great![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I recommend this place-

    Chicken curry
    Jasmine T.

    My first time at this place walked in for a to go order. The young lady who took my order very unpleasant didn't smile. When I said hello she stated what can I get you. I ordered the chicken curry. It wasn't good what so ever. The curry looked more like a gravy and the chicken was soft. Definitely will not be returning

    Found not one but TWO staples in my food. After calling to complain, they first offered to bring me a cash refund for half the meal and said I would have to leave the rest of the food on the porch for them to pick it up.. what's actually hilarious is when I checked the reviews there have already been people who've found STAPLES in their food as well. Seems like something you'd heavily avoid but clearly it's not a big issue for them. Food was great besides the metal office supplies of course.

    Jessica N.

    My cousin just moved into the area and wanted to try this restaurant. We got the jalenpeno chicken, magnolia beef, shrimp lomein and egg roll (sorry for the misspelling ) Everything was absolutely yummy and fresh. The egg roll was literally filled with cabbage wasn't bad tho. The lomein was on the ginger side 7/10 but the shrimp size is big! Service was good- it is cold in there so bring a jacket. It's also very reasonable pricing

    Orange chicken with large chunks!!

    This is the only place I know of outside of a restaurant in Austin that closed, that actually has chicken pieces in their orange chicken! Will be a staple in my house now

    Pork fried rice (*roast pork, not bbq pork)
    Marie B.

    Quaint, modest Asian cafe with a convenient location to serve East Spring. The menu is pretty basic but offers familiar staples for Chinese-American fare, and the service is prompt & friendly. The food isn't extraordinary, but it's made with quality ingredients. Flavors & textures are subtle; nothing is too spicy, too salty, not too oily/greasy. Personally, I prefer my food this way - easy to digest & not offensive to the taste buds. A good balance. Favorite dishes are the fried rice (lightly seasoned, cooked only with egg & onion) and the boneless bbq pork (a 1-lb, portion of sliced Char Siu that's served with sauce on the side). One of my go-to's for speedy & reliable takeout or delivery in the area.

    Receipt

    I made an order on line and on line the Combination Lo Mein said it comes with fried rice. So i order ordered it and then it didn't come with it. When i called and asked about the issues, i was told that they tell people it does not come that way. I asked for the manager and manger was not in and they didn't know when they would be in. Horrible customer service, sounded like Cindy care. She told me she was just a cashier.

    Exterior
    Susan P.

    This is a great place for some traditional, basic Chinese food. Nothing unique but they use quality ingredients and large portions to draw you back. Also know that iced tea is free with your meal if you dine in. If you like your shrimp big and plentiful their shrimp rice and noodle dishes don't hold back! I had a great waitress yesterday. I asked her opinion on the level of spice in the Mongolian Beef lunch special and not only was she accurate but she came back to the table to see if I agreed after my meal was cooked. Great service!

    Philip P.

    I will list the good things first... Carry-out food prep time was fast. The food was hot and remained hot until my 15 minute commute back to the house. The chicken was meaty compared to other Chinese restaurants that use about 75% batter, 25% chicken. The chicken here was about 90% chicken, 10% battered. The price beats P.F Chang's restaurant any day, but the food isn't as high-end quality... Now here is the bad news... I ordered "orange chicken" and "general tso's chicken," but I felt like I tasted soy sauce chicken and sweeter soy sauce chicken. The fried rice was a huge disappointment. Basically the rice was made with little pieces of eggs and doused with soy sauce. That's it, with no more ingredients besides the oil used to fry it. This chicken I awkwardly wrangled in my mouth had as much Chinese authenticity as the Popeyes chicken down the street...

    Hot and sour soup bowl.

    See all

    Review Insights

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Eli L.
    74
    29
    10

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Solid food, clean, and nice waitresses and atmosphere. Close to my job. I'll keep going back. Their chicken dishes are prepared quickly too!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of T. S.
    0
    63
    13

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lauren L.
    12
    43
    12

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jean S.
    14
    24
    0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    The Food is AMAZING the staff treat you like family and it is very clean. I recommend this restaurant to everyone who loves Chinese food.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Great little neighborhood restaurant! Food is good, service is good and we enjoy the convenience!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Average Chinese food, good but I'll keep ordering from my favorite place. Always worth a try because it's so close to home and new ;)

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Not a very good taste or over the top. I thought it was kinda bland...fast delivery and friendly service.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Serve was good but food was not. Dumplings were chewy. Rice was halfway fried and beef did not look or taste like beef.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Delicious food. After placing my order it takes them less than 10mins to deliver. The chicken is white meat! Which is fantastic!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Love it! Finally, a decent Chinese restaurant near by. We love it, every dish we've tried has been very good.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lillie R.
    244
    27
    39

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    This is my go-to place for Chinese food! Everything I have ordered so far has been superb.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alisha D.
    39
    38
    31

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 5 of 7

    Ask the Community - Bao's Cafe

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Chinese 7,233 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Bamboo House

    Bamboo House

    4.4
    (742 reviews)
    13.5 mi
    $$

    If there is one restaurant I will recommend over and over again, it's Bamboo House…read more I've traveled all over the world and have had the privilege of experiencing incredible cuisines from different cultures, but Bamboo House's Peking Duck remains my absolute favorite of all time. From the moment the duck arrives at your table, you know you're in for something special. The skin is perfectly lacquered--beautifully crisp with an irresistible golden sheen--while the meat underneath is unbelievably tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. Every bite is a perfect balance of crispy skin, succulent duck, fresh cucumbers, scallions, hoisin sauce, and warm pancakes. It's not just dinner... it's an experience. What I love most is the consistency. Every single visit, the quality is exceptional. The presentation is elegant, the flavors are authentic, and the attention to detail is second to none. You can truly tell that the chefs take immense pride in their craft. The service is always warm, attentive, and welcoming, making every meal feel like a special occasion. Whether it's a date night, celebrating with friends, or simply satisfying a craving, Bamboo House never disappoints. 5/5 Stars isn't enough. If I could give them 10 stars, I absolutely would. If you're anywhere near Houston and have never experienced their Peking Duck, you're missing one of the finest culinary experiences the city has to offer. It has become my personal gold standard, and after countless meals around the world, nothing has topped it. Thank you, Bamboo House, for continuing to serve what I genuinely believe is the best Peking Duck I've ever had. I'll keep coming back--and bringing everyone I know with me!

    My favorite place for Peking duck around the Houston area. It's a little farther out, but I usually…read morestop by whenever I'm driving to or from AIH. The duck is roasted for hours, so the skin comes out nice and crispy without being too greasy. I also like that the remaining duck is made into a soup afterward. It's simple, hearty, and especially good on a colder day. I've tried several other dishes here, and they've all been solid and remind me of the Chinese food I grew up eating. The servers have always been attentive and friendly, and the restaurant is spacious, so it's a good spot for family dinners or larger groups.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Twice Cooked Pork Belly
    Twice Cooked Pork Belly
    Peking Duck

    See all

    Peking Duck
    Fu Manchung

    Fu Manchung

    4.7
    (905 reviews)
    5.5 mi
    $$

    Extremely yummy pho! Quality meat, well cooked noodles, fresh herbs for toppings and the broth was…read moreso flavorful. The bahn mi and the maverick were also extremely tasty, but the pho was the real stand out. Great service and it was quick.

    The food was very good!…read more I was hesitant at first because some of the menu seemed to be fusion items. In a place like Houston, where you can get authentic Vietnamese food, this can be a luck draw if the fusion pays off. However, when I tried the food, it was a very flavorful and worth every cent I spent. Everything was very tasty. The wings were flavorful and crisp. It had a combination of crispy skin seasoned with a rich sauce. The meat was also moist. For a party of two, it was also very shareable because they gave six pieces -both drums and wings. I will say that you really gotta to get in there get your hands and face dirty though! (They did provide a hand wipe!) For the main dishes, the won tonic soup was very flavorful with sweet-and-sour elements with egg noodles that soaked up all this good flavor. The wontons inside were very standard. And the onion was added to provide some balance. Everything was very hardy and filling. My friend had gotten the vermicelli. Which came with crunchy egg rolls, shredded veggies, noodles, and shrimp topped with a fish sauce. It felt very light and refreshing with a balance of textures and savory elements'. Highly recommend as the number one and two selling dishes - it would just depend on if you're in a soup or dry noodle sort of mood. Service was overall fast and friendly. You have to pay by going to the counter. We had a newer waiter though, and it took him a long time to get our orders correctly and he had to get some help. Hopefully they're doing well, but overall, it's a very cute Homie little establishment. Seating fits around 30 around booths and tables.

    Photos
    Dining area
    Dining area
    Pho!
    Pho!
    Store front

    See all

    Store front

    Bao's Cafe - chinese - Updated August 2026

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