I came to this location during lunch hour to pick up some frozen buns (hee hee..I said frozen buns) for my parents. Wow...I was not expecting a line out of the restuarant. Okay, I am not a fan of the buns, but I do like the teriyaki (sp?) chicken rice bowls. The rice bowls are small but are filling enough for a nice lunch or dinner meal. My parents, on the other hand, love the baos esp. the bbq flavored ones. They visit the Water Tower location when in town. Anyway, back to my story, I bought a couple boxes from the freezer to bring them home for the holiday. Instead of waiting in line, I was taken care of right away by one of the employees. (Honestly, the line isn't as bad as it looks...it seemed to go by swiftly.) She had a portable credit card thingy, and I was on my merry way. Sweet. Note to self: lunch is a popular time...come back later because they close at 8 PM. read more

I've been here many times and although I know that I can get just as good (ok, better) and cheaper baos in SF Chinatown... hey, I'm in Chicago and I want a bao. Well guess what, this is the perfect place to go. Every time I go to Chi-Town, I have to stop here and get a few buns. I love that they have different flavors (curry chicken, anyone? how about kung pao? are you vegetarian? how about edamame in a wheat bun?) I also love their herb soup. It's tongue-scalding hot pure (likely sodium-filled) broth but it just feels SO GOOD when you're a little hungover / have a sore throat / want something light and hot / hankering for some soup from home. read more

hot asian buns #same Great prices, wide assortment of bun types/flavors, close proximity to where I work, and a thai iced coffee that's just right. Wow Bao has it all covered in terms of a quick lunch get-away. It goes without saying that the line is out the door during lunchtime (there are two computerized kiosks outside for faster ordering) and they sometimes will unfortunately tell you that they're out of a certain bun flavor/type but apart from that this a great place to grab a quick bite! During less busier hours I'm often in and out in 5 minutes! You can't beat that. Try the Bao combo for ~$7. It comes with two choices of buns and a side salad/noodles (I recommend the spicy peanut noodles mmmmm). If you're deliberating between flavors I personally usually go for the Teriyaki Chicken, Curry, and BBQ Beef. Those have yet to fail me (not saying the other ones should be avoided though, try them all!). Great place as far as Americanized Asian cuisine goes. read more

Reasonable price for the size. The taste was on point and it was just what I expected for a chain restaurant

Further proof, that I am obsessed with Wow Bao for good reason - every Wednesday they have a "Word of the Day" which you can see on their Facebook page (u don't have to log in). When you say it at Wow Bao, you get a free Bao!! Also, they have a text service that sends you texts coupons for free bao, ginger ale etc. There is nothing like free, delicious food. I love Wow Bao. read more

I walked in to here and said to myself "what the crap is a wow bao?" Well I'll tell you what it is..sweet little goodnesses of steamed dumplings with any filling you can imagine. From Asian inspired dinner dumplings to dessert dumplings, they deliver in quality and taste. However, they fall short on service. This place is a little pricey, but the coffee drinks are amazing and make up for it while you wait for your dumplings to be put on the plate. read more

This review goes for all of the locations- Love this place!! Their food is delicious and affordable. The bao are so yummy (and pretty spicy which I like). I'll have to try the rest of the menu (the bowls and buns look good as well) Their staff is ALWAYS extra nice and friendly read more

Amazing pad Thai and lo mein noodles! Just the right amount of spice with a hearty portion! The buns were very good but the beef one was just missing something I can't put my finger on. Affordable, quick place that satisfies ones craving for Asian food well. read more

I'm mildly obsessed. I love the little baos, they are super cheap and you can get 2 or 3 as a great base for a night of drinking. Get the ginger drink. GET IT, DAMMIT!!!! I'm not a fan of the green tea one, but all the others I've tried have been awesome. I think the whole wheat edemame or the kung pao chicken are my favorite. And HOLY CRAP YOU GUYS- BREAKFAST BAOS!!!! BACON AND EGG IN A BAO?!?!?!?!?! A.MAZ.ING. read more

I struggled a bit on how many stars to give Wow Bao. Its not particularly special, but they do serve food that I could eat until I died. I love that they offer a decent variety baos. I usually get the whole wheat edamame one, but the other baos are pretty good too. The only complaint I have is that sometimes they can be a bit salty. I've recently tried their banana bao and I've been having a daily craving for it ever since. I love their light brothy soups. It makes me feel healthier with every bite. I also love that nobody uses the kiosks to order their food, allowing me to bypass the line and slip in and out during my lunch break. Suckers. read more

Last time we were here we came to Wow Bao for lunch and for whatever reason, my boyfriend really loves this place. So when we came back for a second visit this was a definite place to come to, according to him! We both ordered a rice bowl, mine with teryiaki chicken and his with kung pao chicken. My rice bowl came with two bao, one was bbq pork and the other was kung pao chicken. Nothing was awesome. Not even great. Just go somewhere else. read more

My side salad was the highlight of my meal. I mixed the chinese mustard dressing with chili sauce and a little soy. I'd eat that again for sure. The baos, however, were extremely disappointing having had the real deal in the past. I love the idea of commercializing a good, ethnic cuisine item to make it more available to a larger variety of consumers so long as the product remains true to its original conception. This rarely ever happens though; in most cases such products become so americanized that people don't even recognize the real deal when they see or taste it. As a result, commercialization = bastardization of the bao. They were overly breaded, and the fillings were meh to bleh in flavor. If I wanted a salad, I'd go back, but that's about it. read more

Pretty yummy. We came in right around opening time today (a Sunday), around noon. I've had bao a couple times but my boyfriend was a bao virgin, so it was all very exciting and new for him. We split a 6-pack, trying about all the baos. I had edamame, chicken curry, and bbq pork. The edamame one was delicious, especially with a little red chili sauce on it. Chicken curry was also quite good, and the bbq pork was just okay. Boyfriend's were similarly okay - he had mongolian beef, kung pao chicken, and another bbq pork. We also split 5 potstickers, which were rather unnecessary since the bao was really filling. They were just okay, nothing special. Overall, good and quick experience, and boyfriend is happy to have tried bao. They deliver (on bike!) and we only live a few blocks away, so we'll definitely be back. read more

I remember coming to Wow Bao the very first time I went to Chicago. I tried one of their rice bowls and was underwhelmed. A couple years later, I was eager to try it again because my mom brings home their bao almost every weekend and it tastes so good. They have two kiosks outside where you can order your food to go or for dine-in. Great for convenience! The workers are friendly and I like how clean it is inside. Also, their oatmeal is SO GOOD. It's hand-rolled oats with Chinese red dates, goji berries and brown sugar (you can opt out of any one of these add-ons). Seriously, I wish they had this available for delivery to Houston. And since it's only available in the morning, I wish they extended breakfast until 11 (breakfast stops at 10). They may or may not run out of oatmeal closer to the end of breakfast time, so it helps to call ahead of time to make sure they're in stock. As for bao, I'm a fan of their BBQ Pork, Mongolian Beef and Edamame. Yum! I make my own chili sauce at home (vinegar, sombal and Maggi) to dip them in and it's really good. Wish they had a place like this in H-Town. It's convenient, quick and easy. Is it the best bao I've ever had in my life? Of course not. But I love places that provide hospitality and efficiency. It's an easy place for a quick lunch or to buy a couple boxes and keep in your freezer for future use. Hot Asian buns. I'm a fan. read more

This is one of the most random fast food restaurants I've ever been to. I love the concept - fast food focusing on multi-flavored bao. I mean, I love bao. Bao are great. These bao.....eeehhhhh. I got the Thai Curry Chicken and Coconut Custard. I didn't like the Thai Curry Chicken, it tasted pretty "flat." The Coconut Custard was better, good coconut flavor but not too sweet. I didn't like the texture of the filling, however. Overall, I wouldn't go out of my way to get these flavors again. Also, per the restaurant's nutritional info, each bao is around 179 calories. As I ordered a combo, my bao came with a choice of "cool pad thai salad," "asian vegetable salad," or "spicy peanut noodles." I chose the peanut noodles and wasn't too impressed. They were chilled, which I didn't expect, and didn't like. However, the spicy peanut sauce saved the dish. It was actually spicy! But, just cold noodles in peanut sauce is pretteh boring. No thanks. Combos are $6.19 and come with 2 bao or 5 potstickers. They also offer soups and bowls. read more

Tasty and cheap for breakfast! 2 baos and a cup of coffee for less than $4. I'm not an egg eater, so breakfast often poses a problem for me. I'm happy that I could order just a chicken teryaki and a bbq pork bao for breakfast. Very flavorful and easy to eat when you're on the move. Yum! read more

Reliability. Walkability. Super-quickability. Satisfy-ability. Lunch-combo availability. These, my friend, are the hallmarks of a good downtown midday meal establishment. And this is what Wow Bao offers. No, it is not a solace for authentic dim sum or dishes. And it doesn't try to be. It's all about streamlining and satisfaction. My favorite? - Peanut noodle salad with chocolate and coconut baos -Thai vegetable salad with steamed veggie potstickers. They have never failed me. Ever. And I lost count of my check ins a long time ago. Other memorable notes: Easy check in kiosks, summer sidewalk eating (sun is a bit intense though-umbrellas?), text enrollment for free promos, homemade drinks read more

Wow Bao is a chain of bao restaurants. Boas are a steamed bun with spice meat, like BBQ pork or mongolian beef, on the inside. If you haven't had one yet, put them on your short list. This location is right next to a stop on the loop. The bao are tasty and the service is fast since most items are pre-made. The dining area consists of slightly asian designed plastic chairs and high tables. There is an order kiosk right outside the doors if the line is long. Bottom line: Bao are tasty and portable. Try them anywhere including chains. read more

Bao was okay, very expensive for the portion size. Found the bbq bao to be the better than the curry. It is however very salty. Would I come back..... probably not. One time thing read more

Wow Bao - Bao - Chinese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Wow Bao definitely does a lot of things right. I've followed the herd here several times for work lunch. The "Bao"s are pretty good, basically you just get your choice of meta filling inside a big doughy pastry ball. I can only handle a couple before the dough becomes too much but the fillings are actually really good. If you've never had a Bao, give one or two a try but normally I would suggest ordering a combo with the pot stickers and the spicy peanut satay noodles, very tasty. read more

Not expecting Chinatown cheap, but yet they manage to keep the prices from soaring into the ridiculous stratosphere of NYC food prices to which I am more accustomed. Props to the spicy mongolian beef bun and any other bun with heat-related monikers. They deliver an undiluted punch of spicy hotness that kao tows to no underdeveloped taste buds of what good spicy food should be. The dumplings are expectedly overpriced, but still deliver on the goods. The skins are thin and firm, strong enough to hold in the generous fillings of pork and cabbage (are steamed dumplings REALLY meant to be enjoyed any other way?). I never got the chance to order a bowl of noodles because a) I was getting pretty full with only so much real estate left to fill, and b) I was mesmerized by the homemade ginger ale. You should know by now that I have an unrequited love for ginger based drinks. Wow Bao's particular paramour holds back nothing and indulges you with nothing but blocks of fresh ginger barreling through the cup to show you how the drinks are done right. There is no subtlety in this drink, but it sure tastes great. read more

When it comes to ethnic cuisine, you can't expect a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant to serve anything more than well-marketed Americanized food. Sure, you can probably get better bao elsewhere, but for fun, convenient, quick, and tasty, Wao Bao does not disappoint. The Bao are surprisingly filling, the salads are good, and the ginger ale is not to be missed. I do wish they would have more veggie bao options, but the edamame IS very tasty. read more

Not exactly my type of place but overall, there were a lot of pluses. First, I like that you can place your order via a touchscreen. Second, it's nice to have the option to get no receipt, a paper receipt or an email receipt. Third, my order was ready before I even typed in my email address! Again, the food isn't quite my type. I ordered things which I'm experienced with since I don't like spiciness, however my stuff was still spicy. Probably just their style though. If it's your type of food then it's a great place to go. read more

Needed a quick bite on my way to an appointment so I stopped in. Having frequented this location in the past, I had what I thought was a reasonable expectation of quality. I guess not. Granted, it was around 2:30 PM, that awkward time between the lunch and dinner rush. Ordered at the kiosk outside the restaurant - a few bow and a Thai iced coffee. My order was ready when I walked in. First, let me say that there was so much sugar in the coffee that I had to spit it out and rinse with water. The bow were served at room temperature. They were puffy, doughy balls full of kind of goopy gunk. By comparison to lunch rush, they sucked. Leftover crap they hadn't tossed yet. Staged like KFC. Kind of turned off by the whole experience. Even the chocolate and custard sucked. read more

Pretty good spot to pop in and grab a snack, I come here every so often. They even have wifi. Bao are in the salty and greasy side. I just ate a Mongolian beef one (flavorful, a little soggy on the bottom). I also tried an open face bao, the pork belly one. It had way too many pickled veggies on it but was still full of flavor and yumminess. read more

Wow Bao - Chinese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I know what the authentic bao tastes like, so I used to think this place was just some wannabe nonsense. It turned out their stuff actually tasted good, and my favorite is the BBQ flavor. Still not the authentic bao you would find in China, though. Don't try their bottled juice cuz those are effing expensive! read more

Despite the mediocre reviews I had to try this place since I love buns of all cultures. 3 baos and a ginger ale came out to $9.50 or so. The baos were filling enough for a quick lunch but they were a lukewarm salty and sweet mess. The two savory baos tasted the same - salty and sweet. I just couldn't get over how quickly they came out, how lukewarm and dry they were. When I think of baos, I think of steaming hot buns that you have to hold with your fingertips and the filling steaming in a moist bun when you open it. Not these baos... But the ginger ale was really good, very gingery, not too sweet. read more

I'm always looking for vegan and vegetarian options on my lunch break that are conversation and quick. Wow Bao was definitely convenient and quick, but the vegetarian options were limited and one of them, the "New Impossible Spicy Mongolian" was advertised but not an option. While that was slightly disappointing, the vegetable bao bun was good and the vegetable dumpling soup was also good. I'd come here again, but I'd hope that they will have everything they offer on their website. read more

Giving this 4 stars was a slight stretch, but when ranked in the Asian fast food category it is at the top. The baos are one of a kind and the pot-stickers are good as well. They could add some more meat to the middle of the baos as sometimes they are pretty doughy. The bao filling selection is great and is able to cater to both vegans and BBQ meat lovers. My favorite item from Wow Bao is the Asian noodles with peanut sauce. It is slightly spice, but that is offset by the dish being served cold. It is a refreshing dish to enjoy after eating a thick BBQ pork bao. The service here is excellent and fast. I have never had an order messed up and never had to wait more than 3-4 minutes even during peak lunch hours. If you prefer not to order from a human they have self serve ordering machines available. I would definitely recommend this for a fast and well portioned lunch in the loop. read more

Wow Bao tends to be a tasty and reliable lunch or dinner option when I'm downtown. I think the star rating is pretty spot on - Wow Bao is A-OK. This location is incredibly convenient, and the service is usually pretty speedy, even during the lunch rush. I love the kiosks right outside the door that allow you to order electronically. Just follow the prompts on the touch screen, make your selections, run your card, and then wait for you number to be called. In my experience, ordering this way tends to be faster than ordering from the person at the counter, though it does mean that you have to use a card instead of cash. The chicken noodle soup has a generous serving of noodles and is pretty tasty, especially on colder days. It has been my go to lunch at Wow Bao all winter. The chocolate bao are pretty tasty if you are in the mood for dessert, just be aware that they are incredibly sweet and a little messy to eat. I also like the spicy Mongolian beef bao and the BBQ pork bao, though I'm not a huge fan of the curry or the teriyaki bao. I love to sip on the Thai herb broth when I'm sick - it is warm and delicious and makes me feel better. I am not a fan of the potstickers or dumplings, however. Both always seem kind of sad and flavorless. And the different bowl options (rice, noodles, etc) tend to be hit or miss. I do recommend double checking your order if you are getting carry out, as I have arrived back at work excited for my lunch, only to open the bag and find the wrong order one too many times. read more

Service was efficient because there are terminals outside the restaurant through which customers place their orders with the option of prepaying. Then I got in line and within moments was handed my food. Staff is extremely friendly and courteous. Self serve refillable drinks, frozen buns available for takeout. Wow Bao makes 8 varieties of Bao and potstickers. Small selection of soups and noodles and bowls are avaaible. Food is good, but not great. The chief asset is that it is faster than going to China Town. A dim sum lover might be disappointed. read more

Wow Bao has some really good dumplings. They are really soft and tasty. They have dumplings for lunch, and for dessert. I tried the Kung Pao chicken and the Spicy Mongolian and they all tasted so good. They are made fast. The most i waited was about 5 minutes but it all was good. You can get a pack of 6 for 12 dollars which seems like a lot to pay, but you will be full by the end. If you are looking for a small snack or sweet treat to eat, then get the chocolate dumpling. But be careful, there's a lot of chocolate in there. read more

I was really disappointed with what I ordered. The noodles were so overcooked and soggy and barely had any flavor. I was not a fan of the baos or the teriyaki chicken. I thought this would be a step up from fast food places like panda express, but I would have rather eaten that. What I will say is that the potstickers were yummy. The service was fast and the delivery guy was very nice. Don't expect too much from this place. read more

I'm not really one that likes to eat much Asian food, nor have I tried many places, but Wow Bao went exceptionally well for my taste buds. The flavor of my Mongolian beef melted in my mouth along with a tasty "asian sticky bun." One thing I always praise are their ice cubs in the fountain drink machine. Maybe I don't get out enough but the ice tubes are wonderful to an ice eater like me. The atmosphere is very trendy and hip for a fast food place. Sitting can be an issue during heavy lunch hours but the food makes up for it. read more

Considering this is a "fast food" place, I'm a fan. You can't beat the spicy chicken teriyaki bao or the potstickers. The homemade gingerale is good too and my favorite part about this place? You can order on your computer and come pick it up or you can order right outside their store without even talking to anyone. read more

Back about 3 years ago...they used to have one location on Michigan Avenue! I was pleasantly surprised when I saw it this time around in Chicago in multiple places.. Used to love it then and love it even now :) The best flavor for me is -- The Chicken Teriyaki Wao Bao.. if you are wondering what Wow Bao is its just a little baked dumpling...the crust mind you is like bread...and has amazing filling inside it... You need to try it once :) Their bowls are pretty good too.. and my vegetarian friends ...they have vegetarian options too :) So one more reason to try this place out... Food -- 5 Stars Hospitality/Service - 5 Stars Cleanliness - 5 Stars Location - 5 Stars Overall - 5 Stars read more

We walked in there hopeful it was going to be tasty. We ordered mix and match 6 pack Bao for $11.99 and Pad Thai Rice bowl for $6.99. The Pad thai rice was too sweet, too much sauce and not enough meat. The curry bao was unremarkable and the rest was a mediocre. Nevertheless, the service was friendly and quick. The interior was nice and clean. The food options were affordable. Maybe we'll try something else again next time. read more

Well then...thanks to Crister & the P&W gang for showing me this cute little place...such an interesting and refreshing menu. I had the "bao six pack" which was like eating little firm doughy mashed potato blobs stuffed with different meats and spices. I love the dough, I could eat a human shaped/sized portion alone! (most parts). Not terribly expensive and a simple, fun idea for quick food. Now I need to move to a neighborhood that has one.... read more

A modern, quick serve, fusion asian bun place??? Coming from LA, I've seen a lot of bao places but nothing like this! I loved the modern touch of this asian fusion restaurant as not only do they serve bao but also other asian noodle and rice dishes. I also love how they have multiple locations throughout Chicago, so you're never too far from one! My only critique about this place is that their hours aren't good as they should be open for breakfast hours! I wanted to get a fresh bao for breakfast just like I would get for dimsum but then I go all the way to any of their locations, and the earliest they open was 11am! Bao is traditionally served as part of dim sum and that's in the morning, and I know that they would be serving a lot of bao in the morning as a quick breakfast treat. Each bao is a little more than $1.50 each which is actually quite pricey for these little things especially compared to an asian restaurant. I got the bbq pork, whole wheat edamame, and apple cinnamon. I love how they have such an assortment of bao and really took bao and modernized it to include other flavors. I'm a fan of the bbq pork and the edamame one but the apple cinnamon was just gross. Maybe I couldn't help but think that the apple filling was like an apple pie but I was eating bao. For me, the flavors didn't mesh well. read more

Two words. AMAZING SERVICE. With the ease of this downtown location, I love picking up a lunch order during the week. You won't get the most authentic Chinese food / paos here, but the Mongolian beef beats Panda Express anyday. Combo deals of a Bowl + 2 paos for $9? I remained dazed from WowBao-induced-food-coma for the rest of the afternoon. Now... I stumbled into Wow Bao after a movie screening at Gene Siskle's down the road one evening. Caught the store RIGHT BEFORE it closed at 8pm, ordered by food and sank into the comfy leather seats. The cashiers + cooks on the line were all incredibly smiley & friendly, even though I was literally the last customer barging in before the EOD. Check this out : at closing, restaurants always have a lot of leftover food that they either throw out or take-out for the employees. Have you ever been to a place where they give the customers FREE FOOD? Wow Bao was raining bowls & paos!! On top of my order, I scored 5 paos + 1 bowl. The super smiley cashier guy came around the tables and simply doughed out extra food, no questions asked, no judgement. I love you Wow Bao. Thank you for making my day with your amazing staff!! read more