Wow Bao
225 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL, 60601
Wow Bao Menu
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Address :
225 N Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL, 60601 - Phone (312) 226-2299
- Website https://www.wowbao.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:00 am - 6:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
Categories
Chinese Cuisine
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
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Karen H.
I think this is the one connected to the mall. The hubby and I were looking for a snack and saw this place. We ordered two buns. One pork and one beef. It wasn't bad. Had good flavor and it was hot when they gave it to us. The bao was a little dry for me though. The concept is very nice, but the bao needs to be worked on.
(3)Ravi D.
Best fast food Asian around. Make at least once a week trip when in Chicago.
(4)Lauren R.
ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS PLACE!!!! My first time trying it, I stumbled into Macy's and they were like heaven sent slamed right in front of my hungry face. It as not what I expected from a chain fast food type of place you see in a food court. I absolutely love the dishes, and the staff was amazing.
(5)Patricia C.
Was in Chicago with friends when a few of them came across Wow Bao and immediately told me to try it. I didn't actually make it to the store front so I can't comment on service etc but I did try 6 different bao fillings and thought they were all good! The outside bao layer was authentic tasting yet the fillings were original! The two fillings that stood out for me were Teriyaki Chicken and Spicy Kung Pao Chicken. I also had the homemade ginger ale which was delicious and cooling on a hot day. As a Chinese American I really appreciate the concept of Wow Bao and have to give props to whoever created it. You no longer have to sit down at a dim sum restaurant to enjoy these delicious treats. As my friend said "they've made it accessible to everyone". Lettuce Entertain You, please bring Wow Bao to the West Coast!
(4)Carrie D.
Hot Asian Buns are my thing have been a staple in my diet since I was little. They remind me of Sunday afternoon Dim Sum and have a special place in my heart. Yes, I know these are fast food buns and are an Americanized version, but when you don't have time to run to China Town or Devon, Wow Bao satiates my craving. I love that they have rice, soup and lettuce wrap options too because rarely would one eat buns alone. Although, its really a takeout location there is plenty of seating outside and inside. The staff is nice and they even make suggestions, I mean a fast food joint that makes suggestions? Service is fast between - pre-order, kiosk or old fashion waiting in a que you can't go wrong. I subscribe to the alerts and will get a nice free Bao on occasion. (A nice perk)
(3)Blake H.
OMFG. SO OF ALL THE PLACES THAT I SAY I GO TO ON A WEEKLY BASIS, THIS IS THE ONLY ONE. AND NOW THAT THIS ONE OPENED ITS TWO BLOCKS CLOSER TO WORK AND I DONT EVEN HAVE TO SPEED-WALK. and for some reason they have price-tags on their premade food in the fridge (where the other one only has born on date) and while i don't think i will ever stop eating edamame or coconut bao, the lettuce wraps & the summer rolls are AWESOME!
(5)Agnes F.
A-OK is how i would describe Wow Bao quick service, ability to accept credit cards are big pluses food is decent so if you want a quick bite, not a bad place
(3)Kat G.
For fast food, it is pretty darn awesome! I usually favor the two bao combo with the spicy peanut noodle salad. It has the right amount of peanut butter and spice goodness that make your tastebuds dance the mambo. This location is on Michigan avenue so it is busy catering to both tourists and employees in the skyscraper. They do a good job getting you in and out without sacrificing quality. They're also part of LEYE so don't forget to get some points! Environment is small on the inside but they have additional seating just outside the restaurant. Very clean and staff is friendly and efficient. I will be back.
(4)Karen D.
This is a fun place to go if you want to try Americanized Chinese bao. Modern & sleek looking inside. There is not really anything about the ordering process or the cuisine that will intimidate someone who has been to Panda Express. My overall thoughts are that the food was okay, a bit on the expensive side. Yes, you are trying to be creative with some of the flavors but some don't quite work. Regardless I think that they will do fine. There are plenty of people downtown who need to eat during the workday and baos are easy to pick up with your hands and quick to chomp down. It's a nice concept!
(3)Robert S.
If you can get over the fact that the seating area for Wow Bao is under escalators near the entrance to Illinois Center, you're going to like this restaurant. They serve the same food as other Wow Baos without the incredibly loud, high intensity music blaring at you from 12 speakers a few feet from your head. They pack a lot into their menu: steamed buns, rice & lo mein noodle dishes, potstickers, and soups & salads. Since everything's a la carte, be careful if you're watching your lunch money. A 6-pack of buns is $10. Add a drink, and with tax, lunch is suddenly $13.
(3)Katie T.
A quick, tasty lunch on the go that doesn't leave you feeling like you have to hit the gym or take a nap! I've stuck to the baos, buns of deliciousness stuffed with your filling of choice. Chicken curry, edamame, bbq pork, and teriyaki chicken are my favorites. Split a six pack with a friend and you've got a reasonably priced lunch. They also have some breakfast baos which are a nice change of pace. Bacon, eggs, cheese, and a tasty bun- yum! I keep a six pack of frozen baos at home for a quick lunch or dinner. They heat up nicely in the microwave or steamer.
(4)Anthony M.
NO WOW 4 ME I honestly don't get this local chain and I always seem to be giving them chances. The guy at the front register was new and was not well versed with the point of purchase system. He had to go get someone to help him. The girl who came back to help was rather mean. I'm not sure if she was the manager or pissed she was working on a Friday but her attitude needed adjusting. Our pork and cabbage dumplings were hard and dried out along the seams. The dough was not really edible. My wife was concerned she was going to chip a tooth and I would have to agree with her on this one. It is kind of sad that my dumplings had probably been sitting for hours prior to me ordering them. McIcky would have probably thrown these out for sitting to long. I should have taken them back but the lady was acting like such a "B" I didn't want to add any more stress to her miserable life. We also got the cold Thai peanut noodle salad. The dude that didn't know how to run the register crammed this cold item in with our hot items in the same carry out bag. Isn't that a big NO NO in food service? To make matters worse we told him we were eating at the restaurant and he still packed everything in to a bag. It is such a waste of materials and not very green. The salad wasn't anything special. Basically the noodles are cold and you have to mix it yourself with the peanut sauce. The dish comes with a tiny piece of cilantro and 3 thin strips of cucumber. It could use a little more love in the preparation process. Luckily the sauce was very tasty and it kind of made me forget that everything else was lacking. We also saw something gross. The dude who didn't know how to use the register picked up one of the covers and because of the hot steam in his face he then dropped the cover on the dirty floor by his shoes. He picked up the cover and put it back on top of the steamer. What? I was glad I had my food already but I won't ever be coming back to this location. I'm sure there are some health code violations going on here and I know I witnessed a huge one being violated. There was one bright moment on our visit here. I actually found something that I really liked. They sell a coffee cup full of spicy Thai broth. Imagine a hot steaming cup of salty delicious broth! Yum! I honestly could drink one of these every day. If you haven't tried it then I would highly recommend it. The really kicker was as we were leaving. I went to the front register to ask where the bathroom was at. The girl who was the total "B" looked into my eyes and with not even an ounce of concern for my question picked up a phone, started talking and turned her head. I was a little shocked at how lacking her customer service skills were. She could have asked me to wait a few seconds. I would have taken a simple finger in my face but to get nothing from her was annoying to me. The dude that didn't know anything did step in to give me directions. Yes there is no bathroom here. In fact, according to the directions from the dude it seems like it is a little bit of a hike. We opted to find an alternate place to go #1 and went on our merry way. The lack of customer service, bad employee knowledge & dirty kitchen practices will keep me from ever coming back to this location. I don't understand how a respected local chain could be managed this badly and still be open.
(1)Shanti N.
For shaking me out of my lunchtime rut, this Pedway location of Wow Bao deserves a full four stars. Whoever manages this location runs a pretty tight ship, as the ordering line was very well organized and the wait time for my order to be prepared was minimal. Mind you, this was during the thick of lunch rush, and on a Friday, so I was very pleasantly surprised. The restaurant itself was very clean, and the small seating area provided nearby was much appreciated. I prefer this Wao Bao to the one in Water Tower Place, mainly because that one has an odd smell due to those odd plopping fountains, so I've always been slightly put off- I digress. The food at Wao Bao is healthy and tasty. I decided to go for one of their low-cal combos which included the thai herb broth, a side Asian vegetable salad, and three of the chicken dumplings, steamed. I was pleased with how everything was packaged. Though I was expecting a soup closer to miso, the broth was excellent and I found out later when looking at the Wao Bao's website that it actually has cold-busting properties, is infused with lemongrass and ginger, and can be carried and sipped like a cup of tea. The salad was also inspired, as it had a basil kick. I would have liked some dipping sauce with the chicken dumplings, but they stood well enough on their own for this not to be a deterrent. I will definitely be back here, maybe to try a bowl or one of the other salads.
(4)Mickey B.
Not good at all. Probably wouldn't be open if the location wasn't so convenient and the interior so Art Deco and appealing to the eye. I ordered the pork belly bun that was saturated with vinegar slaw. I had never had a pork belly with a vinegary taste "awful" I also ordered the Mongolian beef bun "tasteless ground beef and stuck to the wrapper" the Mongolian bowl was taco meat crowned on top of a bed of dry rice. $17.00 dollars worth of tasteless so called food. #disappointed
(1)Kevin S.
Stopped by here for a quick lunch after skating at the Maggie Daley Park Ice Ribbon. Fast and delicious...good change of pace item. I stuck to the bao and especially liked the bbq pork and kung pao chicken versions. The hibiscus iced tea was good too. Would stop by again if I was in the area.
(4)Lisa H.
I love this place. I eat there at least once or twice a week. One thing that I would wish for is more items that are not spicy, and don't contain some of my allergens, like broccoli and berries. The thai curry chicken isn't supposed to be spicy, but the consistency varies. Sometimes its great and mild, and other times I'd label it as super Spicy, almost to the point I can't eat it.
(4)T V.
Wow Bao is good. Is it authentic? Depends what you mean by authentic. Wow Bao is not a chinese restaurant you would find in China Town, so don't expect China Town food at Wow Bao. Instead, Wow Bao is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant that offers their take on Asian food. To tell you the truth I've not had one thing that I don't like there. My go to is usually the wonton noodle soup and a quinoa bowl. I also can't resist their in house gingerale. Make sure to use your leye card to rack up points!
(4)Ashley R.
Very tasty! The salads are filling and I'm already full with eating two if the bao's. Choice of music for the is a weird choice considering it's an Asian bistro.
(5)Racquel D.
Eh. The bao isn't bad, but they're kind of expensive. Maybe I'm just a bao snob. I just think you can get a better deal and better tasting bao at an actual Vietnamese restaurant.
(3)Angie O.
Wow Bao, I love you! Every time I am in Chicago, I must fill my tummy with these yummy yummy baos. I think the Thai Curry Chicken and the Veggie and the 2 dessert baos *might* be my favorite but it's so hard to choose a favorite because they are all so delicious. This location was across the street from our hotel but we didn't realize it until the end of our visit. Dash it all - I could have been eating baos for 2 days! A great alternative to other fast food. Relatively healthy. DELICIOUS!!!!!! I like how you can order and pay at the kioski, and then they lovely workers get your meal ready in moments. Tip: Just order the 6 pack so you can try nearly all the flavors ;) Please open a Wow Bao in Milwaukee, it's an awfully long drive to Chicago for my cravings. I think this type of fast food would do extremely well near UWM!
(5)Grennan K.
Wow bao is a dumpling. It's as good as it gets. You must get their ginger soda drink. It is so so good. Better than any ginger beer I've tasted out of a bottles. They deliver too so that's a plus !
(5)Shradha A.
For a Wow Bow enthusiast, I am not sure whether the novelty has worn off or their expansion has compromised quality. I was super excited for Wow Bow to open in my own office building so now more 3 block walks to State/Lake. But after eating here a couple of times, I can feel something different but can't quite pin-point it. Hopefully it's just growing pains and will quickly recover..! Fingers crossed..
(3)Elena Y.
I am pleasantly surprised by this "fast food" joint. The baos (filled steamed buns) were not of the typical, authentic, Chinese flavor profile, but the Pacific Rim twist on them was tasty nonetheless. The rice bowl was good too, but the portion size was pretty small. The house made giner ale really did taste like ginger. Ordering was SUPER DUPER easy and fast at the touch screen kiosks. You can also go the old fashion route and order from a human being. I will definitely go back to Wow Bao next time I'm in town.
(4)Pamela K.
These main stream bao's here at Wow Bow aren't a bad option in an area of the US that falls short of japanese-korean-chinese fast food. As someone who's had who grew up on healthy and tasty "bento" or "local plate" options in LA and Hawaii, you can't expect these to fill a similar craving. But, I'd have to say that the spicy mongolian, spicy chicken, teriyaki chicken, and breakfast bao's aren't bad. You can get rice bowls topped with different types of meat and substitute the rice with quinoa, brown rice, or 2 types of noodles.... Or just go for the bao's.. or a combo of the 2. Quick tip -- They are bite sized so get a couple or 3 bao's at least. The service is always quick no matter if you go to the newest Michigan Ave location or the first State Street one. Parking at either location isn't really an option unless you park several blocks away. So grab the bus, el, or stop by when you're in the area. Both locations have moderate seating. Not really a place for big parties.
(3)Tiago P.
Not sure how there are 4 or even 5 star ratings for Wao Bao. Food is mediocre at best. I'm a avid Lettuce Entertain You diner. Wow Bao falls real low on the quality scale. Understandably, this is directed towards a fast casual diner but the quality of the food is not up to par with the LEYE brand. The Baos are ok. They obviously are not comparable to the real things you'd find in the Chinatowns. Fillings are unique and different, but again, the quality of ingredients makes the whole Bao experience sub par The actual stir fries are TERRIBLE. I would not even feed them to my dogs. Chopped up pieces of meat. I ordered the chicken teriyaki and the mongolian beef. I couldn't tell which was which, because they were just grounded pieces of indistinguishable meats drenched in sauce and no signs of fresh quality vegetables.
(2)Shawn D.
Never had Bao before. The service was excellent, the woman at the register was very helpful in suggesting what I should get. I got 3 different Bao, Mongolian beef, BBQ pork and chocolate banana. The dessert Bao was great, very tasty. The other ones were only so-so. I feel like I should've liked them, but just didn't.
(3)Henryk S.
I've never had Bao before and I can't imagine anyone can do it any better than Wow Bao. The service at the Michigan Ave one is great. I'm a regular and they already know what sauces to include in my bag. There is also a foursquare check-in so you get one bao free when you buy one. Can't beat that.
(5)Dana C.
Super gross Asian food. The service was quick but not very friendly. And the food was just terrible. I threw it out. :( Sorry guys. You really need to work on the quality of your food.
(1)Annie M.
I got the Thai curry chicken bao, the barbeque pork bao and the coconut custard one. The dessert one was the best. They were tasty but it was more bun than filling. Also the last time I was there they had the music turned up unbearably loud. If I had to wait in line for a long time that day I would have walked out because of the loud music. The employees are friendly.
(3)Jan T.
I still really don't know what to think of this place but considereing I've been back in S. Fl for almost 2 weeks and I still crave that rice bowl and a bao, I guess I'm a fan. I've never had a bao before and I'm still not sure what it is, that 1st bite into the boa definitely had my brows raised in wonder. My only complaint would be I wish there was more filling in the bao. It had a great amount of dough around the filling. The pomegranate ginger drink was delicious and the food was piping hot. The portion size was a little on the small end in the rice bowl but paired with 2 bao in a combo you'll fill up quickly. Service was quick and the online order system as well as the kiosk outside really helps move things along. Can't wait to go back here.
(4)Sarah Z.
This is my favorite lunch spot. Fresh, healthy and yummy food. I never have to wait long and from what I can tell the place is run like a well oiled machine. The spring rolls are DIVINE and I am in love with the herbed broth soup they sell in a coffee cup. I also once had one of their bowls which was healthy and a normal lunch proportion.
(5)Alaina T.
I'd say I come here at least once per week since I work nearby. My go-to meal is 1-2 chicken teriyaki bao, the pork-cabbage potstickers with ginger-goy sauce, and the thai herb broth. The service is quick and friendly (once, when it took longer than 4 mins, I received a $5 off card and a sincere apology from the staff), and the food is pretty tasty. I'm pretty sure the thai herb broth is a magic elixir, spicy and helpful when getting sick.
(4)Hi S.
SO disappointed! This new location is great and convenient, was so excited for it to open. The food, not so great. The quality of the food has gone down, the pad thai salad was terrible, laden with iceberg lettuce, old bean sprouts and chicken that didn't taste very fresh. What happened to the nappa cabbage and fresh red bell pepper? The bao seemed smaller with less filling. All in all, very underwhelming.
(2)Sarah T.
Such a great concept. I love it.
(5)Monica L.
if you want chinese comfort food, then this is your place
(3)Rob H.
Bam. Asian style take out done well. Absolutely delicious and FAST. This is what you need when youre facing deadlines and need to quell the hunger pangs.
(5)A W.
$1.69 for a BBQ pork bun? Can you say wow wow wow? Take a cab ride to Chinatown and get more bang for your buck at an Asian bakery. I do admit the Thai curry noodle salad was delish and the pot stickers which were the same types of dumplings as the ones in the noodle soup also were okay.
(3)Crystal S.
Whenever I visit Chicago, I have, have to stop at Wow Bao at least once, if not twice. It's an affordable, quick, modern Asian-style restaurant. The concept of paying for your food at a little self-serve kiosk instead of with a cashier is something to get used to, but I like it. I think it's better than make a cashier stand in the same place all day. The menu includes rice/noodle bowls, dumplings, and bao. I have tried several varieties, and they are all fresh and tasty. I finally hit my perfect combination on this last Chicago trip: Thai Curry bowl (with lo-mein noodles) Pork and cabbage dumplings Chocolate bao for dessert. The chocolate was dark, delicious, and dripping down my fingers. It was so good! They are filling; you only need one. Also, give their homemade drinks a try. The pomegranate ginger lemonade is not to be missed. My meal was about $11. Please, Wow Bao, build your stores everywhere. I need you in my life.
(5)Christy L.
Located close to my office, I head to Wow Bao a few times a month, and now that I know what to order, I enjoy a satisfying lunch. I'm a big fan of the potstickers, mainly for the addictive, spicy mustard, which has the perfect amount of kick. The peanut noodle salad is also tasty, and the homemade ginger ale refreshing. Finally, the chocolate bao dessert is decadent. Unfortunately, I am not a fan of the bowls or non-dessert bao. The meat seems too mystery-like, and the bread in the bao is too sweet, overpowering the filling. Service is excellent - quick and efficient. Head here for a quick lunch, especially if you're in the mood for an affordable, non-sandwich lunch.
(3)Chi A.
We flew to Chicago from Minnesota for an important matter. I heard about this place. We were so excited to try this out. After picking up the order, we were so disappointed with the servings of combo meal. Food was good but too pricey for small servings at a fastfood chain. We would rather eat in some better Chinese restaurants for good steamed buns at a decent price and quality.
(2)Patrick H.
This place does not really have good vegan options. The all-vegetable bowl is just a bunch of frozen vegetables. I've had better frozen meals from the supermarket. And for about $6.50, it was a total rip-off. Also it was a very small portion and I'm still hungry. I'm mad about losing $6.50 on this, it's like I didn't even have lunch. I don't even need large portions, but as a vegan, I need at least a decent helping of some edamame, veggies and rice. I am giving it two stars instead of one because perhaps it is better for meat eaters here, and the one kind of vegan bao is probably better than my bowl (but the veggies would still be frozen in there!).
(2)Kozue M.
Tried this place for the first time and loved it! Their menu is fairly simple. They have a few bowls, salads, and of course baos. I tried their combo meal with 2 baos (teriyaki chicken and BBQ pork) and Asian salad. It was delicious and best of all affordable! My meal was less than $7!! Also if you check in on foursquare there's a special! Buy one bao get one free. Every 5th check in gets you free 5piece potstickers. When I went there, I had a lot to order (for my coworkers). They have these kiosks where you can order/pay for your food. It was amazing! It was so quick and we didn't have to hold up the line with our giant order. And it showed pics of the food so you know what you're ordering. Going back to the foursquare checkin special..if you want to use that you will need to order inside with the cashier. We didn't know so after we ordered we went in and tried to get our free baos. We also didn't buy single baos-we ordered the combos and the special only works on the single orders. The mgr was so nice he explained to us that the free baos won't come with the combos but he gave us 3baos on the house:) Highly recommend the coconut bao & chocolate banana bao. They're dessert baos and they are to die for!!!:9
(5)Justin B.
Stopped by for lunch last week, and I grabbed a Mongolian beef bao and spicy pork bao paired with a veggie rice bowl ($10.70 for all of that). The bao (baos?) were tasty morsels, but they really are just morsels...you'll need a full 5-6 of these to fill up, in my opinion...maybe a smaller person could get away with 3-4, but I think a mid-afternoon snack would sneak up on you if you did. The veggie rice bowl featured a handful of very tasty, flavorful veggies but not enough to keep up with the mountain of very plain, unflavored rice in the bowl. Ultimately, if I go back, I would skip the rice bowl and do just five bao and call it a day. Ordering and getting my food was crazy quick so if you are on the move in the Mag Mile area south of the river, this is a great option. There's also a small indoor patio at this location, so if you show up late in the traditional lunch hour (or early), you'll be able to score a seat without issue.
(3)Brenda D.
OMG - that is about all you'll hear from me beside moans of goodness as I eat these Bao's. Small storefront on Michigan but they keep the line moving!
(5)Maisha R.
I was looking for a quick meal in downtown Chicago before heading to the airport and Wow Bao was close to my hotel and the food seemed pretty portable. This location is small and it's in the lobby of an office building so it was a little difficult to find. Once I got there, I saw a fairly simple menu - baos, potstickers, bowls, and combinations of the three. I opted for the bao and bowl combination and I added a dessert bao to the mix. The baos were what I expected for essentially fast food. The buns were soft but the ratio of bun to filling was off. Both the bbq pork bao and the apple cinnamon bao could've used more filling. The small teriyaki chicken rice bowl surprisingly had a hefty portion of chicken and veggies and it was really satisfying. For a quick, inexpensive meal, Wow Bao was fine but it's not the kind of food that I'll be craving on my next trip to Chicago.
(3)Jen K.
Great lunch spot. Good seating area. You can order at a kiosk, which is super easy. They have combo options. I tried the 2 baos and salad. I got the terriyaki bao, the bbq pork, and the spicy peanut noodles. It's filling and cheap and the quality is good.
(4)Kelsie D.
Not at all what I was expecting. I order a bowl of chicken teriyaki with lo mein noodles. The meat looked like ground beef but a tad bigger chunks. It smells like dog food. But when you eat it, it tastes nothing like teriyaki sauce. It tastes like it smells.. Like dog food. I would not describe the noodles as lo mein, they were basically just spaghetti noodles but more yellow. The food was however very moist. Maybe that was because over a quarter of the bottom of the bowl was filled with water. (Obviously from not draining the noodles). I had high expectations for this place because of how high-tech everything looks. Maybe they should spend more money on better quality food than fancy technology. Lastly, if you're eating in their "patio" the wifi does not work. Which was very disappointing because they advertised it so much. I'm only giving one star because the hibiscus lemonade was good, but a very small portion for how much it was. Otherwise they'd get zero from me!!
(1)Kevin K.
I pass this place almost every day so I finally tried it for the first time the other day. It was pretty amazing and I regret not trying it sooner! Right outside of it there are two touch screen kiosks where you can place your order and pay with a credit card which was pretty interesting. I wasn't sure which bao to get so I got 4 different flavors: bbq pork, spicy kung pao chicken, curry and spicy Mongolian beef. They were all very good, but I'd have to say the spicy kung pao was my favorite. The BBQ pork was my least favorite of the four i tried; it was still good though. I'm a big guy so I wasn't sure how many I would need to fill me up. I got four, and I ate three on the spot, and saved one for later because I was pretty full after the first three. I thought it was going to be expensive, but it was actually pretty cheap, it was around $6 for four baos.
(5)Vanessa P.
During our stay in Chicago we passed Wow Bao and knew we had to make a stop. Having a fiance addicted to baos, this was kind of a given. The prices were very reasonable, and the service was really quick (it was a Sunday afternoon). The combos offered plenty of food and it was all delicious. Of course being an out-of-towner we were thrilled to know they will deliver their baos and pot stickers across the country! We haven't ordered yet, but definitely plan on it.
(3)Tony P.
The baos were alright - 3/5 But the concept I really liked. Possibly the fastest possible in-out service you can get with their system - 5/5
(4)ben w.
Great flavors, great price and great service. I went here tonight with my 3 year old, the young lady working was very nice and gave me a small side of rice for my daughter. I went for the 6 pack of buns, more than enough for one person. A great alternative to Mcdonalds and the standard fast food, this is much more tasty. If I worked in this building they would know me by name here.
(5)Heather M.
I don't know how many people are hip to the breakfast here, but the egg and spicy sausage bao is totally where it's at. And the one with bacon is no slouch, either. The asian veggie salad is also really, really good. Highly recommend the lunch combo with 2 bao and the salad. Why, oh why, can this place not make good dumplings? Why???
(3)Melissa D.
Wow Bao needs to come to the east coast (NYC area)! H Great lunch and prices
(4)D O.
The blandest most unsatisfying noodles I've had probably ever.
(2)Mahsa T.
Maybe I just don't understand the concept of this place, but I found the food to be downright bland and a rip-off for the small portion that you get. I'm used to Chinese food that includes delicious rice, large pieces of chicken and vegetables. The bowl that I got here was tiny, about 90% rice, and 10% chicken and vegetables. I can't tell you what kind of vegetables though because the chicken and vegetables were chopped up so finely that they were almost minced. Unrecognizable. Unidentifiable. It did not taste good either. The employee/cashier was not helpful in helping me, a first-timer, figure out what comes with what. Menu was confusing. Utensils and napkins are almost hidden and you're supposed to figure out what button in the wall to press to get a fork or napkin. I'd say definitely skip this place.
(2)Taeler H.
This was my first time visiting a Wow Bao and it was just alright. I got the Thai Curry Chicken Bowl w/ Jasmine Rice. It was a good amount of food for the price compared to other in-between restaurants in the area. (by in-between restaurant I mean a place like noodles & co or Chipotle or somewhere that's not fancy but is on a higher level than mc donalds or burger king) The food was fresh and tasted decently healthy but as far as flavor goes I wasn't really impressed. The interior of the restaurant was small and clean, which I liked, and there was extra seating outside in the main hallway. Maybe I just didn't know what to order.... so I'm not sure if I'll return, but I am curious to try their Baos.
(3)Tiffany K.
I don't know why people worship this place, but here it goes anyway. The bao are too sweet for my tastes. I tried the Thai curry bao and the Teriyaki bao, and they were both so sugary I could barely even finish them. The bao are also pretty tiny in size, so you'd probably have to get 3-4 to feel like you've had a big meal. I also tried the pork dumplings and the peanut noodles. They were tasty, and more flavorful than the bao. But still, the food here is just overpriced and definitely not worth writing home about. It's good for a snack or a light lunch, but it's nothing really satisfying.
(3)Emily J.
It is just weird to pretend to be Chinese food while have cheese in every dish. The ice tea is the single horrible tea I had this year.
(2)Stephanie W.
Love the new Wow Bao location, from the kiosks outside to the calm, cool light suffusing the area to the "outdoor" tables. On their first day open, the service was prompt and super friendly, and they must have imported some staff from other locations because they were seriously spot on for day one. I tried the chicken teriyaki bao, the bbq pork bao, and the pork and cabbage potstickers with the soy ginger sauce, all of which were delicious if a little too gingery for me. The bao dough was warm and fluffy, and the filling was all steamy goodness. I'll definitely be back here for lunch again soon.
(4)Keith F.
Great place for lunch! I like the salads, the Bao with the mustard sauce is very good, the soup is good, and the salads to-go are great. Very reasonable lunch under $10.
(3)Samir R.
The ordering kiosks are pretty cool, skip the line. Don't know what I think of the food just yet, thought it was ok. Had the kung pao rice bowl, lots of rice, need some more of the curry. Had a decent flavor, a little oily. The buns need some sort of dipping sauce, don't know if you just have to ask, no option on the kiosk. They were pretty thick too, need more stuffing. May try again on a rainy day when I can't venture out.
(3)Gil A.
Ok... so the flashy presentation and modern ordering kiosks got my attention! You know its not good when you say "well at least I can say that I've tried it" No freaking bueno! I love the concept but total fail on the delivered product. Both buns were salty and nothing good worth mentioning. I didn't hate it but I definitely wouldn't try it again, at any of their locations! Let's just say if they were to open one in the bay area (large asian population) they wouldn't last a year.
(2)Aiza B.
I can't believe I didn't try this place the last time I was in Chicago. I love their vegan whole wheat edamame bun! Full of flavors and nice soft texture. It went well with their spicy peanut noodle sauce (also vegan). I got the combo of two buns and one entree for $5.99. A really good deal! Plus, don't forget to check-in on foursquare because you will get one free bun! I decided to go with one of the dessert buns, coconut... truly delicious and heavenly. I loved the soft texture of the bun with the stringy coconut filling in the middle. I will always come back now when I am in Chicago.
(4)Adrienne G.
This is the 3rd loop Wow Bao location and they are still getting the kinks worked out. By kinks I just mean, that the 2 times I've been here, I have been unsuccessful in getting a bao lunch combo with 2 different types of bao- tried both the kiosk and the counter, and both times I've had 2 of the same bao. Other than that, this place is nice, got a great location for the Michigan Ave loop lunch crowd, and I like the seating area that is behind the escalators. I'll be back before our office moves, and yes, the food is just as delicious as the other locations. Smaller space but it gets the tummy filled!
(3)Dan R.
Decent food. Not great, but it is fast-food afterall. Great service. But, there is a 'hurry up' feel to it. It's like a high speed drive through. Good if you know exactly what you want. Not so good if you are trying to make up your mind. I think they are a little over-priced. The efficiencies of their operation do not translate into any price benefit.
(3)