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    Gongfu Bao

    4.1 (38 reviews)
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    GONGFU BAO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    three plates of food on a table
    Julie L.

    Went with a friend and we had the Berkshire Pork baos, fried chicken baos and pepper-salt popcorn chicken. The price is high for what you get ($10+tax and tip per bao). Berkshire Pork bao was very good. The fried chicken bao was okay. I did not enjoy the pepper-salt popcorn chicken. It had the same seasoning as typical Asian night market fried food. I always think it's a cop-out when restaurants use that seasoning as anyone can do it and get the same taste at home. It's equivalent of using HP sauce as seasoning imo. The server was standoffish and she was not very attentive. Overall combined with the bill total for the dining experience, it has really put me off ever going back.

    Berkshire pork bao
    Rohan S.

    ordered takeout, staff were so lovely and kind, and the food was so incredible and survived takeout very well. nice succulent juicy pork balanced out well with the radish and cucumber. very filling and satisfying, perfect for a cold winter evening. $20 for 2 Bao is a bit steep price wise, but when they're this good I'm not sure how much I can complain

    Hot dog bun
    Angel C.

    Craving some HK style 鴛鴦Yuen-Yeung / 奶茶Milk Tea in Ottawa? Say no more! I've ordered from here a bunch of times via UberEats, and there's not much of these options in Ottawa. Their hot dog bun & French toast is one of our favourites, and not to mention the Yuen-Yeung that's nowhere to be found in this city. Highly recommend!

    HK French Toast and Beef hotdog bun
    Estefany V.

    By far the best French Toast I have EVER had! I have been all over the states in the US, multiple areas in Canada and other countries and this is the best French toast ever! We have never had such large French toasts in our lives! They were cooked to perfection. In addition, we had their beef hotdog bun which was also very good. Enough to split for 2. Overall, we had a great experience here, the staff was great, the vibe was awesome and the food was delicious! If you are a fan of French toast, I highly recommend you try this location out! You will not be disappointed!

    Hong Kong milk tea (hot), fried chicken burger with cucumber salad

    After just two visits to this café by day/restaurant by night, it's quickly become one of my absolute favourites in Centretown. Starting with my go-to, the Honk Kong milk tea, is perfectly rich and creamy and you can taste the toasty nuttiness of the tea pull through each sip. Not to mention, the tea is served in the most adorable colourful porcelain mugs that make you feel warm and cozy after every sip. This visit, I tried the fried chicken sandwich during the shop's lunch hours and was impressed by the crispiness of the breading. It was light and flaky but not too crunchy. The chicken was nicely cooked and juicy inside, but some random small bits were dry and hard to bite through. The sandwich has a pickled cucumber salad and spicy chili, which I thought was a great way to diversify a chicken sandwich. The flavours were strong but can be a bit overpowering - I ended up taking off some of the salad halfway through. The staff are really wonderful here as well - even during their busy lunch rush, I was able to be seated quickly at their bar. There were plenty of crayons and colouring book pages while you wait, which I - a person who makes arts and crafts almost every day - absolutely loved. Of course, I had to colour when I first got there. The staff were receptive of this and wouldn't check in until I was done, which was very sweet. Overall, you have to try this place. If not for the awesome food, try it for the ambience. It's cozy, cute, lively, and bursting with good vibes .

    Eggplant boa & tofu boa
    Ashley G.

    Lots of vegan/veg options. I got the tofu boa bun as well as the eggplant boa bun. Both were in a super sweet sauce, and I favored the eggplant boa bun a lot more. The hubby got the fried chicken boa which he said was the winner of them all. He also got the slaw, which he is a huge fan of. I really appreciate that this restaurant is stroller accessible. They had a ramp outside the door, and I felt super welcome with my bulky-ish stroller. Service was super quick and extremely friendly. There were a couple of tables outside, where we sat, and it was great for people watching. I do want to come back to try the grilled cheese boa.

    Kathleen W.

    OVERVIEW I'be had my fair share of baos in Ottawa and Toronto and these ones are pretty delicious! You order at the front, grab a number, find a table, and they will either call your name and you pick up the order or they bring it to your table. Floors are a little slick and slippery when wet, but be careful when walking around with your food, don't want to drop it. Free water and sauces. One thing, I wish they would use washable cups and dishes to reduce waste in the future especially if you are dining in. FOOD They finally have the bao flight, which means you can try 3 of their baos. Their typical order comes with 2 baos. It looks and tastes like they cook and source things differently each time I go, so by that I mean the cut of meat or veggies might be different. Not a bad thing at all, but don't be surprised if it tastes slightly different than the last. The bao is lightly sweet and soft! Pick it up and eat it with your hands, don't be shy! I also love their taro chips - the seasoning and crispiness is so damn addictive. I had all of the baos and here is my ranking, the bao is the same for all of them: Brisket - one of my favourites! The flavour balance, spices and pickled radish is paired nicely. Tofu Belly - great for vegetarians and vegans, I love firm tofu and this bao is flavoured beautifully. 'Racha TVP - great for vegetarians and vegans, TVP = textured vegetable protein. I love love love eggplant and this reminded me of the eggplant stirfry with pork (minus the pork of course). ShaoXing Pork - wish the pieces were chopped less finely so that there is more chew! Chicken - a little dry for my taste, but the flavour was like eating taiwanese friend chicken!

    Berkshire pork rice bowl, mushroom jook, braised beef bao, egg tart. Drinks from elsewhere, pls ignore

    This is a great little cafe in the Ottawa area serving HK and Chinese style dishes. I tried the Berkshire pork rice bowl, and the braised beef bao, mushroom jook (congee) and the egg tart. I didn't have high expectations for the congee, and it's really quite good, if a little small on the small side. The bao was flavourful and the rice bowl was also good, though I would have preferred proper jasmine rice or a calrose rice instead of broken jasmine rice. The egg tart filling was decent, though the pastry shell needs more work to get it to the right consistency for a flaky crust HK egg tart. Otherwise perhaps a cookie crust base could have been considered for a traditional style HK egg tart. Considering that Chinese restaurants in Ottawa are honestly still more chop suey style this day and age and not more refined as one would find in Vancouver or the GTA, you have to give credit to GongFu Bao for its use of flavours in this setting. I ordered my food for pickup ahead of time, and they were just packing my food when I came to pick up- which is so much nicer than restaurants that simply make the food and let it sit.

    Dawn M.

    Delicious! Split a Brisket Nap and a Fried Chicken Bao. Also had Turducken So I Mau and the slaw. Everything was flavorful and delicious. You order and pay at the front, get a number, find a table and wait for delivery. Service was friendly and knowledgeable. Decor was great for the long space - and very clean. Would I recommend? Yes Would I return? Yes!

    Fried Chicken Bao Buns
    Orenvungi N.

    Fried Chicken Bao Buns are a concept done right at here. Combining a cloud-like bao bun and crispy Taiwanese style salt pepper fried chicken with a dollop of mayo, Gai choy aka sour mustard relish, and fried basil, it results in a deliciously incredible and addicting bao experience. The meat, so moist and tender, is covered in a crunchy and flavourful sweet potato starch, and there's a hint of herbal freshness from the fried basil, which really elevates the fried chicken. Gongfu Bao have definitely mastered the art of their salt pepper fried chicken. I've tried the other bao buns too but this stands out more than the other baos- Pork Belly bao, Braised Brisket bao and Tofu Belly bao. No wonder everyone seemed to rave about it.

    L--R pork belly, brisket, fried chicken baos
    Shira G.

    Yum! Popped in to pick up a few baos for dinner and was pleasantly surprised. I got the fried chicken, brisket, and pork belly. The chicken was my favourite, the green sauce on it is delicious. Next fave for me was brisket, followed by pork belly, but neither was far behind. The restaurant itself is nice too, with a cute patio and plenty of small tables. Will be back for sure!

    three buns with various toppings
    Mimi J.

    I came here with two friends and we all got 3 different baos each. I tried the: Shaoxing pork, racha glazed TVP, and braised brisket. We came at about 7pm so they were out of the fried chicken (one of my friends had the last piece and said it was amazing, so I need to go back and try it)! - Shaoxing pork: super traditional, tender, and really good flavour. - Racha glazed TVP: we all thought there was chicken in this, but it is actually soy! Incredibly hearty and meaty-tasting, I would get this again. - Braised brisket: I don't know how they get their meats so tender, but this one was no exception, and the meaty taste went well with the accompaniments. The interior is really open, and it's fun to see the kitchen at work. It takes a while to wait through the line since it's so popular, but it is worth it! There is some seating inside, but might not be enough if you come during meal times. Overall, super flavorful fillings, soft, fluffy baos, and bumping atmosphere! Will be back for sure. What would make it better is deals on specific baos, or more alcoholic drinks. Their house soda was very good as per one of my friends, so maybe they'll make more flavours!

    Toutiere Eggroll
    Sierra W.

    For starters, this place has a wonderful atmosphere; cozy, intimate and very cafe-like. Modern, casual atmosphere with a touch of industrial vibes. The menu is a little scant, not too many choices if your a picky eater, but they all sound delicious either way. We decided to order the Pork Siu Mai, which comes with three pork dumplings on-top of baked beans, with some chilli crisp. It was delicious - piping hot, beautifully played and the right mixture of perfectly cooked, succulent meat, as well as spices and side. We also decided to order the Tourtiere Eggroll, which was a beef pork and duck egg roll on top of a peach sauce. It was also delicious - the peach sauce is delicious delicious delicious! The eggroll is very good by itself, but the peach makes the dish. We also finally ordered the Daily Bao, which was a grilled cheese sausage. Delicious! Unfortunately couldn't get a snap of the bao, we ate it too quickly. Overall, a total yummy moment. It's pricy but worth it.

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    Superb place for baos and milk tea. The food is really yummy. Great for a quick bite.

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    7 years ago

    Gréât Bao! Get the ´racha glazed TVP and the slaw ( taro chips are great too). Highly recommend for a quick dinner.

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    Hey Kitchen - Hey Kitchen - Chicken Cutlet Omurice with Spicy Curry Sauce

    Hey Kitchen

    4.3(16 reviews)
    1.0 km

    When touring in the Ottawa area, we came over to the Chinatown area and decided to try this…read morerestaurant as they were able to accommodate our party of 8 and had a variety of menu items that could accommodate the group. The staff were so friendly, making small talk with us throughout the meal and helping us fill up our water bottles with hot water. Popcorn Chicken - It was crisp without too much batter and the chicken was still juicy. The spicy mayo on the side was creamy but didn't have much flavor. Sliced Beef Teppan Pepper Rice - I haven't had this type of dish in a while but it was hot and fresh. The meat was soft, the rice had a nice crust and all mixed together with the sweet and savory sauce tied the dish together. Pork & Chive Dumpling Steamed - This reminded me a lot of homemade dumplings with the classic combination of pork and chive. It came out hot and savory which matched with the sweet and sour sauce. House Special Marinate Pork Rib Noodles - I expected this to be very rich but it was light and comforting especially in the cold weather. The meat fell off the bone and was super soft. The soup was slightly meaty and had a nice vegetable flavor. You can choose the type of noodle and our rice noodles were great. We enjoyed getting to try a mix of different dishes and being able to enjoy our meal with the bigger group. A good place to stop by if you're wanting to eat some different Asian dishes in the area.

    Great place for lunch on a very cold January. Chicken cutlet omurice was a stuffed omelette with…read morecurry sauce. A new dish for me. Very interesting. We also had two pho type soups both with a mild request. (Second of 4 spice levels). The beef brisket was great but the pork was way too hot. Good meal but next time I'll add the heat myself.

    Photos
    Hey Kitchen - Interior

    Interior

    Hey Kitchen - Chicken omurice

    Chicken omurice

    Hey Kitchen - More menu 7/4/22

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    More menu 7/4/22

    Hot Star

    Hot Star

    3.8(4 reviews)
    1.5 km

    Hot Star Large Fried Chicken found it's way to Ottawa and that's terrible news for my waist line…read more Came by for lunch and ordered a large piece of fried chicken with a drink, it was some grapefruit soda. There are some options with your chicken, you can get additional powder on it like salt and pepper, spicy, seaweed, etc The place is not open for dine-in and takeout is pretty well setup. Entrance has sanitizer, stickers on the ground to socially distance, shield at the cashier and sanitizer there too. When my order was ready I was off and on my way home to get some lunch. Massive piece of chicken and it didn't get soggy on my walk home but I live pretty close. Chicken was good and I didn't finish it as it was massive. I really liked the grapefruit soda. It tasted like it had basil in it as well and there were a few other flavours that sounded good. I'll come back as they have a pretty large menu like fried chicken, Taiwanese popcorn chicken, chicken wings, Taiwanese corn, fries and many other items.

    DISGUSTING ! ! DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ! !…read more Chicken was cooked in old black oil so where mushrooms. Spoonful of Seaweed in the pop corn chicken combo tasted sour and like a chemical. (I spat it out into a napkin) Spoonful of potato salad was gross and mushy paste. The 3 spring rolls tasted disgusting and had a weird chemical sour taste. The popcorn chicken combo picture shows the portion much larger and 5 spring rolls. What i got was a prisoner meal tray with disgusting food on it and 3 spring rolls. (picture attached) Staff didnt care and laughed it off when i told her that the oil needed to be changed and the food was disgusting. My wife ordered the chicken cutlet which was ok. Her mushrooms were overcooked in old oil My wife is not happy with our lunch date and I have to make it up to her now. Thanks HOT STAR.

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    Hot Star
    Hot Star
    Hot Star

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    Meow Tea - meow meow milk tea

    Meow Tea

    4.2(24 reviews)
    0.6 km

    Ordered a few drinks here late at night. The staff was very friendly and was patient as I waited…read morefor my family to tell me their orders over the phone. I believe they also have board games so it's a nice place to chill and hang out with your friends. I'm not from the area but really wanted bubble tea that night. Glad we stopped by here cause we really enjoyed the drinks. The tea was very fragrant and had a nice flavour to it. The only downside is they forgot the toppings for one of the drinks (didn't realize until later on when we got back to our hotel). Other than that, I would definitely try their other drinks if I'm ever around the area. They also offer snacks.

    Overall: A // 5 stars…read more Pleasant tea shop in the vibrant food scene of Ottawa. I liked the touches of Asian decor in the shop, from the claw machines to the Giant boba piece. Their menu offers a refreshing take on a variety of fruit teas, milk teas, and coffee offerings, including the Meow Meow Fruit Tea which I opted for. Although I could not say the name with a straight face, I like the blend of fruit in this as there were clear notes of citrus, passionfruit, and kiwi that made this an enjoyable and palatable drink. The cup is also quite cute. Would recommend. Food: +1 Presentation: +1 Price: E Atmosphere: +1 Service: E Menu: +1 Overall: 5 stars Insta/Beli/Yelp/TikTok: @amei_eats

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    Meow Tea - Benches along the wall with playful kitties :3

    Benches along the wall with playful kitties :3

    Meow Tea - Brown sugar boba milk

    Brown sugar boba milk

    Meow Tea - Menu

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    Menu

    Tiger Sugar

    Tiger Sugar

    4.1(9 reviews)
    7.5 km

    BOGO Fresh Mango Green Tea!…read more Snatched an awesome BOGO deal last night on the way to a game night with colleagues, perfect for the 6 of us, all in for $22.52. You know it's freshly made when you can taste the mango pieces in the drink, made with the perfect amount of sweetness as customized!

    Today was my first time going into Tiger Sugar on Merivale (or any Tiger Sugar for that matter)…read more The vibe of the place was cool and it was surprisingly empty during lunch rush hour. There was only one employee working and she was friendly and quick to put together my order. The menu is expansive so be prepared to spend a couple of minutes deciding what you want. I ended up ordering three bubble teas to go: 1. Lychee Bursting Boba Black Tea 2. Tiger Cheese Strawberry 3. Tiger Mango Sago I added extra boba to all of the bubble teas and my order came to around $30, which is a bit pricey for bubble tea. I got home to my family and we all shook our bubble tea as instructed by the employee before trying them. All of them were tasty, but not super memorable or something we would absolutely need to go have again. The mango one had chunks of fruit in it, but they tasted more like peaches than mango. The strawberry cheese one tasted like strawberry cheesecake and had a saltiness to it. Overall, the bubble teas were good, but we feel like we have had better elsewhere for the amount of money we paid for it.

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    Tiger Sugar
    Tiger Sugar - Black sugar mochi & strawberry mochi, regular size

    Black sugar mochi & strawberry mochi, regular size

    Tiger Sugar

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    Gongfu Bao - chinese - Updated May 2026

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