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Wow Bao Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Asian Fusion Restaurants Chinese Asian Fusion, Chinese [Edit]
175 W Jackson Blvd(at Michigan Ave)
Chicago, IL 60604
Neighborhood: The Loop
(312) 334-6395
Wow Bao on Facebook!
Become a fan at http://facebook.com/ho... to learn the secret word of the day for special offers!
- Nearest Transit:
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Quincy/wells (Brown Line, Orange Line, Pink Line, Purple Line)
Lasalle/van Buren (Brown Line, Orange Line, Pink Line, Purple Line)
Lasalle (Blue Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7 am - 5:30 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
153 reviews for Wow Bao Restaurant
Review Highlights
"I got a #2: 2 bao and a side of spicy peanut noodles."
(in 9 reviews)
"I tried a Thai Curry Chicken bao and a Kung Pao Chicken bao..."
(in 13 reviews)
"You absolutely have to try their Ginger Ale."
(in 27 reviews)
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153 reviews in English
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Review from April P.
Brookfield, IL
12/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is incredible. I am currently craving their coconut custard baos. mmmmmMMMMMmmmmm!!!
If you like food. You must go here.
Okay, I'll try to be a little more helpful.
If you like soft, hot, buns... to eat... and digest!
...
filled with delicious mixtures of asian flavors, then you will delight in this restaurant as I have.
Check it.
Oh they also have pot stickers.
And this particular Wow Bao is connected to the Pedway. Plus! -
Review from Hillary E.
Chicago, IL
10/25/2011
I can't help loving Wow Bao.
I'm a 'bring my lunch to work' kind of girl myself, but when I don't have the time or interest in what I brought to lunch, Wow Bao is one of my only options in the loop that truly satisfied my lunch craving.
The bao are ridiculously good - I may or may not have eaten a six pack (by myself) in one sitting. I don't think you can go wrong with any flavor.
Also - if you have never had the breakfast bao, you are truly missing out. They may be better than the lunch bao, which I didn't think could be possible.
Always quick service, plus now they have easy to order computer set-ups that take credit cards so you don't even have to interact with a person! -
Review from Alan R.
Updated - 10/18/2011
I really wish Wow Bao would open in the suburbs. I was downtown for a meeting yesterday and had a few extra minutes. I used to work across the street. You absolutely have to try their Ginger Ale. Its like nothing you have ever tasted in your life.
They have a more extensive menu then just their Bao's. I added a spicy noodle dish. It was pretty average and overpriced.
All the Bao's I ordered were excellent. My five year old son loved the desert ones. We tried pumpkin, coconut custard and chocolate. The chicken teriyaki, BBQ pork and curry ones were the other three I split for dinner with my four kids aged 1-5. I liked them more then they did.
The perfect place for them to open would be a Northbrook Court. Please Mr. Melman, are you listening?Listed in: Asian, Cheap Eats, Lunch in the Loop
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/9/2007
Based on just the Baos (steamed Chinese buns with fillings inside) I would have given WB three… Read more »
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Review from Aaron N.
9/30/2011
So I just recently got my Wow Bao on and daddy likes. I always thought a Bao was either a serious dance move or Puff Daddy's newest nickname, so I was pleasantly surprise when I tasted this thing. For those of you that don't know, a Bao is like a doughy present with your choice of meat inside. I got the kung pao and mongolian beef Baos which were both slamming. I also got the thai curry chicken and rice bowl which was pretty decent as well. (Not amazing, but decent)
The service is impressively quick, but this place is always packed and, unless it's nice and you can sit outside, there aren't that many seats to sit inside. So, if you are looking for a quick bite to bring back to the office, Wow Bao will do. Pretty much a good alternative and definitely a Baoom! -
Review from Bruce B.
10/11/2011
I love Wow Bao and this place is still figuring out their groove. I feel it's better to eat in house than take it go. I usually get a bowl and 2 baos, but when I take a bowl to go, there seems to be less and less food. If you can eat in house - do it.
The bbq pork bao is awesome. Actually, everything single bao and dumpling is delicious. Wwo Bao also has the best ginger ale you will ever have. It's a very strong ginger ale and i wish then sold them in 2 liters, because it would go great with vodka. The service here was friendly, but the lines can get long. I think Wow Bao charges a bit more then they should for the amount of food, but it's very good. Sometimes I'll even grab a boa for my ride home. Come here and grab one. -
Review from Crystal N.
Chicago, IL
8/5/2011 5 Check-ins Here
OK Wow! You got me! Before you, I never knew what the Hell a 'Bao' was and thanks to you, I am now a convert. These fluffy little guys come stuffed with various beef, pork and chicken fillings. I recommend the Kung Pao Chicken Bao and the BBQ Pork. I haven't tried the pot stickers but the Peanut Noddles is damn tasty. Which brings me to this...
If you have a peanut allergy, you really shouldn't eat here since it seems like everything has either peanuts, peanut sauce or some sort of peanut something in it. You have been warned.
Oh! The chocolate Bao is a must try. Even better, try it with some Sriracha sauce! Yes, Sriracha sauce! The sweet with the spice is heavenly. -
Review from Jackie G.
Chicago, IL
10/18/2011
I had a Lettuce Entertain You gift card (I would not have tried it on my own). I was pleasantly surprised. I tried the chicken pot stickers and a Kung Pao Bao. I didn't think I'd like the Bao but it was great, although I don't think I could eat more than one. Next time I think I should have my toothbrush handy. The garlic packs a punch!
Oh, and I waited like 1 minute for my food! That's great when you work downtown and want to grab a quick lunch.
TRY THE LEMONADE!! I got everything for under $10! -
Review from P R.
Chicago, IL
12/13/2011
I officially have a wow baodiction! Great flavors, great price on the combos. The spicy noodle salad is great.
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Review from Cassandra K.
Cleveland, OH
11/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was stuck in Chicago last week for a full 5 hours in between trains, so I decided to put my luggage in a locker, go do some shopping, and get something to eat. I passed Wow Bao on my way to State Street and quickly decided that I would eat there on my way back to Union Station because I absolutely love bao, but I can never find anywhere to get any where I live. So, I made my way back after shopping and was pleasantly surprised by the decor and line format.
I was a little nervous because it seemed as though the place is popular with the locals and I was nervous that I wouldn't have enough time to look through the menu before being nudged into line by impatient regular customers. Thankfully, they also have efficient touch-screen ordering. I was able to see the menu very clearly and the entire transaction took less than a minute. I was given a number and it was called in under 10 minutes. I got a spicy Mongolian beef bao, a teriyaki chicken bao, a chicken curry bao, and a glass of pomegranate ginger ale. Everything was absolutely delicious. In fact, it was all so delicious, that I decided that I was going to get the pumpkin bao, coconut custard bao, and another teriyaki chicken for the next leg of my train ride.
The bao were nice, hot, and extremely tender. The dough had just the right amount of sweetness to it, the filling had no gristly bits and was extremely flavorful. The ginger ale had an excellent amount of bite... you can tell that it was made from real ginger and it is easily known upon first sip that this is homemade stuff that you cannot get this quality of ginger ale from the store.
Out of all the bao I tried, I think that it would be safe to say that you can't go wrong with any of the flavors.
I'll just go in my corner and sulk because there isn't a Wow Bao outside of Chicago. Maybe one day when I'm really craving bao, I'll see how much it costs to ship 'em over to me. -
Review from Jordan M.
Chicago, IL
6/21/2011
I have been here a couple times, and only gotten the same thing. The combo with pad Thai and Baos. I love love love love the Baos, steamed doughy goodness. I like to dip them in hot sauce, and i could easily slam a dozen of these. Although the flavor of the fillings is subtle I love them, and they are healthy!
Pad Thai is not anything special, but the sauce is good, mixed up with the Sriracha, even better.
The reason I rate this place a four is because of the price. It is a great quick lunch on a work day. Good food, healthy food. The price is great as well. A combo with a water cup is less than 10$.
Final Thought; Great Lunch Spot! -
Review from Anne M.
Chicago, IL
11/1/2011
I believe in enjoying a meal in a comfortable environment, be it restaurant or home. But if I must dine and drive, I will get takeout from Wow Bao. The steamed buns are the ultimate one-handed driving snack! No messy hands, no crumbs or drips. Thai chicken curry is my favorite (only 170 calories - get 2). The chicken curry rice bowl is really yummy too (but need one hand on the wheel at all times).
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Review from Bridget G.
Chicago, IL
3/9/2011
Bart and Ralph Wiggum are playing cards.
Bart: Do you have any three's?
Ralph: Go fish!
Bart (looking at Ralph's hand): See, here's the problem, Ralph. You have several three's.
This was just like my conversation with the lady working at the Wow Bao. I inquire of her, "Is the Thai Herb Broth soup vegetarian"? To which she replies, "Yes. It's just chicken broth".
Nope. See just because there is no actual chicken floating IN it, doesn't mean it's vegetarian. But I digress. This type of conversation happens all the time for vegetarians that eat out. Just like the "I have to actually eat that" conversation that I always find myself having with sandwich- and burrito-builders. Now where was I? Oh yes, digressing.
Anyhoo, Wow Bao RULES!! If you haven't had a bao, they're like a round bread pillow stuffed with deliciousness. They're small- you can eat two or three of them. The whole wheat edamame bao is a taste treat sensation and the best part is you can buy them frozen and just reheat for one minute in your microwave- zero loss of quality. Peapod was carrying them for a while, then wasn't, now is. The made-with-real-ginger ginger ale is interesting. I don't know that I'd say it's good, but if you really love ginger (I mean, you're in love with ginger) you might enjoy it.
They should have more sauce options and also sauce packets available for to-go orders. Also, they should have a vegetarian soup option, for us picky vegetarians that don't recognize chicken as a vegetable. -
Review from Rebecca H.
La Grange, IL
8/3/2011
Check out their website for ingredients - this has saved me from the dreaded garlic mentioned by another reviewer. Before, I would order baos and later feel pretty awful (garlic and I don't click), but thanks to being able to know what is in what, here are my recommendations for the "garlic averse:"
1. Whole Wheat Edamame Bao*
2. Chicken Dumplings, steamed (Mustard sauce)
3. Vegetable Summer Rolls
4. Green Tea Ginger Ale (I like all the ginger ales - they're refreshing and a great change of pace from iced tea, water, lemon water, cucumber water...)
* According to the Order Entry page, all the savory baos list garlic either as an ingredient or as part of the Allergy Alert. The Edamame lists it in the Allergy Alert, but I've never experienced issues. Maybe they have to list it in all of them if they're all prepared in the same location. Just FYI.
There are probably more options, just sharing what I know.
If you have reactions to garlic, you know how prevalent it is.
The BEST is ordering and paying online, since lunch rush tends to have a long line and long wait. -
Review from Brian G.
Chicago, IL
7/28/2011
I always come here on Wednesdays for the free bao. Their baos are so delicious and if that doesn't fill you up you can try the pad thai which is also pretty good.
Oh also they have refills :) -
Review from kourtney l.
Chicago, IL
6/2/2011 4 Check-ins Here
I get the mixed reviews, I totally do. Honestly, if not for their amazing ginger ale I might've given three stars BUT sweet baby jesus, that is some damn fine ginger ale! I would know, I'm kind of obsessed. I hear there are flavors but I don't mess with the original 'cause it's sooo good. Note, don't order the ginger ale unless you actually like ginger because the flavor is pretty intense and is nothing like the bottled/canned variety that you're used to.
Ahem. The food is pretty decent for a Loop lunch. It's not terribly expensive nor is it the cheapest, depending on what you order. I generally stick to the combo since I have a hard time making up my mind. My one complaint here would be the edges of the potstickers tend to get a little crispy which isn't great. One sip of ginger ale and all is forgiven. -
Review from kristina a.
Wyandotte, MI
5/16/2011
For the life of me we kept passing this place by on our way to other restaurants and FINALLY had a second to stop in.....
We had the pork buns and pot stickers, and or a mid afternoon snack they hit the spot! If we had more time, we would have liked to sample them all :-) Very clean and speedy. I'd definitely recommend this, if nothing else - to try something a little bit different..... and those buns are so doggone cute! lol -
Review from Rachael M.
Alsip, IL
12/16/2011
My favorite lunch spot for a busy work day. Super fast, tasty, healthy as far as I can tell, although a little carb heavy. I like the 3 for $5 combo (combo of postickers or "bao," noodles, and a rice bowl). What I most love is that I feel like I'm escaping the workday -- interesting menu, the atmosphere is cooler than a Corner Bakery, and I feel like I can relax a bit. Highly recommend.
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Review from Roxy A.
1/12/2011
HOT ASIAN BUNS!!!
Wow Bao is kind of my default lunch spot when I'm too lazy to walk far during my lunch break & when I don't feel like having a sandwich for lunch. It's not very authentic Chinese food, but the bao is decent here. I like the Asian salad plus 2 bao combo (I reccomend BBQ pork & coconut custard). I'd pass on the bowls...they're pretty shiesty on the meat and the few times I have gone here I've noticed that with the "Mongolian Beef" & "Chicken Teriyaki" bowls the meat looks the same. Also the noodles that come with the bowls are a bit bland. -
Review from David N.
Missouri City, TX
5/22/2011 4 photos
This place brought the concept of banh bao to Americans... and they did it with style and taste... It is one of a kind!
Ok for those that don't know how i score i find 5 different categories about the specific restaurant score them individually and average out that number for the final rating of the restaurant.
food taste and originality: They made these almost like the authentic thing, if you ever went to a Chinese or Vietnamese super market try buying one and comparing.. you will not know the differences.. They have assorted flavors to choose from, i recommend the BBQ Beef or Pork, just absolutely Delicious..
Score: 4.7
Customer Service: The order taker was helpful and not rushing when we were taking our order... he seemed willing to help us decide. It took less than 5 minutes to get our orders also..
Score: 4.5
Restaurant Environment: Im going to say this is one of the nicest banh bao shops i been too, very modern and clean... i took some pics, i just love the design of the place! Its very inviting.. also they have wifi here! Good for business meetings also!
Score: 5
Price and Portions: These portions are kinda small but they do make it up in the flavoring.. Delicious little morsels! They are also semi-cheap.. i believe a half a dozen is about $8.50 while individually its $1.50 each..
Score: 3.7
Restroom: unfortunately i did not get to use the restroom, cause i was roaming around the Restaurant taking pictures of the Restaurant instead.. so i can score this one.. sorry guys! But if i had to score on cleanliness of the resturant i will give them a....
Score: 4.6
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All Scales are on a 5.0!
1| Total Suck, I wouldnt go here again if it was the last restaurant in the city, i rather eat soy sauce and rice!
2| Not total Suck but still suck none the less, they attempted but failed miserably, and i wouldn't even give this place a consideration unless they made major changes.
3| Average nothing special, something i can get anywhere else. But yet alone still kinda good, would try it again if i ran out of good options.
4| Pretty good on my scale, this place is above average, did pretty good on my 5 point scale, but not the BEST place there is to offer, but it is highly recommended.
5| Hands down best place eat. There is NO SUBSTITUTION. Excelled on my 5 point scale, and would be the first place to pop into my mind if i thought of a place to eat in this category.
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TOTAL SCORE CARD: 4.5
This resturant or quick food store, however you want to call it is a great place for banh bao! While i was here i stopped by twice and i togo some back for my family! That has to tell you how much i loved it! -
Review from Jen R.
8/25/2010
I am a wow bao lovah - especially on Wednesdays, when the facebook phrase of the day gets you a free bao. Ya, I'm cheap like that.
I've tried a few different baos so far and the dessert ones, especially the coconut custard, are tasty tasty. Yes, I said it twice - they are that good. So good, in fact, that if you try to pick some up and it's not during the lunch rush you're pretty much stuck with a 10-15 minute wait while they steam some up. Ugh, being bao-blocked sucks. Moving on, I've had both the teriyaki chicken and the mongolian beef, but didn't dig the taste of the meat - it was kinda like too much processed non goodness with little taste. Their pot stickers were a tad too greasy, but would definitely work in a pinch. So...for now I'll just continue to return for my free coconut custard bao every Wednesday. Of course, I'm not gonna waste a whole walk there for just one bao, so I keep telling myself they're buy two get one free just to make my piglet self feel better. Ya, it's a lie, but it works for me. -
Review from Apara W.
Updated - 8/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
I actually got meat in my veggie potsickers, and called to tell the store. The manager Daniel was super apologetic, didnt have an attitude and fixed my order a week later when i went. 5 stars to the Nepalese version of momos and to customer service. I will continue to come here weekly for veggie potstickers and coconut bao.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/6/2010
I had the vegetarian wow bao and the coconut custard. Can't wait to go back. Friendly staff. 1 star… Read more »
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Review from Taryn T.
10/10/2010
To those of you who thrive on people watching like I do: the window seats here are a total jackpot. This Wao Bao is located just across the street from the Board of Trade, so during lunchtime this place and the surrounding area is usually packed with handsome traders galore. Never in my life have I seen such a cluster of multi-colored mesh vests!
A word of caution about the food to those of you with bad peanut allergies (like myself)... any dish with noodles likely has peanut oil in it, so watch out!
For non-lethal alternatives, I like the chicken or pork potstickers, and my favorite item here is actually the chocolate bao - it's filled with yummy, warm, melted chocolate and costs a mere $1.50. -
Review from Bibiana A.
Dallas, TX
9/5/2011
Who knew Bao's buns were so delicious. I was visiting Chicago and was drawn to the sign. My friends name is Bao and I had to take a picture and send it to him. I went into the restaurant and was surprised by the number of people and great ambiance in the room. I ordered the BBQ pork and coconut custard bun. It was so good! Wow Bao's is a good place for a meal or a snack. Loved it! I will be back on my next Chicago trip.
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Review from Anna T.
Updated - 12/29/2010
I cannot get enough of these hot little asian buns! Such a perfectly amazing winter lunch - warm and filling without stuffing you with fatty grease (especially if you ate as many holiday treats as I did).
Also, I want a t-shirt - anyone know where I can get one without working there?!?1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/21/2010
This location is even better than the one at Water Tower Place! It's all the yummy deliciousness and… Read more »
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Review from Brad C.
12/21/2010
Good, healthy, simple food.
With all the burgers, burritos and crap the guys at work try to cram down my throat for lunch, this is a welcomed change. The flavors are great (Curry Chicken is a must) and the soups compliment the Bao well.
More importantly, if I have somebody who 'wants to try something different' in town, this is one on top of the list for a quick lunch. -
Review from Kori E.
11/23/2010
I love this place, but I have to admit, before I tried one of their delicious buns, I was very skeptical. I would always walk past it on the way to Macy's in Water tower, crinkling my nose at the smell, thinking to myself...GROSS!
I finally agreed to go about 2 years ago with my boyfriend, he raved about it, so I agreed. My world changed that very day. The hot buns with the delicious ingredients inside are to die for. I usually stick with the same buns, the Whole Wheat Edame, Kung Pao and Terriyaki Chicken. We have tried the bowls a few times as well, and those are equally as delish! I have eaten lunch, dinner and snacks here and walk away happy after every single bun! This place is great!!!! I highly recommend it, you wont be disappointed. -
Review from KELLIE K.
5/3/2010
Wow? No, maybe w. Or ow.
I read the mixed yelp reviews and gave it a shot anyway.
Yeah, there's no denying it's kind of cookie cutter, fast foodish. On the lighter side, it's a healthier alternative than some other choices in the area.
Now, about the bao, the reason anyone probably goes there. Meh. I hate using that word, but that's all I've got. I picked up one of those 6-packs, thinking that they were more dim sum sized dumplings. Not so. That's a lot of food, so, a bump up in stars for that. I sampled a variety of flavors and nothing really stood out. In fact, they all nearly tasted the same, with a slight change in heat and sweetness, depending on which one I tasted.
I also tried the steamed pork and cabbage dumplings. Again, another meh. More healthy points for that dish not being deep fried. If anyone can explain to me how they're pork and cabbage dumplings when the cabbage is presented in a soggy pile at the bottom of the tray, under the dumplings, instead of in the actual dumplings, I'd appreciate it.
I'll likely give it another shot, but probably won't go out of my way to hurry back soon.Listed in: On State Street, That Great…, Hey You Guys!!
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Review from Jim S.
10/13/2010
I eat here often. I've had meetings here. It's consistent, and fast. I've tried pretty much everything on the menu, and it's all perfectly satisfying.
I don't know if I'd travel across the city for it, but it's awesome for a quick meal if you're nearby. -
Review from Andrea C.
Chicago, IL
5/20/2011
Holy sodium. It tastes good going down but I am parched for hours afterwards. Also, don't plan any close talking afterwards because the garlic sticks with you for hours. All in all, mediocre, decent quality fake Asian fast food.
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Review from Will K.
7/19/2010
I was alittle worried, i'm not the most adventurous eater in the world, so when my friends mentioned this place for dinner one night I started to panic. But to my delight and surprise I actually really enjoyed it.
The rice bowl I got was great! The lemonade was delish! I tried a Bao on my way out because they were throwing them away because it was near closing time.. didn't enjoy the meat/veggie ones so much, but the desert one was great! -
Review from Tina B.
Updated - 9/10/2009
Who the fuck am I kidding? I fricking love- not "love" love- but, really like this place.
It is true that the meat can be a bit oddly grisly at times still, but for the most part the food is really tasty - and can be cheap or expensive, depending on what you order. Thai curry baos are delicious and I've been eating them all night. Teriyaki ain't half bad either, but the Mongolian beef is pretty gross. I still ate it, but it is gross.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/19/2008
I am all for the expansion of fast food into the "beyond burgers" categories. Drive-thru chaat?… Read more »
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Review from Patrick W.
Chicago, IL
9/22/2008
I can definitely see how someone might not care for the doughiness of the bao. However, I quite enjoy doughy stuff, and the fillings are generally very tasty. It's simple food, easy to eat, pretty cheap, filling, and ready fast.
Before reading Grace's review, I had no idea the fillings were made fresh daily... I once saw them with a large bag of something or another at the WaterTower location, and it broke my heart. It was like finding out about Santa or the Tooth Fairy... I wanted to believe that the filling just magically/mysteriously found itself inside the bun, much the way peanut butter does in a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. For a short time, because of the painful experience of seeing that bag full of mongolian beef, I was under the impression that a factory was producing these heavenly white buns of joy*. Now I can go back to knowing, in good faith, that the copper steam apparatus behind the counter are a Willy Wonka-esque magical bao maker. Oh but for a Golden Ticket under a future thai curry chicken bao so the empire, aka the whole shootin' match can be mine!
I was going to give it 4 stars, but noticed that they have a push-button fork dispenser, for which I've granted an additional star. It took every fiber of my mature, adult being not to just stand there and repeatedly push the button, ejecting dozens and dozens of forks from the wall onto the counter below until I was asked to leave.
*"Heavenly white buns of joy" was my nickname in college -
Review from Matt W.
Streamwood, IL
2/26/2007 1 Check-in Here
Wow Bao has finally arrived in the South Loop!
I've been waiting for this place to open for a while now. I'm a big fan of their Water Tower location so when I found out there was going to be a second shop opening not more than 2 blocks from the office my Baometer starting humming.
The concept is identical to their other location. Steamed buns called Bao are stuffed with Chinese and Thai mixtures like curry chicken, mongolian beef and kung pao chicken. Priced at $1.29 a piece they're quite a deal for the flavor and consistent quality they offer.
I got the two bao combo which gives your choice of three salads (pad thai, spicy peanut noodle or eight vegetable) and any two bao. I opted for the spicy noodle and then a bbq pork bao and a mongolian beef bao. The salad was a cold soba noodle mix with chopped chicken as well as a really tasty, pretty spicy peanut sauce. There were sliced cucumbers for decoration and to complete the whole thing. For $5.49 I was blown away, it was really delicious and WAY worth the price.
Service was a little slow but as the manager told me they had only been open for 20 minutes so today was their first live dry run. I'm sure the small kinks I experienced, mainly the speed of service and the fact that I waited for five minutes while they replenished the noodle salad supply, will be ironed out
Definitely hit up Wow Bao, it's the best bang for your buck in the area and you won't be disappointed.Listed in: My Lunch Choices
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Review from Ingrid R.
Chicago, IL
8/26/2010
Yummy. I've noticed this place for years in the Water Tower Place and never tried it. I tried this location near work for the first time yesterday - double yummy. I have the Thai Curry over Multi-Grain Rice in a bowl and had 2 boas for desert (what - I was hungry!)
I went with coconut custard and chocolate. Chocolate was ok, CC was gorgeous! I might try savory next time - I'll definitely be back. -
Review from Gail L.
Naperville, IL
2/28/2007 ROTD 3/15/2007
Sadly, I cannot eat the Bao. Soft squishy dough just doesn't work with my stomach plumbing. Potstickers and Steamed Dumplings are pretty iffy too, so when a couple of friends decided to go to Wow Bao for Lunch, I was like "Eh". but, I figured a fun lunch hour of knitting and chat was worth picking my way through dumpling innerds. My downtown knit friends rock! Hi Lynette! Hi Becky!
However, they do have non-Bao and dumpling dishes, much to my delight. I ordered the BBQ Pork over steamed napa cabbage. The cabbage was still firm, and the BBQ was excellent - just a little on the spicy side. Unforunately, the cabbage was pretty "wet", so I ended up with cabbage soup about half way through my dish. Still yummy, just a little tricky to eat with a fork. The hibsicus ice tea was also excellent, although a bit pricy for 1.69.
If you walk up the Tortureous Wind Tunnel of Hell, otherwise known as Jackson, you've never seen this location. That's because the entrance is on Van Buren. The space is airy, and while it was pretty busy, I never felt crowded. It's definately worth a reasonable lunch time walk.Listed in: Sears Tower Lunches
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Review from Jack M.
8/25/2010
First - the food was a solid 3 stars. Absolutely nothing to write home about, the BBQ Bao was just alright, but the food did not warrant repeating the experience.
Second - where's the rest of my food? I got my to-go box, and it was like, a third full, and I was hardly any full after eating it. For the price (7.50 for the 3 for $5 deal plus one Bao extra), I absolutely should have been more full. And if their whole health play has to do with serving less food, then they should either get smaller containers or get healthier ingredients.
All in all, unsatisfactory. -
Review from Mary T.
3/13/2009
Very, very disappointing.
I've worked in the same corner of the Loop for more years than I'd like to count. This has left me continually looking for places to add to my lunch rotation. Wow Bao will never be part of this rotation.
I should've gone with my gut and played it safe once I'd read the menu; the veggie choices are uninspiring. Here's an example:
Bao choices:
Teriyaki Chicken
Spicy Kung Pao Chicken
Thai Curry Chicken
Spicy Mongolian Beef
BBQ Pork
Whole Wheat Edamame
The sole veggie bao seems like a complete after thought. I was hoping that the description didn't do it justice, but just as it sounds the veggie bao is about as exciting as eating a rice cake - and that was the highlight of my meal. By the way whatever bao you get they are tiny; I've had bigger cupcakes!
I also ordered the 5-piece green vegetable potstickers, which were so awful I only could stomach 3. I was never asked if I wanted my potstickers pan-seared or steamed or what sauce I would like with them. The sauce they chose was fine, but the texture of the potstickers killed it for me. They were chewy with some crunchy bits, potsticker was sticking to my teeth the way some hard candy does - gross! I couldn't tell if they were pan-seared AND steamed, over-seared or what, but ick! I couldn't even tell what the green vegetables inside were, one was possibly spinach.
I saw that they have homemade ginger ale and decided to take a glass to go. It was ok, but not what I was expecting. It's heavy on the ginger, more like a ginger beer, than ale (yes, there is a difference).
Maybe if I were a meat eater I would've had a better experience, those items sounded more flavorful and since they were priced the same, definitely a better bang for your buck.
Bottom line: I spent $9 on a lunch that was truly disappointing and am still quite hungry. I can think of a number of places I could truly stuff myself for the same amount. -
Review from Melanie S.
Chicago, IL
1/12/2010
I can take or leave this place.
When I'm unmotivated, it's particularly cold out, or I need to do something quick, Wow Bao seems to be my default option.
The potstickers are decent enough, but nothing that Chinatown needs to worry over having their thunder stolen. I usually get the vegetable ones as they have a slightly bitter (in a good way) mix of green vegetables and the chicken ones kind of scare me.
On a colder day, it's Thai Chicken Noodle soup. It's been very good, and it's been very bland, but almost always, the chicken in it is tough. This happens to soup when chicken is added at the beginning of the cooking process and continues to cook too long. I just drink the broth, eat the noodles, and toss the nasty chicken.
Some standouts include the hibiscus lemonade and frozen yogurt with tangerine. Those are worth coming here for.
Like I said, this place doesn't really rock my world, but it'll do in a pinch.
I suppose the earth doesn't have to move every time I eat.Listed in: Keeping you in the Loop, Dim Sum Lose Some, Meals by Melman
-
Review from Cassidy P.
Chicago, IL
1/12/2010
I really really wanted to like this place. As a California transplant, the two foods I miss and crave most are:
1) quality bao (okay, the wild mushroom bao from Out The Door, specifically...but there were many decent places I used to get various types of bean bao along Clement St)
2) black beans in my burritos. this I will never understand about Chicago. You have forced me to eat at Chipotle!!
Okay, sorry about the black bean tangent.
Back to Wow Bao: needless to say I was very excited at the first glimpse of this place. I followed them on twitter and everything.
But, after two visits I have to say that I am extremely disappointed.
First of all, their bao are fine. Not great, just fine. Too bready, not exciting, but not horrible either.
Homemade ginger ale is ridiculously over priced and disgusting. Waaay too sweet. This is coming from a sweet tooth who loves ginger anything...ice cream, ginger chews, ginger ale, you name it. But this? Ick!
Mostly, I was disappointed by the fact that there are so few options for vegetarians (soup is all chicken-based), and no tofu or bean whatsoever (okay, okay, there is whole wheat edamame which is okay--but I prefer to have more than one choice).
Add to that the fact that they don't have a suggestion box and give you attitude when you try to give helpful suggestions like staying open a little later (5:30pm misses the after-work crowd, imho) and adding veggie protein options...if you aren't interested in what your customers have to say, you're going to lose said customers. -
Review from Peter G.
Chicago, IL
9/16/2008
This place isn't as good as it should be. It's like sweet dogfood with dye in heavy wowbao doughdough. The noodles are really awful. Dumplings- meh. Greasy potsicking skin wrapped around gingered pork scrap. (well, that's about what it's supposed to be, they just make it real soggy)
BUT! The concept is incredible. I'm so torn between absolutely loving this kind of food and hating what they've done to it that I've been too generous with the stars and now feel guilty and need to go.
If you've never been to chinatown or are scared of people who aren't like you, go here cause you'll probably like it.
