BaoBao Dumpling and Ramen — Restaurant in Tulsa

Atmosphere and Service

88 Bao Bao is the epitome of a hole-in-the-wall—unpolished, functional, and oddly comforting. Boxes of drinks sit stacked in a corner, the air carries the scent of oil and steam, and the space, while not overtly clean, doesn’t feel uncared for. Bamboo pendant lights and red chairs nod to familiar tropes, offering a touch of nostalgic warmth. Service is average, but the vibe is unmistakable: this isn’t commercial polish—it’s ugly delicious, in its most literal, lovable form.

Pork Xiao Long Bao

Piping hot and nestled in a bamboo steamer, each dumpling arrives like a sealed promise. One bite releases a burst of rich, porky broth that floods the palate—heavy, savory, and deeply satisfying. The wrapper strikes a perfect balance: not too thick, not too thin, with just enough bite to hold the delicate fold. Inside, the soft pork filling is tender and well-seasoned. It’s the kind of bite that leaves you immediately wanting another.

Shrimp & Pork Shao Mai

This little purse of pork and shrimp opens with deep, savory notes of pork before gently giving way to the sweet, delicate essence of shrimp. The texture walks a perfect line between soft and firm—plush without being mushy, structured without being dense. Each bite carries a beautiful richness that lingers and coats the mouth, delivering both comfort and complexity. It’s a quiet triumph of balance, both in flavor and form.

Pork Potsticker

A standout among Tulsa’s potstickers, this is the juiciest, most mouth-filling dumpling in town. Diner beware: it will squirt—bursting with hot, savory broth that demands full attention. Miss a drop and you’ll regret it. The pork filling leans into a classic potsticker flavor profile, but what sets it apart is the texture—plush, perfectly seared, and deeply satisfying. The devil is in the details, and here, the devil tastes oh so good.

BBQ Pork Bun

The bun features a sweet soy-glazed pork filling, reminiscent of the classic red-tinged BBQ pork from takeout spots—sticky, sweet, and familiar. But the bun is overwhelming. It's large, crumbly, and quickly falls apart, leaving more fluff than flavor. There's maybe one good bite of filling before you're left with a mouthful of bland bread. The ratio skews heavily toward the bun, burying what little BBQ goodness there is. Popcorn Chicken

These little chunks of heaven boast a crispy exterior and soft, tender interior. Like the beef, they lean one-dimensional—but they’re executed well. Addictive in their simplicity, they’re the kind of thing you can’t stop at one or two—you’ll want the whole plate. They shine best as a vessel for sweet Thai chili sauce: safe, satisfying, and undeniably well done.

Wonton in Hot Chili Oil

Simply incredible—these sweet, umami-packed pockets deliver on both flavor and texture. The wonton wrapper is silky yet toothsome, concealing a savory pork filling that satisfies with every bite. The hot chili oil brings just the right amount of heat, while the pool of oil at the bottom of the bowl offers a rich, salty-sweet depth. Pro tip: drizzle that leftover oil over the popcorn chicken—it transforms a safe dish into something crave-worthy.

Fried Shrimp

The batter is incredible—light, crisp, and unmistakably East Coast in flavor, with that distinct savory-sweet profile you rarely find outside New York or Boston. While it looks like the typical tempura you’d see at a sushi joint, the taste is something else entirely. It hits a nostalgic, almost personal note. Can you taste the shrimp? Not really. But it doesn’t matter. The fry is the star—and it's doing all the heavy lifting.

Black and Gold Molten Lava Buns

A simply beautiful bun—dark and glossy like hot river stones with a streak of gold. Each bite releases a molten core of sugary, eggy, grainy goodness. Whether the grainy texture is intentional or a byproduct of undissolved sugar is unclear, but it doesn’t detract from...

If you're looking for a cozy Chinese spot in Tulsa, you might want to add Bao Bao Dumpling and Ramen to your rotation. Located just off 71st and Memorial, it’s easy to miss among the many smoke shops, but it’s definitely worth seeking out. I visited around 7 PM on a Wednesday, and despite a fairly full dining room, I was seated quickly and served promptly. The interior is clean and orderly, and the staff is warm, attentive, and happy to make recommendations. One standout suggestion? The Black Garlic Ramen. This dish features a rich, flavorful broth, tender noodles, braised pork, shiitake mushrooms, corn, scallions, and boiled eggs. The black garlic added a sweet, umami flavor. Presentation was thoughtfully done and visually appetizing. You can also choose your spice level, which is a welcome touch for those who enjoy a bit of heat. At $15.99, the Black Garlic Ramen is a solid value, especially for a dish packed with this much flavor. My only personal note is that while brothy dishes are satisfying in the moment, I often find myself getting hungry again sooner than with heavier fare, but I know that’s just the nature of ramen. Parking, while not impossible, can be a bit of a hassle when it's busy, you may need to walk a bit from an adjacent lot.

Final Verdict: Bao Bao Dumpling and Ramen is a hidden gem with flavor-packed dishes and an inviting atmosphere. It’s definitely earned a spot on my list of go-to Chinese restaurants in Tulsa....

Small menu but large portions!

The menu is variations of a few select types of items but our entire group was pleased overall. Highly recommend the Black & Gold Molten Lava Buns!!

The restaurant is fairly small so not great for a very large group if they’re busy but they can still seat several people. You order up front and they bring it out to your table. It did take a bit for the food to come out but it was all very fresh.

What we got & thoughts:

Chicken & Corn Fried Dumplings - a good sear on the outside and absolute deliciousness on the inside. I’m not sure what all was in it but I highly recommend it with their garlic sauce

Beef Rolls - a flaky pastry with seasoned beef inside. Once it cooled down enough to eat this was amazing! Again great with their garlic sauce

Vegetable Spring Roll - also good

Crab Rangoon - I personally wish the filling will a little sweeter but overall these were still good. They’re shaped in a triangle which made them a little different to eat than the ones I’ve gotten elsewhere and pull apart

Chicken fried rice - this is huge and more than enough for two to share! The rice had great flavor and there was lots of chicken.

Ramen (not 100% sure which one she got) - the broth had very little flavor but the meat did so if you got a bit without meat it wasn’t as flavorful but still good.

Black & Gold Molten Lava Buns - these are amazing and a must have! I will absolutely be by just to grab some...