Baozi Inn

I absolutely love this place. Really authentic food just like it was when I lived in China however that does also include authentic service which isn't to the same standard some people here might expect. However this is more than made up for by the delicious food - especially the baozi so cheap and tasty!

The atmosphere is great its very intimate as its such a small restaurant and i like the wooden benches - just how it should be when eating good hearty chinese street food.

I don't understand why people are saying its not value for money - I was completely stuffed and couldn't finish my meal and it only set me back just over a tenner - where else in the centre of london can you eat so cheaply??

I will definitely be going back there whenever I'm next in Soho.
Comment on this reader review

10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, August 01, 2011

well, i am a bit surprised about the reviews here.. fair enough the dan dan noodles is not spicy enough but still is delicious. the two times i have been here they where really nice. the spicy pork with rice was amazing. spicy, really spicy and very tender... and the dumplings both choices i had were very good too.

service is true is a bit on the chop chop side. so they are eager for you to finish but taking into account the restaurant size i sort of understand them.

prices are ok. not really expensive and the food is good. and they do not charge you in advance for the service.. i hate when restaurants do this.

overall i will go back to this place i just can not wait to try something else..
Comment on this reader review

the golden palate
6 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 7
Thursday, June 16, 2011

BAD service, so RUDE.

The food is ok. but the service is really bad. I asked to use the power socket beside my table, the thin man looks like the manager said "No, you cannot." in a rude tone. I was really shocked. It's extremely unusual for restaurant to refuse such a small favour. I asked why. He said there was no reason, just no.

There was another time, the waitress commanded us not to wave hands, refused to put less spice, complained we ordered too little...

Well, the decision is simple to me: I'm NOT going there again.
View/Add comments (1)

buny - View all reviews by this user
1 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 1
Friday, February 04, 2011

Went to the restaurant with a few friends after having been to Baozi Inn a few years ago. Overall, I am very sorry to say the staff were very rude, the food arrive badly out of sync, but was very disappointed that the food was terrible. The beef had the consistency of leather, my friends had maybe a spoonful of their marinated pork but we all left hungry and very disappointed.
Comment on this reader review

paulsson - View all reviews by this user
4 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, January 18, 2011

i have to agree with bensmac. i'm really suprised so many reviewers think that this place is bad value for money. I reckon that the average spend at an average restaurant (w/booze) in central london usually ranges between 30 to 60GBP per person. Of all my visits to Bao Zi Inn, I don't think we once paid more than 10 per person, and I don't think I have ever wandered out of there without feeling slighly sick from overeating. A big bowl of hearty noodles here is probably marginally more expensive than a big mac (I think - sorry it's been a while since I have had one sober) or a sandwich from pret. It's also a few quid cheaper than a bowl of ramen from Wagamamas.

As for the food, well, it's street food and it serves its purpose. It's cheap, it's quick, it's tasty and it fills you up. Okay, so it's not a gastronomic adventure but that's sort of the point of street food. It's pretty authentic - I grew up as an expat in Beijing and the food here tastes as I remember it. Of course there is room for improvement - the dan dan mien should be spicier, the beef in the beef noodle soup is a little on the fatty side (though I am sure that it's supposed to be) and the broth not as tasty as it could be, the dumplings are swimming in chilli oil etc, but given that there are so few north chinese (or rather non-canto) restaurants in London, I'll take what I can get!
Comment on this reader review

tk
6 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 8
Saturday, March 28, 2009

Being not overly hungry when arriving at the restaurant, myself and a friend ordered a couple of the noodle dishes on the lower end of the price range. We were horrified to then be asked/felt intimidated to order more. After doing so, a little against our wishes, the food was very pungent, but would say that it was quite average. It was felt that the food was over priced for what it was and the portion sizes compared to other places around the area.
Comment on this reader review

3 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 3
Tuesday, February 24, 2009