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    Happy Bao's

    4.2 (749 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 8:30 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Happy Bao's Takeout or Delivery

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    HAPPY BAO'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Happy Bao's

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    28. Beef Chow Fun
    Bill W.

    We saw this place on Check Please and thought it looked great. The place was small and casual but nice. The service was very good. The food on the other hand was just fair. We ordered the Beef Chow Fun and Pork Sheng Jian Bow. The beef came first. The noodles were overcooked and the beef was fair but sparse. Especially $19. It could have used a bit more flavor as well. It was mostly oil and soy. It was tender and not fatty or stringy. The bao. They looked wonderful on the plate. The bao bread was actually the best part of the Bao. The meat filling was pretty bland and dry. Most good Bao while not juicy like a dumpling or soup dumpling are at least moist, tender and have a bit of juice. The value. $35 before tax and tip puts this very low on my value meter. Close to $45 all in could get 3 people a pretty good lunch special at most Chinese restaurants in town.

    Tam N.

    Loved it! Came here with a larger group, about 8 of us so we were seated at the tables outside the restaurant. The inside isn't big so we were happy they were able to accommodate us somewhere so we could sit together. The food came out promptly and was so good! The XLB was so flavorful. The portions and prices were also pretty good. They continued to check on us and refilled our waters throughout the service. I would highly recommend!

    Xiao Long Bao (8pc)
    Ken R.

    This is an awesome spot to get happy with bao, soup dumplings, and more. This location is within Mekong Plaza, a little Mecca of Asian food in Mesa. It's a very small place so at busy times you may have to wait for a table. Yet, the wait is worth it. You can also order to go and order large larger quantities of their product, frozen to take with you and make it home. We come to this place as often as we can, even though we live quite a distance away.

    19. Sheng Jian Bao Combo (6Pcs)
    Paul S.

    Saw some videos about Happy Bao's on social media and found ourselves in the area so we stopped in to try it out. Menu is massive. Everything sounded amazing. Tried the bar bun combo, wontons in spicy chili oil and the hot and sour noodle soup. Only regret was that we couldn't try more. Spice levels were on point. Flavor was exceptional. Large portions. Zero complaints!

    14. Chicken Xiao Long Bao (8Pc)
    Carissa B.

    Honestly not sure what the hype is about this place. Overall the food was meh and that doesn't say much. We stopped in and placed an order to go so we could sit at the food court. They don't allow outside drinks and we had our boba teas with us. We tried their spicy chili dumplings, chicken xiao long bao and beef chow fun. The spicy chili dumplings were all spice and no flavor. The filling inside lacked any depth to it, all I tasted was pork. Definitely need to up their game and include some flavor in their meats. The chicken xiao long bao were decent soup dumplings. The chicken had more flavor and the broth was tasty. Definitely wasn't the best I have had, but not the worst. The beef chow fun was inedible. Not sure what they put in it or how it's cooked, but it had a weird smell to it. It was so off putting and I could smell it through the take out bag. Couldn't put my finger on the cause, but it ruined the dish. My wife also felt the beef was a cheap cut, you could tell from the texture.

    Nina W.

    Take out review! I ordered via DoorDash though you can order in front of their shop on the iPad. I got the chicken dumplings and the braised pork rice. Chicken dumplings: Dry and chewy. Not good. Wouldn't recommend. Braised pork rice: The flavor was good and the pork was tender but wish they gave a little bigger portion of rice and meat. The other reason I give it 2 stars is because of the lack of care when it came to packaging the order. They included no utensils and no sauce for the dumplings. Not only that, they didn't wrap it tight so the sauce of the pork rice spilled all over the bag when I opened it up. Maybe you'll have a better dine in experience.

    Menu
    Christopher T.

    Lunch on a busy Saturday afternoon. The place was very crowded, but everything moved quickly. We sat outside (which is a table inside the mall, but outside the restaurant itself). The menu has plenty of options from dumplings to bao to rice to veggies. We opted from a variety of place of bao, Chinese broccoli, and Honey ribs. All the dishes were really good! The bao are chewy on the top and crispy on the bottom. The honey ribs were delicious! Yes, they are small pieces of rib with bones, but the bones are easily removed. I actually dipped my bao dough in the remaining honey rib sauce. So good! The Chinese broccoli was a nice offset to the meat of the other dishes. There are a variety of sauces you can get on the veggies. Spicy garlic was very good. N*joy!

    $60 combo, not everything is out yet
    Gretel Y.

    Happy Baos truly make me happy! They're my family's go-to for delicious baos and authentic Chinese food, and they've never let us down. Over the past few years, we've tried several different items and have enjoyed everything, but our favorites are XLB, vegetable shen jian bao, and Singapore rice noodle. The food is always super tasty and fresh. The portions are big enough to share, and the prices won't break the bank. They also have combo deals for two, four, or more people, which are a great deal if you're not too picky! Happy Baos is located inside Mekong Plaza near the food court. The space is cozy, but there's ample seating inside and outside of their space, but fills up quickly. They now have a device outside for placing to-go orders, making it more convenient to get your hands on their delicious baos!

    Dan Dan noodles
    Sam H.

    Haven't been here in awhile and decided to meet up with a friend for a late lunch. We order the Xia Long baos, beef chow fun and spicy wontons. We were immediately greeted by a nice gentleman. Then a friendly & professional lady brought our water and took our order. This has always been a small store front with a few tables just outside the store front. Everything was clean and we arrived just in time to get a table inside. Our food was prepared, cooked and seasoned well. I would definitely return.

    shrimp and pork dumplings, fried rice, beef chow fun  beef chow fun, 21. Beef Noodle Soup, 4. Honey Sauce Ribs, Bok Choy

    I ordered takeout from Happy Bao and was amazed at the food and service. Happy Bao is a must visit if you are in the Phoenix area and like Chinese food. A wonderful char on the meats.

    19. Sheng Jian Bao Combo (6Pcs)
    Cherry M.

    This spot is so delicious I can see why it went viral. You can absolutely tell the time and quality they put into their food. Happy Bao's is located in the Mekong Plaza which is basically a mall. They have all kinds of cool shops and places to eat along with a huge grocery store. We visited on a Wednesday night about 630pm and were able to get a table right away. However it is a small restaurant and very popular. While we were there a line formed outside for those waiting to be seated. It's worth the wait! Their food is very authentic and fresh. The quality is apparent and the bao's were a work of delicious art. I personally ordered the Pork Wonton Noodle and it was amazing. The broth was super flavorful and the wontons were perfect. I also tasted the Egg Fried Rice, which was some of the best I ever had. I'll definitely be returning to Happy Bao and would like to try some of the other spots in Mekong Plaza!

    22. Spicy Beef Noodle Soup
    Kimmy M.

    The photo from internet is def not real. The beef noodle soup was not hot enough and the Xiao Long Bao was warm only. They gave you a lot of meat for the beef noodle soup and noodles is overcooked.

    HanNa P.

    First time. This restaurant was in a asian area of Mesa from what we saw. Inside was small. We got the Xiao Long Bao, Dan Dan, and House Fried Rice. Everything was very good. I will say the Xiao's dumpling peel was a bit too thin. But all flavors were yummy. Service was nice as well. Private lot in front

    21. Beef Noodle Soup

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    Great food, great service, great menu for small place. This place is always busy and after you go, you will know why!

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    Happy Bao's Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Happy Bao's

    Do they do pan fried dumplings?

    Do you cook with msg?

    Hi Hailey, We don't cook with MSG. We hope to see you soon!

    Do you hand pull fresh noodles there?

    Yes we have fresh egg noodles made daily.

    Do you make baio without pork?

    Yes we have chicken Sheng Jian bao and vegetable Sheng Jian bao.

    Are you able to make the dumplings without egg, something like a vegetable dumpling?

    Hello, sorry we do not have a vegetable dumpling as of right now.

    Random question but can you order dandan over rice instead of over noodles? I love the sauce but prefer it with rice

    Yes! You can! Just let the servers know. We don’t recommend it but if you prefer it that way we can do it.

    Can any of the rice noodle dishes be made gluten free or without soy sauce?

    Hello! Yes we can make the rice noodle dishes with gluten and soy sauce. We hope to see you soon!

    Do you have any vegan options?

    Yes, we do have some vegan options. The liang pi, vegetable chow fen, vegetable rice noodle soup, and you can order the vegetable fried rice and stir fry rice noodle without the egg as well.

    Do they use MSG?

    No we do not use MSG.

    Do you serve beer and wine?

    Sorry we do not serve beer and wine but we do have a BYOB license so you are welcome to bring your own.

    Do they have pescatarian dumpling and bao option?

    Hello, we do not have a pescatarian dumpling and bao option. We have a seafood bao that also contains pork mixed with crab inside. Sorry, we will look into adding some in the future.

    Do they veggie dumpling and bao options? The veggie bao has chicken broth per the menu

    Hello, We have a veggie dumpling that has green chives and eggs inside. As for the bao, we do offer… 

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    If you blink, you might drive right past this little bar and grill, as it's set back offv the road…read moresnuggled up next to a bigger building. There is plenty of bar space if you're popping in for a drink.. of course, the actual bar that runs along the shelves of liquor, and there is also a bar on the other side of a roll-up door, perfect for people who come with dogs. There's also a bar space that runs along the window that separates the small dining room and the patio. There are a few tables inside as well as some bigger tables on the patio. The patio is nice with lots of shrubs right outside the rail. The murals on the wall are pretty darn cool - - they're like enlarged historic photos of the area. I love them! And I'm not sure who's giant face is hanging on the ceiling but it's short a spark conversation. The menu here has a little something for everyone. There's the regular loaded fries and wings, salads, and a nice election burgers. We ordered the Philly Salad and the Very Summer Salad with a side order of fries. They make their own ranch, and it is good. I will say they don't seem to skim on salad ingredients either - - the Philly salad was covered with shaved beef, and my berry salad had a lot of chicken and tons of blue cheese. The fries were delicious - - slightly seasoned and crispy. This place is clearly dog friendly. In fact the day we went there was a sweet Pitbull named Daisy who literally hopped up on a bar stool and sat there like a little angel the entire time. The bar had a dog full of water that they sat down on the counter next to her owner's beer. They also have dog biscuits to give. It made my day to see that sweet little dog hanging at the bar having a treat. This really is kind of a spot that feels like it's probably the hangout spot of many people. Great bar food and a good selection of beers. What's not to love?

    Hubby & I had dinner here last Friday. The restaurant was not what we expected…read more It is much smaller than we thought. They have the roll up windows /doors open. They did have misters for some of the outdoor seating. We were able to find a table inside. You go up to the bar to place drink & food orders. The staff were friendly & helpful. The music was loud. Hubby got a beer & I got Tito's & cranberry juice. Hubby got the wings & onion rings. I got the Create Your Own Burger without tomato. The drinks were good. Hubby loved the wings. The onion rings were good. The burger was excellent! I don't know what they do different, but it was really good. The fries were good too. I'm not sure that we will be back since it's a bit of a haul for us.

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    Rice Bowl with chicken
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    Republica Empanada

    Republica Empanada

    4.4
    (1.1k reviews)
    2.9 mi
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    7/28/26 First visit…read more Parking 5/5 Arrived at ~ 12:30 and parking was available in the Postage Stamp size lot. Glad I arrived when I did because several groups came in after seating myself. It looks like street parking and adjacent businesses have spaces which might be available otherwise. Atmosphere 3/5 Although I enjoyed the artwork, this is essentially a small fast food like restaurant. Very small dining room with awful acoustics. Guests of more than two bring the conversation level fairly high and the group of five who arrived behind me had the place uncomfortably loud. It reminded me of my ASU Chuck Box days. Service 4/5 Being my first visit I wish there could have been more time to have the Menu selections explained. I defaulted to my order takers recommendations. As it turned out those suggestions were nice. Food 5/5 I choose the Arroz Con Pollo Jalapeño & Ham popper Empanada Sopa Verde The Aaroz Con Pollo was unique, fresh and delicious. Interesting creation with exciting flavors. I would order this again. Great portion. The Jalapeños & Ham popper Empanada was on the small side when compared to Mexican bakeries I purchased them at. That said the selections here are many and unique! Mine was outstanding. The Jalapeño popper and ham in their perfectly cooked pastry complimented each other so well, I was not disappointed with this recommendation and would order this again! Sopa Verde was a great portion. It included premium garden vegetables including spinach, rice, alvacado, peas, fresh white chicken meat and a salsa verde that added another flavor. This was a wonderful palette treat and another item I would order again. For me Food is this restaurants strong point. Atmosphere driven by acoustics not as much. Looking for something unique, try República Empanada my friends-SYOY!

    Perfect spot after a museum visit! I stopped by with friends after spending time at the Mesa Arts…read moreCenter. The staff members were incredibly kind and welcoming, they let me sit down at a table while I waited for the rest of my group to show up. The restaurant has a nice restroom where you can freshen up, too. The food was so yummy! We ordered some authentic dishes, and finished with the sweet empanada with cream for dessert, which was easily the best choice. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in the area!

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    Biscuit Freaks

    Biscuit Freaks

    4.3
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    Biscuit Freaks at the Gilbert Farmers Market absolutely delivered! I tried The OG, and it was…read moreeverything I didn't know I needed that early in the morning--buttery, flaky biscuits stacked with bold, comforting flavors that hit every craving at once. The portion was generous, the layers were stacked just right, and the textures? Perfect. Crispy where it should be, soft where you want it, and packed with flavor in every bite. You can tell they take their biscuit game seriously. The vibes were fun, the service was fast and friendly, and you can smell the goodness before you even get to the front of the line. If you're a biscuit lover (or just a fan of breakfast that slaps), Biscuit Freaks is a must-try. Come hungry, you'll leave full and happy.

    An overdue review by a couple of months but we were at the Gilbert Farmer's Market and there were…read moreseveral food trucks offering food so we decided to try Biscuit Freaks. Their menu includes lots of options including vegetarian ones, which made the wife happy. They also offer both savory and sweet biscuit choices. I ordered the Freaky Sandwich which was scrambled eggs, bacon, cheese, and hashbrowns between a scratch made biscuit. I asked for the gravy on the side because I'm not a gravy fan. I also pulled the bacon off the sandwich because again, I love bacon but it has to be super crispy or else I can't deal with it. The overall sandwich was "ok". I liked the biscuit, albeit a tad dry but nice buttery flavor. Egg was overcooked for my liking and overall it was an ok sandwich. The gravy I tasted but it was thick and way too gooey which is exactly why I had it on the side...not my cup of tea. Wife ordered the Veggie Fuego, which had a green chili biscuit that was topped with soyrizo, eggs, tomato, jalapeno, cheese, a veggie gravy with a drizzle of sour cream. This dish was better than the sandwich. She enjoyed it. There was a line but service was good and they are efficient and friendly.

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    Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken - Mesa

    Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken - Mesa

    4.5
    (663 reviews)
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    Location: Near downtown Mesa Parking: Street parking with a…read moreshort walk to the front door Size of Party: Looked to be about 20 tables that could seat 4 per table - they would combine tables if your party is larger Service: Solid throughout visit - greeted and sat quickly, thorough explanation of menu, attentive to refill needs, and food takes 15-20 minutes because they cook the chicken after you order it Menu: Concise and focused on what they do best - chicken - couple of appetizer options and standard side options with fried chicken Taste: Overall good flavor with all dishes I tried - fried pickles, chicken sandwich, and fries Recommend: Good pick for when you are in the mood for fried chicken and an easy going ambiance

    If you've never tried Gus's fried chicken and you better get over there quick. It has its own…read moreprocess for making the crispiest juiciest chicken around. Be careful if you're sensitive to heat because it does have a little spice kick to it. It's expertly cooked and we all liked it. I had a side of the fried okra which was second to none and some turnip greens that I relished. Gus's has a pleasant atmosphere and is nestled in an old warehouse I believe. The weight staff is attentive and it comes by very often to make sure you have everything you need. The place was clean and hospitable we will be returning.

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    Very nice clean restaurant with the best chicken
    Very nice clean restaurant with the best chicken
    2 piece white meat with potato salad and cole slaw and a frosted mug beer!
    2 piece white meat with potato salad and cole slaw and a frosted mug beer!
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    3.1
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    Service was good. The waitresses were nice and friendly and took our orders quickly…read more The restaurant itself was nice and country theme. The decor was fun to look at and the store front was fun to explore. The food was mid. Kids got scramble eggs and regular hashbrown (which has an up charge. Not sure why regular hashbrowns will cost more but it's fine) and mini pancakes & bacon. They enjoyed it & it was a good size for them. For the adults...Not sure if the chef was having a bad day or not but everything seemed overly salted. I got the steak and eggs and the steak was super seasoned and had more salt than expected on it. Don't get me wrong, when it came out, it looked amazing but fell short when I ate it. After a few bites, I was more thirsty than anything. The ham on the breakfast platter my husband ordered was not edible because it was salty as heck. The sausage patty was ok and edible. The hashbrown casserole was ok too. The biscuit and cornbread seemed salty too when we tried it. I'm not sure if that's how it's supposed to taste but yeah, way too much sodium in my opinion. The pancakes were ok. The only cute thing about the pancakes were the warm bottles of maple syrup it came with. Super adorable for sure! We also ordered mimosas and it was good. Overall, not sure if we'll come back but glad we tried it.

    Last time I went to this restaurant a few years ago I swore I wouldn't go back. I should have…read morelistened to myself. The quality of the food is not good. It tastes like it was made in a factory, frozen and then reheated when the order was placed. The service was subpar. The server brought the food and only came by to give us the check. Didn't refill our water, didn't ask if we needed anything else.

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    Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que

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    3.5
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    1.6 mi
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    This is one of my favorite places to have group lunch we had 15 people today and Brando took…read morewonderful care of us. He has been there 16 years that says something, he also took care of us last time we were there for our hangout!!! The lunch menu has a wonderful variety of items at reasonable prices. Something for everyone's budget. That goes for food and drinks! Happy hour is just as good and we hung out long enough to enjoy both menus! Close to the 202 and 101 Plenty of parking Lots of entertainment, shopping and cafes nearby! recommend You can even make reservations on line

    Haven't done a review in a while then Yelp popped up on my phone asking to do a review so here goes…read more- Ah Famous Dave's. This is a classic example of how quality of service can make or break return visits. First off, their food is great! Pulled pork is on point paired with their spicy pickles and Devil's Spit BBQ sauce. Throw in a side of their firecracker green beans with corn bread and you're eating good! I used to frequent Famous Dave's all the time. Until. I would say it's been 3 years since I walked through their doors in Mesa, AZ. Wasn't crazy busy and as usual, I walked past the crowd waiting for their tables and went into the bar and took a seat. The manager came over and told me, "next time wait until you're called before sitting down". I responded, "even when sitting up at the bar?" He stomped away. That's when things got weird. No visits from the bar tender, no visits from the staff. It's like I had a scarlet letter on my forehead. I just sat there. I didn't call anyone over. I wanted to see if my suspicion was correct. Was I being punished for not following the rules. (although every establishment I've ever been to, waiting to sit is for the restaurant side of the house). Back and forth, servers were bringing out hot meals all around me. After 15-20 minutes, I eventually got up and made my way to the door. That's when the manager rushed over and began apologizing and asking me to come back and sit down, he'd make sure I would be taken care of. Told him no thanks, he's lost my business. Like I said, it's been 3 years. If you get served, enjoy the food. I'm sure you will! Just don't break their rules or you're going to sit in the corner and be made an example of. What do you think? In your experience is the bar area generally open seating? Am I being too critical here? Should I go back?

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    Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que
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    Asian Cafe Express

    Asian Cafe Express

    4.3
    (805 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Located in the Asian District of Mesa, Asian Cafe Express is a true dive in a strip mall next to…read moreH-Mart. They were highlighted in the Phoenix Magazine years ago. For years I have driven 25 minutes for takeout and never regretted it. High decor -No, limited selections -No, quiet -No, great food -Absolutely, incredibly friendly and pleasant staff -100%. Our typical order is a large General Chicken with extra sauce and Malaysian fun chow. The general chicken is perfectly breaded, deliciously flavored, slight bite and an uncious taste making you want more. The Malaysian fun chow has wok fried wide rice noodles with a hint of char, shrimp, bean sprouts,onions, veggies and a light but savory taste. Another home run! Don't let the exterior or inside decor persuade your judgement. Hands down the staff is second to none and the food is fabulous. Asian Cafe Express is an incredible value for the food quality and portion size. Trust me, if you give them a shot, you will also be ordering here for years. To the staff, fabulous job and thanks!

    A Mesa Asian District Gem Worth Seeking Out…read more Asian Cafe Express is a lovely strip mall gem near H-Mart in Mesa's Asian District, and after 21 years in business, it clearly has a loyal following for good reason. We brought in a fresh lobster from H-Mart to try their "bring your own seafood" cooking option and chose the garlic onion stir fry preparation. It's $14.99 for anything under 2 lbs and $7.50/lbs for anything over. It came out excellent, served over crispy egg noodles with classic Asian flavors and plenty of wok-fired goodness. We also enjoyed the Peking pork ribs, which were deboned, tasty, and slightly sweet; the stir-fried green beans, which were fresh and well prepared; and the garlic spicy chicken wings, which were especially flavorful and highly recommended. The red bean drinks were traditional and satisfying, with soft, nicely soaked mung beans and no milk. Service was friendly, efficient, and personal, handled by a couple of ladies who clearly know the restaurant and their customers well. While we were there, plenty of regulars came in for takeout and several tables were happily dining in. Overall, we really enjoyed Asian Cafe Express and were surprised we had not stopped in sooner. Highly recommend, especially for the "bring your own seafood" cooking option and the garlic spicy wings. We will definitely be back.

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    House Lo Mein Noodles

    Happy Bao's - chinese - Updated August 2026

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