Bao Bei in Vancouver

163 Keefer St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1X4, Canada

★★★★★
(1195 reviews)
Categories: Chinese restaurant Asian restaurant Restaurant Taiwanese restaurant

About

Modern Chinese food in the heart of Vancouver's historic Chinatown.

Website
bao-bei.ca
Address
163 Keefer St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1X4, Canada
Plus Code
7VHX+VQ Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Time Zone
America/Vancouver

Business Hours

Monday
5:30–10 PM
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
Closed
Friday
5:30 PM–12 AM
Saturday
5:30 PM–12 AM
Sunday
5:30–10 PM

Services

Service options
Takeaway Dine-in
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Late-night food Small plates Spirits Vegan options Vegetarian options Wine
Dining options
Lunch Dinner Dessert
Amenities
Bar on site Toilets
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy Upmarket
Crowd
Groups
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Parking
Paid parking lot Paid street parking

Photos

Reviews

4.5
★★★★★
1195 reviews

Most Mentioned

cocktails (96) beef tartare (41) fusion (35) shaobing (15) mantou (15) rice cakes (13) crispy tofu (9) flatbread (6) hipster (6) pea tips (5)
5 stars
827
4 stars
221
3 stars
63
2 stars
39
1 stars
45
★★
October 28, 2024

Nice atmosphere and interior But the food was very disappointing. From appetizer to dessert only thing that we liked was chili oil. The eggplant was overcooked. It was not juicy at all. Tasted a little bitter(burn). The fried rice tasted like ketchup. The chicken wing was soggy, not crispy at all, and wasn't served hot. Dessert was not really balanced and it was dry. Use to be a really good restaurent. That's why I was very excited to visit this time. I don't think I will go back🥲 Btw service was really good.

★★★★★
October 21, 2024

Came here with two others and we ended up ordering 5 dishes total. We ordered the beef tartare, the mantou buns, the shao bing, the steam prawn dumplings and the kick-ass fried rice. Every dish was delicious and the server went over each dish in detail when it was brought to the table. My favourite dish was probably the shao bing, followed by the mantou buns. I would 100% order everything again, but I'd also likely want to try new dishes if I came back. I would highly recommend this spot! Note that you may have to wait for 20-45 minutes on a weekend if you are walking in.

October 13, 2024

Good - Beautiful decor. Bad - Food was greasy, taste was subpar, how can you justify adding bacon & pineapple to a fried rice that’s just so much grease but it tastes so bad? The dumpling were good but so small that it’s a crime to charge $25 for 5. Service was also disappointing, all along the lady kept asking us to order more food or dessert, or get the bill. It was so annoying. We paid $40 each and we were still hungry by the end of the meal, so we had to get more food from nearby restaurants instead for seconds. So much room for talent, yet so disappointing.

★★★
September 26, 2024

I always loved going to Bao Bei for delicious meals but it was a little bit of disappointment this time. Crispy tofu was good but the rest of the meal was soso for me time. I will still visit later in the future because it was one of my favorites to dine.

★★★★★
August 19, 2024

Everything was perfect! Food, drinks and service🩷 Since dishes are designed to share, we tried bunch of different dishes. I didn’t take all the photos but the house made sesame buns sandwiches was soooo tasty! Overall everything was tasty actually. Service was on point and could feel they are all team players love that. Definitely will return <3

★★★★★
August 17, 2024

I love dim sum. I love French food. This was a true fusion of flavors, preparations, and style. Our group literally ordered about 70% of the menu. We loved some items so much that we ordered more. I would say that the best dish is the bean curd and steamed prawn scallops. However, I would also order the beef tartare and shao bing again....ok wait! I would order everything again! My favorite drinks was the thousand autumns! Our waitress was incredible and I wish I remembered her name.

★★★
July 27, 2024

I liked the retro style but I didn't like the food. As my Asia background, most of the seasonings were creative but some of them were not good. The Fish was too dry and seafood wasn't fresh. Fried tofu was way too sweet and not crispy or soft inside. Rice cake was a nightmare, very weird seasonings. Pork dumplings wasn't fresh. Only thing I liked was the seasonings of vegetables dishes. Moreover, the family table wasn't convenient. It was hard for everyone to reach dishes.

★★★★
July 11, 2024

Food itself was OK / delicious depending on the dish. We tried the chefs choice option - which essentially allowed us to try most of the menu (11 different dishes) priced at $65 per person pretax. We were able to ask to ensure we get beef tartare as part of the menu - the restaurant was flexible to ensure we got to try what we want which is very nice. Lovely ambiance and seating, great service. Although the variety is nice, the chef’s choice option was too much food (we were a group of 5). Had we ordered all the menu options separately it would have been cheaper for us (although I’m sure the portion sizes may differ). A breakdown of the food items we got under the chef’s choice option (and the price on the menu if you order separately), recommended dishes will have a 🥟 emoji beside it: - Crispy tofu (value: $9) - Napa cabbage (value: $9) - Bean curd skin (value: $9) - Beef tartare w bone marrow (value: $34) - Wontons (value: $21) 🥟 - Mantou buns (value: $16) 🥟 - 2 types of Dumplings (value: $17 x 2) - Spring Salmon (value: $39) - King Pea Tips (value: $16) - Picanha steak (value: $36) 🥟 - Sticky rice cake (value: $25)

★★★
December 22, 2024

bean curd skin: 3/5 very salty shao bing: 3/5 not bad, a little bland king pea tips 2/5 this was good, but it was VERY salty Sichuan fried chicken: 3.5/5 good, esp if you like spicy kick ass house fried rice: 4/5 this was my fav flat iron: 3.5/5 tender, it was nice, but a bit on the bland side overall: it was mostly very salty. but its still not bad.

December 16, 2024

This is my first ever customer review. We don t know the food quality actually because our whole family (3 adults and two infants) was first informed can be there via phone then when we arrived no space to sit or stand; after 2 mins we were apologized and ask to stand outside in a rainy evening. i never heard an apology like that in my whole life and suggested them to build a canopy first before asking to stand outside; surprisingly the waiter said they ve been there for 1x years and never need that to avoid fire or sth; check your neighbor store a few steps away they have a canopy for us to stay. the food might be good but isn t respect your customer is the first thing??? Kid-friendliness: horrible, they asked us to stay in the rain.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 16, 2024

A great spot for a group meal with an interesting blend of Asian and French small plates. It was fun to start a meal off with some excellent beef tartare, have some amazing seafood dumplings and potstickers in the middle, and then close it out with a flat iron steak and pomme purée. Everything was delicious and the service was excellent!

Local Guide
December 9, 2024

Its unfortunate that only the cocktails shine more than the food. I had the fried rice and dumplings and both me and my friend vomitted the same night. It was also so dark to see the menu that I had to turn on my phones flashlight - what a vibe killer

★★★★
Local Guide
December 9, 2024

The restaurant tried to be creative with their dish which is a plus but somehow I feel it does not quite getting there . Attentive service and nice ambience.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 9, 2024

My partner and I went for the second time on a Friday and walked in without waiting. We were seated at the bar again and had great service. We love the steak tartar here and also ordered the cucumbers, fried tofu, and sticky rice cakes. The rice cakes were undercooked and our bartender/server totally understood when we didnt want to eat it. We replaced it with the lamb flatbread which was great. We really appreciated that we were not charged for the rice cakes. The four cocktails we had were all fantastic as well so we really want to highlight how great our server was for doing double duty as an attentive server and great bartender.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 9, 2024

Incredible food, amazing ambiance, staff is amazing and thoughtful

Local Guide
December 9, 2024

Come for drinks not food! Atmosphere was so nice but this was not a representation of Chinese food. The steamed rice was not fully cooked and when we told them that, they returned it back to us and said this is how it s supposed to be. You would never get served crispy steamed rice in China. They did refund the rice but everything there is made with a non ethnic persons palate in mind. Again the drinks were fantastic but eat before you go.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 9, 2024

I chose Bao Bei for my birthday this year. Years ago, I would frequently eat out there when I lived around the corner. I always thought of it as loud and hopping and just a bit chaotic (that is from a hospitality industry perspective), but the food has (still) never failed to disappoint, and I always found the service to be charming and friendly if anything. Unfortunately for me this year, the Michelin guide s star awarded to this restaurant has not improved its customer service. While I could only make one technical (yet essential) complaint about my experience, I was simply underwhelmed. I felt like my server s motivation was to take my order and bring me that food. Which they did, for the most part. But I wish I had chosen a different spot to enjoy a special occasion. Dietary restrictions: I informed my server about a dietary preference. He assured me that the kitchen would take it into account, but EVERY dish he brought included the ingredient I requested be left out. Like, raw, as a garnish. I m confused because I m sure my server heard me.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 2, 2024

This is my favorite bar in vancouver Foods, drinks, service Highly recommend their pina colada!

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 25, 2024

The crispy tofu is stupid good. It shouldn t be that good. Indeed, it has no right to be that good. But, alas, it is. It would be foolish not to order it.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 23, 2024

Exceptional food and drinks!

★★★★★
November 23, 2024

Fabulous fusion and great service with a smile.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 23, 2024

Top food

★★★
Local Guide
November 23, 2024

None of the items stood out, they were all just ok. They did come out quickly and orderly though.

★★★★★
November 23, 2024

Charles is the BEST! 5 star totally deserving of their Michelin star! Vibesss are immaculate. Food was fire. Will be back weoooo

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 23, 2024

Excellent modern take on Chinese cuisine.

★★★★★
October 23, 2024

Every bite was delectable. Literally, everything was perfect. Service was attentive and friendly. The Nai Nai Punch is probably the BEST COCKTAIL IN THE WORLD. Great people all around.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 23, 2024

Absolutely loved this place! Ive walked past it many times and heard great things, but always assumed you needed a reservation. My friend and I walked in and got seats at the bar after having drinks and food nearby. The bar staff were incredibly accommodating, friendly, and engaging in conversation. While we didnt have a full meal, we tried the crispy tofu and prawn steamed dumplings both were so delicious! My only regret was not ordering more. The food was outstanding, and I cant wait to come back to try more. One thing to note, though, is that the menu seems limited for vegetarians and pescatarians, which is one reason I hadnt visited sooner, as it felt like a very meat-heavy spot which is disappointing.

★★★
October 23, 2024

I had high expectations for this evening, because the restaurant is listed in several guides, and even by Michelin. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed: although the place is very pleasant and fashionable, the contents of the plates are not up to standard at all. Out of the 4 dishes ordered, the 2 dumplings were good, but the other two dishes were very disappointing: two wontons filled with a squid preparation drowned in a tasteless sauce, without any particular relief, and two small buns garnished with a little mutton with a large portion of fresh coriander on top. Each small dish costs $20 without taxes and tips, at this price for a tasting size, I was really expecting something refined... Bao bei must progress in the quality and originality of her dishes if she wants to keep your attendance, beyond a fashion effect. And what about the simple 1/2 liter carafe of Sicilian wine for $56, or the poor slice of dry cake with a burnt taste served for dessert? Michelin would do well to visit the restaurants it recommends, because what is on the plate is of no interest according to their usual standards. In conclusion: the place is successful, people are rushing to come and test the Chinese brasserie concept, but it is urgent to work on what is on the plate!

★★★
Local Guide
October 23, 2024

Service was great! John did an amazing job of giving us a tour of the menu and helping us feel cared for. Food was lackluster for the hype. We ordered the bean curd which was great! But the Pork Sauerkraut dumplings and the hainanese buns were bland and lacking flavor. The dumplings were juicy but did not feel any different from Ajinomoto frozen dumplings from Costco, the buns themselves were great but the chicken filling was lacking punch to make me feel satiated. I do not want to take away from the service and the ambiance, we felt welcomed and cared for and the overall appearance of the restaurant gave us a great date night feel to spark good conversation. Wish the food hit our taste buds harder.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 23, 2024

My 3 friends I ended up at the bar. It was a great experience. Im pretty sure we tried at least 1 of everything on the menu. Our favourite was the sesame bun. It was pricey, but worth it for a different food experience than normal.

October 23, 2024

Flavourless menu. Ordered 5 dishes, only the bean curd skins were great. For a Michelin star we were highly disappointed.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 23, 2024

Beef tartare is the best I ve ever had. Ever.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 23, 2024

Just had a great meal here. Awesome wait staff, and the food was scrumptious! Dumplings, lamb, snow peas and fried rice were great! Cool vibe! Only slight negative is that it s pretty loud and pretty small. We totally lucked out with fun folks on both sides of us so it became a party. Highly recommend!

★★★★★
September 23, 2024

You would find it very hard to better the food served here.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 23, 2024

Yum. Thats it. Just delicious food and great staff. Grab a couple friends and share some bomb food. You cant go wrong here! If you have a larger group try to reserve the booth in the back for an ideal family dining experience.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 23, 2024

This is my second time I have been to this restaurant. I was hoping the second time was going to be as good as the first..... and it was. Bao Bei.. is not your traditional Chinese restaurant. Consider it a fusion Asian restaurant that make your tastebuds light up in glory. We ordered 6 different dishes as suggested by our server. Each one that came out was an explosion of flavor along with our drinks. This culinary experience is definitely one not to be missed in Vancouver. I do wish the space was bigger and not as loud.. but..the service, food and drinks make up for it. Enjoy!

★★★★★
September 23, 2024

Service, ambiance and food 10/10! If I could eat dumplings here everyday I would. The fried rice, pickles, steak, wontons and fritters were also fabulous. A MUST when in Vancouver. Thanks for the amazing evening!

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 23, 2024

I have a nut allergy therefore some Asian food can be hard to eat. They were her knowledgeable about their menu and able to accommodate me. I ate with confidence and it was incredible food!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 23, 2024

Chinese food s good. Classic cocktails are right. Service s awesome. Food : 5/5

★★★★★
August 23, 2024

10/10 experience! Ask for Helena as your server she was amazing

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

We absolutely loved Bao Bei! Authentic Chinese cuisine with a twist. The atmosphere was cozy and eclectic, and our servers were friendly and attentive. Make sure to make a reservation - the restaurant was completely full when we were there. Highly recommend the Bean Curd Skin, Pork Dumplings, Mantou Buns, and Fried Rice. Make sure to add their spicy chili oil!

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

Had a business meal here with a group of clients and were told to have the family style menu which was a fixed menu put forth by the chef. The food was creative and delicious but as we had some vegetarians and dietary restrictions, the offerings were not as good for those. Drinks were ok as well .

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

We tried the $65 menu in which the chef composes a series of dishes of his choice. Any combination is amazing and the portions are generous, in fact we didnt end up ordering dessert. Dietary restrictions: Very careful to know if you have any allergies or intolerances

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 23, 2024

Unique and quite pleasant. Its clear that there was a concerted effort to stand out in a challenging and competitive culinary market. The staff were exceptionally friendly and very helpful.

July 23, 2024

Today was the 3rd time there and was not a pleasant experience. We ordered chef special and the food took a while to get to the table, and was not tasty as it used to be. Service was poor, not a good experience. Not sure whats going on there. Spent over $300 for 4 people and was not worthwile.

July 23, 2024

Overrated and overpriced

★★★
Local Guide
July 23, 2024

Vibey location, dim lights, ambience, great service. The food didn t live up to the expectations set by the great atmosphere and reviews. The pork and seafood dumplings/potstickers were bland. The fried rice forgettable, and the glutinous sticky rice cakes were chewy glutinous lumps. The picanha and asparagus dish was tasty but didn t read Chinese at all and the eggplant dish (a highlight) was nice but lacking the brilliance of versions at other restaurants. Cocktails were enjoyable riffs of classics. I could see this as a nice date spot, but for a city with such a reputation for high quality Chinese food I was left disappointed.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 23, 2024

We dined at Bao Bei because it was on several best of Vancouver restaurant lists and the online reviews were great. I would have to say, if anything, all these 5 star reviews were insufficient. One of the best and most innovative restaurants that we have been to. The food, the drinks, the service, the dessert - not a flaw. We did not leave a morsel of food on any plate and only decorum prevented us from licking the plates.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 23, 2024

Perfect cocktail with a fusion twist

★★★★★
July 23, 2024

Epic

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 23, 2024

Had truly a fantastic meal there today. We went with the chef s choice for two and it was wonderful. We started with cocktails (that was the only thing I didn t thoroughly enjoy; I might ve made a poor choice) and shortly after they brought us three small bites: some sort of green (pea tips?) with a paprika sauce, picked kolrabi and zucchini with a sweet and spicy taste, and lentil fritters with this green sauce (perhaps with mint?). Next we got steak tartare with crispy shallot, ginger, quail egg yolk and watercress served with these crispy taro chips. Next up we got these delicious salmon (perfectly cooked with a medium rare inside and crispy skin), veggies and this green sauce with fava beans. In terms of dumplings we got to try both the pork+sauerkraut and the shrimp dumplings (if I had to choose only one it d the pork, however, both were excellent). To finish the savoury menu we got these sticky rice cakes with wood ear mushrooms, pork and pork broth; this was the tastiest thing I ve had in a while! I love the chewy texture, the smoothness of the broth and the garlicky taste. We ordered the menu with dessert and ended up sharing the rhubarb pie. Truly a decadent meal Dietary restrictions: I am lactose free and they were mindful of that :)

★★★★
Local Guide
July 23, 2024

Very good restaurant. Drinks were delicious and the mango wings were fantastic.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 23, 2024

We had a good time here. The food was fantastic, the corn fritters are a must. Intimate setting, lovely staff and overall great time.

★★
July 23, 2024

Asians beware, this place is for westerners. Service was great but food was beyond disappointing. Came on the weekend for dinner. All 4 dishes we got were flat, one dimensional, and extremely salty with no aromatics or depth of flavor, textures were wrong as well and no color. I feel like they use cheap soy sauce. We couldn t finish a single dish even though the portions were small. Cocktails were weak and watery. Most shockingly, their white rice was undercooked, the wrong grain, and also dry like it d been under a heat lamp for a while or the steam cooker was left open. Ridiculously, they said that s just the way they cook their rice and the whole pot is like that. Truly embarrassing and quite ignorant of them. It s very obvious that they don t know the basics of Chinese cooking, and at this price point that s not acceptable. They also use cheap chopsticks and dinnerware, I expected better. Kudos to their marketing people for writing an interesting sounding menu, such a shame their kitchen can t deliver on any of it. Honestly, I m really shocked at the good reviews. I m giving 2 stars only because the manager or owner was kind enough to comp most of our bill and asked for feedback (with the caveat they wouldn t be changing anything ) and server was attentive. You can go for the vibe but don t expect good food. Signed, Kid who grew up in restaurant business and has taste buds, who was so appalled I had to write a review.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

By far the best Asian fusion I have ever had. The sticky rice cake dish is phenomenal as are the king pea tips.

★★★★★
June 23, 2024

Thoroughly enjoyable meal! We opted for the chef s (or staff) recommendation, at $65 pp, and loved each of the six dishes we received. Food : 5/5

★★★★★
June 23, 2024

Eggplant and the fried rice were

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

Bao Bei was a standout in a city of great food! Spouse and I ordered and shared a selection of small plates, as recommended by our server. Everything was excellent, though my favorite were the sticky rice cakes with pork. (They were almost too delicious, since now Im going to spend months pining for them.) Be sure to reserve ahead.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

Awesome place, drinks great, food tasty! I will go back for sure. Service amazing, i forgot her name but that server was very very nice with us.

★★★★★
June 23, 2024

The food was absolutely delicious! Charles was our waiter and he was outstanding! Its our first time in Canada and he written a list of his recommendations when we asked what his favorite spots were! Best experience by far!

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

Came here with a friend visiting from Singapore! Great vibes and amazing service. Food was quite tasty! My friend enjoyed this place and was going to take her friend here as well!

★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

Fried rice was good. Dumplings were mid, 6pcs for $16-17 is way too much. Pork belly bao was 2pcs for $15 I think. Tables are too small. Food is alright but hella expensive for the portions.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 23, 2024

Xiao Bing!

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

The bean curd was surprisingly delicious! Everything we ordered was good and the Nai Nai Punch drink was a highlight Vegetarian options: Many good vegetarian options

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

Amazing food, cocktails and service. Had the margarita, eggplant, fried rice!!

★★★
Local Guide
May 23, 2024

Homeless people overwhelming

★★★
April 23, 2024

Just ok. Wasn t impressed with the food. Our server was nice. Menu is very limited. Would not recommend.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 23, 2024

Had the rice cakes, pea shoots, spicy dumplings in chili oil, and bao all so delicious!

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 23, 2024

Extremely good experience all around.

★★★★★
April 23, 2024

So, I went to Bao Bei absolutely AMAZING! The ambiance was so cozy, and the staff (s/o Helena) were super friendly and attentive. Now, lets talk about the food. Oh. My. Goodness. It was like a flavor explosion in my mouth! Every dish I tried was cooked to perfection and bursting with deliciousness. And the presentation? Top-notch! Overall, I had the BEST dining experience at Bao Bei and I cant wait to go back for more culinary delights. Highly, highly recommend!

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 23, 2024

Great dinner. We had the chefs tasting menu (decided by chef but we asked for a specific dish and it was included). Service was impeccable and restaurant is beautiful.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 23, 2024

Had a delish and inventive meal at Bao Bei with delicious cocktails and attentive service. 10/10 would return!

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 23, 2024

A Chinatown institution, Bao Bei is as cool as it gets in Vancouver. Dim lighting, an intimate bar area and delicious Asian sharing plates. The cuisine at Bao Bei is a modern take on casual Asian food. Think dim sum that youd enjoy eating in the evening alongside well-made cocktails like the red date old fashioned. The pot-stickers and dumplings are the highlight of the menu. Dont miss the steamed pork, betel leaf, cabbage and fuzzy melon dumplings. Another must-order dish is the crispy tofu, garlic sweet soy, and fresh water chestnut.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 23, 2024

An enduring treat when visiting Vancouver. It always seems to be raining in Vancouver when we go there. Maybe its always rainy in Vancouver.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 23, 2024

Bao Bei had a great tasting menu for large groups. Everything was delicious and they are very accommodating towards any allergies/food preferences. Everything was very tasty and portion sizes were generous.

★★★★★
March 23, 2024

Excellent meal. Family table was excellent and accommodated our group of 6 perfectly. All of the chefs choices were delicious. Highlight was the tartare w smoked bone marrow. Looking forward to coming back.

★★★★★
March 23, 2024

Loved everything about it. Buzzy brasserie feel, interesting menu, and everything cooked to perfection. I will be back!

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 23, 2024

A+ across the board Will definitely be going back next time Im in Vancouver Food

★★★★★
March 23, 2024

Incredible.

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 23, 2024

Great Asian food in an intimate setting thats only open for dinner. Their omelette and fried chicken are certainly standout dishes that are worth a try. All of the dishes had great flavor. The only drawback of this spot is that they are so popular that you need to reserve ahead of time to have a table over prime dining times. However, once you are seated and munching on their delicious shareable food in the dimly lit setting, you will enjoy a memorable night out. Parking: Parking near the restaurant is pretty easy. There are paid parking spots all around the restaurant and a few free parking spots nearby too.

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 23, 2024

I didn t get great photos but the food, ambience, and service were incredible! We had a reservation for 5 and got to try a wide variety of their food and literally everything was so good! I got the margarita drink which was also delicious. My favorites were vegetable potstickers, hanger steak, and the fried rice. From the 9 dishes we had I don t think you could go wrong with a single thing! The servers were so kind and knowledgeable about the food. You can tell they love the food and being there! 100/10 recommend! We had 3 rounds of drinks and the bill was still under $450!

★★★★★
March 23, 2024

Food was amazing. Everyone in my group was saying it s some of the best, if not the best Chinese food we have ever had. Will 100% be returning asap. The rice cakes were our favorite.

★★
Local Guide
March 23, 2024

Food was average at best. Beef Tartare and Manjou Buns were good but everything else we had was bad or okay out of the 7 dishes we had.

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 23, 2024

Friendly staff and beautiful restaurant. Portions are smaller than what you would find in traditional Chinese restaurants, but as it is a very esthetic place, I think the portions are what you would expect there. The food is good though, Im satisfied with it! The table waiting system is quite efficient!

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 23, 2024

Wow. What an experience! My friends and family always raved about their experiences at Bao Bei and I never fully understood until I went. It has an amazing atmosphere, kind and helpful staff .and of course .the most amazing unique dishes. I would definitely recommend for a first date, a meet up with friends or a family dinner!! It s aesthetic, laid back and super cool. Would advise getting a bunch of things and sharing opposed to getting individual meals. Must haves: - Steamed spicy pork dumplings - MANTOU BUNS !!! - The chicken thighs .

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 23, 2024

This place symbolizes the recent revival of Chinatown. It maintains its Chinese cultural roots but does do with modern fusions in their food and decor. We throughly enjoyed the small plates and the service and atmosphere. It s trendy modern Chinese with a flair for the old Shanghai culture. The flavours in the food were really well balanced with nothing being too dominant. The flavours were well thought out. If we were in town this would be a regular go to spot. Please keep the rich cultural history of Chinatown. It s irreplaceable!

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 23, 2024

Always a pleasure; one of the most consistent rooms in the city for excellent food, service, and ambiance.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 23, 2024

Popular place. Drinks are amazing, get the beef tartare Dietary restrictions: Limited GF options, they try their best though. Food : 5/5 |

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 23, 2024

Service is the big differentiator. Exceptional team all around.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 23, 2024

Enjoyed New Years Eve here! Wonderful set menu and the cocktails and wine were great! The setting was good - yet we technically had a 2 top with 3 people we made it work but not as comfortable as hoped. Yet the service was timely and our meal progressed nicely!

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 23, 2024

Fantastic food, atmosphere and service. Would absolutely recommend. Our server was great, very attentive at just the right times and even helped us concoct a custom cocktail. Food was excellent, I would recommend the mushroom tempura

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 23, 2024

Bao Bei has been recommended to me many times and I am glad I finally went. The atmosphere is great. The interior has some neat features. I was very impressed how knowledgeable and attentive our server was. I was at Bao Bei with a friend with multiple allergies and the server went above and beyond confirming the dishes that would be safe for her to eat. The menu is on the smaller side but looked very interesting. The meals are designed to be shared. We had skirt steak with veggies and crispy chicken thighs given the allergy limitations of my companion and they were fantastic. The highlight of the evening for me was the Masala Flip Cocktail that delivered an amazing combination of favors. I cant wait to be back and try more dishes as there are quite a few on the menu that sounded very interesting Dietary restrictions: The staff is very knowledgeable and goes above and beyond to accommodate for dietary restrictions

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Every dish was amazing, wish we could dine here again before we leave. Will 100% be back on our next trip to Vancouver

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

We had the chefs choice option and had so many delicious plates that we probably wouldnt have tried on our own. Food was great.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Charle was an amazing server, he made sure all of us enjoyed our experience throughout the whole meal. The dishes tasted great and we love the vibe and how family oriented this restaurant is. We ll definitely be back again when we visit Vancouver!

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

These have to be the best pork buns I have tried 10/10 with chili oil!!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

We saw that the ratings here were very high so we thought we would try it out. At first we were unsure of the menu options. We were informed by the waitress that it is typical to order 4-5 items an split them amongst the table guests. So that s what we did. We wisely chose 4 items that we were very pleased with. It was very crowded, every table was occupied so make reservations. The food was very different, but very tasty, overall 4/5 not too shabby. Enjoy

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Absolutely fantastic well balanced dishes and great atmosphere. There $55 per person option is more than worth it and nearly every dish is 5/5. Fast service, kind staff, and overall enjoyable night. Perfect for a group of 2-3 for relatively quick bite.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Came here for the first time this weekend. The place is amazing. Food, service, ambience are all 10s, but my god the food is bananas Food: 10/10 Service: 10/10 Ambience: 10/10 Cleanliness: 10/10

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Family owned and delightfully chic bistro with spectacular food. We went for the chefs choice menu and were not disappointed. Stars were: crispy fried silken tofu, cold eggplant with ginger, bao, peashoots. Wonderful selection of mocktails and cocktails with delightful service. Just a really solid place built on family traditions and a love for fresh local ingredients prepared perfectly.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Really amazing food. Yum. Even the vegetables were good.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Food was spectacular, you can tell each dish was crafted thoughtfully and with purpose.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

A great place for unique drinks and snacks. Although the resturant itself is chinese inspired, the dishes that they serve are very interesting and I would definately recommend this place as a late night eats. The texture of the bao is super yummy and the flavours for the tofu curd was a tad salty, but the seasoning complimented well. The bartender was super friendly and recommend various drinks, although the place was pretty busy on a weekend and there is not a lot of space. Overall, I enjoyed my experience here.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

A must try.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

This place was recommended by locals and impressed with the amazing kind staff, the tasty food and the beautiful atmosphere! Jason made my night unforgettable with his magic tricks and delish drinks, learned a few new lingo from him! Food was super tasty, my favorite was the chocolate mochi bread pudding! Dessert was so yummy I ordered seconds!!! Left with a happy tummy and happy heart!!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great food

December 23, 2023

Come here for a drink and chat is ok BUT NOT FOR THE FOOD. Ordered 3 things and all were Horrible . Either too salty or too plain or too little. Not only that It s a rip-off.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Chinese food with a French twist i.e., butter. What more can you ask for? Exceptional service with knowledgable and personable staff. Nice to have the patio option as well. Cannot recommend enough; we will return.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Tasty asian fusion food with very friendly service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Amazing food and service. The wings are everything they say they are.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Best beef tartare anywhere. No lie. France? Who cares. Bao Bei knocks it out of the park. And the taro chips are the perfect accompaniment. Shan tofu and shao bing are ridiculously good as well. Pork belly too the hard part about dining at Bao Bei is narrowing down what plates to get! If you ve got the chance, go with a group and reserve the beautiful round family table at the back and order it all! It s been close to eight years since I ve lived in Vancouver, but this is the food I dream of. I recommend this joint to everyone that visits Vancouver. And I will I always make a point to go to Bao Bei when back in town. Sit at the bar and drink a chino margarita, perhaps a piña colada (both totally redefine the classic) and of course a customized cocktail from one of the stellar bartenders. Be careful though, the drinks are so good that I ve overindulged here a few times yet the staff were still gracious as! Just go. Eat and drink and be charmed by the beautiful room and the food and the service and maybe squeeze in a game of street fighter while waiting for your table or seat at the bar. Can t wait for my next visit!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Should try it once or twice, if you havent thrice already! It gets better every time ...

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

I enjoyed our dining experience at Bao Bei, but found the cuisine a bit confused. We asked the server for recommendations and she suggested half the menu, so of course we obliged. We got marinated eggplant as an appetizer, prawn dumplings, pea shoots, prawn fried rice, and halibut. The star of the meal was definitely the pea shoots and the strangest was likely the fried rice, which tasted like a fusion of Korean and Indian, which was a bit unexpected considering the traditional Chinese menu. The vibe was cool, dimly lit, and sat small and large tables. We had quick service and left full. The entire meal may have been a bit expensive, but were glad we tried it once.

★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

The ambiance is great, but the food was mediocre. We got the shrimp pot stickers. The wrappers tasted store-bought and the filling was a bit rubbery. They said the shao bing was fried to order but it was cold. The beef tartare was decent.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

The meal was good. Everything we ordered was fresh and had unique flavors. The sake was crisp and had a very nice kick but still fruity. Star to us was the fried rice. Our waiter was great!! The best part of the whole experience. We were impressed and would highly recommend.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Amazing food, and so accommodating to gluten free needs. But above all truly exceptional service. Made the whole experience part of the treat! A+

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Excellent food. Highly recommend

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Had the chefs choice with a group of 5 and it was an incredible experience. Each dish was so flavorful and delicious.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Refined, sought-after Chinese cuisine. Very good address.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Love this place

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

I wouldn t say this is a dumpling place because there are only five kinds of dumplings/pot stickers/buns, but the four dishes we ordered were good and I would go back the next time I m in Chinatown/Japan town! I d recommend the fried rice if you re okay with 2 of 5 level spicy.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Recently came back to visit and now I remembered why I don t come here often. The food takes a very very long time to arrive. It was an average Tuesday, yes it was busy but I ve never been to busy restaurant where it takes 2 hours to get fried rice and some Wagyu meat . The staff was nice keeping us updated but dam, we waited a long time. On a more positive note, I love their cocktails. I recommend the Nai Nai punch and in a hot day the Tokyo Long Island Slushi. Wheelchair accessibility: Easy access for wheelchair to go into restaurant and sit in dining area.

December 23, 2023

Food was good but portions were so incredibly small. Very overpriced and not worth its value. It does not feel at all like a Chinese restaurant. Not the food, not the workers, not the atmosphere. It felt so strange. Try it if you really want to see for yourself but if youre looking to feel like you just had a satisfying meal, this is not the place.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Killer vibes. I wish the appetizers were as high quality as the cocktails.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

The flavors are insane. Even if u r not a fan of particular dish u can taste the amazing combination of flavors the chef tried to produce. Get crispy tofu, seafood dumplings, the bao Parking: It not in the best neighborhood, so better not to take ur nice car

★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Perfectly fine place, but I wouldn t go out of my way to return.

★★★
December 23, 2023

Great vibe, lackluster food. None of the 6 dishes we tried stood out, and they charged $18 for a cheesecake slice hardly enough to share between two people. As with many fusion menus, the dishes lacked coherence and everything was just.....ok...and quite pricey.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

4.5. Really liked this spot overall, but the timing of some of the food was random. Space is nice, vibey, they take walk-ins but reservations are recommended. Menu is Asian inspired- but there is a definite mix of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, and other flavors. The fried rice was good (but it came at the very end). Would want to go back to try more things. The pea tips were a highlight. There is patio seating and the service is attentive. Lots of nice cocktails and also many options for zero proof drinks! Vegetarian options: A bunch of vegetarian options including tofu!

★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Expect to wash it down with real Chinese food somewhere else after if you come here looking for Chinese fare.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

An amazing all round experience!

Local Guide
December 23, 2023

No high chair for children. A first in vancouver! And a discrimination if you have a stroller you will be located on the outside terrace, shameful, (people like us without reservations are installed inside) Ive never seen that, we waited 30 minutes in front and were the first, we find ourselves outside in the street with the drug addicts watching us eat

December 23, 2023

Way too expensive for what you get. Better off walking 30 seconds down the road and getting some authentic China town food

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Very good experience ! We had a great time and diner. Food

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

The staff was so nice and accommodating. We had a tough request on the timing of our reservation and they made it happen even though they were slammed. Service was amazing. The food was incredible as well. Get the fried rice with an egg!

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Beautiful birthday celebration she was the most amazing server so knowledgeable and friendly excellent advice on food choices can t wait to go back and share the experience with more friends

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Helena was amazing at suggesting things but the food there was definitely too good to have only the suggest 2 per person lol. The standout to me was the sticky rice cake entree and the popcorn mushroom. We also had the beef tartare, lamb dumplings, crispy tofu etc. some sake was split on my date on accident and they were so nice to replace it + give a little more. I would highly recommend this place for good food, drinks in a pleasant atmosphere

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great place in Chinatown to try some fusion asian food! Definitely try their cocktails together with their dumplings, mantou buns and sticky rice cakes. Highly recommended! Vegetarian options: There are some vegetarian options on the menu

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

NaiNai punch extraordinary. Food explosion of subtle flavors and texture. One of a kind dining experience. Should be 10 Food

★★
December 23, 2023

Special collab for Light Up fest: bolo bun with pork belly. Unfortunately pic showed really thick cut but sliced v thin. ~$15: seriously overpriced which would have been ok if it was delish but pork was dry & chewy not succulent, best part was the bun - buttery and tasty. Awesome promo tho - constant queue down the blk 20 people deep!

★★
December 23, 2023

Had the Chefs choice. Food was underwhelming. The flavors are just okay - nothing that makes you say wow thats good! Food

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Probably one of the best meals I ve ever had. Period.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Had one of the best meals at Bao Bei last night! Me and my husband set at the bar, which in my opinion, made the whole experience even better. Delicious food and drinks came along with the great service! It was our first time trying sticky rice cakes and wow! Definitely recommend trying those. Next time we re back in Vancouver, we re visiting Bao Bei again! Highly recommend.

December 23, 2023

If I could give 0 stars I would, a million times over. Servers were incredibly standoffish and kept on rushing us to order (at least 3 times in the span of 5 minutes). The sharing plates are an absolute joke, portions are so small and the food was well below average. Definitely not worth the price we paid. The atmosphere was also very chaotic, we could not hear each other despite sitting across a very small table that could barely contain the dishes we ordered. All in all would NOT recommend dining here.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

So popular, for good reason.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Very nice surprise! Welcome decor and friendly atmosphere, original and refined cuisine, you just need to multiply the different flavors. I recommend!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

This place is legit fusion with decent portions, great flavours and a friendly staff.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great food at reasonable prices

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Fabulous restaurant! Danielle was AWESOME! She made excellent suggestions and provided exceptional service. Creative menu and delicious food.

★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great service. Food was underwhelming. Zero spice.

★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Trendy place with chef inspired dishes. The serving sizes are very small. Save your wallet and stay away from the fried rice dish. Way over priced and hyped. The pork buns and eggplant dishes were really good.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Came here on a recommendation and werent disappointed. Nice and creative cocktail, really good chinese food. Everything is made to be shared. Try the eggplant and mushrooms! The dumplings are also delicious!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Yum! Sit at the bar and let the mixologist delight!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great experience! Service was excellent, cocktails were awesome and overall good food. Would recommend the dumplings and pea tips for sure. The popcorn mushrooms were delicious. For a culinary adventure try the bean skin or the rice cakes. Super fun!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Parking sucked, but the food was fantastic!!!! Absolutely go to again! Food : 5/5

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Best meal I had in Vancouver - the pork buns were out of this world. Dumplings and fried rice were nothing to rave about, but the pork buns made this meal exceptional.

★★★★
December 23, 2023

Everything about this place seemed to work great together - the space, the service, great cocktails and great food meant to be shared. Everything we ate we enjoyed and hold to hold back from ordering more dumplings and buns. Definitely worth a visit.

Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Extremely overpriced. We tried the chef s tasting menu, but the choices were very mediocre like fried chicken wings and cheap dumplings. I also mentioned to the waiter all my dietary constraints such as pork and spice and she promised to accommodate but in the end I couldn t eat most of the options. And gratuity is forced. I will never go to this place and I do not understand the price and the high rating !

Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Went there because someone gave me a gift certificate and I now understand why. Bad service and mediocre food and drinks. Super over prized Chinese food in my opinion as I am Chinese. Ordered fried rice and my boyfriend could not take cumin and I mentioned that to waitress when she asked how everything is. We pretty much left the bowl of rice there as I ate a bit of rice and my boyfriend can t take cumin. Waitress collected the dishes and threw the rice to the garbage. What a waste! And she did it without asking. They adjusted the bill afterwards but I never expected this kind of service.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Very nice atmosphere, but surprisingly expensive and the service could have been better.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

An absolute delight of textures and taste. Great service as well.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

The service here was fabulous, quick and helpful. Drinks were delicious along with the food. I would recommend checking out this restaurant.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Good

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

A unique dining experience at a Michelin grade Chinese restaurant.

★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Got the tasting menu and was very disappointed. All the dishes were overloaded with soy and vinegar, leaving the palate drenched. The bao was the star, but new menu additions (per staff) of mushroom tempura and the local caught halibut were duds. The omelette was a strange inclusion, and only par cooked.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

The ambiance, service and food were all absolutely amazing. From the moment we walked in, the staff were smiling and thoughtful, offering complimentary coat checks. The drinks were amazing and we had a ton of food considering the upscale nature of the restaurant. We ordered drinks and had food for about 3 people at about $150, so expect to pay around $50 per person before tip. I will definitely be returning and recommending this place to everyone I know.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

We arrived late after a Canucks game. Service was quick and the food was fantastic! Great place for a unique food experience.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 23, 2023

Great spot in Chinatown! The food is phenomenal!! The cocktails were delicious and original. Our waiter was very professional and attentive. We felt well taken care of . The atmosphere is nice, not too loud, with dimmed lights. We found it to be romantic.

★★★★★
December 23, 2023

Everything is amazing. Thats all. Everyone should come here. Every single dish was phenomenal. We order 10 dishes to share, and I was expecting at least once dish to just be okay. But no! Every dish that kept coming out was unbelievably tasty. I also love that they were playing great music at an extremely reasonable level. I hate going to restaurants where I have to scream just to be heard. The vibe at Bao Bei was awesome.