Bao Sandwich Bar

I have wanted to try this place out for a while and it did not disappoint when I finally made it! I got two baos - the pork belly and chicken katsu - and my husband got the one bao combo with the Seoul beef bao, small fries, and drink. All the baos were incredibly delicious and very generous sizes. The fries were a bit on the salty side, but it was quite a big portion for being labelled "small." I look forward to going back and trying the other baos on their menu!

Mediocre food. I got a chicken katsu on a bun. It was an upsize from the bao but I assumed it would be a fluffy homemade bun. No it was a gross regular bland baguette. Why offer this at a bao place? My main concern was how dirty it was inside. Years of dirt never cleaned. If it looks like that in their dining area im sure their kitchen is disgusting. Won't be coming back

It’s like stepping into an industrial-styled-millennial-burger-joint but WAY BETTER. Instead of burgers it’s top notch Asian tacos that taste surprisingly authentic. Peking duck taco is a must try!

The fries we got were cold, and some pieces still had super cold spots inside, which was pretty unpleasant. The baos were good overall, but the duck bao I had contained a lot of fat in the meat, which made it less enjoyable. The staff was friendly, though it was really difficult to find the restaurant. Overall, not likely to return considering its quality and price.

First time trying this hole in the wall joint recommend by a friend. Would definitely come back next time I’m in the area. 5 spice belly bao was immaculately flavoured. Katsu bao was great as well with a minor hiccup - chicken was fried perfectly but it was a little too saucy and the sauce was a little too sweet. Sweet potato fries were slightly overcooked but were still good. Nice ambience, friendly staff, and overall a good place to eat!

Came here for lunch - went for the 2 bao, a side and a drink option and was surprised when the bill came up to 34.7 bucks! Definitely on the pricey side.. however, the baos were surprisingly filling. Enjoyed The Great Chicken bao but the spicy pork bao was a bit salty for my taste. Did not have much room left for salad so took that home with me. For drinks - I had the peach tea salad which was quite refreshing. This place is worth checking out if you are in the area and looking for something a little different, but be prepared to fork out a bit more than you would expect for baos.

Not your traditional Chinese bao's. Had duck which was fantastic. 10/10 Beef bulogi was great. 9/10 Pull pork was ok. 7/10 Marinated pork belly was the most traditional of all. 9/10 Place is hard to find. It is at the back of the building. There are no parking but there is some visitor and street parking if you can snatch one. Just wish it was easier to find for new customers. I had to circle around few times eventually resort to calling the restaurant. Staff was helpful on the phone in helping me identify the whereabouts of the restaurant.

got the chicken katsu, duck, and pork. 100% get the chicken katsu, so delicious and blew the other two out of the park. duck was probably the least favorite and pork was okay. if you like chicken, please get the katsu chicken!

Ohhh Canada, I salute you for the effort. Or should I say ohhh boa sandwich company. I mean, to dedicate an entire eatery to the clover Boa? It is a worthy cause indeed. Let's start with the good. Huuuuge Boa's! Easily the biggest I've ever seen. The bun is as good as they come, pillowy soft, yet strong enough to hold all of the ingredients that make up these massive sandwiches. Now as far as the food itself, well, disappointing to say the least. I tried the chicken katsu, crackle belly, and Seoul beef. All were technically flawed in various ways. The chicken katsu was the more enjoyable of the bunch, great on breading and flavor, but the chicken itself was tough and on dry side. The amount of beef in the Seoul beef is beyond generous, and actually tasty. But the kimchi does absolutely nothing to add to this. As far as the crackle belly? My oh my. Pork belly is my thing. I've had more than I could count. None as bad as this. The name crackle implies crispy. This cut of pork was so tough and overcooked with little to no fat, that i started to question if it was even ever from the belly itself. Surely this could not be the norm at boa sandwich bar. Maybe a bad day at the office? I would certainly hope so, because even with mild expectations, Bao sandwich bar falls waaaay short.

Had their chhicken katsu bao, which overall had a great taste and crunch. The chicken was well seasoned and remained juicy. The sauce added a great savoury flavour. However, the price point was way too high for what it is.

Went here on a Sunday lunch when we happen to be in Waterloo over the weekend. The place is sooo hidden in the alley that we spent almost 10-15mins going around the block just to look for the spot. Ended up calling the restaurant to get further instructions from the employee The baos were decent. We ended up getting the chicken katsu, fried chicken, and crackling belly baos. Chicken bao was bland, katsu had big portion but tasted okay.. If I were to come back, I'd order the porkbelly all over again. So much flavour & the crispiness of the porkbelly edges complimented the softness of the bao. Nice amount of pickled veggies too. Baos were $6+ each. Ordered thai iced tea which was around $4, but disappointed because it was watered down. Waited for food for about 10-15mins. Overall, 3/5.

Me and my friend wanted to go specifically for their halal options. It's in a kind of remote area that can feel a bit tricky to access if you're not familiar with the UW area. The atmosphere was not our type of vibe so we opted to eat outside instead. It felt kind of fratty and our cashier was cold. The actual baos though were amazing. It was our first time trying baos in general. We got the two halal chicken ones. They were full of flavour, satisfying to eat, and a pretty big portion size for the price. I would recommend trying (especially in the summer where you can enjoy the baos outside on the nearby benches). I will mention though, another time we ordered them off Doordash and took them with us to a local park. They weren't as good as the first time. The chicken was hard and chewy and there were less toppings. I'm glad the first experience was the best one.

I love this place! The bao's a little pricy for how small they are but the quality/flavours make it worth it. My favourite is the chicken katsu. Only thing I haven't loved was the thai tea. I would note that the location of this place is odd. Parking can be difficult. Overall, this is a place I have recommended to many and it has never let me down.

Visiting from the States with my family, we found Bao Sandwich Bar and decided to check it out. The staff is so friendly and welcoming. 10/10 recommend this place for all of your bao cravings!!

Bao Wow Bao has been a long time favorite of our for 3 years now Today we tried three different kinds. #1 Dynasty Duck This one was the most expensive bao out of the bunch but it did not disappoint. It had a rich flavor and texture and the sauce that went on it was both salty and sweet (bottom) #2 & #3 Avocado Banger The avocado was super soft with a crispy shell. The sauce almost tasted amazing as well. This option is perfect for vegetarians or avocado lovers (right and far left) #4 Sriracha Tofu This one had soy sauce on it and tasted amazing with the tofu. It was crispy and delicious. This is one of our go to at Bao Another personal favorite is the Katsu Chicken! We always get that one and wanted to try something different this time.

I'm always satisfied with my orders at here their soft and fluffy baos are stuffed with super fresh and flavourful fillings! this place is kinda hidden but I highly recommend!

The Bahn Mi is overpriced, I ordered a Dynasty Duck BM and I was expecting just duck meat. I got my order with a lot of fatty parts, and little duck meat. I know that meat usually comes with fat, but the order I got is just an insane amount of fat. Next time, don't just give all the fat to one customer's order.

I have mixed feeling for this location. The food is definitely 5/5, but there are other things that I did not like that makes me deduct their stars. The general feeling that I get is that Bao's management is quite stingy and cheap. They don't really turn on AC during the summer and it's quite hot eating in there. The wifi also sucks there, it doesn't connect and is very slow. Given that it's a basement location, I expect wifi to be basic necessity (since data won't work). The other thing that gets me is that you must pass by those overflowing garbage cans (from Sage) before you reach the restaurant. Sometimes you want to eat outside (during summer) and you can definitely smell the garbage where you're eating. Furthermore, they are a bit dishonest about their business practice. They encourage and ask if you want to make your meal "combo". However, unlike fastfood chains or other restaurants, their combo does NOT make it cheaper or anything. They only add more food to your "combo" at ITS ORIGINAL PRICE minus $0.5 (seriously? that's it?), you save nothing. My combo amounted to $20 and it's definitely not what I expected (adding kimchi fries, then you need to pay more if you want bulgogi). Like I said, the management seems quite stingy and cheap. The Thai Tea is also ridiculously small and it's quite expensive. I recommend you guys buying Chatime and bring it to the restaurant (it's a much better choice and value). If you really want Thai tea, go to Mimo Thai (it's nearby) or My Thai. The sandwiches are also quite over-priced. I understand they have a monopoly over viet sandwiches here in Waterloo, but it's still not an acceptable price range. Food quality is high, and I love their bao and baguette. The chalk-drawn menu is also creative and intriguing. But due to my explanations above, I'd only do take out there and buy my drinks somewhere else.

Always fresh and delicious!!! Duck dynasty and crackle pork !! Top it off with a Thai iced tea heaven!!!

Waterloo being a college and techie town seems to be able to punch above its weight in many respects, which includes food options. Bao in fact seems to be located at the ground floor of a mixed-use student housing building. So yes, the directions will bring you right into the parking lot of an apartment complex to reach the place and it's quite a 'hidden gem' as it's then down a half flight of stairs. Effectively, if you know Bahn Mi Boys then you'll know what to expect here for the menu - largely bao and bahn mi fusion-style sandwiches. I went with the 5 spice pork belly bao and really liked it. I can agree with other reviewers that the fat could've been rendered a little more, but it wasn't as off for as it may have been for others. My only complaint would've been that the added jalapeños I asked for were quite mild and likely had most of the seeds had been removed. I also went with the bulgogi on baguette. Really good quality for the beef and super tasty sauce it was in. I enjoyed the kimchi on it too, but it was also a bit milder than traditional kimchi. They've followed the model for Asian-fusion sandwiches quite well and if that's what you're looking for then you should be pleased - especially if you're out this way and no longer only have Toronto as an option for it.

I had the Duck Dynasty Bao and my husband had the Chicken banh mi. The duck was really delicious and definitely tastier than the chicken. The chicken was good if you are in the mood for deep fried chicken. The food came out fairly quickly considering how busy they were. They also have limited seating (especially in cold weather). This place was extremely hard to find. It's really off Larch street even though the address is Balsam.

Pretty freaking yum, kinda pricey for the portion you're getting. Got it when it was free thank you daddy wealth simple.

I saw the great reviews on Yelp so I had to come check the place out! There is only one vegetarian option, the Avocado Banger. The avocado was great, but the bao was cold and it was really lacking in sauce. However, price is reasonable. If you come, make sure you get the Thai milk tea! It's a specialty here and it's got a really unique flavour to it. This restaurant is a cozy place beneath an apartment, so it would probably be hard to find without guidance from friends that have already been there. It is a very popular food place; there was a line out the door. Verdict: Probably will not come back, as there is only one vegetarian option. However, there are lots of options for meat-eaters!

Ok i really wanted to love this place. Three of us got the everyday combo $69 plus tip so it was not cheap. I did live the kimchi fries and duck dynasty bao. The rest was just a large chunk if protein in a soft bun. The pork fat was still clear/ white. We said something and they did give us another one that was better cooked so I give them that. But the proteins are just to big . Cut the pork in half and give two slices, lighter breading on the chicken....if they did a kimchi and beef bao with that garlic sauce I could eat 10 . It's a popular so they got something but it could be so much better

Kind of pricey but the location is convenient right behind Lazaridis School of Business. The kimchi was not fermented properly which kind of ruined the experience of the Seoul fries and both Seoul Beef and Pork Bao. The milk tea was pretty good and refreshing. They both overall were good but I would have enjoyed everything more if the kimchi was better.

Need a pick me up after an intense study session? Head over to Bao Sandwich Bar! My favourite baos: Katsu Chicken, Five Spice Belly, and Seoul Beef. The kimchi bulgogi poutine is a must order - it's loaded with crispy fries, marinated beef, and crunchy kimchi. Bao Sandwich Bar is definitely not the cheapest option for sandwiches, but their ingredient-led, contemporary cuisine is worth the price. This place is a true hidden gem. It's located in the back of a condo building near Lazaridis. The space is small but inviting with rustic wood finishes, blending in with the Asian fusion flare. It's perfect for a casual relaxed meal yet cute enough for a special night out.

This is a lowkey place (behind a building and under stairs) with an exceptional atmosphere. Immediately the restaurant gives the feeling that you really are about to digest something delicious from the aromas and colourful chalk menu. I insisted for the kind worker to order for me after her repeated effort to remind me that her taste buds are biased. To my liking and not surprise, what she ordered (i believe a chicken katsu and pork-belly bao) was absolutely flavourful. For less than $10 these baos may look small but are stuffed and filled with taste. Also she provided me with the most optimal napkin count MVP. Definitely recommend this to any foody or anyone who just wants to be satisfied and feel full.

It is located around 2 universities, so definitely a place for students. It's hidden behind a residential building in the basement area. Indeed, it was tricky to find it. Ended up asking 2 locals walking by. The menu was a bit confusing but they had interesting choices. We tried dynasty duck and bulgogi beef banh mi (Viet sandwich). There's a small area to sit which was nice. Loud music was blasting from the speakers. Sadly the wait is long for your food, including the dessert. We tried the deep fried bao with chocolate ice cream. Not worth the $3. The sandwiches were filled with a good quantity of meat, but I still like it with pickled carrots and daikon/turnip. So it was missing the crunch. It was also smaller in size so I wasn't definitely full - for a girl. Verdict: I wouldn't go back to it. It was a bit pricey too. But I know it caters to the university students.

Like others have mentioned, the restaurant is hard to find and very little parking. The garbage bins out front smell absolutely disgusting, big turn off. The bao is good.

I was in Waterloo for work a few weeks ago. Naturally, snow was in the forecast. When it was time for my manager and me to go out and grab some lunch, the snow had just started to fall. My manager suggested going here before we were in Waterloo. We are both foodies, so we had already made our food plans. Priorities! The eatery is in a nondescript area. It's in what seem to be a residential apartment complex, across from Wilfred Laurier University. I had to cycle around the block twice to find parking on the street. When we were walking over to the restaurant, we figured out that there is a parking lot. I still don't know whether parking is for everyone or for residents only. Anyway, it was packed when we got there. I asked a clueless male student whether the two bench spots next to him were free. He seemed like the typical student who lacks social skills. Ah, memories of being an undergrad! I ordered a combo consisting of two baos (you can also do a banh mi instead), a side, and a drink. I went with the five-spice pork belly and duck baos, kimchi bulgogi triple-fried fries, and a Diet Coke. The baos were excellent. I loved the five-spice pork belly one more. The duck was decent, but the pork belly was far more flavourful and tender. The kimchi bulgogi fries blew my small mind. OMG! I could have ordered it as my main meal and would have been content in my little happy world. My manager had no idea how to order. It's funny that we are both good at planning. However, I am better at it when it comes to looking at menus and figuring out what I want. I guided him through the combo process, which the woman at the counter appreciated. Our combo choices were similar, except that he ordered the fried Nemo bao instead of the pork belly one. You can order takeout or dine in. It does get busy at lunch on a Friday afternoon. It did clear out by the time we left. I went back and ordered a couple of cookies -- chocolate chip and corn. So good! The downside is that orders are handled sequentially, so I had to wait ten minutes for two cookies. Since Waterloo is a university town, there is free wifi here. The wifi password is on the board by the main doors. I'd definitely come back here for some tasty eats. I told both my current co-op students about this place. They both live within walking distance, so I'm a bit envious! (72)

This place was a little hard to find for someone who came from out of town. It was behind a residential building, you have to walk on a dirt path beside the building that looks really sketchy. But the inside of the actual restaurant was nice and clean and open. We got a couple baos, but my favourite were the Seoul Beef and Five Spice Belly! Great flavours and very juicy. I thought each order comes with 2 baos, but it's only 1. Which is fine if you want to get lots of flavours and share with a friend. We also got the Dynasty Duck Poutine, which was really good too! If I'm ever in the city again I will definitely come back

I remembered the first time when I went there which was 3 yrs ago, the food used to be decent. The last time I went the food quality really went down a lot. I guess it is a student running business and most of the customers are students. I am concerning the hygiene of this place. Granted it was never super clean but during&after pandemic the place got worse. I will not return to the place again.

I came here yesterday and I've been wanting to come back for the longest time (last time I came was about 2-3 years ago) and since I don't live in Waterloo, it was difficult to come back. I'm pleased to say that it's just as good as I remember! I got the Seoul Beef and my friend got the 5 Spice Belly in the Gua Bao, both very good. The only reason I'm giving this place a 4-star is because the price is a little high for the amount you're getting. Other than that, it was great!

The not-so-hidden, hidden gem of fusion food that exists in Waterloo. If you know of those place, you've been blessed with the good quality food that comes out of this restaurant. Everything is made from fresh ingredients and made in-house, I've had most items on the menu by now, but decided to come in on a Sunday where they have a new feature, the Bao Eggs Benedict. It's served on an English muffin made out of Bao dough, and it's piled on with bacon, a beautifully poached egg, as well as kimchi hollandaise, togarashi flakes, and green onions. I opted in for a side of pickled carrot daikon to balance out the richness, definitely recommended. You'll see this placed riddled with a line on most nights, so the only downside of the food is the time it can take to receive it. Overall, a no-frills Thai-Vietnamese fusion restaurant that offers you all your bao staples, and a little more that keeps you coming back.

First time trying BAOs and man, calling it an asian taco was an understatement! After coming here a few times, my usual has now become one Chicken Little and one Chicken Katsu, along with the spring rolls and a drink to complete my meal. Both baos are absolutely delicious! The sauce pairing for both are amazing and the chicken always comes freshly made and crispy. Seating is limited but people are usually in and out quick so you can find space easily. They have a few tables and booths indoors as well as a couple tables outside. The staff here are sooo sweet! Everyone's always willing to give advice on what to try and are super friendly about it. Also compared to most restaurants, I've noticed that the staff are always on their toes and working. You never see people lazying around and trying to have side conversations, They work as a unit and all help each other out like a family, which made the place more welcoming. Overall, don't know where else I'll find baos this good. I highly recommend!

It was kinda hard to find, tucked away on the basement level of a building. Regardless of its location, the interior is cozy and well kept. I love the sudden rise in popularity of bao and the different fusions taken on the dish, so I was bumped to try out Bao Sandwhich Bar. I ordered one of the Dynasty Duck Bao and one of Five Spice Pork Bao. First of all, the bao itself is super fluffy and has a great texture, while still holding all of the meat within them. The duck had good flavour and went really well with the hoisin sauce and cucumbers. The Five Spice Pork was also really flavourful, and went well with the house made mayo. The presentation was obviously really nice, and I was thoroughly impressed with the quality and execution of each bao. Their menu boasted 6-8 variations, so theres lots to choose from in terms of flavours and meats. I also split an order of the kimchi fries. The bulgogi was a nice touch of savoury on top of the spicy/sour kimchi, but I kinda wished there was more on top. The toppings surprisingly didn't drench the fries that remained crispy. Overall, a really great choice for a nice take on baos in the Kitchener/Waterloo area! Would highly recommend to try it out and to return to give their unique fusion flavours a try!

I ate here about 2 weeks ago and I have to admit that this small place in Waterloo was worth trying. Upon walking in, you order your food at the counter and then find seats while waiting. There are a few tables inside and a handful more outside. This place was clean overall and washrooms were well maintained. I liked the variety of meats that you could put in your choice of bao buns and bahn mi sandwiches, ranging from pork belly to five spice pork to duck to avocado etc. They were all very reasonably priced as well. We got the five spice pork bao and the crispy pork belly bao since they were out of the duck bao and avocado bao when we got there for dinner on a Saturday. The crispy pork belly bao had good flavours but it wasn't as crispy as it should have been and a bit fatty for my taste. My husband and I liked the five spice pork bao better because of the smoky sauce with a kick to it and it was stuffed with a lot of pork. We also ordered the kimchee and bulgogi poutine which was tasty overall but I was disappointed in how we only got a few measly pieces of bulgogi and kimchee considering we had to pay about $10 to have both on it. We also had the Thai iced tea which was okay but we've had better. The place were pretty busy but managed to get our order out in about 20 minutes. Overall, this place gets 3.5 stars from me since it was better than average and worth a try but not so amazing that you should drive out of your way to eat here. It's a good choice if you happen to be in the area. I would be willing to come back again to try some of their other menu items in the future.

Really yummy bao located near UW! I've tried a couple of the menu items and they have all been good! The shop is a little hard to find as it is tucked away by an apartment building

I stopped in for lunch on business and had Spicy Pork Banh Mi- it was great! Slight twist on the classic, true sandwich but had good portion size and great flavor. Definitely a hole in the wall place, with a good sandwich and fast service.

***Directions: Enter through driveway on Larch Street, located on the right side, basement level. See map posted in photos.*** Dayum. Who knew Waterloo would have such a good bao place. I expected this to be a Banh Mi Boys copy-cat but they not only exceeded my expectations, but also exceeded Banh Mi Boys! The baos and kimchi fries are freakin delicious. I suggest to stay away from the pork belly bao though - the piece of pork belly in my bao was 70% fat and I ended up throwing most of it out. Everything else was pretty damn good though.

After discovering Bao Sandwich Bar on Yelp, I wanted to try it. It can be hard to find any bao or banh mi restaurants in the Region of Waterloo. The food was good but there was not only one single hair which may not ruin your appetite entirely but two strands of hair on our food. We discovered them on our food before we started eating, and I kept on pulling my bao apart to make sure that there wasn't any other hair. We didn't bother to complain because we did not want to wait for the food to come out again. My hubby and I tried Chicken Katsu, Dynasty Duck, Five Spice Belly and Seoul Beef Bulgogi baos and Kim Chi Fries with Bulgogi Beef. The bill was about $30. I liked Chicken Katsu and Seoul Beef Bulgogi baos the most. Dynasty Duck bao was disappointing, because the meat was overly dry and did not have any Peking duck taste to it. The location was difficult to find. This restaurant was on the main level at the back of a mixed commercial and residential building. It was next to a dust filled construction site and was surrounded by some townhouses. There were many unsightly black garbage bags about 30 metres away at Larch Street. Given my overall experience, would I come back? probably not.

Less than $5 for a delish little bao, so yes, you need at least 2. I tried the chicken katsu & seoul beef, both of which were yum, cuz they ran out of duck. By the way, the address is 62 Balsam but google takes you to the wrong side of the building. So walk around to the other side, facing the interior of the complex.

Delicious! Try the bulgogi and the avocado bao! The kimchi fries are also delicious and a must try!

This place is awesome. A hidden gem near the university, you'll have to look for it if you want to find it. It is not accessible from the street, you'll have to go into the courtyard of the apartment buildings to get to it. The food is Vietnamese / Asian Fusion. Get the Bao, get a banh mi, and get the duck poutine. Thank me later!

Bao is the best. Crackle belly bao and chicken katsu is my favourite. The thai iced tea is a must as well! They have an appetizer you can get for half price if you get two bao's (or banh mi) and a drink. It was not greasy tasting, the bao is soft and very worth it! The fries are very good (a small already has a lot, if you don't eat a lot, do not get the large). It can get crowded during the day, but getting takeout isn't a problem. Wifi also available in store as well.

The food here is delicious. I had the Duck Dynasty banh mi. Their fries are remarkable. None of that cardboard crap. Tastes great without sauce.

Like the idea where they use a typical Chinese bun fusion with different type of meat option. The melt in your mouth five spice pork belly smell so good and has very rich flavors. Duck bao has good presentation and interesting combination of texture. It is more like a mini version of one tiny serving of Peking duck using bao as a wrap. Unfortunately, the duck meat is quite dry, not really fresh hot, I wish they added a bit more sauce o reduce the dryness and give the duck meat a bit more moisture. Triple cooked bulgogi kimchi fries is disappointment as the fries is dry to a point it becomes hard. I love fries and I usually finish all of my fries but I end up have more than half leftover. I like fries crisp on the outside and moist inside. I have tried fries that are in similar style but they are complimented and soaked in gravy to balance that extreme dryness and hardness. Overall service is friendly, however, quality and taste, vary from average to hell depends on the item you ordered. The serving is tiny for what you paid for, getting a bao for sure will not fill you up. The bao fusion to me is nothing more than gimmick in a town where there is no other completions.

This tiny Vietnamese sandwich bar is very hidden, but it sure is popular. Environment: I learned about this restaurant from some photos that a friend posted on Facebook, so I decided to give it a try. The store front is located at the back of the building located on Balsam/Larch. From the front there are already two other restaurants, but you'd have to turn in at Larch St. to get to the back of the building so you can enter Bao. So yeah, you'd never come across this restaurant without knowing where to look. The Bao restaurant is pretty small and it's designed for a casual dine out with a small group or a quick grab between classes. They have couple tables and two of them are beside the power outlet to charge your devices. I wouldn't say this is a good study spot because it does get quite busy during meal time and the other customers would probably hate you for hogging a table for too long. Food: They have a special combo which when you order 2 baos or 1 baguette, you can get fries + pop for $2.50 extra, or you can also upgrade the fries to a duck poutine and/or upgrade the drink to a homemade Thai tea. Definitely get the combo because their fries are AMAZING: really crispy, just enough flavoring, and so so tasty. The Thai tea is good too, it seems that they use real honey for the tea. I ordered the Dynasty Duck baguette (around $8) and it was really satisfying. The flavor was nice, I like their sweet sauce, and they definitely fill up the baguette with lots of meat. This is good for lunch. My friend's chicken katsu bao (around $3) was just alright according to her, but she felt the chicken was a little dry. Services: You order from the counter like a fast food restaurant, so no need for tips. Your number will be called when your order is ready, and sometimes if they are not busy, they will carry the tray to your table. And yes, like to fast food place, you will need to dump your garbage. Hell yes I would come back, this is a great restaurant with a good selection of bao/baguette options (vegetarian option available) that are sure to fill you up and feel satisfied. The prices are reasonable and student friendly as well. Awesome place, 5 stars.

Tasty bao sandwiches, especially the Kristy chicken ones. Great service and ambience.

Really liked this place! We came on St. Patrick's Day so it was very crowded and the wait was very long, but the food was definitely worth the line. I tried the 5 Spice Pork Belly (with no cilantro), Kimchi fries, and Thai Iced Tea. All three menu items exceeded my expectations. The meat was juicy, the fries were full of flavour, and the sweet iced tea quenched our thirst and balanced the salt in the meal. Will definitely be coming back here next time I'm in the area.

The food is good! The difficulty with Bao is the location. It's not easy to find, parking is non-existent, and there's these disgusting smelling garbage bins out front. It's bad all the time but the warm weather is really bad for the smell. If you're doing Bao, I recommend getting delivery!

Tldr: Viet/Asian fusion for bao and banh mi, fresh, tasty, great quality and flavors. Friendly staff, can get pricey, 100% recommend Not gonna lie, this place is bomb. In my opinion, Bao sandwich bar is by far the best bao place i've been to. This unique Viet/Asian fusion joint is a hidden gem behind a couple of residential and WLU buildings in Waterloo. They offer a wide variety of bao's and banh mi's at an affordable price. The ingredients used are always fresh, and the quality is consistent and superb. When i visit Bao, i usually get the chicken little, fried nemo, and 5 spice belly (all in bao form, you have the option to make it into a banh mi). The bao itself is soft, yet it has an enjoyable bouncy/elastic feel when you bite into it. Flavour ratios between meat and bao are near perfect. The chicken and fish from the chicken little and fried nemo respectively are beautifully fried. Crispy on the outside, yet moist and juicy on the inside. The 5 spice belly has a consistent rich and creamy pork flavor, and does not fall apart in the bao when you bite it. I tried the crackle belly banh mi during one visit, and it's not bad. Though i would stick with the other bao options. Maybe it's just me, but i found the crackle belly to be too harsh and rough in my mouth. My jaw was definitely tired after eating the whole thing. The Vietnamese bun that was used was a tad dry as well. There's a reason why the place is called Bao sandwich bar, and not Banh mi sandwich bar. When you order, you have the option to either just buy baos/banh mis separately, or have them in a combo. When i do choose the combo route, I get 2 baos with a side of fries and Thai tea. The fries are a great compliment, and the Thai tea is refreshingly sweet and creamy with a noticeably unique tea flavour. Their kimchi/bulgogi fries are are great upgrade/side option as well. Staff are friendly, and the atmosphere is quite relaxed. This place does offer a take-out option as there isn't much seating when it gets busy (gets busy often). The staff brings your food to you if you choose to dine-in. Each bao is reasonably priced, though your order can get a little bit pricey if you get multiple baos and sides. Overall, i've always had a great experience at Bao Sandwich Bar, and would definitely recommend it to anyone!

Bao Sandwich Bar has definitely gone downhill. What used to be fluffy buns are now soggy buns with no structure that fall apart immediately. I got the Seoul Beef bao and the meat was well flavoured and there was a good amount of meat. However, the bun was so disappointing that it just ruined the entire experience. I was just eating ripped soggy steamed flour with meat...I will not be back anymore.

I've been here a few times to satisfy my banh mi craving. Located behind an apartment building on the basement level, I came here around 6 pm to get my fix. Unfortunately, the five spice pork belly and duck was already sold out! Ended up ordering the lucky pulled pork banh mi and kimchi fries (with bulgogi beef at an additional cost of $2). For the banh mi, I found that the pulled pork was a bit dry and had the texture of pork floss. Combined with the garlic mayo, it did feel quite heavy on the stomach. The pickled radish helped cut the fattiness of the sandwich though. The banh mi was also soft and missing that crunch. As for the kimchi fries, it was sad to see they didn't give much meat so I don't think it's worth getting again with the bulgogi. There was too much sauce for my liking but the fries were tasty nonetheless. I used to rave about this place a lot but the quality was inconsistent this time around. The food is delicious though when it's on point! If you haven't had banh mi or bao before, I'd say this is a decent spot to try it out if you're in the area.

Solid place in Waterloo. Hard to find the place without google maps! I ordered 3 different baos - deep fried avocado 8/10,10/10 deep fried tofu for the flavour and taste and 9/10 for cod! $13 was quite expensive and it's like finger food so I wasn't necessarily full from it. Would return. A unique place.

Bao to the Banh! It's the official motto of the place and while it may seem extra, I'm inclined to agree! I ordered the fried Nemo (just thinking about eating it made me sad but it was too delicious to pass up) along with a side of fries! The bao seems to be missing some richness but the fish, Miso cabbage along with the chipotle sauce were absolutely amazing! Even without any extra ingredients, it seemed like a good meal! Order 2 to get your fill! Fair warning - the fish is HOT! The fries were also really tasty, and "triple-cooked"! They weren't even super crispy but seemed cooked to perfection and the addition of garlic mayo really brought out the flavour! All this for less than $12!!!! That's a steal!! The value you get for the meal is absolutely mind boggling! Super friendly staff as well and I'm definitely coming here again, if not for the fries, then just the fact that I can get a cheap meal! Wish they had more veg and seafood options though.

Best Bahn Mi in KW...period! Better than most I had in Vietnam... Great selection and really good prices...only negative is finding the place!