The Bao is a modern Asian restaurant and cocktail bar in the heart of Clayton, MO. Dimly-lit, this small restaurant space delivers on big flavor. The menu consists of asian-fusion steamed buns, rice bowls, and udon noodles. Our favorite bao buns are the Fried Chicken, Wagyu, and especially the Bangkok Chicken. Their bar encompasses a significant amount of the space offering craft cocktails and a wide selection of premium spirits including soju and sake. We stopped in after running an errand in Clayton and found out it's Clayton Restaurant week. Their Restaurant Week menu was a great deal of 4 courses at $39 including your selection of 3 bao buns to try. Unfortunately we did not have big enough of an appetite to order the Restaurant Week menu but did partake in their happy hour when a selection of cocktails are $10. Their happy hour is Sun-Thurs 4-6 with specials on wine, sake, beer, and select bao buns and snacks. Service is always polite and brief here to allow for a relaxing, and possibly romantic, dining experience. Although a smaller restaurant, they are able to accommodate larger reservations by pushing tables together. Can't wait to go back and try the rest of their menu! read more

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I got the Khao Soi Udon with steamed tofu, and it was pretty good! The sauce was tasty and had a good consistency, but I just found it to be a bit too salty. Portion size was generous! And noodle texture was good. I wish they had baos that weren't fried! Would love to try some of those. Service was quick, and it wasn't busy on a Tuesday night. Server was kind :) read more

the BAO - Khao Soi Udon with steamed tofu - Asian Fusion Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

Recently came here for lunch with my little family. We try to avoid coming down to Clayton bc parking can be horrendous but it was in our favor. Walking in, you seat yourself at any available table and there's a QR menu to view. A server eventually comes around to take the order, and then bring it out. Service was okay, maybe a bit cold? The food was pretty good for the value so I think lunch here is the way to go if you want baos. My husband said the actual bao was okay, but I guess I wasn't focused on the bread and more on the filling. I loved the tofu bao - I think that was my favorite. The Green Thai Jasmine was also lovely! I'd love to come back to try the ramen especially the matcha-fied version! Very chill inside tho! read more

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What a LOVELY ambiance, and the food doesn't break the bank! It looks upscale inside, but you use a QR code to get the menu, and most everything is very reasonably priced. My mom was having a hard time picking what to eat and our waiter was really good about helping her decide. Here's what we tried: -Kimchi Wagyu Bao: 6/10 - Did not meet expectations. The meat was good but it kind of just tasted like normal burger meat. I couldn't taste the kimchi much and I couldn't get any truffle to come through either. Unfortunately would definitely not spend your stomach space on this one. -Soft Shell Crab Bao: 8/10 - What a beautiful presentation. You get a full fried crab, and it's crispy to the max. The sauce on this bao is also a BIG winner for me. -Gyudon: 8/10 - The egg on top was soft (I might've liked it a bit runnier to act as a sauce), and the beef and caramelized onions are so savory and rich. The bowl comes with a lot of rice so I left half of it at the end, but the richness of the meat makes it all taste great. -Szechuan Udon: 8/10 - The broth was SOOOO spicy, but that's just how we wanted it. The portion is good and the noodles are thick and delicious. read more

the BAO - GYUDON ( Sliced Beef ) - Asian Fusion Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

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I'd heard so much about this place and had been dying to try it, so it pains me to say I won't be back. I'll start with the good. The ambiance and music were easily the best part of the night, and our drinks were great. The tuna nachos were a real highlight too. We genuinely enjoyed the first part of our meal. Then came the baos, and that's where things fell apart. The fries arrived cold, the baos were just okay, and the crab bao tasted fishy in a way crab never should. After that we waited a very long time just to get our bill. The worst part came after we left. I felt sick almost immediately, and by the time we got home, the entire night was ruined. We spent the rest of it sick and stuck in the bathroom. Everything I ate came out the other end. So its unfortunate that something we ate really upset us. I really wanted to love this place. The vibe and drinks show what it could be, but I can't recommend it after a night like that. read more

the BAO - Kakuni Bowl (Pork Belly), Wagyu & Bacon, Softshell Soft Shell Crab BAO - Asian Fusion Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

The food was really good, I got the pork rice bowl, the yaki noodles with pork and the honey popcorn chicken. You have to try at least once. read more

the BAO - K Kakuni Bowl (Pork Belly) - Asian Fusion Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

Yummy udon and authentic dishes. Great for a date night or catching up with a friend! Loved the interior decor and vibe--takes you into a new and refreshing environment upon entering. The staff were friendly and helpful. I was pleasantly surprised at the variety of drink and cocktail options outside of the food! I recommend the edamame--it's not overly spicy but it's a nice flavor change of standard edamame. I really enjoyed the soup udon with tofu. Also loved that there were pictures on the menu for most all food items! read more

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So lets start here, I went here for Clayton Restaurant Week. I wasn't excited to go but my friend she wanted to try it. It was one of the COLDEST days of the year like 5 degrees out. We had reservations but it was so cold we went early praying that they had open seating. We were in luck the bar was open. Inside it was swanky, I liked the aesthetic. if you are looking for a place that's ultra private, this isnt it. but it would be an awesome date night. The bartender was welcoming and open. I was enthralled as they made the cocktails. They answered random questions and helped us picked something for our palate. I had the Paloma (Palo-Ho-HO-Ma) it was AMAZING!!!!!!!!! i mean like go just to get one of those. Then i had the sweet chili popcorn tofu. That was also good. Next I had Tom Kha. Refreshing spicy creamy soup. almost licked the bowl. Then i chose three different bao sandwiches. chicken, the pork belly, and the shrimp tempura. All the sandwiches were great, but after all the food i ate i was so full i couldn't appreciate them like they deserved. Now all the food AND the drink was for $40.00 You see I gave them 5 stars. I usually don't do that and this was my first time at the establishment. The food was so good that I started talking to the persons next to me at the bar and looking at their food selection. I will definitely be back . Are you still reading this, why aren't you in the car driving there yet. read more

Some of the best udon I've had and bao were really good too! Great spot for a date night with low lighting and great cocktails. The team is always very nice here and service is quick read more

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This was a great place to eat. The ambiance is really nice and the service was really good. The food was excellent. We went there for lunch and we had egg rolls and octopus balls. The egg roll was one of the best I ever had. The bao burgers were great. My favorite was a soft shell bao. I will definitely visit this place again. read more

the BAO - Egg rolls and octopus ball - Asian Fusion Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

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Truly, I love the Bao. It's a good go to for dinner cause it's nice but not gonna break the bank. Also the food options are great! They have so many delicious plates to choose from it's always a struggle narrowing it down. Pro tip: try the lychee martini ;) The service is always great and. I love the ambiance. Definitely coming back :) read more

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I have ordered from the Bao a few times for delivery but finally made it in person for happy hour this week! I do not have a single bad word to say about this place. I have never tried anything that wasn't delicious! I've had a few of the Bao in the past, including the hot chicken, teriyaki bacon, fried chicken and a few others, all of which are delicious! I also love the fries and the sauce they gave us with the fries. Happy hour prices and service was great! It wasn't too busy and the deals were good. We asked which chicken was the best and they recommended a combo of yuzu and Korean which was SO good, I could've eaten 3 plates of them! We also loved the spring rolls and the gyoza. Our waiter was really nice and helpful! Drinks were also super good and pretty strong which I always love. I also loved the little light on the table had two settings which helped provide much better lighting for the food if you want :) The restaurant wasn't that busy and I don't know if it's super popular, but it SHOULD BE! This is now one of my favorite go-tos. Do not skip The Bao! read more

the BAO - Yuzu and Korean flavor popcorn chicken (combo!); Steamed Gyoza; Spring Rolls (v) - Asian Fusion Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

I had sworn I had been to this place BUT when we went in, I had no recollection. Regardless, I'm glad we "tried" it again because WOW. First of all, I LOVE a good porn star martini and basically no one serves them in the area. Who doesn't love passion fruit and vodka? I do. And they made a perfect one. I could have had like 10, but then I would have been wasted...and I wanted to enjoy the meal. Regardless, get one. Then the food. The bao meal comes with a drink which if I wasn't drinking martinis, they have thai tea. Which is my second fav drink on the earth. So yeah, starting out strong. The food. We started with the gyoza "pizza" and it was so fun and unique and SO DELICIOUS. Honestly, I just want one of those for dinner sometimes. My husband and I split 3 different baos and the were all so delicious - pork belly, fried chicken, and waygu beef. They all has some incredible sauces/flavors that married well...all unique and all great. The fries were crispy and delicious. My husband also got one of the appetizer soups and he was a huge fan. Their menu is big, so it's really hard to choose what you want. We're usually huge noodle people, but we really wanted to try the bao the first time and no regrets. It was all fantastic. We will absolutely be back to try some of their other menu options. read more

Everything tasted great! service was a little slow as there was only one waitress that night. Didn't mind the delayed service too much since the food definitely compensated. Definitely one of my top 10's in st. louis read more

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Had a fantastic lunch at The BAO in Clayton! We ordered the Spicy Szechuan Tofu Bao, Vegan Mushroom Bao, and Seaweed Salad -- each dish was flavorful and satisfying. The tofu bao had a nice kick, the mushroom bao was hearty, and the seaweed salad was fresh and light. The ambiance was modern and inviting, with a cozy yet stylish vibe. Service was attentive and friendly, making for a pleasant dining experience. read more

Lovely service by the staff (though they do make you wait a bit). They gave us free non-alcoholic shots towards the end of the night, which was nice). The Bao Buns with tofu and the Bao Buns with meat was worth it (though I wish they would add more sauce to the tofu and I wish the edamame was a little more tasty. The mocktails were worth it, though and the fries are delicious! Would probably come back again. read more

the BAO - Free non-alcoholic shots - Asian Fusion Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

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The Bao is one of my favorite spots in STL and I realized I love it even more in the winter. I was freezing and that Soups were hugs to my body and soul. We got the Tom Yum soup and the Tom Kha Ga soup! So goood! Warmed me up right away! All their food was packed with flavor and delicious! Other faves: * Their Baos (so soft) * Larb Gai * Ka Soi * Udon * Gyoza Dumplings * Karaage (I forgot the exact name they call it here, but it's like their popcorn chicken) As soon as you walk in, you will notice high ceilings, well set up bar to the right and a high top long table to the right for large parties. They also have small tables for smaller groups. Street parking (free after 5pm) Gender neutral bathroom read more

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Ordered Bao, fries, and udon for a late night dinner. I'd come back and try more baos. Here's the breakdown. Bao buns were perfect and yummy. The fries were amazing with the aioli. Teriyaki Bacon bao - bacon was super thin and well cooked. Our least fav. pretty much tastes like bacon. Kakuni - Our fav. Good kimchi and pork belly flavor with good texture. Gangnam - Fried chicken was great with good flavors but almost overpowering. Udon - The yuzu broth was the best part - light and summer like flavor. Katsu tofu was well cooked but the noodles were soggy. Udon noodles should have tha chewy texture with good mouthfeel. read more

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Food was great but bao was a bit small. I had the pork belly bao and khao soi with tofu. It was delicious, bite, fresh and flavorful .

Date night at The Bao was the kind of dinner that turns into a full experience. From the first bite, every dish felt bold, flavorful, and perfectly shareable -- which is exactly our date night style. The popcorn chicken and tuna nachos were to DIE for and bao buns were soft, packed with flavor, and honestly the star of the table. We found ourselves ordering a mix to try everything, and not a single plate missed. The vibe inside is cozy but modern, making it easy to settle in and stay awhile. It's the kind of spot where you're talking, tasting, and losing track of time in the best way. If you're looking for a place that feels fun, different, and guaranteed to impress, this is it. Safe to say, this one's officially added to our favorite date night rotation. read more

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ome girlfriends and I went out to eat here because it was new to us. We were quickly seated, but then had to wait a while before we were addressed. That was a bummer. However, I will tell you that Eddie turned it around. He was incredible. Sure, normally wait staff will tell you "oh yes great choice" so I asked if he would actually tell us if things were bad. Now, he didnt say anything was bad, but he did say he felt this other dish was better than what a person ordered because it had more flavor and yada yada. A honest man. Love to see that. Japanese Curry = Little spicy, but great flavor. Yum. Wagyu and bacon bao = amazing. Get it. Pork belly boa = a little dry, bummer. Fried shrimp boa = good. Fries = 100/10. Perfectly crispy. Amazing. Also a little thing, but the light on table had three different settings and I just really appreciated that. Treat yourself to this small restaurant tucked away in Clayton and go visit by boy Eddie. read more

Vibes were definitely vibin (I can't believe I used this term) but The Bao has a nice, cozy feel to it as soon as you enter. I wish I was able to try their other signature drinks besides the drink of the night (can't recall what it's called but it was something with Bangkok. The food was also good, especially enjoyed the beignets (although I don't think it's in their regular menu). The owners were super nice and friendly too! Would definitely come again and try everything else! read more

the BAO - Asian Fusion Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

My friend and I had a lovely time at The BAO. I had been once before for a Yelp Elite event and was excited to visit again! We made a reservation online and were seated upon arrival. The space feels cozy and intimate with low lighting and dark furnishings. There are several seating options from bar seating, to high top tables for larger groups, to low top seating. We had a cozy table for two by the bar. We started out with some drinks. I had a Mojito which was not my favorite to be honest. It was very tart and strong, with a very large mint garnish. My friend had the Not your usual latte with vanilla vodka, Thai coffee, Irish cream, and honey. I tried it and loved it, so I ordered one later! It was similar to an espresso martini, but not as strong/bitter. It was creamy and smoky (they torched the top of the drink). I would definitely order again! For food, we ordered the mala popcorn chicken and baos. The popcorn chicken was super flavorful, but quite spicy! It was crispy and tangy with a kick. I ordered a crispy shrimp bao. I assumed that my order would come with two or three baos, but it only came with one. For $7.99 I thought it was a little small. It was good, but could maybe use some more bao sauce, as it was a bit dry. I love the atmosphere at The BAO and it would be a super nice date night spot! I highly recommend the Not your usual latte and the popcorn chicken. I will be back to try more items on the menu! read more

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Still delivering delicious food and fantastic service. Warm and inviting atmosphere that has mellow Urban feel. All the Bao's were spot on! Loved the veggie spring rolls and the Sweet n spicy rice (chicken) will definitely return. read more

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Was able to walk in and seated for table of 3. Very dim lighting cute for a date night. Ordered the Yuzo and lychee cocktail. Both very light and delicious! Got the loaded fries with pork char siu. Soo flavorful and sweet! Must try if you're feeling like fries. Got the udon noodles with pork belly. Pork belly was very soft but broth is very light in flavor. Got 5 different Bao's - soft shell crab, wagyu beef, mala chicken, Bangkok chicken, and kakuni. They're all so tasteful! Will definitely be back and try other flavors! read more

the BAO - Asian Fusion Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

We recently ventured out to Clayton to try The BAO and had a great time. To start off the meal, we ordered a couple cocktails and the Mala Popcorn Chicken (Yuzu / Mala flavor combined). The popcorn chicken here was delicious and we kept going back for more. It was our favorite portion of the overall meal. My drink was called 'Not your Usual Latte' and it was nice to have a sweet contrast to the popcorn chicken. Of course we had to try the Baos and we chose the Bangkok Chicken & Kimchi Wagyu. The Bao bun itself was not as soft as what we were used to, but the pairings were still flavorful. I also ordered the Khao Soi Udon and my fiance ordered the Char Siu Rice. Both dishes were rich and flavorful. Overall, the inside of the restaurant had a nice ambiance and service was great. Definitely would recommend getting the popcorn chicken here and trying different flavors of the Bao buns. They have a decent Bao combo special that comes with fries and a drink. read more

the BAO - Char Siu Rice - Asian Fusion Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

Love this place will be back in 2 weeks and to think I've passed this place coming to get my marriage license recently multiple visits and never swing in but when I tell you amazing!!!! BAO stands for bun!! Soft steamed buns!!! Baby if you don't come try you something different and I'm a picky eater when I tell you they did not disappoint and drinks were very strong ordered an off menu drink Will be back in two weeks or less for an updated review see you all very soon. Owners Rj General Manager Biddy Sweetest most awesome ppl!!! read more

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You might miss it if you're not looking hard! This place is a good balance of Asian American fusion. I think they cater more to American taste/cuisine but still have the Asian flare to it. I've tried their fries which are so savory and delicious, their pot stickers were also yummy. My friend and I slurped our udon and finished everything! It was to my liking. Very classic and nothing extra. I would come again to try their cocktails and their handmade noodles for the udon. read more

the BAO - Asian Fusion Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

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Met up with two friends for a lovely meal here this evening. Reservations are definitely recommended as we were asked to wait until our seating time but after that, we were seated and drink orders taken. It's fusion but you won't want to miss the bao. I started with the seaweed salad (gotta have some greens!) and then right into the dinner. My friends chose the bao combo which comes with fries. I stuck right to the bao core, choosing the Fried Chicken bao and the Bangkok Chicken bao. Both were excellent - perfect bao texture, crispy chicken, lots of spicy flavor. Service was attentive. The restaurant is quite dark inside, likely on purpose to make it all fancy. Okay, but I'm still going to need the flashlight on my phone to read the menu. [Review 1744 of 2024 - 380 in Missouri - 22767 overall] read more

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We tried BAO early Wednesday evening. 5Pm We haven't been there since it was Coastal. We walked in and instantly fell in love with the place. It's cool & classy. I ordered an old fashioned and loved the presentation. Look at the ice cube. We ordered the Sweet Chili Chicken bowl and rice and a fried chicken Bao. The order was huge, delicious and so reasonable priced. This will become one of our new favorite places, and the Service was first class. Very knowledgeable and attentive. This is a hidden gem you don't want to miss read more

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The fried chicken bao and the bacon were are good. The gyoza was delicious. I ordered take out. The bun was great. Didn't get soggy by the time I got home. read more

We went for an 8:45 pm Valentine's reservation but opted to do the normal menu instead of the tasting menu as it didn't have vegetarian options. It was a full house but there were reservations available after ours and a full waiting area as well as it doesn't close until 10 pm. Despite that, we felt incredibly rushed and service was lacking. We were not asked about drinks at all. When ordering, the server had a handheld device to place orders on. We each ordered an entree and were debating on bao. We both verbalized which bao we wanted and then saw that the menu offered a combo deal for 3 bao. Literally seconds after we verbalized our bao choices we asked if we can add a third for the combo and the server said no as he already sent the order to the kitchen (even though he never left the table, was still standing there with the device). While the bao were tasty, I do wish we had the option to add a third. For the entrees, the rice bowl was lacking in flavor and was a smaller portion of food as compared to the tom yum udon soup. While the tom yum soup was incredibly flavorful, it was confirmed to be a vegetarian broth, only for me to find a shrimp shell in my soup. As a strict vegetarian, this is not okay and I worry about others ordering it in the future especially if they have any seafood allergies. The server apologized, took a few bucks off the bill, and gave us two macarons. We were also not offered the option of dessert even though the table next to us and the bar were. While the food was okay, the service was not so unfortunately would not recommend the overall experience. read more

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This place was amazing! The cocktails were so good, we chatted with the bartender and he told us how he's using a fresh juicer to create his cocktail and you can tell. So fresh and flavorful. We had the popcorn chicken and it was fire. Spicy but flavorful, juicy. I wanted to stop eating it but I couldn't. We shared a 3 bao and fries combo after that. One bao was better than the next. We had the Teriyaki Bacon BAO, Kimchi Wagyu BAO, and the Bangkok Fried Chicken. I still can't decided which was my favorite of the three. Our only small complain is the fries were cold. The restaurant itself was vibey and cute. I'll be honest, from the outside you could barely tell it was a restaurant. Almost had a speak easy vibe. Really impressed and will definitley go back. read more

the BAO - Asian Fusion Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

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The BAO in Clayton has been on my radar for a while now! Walk in through the beautiful wood door that brings you into this dark vibe restaurant. Service was great, they accommodated 10 of us today on the fly & arranged it all with no questions asked. They'd be great for a small group too! Today I tried their Rose Thai Tea, to my surprise had boba in it. Still good even though boba isn't my thing. Ordered the Udon noodle bowl with kimchi broth & sliced beef as my protein. So good! Definitely recommend trying this place out if you're in the area. read more

the BAO - Menu - Asian Fusion Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

Hip place in the middle of downtown Clayton. Pretty busy on a Friday night. Food is beautiful and delicious. Parking is free in outside of business hours but street parking only. read more

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We were staying at a nearby hotel and looking for somewhere to walk to that was better than some of the burger/sandwich spots around. I also had to meet the needs of a vegetarian and another person that is generally a meat and potatoes kind of guy. I am so glad I went with this spot. It's so unassuming walking up, but the space is very pretty once you get inside. I wish I remembered our server's name. She was so sweet, helpful, and patient. She answered all our questions and made great recommendations. I ordered a gin cocktail that was not only presented beautifully, but tasted good too - nice and balanced. For my food, I ordered the szechuan tofu bao and the larb with char siu. Both were quite spicy, which the server warned, but I am a fan of spicy. The tofu was super crisp and paired nicely with the fluffy bao. The larb had all those yummy Thai herbs. Our server said it was an owner's favorite, and I have to agree! In addition to my food, even my tougher to please guests loved their food and everyone mentioned how great the service was. There is such a great mix of options. If this spot was in my hometown, I would be there all the time. read more

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Service was great, restaurant was gorgeous and Bao sandwiches were amazing! We dined on a Sunday evening for happy hour and order fried gyoza, chicken, bbq honey pork rice bowl and 6 bao sandwiches. Everything was seasoned well and flavors were . The only complaint was the amount of meat that we received with the rice bowl, hoping for more with the amount of rice they served in the dish. Ot read more

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My friends surprise me with dinner here. This review is probs positively biased by that. On a Wednesday night, 8 of us were able to dine at 6:30 pm. Our server hit that mark not hovering but attentive. He was patient with us needing time between drink/app/dinner orders. Our server and that bartender did a shot with me for said birthday and then brought a round for the table. We obviously shared bday cake with them, still, I found this far above the call of duty. Food is fusion; inventive, tasty and very fun. Everyone's food was great. Good options for our vegetarian. The decor is dark and moody which is very much my speed. Gender neutral bathroom that was very clean. They can only split checks a max of 3 ways so have Venmo/Cash App or actual cash ready if you have a larger party. I'll be back! read more

Amazing! Ambiance is nice and dim but I wish we couldn't see into the noisy kitchen. The bartenders were really creating creative and tasty cocktails. I tried several baos and they were all amazing! read more

Delicious. So good. So divine. So worth it omg. The buns here are mouth watering good that it melts in your mouth. I came in when it was slow and it took the bartender a while to take my order. But when I finally did place my order the food came out pretty quickly. The server who brought out my food was really sweet and nice. She checked on me couple times. The place is dimly lit and pretty chill. read more

the BAO - The Matcha but not quite cocktail drink and water - Asian Fusion Near Me - Clayton, Missouri