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    Wow Bao

    3.5 (655 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    WOW BAO ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Wow Bao

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    Reviews With Photos

    Safia S.

    Stop by here because I was stuck in a torrential downpour. I needed a place to grab a quick bite. I tried ordering from the kiosk that did not work, so had to order from the main cashier desk. I got the spicy Mongolian beef bao and the Thai chicken, curry bao. As others have stated, it's definitely not the best bao I've ever had, nor is it very authentic. But it hits the spot when you need something quick the ambience is casual.

    Mushy "old" Bao
    Joel M.

    Did not enjoy this food at all. Bao appeared and tasted "old". Filling was mushy and flavorless. As for the Kung Poa, don't even know how to describe the flavor BUT it was not Kung Pao. May have also been that the portion was so minimal that I literally had to search for it. Total cost with tax of $16 I would have expected more than 2 tablespoon of Kung Pao on top of about 2 cups of rice. Only thing positive was the easy ordering from the kiosk. Will not be back.

    Taylor T.

    Bao may not have been WOW but, it sure hit the spot and was easy to munch on while shopping in water tower. I was familiar with Wow Bao since they are now sold at grocery stores and I was surprised when I walked by a flagship location. Since, I didn't have time on this trip to eat at the actual restaurant I decided some quick baos would have to do. Are these the best bao buns I've tasted? Hardly. However, the flavors are fun and they make a fantastic quick handheld snack. I picked up a two pack for under $7 and went with a more classic Mongolian beef filled bun (spicy pork was sold out) and then got a tad adventurous and got a pizza bao (I had never seen this flavor anywhere before). Between the two the spicy beef was by far tastier. The pizza bao needed some more pizzazz, it had all the right notes to make it pizza but needed more basil, mozzarella and overall robust flavor. All in all, it was just alright. Worth mentioning though that they had several sweet custard baos as well so, if savory isn't your thing don't fret. Next time I will try the cocunut custard one (though that may be in another year).

    Sheilisa D.

    I was so happy to see a wow bao the minute we walked into Water Tower Place. Bao buns are always a great grab and go after a long day of walking and shopping. My favorite is the chicken teriyaki! They have a self ordering kiosk as soon as you walk in and the food is ready in no time.

    Lizeth S.

    Let's be realistic Bao is steamed fresh so they take a little bit of time. Be patient it can be between 5-15 minutes before you get your order depending on how busy they are . My review is strictly on the Bao. You order at the kiosk and wait for your order. The guys behind the counter are hard at work rotating the bamboo steamer baskets on a non stop rotation. We ordered the BBQ Pork and the teriyaki chicken. Both were great. Fun little snack to walk around while shopping.

    Wow Bao
    Amanda L.

    I tried several of their baos and while I wouldn't say any of them were "wow," they were still pretty good! Also, the location is so convenient, it's a fast option if you're looking to shop up and down Magnificent Mile while grabbing a quick snack! I tried the Teriyaki Chicken, BBQ Berkshire Pork, Kung Pao Chicken, and the Impossible Spicy Mongolian Beef baos. These were basically the main 4 that actually sounded good (I'm not interested in trying a cheeseburger or chocolate bao lolol) and they were all decent! I think the Impossible Spicy Mongolian Beef bao was my favorite. Location-wise, because this is situated at the North end of Mag Mile in the Water Tower Place, basically the northernmost point of Michigan Ave before it becomes overly bougie, it's the perfect pick me up after working your way up or down the strip! It's located just inside the mall at the West entrance and looks like it belongs within a food court, but is its own standalone spot in the mall. All in all, it was a super convenient and good snack to grab, but I don't think it'd be worth going out of your way to get baos from here! But if you're in the area where there's a Wow Bao (they have several locations) and are jonesing for a snack, then this is a great option for you!

    Fired Fried Chicken Fried Rice

    Fried rice with chicken has no flavor what so ever, came with no soy sauce or nothing, 14 for a little small bowl

    Mongolian Beef
    Karla M.

    I didn't realize a Chinese bao and Japanese bao are two different things so I was expecting the sandwich like baos rather than a dumpling like bao. I ordered Mongolian beef baos and I was expecting it to be spicy since it had a pepper symbol next to it but it was not in my opinion. I was also expecting strips of meat rather than ground beef. I wish it would've had just a bit more filling for an even ratio of bun to meat. I'm not sure if Chinese baos are traditionally just not eaten this way but some sort of cole slaw to put on top would've been awesome. For a pack of 6 it was $15 so $2.50 each wasn't too bad.

    Linda B.

    Hot fresh and delicious! Best quality location I've even been consistently good every time

    Rice is literally cooked so much that it's mush. Thanks
    Joshua A.

    Don't think the employees care at all. Inedible!overcooked mush rice with 3 shreds of chicken for $17. Thank god they can heat up pre-made Bao Buns that are good but just average. Thanks for taking my hard earned money, leaving my wallet and and stomach empty. Never get my business, again.

    Lily A.

    The bao were pretty decent, but the noodles hit, especially since it was hot outside. The service was great, and pretty fast for it being lunch time. The restaurant is pretty small though with not a lot of seating, so it may be hard getting a table at eating it there.

    Sherwin C.

    An alright place to enjoy Americanized bao, with flavors similar to what you'd expect from PF Changs or Big Bowl with some flavors like pizza or cheeseburger definitely as a fusion option. While the bread is pretty fluffy and fresh, the flavor combination and taste is unremarkable but not bad. It's a bit pricey for what you get, though in line with what you'd expect to pay for a meal in the loop.

    Restaurant sign
    Lisa P.

    Had a craving for the Thai herb bone broth; it's both hearty and spicy. Full of vitamins, minerals and at only forty calories it's worth indulging. I was feeling a bit of discomfort in my belly. This always makes me feel better in about fifteen minutes.

    Kung Pao Chicken bowel

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    The Water Tower has excellent service with some of the nicest staff I've ever met. 11/10!!!

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