Boa-Bao
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We came for lunch after sight seeing. Nice break from a usual Portuguese good. The summer roll was delicate. The shrimp is nothing like I had in NY. Very good. Pad Thai was great. The best part is the glass of rosé was only €5! Service is friendly n courteous. Love the menu design.
I never thought I'd get a little overwhelmed with seafood but we did. It was time for a little break and I eat some Asian food and vary it up a little. The chicken pad Thai is SO GOOD. It's Asian approved. Now you know. Tom yam Kang soup was also quite excellent. The decor is super cool and chic. Excellent date ambiance and service was very friendly. I highly recommend it if you need a little break from Portuguese food!
This place was solid. I saw this restaurant featured on a YouTube channel and the food looked great, so we decided to make it a stop here on our trip. We were working with a bit of a tight window, we had just an hour and change before we had to head out to a boat tour. Our server did his best to accommodate us but the kitchen did take a while despite us being one of the only tables, so if you're looking for a quick meal this place isn't it. That said, I really enjoyed the food here. We started off with the potato curry puffs which were crispy and delicious, bursting with flavor. For my main course I had the Massaman curry with shrimp which was also warm and perfect. We sat outside and the ambiance was very charming. The beer here is extremely well priced, I couldn't pass up the larger size for just a slight bit more money. Definitely a spot to visit if you're craving Asian food.
We had a delicious last meal in Lisbon. Service was great, and the place has a very cool vibe and ceiling. The food: - Dumplings Full of different flavors and highly recommend - Pecking duck rolls Small but full of flavor and a sweet sauce on the side - Wontons Delicious and a nice sweet chili sauce to accompany it - Chicken Pad Thai Seriously good and a lot of food. Easy to split amongst a few people Strongly recommend a visit over to Boa Bao. Smaller appetizers that pack a real punch, and a really flavorful pad thai!
After a week of eating mostly Portuguese cuisine, we were quite happy to find Boa-Bao. Such an interesting Asian fusion concept of Chinese, Thai, Indonesian, and Vietnamese combined cuisine in one restaurant. Except for the Bao, they almost pulled it off. Our Peking, pork belly, and crispy chicken bao were salty and heavy with Hoisin sauce. The buns were stale and a little chewy. Other dishes (Tiger Shrimp Pad Thai, Rendang Beef, and Tiger Shrimp Phuket Hokkien Mer Stir-Fried Noodles) were on point and tasty. The staff did their job but was not very engaging or as friendly.
Duck spring rolls were so good, we ordered a second. Beef Redeng was very tender and packed with flavor. Ate every bite. Shrimp noodle salad was fresh and citrusy.
This place gets 5 stars for ambience, as the inside is really well decorated and the themes of the drink and food menu are super memorable (basically taking you on a journey to Asia). But the food itself really leaves much to be desired. We ordered baos, curry, a noodle dish, and everything was just ok. There was no real depth of flavor or umami that you look for when you order Vietnamese/ Thai dishes. In retrospect would definitely not order the green curry and dim sum appetizer again. The dim sum sampler was such a small portion and was not easily shareable amongst two people. Service was also lacking as the waitress kept forgetting table ordered what and kept getting confused with another order. We had to ask twice to receive our appetizer after our entrees already came out. I think this is a good spot to grab a casual drink and check out the asian theme but not to have a full blown dinner like me and my friend had.
"What's a bao?" I was sitting on a bench right next to the host stand at the front of the restaurant, waiting for my takeaway order to be finished, when I must've heard this question twice. (And it took no time at all to get my food, so twice is really saying a lot about the significance of Boa-Bao's bao offering on the Lisbon culinary scene.) Boa-Bao is one of the hottest restaurants in Lisbon--I saw it pop up far too many times when I was looking up restaurants in town. Which means that this place, just a short walk from attractions like the Carmo Convent and Santa Justa Elevator in Chiado, caters to a specific social media aesthetic. The interior is picture perfect and they try to sell you on a "journey through Asia" as their menu features passport stamp visuals and food from 13 different countries in Asia. I had misgivings about the whole "jack of all trades, master of none" hole they were digging themselves into, but my bao craving was calling. I swung by around 2:45 PM. (Keep an eye on the clock: Boa-Bao closes between 3:30-6:30 PM every day.) I tried the crispy chicken bao and the eggplant bao. In hindsight I should've skipped the eggplant bao and tried the peking duck bao instead. The crispy chicken bao was nearly a euro cheaper at €5.85 and the tamarind sauce combined with the fried chicken was a winner (winner, almost chicken dinner). There were a few seats available on the patio when I was there, but I hopped on the Metro to enjoy my baos while soaking up the sun in Eduardo VII Park. Need another reason to compare Lisbon with San Francisco? It warmed my Californian heart to see that my bao was in a sturdy reusable container and that Boa-Bao encouraged us to reuse it.
What a hip and fun place! I would give 5 stars for the vibe and 3 for the food. I had the salt and pepper gluten free calamari. It was okay. Not much flavor. I also had the sticky rice. For drinks, I had the NA Mango Khan which was fun. I was still hungry and got the spring rolls (Goi Cuon) but the paper wasn't chewy. It was mushy like a pasta. The other got pad Thai and they all loved it. But it has peanuts and I'm allergic.
I was not looking for it and ran into it by mistake the day before The following day I returned, but I arrived one hour after opening. Ensure that you arrive on time and early. I went there at 1930 hours and the wait time was 45 minutes. Nevertheless, I must add that the food was great. The service was excellent. The atmosphere precise. I was able to enjoy a very good dinner, so it was worth the wait. I recommend that you Take the time to read the menu as you wait and know exactly what you want as this would expedite your service. I left the restaurant a very satisfied customer.
This place is straight fire!!! Especially the Chicken Pad Thai (Medium). They offered a hot and thank god I didn't go that route! Also had the Peking Duck egg rolls which were amazing and a Bao Crispy Chicken. The service was awesome and the restaurant is beautiful! This place was right around the corner from my hotel and unfortunately I didn't explore it until the last night. Don't let my mistake also be yours! Go early and often!!
A really cool fusion restaurant with a travel theme which I totally ate up! They offer bao, noodles, curries and really yummy drinks! It's located right in the heart of the Chiado neighborhood so it was an easy walk from the area we were staying in, in Rossio. They don't take reservations, but they were pretty busy. We were able to sit at the bar while we waited for a table to open up - didn't take too long though! We ordered some drinks (one of them was their special spritz drink) and then got their vegetarian dim sum which included some dumplings and then two pieces of their vegetarian bao, and shared their special stir fry noodles. We also got some kimchi. It was a LOT of food! So definitely good to share with others. Prices were fare and service was wonderful!
Delicious eclectic asian food in a hip building. Great cocktails as well. Dishes and bao were all tasty and had the right level of spice. Also has some outdoor seating, but really dug the vibe inside. Very busy, so show up early to get your name on the list! read more
Small chain of delicious Asian food. They have indoor and outdoor seating and we decided On the chefs counter. That allowed us to be seated somewhere warm and we could see some of the kitchen activity. The chefs were all from Philippines or Nepal and we were guessing Vietnam, Thailand, Laos or that region. We had a pork belly bao and a curry noodle dish. Curry dish was delicious but maybe a bit sweet for my taste. Others will love it. Also ordered the large beer but the glass was quite small. Your mileage may vary. Overall, very busy and delicious place. read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
This place is a nice stop along on your journey but not a must. The food was good but nothing to write home about. The prices were quite expensive to only leave there hungry in search of something more. The staff were nice, they even offered blankets as it got really chilly while dining outdoors. This place is a solid 3.5. If you make it there cool, if not, you didn't miss much. The cuisine in Lisbon is amazing and you will get way more for your buck somewhere else. read more
4 years ago
Words. Words. I simply have no words! I am so very happy I decided on this place! The atmosphere is absolutely amazing! The music chill-out all the way! I sat at the chefs bar and that's an experience all it's own. Watching everything be made fresh! I had the shrimp coconut curry (massaman) delightful! The service was super prompt and friendly. The best was saved for last!!!! Again. I simply have no words! BRAVO on the 5 Chinese spice molten cake and vanilla ice cream! Such a wonderful Lisboa culinary dance of flavors! read more
7 years ago
Great place in the heart of Lisbon . Friendly staff . Cocktails were utterly delicious. We ordered there seafood noodle soup . The broth was light and refreshing along with plenty of seafood . Also got the cilantro scallops. Never had anything so tasty . Prices are reasonable . With drinks total 48 euros . read more
8 years ago
3.5 star. I had high expectation Boa-Bao because of lots of Positive reviews. There is few asian restautant so I can understand it can make little advantage. The noodle what I had was little salty. So I ordered side of Jasmin rice. But it was 18.5 euro. calamari, shrimp was fresh, but that's not worth. My wife had pho and it was good enough. read more
My family I had been in Portugal for 14 days and have had our fair share of Portuguese food. We love the Portuguese food but being from Toronto and having such a huge range of choice in our ethnic dining culture we needed something else. Out Airbnb host suggested this restaurant. They don't take reservations (I think) and we had to wait for about an hour to get our seats. We went for a 25 minute walk came back sat at the bar and watch the bartenders make some fantastic drinks. They seem to take pride in the creation and actually it was a shame people drinking the drinks did actually get to watch. But I did so good stuff for me. I had a great old fashioned which was meticulously made but they don't have my favourite cherries :-( still a great drink. When he finally got settled we ordered three dishes to share we had the Pad Thai shrimp, Green Curry chicken and Beef in Chinese black bean. Also so apps. dim sum and Bao pork belly jasmine rice. I took a picture of the bill. All was great but he beef was just so so in my opinion. The guy at the next table loved it but I found it bland. The dinner was great. However one tick on the bad column. I did finish my drink and asked the BT to make me another type of his liking based on what he had been feeding me to slurp. This is where they lost the star as when I got my bill it was a 18€ drink and that pissed me off. I don't think you more than double up the price of a drink without telling someone as 18€ is more that most meals in Lisbon. So shame on me for giving him the liberty but shame on the BT for doing what he did. I didn't add an extra tip due to it. Anyway go and try it. We needed something different and this hit the mark. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
5 years ago
Come early this place gets packed very quickly in the week could be very long. Yes there is many incredible restaurants to choose from but this one will allow you a break from the local food. It was a little pricey. read more
3 years ago
The theme of the restaurant was one of adventure and exploration, so going to Boa-Bao for lunch with two friends felt like we were adventuring together! We decided that ordering dishes and sharing was going to be the best way of sampling all this restaurant had to offer. Looking around, you couldn't help but feel you were in The Orient. For starters we ordered the Vegetarian Dim Sum assortment and the fried sun dried beef strips Isaan style with some guidance from our knowledgeable and attentive waitress. She was helpful throughout the visit and made it complete. The starters tasted great and really went well together. Main courses were brought out and each looked like it had been put together with great care and attention. We decided that Peking duck gua bao with hoisin, cucumber and spring onion was a must. It was cooked just the way I like it! The Malaysian Curry Soup with sea food & egg noodles and a side of sticky rice added some needed heat and the rice perfectly soaked up the soup. Then we went for some Japchae - Korean glass noodle stir fry with beef - although we could have had just about anything on the menu because it all sounded so good. Rounding it off with dessert, the three of us chose one each and then shared. The first dessert was coconut crème brûlée with basil & lemongrass that one of us liked a little bit too much perhaps :), then came the pineapple carpaccio with chocolate loempia & vanilla and Japanese mochi selection. Each had the right amount of sweetness to finish off a meal. Highly recommended!! read more
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Boa-Bao B.
Jarrod B, WOW! What an amazing recommendation :) Thank you so much…
5 years ago
We had a really fun lunch at this funky Asian "mash up" restaurant on Wednesday January 26th. The cocktail menu was fun. We especially enjoyed the Bao Bao Delight appetizer and the Gua Bao. read more
7 years ago
4 years ago
4 years ago
3 years ago
Yes I think this place is a bit overrated but that doesn't mean it wasn't very good! This is a hard place to get a seat so I would come early (~7 for Portuguese dinner time). We ate family style and had the eggplant, tom yum fried rice, Malaysian yellow curry with shrimp, Asian vegetables, and mushroom and grilled octopus salad. Everything was flavorful and delicious, but the portions were smaller so we probably should've ordered one more main dish. In any case, though, a solid restaurant in the trendy Chiado district that is a fun change of pace from typical Portuguese cuisine. read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
7 years ago
Found this place while looking for an Asian meal in Lisbon. We chose to sit outside, which was a great atmosphere. The initial drink I ordered wasn't available, so I chose the Bombay sapphire drink while my boyfriend ordered the drink that came in a monkey cup. The drinks were presented very beautifully, but mine smelled like sewage water and my boyfriend confirmed. We had the scallops as an appetizer, which were tiny but came in a very tasty sauce. I ordered the double fried pork belly for my main dish. The sauce and veggies were good, but the pork belly was very dry and a little tough. Also ordered a side of kimchi cucumbers which were good, but overall overpriced for the value. read more
5 years ago
7 years ago
Very cute cute place!! I am asian and we came here coz we wanted a quick asian food break during our Portugal trip. Pleasant surprised with the quality of the food! We each got the pho and I got a side of asian stir fried vegetables in ginger and soy sauce. read more
5 years ago
The food was pretty but tasted bland and overcooked. The dumplings were rubbery and had no flavor, I got the assorted basket. The pad Thai was really bland and the noodles were both soggy and rubbery at the same time. I ordered the chicken but got the shrimp instead and figured it wasn't a big deal because I was hungry and like shrimp too but they were extremely overcooked. Not sure if it was just the day I went but I felt it was overpriced for the quality, the dumplings pad Thai and a glass of wine came out to 45 euros read more
4 years ago
8 years ago
Really liked this place. The dim sum was perfect dnd pretty. I had a fancy drink that involved a dark chocolate rim and an Interactive process that was entertaining. Duck spring rolls were yummy. Lovely flavors. I'd definitely go back. The soups looked amazing but I was not that hungry. They do accept credit cards. read more
8 years ago
Happened upon this nice restaurant while walking around one day while on vacation in Lisbon. The food is very tasty and the atmosphere is great. They don't take reservations so getting there before 8:00 pm is the best time if one wants to be seated at a table. After 8:00 pm, one is looking at wait times of 20 minutes or more. The restaurant is that popular. read more
9 years ago
Didn't have food here just drinks: Very good Asian influenced Tiki Cocktails and a great atmosphere. read more
Business owner information
Boa-Bao B.
Fiachra O, it's great to know that you enjoyed our original…
7 years ago
Boa Bao is absolutely amazing! We had the Peking duck gua bao as an appetizer, and the salmon bulgogi and the japchae Korean sweet potato noodles. Both were delicious! The vibe and drinks were also fantastic. Hoping one of these are opened in the States soon :)! read more
7 years ago
Both dishes were good. We both enjoyed the food and the ambience. Nice Asian restaurant in Lisbon. It's a very busy place tho!! read more
7 years ago
8 years ago
Business owner information
Boa-Bao B.
Denise, we're sorry to hear that your experience with us didn't meet…
7 years ago
The reason I'm giving this place 3 stars is because of the service. The hostess was nice and told us we could wait at the bar until a table was available. Andre the bartender was there in front of us and said nothing, he did not acknowledge that we were even there. It took about 15-20 minutes for another one to acknowledge us and take our order. We ordered appetizers and I ordered a beer. It took another 15 minutes plus to receive my drink while others received theirs less than 2 minutes after ordering. We both ordered the pad Thai which was pretty good but it could have used a little extra salt. The soy sauce and chili sauce that was provided did not have any taste. Overall, the experience was underwhelming and the service was horrid. I left upset but the food was good. read more
7 years ago
3 words.. heaven on earth.. I can't recommend this experience enough. Home made food, welcoming and friendly staff, affordable prices.. wish I could add stars.. read more
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