- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Bao Bao Bakery & Cafe
- Nearest Transit:
-
Kneeland St @ Washington St (504, 555)
Washington St @ Kneeland St (11, 191, 275)
Washington St @ Essex St (11, 191, SL4, SL5)
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dessert
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
128 reviews for Bao Bao Bakery & Cafe
Review Highlights
"...is sweet unlike some other places that sell bubble tea."
(in 43 reviews)
"Melly B had the green tea and red bean cake."
(in 12 reviews)
"Good variety of chinese pastries at a reasonable price."
(in 39 reviews)
Loading...
128 reviews in English
-
Review from Diana N.
Quincy, MA
10/17/2011 1 photo
I remembered Bao Bao Bakery from when they first opened, I loved all the details they put into their pastries and cakes and beverages,etc.
The most memorable items were the green tea and taro pasties with delicate spiral wrappings on the outside; I forget what they're called but I loved how the outsides blandness made up for the insides sweet paste. The green tea sponge cake roll was also good but they creamy filling tasted off somehow. And then the little decorated cakes filled with fruit or taro was so cute!
Then came the mini dim sum menu with rice noodle rolls /pankcakes but really translated from Vietnamese (banh uot) means "wet paper" with or without the shrimp fillings were delicious, not to forget the sui mai or the vegitarian egg rolls, and buns or egg tarts!
Bao Bao really helps me connect to my innerchild with my great childhood memories of good tasting and good-looking food! -
Review from Michael D.
Boston, MA
1/21/2012 2 photos
My friends from Tufts frequent this place since it's so close. But they're not foodies...
Cakes here suck, along with their pineapple buns. Both are bland and drier than winter air. Travel a little further down harrison to Eldo Cake House to get much better baked goods. -
Review from Kristina L.
South Windsor, CT
1/5/2012
Bao Bao is the very first bakery I chose to visit in Boston's Chinatown, so it holds a special place in my heart. The glowy purple sign with the happy characters on it drew me in like a moth to a flame. Those smiling pastries beckoned to me in unison from across Harrison Ave: "Come on in, Kristinaaaaa! You know you want tooooo!" Well that, and the other bakeries just looked boring in comparison.
That said, I didn't try many items here (other than an entire box of buttery almond cookies and a bitter coffee in one sitting). Oops, did I just admit that aloud? My boyfriend ordered a delicious hot citron tea with honey and did manage to sneak a few almond cookies before I noticed they were gone.
The only downside to this Bao Bao experience were the angry, yappy Asian ladies behind the counter, and the disorderly jumble of customers otherwise known as a "line". But you bet I'll be back to try an egg tart and some boba tea. AND some more almond cookies. -
Review from Aimy T.
Somerville, MA
10/10/2011 17 Check-ins Here
This place is like crack to me.
I really dig a strong, bitter, iced green tea and this is definitely it. Haven't tried any of that milky powdery nonsense, and if you order it why do you expect it to taste otherwise? Pearls are cooked perfect though! I usually pair this with a taro butter bun or coconut roll warm from the oven. I have yet to try those cutesy cakes but I've been eyeing the fruit mousse with rainbow star sprinkles...
And the staff? Super! They even gave me a frequent buyer card, 10 punches and you get a free drink :D -
Review from Kristin X.
San Lorenzo, CA
7/27/2011
I like their variety. They have cakes, buns, cookies, drinks, etc. My favorite is their trio bun. It's like three different buns linked together, each segment contains red bean, taro, or custard. I also enjoy their egg tarts.
I usally go to Maxim's around the corner. But if I'm craving something fancier, I'll come here. -
Review from Anna L.
Arlington, MA
11/14/2011
Great bubble tea!!! Even the tapioca is sweet unlike some other places that sell bubble tea. Plus, their bread is very dense and not airy like the one around the corner from them. Plus, their prices is great and the people there aren't snotty! Service isn't great but once you do get service, you pretty much have their full attention.
-
Review from Eli R.
Jamaica Plain, MA
11/17/2011
Delicious buns and boba drinks. I love their BBQ pork bun and their hot dog bun (which is exactly what it sounds like). One of my go to spots in Chinatown.
-
Review from Angela W.
Los Angeles, CA
8/10/2011
This was the first boba place my sister showed me in Boston. I was, admittedly, a bit underwhelmed.
Subtracted a star for the customer service/line here! There is always a huge line in some kind of unorganized Asian female jumble, so you really have to push yourself to get to the counter! Once you're there, someone random takes your order and then takes forever to get it out to you...too bad all the women there look the same so you're never quite sure which one of them took your order and you don't know who to ask! Also, the other Asian customers are quite rude..maybe it's the ambience, but one time I picked up an egg tart to look it over, put it down near me on the counter to discuss buying it with my sister, and once we decided to buy it, I looked down and some woman had already bought it--along with the remaining 10 egg tarts on the counter! RUDE much?!
Luckily, their boba is fairly decent. I would say that their smoothie/shake quality is very good. I had probably the best red bean shake ever here and it converted me completely! Their selection of types of shakes is definitely kind of lacking though. In addition, the actual tapioca ba lls themselves could use a little more work..they tasted a bit like tap water to me. Subtracted another star!
Overall, okay boba place--but definitely a second-tier option! -
Review from Terry B.
Montclair, NJ
10/6/2011
I give A- for the Passion Black tea with tapioca!! Delish, fast and SMILING chine ladies! (that's hard to find)
-
Review from Val B.
Seattle, WA
6/5/2011
Haven't tried any of the baked goods cause all I wanted was a mango smoothie. When I stepped in, there weren't many people inside and I was helped immediately.
Wasn't sure if I wanted boba but I said yes just for the hell of it.
While I was waiting it got extremely busy in there and I heard many asking for taro with boba, so hey, might be a tip?
Anyways, the smoothie was very good and I'm glad I asked for the boba cause I guess I was in the mood for those.
I also got a stamp card and when that's full, I'll get a free smoothie. Oooo very good cause you know I want that free smoothie!
No complaints from me. Love the smoothie and the lady behind the
counter who helped me was friendly and smiled. Will be back. -
Review from Kathleen F.
Somerville, MA
9/24/2011
This review is for the bubble tea only--yummo! What I like the best about the bubble tea here is that it is really fresh and not too sweet or artificial tasting. I got he watermelon which I would highly recommend. My friends tried the lycee fruit and really enjoyed theirs as well. Best bubble tea i'v had in china town.
-
Review from Meg M.
Boston, MA
12/13/2010
I personally head into Chinatown to get the chance to taste, hear, smell and experience a culture the way I can't experience it anywhere else in the city. I don't head into a crowded Chinese bakery on a Saturday after peak dim sum hours and expect to be waited on by a sticky sweet salesgirl who wants to educate me on the ingredients of each item. That isn't how Chinese bakeries work people. Get in there, have a culinary adventure and get out of the way. If you are offended by the "lack of customer service" in Chinatown, take a good long look at their clientele. They are much more intolerant of the "umms" and "uuhhs" and "Is there dairy in this" than the staff is. Stand to the back of the line if you are deciding, and approach the counter when you are ready to order. If you want to go in and ask questions, wait until the place is less crowded.
I rapid fire order my favorites from here- pineapple roll, pork bao, chicken bao. If I see something else that catches my eye I simply point at it. At these prices, you really can't go wrong. No matter how many baos they pack into that paper bag, I never spend more than 6 dollars.
I actually like the pineapple roll at The Greatest better, but I have to give it to Bao Bao for their pork baos. A quick zap in the microwave when reheating and you are golden. Well marinated pork in a good sized portion. Sweet, soft bread that melts in your mouth. I could eat three in a sitting with out batting an eye. Of course I prefer my baos delivered on a shiny cart at Hei La Moon... but in a pinch I head to Bao Bao for my fix. -
Review from Ambrose C.
Boston, MA
3/4/2011 2 photos
Been to this bakery a few times to get some buns, tarts and tea. I think this bakery has so much potential since they provide a lot of seating compared to other bakeries in Boston's Chinatown but their goods have been consistently mediocre.
One major advantage is that this is one of two bakeries in Boston's Chinatown that has the Po Taat, which is the Portuguese Tart (the only other bakery I could find that has it is Great Taste Bakery). This tart is derived from the Pastel de Nata, a dessert from Portugal and is very popular in Macau, which was a former Portuguese colony in Southern China. It's been about a couple of months since I came back from Macau, and I still remember what their Po Taat tasted like. Unfortunately, this bakery's Po Taat did not bring back the great food memories of Macau. The crust was very soft and almost brittle. In Macau, the crust was harder and a little crispier. Custard was good but not as good compared to a Po Taat served in Great Taste Bakery and nowhere near a Po Taat served in Macau.
As for buns, I had the Cha Siu Bau a few times, the baked version of the roasted pork bun, and it was just okay. Every time I peel off the paper below the bun, it rips off a good part of the bun, exposing the inside, and making the bun a little messy to eat. Meat inside was just okay. As for bubble tea, I had a coconut milk tea, and it was pretty good, liked the creaminess and sweetness, but was a little watery. The boba was decent though.
Overall, this is not a bad choice to get some bubble tea or a Portuguese Tart, even though the Portuguese Tarts are nothing like a Portuguese Tart in Macau. However, I know I can find a better bakery in Boston's Chinatown that can serve a better Portuguese Tart. -
Review from Vivian L.
Cambridge, MA
1/19/2011
If I ate with my eyes, Bao Bao would be better. Alas, I don't; I eat with my mouth and prefer good-tasting items to eyecandy.
The only reason I ever go to Bao Bao is to grab some egg tarts, since they are one of the few places (outside of a dimsum restaurant) that actually serve egg tarts (both the Cantonese variety and the crispier Portuguese variety - pasteis de nata). I've also bought cream cake rolls, tiramisu, chocolate cake, and mango pudding from them -- all tasted mediocre. The cream cake was rather dry, the cakes there are rather tasteless, and the mango pudding was the biggest disappointment - I was expecting something a little more cool and gelatin-like, but it was sickeningly sweet and thick, almost like chilled whipped cream. I've also once gotten a fruitcake from them, but it wasn't stellar either.
There is no sense of line or order, and the employees don't always notice you trying to ask for a pastry... mediocre service, mediocre taste. Two stars for the existence of egg tarts (which, by the way, are nowhere near some of the best I've ever tasted). -
Review from Ariel W.
Boston, MA
Updated - 2/18/2011
Now probably over a year later from my last review, the service has gotten MUCH BETTER. I don't know if that rude lady even works there anymore, but the people working there are much nicer.
Like others are saying, it's not THE BEST, but it's cheap, it's filling, and they have a lot of options. Bao Bao has the best pastries in our Chinatown, by my experience, at least. So, I keep going back. Meh.
I do love their bread though. It's almost exactly like the bread I ate when I was in Japan.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
2/25/2009
2 stars only because my last visit I got really rude service. I was surprised, too.
Their custard… Read more »
-
-
Review from Tina B.
Buzzards Bay, MA
9/23/2011
This wouldn't be the place I get my Boba Tea but the desserts were Delicious. The service was good and the prices were reasonable.
-
Review from Lanhy N.
Kissimmee, FL
4/7/2011
Bao Bao Bakery has the best mixed fruit cakes. Always fresh with whip cream that is super light and fluffy.
The staff is limited in English but all you do is point at what you want anyway!
Their fried dough is also yum! -
Review from Michelle T.
Boston, MA
11/24/2010 1 Check-in Here
The only pro:
This is a one stop shop for mediocre baked goods (think Chinese pastries cakes, egg tarts, bao's), strong bubble tea tea's, and even hot dim sum like siew mai and har cheung (shrimp in rice rolls).
Service blows and the ingredients are NOWHERE near top of the line, but if you're hungry, anything here really will suffice. You won't die from food poisoning, but you also won't experience the best Chinatown has to offer in the form of baked goodies.
I also experienced my worst EVER egg tarts at Bao Bao. The egg custard itself was watered down egg that turned gelatinous.
Ew. Avoid. -
Review from Yoonie C.
Waltham, MA
7/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Meh - I don't get the hype about this place. I had 1 bubble tea that took forever to order/make/get, even though there was 1 other lady in front of me, with 2 cashiers and 3 staff in the back! The "milky" bubble tea was missing in the milk taste, and instead just tasted like strong (bitter) green tea with hint of jasmine.
-
Review from Jasmine M.
Newton Highlands, MA
12/14/2010
When you're hungry, you're hungry. Baobao ting gets the job done. It's cheap, it's good, but it's not the best. They do, however, provide a larger selection of breads than the other bakeries do (in my opinion anyway...) which is also why I come here because I can be very indecisive until I see it.
The service sucks, though. They are slightly nicer to me because I've been going there for a while, but it sucks. Also, there's no sense of a line, or honor system because there is no room for a line. It's kind of a "if you see them finishing up a transaction, hurry up before the lady behind you starts rattling of her huge order" type of deal. -
Review from Ginny L.
Boston, MA
8/2/2010
I rarely go to this bakey. Their cakes may be fancy, but don't let the looks fool you. They taste mediocre. Do yourself a favor and go to any other bakeries other than this one. They will win against this place by a mile.
As for their powdered boba, I will go somewhere else too. Go to the boba shop across the street where it uses real fruits.
Service is bad as well. The staffs get cranky when they don't know what cake you're pointing at (it's not your fault..?) -
Review from Chris M.
Marshfield, MA
10/22/2011
This is the best Asian bakery I've ever been too. At some Asian bakeries it seems like the staff is just producing a product as cheaply as possible. But here they really seem to care. It's also the cutest bakery I've ever seen.
-
Review from Daniel M.
10/22/2008
Eh.
Maybe the Italians in the North End have me spoiled but the pastries here really miss the mark. As far as presentation goes they have that in spades, unfortunately that's where it ends.
I had the black forest cake which was bland, dry, and not remotely sweet. While it wasn't horrible, there were few redeeming qualities. The cherries were few and far between and the frosting was way too firm. Melly B had the green tea and red bean cake. She spent most of the time scraping the frosting off. The coffee was even off, lukewarm and watered down.
Service wasn't horrible but was amateur at best. The man that helped me proceeded to put my cake and coffee on a tray that had not been bussed and still held someone's used fork, straw, and napkin. Really? Luckily one of the girls took notice and took care of that.
When we arrived there were only a few customers, moments later the place was packed so I'm assuming there's some redeeming value that I missed out on but I don't think I'll be back to find out what that is. While they certainly have cute outfits for the female employees and their pastries look beautiful there has to be something more in Chinatown.Listed in: C-Town
-
Review from Vanessa C.
Boston, MA
2/5/2008
honey almond milk tea and a banana flavored roll cake & you will be loving life for at least a half hour. I PROMISE!!
yum yum yum! bumping this up to 5 stars as I sit here at my desk, with a banana cake explosion of magic love in my mouth. oh yeah, its that good - the roll filling is the creamiest most buttery yummie thing in the universe. when I die I want to be entombed in a shroud of banana roll cake. I'm writing this into my will right now...Listed in: VX Favorite Boston Eats!
-
Review from Anna B.
Cambridge, MA
11/5/2008
The only things I ever get here are bubble tea, red bean paste pastries, and watermelon juice, so I can't speak to the general pastries' quality.
However, the things I do get are DELICIOUS. My friends swear by the honeydew bubble tea as the best in Boston and I am in love with the watermelon juice which, oh my god, is the tastiest thing I've ever drank. It's really refreshing, with a lot of flavor but not too overwhelmingly sugary. Often, we'll go here for our drinks after hitting up China Pearl for dim sum on Sundays.
Also, they have a punch card for drinks that if you fill it up, you get a free one. A good idea if you come here often. -
Review from Sara S.
Boston, MA
1/18/2009
Rude service and didn't want to answer questions I had despite no apparent language barrier.
Worst bubble tea I have ever had in my entire life. I got a Taro with tapioca. Had absolutely no flavor, was watery, and WARM. EW! Nasty. I took three sips and threw it away and went over to Rainbow Cafe and got one there. Their taro with tapioca is always awesome.
They have tiny egg tarts. Those were actually very good. The custard was firmer than most, which I prefer. The crust was flakey, but not overly greasy or falling apart.
I would not go back. There are so many better places. Plus, I really don't support places with crappy customer service.Listed in: I Must Have Been Chinese In…, Bubble Tea in Boston
-
Review from Melissa L.
Brooklyn, NY
10/10/2006
I get the sense that this bakery is trying too hard.
When it opened, my aunt and her friends swarmed it like fanatics, buying all the new stuff like the flaky taro pastries, cheesecakes, and exotic tarts. A couple of weeks later, their excitement faded, and I realized why. The pastries, although different, are not good. I find all of their fancy desserts too sweet, too heavy. The prices are more expensive than other bakeries across the street, and even I noticed that the crowd that used to congregate inside has now dissipated.
For a sponge cake, I will still choose Crown bakery over Bao Bao. For a coffee, I'd choose Maxim. For a birthday cake, I'd choose Eldo, despite Bao Bao's pretty colors and bunnies and dollhouses on the icing. The mousses are a gooey sugary mess. The bubble tea lately has been awful. Twice I've ordered bubble tea from there with slimy oversaturated tapioca balls, and too much sugar.
One time, at the end of the night right before closing, they even dared to sell me a bubble tea that tasted like water (no kidding!) with hardened powdery tapioca. It was probably their last one that they were going to throw away but decided to make $3 dollars off of it by telling me it was decent. Ridiculous -
Review from T L.
Boston, MA
3/21/2008
I was kind of sad that Kam Lung closed because I really liked their "chan bao" and their "char siu bao". When Bao Bao emerged, I was skeptical. Still am.
I really like their green tea rolls. That's probably the only thing that I buy from there. Their drinks are horrendous. They either add too much or little sugar in their milk teas. Their bubble teas are pretty much the same. Either too sweet or too bland.
I know others have said something about their customer service. I just have to say it again. If I didn't have any cravings for their green tea rolls, I would not come in here at all. There was once when I stood in line for 5-10 minutes, waiting for the lady to finish up her order for this guy. The other ladies were busy - busy chatting, pretending to work, etc. The lady was practically flirting with the customer, giggling and teasing him and taking the LONGEST time to get his drink...but when he left and she got to my order, she prepared it really fast like my drink didn't matter.
And it's like they never wash their tables! Every time I go there, there's always some crumbs on the tables. -
Review from Lauren L.
Boston, MA
6/5/2010
Yes, they make cute cakes with creatures piped on in icing, but go someplace else if you actually want to exercise your tastebuds.
Everything I've tried here (cakes, mini cheesecakes, breads, buns, boba) have had one thing in common: they're bland bland BLAND. Everything tastes vaguely sweet but without much distinctive flavor.
If you want great tasting breads, go to Ho Yuen. If you want Asian style cakes, go to Eldo. And if you want boba, go to Rainbow Cafe or even 163 Vietnamese Sandwich Shop across the street.
Bao Bao is cute, but doesn't deliver. In this case, unlike with Transformers, there's nothing more than meets the eye.Listed in: Chinatown
-
Review from Sasha R.
Dartmouth, MA
9/14/2007
I go in here with caution because I'm completely intimidated here, and probably in need of an Asian guide... But I like the airs of the place and the many tea options, although, I'm never quite sure what I'm ordering, exactly. That being said, I haven't hated what I've ordered either.
My student once got me a cake here for my birthday - and it looked really pretty, totally made my day - but tasted a little cardboardish.
Tea it is. Unless I have a guide. -
Review from Joyce K.
Waltham, MA
7/30/2006
Much cleaner and attractive than all the other Chinatown bakeries. The boba teas are pretty good although the tapioca pearls could be cooked a little longer..they were too hard. Whenever I ask for mine to be made with soy milk, the chic is like, "Ew! no, that'll taste bad." But I force her to make it anyway because I LIKE the way it tastes.
I'm a fan of their cheese cake bites which are 3 for a $1.45...it's awesome. I do not like their chocolate covered strawberries. The chocolate it hard and crunchy and the strawberry is old. Try the green tea cookies: light, delicate flavor...so good.Listed in: Yo I'm Azn!
-
Review from wilma c.
Chicago, IL
3/1/2008
WORST customer service in Boston, and yet, I'm still the sucker who comes here 2-3 mornings a week (for the last 3 years) to get my am coffee and pineapple bun. I am rushing to class at 8am, and if I happen to pass BaoBao 5 minutes earlier than usual, I try to stop for breakfast. But even with 4 women behind the counter and 2 customers in line, it still takes a good 6-8 minutes to get served--if you're lucky. There's a complete lack of business sense...They serve customers who are aggressive and there's never a semblance of a line anywhere.
The bubble tea here is over-sweetened and overpriced. Dong Khanh is a Vietnamese place 2 doors down with IMPECCABLE bubble tea--by far, the best in Chinatown.
As for bakeries and service, my old fave has since closed and MAY have moved--Crown Royal Bakery...does anyone know where it's gone? -
Review from lil s.
Boston, MA
4/17/2008
DO NOT BOTHER WITH THIS PLACE. YOU WILL GET TERRIBLE SERVICE.
I waited in the back of the line like the good honest person I am, all the while, aggressive and rude people kept jumping ahead of me and were getting served. Even after I got to the front, none of the employees behind the counter paid any attention to me. Basically, there are better bubble tea shops and bakeries in Chinatown within a 2-block radius so there's no point in putting up with this.
I've given them several chances but have the same bad experience everytime. I will never step foot in here again. -
Review from Jen H.
2/6/2009 6 photos
What a cute little bakery & cafe. As I stood outside, I really didn't know what to imagine. I'd never been into an asian bakery before. Then... I walk through the door... and suddenly... confusion struck. What? I don't... huh? I thought... hrm... is this the asian bakery? The desserts immediately to my right when I walked in looked exactly like something I'd seen many times in Europe - specifically... in France. Then, I looked up higher and more to the left in the dessert casing - yep, no idea what that is, ok... now we're talking.
Mango layer cake was fairly tasty. The mango frosting had a good amount of gelatin in it. My friend got a chocolate layer cake - quite dry... so if you like your cakes moist, you will be disappointed. Papaya shake was good, sans tapioca (I'm not a fan)... and I love the way they seal it shut.
There were a couple tables in the back on the left, but this place can not seat many people. Also, they have some odd artwork on the wall, complete with spam salad. Lastly, the outfits that the workers wear is a cross between a nurse, and a house cleaner - I can't quite put my finger on it.
They have some of the most adorable cakes.... blowfish... pig... "cute cakes", etc. I wonder what they taste like. In fact, I wonder what a lot of the desserts here taste like. Next time, I think I'd try something more adventurous. Looking forward to going back when I have some extra $$ in my pocket again. -
Review from pauline l.
Philadelphia, PA
7/7/2009
I don't know...this place is pretty average, without any stand-out products. The bubble tea is just OK, the customer service is just OK, the pastries are also just OK.
It's too bad they replaced the Kam Lung bakery that used to be at this location... that place had the most wonderful Chinese-style dinner rolls ever. I haven't found a place with comparably good rolls since.Listed in: Chinatown Eatin'
-
Review from Wei W.
Lexington, MA
3/13/2008
After Kam Lung Bakery closed, Bao Bao took over and it's become a hit with the out-of-towners, with its colorful purple awning and bright displays. I enjoy their milk tea with pearl the most, along with their black forest cake and egg tarts.
The service is not that great here; you do have to force yourself to the front of the line if the store is crowded and sometimes the workers don't notice you until you actually say something. I suppose the cheap tea and drinks make up for the lack of service . . .Listed in: Chinese Bakery Love
-
Review from Lingy Q.
Newton, MA
7/11/2008
I've been waiting for a chance to bitch you out, Bao Bao.
This place is the worst in existence.
Bitchy and rude service: you are rushed and uncomfortable and they don't like it if you sit down.
The interior, while trying to be modern, gives off a very tacky look and the lighting is way too harsh.
The "bubble tea," if that's what they call it, is abysmal.
It is not bubble tea. It is a child's inventive drink of sugar and crushed colourful sidewalk chalk, with tapioca thrown in for impression.
Not at all worth the money or the time. Save this trip if you want bubble tea, and head next door to Dong Khanh, for bubble fruit shakes and tea, using REAL fruit.
If you want pastries and bakery goods, wander over to Eldo Cake house, where it may be loud, but is hardly ever empty.
Leave this place to the dogs. -
Review from Roni E.
10/21/2007
NOTE: THIS IS STRICTLY FOR THEIR BUBBLE TEA!
Trish and I came in here after some shabu and craved bubble tea. As per Doris' suggestion this place is pretty good. Walked in and immediately was greeted by this lil Asian woman and was ready to take our order.
Trish needed a minute, so I put mine in for taro bubble. The price ($3) was perfect for the only size they had in their place. Although a lil choppy with the blending, it was still a very good tea. Perfect amount of bubbles, enough flavor, not too icy or watered down.
Trish got the coconut, which tasted very good. But she had an overload of bubbles. Which she may or may not like. I personally love the bubbles! The more the better!
Bao Bao (translates to bread bread) - you are on my list of must returns!Listed in: $10 or Less Meals, Bubbles!
-
Review from Skye G.
I come here primarily to get the Almond bubble tea (cold not hot).
You can get a punch card and after many a punch you can get one for free.
No they don't speak very much English but hey they are in Chinatown. The place is busy and the wait can be long. I've had many (regular customers) cut in front and throw them some money for this or that.
I myself do not speak Chinese (in any dialect) and receive many frowns while in Chinatown. Although I look Chinese I was raised with all white students far away from any Chinatown or other Chinese people. My cousin calls me a banana. I am yellow on the outside and white on the inside.
So Chinese people (from my family) are not into desserts and sweets. Have you ever seen a huge dessert menu at any Chinese restaurant or banquet...mmm not so much.
So given the reviews here I am not surprised that some may find the desserts bland or tasteless. That is not to say there are not some yummy desserts out there but I guess I am use to it. After dinner many serve fresh fruit like oranges and pineapple that is natural sweetness. So that also stands to reason that you will see cakes here dressed with fruit.
I too bought a blow fish cake for my (white) husband's birthday and it was fun and brought a lot of laughs. The topping and layers are whipped cream with fruit and layered cake. The kids didn't like it because it was bland and not your typical frosting. I thought it was OK but again it was what I expected and sort of grew up on. -
Review from Amy Z.
Boston, MA
5/29/2010
Bao Bao, how I've tried so hard to like you and have given you so many chances to redeem yourself...
I'm always drawn in when see all of your cute and colorful treats. But time after time, you have failed me. Your pieces of beautifully decorated cakes look like works of art but taste like crap. Your mini tarts -- both the fruit and cheesecake -- are adorable but disgustingly stale and the background taste of the crust made me gag. Your black forest cake with the fruit on top, although is an alluring sight is sad round sponge of disappointing bland gunk.
Bao Bao, I'm tired of your deceptive ways! I will never again be your patron and be fooled by the appearance of your treats.
PS - Your service sucks. 10 min to get your attention and another 15 for you to fill a box of tarts and figure out my total? Ridiculous.
