Bao Bar Mississauga — Restaurant in Mississauga

Dishes Ordered:

Chicken Katsu Bao: ★★★★★ 5 Spice Belly Bao: ★★★★★ Delivery and Packaging: ★★★★★ Value for Money: ★★★★☆ Overall Experience: ★★★★★ Review:

My latest culinary adventure led me to Bao Bar, and I must say, the experience was nothing short of spectacular. Venturing into the realm of bao, I decided on two distinct flavors - the Chicken Katsu Bao and the 5 Spice Belly Bao, both of which set a new benchmark for what I consider phenomenal in the world of casual dining.

The Baos: Starting with the Chicken Katsu Bao, the Japanese-style fried chicken was a revelation. Encased in a pillowy bao bun, the chicken was impeccably crispy on the outside while remaining tender and juicy within. The garlic mayo, lettuce, tonkatsu sauce, green onion, and togarashi flakes melded together to create a symphony of flavors, each bite surpassing the last in delight.

Equally impressive was the 5 Spice Belly Bao. The braised pork belly, marinated in a rich blend of five spices, was so tender that it seemed to melt away with each bite, a testament to the skill behind its preparation. Complemented by garlic mayo, crisp cucumbers, pickled daikon, carrots, and fresh cilantro, this bao was a masterclass in balancing richness with refreshing crunch and acidity.

Delivery & Packaging: Despite the potential challenges of delivering such delicate creations, Bao Bar excelled. The baos arrived in pristine condition, with every element intact and the bao buns as soft as if they were just steamed. The attention to packaging detail ensured that the dining experience was not compromised in transit.

Value for Money: While I do wish the pricing was slightly more competitive, it's hard to argue with the quality and experience provided. The dishes, though a bit on the pricier side, were worth every penny for their exceptional taste and presentation.

Overall Experience: Bao Bar has undoubtedly earned a place in my heart and my list of top food spots. The combination of unique, flavorful offerings, careful packaging for delivery, and the sheer joy of each bite makes it a restaurant I cannot recommend enough. For those looking to indulge in some of the best baos around, look no further than Bao Bar. Despite the slight wish for better pricing, the overall experience is one I eagerly...

I recently visited Bao Bar in Mississauga because I had heard a lot about their baos. I was really excited to try it out. I ordered three baos: Korean Garlic Chicken, Sriracha Tofu, and Avocado Banger.

The Korean Chicken Bao was the best of the three. The chicken was cooked well and had good flavor. I enjoyed it and would say it was the highlight of my meal.

The Sriracha Tofu Bao was okay. The tofu was deep-fried, which made it a bit too oily for me. The oil soaked into the bun and made the overall taste a little heavy.

The Avocado Banger Bao was a big disappointment. It didn’t taste good at all. It felt like very little thought went into creating it. It had a slice of cucumber inside, which didn’t go well with the avocado. Just because it’s a vegetarian bao doesn’t mean it has to be boring. They could have used mushrooms, grilled veggies, or something with a rich, umami flavor to make it better.

Another issue I had was the size and price of the baos. Each bao is really small—just about two bites—and they cost around $9 to $10 each. For that price, I expected something more filling or satisfying. If you’re really hungry and want to eat a full meal, this place isn’t the right choice. The food isn’t filling at all, but the bill definitely is.

I also didn’t enjoy the service. The staff didn’t seem friendly or welcoming. There wasn’t any effort to make customers feel comfortable. That really added to the disappointment.

I went in very excited to try something new, but I left feeling very let down. The restaurant is fine if you just want to try something different once, but it’s not a place I would go back to. It’s too expensive for the portion size, and the flavors don’t make up for the cost.

Overall, I give Bao Bar 1 star. The experience was not worth the hype, the price, or the excitement I had going in. I wouldn’t recommend it for lunch or dinner. If you’re really curious about bao and just want a quick snack, maybe give it a try—but keep your...

I’ve always heard great things about the bao bar location in Waterloo so I was extremely excited to try this place, but it was so disappointing.

I tried the Katsu, beef, pork belly, and Korean garlic chicken bao along with the kimchi fries. On the baos, there is way too much sauce, overpowering the rest of the toppings. The bao itself is nice and fluffy, but drowning it in sauce takes away any airy ness it once had. The sauces themselves were quite weird and I think they need to be refined. The Korean garlic chicken sauce had a strong hint of hoisin mixed in with their Korean garlic sauce, which is a bad combination of flavours in my opinion. Fries were nicely cooked, but unfortunately the Kimchi had next to no flavour; I really hope they find a new source for their kimchi.

Granted this location just opened, I would give them a few weeks to adjust and get up to speed. I’ll be trying them again in a few months, but for now I cannot recommend this given the...