Bao'd Up Dumpling Shop - Mueller Aldrich

Overall: 3.7/5 [takeout] You order at the kiosk, and the food and drinks came out incredibly fast. They also have daily weekday specials too. Fantastic Four ($12.50): Came with 4 buns of your choice. The crispy chicken bao wasn't bad, the bun was soft and the chicken was very crispy but there wasn't a lot of meat. The spicy brisket was probably my favorite followed by the juicy pork. The ube taro bun was our least favorite since it was pretty bland. We got the baod up sauce and chili oil on the side but honestly they weren't necessary. Strawberry Matcha Latte with Cherry Blossom, Almond Milk, and Brown Sugar Jelly ($8.20): This was really good but very sweet. I think it would have been much better without the brown sugar jelly since that definitely pushed the sweetness over the edge.

The shop is beautifully decorated and has a warm, welcoming atmosphere. They focus on simple steamed buns served in a convenient, quick-service style. The food is tasty and prepared quickly, making it a great spot for a casual and satisfying bite. Overall, it’s a comfortable and pleasant place to stop by for a quick meal.

Small place. Not too many seating options. Had tried a tofu bao, and tofu was kind of rubbery and chewy. The texture of bao and dumpling was good. However, the filling was a bit disappointing. The sauces are very heavy and too strong.

I absolutely olutely love baos, and as someone who eats vegan, they can be surprisingly hard to find--so I was thrilled to discover vegan options here! We tried the spicy tofu bao, which featured a generous tofu patty. While I appreciated the portion size, I felt the ratio of sauce to tofu could be adjusted for more flavor balance. A bit more sauce throughout would really enhance the dish and bring out the spiciness. Service - The staff was warm and prompt, which made the experience even better. Ambiance - Very contemporary and upbeat! It's a happy, welcoming space that I really enjoyed

We came here for dinner and ordered the crispy chicken taco, crispy chicken basket, and custard baos. Since we were really hungry, these filled us up. Beware that the pictures on the menu make the items look much smaller than they actually are. So portion sizes are pretty good. The crispy chicken tacos were good, but I wish they came with a sauce to add extra flavor. The crispy chicken basket had a generous portion, and my husband really enjoyed it. Unfortunately, I wouldn't recommend the custard baos--they were very plain and lacked flavor. I was expecting something more dessert-like. Overall, I'd still recommend this place for when you are super hungry and need food fast. The food was good, the service was good, and they have a few tables inside for seating.