First time here since Bao Bao dumpling house was closed and combined with Tao Yuan. The dumplings are so damn tasty. Also loved the cumin beef and the That tea crème brûlée read more

See all

What a gem! You get James Beard nominated flavor w/ fast casual pricing & the nicest staff. Every single bite is worth every penny. The sister restaurant to fine dining Tao Yuan/Bao Bao Dumpling house next door, the owner was also awarded Food & Wine Magazine's Chef of the Year. Our faves (some regular items, some seasonal specials): *Shrimp shao mai *Pork & cabbage potstickers (take home a bag in the frozen case!) *Eighty Ate slaw *Vietnamese banh mi sandwich (chicken or duck) *Bulgogi or curry shrimp potsticker *Steamed baos (BBQ pork, etc) *Boba w/ real tea (not the fake powder w/ flavored syrup) As an Asian from Southern California, Zao Ze hits my Chinatown-quality cravings in small town New England. Grab your pantry staples here, too. Everything from fried shallots, yuzu mayo, Red Boat fish sauce, boba, matcha, shrimp chips, furikake, mochi & more. read more

See all

Nice asian market with very interesting products including frozen dumplings from the excellent BaoBoa Dumpling house next door. We did an ad hoc dim sum brunch on Saturday morning including dumplings, pork buns, egg tarts and Korean baked goods - all excellent. Very friendly staff, efficient and relaxing casual vibe whether eat inside or at outdoor covered tables. read more

After being a customer for many years at Portland's Bao Bao Dumpling, Brunswick's Tao, Brunswick's ZaoZe, and then Brunswick's Bao Bao, we will never return. I had three bites of my entree today, I found it dismally below the usual standard, and the owner would not refund my money or even let me switch out the food for another because I had tasted it. I would have to buy a new dish if I wanted more food. I asked how I was supposed to know if the food is good if I can't taste, and the employee just kept repeating that he was sorry and that this was the policy. I confirmed that the owner was there and that this is her position. No one told me this when I brought the food back, and I would have at least eaten the doctored up rice had I known that I would go hungry instead. I first had gotten the slaw and found the vinegar aside so bland that I used their black vinegar and house chili paste to dress it up (at which point it was very good). Then I received the pork chop fried rice, which was not fried rice at all. It was steamed white rice with some allium underneath about 8 slices of fried pork chop. Fried rice itself is fried with seasoning and mixed with its other components, but this wasn't mixed at all. The pork looked desiccated from being over-fried, and every piece had large amounts of fat and gristle. The rice was so bland that I added more black vinegar and chili paste, and then it was fine but still only steamed and kind of mushy. I gave my husband one slice of pork to try and I took one small bite of one piece, tugging at it with my teeth because it was so tough. Grease spilled into my mouth. Enough was enough and I knew I had to bring it back, so I went up to the counter. The man took it and said he would be at my table in a few minutes. When he came over, I said that I would have the dumplings instead, and then he explained that I would have to buy them. I have never had an experience like this in a restaurant and certainly not at Stadler's restaurants, at least the way they used to be. Now, the food is disappointing, and they won't stand by their product, instead having an outrageous policy requiring patrons to assess the quality of a dish without tasting it. I told the people in line that they had better choose wisely because it will be on them if the food falls short. We will never go to one of Stadler's restaurants again, which is a real shame. read more

Cute but well stocked small Asian market. It had a lot more niche items than I would have thought for Brunswick. Staff were super nice and the layer was easy to look through. There are a few tables inside as well as outside should you decide to try any of their hot foods. We only had the appetite for snacks and supplies. My only gripe was that the gummies I purchased, that I noticed after having already had left, expired in 2023. Otherwise a great place to check out so I would come again! read more

Great recent experience at Zao Ze! A friend took me for my birthday. This is a lunchtime spot with counter ordering and a few tables scattered amongst a pretty well stocked Asian bodega. It stocks items that are hard to find elsewhere. Excellent vietnamese food, tempered by the price. This lunchtime spot has a great list of both savory and sweet choices. The ribs were an absolute standout! 3 or 4 small plates make a great 2-person lunch. Service was friendly and quick. Fair choice of sake by the bottle. A must try. read more

Great unique spot in Brunswick. Loved it for a quick bite to eat - the pastries were good and we got to sit outside in the nice weather Good! read more

What a great place tucked away on a back street. We came here to try some tea and pastries but ended up ordering g a little bit of everything and some to go . The market is stocked with some great items , wine and beer noodle and frozen food as well as many pastries . We luckily were there on Sunday when they have dim sum and many more items available. Loved the hot pot of roobis tea there were so many great choices of tea. We had the coconut macaroon which was both crunchy and soft had a great flavor and texture the same for the custard tart with a beeswax coating ( I think that was a special of the day )We also got the daikon cakes which where also delicious as well as the egg drop soup ( it could have been a bit hotter). We h go it a steamed pork in to take home which hit great reviews. Everything was served on very attractive dishes a and the tables were set and very inviting. It was great to sit in a sunny environment with friendly and accommodating staff. We will definitely ret again on a Sunday and try some more of the dim sum. read more

See all

Nice lunch stop. Very tasty! Like a small deli or market, counter service for hot & cold meals, daily specials. A few tables to eat indoors or out. Very clean. Parking is easy. Would definatly and gladly return. read more

Zao Ze weekend did not disappoint!! It was everything I was hoping for in a breakfast with Asian flare. Wow...everything was so good - freshly prepared with so much care - it all looked and tasted so beautiful. Yes, I used beautiful to describe the taste, because Zao Ze has me at a loss for words. I have always been a fan of Tao Yuan and when I saw Zao Ze as a suggested IG account to follow, I was intrigued. It's the pop-up side of their business, so I knew it had to be good. I had followed their beautiful posts for 3 months before finally saving enough calories (LOL) to order all that I wanted. Their website and online ordering portal is easily accessible through their IG bio. As of May 2021 they have been open Friday/Saturday/Sunday 8am - 2pm. I would recommend planning ahead - peruse the menu or the pictures that I have posted :) to get a general sense of what you might want, plan your day/time and have a little flexibility as they can only handcraft so many orders at a time. Believe me, it is worth planning for and the wait for your pick up time. We ordered and loved everything on this list below (also posted a picture to their Yelp page). We did split some of the more specialized items to try. Baozi - Soy Sauce Egg - Rich, and delicious - simple and simply great! Baozi with Sausage and Egg - the tumeric sausage - wow - so great and unique. LOVED IT Baozi with House Bacon and Egg - YES please - the bacon was cut like pork belly - hearty, delicious amazing Fan Tuan - If you love rice you will love this! Pork Rou Jia Mo - Tender pork, amazing flavor and Spicy!! Baked pork bun - cute and delicious - we split it, although I could have eaten it by myself, but had to share :) The market where you pick up is spacious enough for you to feel safely distanced from others. There is a wall of delicious looking beverages, including plum wine!!! The case where you pick up your food is filled with handcrafted delicious offerings - so elegant and perfect in many cases. This is a true chef's display. It was hard to not add to my already full order. LOL Please try Zao Ze cafe if you are in the area! It's so worth it and such a great group of people to support to ensure they stay long term. read more

See all

in summary, portion size was bad, flavor wasn't good. overpriced. not impressed. nice ambience. My mom and I came for the special sunday korean friend chicken day. we reserved our meal ahead of time, and we arrived 5 minutes early. for about $50 we got 5 pieces of chicken, 3 tiny containers of banchan, a small tub of japchae, and a tiny container of rice. all for two people. included were two pancakes with brown sugar and walnut as well. we also got the yuzu lemon sour drink and the thai iced tea for extra cost. we arrived early, and our fried chicken was extremely soggy to the point where the breading was gluey and falling off. the chicken had little to no flavor. the zucchini had little to no flavor, the same with the bean sprouts. the braised potatoes were alright. the japchae was good. i liked the flavor, it was more authentic. the mushrooms were a great addition. this doesn't sway my opinion though because as someone who cooks korean food and grew up in a korean community, it isn't hard to make. the pancakes tasted good, had good filling and a good amount of it too. the distribution wasn't great but i can let that slide. that can be difficult to nail. the yuzu lemon sour was a pleasant experience. the thai iced tea was abysmal. it just tasted like water. when it was made, perhaps thai tea was in the room, but not in the drink. it was so bland, we didn't even want to drink it. the shop was comfortable and in a good location. the staff were pleasant and kind. the shop had some good specialty pantry items and some staples too. it's a great environment to sit. there were some bakery items on display but we did not try them. read more

Zao Ze - three types of banchan, stir fried zucchini, bean sprouts, and braised potatoes - Asian Fusion Near Me - Brunswick, Maine

See all

Would like a bit more options for dim sum and a bit cheaper. It's more like ordering a meal when you get an appetizer size. The buns felt like gas station warmer buns instead of Chinese steam buns. Great idea I love the concept but the execution wasn't what I was expecting. Maybe $8 for each dim sum plate instead of $12 that way you can order more than one per person. read more

See all

Food was so amazing very filling and full of flavor. the atmosphere is also really really cute.

This gem has great customer service and lunch. Asian food isn't really my go to but the three items I had here were delicious. The Kung Pao cauliflower was the right balance of crunch and flavor. It's probably one of the best cauliflower dishes I've ever had. The steamed pork bun was superb, I should have ordered more. Finally, the eggplant dish blew my mind. We all were surprised at how yummy and flavorful it was. It wasn't too gummy and is served hot. I need that recipe for home! read more

Great service. They are very nice!! great place to sit down and eat but also a great grab-and-go spot! Lots of different snacks and drinks to choose from and thr actual food they have is very good as well. The bbq pork bao was ~$4 which is a little pricey but it was verg delicious! The inari was ~$2 each and was also very tasty. Definitely will come again whether its to buy some asian snacks or get an actual meal! read more

See all

It a very quaint little market with a few tables. The food is fresh and varied. The staff is friendly and helpful with ordering.

Great fresh Asian lunches! Friendly service. The small grocery has some specialty ingredients, saving a trip to Portland.

As a diehard fan of Tao yuan ... the long lost ... please come back!!!! ... I'm sorry to say I just consumed tonight's special summer ZaoZe dinner as takeout ... and it was a resounding "Meh". Chicken rice: rice and green stuff A+ Poached chicken underdone flabby yecch Hoisin - both of us said the same thing : tastes like it came from a bottle Char Kway Teow: really mediocre! Flavorless and hardly any seafood bits. Cucumber salad ok but cannot compare to the awesome salads we've come to expect. Sago pudding. Good and fresh I'm hoping we just hit an off night here. read more

Lucky to have this gem in Brunswick. It's a small Asian grocery store with take out and eat in. Yes it's in Brunswick so it's upscale, a little pricey and not a 100% authentic but what does that really mean these days? The taste is authentic,the selection is wonderful and the choices spot on . read more

Amazing!! Cute cafe with tons of to-go options and a small market. Today I got the pork bun, the morning bun, and the duck Bahn Mi. The pork bun was moist and flavorful. The morning bun was the perfect combination of savory and sweet. The Bahn mi could have had crispier bread and more pickled veg, but the flavor was there and the duck was so tender!! Go here and support a wonderful local business! read more

Fabulous food in a quaint setting -- just what a like -- limited seating. Can't wait to go back again and try other dishes. Don't miss this unique cafe & market. read more

We ordered the shaomai skewers, rice roll (fan tuan) and inari. Dumpling filling was lukewarm, wrapper soggy and obviously had sat too long in the display case. Fan tuan was made to order and the rice to filling ratio wasn't good. Just way more rice than I am used to. And the inari was simply ok. Overall it seems pretty expensive for the quality you get. read more

The chef here is JAMES BEARD AWARD WINNING. In Brunswick, me? Everyone, try this restaurant and support her presence! We need more great restaurants like this in the area! read more

This place is insanely good. Their Sichuan cuisine is the real deal. Brunswick is very lucky to have a place like this. The shao mai smash burger is delicious, their homemade chili crisp is outta sight. The mapo doufu is the best I've ever had. Don't sleep on this place. They even have a little market with Asian products that you can't find anywhere else in the midcoast. read more

Best Pork Buns in Midcoast Maine! A little difficult to locate as the signage was lacking BUT worth the effort to seek them out! Try them!

AMAZING OMG. I didn't know this place existed but I am so glad I found it. Amazing boba. Even better small snacks. AMAZING prices. Addictive comfort food. I will be coming here every day after school. read more

Absolutely sensational!! Atmosphere is extremely cute, layout is a small market with sit-down tables and a counter to order at. The king pao cauliflower was super spicy, but ADDICTIVE. Be sure to order a side of rice with it! The bubble teas were over the top good, arguably the best matcha I have ever had. The server even offered to make a vegan thai tea, and it was incredible!! The cold sesame noodles were delicious, creamy, and flavorful, and a good entree. The inari (with shiitake mushrooms) was the perfect appetizer and exactly the right amount of sweet and savory. The cucumber salad was not incredible, but it was a bit refreshing. Overall, this place, while it may be a hidden gem, has got to be one of the top 10 asian cuisine restaurants in southern maine. it was also extremely affordable, 40$ for food and drinks to fill up 3. Service was impeccable, was attended to quickly and all the employees were very nice. Will absolutely be coming back here! read more