Baozi Inn

Bit disappointed as it wasn't spicy enough. I ordered the dan-dan noodles but it didn't have the ma-la numbing hotness associated with sichuan food. Although only £ 4.50, the portion was a bit small. Service was a tad brusque and although I wasn't there long, I felt they wanted me out asap. My suspicions were confirmed when presented with the bill without asking.
Comment on this reader review

SC - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Sunday, September 28, 2008

Baozi Inn is a new discovery for me, but it was so good I went back again the following week. Such a nice change to get excellent food and a drink for around £10.

For starters the baozi's were decent, but lacked a bit of seasoning and sweetness. The chicken and vegetable dumplings were both excellent. I can definitely recommend the ribs for a main, which are served in a broth with noodles - the meat literally falls off the bone.

Excellent food at a bargain price - highly recommended.
Comment on this reader review

NB - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Thursday, September 25, 2008

i think this place has been a little bit over-hyped by timeout but it is good and i'd recommend it and go again.

I'm not sure how anyone can say it's overpriced (which some are on these reviews) - the baozi bun was £1.20, the noodle soup about £6, salad £4. hardly expensive. We had two noodle soups, a salad, a bun and two beers for £20 - cracking value.

The noodles are superb, the broth too has a great flavour. I actually think this place would be superb if the food were just a little less greasy and the meat a little less fatty.

As for the surroundings, it's a small place but it's well decorated and very pleasant to sit in and the service was pretty good.
Comment on this reader review

bensmac
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Sunday, August 31, 2008

Dark atmosphere, not comfortable. Some sort of maoist theme just covers up a lack of expense on surroundings.

The food is ok, not inspiring but the problem with this place is that it overcharges by about 100%.

There's really no point coming here when there are plenty of Chinese cuisine places very close by in Chinatown. Avoid.
Comment on this reader review

A L
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 1
Monday, August 25, 2008

I have to agree with the first review below. I set off for Baozi Inn on the basis of the Time Out review, and was left a bit disappointed. Service was a bit rushed, but that's pretty much par for the course in Chinatown. The restaurant is relatively small, so we wound up sharing a table with other customers. Normally, I don't mind sharing, but the cramped table made it a bit too close for comfort. It wasn't so much the food, which was fairly tasty (although somewhat bland), but rather its failure to live up to the promise of being an ambassador for Sichuanese cuisine. Nothing was particularly spicy, with only a scant selection of the many vegetables that you can find at truly authentic Sichuanese restaurants. Perhaps the heat and spice has been toned down for the UK palate?

When Baozi Inn turns up the heat, I might go back. But not until then.
Comment on this reader review

Hungry Hungry Hippo - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 6
Tuesday, August 19, 2008

I also read that this was a really great chinese place on timeout.com but was left slightly disappointed. We had the pork baozi and then the chilly beef noodle soup. The Baozi was not what I expected but tasted rather bland, but for £1.50 what do you expect? The beef soup on the other hand was pretty poor - it's true the noodles were good, but the beef was of quite a low quality and was pretty fatty. I also found that the broth was quite greasy. Service and Atmosphere were both good, but didn't make up for the disappointing meal.
Comment on this reader review

Tommy
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Friday, August 15, 2008

I hate darkish incandescent lighting in restaurants like this as I need to see what I'm eating. Thankfully this west Chinese noodle joint didn't fail to appease.

The good omen was the place was awash with a primarily young Chinese crowd; which can but only suggest good nosh at good prices. All the ingredients tasted fresh and no corners were cut as far as the spicy dishes were concerned. The dumplings were pretty much authentic but mean in portions. This place deserves success so that one can explore the diversity of Chinese cuisine.

If I'm to give my two pennies worth, for the best noodle soups; you still cannot beat the Cantonese for their wonton soups nor the Vietnamese for their Phos.
Comment on this reader review

bellaphon
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Sunday, August 10, 2008

I went to Baozi Inn at about 6.30 on a Thursday night. Quiet on arrival but filled up really quickly. Its a small place but the interior is well done with a cafe feeling to it....not somewhere to linger for a romantic meal...

The food was really good, it was gourmet but thats not the idea. I've not tried authentic northern chinese food before but it was really refreshing to have chinese food which wasn't greasy and over filling.

I had a pork bun, the tofu flower soup and dragon dumplings, all really good, clean tasting but still spicy! The pork bun is not like a cantonese roast pork bun though!

The service was friendly and efficient...it might be speedy but it is a tiny place in the middle of chinatown, they need the fast turnaround! But it still didn't feel as rushed as a visit to wagamamas.

I'll be going back to try the rest of the menu! Oh and definite value for money! Doesn't take card at the mo.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, August 05, 2008

I'm not sure what Dave is on about. I came to Baozi without evening reading the review on this website in fact, I only found out about Baozi by accident. I was looking for authentic chinese food which includes noodles and Beijing dim sums. You simply cannot find anything like what you have in Baozi. The food is absolutely authentic and great taste.

Try the cold soy milk in the early afternoon when it's freshly made (I've been there late afternoon and it's not as good and ask for no ice).

I've had 3 different noodles now in Baozi and they are all of really high standard for traditional chinese noodles. I've eaten around Chinatown and Bayswater and really there's no other that does noodles as well as Baozi. Atmosphere: the tables can be spread out a bit more.
Comment on this reader review

Me
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Monday, July 21, 2008

I don't think I would have been disappointed if Time Out hadn't hyped this place so much, but they did, and I was.

The noodles were good, not terrible, but nothing very exciting, and certainly not "excellent at this or probably any price", etc etc. The service was actually quite good, no problems at all. Atmosphere not stuffy or nasty like most of the restos in China Town with old carpets and peeling paint.

Cheap Chinese food that is not bad, but not worth going to again. If you want really good noodles go to the Vietnamese places on Kingsland Road.
Comment on this reader review

Dave
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Thursday, July 03, 2008