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    The Bao Spot

    4.2 (169 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 3:00 AM (Next day)

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    THE BAO SPOT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - The Bao Spot

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    Inside during a star wars event
    Jessica W.

    I came here for a Star wars event. Ended up getting the Martian munchies. They were good. I'm not even a big fan of brussel sprouts, but something about them being fried with bacon goes really well. I think my only note would be that they do need a sauce. I wish I would have known that because they were little busy so we ended up having to go back to order the sauce and by the time the sauce got there it was cold. I would recommend including an option to add sauce to the Martian munchies. That way other people don't end up having the same problem. The employees brought the food out to the tables and they had some people inside and outside for the event so I felt bad watching them run around. I love how the place is decorated. It feels like a sci-fi dream. Which is why I wanted to bring my lightsaber chopsticks to go with the theme. If you're in the area, definitely check them out.

    JP L.

    Bao Spot is a fairly new spot, and I'll be honest--the vibe threw me off a bit at first. From the outside, I expected something more traditionally Asian-inspired. Inside, it is Asian-inspired... but with a cyberpunk, industrial, almost Star Wars-meets-Hollywood Studios aesthetic. Dark, moody lighting, textured sci-fi-looking walls--it feels a little out of place conceptually, but it's undeniably cool to look at. If you're unfamiliar with bao, they're light, fluffy, slightly sticky buns--think soft bread without the crust--stuffed with your choice of filling and eaten taco-style. Simple concept, very satisfying when done right. Ordering is done through a self-service computer screen, and they call your number when it's ready. You can also get alcohol here, which adds to the hangout factor. The kitchen is partially open, and the overall atmosphere stays on the darker side, which fits the futuristic design they're going for. One of the more unexpected (and cool) perks: they host an open mic for all art forms every Tuesday evening. It's the kind of thing you might stumble into by accident--and end up staying longer than planned. Overall, Bao Spot feels a little unconventional in theme, but that's part of its charm. If you're open to something different--both visually and culturally--it's worth checking out, especially if you catch it on an open mic night.

    Melissa C.

    We were looking for somewhere to eat in the downtown area before a show at the Kia Center, and stumbled upon this bao place. Bao is one of my favorite foods, so it was perfect! The restaurant is Star Wars-themed, which is so fun! You order at a kiosk at the counter, and then your food is brought to you. The bao buns are à la carte, so you can mix and match. I stuck with a couple of the chicken ones, which had perfect flavor and tenderness. They were amazing! I was deciding between matcha boba and Thai tea; I decided to go with the matcha, which didn't have much flavor so I was kind of disappointed in my choice. They also forgot to bring it with my order, and I wouldn't have gotten it at all if we hadn't gone to the counter and asked. Overall, amazing restaurant and I would come back 100 times.

    Liz L.

    After an event tried this place because I was starving. Walking in, it was pretty dark, and very quiet. Only the workers were speaking.. which was a little weird since they are opened till 3am I ordered 3 chicken bao buns... I have to say pretty disappointed, the buns were dry and a little TOO much sauce. The chicken was cooked well, it was crispy... I also ordered a passion fruit boba tea and that was overaly sweet and way too much ice. There are better buns out there, this one just wasn't it.

    "THE" Fried Chicken
    Xavier S.

    For a Bao spot the aesthetics are kind of like a Jurassic Park ride at Universal. Not sure how the lab theme fits, but it's cool I guess. Lol The guys in there are pretty chill and helpful. Ordered THE chicken bao buns and a passion fruit Boba tea, sans the boba. The chicken and the Taiwanese sauce on it were great, but the buns themselves seemed maybe undercooked? Not sure how they're made but generally they're fluffier and softer, these buns had more of a "white bread-like" texture to them. The passion tea was ok. I asked for it at half sweet and I'm pretty sure it was full sweet, but the cup was also heavy on the ice so I didn't get that much drink. Could possibly try again, but probably not on purpose.

    Seating
    Amanda S.

    Disclaimer: I would give the location more of a 4 food wise but staff interactions led me to give it a 3. The staff was nice towards the end of our meals in regard to asking how everything was. However, no one greeted us when we came in. There was no one behind the counter and we were kind of unsure what to do until we saw the tablets to place our orders. Would have loved to have had more of a welcome as it was our first time eating here. The restaurant design is unique and reminded me of an escape room! Very lax and chill. The bathrooms were clean which is always a nice thing being downtown. Food wise, as I said earlier, it's def a 4. The chicken bao was cooked nicely and the flavors worked well together! I did have the gyoza as well but forgot to snap a pic. They were delish and the sauce would be something I'd buy if I had the chance!

    Amanda C.

    After the Ado concert, we were looking for a quick bite to eat before the night ended. Here comes The Bao Spot - a quirky, darkly lit joint that offers a mix of bao specials, sandwiches, boba and other drinks. Since a lot of concert goers came around the same time, the staff was very busy but we were able to order at the kiosk. It took around 15 minutes for our orders to arrive - we decided to try an assortment of baos that had crab, panko breaded shrimp, and pork belly. We also shared an appetizer of chicken tenders. What stood out to me was the seared pork belly, the breaded crab, and the panko shrimp which was actually pretty big! I really liked how each bao had its own condiments and paring of pickled veggies, sauces and others. The bao bun itself was soft and pillowy as well. The baos were easy to eat and a great bite to share with groups!

    Yuca fries & cheese curds
    Beth E.

    Has indoor and outdoor seating. The food is was really good the yucca bao needed more sauce. The yucca fries and the cheese curds were really good. The food is made to order still didn't take that long. The outside was awesome for people watching. The staff so welcoming and nice!

    Taylor G.

    This restaurant is sooo good. The food is amazing and the inside is so cute it feels like you just got teleported into space! The service was fast you just order at the front and they bring it to your table. I went after the club so kind of late and they had an event going on I think it was karaoke or something so that was fun too.

    Aleksandar M.

    Step into a new dimension with me at this out of this world Bao restaurant downtown Orlando. The immersive theme is stunning and creative. I love the space portal. You order from the self checkout tablet but staff is there to help with questions. I got the The perfect mass ricebowl and it lives up to the name. Love the kimchi and pork belly. You will NOT go hungry so teleport downtown for this must try bite.

    Sanea F.

    Walking into the restaurant, you are transported into a space ship type theme. We ordered through the tablet and picked up a number for our order to a table. I tried the mojo, space kalbi and the rebel bao buns. All 3 was packed and full of flavor! Can't wait to go back to try more!

    Elease S.

    My first experience with this spot was at Yelp Elite event some time back and ever since then, I've visited this spot a handful of times - like today - for lunch. As a fan of baos, this spot does not disappoint. Sadly, I am a creature of habit, so I really only alternate between their shrimp based baos and the space burger. I can say, of my usual order, everything is always very tasty. My favorite bao is hands down, The Yum Yum, followed closely by The Big Bang and The "Mojo." As noted before, I enjoy the "THE" Cheeseburger space burger, the crispy french fries, the Thai Tea, Matcha Milk Tea and the Passion Fruit Boba beverages. They usually aren't busy, so service is pretty good. The staff is nice and the unique space / alien themed restaurant design adds a playful element to the overall experience and menu. Almost feels as if you're at Disney or Universal restaurant minus having to pay theme park prices for said experience. There is ample seating indoors but, as this locale is located in a plaza. So, there is also ample seating outdoors in the open courtyard. Prices points are on the higher side as they offer speciality boas but still quite resealable. Definitely a great little spot to check out if you are ever in the downtown area and craving some baos. I will note, parking can get a little tricky as there aren't a ton of street parking opportunities but there are enough parking garage nearby that you can park in and walk from to visit this locale.

    The Rebel
    Gabrielle B.

    Came to Orlando for a soccer game and stopped here for lunch before. Quick and easy lunch options. I had the soft shell crab and shrimp bao bun. Both were very tasty. They have a lunch special with two bao buns, fries and a drink for $14! Very good for your money and was definitely filling . You order at the counter and then they bring it out. They were very nice and even came and took our dishes when we were finished. The atmosphere was very Star Warsish. They played a lot of decent music too. But would definitely recommend if you're downtown Orlando.

    Chicken bao and pork bao

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    Ask the Community - The Bao Spot

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    Xing Fu Tang - Bao - banh mi

    Xing Fu Tang

    4.1(80 reviews)
    13.9 mi
    $$

    Amazing boba and the service was great too! I got a Thai…read moretea and it was delicious! The place was very clean and well kept. It was very lively and I felt very welcomed as soon as I walked in.

    I saw this location pop-up on social media as a new shop and my friend and I were interested in…read moregetting boba after a wonderful lunch at Inchin's Bamboo Garden. It is located in the same plaza as the Miniso, bookstore, Bath and Body Works, and Ulta. It can be a little crazy finding parking and people sometimes are a bit aggressive with trying to get a space, especially around peak meal times. Be patient and drive slowly. I did get a spot after getting lucky. The boba tea shop sells food as well, including pho, banh mi sandwiches, and a few smaller bites/appetizers. It was packed with people ordering food to accompany their tea, so it was impossible to find a table to sit at. For ordering, they have a tablet or you can order at the counter. I went to the counter as someone was entering a big order on the tablet. The fellow at the counter was polite and answered my questions about the drinks. You can adjust the sweetness on the drinks and pay a little extra for the alternate milks if you have an allergy or preference. I ordered the small size of their Earl grey boba milk tea with the brown sugar pearls, less sweetness, and almond milk. They gave me a buzzer for my order and I stood off to the side to wait for my order. I did come during a busy period, so it took a bit longer to get my drink order. The pearls were made fresh in front of me, so the bottom of my cup was warm from making the brown sugar boba. The pearls were a good consistency - not gummy or hard. I feel the tea was a little lackluster in a way and not the best I've ever had. Maybe I did get a weak batch that day, but it felt watered down and the syrup added a little flavor to it. I'm mixed about this place - I like the boba consistency and freshness, but the tea tasting a bit weak is a deal breaker for me.

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    Xing Fu Tang - Vietnamese Coffee w/ Ube Cream

    Vietnamese Coffee w/ Ube Cream

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    Susuru - Oyster fries

    Susuru

    4.4(1.2k reviews)
    13.0 miInternational Drive / I-Drive, Horizons West / West Orlando
    $$

    Our favorite spot to celebrate all occasions! Food brings us back to Japan! Ambiance is retro…read more/izakaya. You have to try their seasonal specials as well! Never disappoints. We LOVE the beef tongue. So tender, probably the best beef tongue we've ever had in the nation. The dessert never disappoints. A perfect ending to a wonderful meal. Kurobata sausage: delicious and cute! This is what high quality ingredients get you!

    Tried this place after hearing so much about it on socials. Pulled up and there was a small line…read morewaiting for it to open. Really cool place with an open atmosphere. Kitchen is also open with a bar that looks directly into the kitchen as you dine. Drinks are simple. Plum wine, Japanese whisky options, beer, and soft drinks. Also a few mixed drinks, but again nothing crazy or exciting. Food was fresh and pretty good. The tuna sashimi appetizer was fantastic! The sauce is like a yum-yum and black sesame blend. Incredible. The bowl was wayyyyyy too sweet for me. Too much of the sauce. But the rice and chicken were pretty good. The pork belly is grilled and not seasoned much. So added it to the bowl to calm the sweet and it worked well. Overall, this place isn't worth queuing for, but still pretty good considering its location. Solid 6/10 for me.

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    Susuru - Bar seating area

    Bar seating area

    Susuru - Soriresu Yakitori (~$5) & Momo Yakitori (~$5)

    Soriresu Yakitori (~$5) & Momo Yakitori (~$5)

    Susuru - Wagyu Short Rib Kushiyaki (~$12)

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    Wagyu Short Rib Kushiyaki (~$12)

    Moge Tee - Orlando - Matcha Green Milk

    Moge Tee - Orlando

    4.3(176 reviews)
    1.3 miLake Eola Heights, Mills50
    $$

    Overall, Moge Tee is an overall great place to get a cup of what inspires you served vy a friendly…read morestaff in a pleasant ambiance. It is located just off of East Colonial Drive on Mills Avenue and offer a good spot for tea and Boba. If you are in the area, check them out.

    This Moge Tee location is somehow annoying to find parking for, but has one of the cutest interior…read moredecorations that I've seen at a boba shop! There is a parking lot in the back, but it was supremely full when we arrived. Their back door has a cute gigantic cat mural (that you can't enter through), but I forgot to take a photo of it! It's pretty quiet and cozy inside, and seems like a nice place to chill. Moge Tee offers a good assortment of various drinks, ranging from dairy and tea, matcha, fruit teas, fresh fruit and yogurt bases, and even coffee; you'll surely find something that matches your taste here. I do like that it seems most flavors are derived from fresh ingredients, and they have pretty freshly brewed tea and quick service. I got their recommended super fruit green tea with regular boba, and light sugar and light ice. The sugar and ice adjustments were perfect for me (I generally enjoy almost no sweetness to half at most). I liked seeing the handmade boba, as it was not the typical black color; this made it more gummy. It had a little more goop texture than I would prefer, and the fruits could have been more ripe for being in Florida. Still, I liked the tea strength and would come here again. They gave me a thick stick of watermelon in my tea!

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    Moge Tee - Orlando
    Moge Tee - Orlando - Lemon Tea w/ popping boba, Oreo Bubble Milk Tea

    Lemon Tea w/ popping boba, Oreo Bubble Milk Tea

    Moge Tee - Orlando - Inside

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    Inside

    Bakery 1908 - Taro Slush

    Bakery 1908

    4.5(179 reviews)
    13.2 miInternational Drive / I-Drive, Disney World, Horizons West / West Orlando
    $$

    Tiny parking lot in one of the busiest, most touristy part of town, so it's kind of a pain to get…read moreto, but once you get inside, the ambiance is grandiose and luxurious. A giant bun section open for the perusing, a wide open dining room with tranquil murals all over the wall. This is a good place to spend some time at and eat. Service is very friendly. At peak time of day, the buns always refill super fast. The dim sum orders took some time to make their way out to our table, but that's ok. I think this place does an insane amount of take-out business. Food was dynamite. Just look at those buns. Adorned with plenty of toppings that pack a wallop of flavor. Always moist and fluffy and the perfect levels of sweet and/or savory. One could make a breakfast, lunch, and dinner out of this section alone. The dim sum, though, that's what left the biggest impact on me. Dim sum places, I feel like, are trying to capitalize on the popularity and offer smaller and smaller portions. Small dumplings, poorly-filled buns, smaller meat-to-filler ratios, etc. Not Bakery 1908, though. They charge premium prices for them, but what you get are huge, plump, properly filled, and packed with flavor. Just wow. Overall, this is a great place. A very unique and important addition to the Orlando food landscape. I'll keep coming back as needed.

    Was able to fit in a last minute visit 20 mins before closing (10p)! A lot of the bakery items had…read morebeen sold by then which was a bummer because I was looking forward to trying a bunch of their buns. Inside is very clean, and spacious. However note that the parking lot is very limited, I can only imagine what the traffic and parking is like during the daytime. The blueberry cheesecake is my absolute favorite! When I visit again I will definitely make sure to snag one of these to eat. It's not too sweet which is great and the blueberry filling really adds to the overall taste of the dish. The matcha fruit tart was okay to me, nothing really stood out. But the strawberry pudding is very fruity. I will definitely have to return to try some of their other bakery buns and the hot food items!

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    Bakery 1908 - Huge dessert display case at front counter

    Huge dessert display case at front counter

    Bakery 1908 - Tiramisu Latte pistachio Croissant

    Tiramisu Latte pistachio Croissant

    Bakery 1908 - Yummy drinks

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    Yummy drinks

    Happy Lemon - D3. Oreo Milk Tea

    Happy Lemon

    4.6(88 reviews)
    1.8 miColonialtown South, Mills50
    $$

    They ran out of a few items on the menu without acknowledging them on a signage of some sort…read more I first opted for the dragon fruit lemon slushy and when I took a sip the first thing I tasted was the bitterness. I quickly spoke to the staff that I rather have the drink replaced because it was too bitter for my taste that I could not go further drinking it. They refunded it back in my card for the whole drink amount and I had to buy the other drink on another transaction. I then opted for the avocado match smoothie instead. They charge 95 cents for boba etc. I just feel these boba places should not be charging for such especially if you are selling boba drinks. Some places do not charge for the boba tbh. The Avocado Matcha smoothie was not bad - it was pretty good you can taste the avocado and matcha in it and it was not too sweet. But for $7 ish the size was ehhh. The drink itself should be about $5-6 at the most. And that is without boba. I would probably be back if they had the Taro drink available - until then I would not see myself coming back here for awhile.

    This was my first time at Happy Lemon and the staff were really patient while I reviewed the menu…read more My friend ordered a matcha and the team member asked if we were paying separate or together. She mentioned it was buy one, get one half off. I ordered ube milk tea with boba. It was okay. It didn't really taste like ube, but it was beautiful. The dining room was very spacious, bright and fun. There are a lot of options on the menu and I'll definitely be back to try more.

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    Happy Lemon - Spacious interior. We ordered two drinks and weren't a fan of either.

    Spacious interior. We ordered two drinks and weren't a fan of either.

    Happy Lemon - D13. Okinawa Roasted Milk Tea with Boba

    D13. Okinawa Roasted Milk Tea with Boba

    Happy Lemon - Dining room

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    Dining room

    The Bao Spot - asianfusion - Updated June 2026

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