Jaclyn’s Pick:

Bobo Noodles and Dumplings
812 N 14th St
Fare: It’s in the name!
Cost: $80 for two appetizers and four meals
Reservations: Not needed for our Thursday evening visit

Greetings, Eaters and Readers!

After watching and waiting to see what would take over the former Session Room space downtown, I was delighted to see one of my favorite cuisines take its place. So long pizza cones … hello noodles and dumplings!

I noticed in the Grow Omaha Weekly Market Report they had their soft opening for a couple weeks, offering 20% off. We typically wait for new restaurants to work out the kinks before visiting, but this time we decided to be among the first.

We were greeted by so many staff members on the way to our table, who seemed overjoyed to have customers. Feeling happily welcomed, we cozied into our booth and began pouring over the menu.

Edamame ($6.95) | Crab Rangoons ($6.95)

Bobo’s is proud to make their dumplings and bao by hand – so they’re transparent with the wait times to properly create and bring them to you. Prepared to have a 15-20 minutes wait for our main courses, we decided to get a serving of piping hot edamame and an order of crab rangoon. Both were hot and fresh, but you wouldn’t hear us saying they stole show. They were just the right items, however, to nosh on while we chatted and waited for our meals.

Vegetable Lo Mein ($12.95) – Soft egg noodles tossed with a light savory sauce, fresh vegetables

I wanted to try both dumplings and noodles – because how can you not? I went with the vegetable lo mein, which arrived first, and it earned that honor. The homemade noodles had a satisfying chew you just don’t get from the dried stuff, tossed in a sauce that balanced savory and sweet without tipping too far into either.

Chashu Pork Noodle Soup ($18.95) – Grilled chashu pork served with thick egg noodles in a deeply aromatic broth, finished with greens and fresh herbs

Martha honed in pretty quickly on the chashu pork noodle soup. She remembered her first experience with chashu pork at a previous Certified Good Bite gem (Akarui) and was excited to try it in noodle soup form. The large, very hot bowl of soup came out quicker than we expected. The broth was a full-bodied pork and umami creation – as it should be. The slices of chashu were as delightful as she hoped they would be. She tried to be a good cultural visitor and use the chopsticks to slurp and enjoy her noodles – but it just wasn’t working for her. She’s equal parts embarrassed and apologetic to anyone who had to watch her eat her soup. But she soldiered on, forking when she needed to – and slurping the broth between bites. She was very happy with her choice.

Chicken Soup Buns ($12.95) – Steamed soup dumplings filled with seasoned chicken and savory broth, finished with a gentle kick in every bite
Signature Bao ($13.95) – Soft steamed bao filled with seasoned ground pork, offering a savory-sweet flavor in a fluffy, pillowy bun

Next on my plate were the original bao buns (which yes, are a type of dumpling). The dough was soft and cloud-like, that signature airy texture that makes a good bao worth seeking out. The pork filling leaned savory with just a whisper of sweetness, and while I’ve had plenty of pork bao in my time, these delivered exactly what you’d want from them. A reliable classic, done well.

Martha tried Bobo’s chicken soup dumpling because she loves the whole journey of nibbling the dough to extract the broth. These were delicious, good sized and – as promised – handmade hot and fresh, straight to the table. If these are any indication, Martha is eager to get back to Bobo’s to try more of their dumplings and bao.

Final Bites

Bobo Noodles and Dumplings made a strong case from the get-go. Everything arrived piping hot and fresh, the service matched the warmth of that initial welcome, and we left with a longer list of things to try than when we walked in. The homemade noodles, the tender dumplings, the flavors that balanced savory and sweet — it all came together in a way that felt both considered and comfortable, like a restaurant that already knows what it’s doing.

For a soft opening, this place already feels like it has its footing. We’ll be back, probably before a show at The Slowdown or a film at the Ruth Sokolof. It’s a perfect pre-night-out stop, just a short walk away and exactly the kind of meal that puts you in a good mood for whatever comes next. We took a chance on visiting early, and I’m glad we did. If Bobo keeps this up, it won’t be long before that booth we cozied into becomes a lot harder to get.

Cheers!
The Good Bite Gals

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