A global dumpling juggernaut famous for clinical precision, robot waiters, and glass-fronted kitchens where chefs fold xiao long bao at breakneck speed.
Taiwanese
£££
Covent Garden
5 Henrietta St, London WC2E 8PS, United Kingdom
Ordering Strategy
Focus heavily on the steamed dumplings (XLB and shao mai) rather than the larger doughy buns. Order the soup dumplings immediately as they are made fresh, and book ahead to avoid the notorious queues.
What to order
Crab & Pork Xiao Long Bao
While the classic pork version is described as 'pleasantly inoffensive,' reviewers specifically preferred the crab and pork version for its superior flavor profile.
Pork Chop with Dry Noodles in House Sauce
This is a signature dish where the sesame-flavoured noodles steal the show; critics found them 'strangely comforting' and so good they 'ate every single one.'
Crispy Golden Prawn Pancake
A standout dish that earned high praise across reviews, described as 'really good' and a 'crisp, delicious' favorite that lives up to the hype.
Salted Egg Yolk Custard Lava Buns
A primary driver for the restaurant's multi-hour queues, these buns are the most anticipated dessert item for their rich, oozing golden filling.
What to skip
More in Covent Garden
- BagerietSwedish Bakery · £90
- The BarbaryNorth African / Middle Eastern · £££90
- ToklasMediterranean · £££89
Signal Score
Signal score reflects how strong and consistent the review coverage is, not a star rating.
Top critic: Grace Dent (50%)
Editorial Weight 42 pts
Authority + depth + recency
Agreement 7 pts
How aligned the critics are
Coverage 10 pts
How many real review signals exist
Public Signal 0 pts
Google rating + volume
Boosts 0 pts
Manual boosts + hidden gem
Review signals
3 Elite · 2 Editorial · 6 total signals
Public signal
— (0 reviews)
Good to know
The Covent Garden location is the flagship, but Centre Point and Selfridges offer similar menus with robot waiters. It is very efficient, so expect a quick turnover rather than a lingering meal.
Trust signals
- ○Not yet visited
- mediumConfidence level
More Taiwanese in London
- BAO Noodle Shop££82· Shoreditch
- BAO Mary££82· Marylebone
- Mr Bao££80· Peckham
- Daddy Bao££80· Tooting
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