Bar Bao

"My recent visit to Bar Bao in Arlington, VA, unfortunately, left much to be desired. The overall cleanliness of the establishment was notably lacking, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere. From the moment I entered, it was evident that the maintenance of the restaurant fell short of expectations. Tables were unclean, and the overall tidiness left much to be desired. One of the most distressing aspects of my experience was the state of the restroom, which I found to be downright disgusting. A clean and well-maintained restroom is a fundamental expectation for any dining establishment, and the conditions I encountered were far from acceptable. This aspect alone significantly impacted the overall impression of the restaurant. Equally disappointing was the quality of the food. Dining out is an experience that should delight the senses, but unfortunately, the dishes at Bar Bao did not meet this expectation. The flavors were lackluster, and the presentation did little to elevate the dining experience. It's disheartening when a restaurant falls short in delivering on the promise of a satisfying culinary adventure. Adding to the frustration was the cost of the meal, which I found to be disproportionately high considering the subpar quality of both the ambiance and the food. While I understand that dining out often comes with a certain price tag, there is an inherent expectation that the cost reflects a commensurate level of quality. In this case, the expense did not align with the overall disappointing experience. In conclusion, my visit to Bar Bao in Arlington, VA, was marked by a series of disappointments—ranging from the lack of cleanliness to the unsatisfactory food quality and the unappealing restroom conditions. As a patron, I believe it's crucial to share these experiences to encourage establishments to reassess their standards and strive for the excellence that customers rightfully expect."

"There's some street parking around, we didn't end up making a reservation but it didn't really matter so it was quiet which surprised me. We opted for the bottomless brunch and the carafe of mimosas which was totally worth it. Our server, James, was awesome. The brunch was $36.99/person and the carafe of mimosas (~8 glasses was only $13.99). We ordered the Calamari, Honey Shrimp, Chicken & Waffles, Bulgogi Hash, Braised Pork Bao, Breakfast Tots, Salmon Benedict, Pork Dumplings, Home Fries, JFC Bao, Shrimp Tempura Bun, Short Rib Bao, Steak Frites and Nutella French Toast. Notables and recommendations: Honey Shrimp, Chicken & Waffles, Bulgogi Hash, JFC Bao, Short Rib and Nutella French Toast were amazing. The other ones were ok and not bad but too salty or the sauce was too overpowering for my taste. Overall, genuinely surprised about how great everything was! Definitely recommend! Total before taxes ~ $88"

"Food was great. Parking is a nightmare! We went there because google listed that this "asian restaurant" is open late until 12-1am. We drive 45min there for family dinner of 8people. Theres no information online saying that the restaurant will close at 10 and turn it into a club. We was shock! After 45min of driving, we have 45min to dine in To super rush on eating and get kick out before 10pm. Some food dish is not even done cooking before we have to get out of there. Our bill is near $250 for a super rush dine in. It was an unhappy experience for our first time visiting the area. A plus for the food but the hours and bar/club info need to be listed clearly and correctly for first time visitor like me who based on google info."

"We stopped by because my friends liked the outdoor seating area and wanted a drink. They have good beer on tap and a nice outdoor space. That’s where the good things. Food is pricy with just okay portions. The kimchi bulgogi fries are $19 with little meat and kimchi but a lot of mayo. The food is not anything special. The service is not consistent and confusing. Your best bet is to order drinks and food at the bar and then wait there until it comes. The outdoor patio is great when there’s nice weather but I would not order food again."

"This place was so amazing and so under the radar. The restaurant had a beach bar theme in the back with a quieter, yet still hip atmosphere in the front. The server and the hostess were both so attentive and helpful. The bao buns were incredible and small bites were great too. I highly recommend the bottomless brunch on the weekends for $35 all you can eat + 25 cent mimosas! The happy hour menu also has some interesting selections for reasonable prices too."