On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Chicago (Red)
Loading...
Three words: Americanized Chinese Food
Dont see a lot of places that serves Chinese Buns here in US unless you're in chinatown. So this place is a good place for me when i have some asian food cravings.
The menu could be surprisingly overwhelming. And going up to the seating area at the 2nd floor is like a long walk of shame with your food. lol
I would say the price is moderate but it would add up fairly quickly as one or two buns would not fill my hungry stomach. You could definitely get cheaper buns in chinatown.
I think the buns are too heavy in dough and light on the delicious fillings. I actually find the pad tai salad delicious, if only the portion is bigger.
So this is not really a place for authentic delicious food but it would still do for me. And I would say this is a snack place rather than a lunch/dinner place.
Yummy pillows of goodness!
This location doesn't have seating...so you have to take your "hot asian buns" to go....but other than that it's aces! And cheap!
Definitely a great snack when you need to refuel from a busy day of shopping...
Nice concept, clever name, and an even better slogan. I mean if "Hot Asian Buns" doesn't get your marketing juices flowing, what will? You can think of a million advertising schemes. Of course, most of which will probably end up in a lawsuit.
But as a Chinese dude who has probably eaten thousands if not millions (okay, maybe that's an exaggeration) of steamed buns, I just wasn't that impressed. It wasn't bad, really. For someone looking for a quick bite or healthy snack around the area, it's a decent alternative.
We tried the thai curry chicken steamed bun, a sample fro-yo, and a pomegranate ginger ale. The employees look like they desperately want to be elsewhere. This particular location charged over $2 for one. The website, on the other hand, said $1.39. Of course, you look around and see "pricing maybe vary by location." Ah ha.
We tear open the bun and find a nice combination of chicken and curry flavors. It's just that there wasn't much of it. The rather small bun was devoured by the both of us in a matter of seconds. Not horrendous, but not worth the price they are charging. These things should be around 75 cents each, $1 dollar max.
It's cool that I tried a Wow Bao in my life, but obviously it didn't "wow" me. The bun may work for others, just not for me. Some people like their buns small. Others like their buns large and plump. Some like their buns filled with juicy and meaty fillings. Wow Bao, it just wasn't meant for me.
Wow Bao, you didn't wow me. I was having a particularly wonderful Thursday: my boyfriend was buying me Lady GaGa tickets, I saw This Is It the Michael Jackson documentary and I had finished all of my homework before going to class. And I was trying Wow Bao for the first time. I was excited. My roommate raved about how much she loved Wow Bao so I was pumped to try something that she likes so much.
I ordered from the touch screen kiosk things because I like to touch things and can save my interaction with people for when I have to go in actual restaurants or bars. Because I had never tried Wow Bao, I wanted to taste every bao I could have. So I ordered the six pack because hey-I like variety, I've got a steel stomach and I was READY to be wowed.
Eh. not so much. the first bao I tried was the mongolian beef. I bit into it and thought "mmm tasty." At first bite, these are delicious little things. Then I ate the second one, bbq pork, and thought "still delicious, too much bread." The third one I ate half of, and then used my fork to scrape out the inside filling. For the rest of them (except the whole wheat edamame) I did the same. All in all, it was too much breading and not enough filling. I went into wow bao thinking that it was going to be a light dough that had been steamed, not this heavy bread type of thing that I would get tired of half way through. I was disappointed, but now I knew what the deal was.
I will say that the one bright, shining start out of the bunch was the whole wheat edamame. The inside filling is DELICIOUS and the outside dough was better than the plain dough. If I had gotten six of these, I'm sure I would have eaten at least three. I took issues with the dough, as we already know, but my classmate and I soon found out that it is made with milk. Why? There are plenty of ways to make dough without milk and it's not like this is a pie crust. It kind of doesn't mean it.
All in all, will I go back? Yes. Will I order 6 bao? No. At most, I'll order two and get a side salad and a ginger ale. I got a ginger ale but it stopped tasting gingery after I ate the bao. Which is sad, because I love ginger ale.
Hot Asian Buns. There I said it. My cousin couldn't stop saying it without laughing. I don't know if it was just amusing to her or the fact that we had a major retail therapy session along Michigan Avenue and we were giddy from hunger.
These are a great on-the-go snacks. I tried the bbq pork and the Thai curry. Both were very good and I liked the flavor. The dough was light and soft, not at all soggy. I was very curious about the bbq pork one because my mom makes a great siaopao (Filipino version of bbq pork steamed buns) and I wanted to compare. The biggest difference I noticed was that Wow Bao's bbq had a hint of spice.
I really wanted to try the ginger ale and the sweet ones, ahhh, that will be for next time Wow Bao!
Hot. Asian. Buns.
Oh hell yeah.
I don't think I've had anything else here, other than their hot Asian buns, known as Bao. They're little round, steamed buns full of yummies. I like the chicken terriyaki the best, followed by the chicken curry. Oh! And they now have sweet ones. Good move, Wow Bao.
Now you can have SWEET hot Asian buns. Try the coconut custard. It's awesome.
Like any fast food the bao here are strangely irresistible - I know that they aren't great, but I get them anyway because they're good in a way. Satisfies the craving, the dough is good- steamed rice flour is a no brainer, the different fillings are either too goopy, sweet, or something.
The fresh ginger ale is really good.
I just love Wao Bao and their amazing way to satisfy my "need to get some healthy lunch for a change" craving in the South Loop. I really like their vegetarian Bao's which are the "buns" everyone talks about, be sure to get them with the sweet soy sauce. Also their salads are very fresh and super refreshing; they're paired with a light vinaigrette which really hits the spot. Side note, salads can be found in the cooler near the line. Oh, and be sure to try their homemade ginger ale...they do not scrimp on the ginger and it's a perfect way to end a flavorful lunch.
My only complaint for Wow Bao is how noisy it is inside...this is not the place to go if you're looking to have a some "conversations over lunch"....I always feel like I have to yell in here. This might be a better place to get lunch to-go from.
I think I'm in love, Wow Bao.
Working off of Michigan Avenue is not easy sometimes. Especially when it comes to grabbing cheap, quick lunch. Not to mention having to drown in annoying tourists and American Girl Place psycho-children.
A cheap Mag Mile alternative, the bao are only $1.39 each and come in several different flavors. My favorite are the Teriyaki Chicken and Curry Chicken. The bao are not that filling, so I would recommend getting the combo with rice bowl (Kung Pao is just my style) and two bao if you are really hungry. The only thing missing is a delicious dipping sauce- the dough in the bao can be kind of dry.
Overall, very delicious and super-fast (not counting the walk down Michigan Ave to get there). If you're in even more of a hurry, use the self-checkout kiosk. Here you can create your own order so all you need to do is wait for your food, which will probably be ready by the time your credit card is finished processing!
If you're looking for a cheap, quick and delicious meal off the mag mile, Wow Bao is where it's at.
Enh. It wasn't bad. I admit I'm a little surprised to see the universally glowing reviews of Wow Bao here -- Yelp reviewers can be really damn picky and I'm really damn not. I might've gone on a bad day, but in short it was gentrified Asian food that substituted a clever premise, shiny touch screens and excellent marketing for -- err, decent food. It was undercooked and the fillings were strange.
However, I will say that I am entirely the target audience for this kind of gentrified marketing, so I am STILL tempted to go back to Wow Bao -- just like I'm lured back to PF Chang's despite their frequent tithes to the Church of Sodium.
Wow Bao definitely strikes a chord with gullible yuppies like me. If you're a gullible yuppie, fascination may be inevitable.
What is the logical thing to do after a spa treatment, a solid 90-minute at roof-top pool but before a shopping trip to the wild and furious north side of Michigan Avenue?!??
Grab a bao of course!!
I finally decided to take the plunge after walking by the neon bright store-front a zillion times.
I was seriously starving.
Health-freak option: whole wheat bun with edamame and vegetables.
Surprisingly good and satisfying before my dinner pasta-feast (hel-llo Francesca!!)
Taken away without a bag. No time for all the thrills.
For those of us with a sweet tooth they even offer a coconut custard and one chocolatey delight with ginger.
Score!!
Just what I need...two MORE things at Wow Bao to be addicted to. I have already been addicted to the Bao and cool Pad Thai Salad for years, but NOW they have gotten me addicted to their Chocolate Coconut Ginger Bao (it oozes in the middle like a choco lava cake) and their asian froyo! When 3:00 calls, I feel like I need it! The pomegranate syrup for they have to top the froyo is great too! I think there's a green tea one too. This froyo is definitely more thick and custard-like than their counterparts at BerryChill or Bloomies, but it IS DELICIOUS. Perhaps the MOST delicious.
Hands down my favorite "to go" lunch spot. I can't get enough of these hot Asian buns!! Get the… Read more »
No trip to the MCA is complete without a visit to Wao Bao afterwards. This little takeout stand on the ground floor of Water Tower place is a cheap, unique lunch. Baos come in about six different flavors, from Mongolian beef to my favorite, curry chicken. There's coconut baos for dessert. Their house made ginger ale is a little too harsh for my taste, but there's also soft drinks and Thai iced coffee. The combo includes your choice of salad, a couple baos, and a drink.
There is seating on the second floor, up the escalators. Make sure you grab everything you need (napkins, forks) before making the trip up. The little tables are perfect for tourist-watching. They sell frozen baos to go, which are pretty close to the real thing. Wao Bao is also one of Water Tower Place's redeeming factors.
I've been here many times over the past year while working in the north Loop, and it's definitely a top pick for lunch at work. Three stars for a few problems that keep coming up, however. The dessert baos (right now Coconut Custard and Chocolate-Ginger-Coconut) consistently are soggy on at least one side, which is quite unappetizing - though when you scrape off the offending area, it's still delicious! I also keep wanting the drinks to be better, but they inevitably come down to a syrupy add-in.
Positives, though, and there are many! The Thai Curry Chicken is still superb (or so my friend confirms, I haven't had one since I went vegan), as is the Whole Wheat Edamame. I am not even an edamame girl and I love those. And the filling in the Chocolate-Ginger bao is just heavenly -- just the right balance between the flavors.
Overall, definitely stop by and check them out.
Has to be the cheapest fro-yo you can get in town. For about $2.29 you can get a huge swirly with either pomegranate or green tea syrup. For some reason it seemed saltier and the syrup was overly sweet, so not sure it worked for me. But it's cheaper and greater quantity than most places.
Fun place to try! Good snack! If you like Ginger try the Ginger soda!!! The pork bun is my favorite.
Yum, Yum, YUM!!! The chocolate coconut ginger bao is devilishly delicious!! For something a lil more on the spicy side I would suggest the beef Mongolian baos. Def. worth the trip to the water tower if your not a mall person like myself!!!
How do you describe heaven? Wow. Bao.
As I'm lucky enough to work in downtown Chicago on occasion, it's also unfortunate that I don't have access to refrigerator to bring my lunch so I'm forced to go out. Thank God for Google Maps and Yelp because I would never have found out about Wow Bao if it were not for them. Intrigued by the name, I researched more and discovered that I was pretty much falling in love with the place before I even ate there. True love at first sight describes my relationship with this little place.
Upon arrival I discovered that I didn't even need to speak to anyone to place my order! A small kiosk will take your order (special requests and all) if you're paying by credit/debit. I ordered 3 meat bao and 1 dessert. I also ordered a homemade ginger ale. Within less than a minute my order was ready and I pranced upstairs to take delight in my newfound food romance.
I have been off carbs for about 2 months now, with the occasional binge on deep dish pizza or Thai noodles and this HIT THE SPOT since I was craving bread like crazy. So incredibly soft and doughy, chewy and warm. Of my three meat baos (Kung Pao chicken, Mongolian Beef, and Teriyaki chicken) I think I most enjoyed the teriyaki chicken because it has cilantro in it...my favorite herb. But they were all amazing, including my coconut custard dessert bao. Wow.
If you like ginger, you will love the ginger ale. But if you don't, don't even bother because it does have a very strong ginger taste.
The next day I went BACK to Wow Bao because I was downtown again for work and was craving those little balls of heaven. This time I tried a combo with 2 bao and a salad. I had the peanut noodle salad which was decent, but compared to my bao it was nothing special. I'm not saying it was terrible but I definitely think I'll stick with just bao next time. My second time around I did the pomegrante ginger ale and I liked it just as much as the original.
Drooling at the mouth just writing this - too bad I'm in Evanston today and won't be venturing downtown for another week and a half. I'm pretty sure I'm going to have a box sent to my house. Every week.
After a year of saying I'd eat here, I finally did! The other locations either close earlier on weekends or are not open at all! Luckily I made it before this one closed on Saturday...
Since I have no idea when I would come back, I tried all 6 fillings - bbq pork, teriyaki chicken, spicy mongolian beef, whole wheat edamame, thai curry chicken, and spicy kung pao chicken. First of all, I had no idea they were labeled on the bottom!! I sat there and guessed which one I was eating the whole time... Three of them look the same.. and kind of tasted the same after a while... Don't expect the BBQ Pork to be like chinatown bbq pork!
All of them were pretty good though. They have the perfect proportion of bread and filling. The bread is hot and so soft... you must eat them right away! It's just so good....
Unexpectedly, my favorite turned out to be the whole wheat edamame. It just tastes like a veggie bun in wheat bread but it's so yummy. The wheat bread is just as soft as the regular! I could eat 6 of these by itself!
I guess I'll try the regular ginger ale next time. The green tea one wasn't that good in my opinion...
I was a little sad because the Water Tower location doesn't have potstickers or the frozen yogurt (which I've heard about). I guess I'll have to try out the other locations too... but hopefully I won't take another year..
I always make Wow Bao a shopping snack stop...before heading into Lush!
On the postivie +
+ Tried the BBQ pork, spicy mongolian beef, teriyaki chicken, and thai curry chicken many times...all very tasty.
Need for improvement -
+ put some out in the suburbs :)
On the rare occasions I go to Michigan Ave, I tend to grab some bao to go from here. Over the years, I have tried every kind except curry, and enjoyed them all. I especially like the two new sweet ones--coconut custard and chocolate-ginger-coconut custard. At $1.39+tax (or you can buy a 6 pack), it is a tasty deal.
The only problem? They can be highly addictive. I wish I had another one right now!
I had to check this place out, what with all the hype, but I have to say I don't get it. The main issue was that I found the dumpling dough to be heavy and gummy, which rather dragged down the whole experience.
I tried the kung pao chicken, mongolian beef, bbq pork, and coconut custard bao. The kung pao chicken and mongolian beef were both spicy, and I found them to be barely discernable from one another. The bbq pork was sweet, and that was the flavor profile: sweet. That was the problem: no nuance, just one note to the flavors. (Also, the pork was not shredded, but ground or somehow formed into strange pellets; it just looked weird!)
The saving grace was the coconut custard bao; I would come back for these! It was as if you'd boiled down a can of sweetened coconut milk into a pudding and stuffed it into a dumpling. Yum.
I also tried the homemade ginger ale, but I didn't love it like so many people seem to. I just wasn't impressed: I could taste the ginger, but it still tasted too watery. Frankly, the homemade ginger ale I make is better, and so is my canned ginger ale of choice (Vernors).
My dad was with me and the whole menu was too weird for him. He didn't dig the fresh ginger ale, and he spurned the bao in favor of a rice bowl, which he pronounced okay. Overall, I expected more; I've always had a better meal at other Lettuce Entertain You places, but on the whole, the Bao didn't Wow.
A few months ago, my father was presented with a box containing 6 dozen frozen Wow Baos. There was a dozen each of the spicy Kung Pao chicken, Thai curry chicken, spicy Mongolian beef, BBQ pork, and the coconut custard. He divided them equally between my siblings and me.
I forgot all about them until today when I was organizing my deep freezer. Being lazy, I wrapped 2 in a wet paper towel, and microwaved them for 2 minutes. Wow! They are actually pretty decent! The Kung Pao exceeded my expectations...and the coconut custard was a perfect finish to my dinner. (Warning! The custard gets hot!!!!)
I would highly recommend trying these if you are ever in the area. 2 are quite filling!!
My only complaint is that $1.39 for one is kind of steep...you can buy a bag of 24 of these in Chinatown for $5 or pay 65 cents for one twice the size. I don't think that I would rush out to buy them at that price..but if I were in the area, it would be a good choice to take the little one.
I did see that they offer a lunch special of 2 baos or 5 potstickers with either Pad Thai salad, veggie salad or peanut noodles for $5.99. Considering how filling 2 were, that is not a bad price.
WOW not so good BAO!
If I really had a taste for Bao I might eat these again, maybe. We tried the Teri Chicken and BBQ Pork and while the fillings were passable (barely) the dough was sticky, pasty and just not very pleasant.
Obviously if you're looking for authentic (Char Siu Bao) or Hawaiian (Manapua) steamed buns you need to pass on these but if you've never had either of the aforementioned then you might like these.
There was a pretty good line waiting for these so they must have some redeeming quality (that I am missing).
Sometimes I actually crave this stuff. Am I a bad Asian for loving this? No! You know why? Because they're not authentic and they don't claim to be. They embrace their fusion-ness and deliver hot, steamy, tasty baos. My favorites are the thai curry chicken, mongolian beef, and coconut custard. I'm also a big fan of the teriyaki chicken bowl. Good thai iced coffee, too!
Note: If you have a big appetite, though, don't expect to get full for less than $15-20 :P
For me, the thought of "mall Chinese" brings back nightmarish memories of Manchu Wok and other places where $4.99 buys you a plate of fried rice and lumpy, greasy teriyaki chicken. Not so with Wow Bao. I was in Chicago with my family and looking for a quick, inexpensive place to eat on the Magnificent Mile. I suggested Wow Bao and found that it does live up to the good reviews.
I got the combo with 2 buns and a pad Thai salad. The BBQ pork and curry chicken bao were excellent. No problems with undercooked buns here...just fluffy, warm dough with flavorful fillings. The pad Thai salad had a great dressing and fresh Thai basil, which pleasantly surprised me.
My only gripe is that the buns are a bit tiny. Maybe it was just that I was hungry but I found the 2 bun combo not quite enough to satisfy. Also, for being in such an upscale tourist area, the dining area was quite small and dingy with tiny, wobbly tables and overflowing garbage cans. They ought to at least wipe down the tables and sweep up the litter more regularly.
Overall, I would recommend Wow Bao and would stop by if I'm in the area again. It may not be authentic, but hey, it's good enough.
So I went here one time for lunch about a year back. I had some vegetarian potstickers, and I was impressed. I'm usually not a fan of Asian food, but this was so unique. I'd go here again, but I don't work downtown anymore. This location is nice (near the financial district).
Wow Bao gets a "Wow!" from me.
I was skeptical at first because Americanized Asian food typically does not taste very good but these little steamed buns were great! Asian buns can be oversized with excessive amounts of dough-very easy to get sick of, but these were just right! They are steamed on little papers with their names so there's no confusion as to which is which.
I'd recommend the spicy mongolian beef and the thai chicken curry for something entree like and the coconut custard for something dessert like. I would however advise against the bbq pork because I think the original Asian style is best. They make a perfect little snack for strolling Magnificent Mile. Also worth trying are the their teas/drinks.
The buns are available to purchase individually at $1.39/bun or $7.99/half dozen. You can even buy them frozen to steam at home. Save your receipts because they have discount/coupons for future purchases!
I might have come on a bad day but I had an unenjoyable experience.
I ordered two baos (thai curry chicken and bbq pork) and a spicy peanut noodle salad. For less than 7 bucks the price was certainly nice.
I started with the baos and, unfortunately, could not eat more than a third of each. Each bao was roughly 80% breading which in this case was a seemingly undercooked, very doughy exterior. The filling that did exist, for both the chicken and pork, had a rubbery texture that generally comes from sitting in a steamer or heater in order to stay warm after the meat has been cooked.
The spicy peanut noodle salad was actually very good. I might consider going back to get those noodles but the baos upon which the restaurant is named were definitely a no go for me.
I guess I was a bit disappointed in this place. it wasn't as authentic as I had hoped for! My Bao's were mostly dough and little filling, plus it's seems like there's something missing, like a rice vinegar sauce or something to dip them in! They were a bit dry. I think they accidentally gave me a coconut Bao instead of the curry and it was my fav!
When I first heard about this place from a friend in Chicago, I got pretty excited. The concept seemed perfect: Hot steamed buns without even the wait of a Chinese take-out place, much less sit down dim sum. Perhaps the expectations were too high. I tried a sample of the BBQ Pork Buns and the Teriyaki Chicken Buns. The quality of the bun is nowhere near what you would get elsewhere--the buns are a bit on the small side and the taste is a little off. I wouldn't foreclose going there again (and I'd like to try some of the Breakfast Baos some time), but I can't recommend it in good faith to someone else.
I love that this is a fast food place and inexpensive, but the food is actually decent. There are great healthy options and veggie options, and the only downside is that the dough is just a wee bit overdone sometimes. Still, overall, filling, good and interesting stuff. Convenient. And it's not a Corner Bakery, which seems to be a novelty downtown.
I strolled into the Chicago Water Tower on a recent business trip, only to find that the stores had just closed for the evening. I was sadly approaching the exit when an interesting fast food counter caught my eye. I turned to take in the Asian wonder that was Wow Bao. The quick-serve menu was full of healthy, steamed dumplings, stir-fries, multi-grain rice, and more. I was unfortunately full from a large lunch and was planning on a fantastic dinner, so I regretfully decided to pass on a Wow Bao sample. At least that was the plan until I spotted their poster advertising homemade Ginger Ale. I used to love that sugary soda, but had cut it out of my diet because of its poor nutritional value. However, this blend was made from real ginger root. The enticing beverage was available in Original, Green Tea, and Pomegranate. With a lack of willpower, I ordered a glass of the Pomegranate for the road.
I popped my straw through the plastic lid and headed out to Michigan Avenue. I took a casual sip of my spicy soda and almost stopped dead in my tracks. The beverage possessed the perfect amount of sweetness and such a natural flavor. I was in love. I even went out of my way for a repeat visit before I headed back to New York.
I can only hope (and dream and pray) that Wow Bao heads east so that I can sample their nutritious menu and be reunited with my sassy ale.
wow bao happiness!
small but delicious plumpees.
neat and hygenic.
I live like 2 blocks away from this place, so it's one of my go-to spots for a quick dinner when I'm busy studying, etc.
I've heard some people (especially Asians) complain that the baos are not authentic, that they seem small and overpriced, etc etc.
But you know what? I still love 'em. They may not be authentic, but they're tasty and it's actually kind of cool how some of the flavors are not traditional, cuz you get to try baos you never heard of before, like the Thai Curry bao, for example. I also love how they have the steamers displayed by the checkout...it just looks so good when they pull out those piping hot, freshly steamed buns.
I personally love the steamed taste cuz it just tastes so clean. And I hope they don't get rid of their Whole Wheat Edamame and Tea-8 Vegetable baos...cuz I love my meat, but I love my veggies too....a couple of those veggie ones plus some meat baos in a 6-bao combo box makes for a decent dinner. Either that or I get the 2 bao + rice bowl combo. The salads and the chicken broth soup are aiite too.
Might not be authentic or the best baos ever, but it's the best you can get anywhere in Streeterville.
I love Wow Bao! I used to come here back when I worked around here, after they first opened. Usualy I go to the ones in the loop, but the other day I was doing some shopping and got hungry.
Didn't want a bao but I was happy to see that here you can get nappa cabbage in your bowl instead of rice! I got that with teriyaki chicken and it was super-delicious. I just wish that the other locations offered this option as well.
Now this is good! For all that can be said about Chicago being like a big shopping mall - I'm craving chicken curry buns with their ginger ale!
It seems that Wow Bao definitely has its lovers and its haters. I am in the middle. Wow Bao is good. Definitely not the finest Baos in the land, but not the worst -- still quite tasty and satisfying. They make a good light lunch or a nice snack.
Wow Bao is not far from my office, so I will go there from time to time.
I have to admit that I have only order 3 things: curry chicken bao, mongolian beef bao and the Kung Pao Chicken rice bowl with nappa cabbage in lieu of rice. I like them all. I don't really have a problem with the amount of filling inside -- I think it's just enough. The flavors are really good with the perfect amount of spiciness.
I also like the rice bowl -- it's spicy, saucy and satisfying. I also love that you can replace the rice with cabbage -- less carbs and better flavor.
I have tried the ginger ale and must say that I really do like it. It is mega-gingery (which I love) and really packs a bite. I rather wish there was a sugar-free version, but that would likely alter the taste quite a lot. As it is, it makes a nice occasional treat.
I guess the only thing I am not crazy about is the seating. You have to cart your lunch up a couple of escalators. There are a few (very few) tables located in a hallway right beside the escalator bay. The tables are frequently full. The view is certainly not stunning -- there's really nothing to see. If you have forgotten something (napkins, chopsticks), you have to schlep all the way back downstairs to get it.
In short, Wow Bao is a good place for a nice, satisfying lunch. You won't be too full and you won't be leaving hungry -- a concept I like very much!
Say what you will about the authenticity or lack thereof at Wow Bao... this place gets a lot of things right.
I would like to start by saying that I thoroughly appreciate that the baos have their names strapped to their cute little bottoms, so that you don't mix them up. It also allows me to know what I am eating each time, so that I can remember what it is I like best for my next visit. However, this hasn't really proved necessary, as I've liked each bao that I've tried so far. I think my favorite is the thai curry chicken bao, but I'm biased in the sense that I tend to have a thing for curry, in general.
The homemade ginger ale is truly an ideal pairing for baos -- here's why. As any dining experience that included sushi should have taught you, fresh ginger is the BEST palate cleanser. Eating baos is no different, especially if you are like me and tend to order multiple flavors. The ginger ale is cool with a nice bite... and tasty to boot. You won't even need a breath mint after your meal! I highly recommend the pomegranate variety.
And, umm... hello, the PRICE is key! I walked out, hunger completely abated, after having spent just a little over $5 on two baos and a pomegranate ginger ale. VERY affordable, especially given the location.
Speaking of, I am very thankful for this particular Wow Bao in terms of its placement... I can't tell you how often I find myself jonesing for a snack while hitting a mall other than Water Tower Place, only to find that Auntie Anne's is the only option. Now, don't get me wrong, I like Auntie Anne's, but Wow Bao adds a lot in terms of variety when it comes to mid-spree affordable snacking.
I had the Mongolian Spicy Beef and the Thai Curry Chicken! Both were amazing. I love that the meats come in this doughy steamed substance! I didn't try the other flavors but it's the perfect snack and since it's only $1.39 a piece, it's the perfect way to keep the hunger at bay.
Online Special!
Neighborhood: Chinatown
$4 Lunch Menu!
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Neighborhood: Brighton Park
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: The Loop
Category: Asian Fusion
Neighborhood: The Loop
Category: Chinese
Wilmette, IL
Category: Pizza
Neighborhood: Streeterville
Category: Pizza
If the South Loop is where you spend your weekly…
Chicago's best bang for your buck from burgers to…
East of Michigan, between Oak St beach and the…
In Chicago and beyond... everything from fine…
Ringing in the big 40 deserves a cool…
Since I'm Chinese - nothing beats home-cooked…
Here's how I gained 10 pounds during my weekend in…
I had a recent trip here and wanted to create a…
