Worst baozi I've ever tried. The dough is way too sticker and the flavor is awful. It is worthless to even have a try. With such price, I would rather eat in the McDonald's. I tried each of the baozi on the menu. The inside is over seasoned and either way too spicy or way too salty. I can't taste the flavor of any meat. read more

I just love little hot asian buns!!! I love the whole wheat edamame and kung pao chicken baos. I now love the the asian veggie salad (it used to have too much cilantro for my taste and they premade the salads, so they couldn't even take it out). It has this mustardy soy wasabi kind of dressing on it and it's sooo good. Good prices and good quality. I even love to buy frozen baos and take them home and eat them for dinner! read more

This place was located in one of the shopping malls close to my hotel, and it offered a quick snack for me while I waited for my room to be ready. The food was ok, considering it is a fast food joint, but I will not be coming back for seconds. Food: The menu of this joint is mainly filled with different types of steamed Chinese buns, with a small assortment of noodles and soups. I got a curry chicken bun, BBQ pork bun and a ginger ale. Both steamed buns were ok but not very authentic as far as the flavors. The texture of the bun itself was nice, soft and warm, but the sizes are so small! They aren't even the size of my palm, and I have small hands. Maybe I am spoiled because I live in an area (San Francisco bay area) where you can get softball sized authentic steamed buns for about the same price. I was expecting 2 buns to be enough for lunch, but it ended up being a just a snack. The ginger ale was way too gingery. It was so gingery-spicy that I would consider it undrinkable. After a few sips I had to throw it away. Price: The price of their items seems reasonable, but I would say their steamed buns are way over priced for their size. $1.50 for 1 bun seems cheap, but if you need to buy a dozen buns to feel full it's not really a good deal. If you are just looking for a light snack this place is great because you can get a few different items for a very cheap price. Atmosphere: This place is considered a fast food counter inside of a mall, so there really isn't much atmosphere to it. There is no immediate seating by the food stand, but if you take the escalators up a bit you can find some tables and benches to eat at on the higher levels. Staff / Service: The cashier was very friendly and welcomed each guest with a smile. I ordered using the kiosks because I thought that would be fun (and it gave me plenty of time to browse the food options.) The staff who put your food order together seemed very stressed out and didn't smile at all as they yelled out order numbers. I don't expect much from a fast food joint, but at least the guy who was taking orders seemed friendly. This place is great for a quick, cheap snack if you are shopping in the mall, but I would not go out of my way to each here. There was nothing really special about their food, but at least it was different than the typical fast food counters you see in malls. read more

If I gotta eat food at a mall, I'm hoping they have one of these joints. And make no mistake, Water Tower Place is a mall, minus the Chess King and Spencer Gifts, and thankfully they don't have a Panda Express either. Instead, you will find this place with their sweet little nuggets of doughy goodness filled with all sorts of tasty treats. I'll also vouch for the fresh ginger ale. Good stuff, good prices. read more

Yummy pillows of goodness! This location doesn't have seating...so you have to take your "hot asian buns" to go....but other than that it's aces! And cheap! Definitely a great snack when you need to refuel from a busy day of shopping... read more

It seems that Wow Bao definitely has its lovers and its haters. I am in the middle. Wow Bao is good. Definitely not the finest Baos in the land, but not the worst -- still quite tasty and satisfying. They make a good light lunch or a nice snack. Wow Bao is not far from my office, so I will go there from time to time. I have to admit that I have only order 3 things: curry chicken bao, mongolian beef bao and the Kung Pao Chicken rice bowl with nappa cabbage in lieu of rice. I like them all. I don't really have a problem with the amount of filling inside -- I think it's just enough. The flavors are really good with the perfect amount of spiciness. I also like the rice bowl -- it's spicy, saucy and satisfying. I also love that you can replace the rice with cabbage -- less carbs and better flavor. I have tried the ginger ale and must say that I really do like it. It is mega-gingery (which I love) and really packs a bite. I rather wish there was a sugar-free version, but that would likely alter the taste quite a lot. As it is, it makes a nice occasional treat. I guess the only thing I am not crazy about is the seating. You have to cart your lunch up a couple of escalators. There are a few (very few) tables located in a hallway right beside the escalator bay. The tables are frequently full. The view is certainly not stunning -- there's really nothing to see. If you have forgotten something (napkins, chopsticks), you have to schlep all the way back downstairs to get it. In short, Wow Bao is a good place for a nice, satisfying lunch. You won't be too full and you won't be leaving hungry -- a concept I like very much! read more

So delicious...grabbed some of their Teriyaki Chicken and Spicy Mongolian Beef (wasn't super spicy, but still very good) Baos', and they were very good! Fast service too. 10/10 food experience. read more

Whenever I'm over here, I have to get my bao fix. They sell them frozen at jewel, but it's just not the same. I love the ginger ale, the pomegranate ginger ale, 8 veg salad, edamame bao, and the broth...I wish I knew how they made that broth. Check it out, they have raised the prices over the years of me coming here, but now you can get on their coupon text list. Yeah, I can be a sucker for a deal, sometimes referred to as "cheap ass", idc! They need to open one in hipster sq or wicker park... read more

Good enough to fill that void while shopping on the Mag Mile, but I would rather skip over to Chinatown for the real deal. A bit pricey.

I started going to Wow Bao when it first opened. They make baos popular. There's a filling for everyone. You'll eat one and keep coming back for more. Even their vegetarian and dessert baos, which are not particularly authentic, are very good. I'd say their size-to-price ratio is not as good as the real bao you can find in Chinatown, but when you want a snack or to bring your honey a treat, you can never go wrong with a bao from Wow Bao. read more

I was intrigued and ordered the new penang duck curry bao... bao was a little soggy but the filling was flavorful with a bit of lemongrass. Definitely good for a little Chinese treat on-the-go. read more

I love baos. The only problem is that i eat them so fast, by the time I finish them, I realize I've had too many. If you get the variety six-pack, it's like getting a sampling of Asian meals in finger food form. You can also pick up frozen packs for home which are just about as good. It took me forever before I realized this wasn't just a fast food Chinese place in a mall. The location in the Loop is better because it has breakfast baos and tables for dining. And is generally faster. read more

Keeps getting better... Dang, I love me some Wow Bao.. The food, the lemonade, the staff, the decor.. any complaints?? not from me.. Well except that you can't get them in Cleveland maybe.. I've gone to Wow Bao a few times now, previous visit then 2-3 times during my most recent trip. The food is always great, seems very fresh, and tastes delish. I'm not the most adventurous eater, but this place makes me wanna start trying more and more new places. read more

Had some time to kill before a movie so I did some shopping in Water Tower and decided to grab some dinner at Wao Bao. I got the thai chicken curry and spicy mongolian beef and they were ready fast and steaming hot. My total was around $4.30 for 2 bao and a coke. I grabbed the bao and went upstairs to their seating area and read my book while eating the delicious bao. The baos themselves are pretty amazing - smaller than I thought, but warm and doughy with delicious insides (spicy mongolian beef was also plenty spicy, hooray!). They are simple and easy to eat with one hand, no problem. 2 baos were perfect for a light dinner, though if you're really hungry I might suggest getting the combo. One bao would be perfect for when you're hungry and don't want to eat a 500 calorie pretzel (however delicious it may be...). read more

Great mid-Christmas shopping snack!! Steamed hot white Chinese mini-buns with your choice of filling... there's nothing better to bite into (and to warm your hands with) on those windy Chicago wintery days! I had the thai chicken curry bao which was very tasty, full of flavor, and (although my sister disagrees) I thought had a great bread-to-filling ratio! My sisters are traditional and love the BBQ pork bao (which is the char siu bao). You order and pay on their self-service touch screen which makes the process speedy and convenient. SUPER CHEAP!!! $1.69 +tax for 1 mini-bao, and you can also order a pack of 6 if you want to share with some lucky friends or family of yours!! Lastly, they have seating upstairs (up 2 flights of escalators) if you want to enjoy your wow bao while sitting. read more

Don't want none unless you got buns, hon. As far as counter-order kiosks inside a mall serving Americanized Asian food with slightly offensive slogans go, this place is solid! Disclaimer: I haven't had bao very many times and I haven't had it in a long time so I am not the best judge in terms of comparisons to some constructed or agreed-upon authenticity standard of bao. (I don't play authenticity, but for those that would hold a mall kiosk to such scrutiny I figured I would let ya know up front.) I had the BBQ pork, curry chicken, and the whole wheat veg. The curry was the winner! The buns were made tastier with a little soy sauce dripped onto them. The filling-to-bun ratio is pretty good but leans slightly to the Bun-heavy end of the spectrum. The bottom line is that this place is quick and tasty. It gives you what you need to reenergize and shop a little longer. You'll be feeling satisfied until the time of your dinner reservation at some expensive place connected to a hotel. Mercat comes to mind if you need an idea :) read more

I just love Wao Bao and their amazing way to satisfy my "need to get some healthy lunch for a change" craving in the South Loop. I really like their vegetarian Bao's which are the "buns" everyone talks about, be sure to get them with the sweet soy sauce. Also their salads are very fresh and super refreshing; they're paired with a light vinaigrette which really hits the spot. Side note, salads can be found in the cooler near the line. Oh, and be sure to try their homemade ginger ale...they do not scrimp on the ginger and it's a perfect way to end a flavorful lunch. My only complaint for Wow Bao is how noisy it is inside...this is not the place to go if you're looking to have a some "conversations over lunch"....I always feel like I have to yell in here. This might be a better place to get lunch to-go from. read more

Very cute concept. A restaurant where you can buy fast food dim sum variations of Chinese 'bao'. Aside from the fact that it cost freaken $1.34 for one tiny bao, this place could have been priced reasonably... like 50 cents instead but it decided to inflate the cost. Nonetheless, I tried the Thai Curry Chicken & Mongolian Beef bao. Both were very good, the meat was tender and it was flavorful. If they could pump the boa with more filling, increase the size & drop the price .... this place would be on its way to 5 stars. read more

Stopped in on a whim as the wife and I were taking a walk down Michigan ave. We enjoy Baos but were pretty full at the moment. Luckily they have 6 packs of frozen ones to go. Not only that but they had a variety pack. It was perfect as we got our dinner taken care of. The frozen ones are a breeze to cook and still taste great. Just a few minutes in the micro with a wet paper towel on top. One interesting tidbit about this location. You pay via these automatic ordering kiosks. You pick what you want and it gives you a ticket with your order number. Then when your order is called you pick it up and leave Great for if you want bao but don't want to talk to anyone. euroatheart.com read more

There is absolutely nothing about this place that gets me excited. I ordered every one. The Bao has been severely bastardized by America and this place is a huge contributor. Wow Bao, I'm giving you 2 stars instead of one because A) you are extremely accessible B) you are a decently affordable snack that doesn't completely suck. read more

This is a comment on the service for this place rather than Wow Bao in general. Being in Water Tower, this location seems to get pretty busy and it's pretty understaffed. I ordered one bao (just one) and the time it took to get it was absurd. After waiting 15 minutes, I finally got frustrated and complained. The guy behind the counter apologized and made sure to make my order next. As I walked out the door to eat my bao, I realized that there was a free bao in there....so I guess it was worth it? read more

Interesting concept, but execution is meh and I don't think they're really worth the price. Cha siu baos are one of my favorite things on this planet, but for all the hype, Wow Bao's are just OK, especially since Chicago has a Chinatown right down the street. The other, more creative "baos" also taste pretty good (thai curry gets my thumbs up), but again, I wasn't impressed for the price I paid for them. Usually at dim sum places, I can get 3 Baos for less than $4 - here, they were $2 for each individual bao, and these baos weren't even particularly big! Even for Mag Mile standards, I don't think the price difference should be that much. TL;DR: Good flavor and taste, but not really worth the steep price. It is an interesting concept with a cute storefront, though. read more

It must be my tastes. I thought the baos were okay, but the rice dish I got tasted an awful lot like dirt. It could possibly be the overuse of cilantro, but then again it could just be poorly made. The fresh ginger ginger ale was WAY to strong for me, though I do appreciate the idea. For me there are any number of better places for reasonable prices within walking distance. read more

WOW! Amazingly good. This is the best fast food ever....if you want to call it fast food. Everything here is good, so I don't have to give a long review. Definitely need to try the pomegranate ginger ale. read more

Fast food dim sum?!!!! This is crazy! Ok so it surely doesn't measure up to Luk Yu Chau La in Hong Kong but for fast food dim sum this place is the shiznit! Avoid the teriyaki chicken it's too freakin sweet but the Thai Chicken bun rocks the house! They run out of flavors quickly about 1 hour near closing time. Noodles were OK but I'd stick to the Bao that's what they're known for. Although it's frozen, it's not so bad again for fast food. I give it 5 stars because I can't always be in Hong Kong or San Francisco to get my dose of great dim sum! read more

Hot buns desire more meat in them. Please stuff my buns! Yes, you read correctly, these babies need more filling for that hot (bao wow!) bun satisfaction. Mongolian beef satisfies while the skimpy bits of kung pao chicken leave you fondling more of a bun than a bao with wow. The whole wheat edamame and veg was happily wheaty but overwhelmed by the broccoli, green like edamame, but you can't fool me when a veg bao evokes notes of cream of broccoli soup. Flavorful snacks indeed but certainly the bun to filling ratio is too high. ...and when winter is in full blast in the city, the thai herb broth warms you up, inside out. Drink from a to-go cup and it's like sipping tea, salty tea but savory and satisfying. read more

Oh. My. God. Fast food steamed pork buns. For $1.65. How do I get someone to open a franchise in Philadelphia? Can I move to Chicago? Who is the brilliant individual who came up with this idea !? I doff my hat to you, sir, I doff my hat. read more

Ah bao. A favorite of mine to snack on, especially when my dad makes them from scratch. With that said, this place is not reminiscent of my childhood faves, HOWEVER, I still enjoy it. The fillings are flavorful and the bun soft and warm, perfection. I love how the BBQ Pork is full of cilantro flavor. The Mongolian Beef and Kung Pao Chicken are filled with too much ginger for my tastes. For dessert, try the Coconut Cream bao -- it's yummy! Though it's a little on the expensive side (yes it reflects LEYE prices), it's worth trying at least once. Get the 6-pack for a better deal and split em with a friend. I'll end with this. My uncle-in-law from one of my favorite food cities, Vancouver, visited Chicago and didn't get to try a Chicago-style hot dog because he was TOO BUSY EATING AT WOW BAO. True story. read more

WOW BAO I LOVE YOU I love you so much I actually do order your express fed ex baos so I can taste happiness despite living in Minnesota. read more

I somehow never tried Wao Bao until today. DISGUSTING... Why would I pay 8 bucks for three soggy dumplings (which cost like 15 cents a piece at a grocery store in Chinatown, and taste better), stuffed with half a teaspoon of Manwich meat? HEINOUS. And that weak salad on the side? Like, oh!, is that supposed to create the illusion that this meal was worth the money? Hell no, that's just some cheap cabbage with an even cheaper sauce. This place reminds me of like some bleak future where food is scarce and we have to eat little shi*ty dumpling balls that were frozen decades ago... like that restaurant in Bladerunner but worse... read more

Eh - coming from the land of the Asians in San Francisco, I've picked up better baos for 75 cents. Not worth the commercialized hype. I'd eat it again only if I were starving and there wasn't a McDonalds around. read more

Cheap, quick food you can get on the go, that is tasty the same time. Perfect for breakfast and lunch. I can't say I've ever had a breakfast (egg) bao before. May not be the best bao you'll ever have, or be a place you have to try, but sometimes you need places like Wow Bao to supply you with something quick and cheap. I myself grabbed two little baos for breakfast before going to the Museum of Science and Industry while on a trip to Chicago. For a traveler on the go who is short on time, this place is a good option. read more

Wow Bao - BBQ Pork Bao, and Spinach and Egg Breakfast Bao - Chinese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I first had Wow Bao at Riot Fest where I got two boas for $6 which for festival food pricing isn't too bad. And they were actually pretty good for being steamed at a festival! We got the spicy mongolian and the bbq pork there and we were pretty pumped! Then the other day we were walking around and needed a snack, and behold there was a Wow Bao right in front of our faces! So we go into the tower to find there are no tables by this venue (I guess there are a few up the escalators maybe??) but here I could get 6 baos for less than $10!!! Gotta love festival up pricing :-) But we were pumped to try all of the flavors! Here is the run down of a few worth mentioning: Whole Wheat Edamame: not the best...thought it would be tasty and a healthy bao, but it just had no flavor... Kung Pao: so so good and spicy! packed with flavor! Thai Curry: just so so...not so so good...but so so Mongolian: still awesome and tasty BBQ Pork: how could it not be good? Coconut Custard: kind of weird... So all in all, I think this place is hit or miss, but it is made fresh, and it is cheap, and a fast snack to grab. read more

I love the baos from here, with their distinct flavors and on-the-go concept. The spicy mongolian beef and thai curry chicken were my favorite, but it doesn't hurt to try them all. But wait, I take that back. It does hurt... for your wallet. 6 normal sized baos for $8.49? Take note that these baos can fit in your palms, and 6 probably will not fill you up. Do yourself a favor, and go buy some at an Asian supermarket. If you do have money to throw away though, you can take two flights of escalators then find the seating area to your right after you get your food. read more

Mmm.Hot Asian Buns - that is their motto! Please don't get me wrong - I don't think this place is authentic Chinese AT ALL - HOWEVER - I do think their buns are tasty and I can appreciate that this offers an opportunity to have the more "vanilla food folks" a chance to get introduced to a tasty "bao". I do enjoy their different fillings, not typical of just the standard char siu bao, or custard bao. I think I like the mongolian beef the best but did enjoy the new introductory spicy eggplant bao in a whole wheat bun (think "yoo heng kei zhi"). The best time to come here is not for an actual meal but for a snack, during your shopping trips, between meals. I also like to pick up a box of frozen mixed bao's for my husband who likes this pan asian style of food. (pop the frozen bao in the microwave wrapped with a damp paper towel and it tastes just like in the restaurant - wait, who am I kidding? Ok, close to how the restaurant would prepare it) Yea, not cheap, but I see this as paying for a novelty. I know I can get WAY bigger and more authentic bao in Chinatown for half the price but you can't get the creative fillings from Wow Bao. I've never had a problem with quality here and love that the buns come right out of the steamer so they are never just luke warm. I think these buns are pleasing to just about any palatte and can satisfy any picker eater. Give it a try if you haven't already! read more

I greatly enjoy the buns here and the salads (I love the cool pad thai and spicy peanut!). It's in a key convenient location, right at the entrance for Water Tower, which means I'm always suckered into buying something from here. I tried the frozen yogurt from here today - and I am not a fan at all. It was actually kinda terrible..... I tossed most of my dessert out. (The cheap asian in me was crying a little bit inside.) The frozen yogurt itself is a bland plain/default flavor (that was missing the usual sour tang that froyo typically has, or any flavoring whatsoever). Wow Bao doesn't have offer any toppings, but they have 3 different syrup flavors (green tea, ginger, or pommegranate/hibiscus) and I opted for the ginger. The syrup was ok, but it all settled at the bottom of the cup in this pool of overly sweet gunk. read more

I tried a couple of these little steamed buns and was less than wowed. Maybe I will try them again the next time I find myself at Water Tower Place. In other words, I will probably never try them again.. read more

I freakin love this place! I've been to this particular one twice and it is just so urban! I love the ordering system you do not have to wait in line if you dont want. You can order at the kiosk as well. I love the Bao (buns).. These things are so good! Im happy I can order them online now and have them shipped to Cali. I'll be placing my order soon. I cant say that I care for any other food because I am very picky. You have to experience this place if you're in the area shopping! read more

Fast snack, fast food, fast self-ordering touch screens.... man! It's pretty awesome. The steam buns are soft and yummy. Mongolian beef? spicy and good! The teas are a bit sweeter than they should be... like Southern Sweet Tea! Other than that... the food is pretty legit and service is pretty decent. Whether you want a quick snack or order a dozen frozen ones to go... this is the place! Oh wait, chocolate bun? Dude!!!! Dark creamy chocolate and asian steam bun...... drool... read more

Convenient location after a day of either window shopping or actually shopping (god knows it's more the former than the latter). Anyway, it's fast, solid. Maybe a little pricey for what you get? But good! read more