Caleb C.
Google
Fat Bao takes Chinese cuisine as its foundation and fuses it with a wide range of other influences, resulting in slider sized bao sandwiches that aim to be playful and inventive. The restaurant is counter service, offering about sixteen different bao options, along with a small selection of appetizers and desserts.
We arrived for a slightly later lunch, and while it was not overly busy at first, a steady crowd built over time without ever becoming overwhelming. Ordering was straightforward, and the staff explained that most diners order two to three bao for a meal, as each is relatively small, about three to four bites each. Personally, I could have eaten four or five with an appetizer, though I arrived particularly hungry that day.
Many of the offerings were intriguing, and there is no shortage of flavor here. Each filling on its own was well prepared and enjoyable. The bao themselves were also good. My main issue was that the two did not truly connect. The bao functioned more as a delivery system than as an integrated part of the dish. The fillings and the bread never quite complemented one another in a way that felt cohesive.
Presentation also worked against the experience. Several fillings were quite wet, and serving multiple bao together in a cardboard bowl led to sauces bleeding into one another. This cross contamination blurred the individuality of each option. Using simple dividers or taco style holders inside the bowl would go a long way toward preserving the integrity of each bao.
In the end, I enjoyed the meal, but it fell short of being something I wanted to return to. There is promise here, and the ideas are strong, but the execution needs further refinement for the experience to feel whole.
My rating: ★★★☆☆ (3 stars)
Rating scale:
1 star — I will never return.
2 stars — If nearby, I might return, but without urgency.
3 stars — Worth a visit if in the area, though not a destination.
4 stars — Worth going out of your way to enjoy.
5 stars — I would fly around the world for this meal.
