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    The Irritable Bao

    4.6 (56 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 1 week ago

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    Reviews With Photos - The Irritable Bao

    Greasy beef bao buns
    Tracy C.

    The beef bao buns were filled with unseasoned browned ground beef floating in hot grease. I bit into one and grease shot out and ruined my shirt. I also ordered a miso salad that was discolored and most likely from a bag. I only gave this place 2 stars because the staff were so nice.

    Cracked chicken sauce bao bun and inside out grilled cheese hot honey brisket buns
    Jackson R.

    Came in after a swim meet and was not disappointed! Ordered a Cracked Chicken sauce bai bun and the Inside out grilled cheese hot honey brisket buns and enjoyed both so much i was tempted to go back for more! Owner was the most friendly person I have ever met in a restaurant. From sitting down to chat with us and even getting my picture taken for their first time customer insta page, he was just as friendly as could be. 10/10 would recommend to everyone!

    Benjamin C.

    Another place I wish was around when I was at Auburn. Both types of baos I ordered were pretty true to traditional baos. Pork (brisket in one of them? I cant remember), soy, sugar, sesame, fluffy and warm bun, sesame seeds. Those were the vibes. And those alone are enough. I understand they have some untraditional baos, like Nashville hot chicken or hot tofu. Would definitely like to try those at some point, and I applaud the creativity. I'm not opposed to different combos of meat and flavor inside a bun as long as the more traditional stuff keeps its place on the menu. Also great name and purpose in their contributions of some of their profit to nonprofit organizations.

    Jazmin B.

    Limited menu and not many options for folks who aren't into spicy food. Very disappointed. Portions are good, customer service is fair, and their peach tea was refreshing which is why I'm giving it two stars. Other than that as I stated limited options and we arrived as soon as they opened and they were "out of bang bang shrimp" already...... Well maybe it shouldn't be offered on the menu if it's not going to be an available option and possibly substitute it with something else. Not a place I'd recommend

    Mozz and cream cheese mini bao - buff and ranch drizzle (like fried cheese bites)

    I could eat here everyday for the rest of my life. The chicken on a stick is absolutely incredible. The best seasoning ever?? The beef mini bao are what dreams are made of. Licked the bowl clean and drenched each one in the sauce. The brussel sprouts?? I die for them. The dessert menu?? Original. Doesn't get more original. The best service in the world probably. The workers are adorable + happy and helpful! The Manager was actually doing her job and was insanely kind. The vibes are pure. It has such cute little Knick knacks to look at, fun merch, and a clean bathroom. Not sure what else you could ask for. Also you can do online ordering now which is major!! Cannot wait to come back

    Rich H.

    Next stop on the Opelika-Auburn, AL food tour is @dumpslikeatruck_irritablebao, an East-meets-West Chinese Fusion Street food joint, specializing in handheld eats of the bao and dumpling variety. I love a great food truck success story. This place started as a food truck called "Dumps Like a Truck" and after finding success and a cult following, expanded into a brick-and-mortar spot called "The Irritable Bao." I love a good pun in a restaurant's name. Pictured here is the Zucchini, Egg, and Glass Noodle Bao. Crunchy zucchini strips with hard-boiled egg yolk pieces and tender glass noodles all wrapped in a steamy, warm, and pillowy soft bao. Next is the Pork Belly Buns. Beneath the pile of porky prestidigitation is a plethora of pickled produce: cucumber, red onions, and matchstick carrots. And it's all lovingly nestled in a Chinese lotus leaf buns. A definite recommend! You'll have a harder time finding a parking spot on College and Magnolia streets than you will choosing a new favorite bao bun.

    Two pork belly buns, 2 baos and the cheesecake egg rolls made for a fun lunch to share with a friend recently
    Andrea H.

    Irritable Bao, despite the less-than-appetizing name, is a great spot to pick up lunch if you are in Auburn, and it is something a little different in a town overrun with chicken tender restaurants. A definite win. Here's how my visits have unfolded. The place is small, so it gets busy seeming quickly. Despite that, the line moves pretty fast. I always anticipate a line. You should too. I usually check their Instagram ahead of time to see what the baos/rolls of the day are. I appreciate that they have an ever-changing menu, but I also admit that I find that asset to also be one of its biggest liabilities. I have wanted the tofu curry bao again since I got it in October, but, alas, it hasn't been in the menu on a day I can go since then. Another con, they have very limited days/hours. I get in line usually knowing what I am going to get. Recently, I was dining with a friend, which was perfect. This allowed us to split the pork belly buns (they come in a set of 2) and get a bao each. We also decided to try the dessert (cheesecake egg rolls). The buns were both our favorite of the items we have had there so far. Great flavor. The pickled veggies provided the perfect extra tang. We got a bao with egg and glass noodles. Too earthy for our taste. We also go the Buffalo chicken. Good, but I wouldn't say it was a showstopper. We both enjoyed the egg rolls a lot. As previously mentioned, my favorite bao was the tofu curry. Great flavor and the sauce balanced out the doughy-ness of the bao. Pros: Creative options Something different in chicken tender land Quick line even when busy Cons: The limited hours and space The new surcharge for using a credit card

    Philly Cheesesteak Boa

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    7 days ago

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    15 days ago

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    10 months ago

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    11 days ago

    Great local spot. They fuse traditional and modern flavors well. Lots of options for vegetarian/vegan. Very busy but worth the wait!

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    9 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Beef brisket buns were amazing along with the buffalo chicken bao and the service was amazing.

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    1 year ago

    The best in Auburn! Excellent service, great prices delicious food! Always busy, but for good reason.

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    9 months ago

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    2 years ago

    We ate there yesterday and it was awesome. Packed house the owner is awesome and the food was great. And it was nice and cool inside.

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    Ponko Chicken

    Ponko Chicken

    4.4
    (20 reviews)
    3.2 mi

    Style: Counter service Dining Area: Mid-size…read more Ordering: Order and pay at the counter or use a kiosk before seating yourself. Point-of-Sale Tipping: Yes Price for Two: Approximately $40, including a point-of-sale tip Delivery: Food is brought to your table when ready. Condiment Bar: No Food: Really good overall. We had two three-piece chicken plates--one OG and one Spicy. The OG chicken was noticeably crispier. Our sides included rice, fries, pickles, and coleslaw. Everything was good, but the fresh pickles provided an especially nice contrast to the chicken, rice, and fries. The coleslaw had a pleasant sesame oil flavor, though, as with any creamy coleslaw, it's a bit of a roll of the dice, so I didn't eat much of it. The ranch served with the chicken seemed to be homemade--the thinner, more flavorful style rather than a thick bottled dressing. I was also curious to try some of the other sauces and dressings on the menu. Beverages: Coke products, plus some of the best proprietary teas I've had at a counter-service restaurant. The Sweet Almond Peach Tea was outstanding. Special Touches: Pickles served as a garnish and chopsticks available on the table. Portions: What you'd expect from a higher-end counter-service restaurant--filling enough to leave you satisfied, but not overly stuffed. Spice Level: The Spicy chicken had a noticeable kick but was still on the milder side in terms of heat. Service: Friendly, approachable, and efficient. Clean-Up: Leave dishes on the table for staff to clear. Parking: Shared with neighboring restaurants but plentiful. It can be a little convoluted to access from the main road.

    Delivery order...the food was so much better than expected…read more When I ordered sauces, I didn't know that it was on the food you ordered. It was the perfect consistency to add flavor, while not making it soggy or covered in a thick sauce. I was very pleasantly surprised by how good this delivered meal.

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    Ponko Chicken
    Ponko Chicken
    Grilled chicken with green beans and Ponko fries

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    Grilled chicken with green beans and Ponko fries
    Pannie-George's Kitchen

    Pannie-George's Kitchen

    4.4
    (176 reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $

    As good as Soul Food can be. We use to stop here about 6 times a year when traveling through now it…read moreis about once a year...and oh, how we miss it. We ordered two Meat & 2's and both consisted of A Big Fat Fried Chicken Breast, Black-Eyed Peas and Mac n Cheese. As always the chicken was cooked perfectly. Crispy on the outside with that perfect fried chicken skin and totally moist meat. The mac n cheese was very moist, not really runny and the texture was the perfect chew. No mushiness and no hard noodles. The black-eyed peas were out of this world good. They had a bit of spice in them and cooked good ole' Southern Style...cooked! We ate and ate until there was not more room. We gladly took our left overs for another wonderful meal. As we were leaving I said, oh, no "I forgot to take pictures. So I went and broke in line and took a couple of the cafeteria style food that everyone was so patiently waiting to be served. The staff works extremely hard. The restaurant is very clean. And the food is absolutely delicious. They do take togo orders and sometimes the line is out the door. They are closed on Saturdays. Highly recommend one try if in the area. Prices have remained relatively low while other places have increased their prices drastically. Our two meals which included drinks and tax was about $21. You can still buy a whole fried wing for under $2...it is $1.95.

    How I love being at an event with a hot lunch! I was at Auburn U for an event and lunch was from…read morethis restaurant. I had the fried chicken plate with 2 sides and a roll. Also came with a huge wedge of cake. The chicken was very flavorful and fried well. The green beans were tasty as well. I wasn't a fan of the cake..a bit dry. And who doesn't love a creamy Mac n cheese. I had heard great things about the food here so I was glad I was finally able to try it. They lived up to their reputation.

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    Serving the food
    Serving the food
    Fried chicken with Mac n cheese and green beans
    Fried chicken with Mac n cheese and green beans
    Sunday menu.

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    Sunday menu.

    The Irritable Bao - chinese - Updated July 2026

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