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Hours
Sun
12:30 - 19:00
Mon
12:30 - 22:00
Tue
12:30 - 22:00
Wed
12:30 - 22:00
Thu
12:30 - 22:00
Fri
12:30 - 23:30
Sat
12:30 - 23:00
Ratings and reviews
5.0
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
Learn More
PRICE RANGE
£9.00 – £30.00
CUISINES
Chinese, Japanese, Sushi, Asian, Japanese Fusion
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
meals, features
Does this restaurant primarily serve Healthy cuisine?
Details
About
A culinary adventure with Bao Buns, Pan Asian Cuisine, Cocktails, and Taiwanese Bubble Tea. Indulge in a unique culinary experience that blends Pan-Asian cuisine with Western and Japanese influences. In addition to our mouth-watering bao buns, we offer some delicious side dishes like our chicken wings, boneless wings, Furikake fries and much much more!
PRICE RANGE
£9.00 – £30.00
CUISINES
Chinese, Japanese, Sushi, Asian, Japanese Fusion
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, After-hours, Drinks
FEATURES
Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Street Parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Digital Payments, Free Wifi, Accepts Discover, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Waterfront, Family style, Non-smoking restaurants, Gift Cards Available
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5.0
105 reviews
Excellent
99
Very good
1
Average
5
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Chris D
1 contribution
Feb 2024 • couples
Undoubtedly one of the best places to eat Asian food around. The food looks and tastes amazing. The "Big Bro Toast" was our winner on the night. It's priced incredibly as well, with a massive rice bowl at only £12.50 (at the time of writing).
It was heart-warming seeing the front of house staff talking to the kitchen about all the feedback they were getting on the night and the pride they clearly took in the food they prepared.
With the outdoor area it looks like it will be a real winner in the summer!
Written 18 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bazzorie
London76 contributions
May 2024 • family
Wanted to go to this place ever since they announced they were opening. Love Pan Asian food! Atmosphere was great, they have a great layout, nice area outside for those sunny days and small but not dense seating area inside with lovely views of the beach. Staff were friendly, quick and attentive. We had a couple of cocktails which were actually a relatively fair price for cocktails (I still never understood why they are so expensive in general) around the £10 mark. I had the shore espresso martini which looks to have used the coffee from their neighbouring cafe (which I thought was a nice touch) and my wife had a dragontini which was also very nice. Food wise, we had a few of the small plates, a rice bowel and a couple of the boa buns. The flavours were on point all around. This food is delicious. For dessert we ordered the mochi and here I was disappointed. I was a bit suspicious with the choice of flavours as they are were almost the entire selection of the Little Moon range. But thought as the food was so good I'd give it a go. I'm pretty sure the motchi we got were the Little Moons (and apologies to the chef's if this isn't the case) as everything was exactly the same as this brand. The motchi was still a little frozen and even came with some of the purple salad leaves that was served on other plates throughout dinner (which I thought was an odd choice). Overall, I would go again and try the rest of their menu but would avoid the motchi.
Written 4 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Big Bro Bao
Hi Baz, So glad you enjoyed our delicious menu and stunning views as well as enjoying our cocktails !! ... We do use Little Moons as our Mochi (like many Pan Asian restaurants), for us this enables us to deliver a consistent product that is both familiar and child friendly... Our kitchen is just 3m x 3m big. Whilst we would love to have the time and space to create our own Mochi, we feel that our efforts are best spent on the remainder of the menu... We recommend the banana and biscoff bao (a new menu addition on our new menu) as a fantastic end to your dining experience on your next visit !! The garnish is red amaranth, a bitter and earth herb used both for savoury and dessert dishes across the culinary world, it's perfect earthy tones help bring balance out the sweetness of mochi, it also acts as a great addition for our savoury dishes as it's bitter quality highlights the savouriness !
We can't wait to see you again and hopefully achieve that final marker from you xx
Love
Team Big Bro Bao xx
Written 4 June 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Craig S
Ipswich3 contributions
Apr 2024 • family
A real find for us, as we weren't aware of the thriving scene behind the amusement arcade front. We were amazed to see so many young and well presented businesses in the space.
The food drew us to BBB as we are fans of the bao bun. We were not disappointed, quite the opposite. It's was a great venue, the staff were unstintingly friendly and helpful, the menu was enticing and the atmosphere was good and relaxed too.
We went for various bao buns (all delicious but particularly the tuna option with the use of mint leaves a triumph), the kids had wings and the Yakitori kebab skewer. The sides of Asian slaw and fires were really tasty. The shitake crisps were potentially the star of the show and very moreish.
We also had a portion of the vegan wings with samurai sauce. I was dubious how they would work (and I'm not the biggest jack fruit fan) but they were an ingenious dish and the samurai sauce offered a lovely amount of heat (well work up to the dragon breath ones!).
We felt it was good value and somewhere we will definitely return to, having already recommended to several others the whole complex but particularly BBB.
You won't regret it. Go and give it a try
Written 9 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rick R
1 contribution
May 2024 • couples
My wife and I visited this restaurant for the first time last night with 2 friends that had been there before. It was a let down. They told us they had run out of rice ( how can they run out of rice on a Saturday night???). Surely if they were runnig low, one of the staff would show some initiative and go out to a local shop to get some?? We also had to repeatedly ask for food that we'd ordered and even when we asked for a jug of water they brought over 4 glasses of water instead of a jug.
The food itself was ok but nothing special. I'm surprised so many people give it 5 stars because I could knock up a better meal myself.
Their lucky I'm giving 3 stars, tbh.
Written 19 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Big Bro Bao
Hi Rick, thank you for your feedback....Unfortunately though you are incorrect... Lucky would be you not rating at all as apposed to you ruining our small business reputation based on a situation that was purely down to timing of your table and another on something that we don't actually stock or offer at all....
We would however like to put into context your "review" after going through CCTV and speaking with other members of your party (who in fact took our comments on board and accepted them).. Firstly, the rice.... We pride ourselves on everything being cooked fresh to order... this includes our rice which we make for each sitting and it takes 45 minutes to make a batch... Rice forms only 8% of our entire menu offering by the way and not something that we have ever sold out of prior to this occasion. Maybe that's why we are called Big Bro Bao and not Big Bro Rice!
You may have noticed that large party taking up half of the inside of the restaurant who sat 20 minutes before you and unpredictably they all ordered rice dishes therefor consuming our entire regular stock holding of cooked rice for that sitting. Whilst we did then begin to prepare a second batch for later tables... you would have been on at least a 45 minute wait for rice.. To us, this isn't acceptable as a wait time for 1 item, therefor you were informed at that point that we are currently out of rice. I hope with that little piece of relative information you can now understand the situation we were actually in.
Secondly, you complained about the water receptacle. Again, you may have noticed that Big Bro Bao is a restaurant built out of 2 shipping containers... this includes, a dining room, bar and kitchen. We have NEVER stocked or offered water in jugs because we simply have no space to store 40 jugs (enough for each table). This is why you received your FREE filtered water with ice and lemon in glasses....
Finally your comment regarding the food quality overall.... Our head chef is from a Michelin restaurant background and is an experienced restaurateur. The rest of the kitchen brigade are fully trained to deliver our menu to the highest standards and this is why we have acclaimed the recommendations and following that we continue to grow daily. We would love to therefor invite you to the restaurant for a social media broadcasted cook off between you and our chef, please feel free to reach out to us to arrange this.
Bear in mind that your "knocked up dish" has to be made whilst serving 54 other diners at the same time and has to be cooked and served in less than 30 minutes just to make sure you are cooking in the same conditions as us on a regular basis, day in, day out!
Once again, we apologise for the timing of your table to lead to the 8% of the menu that was unavailable at the time of your ordering. In regards to water, the receptacle is arbitrary and it's the contents that matter!
We look forward to you joining us in the kitchen and maybe giving if not a lesson in asian cookery, but certainly a lesson in appreciation and politeness!
Love
The Big Bro Bao Management Team
Written 20 May 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ian C
Felixstowe15 contributions
Jun 2024 • couples
A bit of a disappointment. The pulled pork bao bun was delicious but the chicken katsu curry was underwhelming - too much rabbit food, insufficient sauce, not hugely tasty. Also overpriced for what we got. When we ordered the waitress explained that because everything was individually cooked the 2 meals would not be served at the same time. In fact, they were served 4 to 5 minutes apart. When paying, it was confirmed that depending whst was ordered a party of 4 could wait 15 to 20 minutes between the first and last guests being served. Totally unsatisfactory. We will not be back.
Written 28 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Big Bro Bao
Hi Ian, thanks for your review (and from looking at your previous reviews of venues it appears that 3* seems to be your favourite score to give, so either you are constantly disappointed or rather prefer finding fault in things. However, Thank you for dining with us on a busy Friday evening.
We always like to give our guests an insight into the workings of Big Bro Bao and their visit.
You are certainly right, our pork bao buns are delicious, we are saddened that you didn’t like our rice bowl (one of our best selling and most highly praised items, however unsure what you are referring to by “rabbit food”, we presume you mean the selection of vegetables that comes with your rice bowl which 1) is indicated on the menu and 2) adds colour and presentation.
Your comment about lack of sauce we shall put down to simply being non familiar with Japanese style cuisine. We are not an Indian or Thai style restaurant and therefor a sauce laden bowl isn’t the consistency that is traditional with Japanese Katsu.
Secondly, the timing of your dishes. Big Bro Bao is a traditional Pan asian style of service restaurant.
This means that we do not believe in hot holding food to be served all at once. In order to ensure that all of our food is completely fresh, we prepare dishes to order and they are delivered to guests as soon as they are ready: this does mean that sometimes dishes will arrive at different times as they are prepared at different stations in the kitchen… again this is a very traditional style of Japanese/ Pan Asian dining and you can find the same style in restaurants like Wagamama and many many more. In a regular restaurant (which I think is what you are comparing us to) your food is served in what’s called “Russian service” and would normally sit in a holding area for up to 15 mins so that every other dish is ready ….we don’t believe in hot holding this way as the food looses quality … this is all stated to you in your welcome message given by your server at the start of your dining experience with us.
Our kitchen is 3m x 3m, gets to temperatures of 40* and can feed a full restaurant of 60 people so being able to cook an entire tables order (which for 4 people could be around 15-20 dishes) in 20 minutes along with 56 other diners we think is quite good timing! (Only the other day we dined as a group at a local Japanese restaurant and was waiting 45 minutes from Dish 1 to Final dish… because they operate in the same way as us … because that’s traditional) …
This “tapas style” dining also promotes socialising in the lovely dining environment that we provide and we find that 99% of our guests love that experience … the other 1% sadly critique it (unsure if they dislike socialising with their fellow diners or not) and leave us negative feedback. We obviously know what side of the fence you are on and hope you eventually find a venue that eventually fulfils your every desire.
We would advise that when trying a particular cuisine type or culture that you are familiar with the traditional ways of that cuisine in order for you to be understanding of those ways in both service and recipes.
Lots of Love and best of luck in your quest !
Big Bro Bao
Written 28 June 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Megan J
1 contribution
Feb 2024 • couples
Absolutely fantastic food, flavours, character, cocktails, great staff. Great value for great freshly made food.
Owner/chef took time to chat to us about his new concept and working with other local suppliers, made it feel very personal and friendly.
We will be back, lovely vibe. Can’t wait for summer evenings too as will be even more special.
Written 2 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eloise C
5 contributions
Jan 2024 • friends
Wonderful food, amazing staff and brilliant atmosphere. Bao buns are to die for and their rice bowls are so filling yet everything on the menu is affordable for a loving evening outing. Can't wait to go back for more!!
Written 28 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David Gledhill
Felixstowe1 contribution
Jan 2024 • couples
An excellent addition to the culinary scene in Felixstowe and a great use of this landmark site in beach street. The food was excellent and the service exceptional. The Bao buns were light and fluffy and every one of the small (tapas style) dishes were very tasty. The dishes come when they are ready so everything is hot and fresh.
Written 23 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Louis B
3 contributions
Feb 2024 • couples
Had the best food I have tasted in a long time, the ingredients were fresh and the dishes were well presented, I had a teriyaki rice bowl, the pork bao bun and a few sides of furikake fries, coleslaw chicken skins yum and the best prawn toast I have ever tasted…. I had their house beer Asahi its was iced cold straight from the pump and also tried a variety of cocktails they had on their menu, my partner and our friend had some bubble teas I tried them and were very pleasant , for desert I had cheese cake with champagne sorbet. the whole experience was amazing from start to finish and the staff were very friendly and welcoming, the chefwe all can’t wait to return for some more Bao and to try the other items on the menu, also am now addicted to the prawn toast
Written 1 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
daleharris77
Ipswich69 contributions
Mar 2024 • family
The food and ambience at Big Bro Bao is superb, from the welcome we got when we arrived to the moment we left we couldn't have asked for more. The staff are very friendly and attentive, especially with my 5 year old, and explained the process of ordering and the food would come as it was cooked which shows that it is freshly prepared and every dish we ate was fantastic just wish we could have ordered the whole menu but that just means we need to go back! Loved the little touch at the end with the magic hand towels. You would never have guessed that they have only been open for a few months as they have nailed everything, and my wife loved the cocktails and is already planning for the bottomless brunch in August.
Written 4 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dale B
Felixstowe20 contributions
Mar 2024 • couples
First time dining here will not be the last, the food and the service were both excellent could not fault anything. Food is served as its ready which is a lovely relaxed way to dine and the front of house staff were attentive without being intrusive. Can't wait to return.
Written 16 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daniel H
1 contribution
Apr 2024 • family
This isn't the first time I'd been to Big Bro Bao, in fact it's probably the third or fourth. What can I say, it's at Beach street, a great location for some food drink and shopping, especially if the weather is good. Big Bro Bao itself is situated upstairs with views across the sea and in nice weather has a good sized outdoor seating area along with it's indoor seating. Sasha was our server and has been on several occasions, she makes the visit worthwhile alone, friendly, helpful, knowledgeable are just a few ways to describe her. Oh and I havnt even mentioned the cocktails she makes, dangerously good. The food. Well you can't go wrong, it's all good. Highlights I have personally had so far, Furikake fries, Deja Moo Bao Buns, the Asian Slaw, and the boneless wings with any one of their sauces. The Mochi make for a delicious dessert too. Overall this is a fantastic independent restaurant, great for food or even just a few drinks. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. Well done Big Bro Bao for bringing something new to Felixstowe and doing so well.
Written 25 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dan smith
13 contributions
Apr 2024 • family
Great fresh tasting food. Worth a visit. Nice atmosphere with great views. Well done all round experience little disappointment as few things on menu were out of stock that we wanted but understandable being a smaller venue.
Written 3 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Big Bro Bao
Thanks ever so much Daniel, we are so glad you enjoyed your time with us !! ... Sadly yes, we can only prepare so much for a day's service but all the more reason to return to try the dishes you missed out on ! x We also may have discontinued to stock the item as this week our new menu has launched had some items have from the previous menu have been removed.
All the more reason to return to try our new range !
Love
Team Big Bro Bao x
Written 4 June 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
AmandaR0
Ipswich145 contributions
Apr 2024 • couples
Just opened so looking very smart. Nice indoor & outdoor seating. Friendly owner, lovely waiting staff. The food comes out when ready & you choose a selection of dishes to share. All the food was good. Especially the Bao Buns which were so soft & freshly made. The soft shell crab ones were amazing. A good drinks menu with a section of bubble teas as well as a good range of alcoholic & non-alcoholic drinks.
Written 23 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sarah15555
Felixstowe4 contributions
Mar 2024 • friends
Have wanted to go since they opened and really wasn’t disappointed. All dishes could be shared and came out all freshly cooked. The flavours were amazing. My friend wasn’t sure it would be her type of food, but she was really blown away by it. Staff were lovely and answered our many questions and were happy to chat. The restaurant had a great atmosphere and we were nicely spread out. Finally we got the bill and were pleasantly surprised. To summarise, great food, great staff, great price. We will be back!
Written 29 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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