Bao Bao Dumpling House

Loved the ambiance of Bao Bao Dumpling House. Drawback is every time you want to order something you have to get up and place the order at the front counter. Drinks, an extra bowl of rice, dessert have to be rang up at the front counter. We will definitely return and try some other dishes! Excellent customer service!!

Came after work with a few coworkers and it was just what we were looking for. Think we tried everything on the menu basically. The dumplings are great prefer the steamed ones but all were excellent. I will pass on the crab rangoon next time just because not much flavor and overcooked a bit. Will definitely be going back for more. But the hot teas, wine and cocktails were all excellent.

This was an interesting experience, when you first walk in, the ambience is really relaxing yet elegant and full of culture. I was instructed to sit at a table and was told that when I was ready, I could view my menu, and once I knew what I wanted, I had to get up and walk to the counter, place my order, pay for the food (prior to getting it) and then walk back to my table. For the price of the food, and the fact that tipping is essentially implied (make sure you tip your wait staff well) I think this is a bad choice and customers shouldn't have to get up and order their own food for this price point. The food itself was interesting. For being called "Bao Bao Dumpling House," they had surprisingly no Bao bun choices. The menu was small and had not many items that sounded appealing. The dumplings I ordered, where a-mazing, and the best part of the meal, but the main dish, a sticky rice with pork wrapped in a leaf, was disappointing and cumbersome to eat. The thai tea tasted horrible and it was replaced with a lychee mocktail and it was good. Overall, probably wouldn't go back, this felt like an experience that left me feeling hungry and like I overpaid.

Went for a quick dinner. Spent about 45 mins there and was well worth it. We had the slaw which was outstanding and a few orders of the dumplings. So flavorful. The ordering is a little annoying as you have go up to the counter every time you want something, even a drink if your at the bar. Small inconvenience tor an outstanding meal.

Very cute spot. We were a little thrown off by the QR code menus and ordering at the counter instead of our table, but the food and tea was delicious. Beef bulgogi dumplings were my favorite.

Highly recommend the Beef Bulgogi dumplings; they are soft and crunchy and probably one of the best dumplings ever. The Maine crab rangoon egg rolls are good but sometimes very salty. The vegetarian chow mein has so much flavor and is an excellent option to share. I went at 6:30 pm and couldn't get the shrimp dumplings and Lo main fan, so try going early because it is a very popular place, and some dishes are gone in a few hours.

Great, authentic Asian cuisine! Plates are large enough to share or eat on your own. I would recommend trying a number of dishes and sharing so you can try all the wonderful things!! I hear it is usually busy and sometimes hard to get in, but I think we lucked out as there were plenty of open tables. The service is quick and pleasant. I would highly recommend Bao Bao!

My wife and I really wanted to like this place more than we did. We love Asian food, especially dumplings, but we were a bit let down. We sat at the bar with an extremely friendly and fun bartender. Getting the food out was very slow, when it did come out, we were a bit disappointed. The dumplings were rather bland, the somen noodles were ok, the smashed cucumbers were good. Not a place I would rush back to.

We went here on a Saturday night. We left there spending $80 for two people and were still hungry. We found the service so-so. You order at the counter but there's an expectation of a tip on the screen, which felt odd given there's no table service. They gave very small portions. $10 for a small side portion of cucumbers, $13 for 6 dumplings, and $10 for a small side of bok choy. The food was all missing some flavor to it. We wouldn't return, Trader Joe's sells better frozen dumplings. I'm not really sure the buzz about this place. It's a miss for me.

Another great recommendation from some people online and probably one of my favorite meals while in Portland. They don't do reservations so we figured we would walk up and check it out. Pretty surprised that it wasn't busy, even though it was a Wednesday night. We got seated in the corner near the front door which gave us a lot of room. You check out their menu (QR code), you place your full order at the counter, and they bring everything out as it's ready. All their cocktails/mocktails (except 1) are named after 80s movies which is a cool touch. We got the Raiders of the Lost Ark and the Back to the Future. Raiders was more of a tiki bar/tropical drink, very good. Back to the Future was a little more refreshing. Guy at the register recommended about 4-5 dishes for two people do that helped us narrow our choices. Got a Smashed Cucumber Salad, Somen Noodles, Shrimp & Ginger dumplings, Beef Bulgogi dumplings, an order of wings, rice, and fried mochi balls (peanut). Things came out pretty quickly and eventually we started running out of room on our table. Cucumber salad had really good spice to it. Somen noodles were so good, there was a lot of crispy shallots and the whole bowl was a big portion. Shrimp and ginger dumplings were good but those bulgogi dumplings with the dipping sauce really was the best thing on the menu. Super meaty, great bulgogi flavor, and I don't know what that dipping sauce is but it's a top 5 sauce. Wings we're lightly crispy, salty but had a little sweet and spicy going on too. Lastly, the fried mochi ball with the peanut was the perfect, not too sweet, ending. Almost like a peanut butter inside. Definitely a filling meal, inside of the restaurant is beautiful, and the serving staff was on point. Definitely worth a walk for dinner (there's no parking really).

Heaven is a place on Earth, and it's Bao Bao Dumpling House. This has been one of my top go-to's for years - both dine in & takeout. It has such a cool vibe and you can't help but feel comfortable and relaxed there. Love the decorating! Staff always seem to really know their stuff, and the service is almost always top notch. Highly recommend the Beef Bulgogi dumplings. They have so much flavor packed into a little dumpling, and the dipping sauce is perfect with them. Have had quite a few of the other dumplings as well. They are all wonderful but the beef Bulgogi takes the cake. In runner up, the lo mai fan is also pretty epic! It's absolutely delicious, plus you get to unwrap it like the gift that it is! When they have them, the golden purses are also delicious, as well as many other of the rotating menu items / specials. They have a great bar as well if you are looking for a unique, tasty drink. The only thing I would change is that I wish so badly they would start serving lunch again.

Our first time to the Bao Bao Dumpling House and it will not be our last. The one thing not pictured was our signature drive. So good and unique! Wait staff is very attentive and one the spot with answering questions and attending to tables need.

I tried this spot for dinner on the way to Massachusetts and it was great that we were able to get in and eat pretty quickly but I had mixed reviews on the food and experience, so I'm not sure I would recommend it. We tried a few different types of dumplings (which I had high hopes for) and I found them to either be fishy or a little off tasting. I didn't enjoy. We also tried the cold somen noodles. They were good but incredibly spicy. The experience was also just ok. The tables were close together and we had to go up to the cash register to order food, which I thought was annoying. The line would back up through the restaurant.

Too greasy and too salty. We miss the cooking of the Portland-based chef. BaoBao@Tao in Brunswick is merger of the Portland BaoBao Dumpling House and a restaurant that previously occupied the Brunswick site. The service was good. We were at the Brunswick restaurant a few days after it re-opened with a new chef. Server asked how was the food. We replied, rather salty. After leaving, I felt we could have given more feedback, so here it is. The pot-stickers were doughy and under-filled. (Yes, inflation.) Ours was not the only table to have to saw the five potstickers apart; the potstickers arrived in a cohesive slab. The food was overly oily. Too greasy and too salty. Does not measure up to home cooking or the former BaoBao experience.

Nice atmosphere but small. 40 minute wait so we decided to order to go, and they quoted 30 minutes for the to go food. Ordered and left, they called with a table 15 minutes later. Instead we waited about 40 minutes for our to go order because it wasn't ready when I returned after 30 minutes. It was unfortunate we weren't able to eat there. Our overall cost was 110, 4 people with 3 dumplings, 2 mains and crab wonton eggrolls. It was shockingly little food. These were the tiniest dumplings I've had, at $14 per order.... the crab Rangoon wonton eggrolls was the best thing we ordered. The dumplings were good, nothing unique in my view. The main courses were small enough to not even fill a pint container. With so many great choices, I wish we had chosen somewhere else.

Strong, punchy, and bold flavors, casual dining experience, and a nice cozy ambiance. The only reason I'm not giving this 5 stars is that the portion sizes are a bit small for what you're paying for, plus, the garnishes and additions were the same across every dish: always scallions. Perhaps try some radish pickles, cilantro, carrot, or anything else for variety.

It was a long walk when you're hungry for dinner and stayed in a downtown hotel in Portland. But, I'm happy that we made it. Especially when we arrived we didn't have to wait much. The staff was so nice and patient at telling us how it works: you get seated first, check out the menu and go up to the bar area to put in orders. Then food and drinks get taken to your table. I loved some of the twists they put on the traditional Chinese dishes. Or maybe it wasn't deliberate, the inauthenticity felt genuine but it was quite alright because the result tasted good and interesting! And that applied to every dish we ordered that night. The space is cute and people kept streaming in. Feels like a favorite of locals'. I'm glad we made the trip and found this spot!

Bao Bao is an amazing restaurant in Maine or any town. The food is delicious, unique, and well prepared. The beer selection is also solid. Staff always seem friendly and helpful. The reason for the low review is that Bao too often is not open, currently for an extended period, and the reason is "staff shortages." It is hard to believe that Bao has more difficulty than other successful restaurants in finding staff, still Bao had this problem often. Similarly, a sister restaurant in Brunswick, Tao, has not been open regularly since 2020 again due to "staff shortages." We find it hard to believe that Bao for some valid reason can't find staff while other restaurants can. Disappointing business model, despite having a world class head chef.

This was a very fun experience; I'd describe Bao Bao to a similar experience to that of Spanish Tapas. Small plates; Bulgogi dumpling was the table's definite favorite. I didn't see any soup dumplings-that was one dish I was really hoping to find here at Bao Boa's in Portland. Would definitely recommend checking this place out. Also, waitstaff was extremely great from the time we were greeted to getting the check -excellent customer service.

Cozy little spot we checked out on a cold December night. First thing scorpion bowl.... So good It was made with fresh fruit and it was sublime! Bang bang chicken... BAM hits you in the face fireeeee, but I kept wanting more. Dumplings so good, sad they did not have Bao which is odd hence the name, ohhh and the crab Rangoon will bring me back again!

Great food, fun ambiance! Loved our visit to the Dumpling House! Perfect for a date night or a night out on the town. Love the ability to sample a variety of food! Great experience!

I have been going here for the past few years and the food has always been consistently good. During the initial Covid challenge, their take out was just as good as eating in. Unfortunately, they have really slipped with their quality. They have stated that they are short handed but all Portland eateries have been. They now have a very restricted "take out" business. I ordered my fav dumplings, the beef bulgogi and the amazing dipping sauce that accompanies it. I also tried the "eighty ate" slaw and Somen noodles. I purchased four orders of the seared Beef Bulgogi. The carmelization went too far and they were all burnt. You could see and smell this very easily, extremely off putting. To send this out to an unsuspecting customer is just wrong! What an extreme disappointment. The amount of delicious sauce was meager to say the least. Also, the slaw was less than half filled in its container and not memorable. Both cold dishes lacked flavor. I am not used to this from Bao Bao. If they sent this out to me while dining in, it would have gone back. I know the quality that they can put out. It just isn't there right now. Over charged and underwhelmed!

Bao Bao Dumpling House is a modern Asian restaurant serving its take on Chinese cuisines. I like the interior, the bar ceiling is low making it more intimate. The rest of the restaurant felt more open with a higher ceiling, natural lighting and creative artwork. The street parking situation around these parts depends on how busy the area is, can be tricky. Bulgogi Dumplings- Pan Fried. Ultra salty. I've seen a lot of reviews stating the food can be salty and I agreed. The filling was unpleasantly salty and was hard to get through. The sauce didn't help. Somen Noodles- Sambal, scallion, sesame, crispy shallots on thin Japanese noodles. This was served chilled so it was refreshing during the summer. I would have liked more veggie toppings for balance since the sauce was tangy but I still enjoyed it. Overall Service: The ambiance looks fun and hip but the service didn't exhibit that. We sat at the bar both times we were here, it wasn't bustling during those times. The staff took our drink and food order, here they are, eat and off we go with very little interaction.

Sad to see the sign they are closed due to staff shortage, hope they are able to open soon.

My partner and I really love Bao Bao. We ordered from them a lot during the wintertime, and we've eaten in a few times since they reopened indoor seating this spring. The food is reliably good. There is an impetus on inclusion, i.e. it's very queer-friendly and they basically have a sign on the door that says you need to be kind to dine with them. I like what they stand for. I always feel welcome. As far as food goes, I know it's all about the dumplings, but as a vegetarian, I wish they had more veg-friendly dumpling options. I always get the mushroom ones but just wish there was more for me in that domain. However, two of my absolute FAVORITE things that Bao Bao does that I can't get anywhere else are the Somen Noodles (seriously, they're soooo good) and the Smashed Cucumbers. I definitely recommend this spot. The inside is a bit dark but very cozy and a perfect place for a date night. Oh, and the cocktails are delicious and currently named after all the Clue characters. So fun!

Prawn and ginger dumplings, shiitake dumplings, somen noodles, cucumber salad, bokchoy, eggplant with black bean sauce, all fresh, balanced and vibrant. Attentive, friendly service. Nice tap beer variety, several local options. Relaxing spot! Really enjoyed.

Great food and atmosphere. I've been in and out of town for a of couple weeks for work and can't help but always come here. Revolving menu that never seems to disappoint. The lamb and celery dumplings are mouth watering and they just added an aged duck dish that was so good I actually ordered a second helping.

Excellent takeout dumplings for lunch today. My wife and I got an order of the pork and chive dumplings which were very good, but the beef bulgogi dumplings were amazing...super creative and flavorful. I was licking the inside of the little plastic container of dipping sauce that came with them after we finished the dumplings. Their COVID protocols were very strict and a bit impersonal so I cannot really comment on the service, etc. The beef bulgogi dumplings are worth the visit regardless.

Good vibe. Very nice food. Dumplings are a nice mix of types. The pay first method is very efficient. Great drink selection. This place has gotten much better since it first opened. Would love to see a couple fish options and more vegetarian stuff featured!

Their Crab Rangoon is probably the best Rangoon I've ever had. You can taste the meat and it's fresh, and it's not overpowering with cream cheese. Amazing! The shrimp and ginger dumpling was also one of my favorites, and cooked perfectly. We ordered their cocktail special "strawberry splash," and it was also perfect--but not too sweet. Definitely check it out--I've lived in the area for 4 years and today was a first!

Went to dinner with another couple. You MUST get there early or make a reservation. Place is busy and for.gopd reason. We had seven different dishes amongst us. All were great so poo nly going to highlight three most outstanding Wings - WOW. I'm a dry rub oven guy, these were wet and fries. The sauce is amazing and the texture was great. Fried dumplings - cannot get enough of these. Top 5 dumplings anywhere. Filling was amazing. Steamed dumpling texture juxtaposed by try he crispy fried side... More, please Cucumbers - fresh, cleansing plate. Great balance to some.of the richer dishes.

Oh, yeah. These are DEFINITELY hipster dumplings. What does that even mean? It means, this is not the definition of what your typical dumplings would be. In fact, there weren't many dumplings at all! Why, would this be a dumpling house if there aren't many dumplings? Would you call IHop, IHop if there weren't many pancakes?! The answer: no. We came in for the Sunday Brunch Dim Sum and ordered the "Shao Mai" (not Shumai, but it is), Pork & Chinese Chive Pot Stickers, Golden Purse Wontons, Pork Bun, and the Cheung Fun Rolls. The "Shao Mai" was my favorite, though they are a bit tinier than your usual Shumai, but just as delicious. Next favorite, the Pork & Chinese Chive Pot Stickers. The pot stickers were moist inside and perfectly folded. However, I DID NOT LIKE THE SAUCE. No flavor, and all spicy. Leave this "dumpling" alone! Everything else, I did not like. The Golden Purse was tiny & overfried, the Cheung Fun Rolls, I took a bite and gave the rest to my boyfriend, and the Pork Bun... wasn't even expanded! It was ONE bun, and very flat and bland.

10-17-19 OMG- Always a treat Asian slaw Beef bulgogi dumplings Habenero shiitake dumplings Kung pap dumplings Eggplant dish- just so so Red bean sweet ball for dessert. See you again Bao Bao Always makes me smile whenever I eat Today I took an 83 year old here for his first visit. He loved it as much as I do. Asian slaw, Shu mai Pork & scallion dumplings Kung pao chicken dumplings Bao Balls Dessert were decadent red bean sweet sesame Balls. Another 10* meal

OMG. So good. There were 3 of us so we each ordered a dumpling. My favorite was the bulgogi. So tasty. We also ordered the "slaw" to ensure we had a vegetable and were not disappointed. Add to that 3 small bowls of rice, a tea egg and fried mochi for dessert. The plates were clean and we wanted to lick them. The atmosphere is very upbeat and the staff amazing. Thank you for a great meal.

We arrived at about 8pm and once finally the hostess noticed us she pointed us in the direction of our seats. After waiting 20 minutes the bartender came over and told us we had to go to the counter to order. Okay, not a huge deal it was our 1st time here so we didn't think too much of it at that point. Drinks then came slowly and were mediocre at best. The hot sake was luke warm. Then came the dumplings! We were so excited! Ugh the disappointment set in quickly. These are no better than the frozen section of the supermarket. In fact the frozen ones may be better. We also got an order of Shaomai. This came out from the kitchen around 9pm at which point we noticed it had been sitting there because it was so dry and stuck to the bottom. Clearly, it was forgotten (until we asked if it was coming). After the 1st bite the hostess came over and told us to wrap it up because they were closing. All in all terrible. I'm super bummed I have wanted to come here for so long!

This is great spot. Dumplings were very tasty. Would definitely return again and again and again.

Super tasty. The slaw was an explosion of flavor, the dumplings had multiple levels of flavor. I cannot wait to visit this wonderful establishment again!

Came after work with a few coworkers and it was just what we were looking for. Think we tried everything on the menu basically. The dumplings are great prefer the steamed ones but all were excellent. I will pass on the crab rangoon next time just because not much flavor and overcooked a bit. Will definitely be going back for more. But the hot teas, wine and cocktails were all excellent.

Headed to Portland, ME with my boyfriend for a foodie trip. My brother went to school at UNE and recommended this restaurant for delicious dumplings. Some of the best dumplings I've ever had and staff was friendly and welcoming.

For context I have high standards for Chinese food having grown up eating it and making it. I think bao bao has new and fresh ideas on flavor combinations while trying to incorporate traditional elements. Having said that I was disappointed by the food. The Kung Pao dumplings had the strangest texture. The lamb skewer had good flavor but was greasy. The ants climbing a tree had the best szechuan peppercorn kick but was unbalanced on the flavor. The bok Choy I had was fresh and delicious. Overall the food was oily.

Holy bao (I'm so sorry). We didn't actually have any bao, but we got Habanero Shrimp and Shiitake dumplings, Shiitake dumplings, Three Treasures dumplings, Bok Choy, Slaw, Somen Noodles, and a coconut ball, a red bean ball, and a sesame ball. Everything was so flavorful and intentional. My photos do it no justice but my stomach will remember the deliciousness. Thanks for accommodating curbside pickup!

I have been wanting to try Bao Bao for quite some time, as I love dumplings and have heard good things about what Bao Bao has to offer. I was able to try Bao Bao for the first time last night during their Mast Landing Tap Takeover...what could be better than local craft beer and dumplings?! Bao Bao has a small venue, but they have decorated it with some Asian-inspired paintings and decor with a touch of modernity. There are some bench-like booths with tables, and they also have seating at their bar. Their bar is pretty unique as it is almost set apart from the restaurant, but it adds to the modern flair that Bao Bao exudes. Walking in to Bao Bao, it was bustling with people. Being that we planned on being a party of four (we were waiting for two friends to join us), we figured that we would have to wait due to lack of seating and that our full party had not arrived yet. We were quickly greeted by the hostess, and she was quick to pull two tables together for our party of four and sat us down right away, even with our full party not there yet. This was something that I appreciated. Once seated, we were then greeted by our waitress who was really nice. She asked us for our drink order, and of course we ended up ordering some Mast Landing beers. The tap takeover idea was kind of cool because they dedicated the menu to Mast Landing, and they provided some pairing options to go with the beer that they were featuring. It took a while to get our drinks, but it was also busy and our waitress was apologetic. For food, we ended up ordering two kinds of dumplings: the pork and scallion, and the chicken and red curry. To go with our dumplings, we also decided to order the Asian slaw. I'm not sure if it's because it was a tap takeover night, but I was slightly disappointed by the lack of dumpling options. There were only three choices, but with it being a dumpling establishment, I was hoping for more. However, we were excited to try out our dumplings. With it being as busy as it was, we got our food fairly fast. The Asian slaw was tangy, a little sweet, and had a nice crunch to it. The portion of the Asian slaw was also fairly large. The pork and scallion dumpling wasn't my favorite, but that could possibly be just me. I prefer pan-fried dumplings, and these were boiled. They were good, just not my favorite. However, the chicken and red curry dumplings were amazeballs. I could have basked in their pan-fried goodness for days. They were served with a coconut cream sauce, which was a nice contrast to the subtle heat of the curry, however, I liked dipping them in the soy sauce with added chili oil! For the prices, I think Bao Bao is a great establishment for either a full dinner, or just a place to grab a quick bite to eat with some drinks. I would definitely come back in hopes of trying more of their dumplings, and the events they hold, such as the Mast Landing Tap Takeover, are fun and add a unique touch to the experience!

I love dumplings. I thought I should begin with that to explain how AMAZING these dumplings are. They have so many flavors I've never even thought of before. We had the Kung pao chicken and shao mai. I normally like the steamed more, but these were a little different than I've had before! They weren't filled with broth like happens some times. But the chicken ones were the best in my opinion! They were so well seasoned and they had whole peanuts in them!! I would definitely recommend this place during your trip!!

Definitely not impressed. I do not mind ordering from the register, but tipping before you receive service is not something I want to do- especially when service is mediocre at best. Our food was not good, and the ginger shrimp dumplings were gloopy inside and felt raw. The only dish we liked out of 4 was the duck.

Great Chinese dumpling place with a fun atmosphere and flavorful food. They don't take reservations but we arrived and were able to immediately get a table. They require you to wear masks when not seated. We ordered some dumplings, warm and cold dishes and dim sum. I loved the somen noodles which was a cold noodle dish with some spice at the end and crunchy pieces which added a nice textural piece. The crab Rangoon dumplings were crispy and I could've had multiple orders of. The Kung Pao Chicken dumplings had peanuts in the dumplings which added a nice nutty flavor. The steamed buns my boyfriend got was his favorite dish of the night, since it was wrapped in what looked like a banana leaf or seaweed? The salsa paired with the rice and pork added a nice fresh element. It was nice to taste multiple dishes and have a different dining experience.

Who doesn't love dumplings? Every ethnicity has their own version ( Ravioli, Gnocchi, Pierogi, Empanada, Wonton). This place makes some righteous, delicious dumplings. We ordered the Bulgogi Beef, and the Habanero Shrimp dumplings and the Asian slaw. Light, refreshing, unique and absolutely delicious. Cabbage, pea pods, carrots, shallots and peanuts in a light vinaigrette provided the perfect salty, crunchy starter. Who would have known cabbage and peanuts tasted so good together? Best slaw I have ever had. A real flavor bomb. The Bulgogi Beef was amazing. The beef tender, rich and unctuous. A hard sear added a great textural note to the dumplings. The accompanying sauce put the dish over the top. The Habanero Shrimp was very flavorful and was a nice contrast against the beef. Well balanced. The food was fresh, delicious and well executed. Highly recommend! Cannot wait to return.

The Shiitake Wontons and the beef bulgogi dumplings are sooo good!! The staff is really warm and friendly and give great recommendations! Would definitely go again on my next visit to Maine!

Stopped by for dinner, excited to eat dumplings. I would rate the experience as 3.5 stars overall. Great atmosphere, decent service (but not full table service) and good food. We ordered shrimp and ginger dumplings, the shrimp and pork ones and the mushroom dumplings. They were not as flavorful as I would've hoped. The mushroom broth was the best of these 3 dishes. We ordered the cauliflower and the duck noodle dishes. The cauliflower was the best dish of the evening, but a little on the salty side. It had delicious flavor and I almost ordered a second one. The noodle dish was also great, a good spicy heat but not overbearing. The duck was perfectly cooked. So overall a decent meal, we were not wowed with the dumplings.

Got to experience their lunch special today and it was delicious with surprisingly ample portions. Lunch special is served Wed-Fri from 11:30am-4pm, and you get to choose 3 dishes (app, dumpling main, dessert) for $13.88. They also have a happy hour from 4-6pm on Wed-Fri...so I suppose the best way to do this is show up toward the end of the lunch special and then drink your way into HH! My friend and I shared the following: APPS -Asian slaw: HUGE pile of flavorful slaw with great bits of crunchy peanuts and other crispy fried goodies to add texture. -Smashed Cucumbers: fresh, flavorful, and a little kick of spice! MAIN -Pork & scallion: solid, pan-fried goodness -Vegetarian potsticker: today's offering was eggplant, green peppers and potatoes - an incredibly delicious combo...these were AMAZING and I'm not vegetarian. DESSERT -sesame ball with chocolate and peanut butter inside: perfectly light, and subtly rich way to end lunch We also shared a large carafe of hot sake ($9) which we put away no problem. At 11:45am on this particular winter Wednesday, there were only 2 other parties and we got the lovely window table. Service was friendly, informative, and let us enjoy a nice long convo. Solid lunch special I'd absolutely come back for!

A really fun place to go, cool atmosphere and overall good food. Every time I go we get a smattering of food, usually one or two items from each section of the menu. The last time I was there I got the bulgogi dumplings, the duck and mango sandwich, the crab rangoons, and the crushed cucumber. I loved the cucumber and the bulgogi, the duck was good but was reallly heavy on the mango, and the crab rangoons were beyond salted. I am someone who adds salt to everything, and these were just too salty. Tasted like the crab came straight from the ocean and they put in some sea water for good measure. I wanted to like them, but ended up leaving some on the plate. The bulgogi dumplings however... beyond delicious. I wish I had ordered two of them instead of the Rangoon. Great flavors, great crisp on the bottoms, came with an amazing sauce. So tasty!

Sue me. I ate zero lobster rolls when I was in Maine. Somehow, this Californian wanted dumplings the whole time and coincidentally, they have this industry-known Bao Bao Dumpling House. It was recommended by my AirBnb host who works in the restaurant industry. These are the best dumplings I've had in my life and while they're not especially authentic, the flavors are innovative. I sat at the bar and service was friendly and fast. He recommended the bulgogi beef dumplings, pan fried. I ate them all and tried to savor it. They have a lunch happy hour menu that I wish I could've returned for before my flight home.

The stress of not being able to split checks for a group took this from a 3 star review to a 2 star review. When a group that doesn't appear like a family comes in, you should mentioned that the bill can't be split upfront. The service was good, but the food was mediocre. I ordered Asian slaw, vegetables in oyster sauce, and the tofu and fish dumplings. The slaw and vegetables were much larger portions than expected. The slaw was overly salty (very, very salty) while the vegetables were a bit flavorless and basically raw. The flavorlessness surprised me because oyster sauce tends to be strongly flavored, in my experience. The fact that the vegetables were hard and crunchy (undercooked, imo) was further disappointing. The tofu dumplings were okay. The fish ones were not...both the texture and taste were offensive. Maybe I'm just spoiled from living in a predominantly Asian community with great restaurants, but I wouldn't come here again unless I had to. I feel bad for people who think these are really great dumplings.

I went with a group of friends and few weeks ago. I never been so another first for me. My friends rave about this place and suggested I try everything. At first I did not think that was possible but with a group of eight, we each ordered two dumpling options and covered pretty much every item on the dumpling side. You get many choices and I am torn between steamed and fried. But leaning towards steamed. They were great. I also lean towards the chicken and veggie options but that is me not necessarily about the food itself. Presentation and atmosphere were top notch. We actually closed he kitchen so be aware of time when you go in.

This is a lovely dumpling restaurant at the fringe of the arts district. The interior is a big winner. Great space with high ceilings and a tastefully decorated modern Asian motif. The bar is also perfect, a bit sunken and surrounded by a long row of dining bar stools. Great looking place for small groups and couples of all ages. As for the food, a few minor issues. I went as a solo diner, and the menu is very unfriendly to a solo diner. The dumplings come in orders of six, no mixing and matching. Even the lunch special was ten dumplings plus Asian slaw, but once again, the choice was limited to two kinds, and ''all ten' of the dumplings must be one kind. Being I wasn't going for a big meal, I had only one order of six, the chicken cashew dumpling. The skin was good, a bit on the firm side, and the contents taste homemade. The issue was cilantro dominated the flavor, and it wasn't a win for me. Other than that, the ginger/peach tea was freshly steeped to perfection. The service was friendly and attentive. It was busy as it's uniqueness has the market somewhat cornered. I would recommend you give it a try, and I would return if the menu was modified a bit.

My husband and I came here for dinner tonight but it was a disappointment. We ordered the beef bulgogi dumplings, the vegan mushroom wontons, the cauliflower dish and tofu kung pao rice dish. The beef bulgogi was ok. The vegan mushroom wontons were alright, they lacked texture (perhaps adding some veggies in the filling would make it tastier), the cauliflower with soy sauce was way too salty, the tofu kung pao rice dish was way too spicy and once you bite into the tofu, there's no flavor. We have had better dumplings and Chinese food elsewhere. We do not recommend this eatery.

Very friendly staff, nice crowd. Nice city. Great dumplings, good atmosphere, good soup but just hard to get a seat. Fortunately they have take-out!

It's been a bit since my family and I ate here. We'd ordered takeout during the pandemic and the dumplings had arrived clumped together. But deciding at the last minute to celebrate a milestone we headed here as it has a no reservation policy and we thought we'd might get lucky. Upon arrival there was a four top available and we waited for the server to seat us. She greeted us and indicated she just needed to wipe it down. Before we could sit however the party of three behind us demanded to be seated first. The hostess came over to us and explained that they had a reservation - but I pointed out they only allow reservations for parties of 8. To which she said they were friends of the owners. Then another host came up to us and offered the bar - but we had our 12 year old with us and again this was a special occasion - and quite frankly we were there first. We declined and the host said that they did not have a formal wait list but that we could wait for the next table outside. I explained that we didn't think this was handled appropriately. He then said they were short staffed. However when I explained this didn't seem to be a staffing issue. He then said that the other party had called 2 hours before - when we explained that the other host said they were family friends and we understood no reservations - he said that they weren't family friends and they don't take reservations but they allow you to call for a waitlist. This is news to us - but I assume they weren't guaranteed a table. At this point we left - the contradictory excuses and allowing another party that had arrived behind us to jump the line is not a good look. We obviously won't return and we'd caution you to carefully consider it as well. There are so many excellent restaurants that adhere to their own policies without preferential treatment.