Bao & Bowl

I had a craving for chicken and sausage rice or spareribs over rice, the kind you’d find at a dim sum takeout place… and Bao & Bowl’s Cantonese inspired artisan comfort food rice bowls sounded like they might satisfy that craving. They used to serve dim sum but it looks like they stopped doing so but they still have steamed buns.
Bao & Bowl’s truck had 4 kinds of rice bowls ($ 10 — $ 12), sticky chicken rice, and 3 kinds of steamed buns ($ 3 each). You can save a bit by ordering a combo meal.
* Braised chicken in oyster sauce rice bowl ($ 10): this was like a homey stewed chicken thigh dish with soft carrots, cilantro (with hard stems), fried shallots and a light, savory sauce that wasn’t salty, with steamed broccoli and rice on the side. The dish was comforting with a lot of chicken and rice but it seemed like something I could make at home… and wasn’t as good as the spareribs and rice dish that I was actually craving. They should remove or chop up those hard cilantro stems.
* Steamed chicken bun: oversteamed, the bun had lightly sweetened fluffy dough with chicken inside, no egg, no Chinese sausage, no shitake mushroom; you can get better buns for $ 1 at any Chinese takeout dim sum place
I think the vegetables are organic and the rice is from California. They brew their own soy sauce. I didn’t realize it so I didn’t try it. I’d rather have housemade hot sauce.

3 Baos $ 7. Good, pricey, worth it.
While they’re epic baos, the price is hardly a bargain especially considering that on Clement st one can get like 4 times as much for the price.
Having said that — the 3 Baos were all delicious — and if i had to rank ‘em id say bbq pork/​veggie/​and chicken. I want to try their other items but unless ill be sharing it family style i dont see it happening — the baos are just too good.

They were at SoMa Streat Food Park today. They offered a few varieties of rice bowls and baos (three to a serving). To get a sampling of each I went for their combination which includes a rcie bowl, one bao, and a drink. I picked the Silky Egg and Beef bowl, a BBQ pork bao and a Coke.
Silky Egg and Beef Bowl– The beef was well seasoned and mixing the soft boiled egg in gave the beef extra richness and flavor. Good bowl.
BBQ Pork Bao– A decent pork bun. Not exceptional but not bad.
All in all I found Bao & Bowl had good food and reasonable prices.

I love Bao & Bowl! I’ve had them twice, can’t wait to have them again.
I’ve gotten all the baos, all delicious. The shu mai is also delicious. When I ordered them, the guy said that he accidentally overcooked them a little, so he gave me a couple additional ones on the house. Super nice of him! Also the bowls are delicious, as is the sticky rice. The kahlua pork is super yummy too.
The guys on the truck are also super nice and will have a good time with you.
This is one of my favorite food trucks.

(05/​14/​2013) Attended a MF event they have at Palo Alto Sqare where Bao & Bowl was present.
First I notice what a beautiful truck they have (does it matter? well yes to me it did — first impressions are key! lol) Their menus are beautifully written. The customer service were nice enough, not stellar but at least decent. Food came out in a decent time. Food presentation was very pretty as well.
I had the pork belly rice plate and one of each bao (veggie, chicken, pork). This was a lot of food but then I did pay more than what I was hoping to originally spend — B&B def offers a load of food making the price seem more acceptable.
Anyways the pork belly was nice, it seemed a little on the tepid side (not really warmed through) but still good (wish it was all the way warmed thru tho)… the rice was nice and hot which helped mask the lukewarm-​ness of the meat. Side of bok choy was tastey too.
The baos were decent, notthing to brag about (sad because I wanted to be able to brag about the baos so bad… esp since the truck is called «BAO & Bowl». Anyways, my fave bao of the 3 was the vegetarian one… this is the one i would recommend to anyone asking.
Overall, I liked the truck, their food, the service… but they could work on time. After placing my order, i inquired about the dim sum, the worker told me it would be about 7 – 8 minutes before it was ready, and if that was okay. I assumed he told me this bit of info because my other food would be ready in a quicker time frame… so i passed on the dim sum… BUT as it turns out, it still took about the same amount of time (actually closer to 10mins) for the other food to come out as well… so i was kind of left wondering why did he even bother telling me about the time if it really didnt make a differenct.
Anyways, I’d check this truck out again if given a chance… and I would def bring ppl with me to eat there too.

I visited Bao & Bowl at SF Streat Food. I ordered the chicken bowl and waited. and waited. and waited. Right before I was about to ask if anyone was making my food, a guy stuck his head out of the truck and said, ‘You ordered chicken right?’ I replied, ‘Yes, did you forget about me?’. No reply. My food then came out minutes later.
Imagine a Chinese to-​go container half filled with rice, some veggies and chicken. all with zero flavor or anything that would make it stand out from anything else (TJ’s has better rice bowls!). On top of the bland food, I wasn’t even offered an apology food the wait. I understand delays and mistakes happen; but please give an apology or small side or soda, etc.
For $ 10, I’d easily go elsewhere and would not suggest B&B.

Helen C. and I decided to get food in the city; wandering around, we got detoured into an alleyway that had several food trucks parked. Completely forgetting our original plan, we decided to float into the even and figure out what truck wins our lunch debate. Seems like Bao and Bowl took the trophy on that one.
I chose the bao and bowl combo; the beef rice bowl with the vegetarian bun. Beef was an interesting combo, especially with the uncooked egg on top. Love the fact that everything was in a take-​out box, so easy eating and easy clean-​up. The vegetarian bun tasted like a true Buddhist veggie dish.
For the price of $ 13 for this combo with a drink, not a bad price.

i tried their big bbq pork bao. it was very tasty — the pork was flavorful and the white bun part was yummy. the ratio of bread to meat favored the bread though — a lot more bread than meat. but it is huge, so a pretty filling snack in itself. i still like chairman bao better for buns, but this is good for the more traditional style.
but i also got the pork belly bowl because i love pork belly! the bowl actually comes in one of those cardboard chinese take-​out boxes which is fun. the bowl was a lot of food too. between the bao and the bowl, i wasn’t able to finish all the rice. but the pork belly was really good, they give you a fat portion of it and it comes with yummy asian veggies.
i want to come back and try their chicken bao cuz from the photos it looks like there is hard boiled egg inside the bun? yum. and i also want to try this turnip cake fritter thing. i like the dim sum truck concept. instead of rolling around the food on a cart, now it’s on a truck!

The Silken Egg and Beef Rice Bowl is pretty tasty and comes in a convenient Chinese take-​out box. There’s enough food for 2 people who don’t have abnormally large appetites. I thought the sauce was rich and tasty, the bok choy cooked perfectly (it’s my favorite vegetable and I’m very picky about how it’s cooked) and the beef tender, but the rice felt under-​cooked. Not a bad option if everything else at Streatfood Park is boring you.

This review is just based on their customer service.
I asked the girl who was writing the menu on the board if they were open. She barely turns around and says «We’ll open in like 5 — 10 minutes» in a really rude manner.
Oh, I’m sorry, did I interrupt your precious writing time?
With that sour attitude, I’ll take my money elsewhere. Too bad, I was really wanting to try their rice plates.
Work on your customer service.

I think they recently changed owners and since the switchover they seem to have gotten it together. The menu and the quality has been more consistent and they got a super-​cute girl on the register (wise business move) but the free egg-​tart with check-​in offer is gone. :(
Portions are large as you can tell from the weight of your food as they hand it to you in quart-​sized Chinese take-​out containers.
My favorite menu items include the braised pork belly over rice (slow cooked for 4 hours) and the chicken sticky rice (wrapped in a lotus leaf and steamed). The braised beef with silken egg over rice is not bad either.
Desserts are not always listed on the chalkboard menu but the egg-​tarts and steamed molasses cake are both delish!

We have tried their pork Bao and the chicken with Tofu and mushrooms.
My problem with both dishes is, that yes, you get some really tasty meat, but that is wrapped in a massive lump of rice /​dim sum. So, for your buck, you get a lump of rice and a tiny bit of meat.

Baby got back.
Sir Mix A Lot likes them big:
Big Bao does too: Massive steamed buns with your choice of filling.
Website states they are made with «organic flour, purified water, no additives, no chemicals and no ingredients that we can’t pronounce.» Awesome.
Chicken bun was more bun than chicken. Wish the balance had been better but still was good. In better balance was the enthusiasm of the staff. Friendly and energetic.
Recommended if you indeed like big buns. Or are Sir Mix A Lot.

On my last night visiting my mom in San Jose I decided to check out the Moveable Feast in Willow Glen. I love bao, and lucky me there were two trucks serving bao. Or maybe I should say purportedly serving bao.
You will not find the hipster, deconstructed «bao» that are more like tiny tacos folded in Peking duck pancakes here. No, these are old-​school bao, like the ones you would find in a Chinese bakery except that they taste better. Oh, and they’re ginormous.
I have to admit that this was a case where my eyes were bigger than my stomach. I had to wrap-​up my BBQ pork bao in plastic and save it for the next day, when I ate it cold. Even under these less-​than-​ideal conditions it was delicious. The bun itself probably wasn’t as soft and fluffy as it would have been had I eaten it right out of the steamer. Even cold, I didn’t notice any sort of goopy, cornstarch-​thickened sauce consistency to the pork filling. The pork was sauced relatively simply (not overpowered by five spice) allowing for the flavor of the pork to really shine through. To sum it up? Yum!
My regrets? They were out of turnip fritters. I neglected to look at the back side of the menu, so I didn’t even know they had egg tarts (what, and there’s a check-​in offer? D’oh!) I have no idea when I will have the opportunity to try more items on their menu.
I should also mention that the guy in the truck was really friendly and helpful. I wish them much success, because I’d like for them to be around the next time I’m in town!

My tastebuds are in love.
I only expected to get bao, and walked away with a free egg tart (check in!). Those bao are on steroids, but bao that big is unnatural. Still fluffy and tasty, but unnaturally large.
The egg tart was pretty good, but perhaps I hold it in high esteem because it was free? And here I thought Chairman Bao was the truck to hit up. It’s still on my to-​do list, but thanks for the first great experience, Bao & Bowl! Ps — super nice dudes working it, too.

Bao & Bowl has dim sum, baos (5.5), spareribs, egg tarts, a variety of chinese eats
locale: somastreeteats (¹²⁄₁)
eats: dim sum (¼.50, 2/8.5, ³⁄₁₂?)
–shrimp dumpling (3 pieces)
semi thick wrapper with semimushy, semicrunchy shrimp
no shrimp taste, had some veggie also
–pork siu mai (4)
mostly pork, maybe some shrimp
pretty sweet tasting, msg? no meat taste
take outs:
–soy sauce and chilii sauce pretty good
–dim sum seemingly fresh but flavorless. msg enhanced?
–dim sum steamed to order. (5 minutes+)
–pricey for so so dim
least yank sing has some natural flavors not here.

1 star? Yes…
But quick disclaimer, I am only reviewing ONE ITEM from their entire menu.
1 ITEM, that’s it… not their baos, not their main dishes, not dim sum. I am not commenting on any of their other food.
I am ONLY reviewing their… Portuguese Egg Tarts… because it’s a travesty. To the owner of Bao & Bowl, I hope you’re reading this.
First a quick lesson into what a Portuguese Egg Tart is, and how it differs from regular Chinese Egg Tart.
A Portuguese egg tart usually has a crust that’s more flaky, like puff pastry. The filling is a more creamier type custard, like crème brûlée, and the top of the custard is blow torched too just like a crème brûlée for a chewier/​crunchier texture. Example here:
A Chinese egg tart has a variety of different crust types, but generally not as flaky, sometimes almost like a cookie/​pie crust depending on the bakery. The filling is not as creamy, and non-​blow torched.
Now to Bao & Bowl’s «Portuguese Egg Tart»:
When they brought it out, it looked like a regular Chinese egg tart. Some people might look at it and think it’s not that big of a deal, but trust me, Chinese egg tarts and Portuguese egg tarts are completely different.
So they brought it out, cold… and it looked like any other egg tart from a generic bakery in Chinatown. Nothing special. Regular generic custard filling, regular generic crust.
What…the…hell…is…this…shit?
This is not a Portuguese egg tart, you guys are not fooling anyone.
Then, the price…$ 2!!!
TWO DOLLARS???
You know Golden Gate Bakery?
Arguably the BEST Chinese egg tarts in SF, possibly Bay Area. Last I checked their egg tart was $ 1.35…and that’s already considered expensive, but oh so worth it.
What are you guys trying to pull off here?
So please, stay away from their $ 2 overpriced generic-​non-​Portuguese egg tarts, and save yourself some money and go to Golden Gate Bakery (when they’re open), or any other Chinese bakery in Chinatown, because I guarantee you those will be better, and cheaper thatn $ 1.
And please Bao & Bowl, stop with this false advertising, and stop ripping off everyone with your ridiculously priced generic-​non-​Portugese egg tart.

I ordered the Vegetarian Bao — the texture of the bun was great, lightly sweetened, but the mushrooms inside weren’t doing it for me, but the size of the bun was great! it was bigger than my fist.
Vegetarian Chives Dumplings, came in a set of 3 for one order. The content was good, very flavorful, but I was not impressed with the texture of the dumpling. A little too rubbery for me.
Portuguese Egg Tart — Sorry B&B you’re no Golden Gate Bakery, but it wasn’t too bad. The ratio of the egg tart to the pastry portion was good, but super sweet.
Very impressed with the turnaround time. i hadn’t even paid yet and the food was ready.

The line took FOREVER and each time I was just about to leave, someone passed by with their food and I’d be dissuaded. It’s definitely worth the wait. When we got our food, I happily nibbled on my boyfriend’s shumai, shrimp dumpling, and even a piece of the pork bao. Delicious. I really wish that I had sprung for the veggie bao but I ordered the chicken rice bowl.
Absolutely delicious. The chicken rice bowl is basically a takeout container filled to the brim with bok choy, two types of tofu, chicken, daikon, and carrots. I’m sure I’m missing something but you get the point.

On the way out from work to the train I saw the truck during the last of the Urban Table markets for 2012.
Since I had to make it quick I grabbed one of their steamed sticky rice in lotus leaves entrees. A throwback to what I get in dim sum houses, it had all the familiar flavor
Chicken, mushrooms, salted egg… just missing the Chinese sausage. Their menu is quite extensive so I hope I can catch them again for their other fare.