Banyan Bar + Refuge

4.6

1386 Reviews

$31 to $50

Asian

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 15, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 38 times today

Experiences are available.

Neighborhood gem
Good for groups
Great for creative cocktails

Indulge in a captivating culinary journey at Banyan Bar + Refuge, a fusion of Southeast Asian and New England flavors. Our menu boasts a tantalizing array of sweet, salty, sour, and spicy creations that promise to delight your palate. Immerse yourself in a delightful atmosphere filled with great music and a relaxed ambiance as you enjoy the historic South End.

Dining areas

Additional information

Location
553 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116
Phone number
(617) 556-4211
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Asian, Gastro Pub
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Daily 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Fri 4:00 pm–6:00 pm
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Street parking is available.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Delivery & takeout
Order direct

Featured in

Where to drink in Boston right now

Experiences

THE DOUBLE D SHOW
$10.00 per person
Prepaid
Mar 27, 2025 only
8:00 PM
Banyan + Gorgonzola present The Double D Show, bringing dinner and drag together ! Please join us for a fun evening filled with electrifying performances, specialty cocktails inspired by our entertainers and your favorite Banyan bites ! DJ starts at 7:30pm and will be keeping the vibes going until 11pm

Offers

Ever had a Burger Bao ?
Mar 14, 2025 - May 5, 2025
Mon - 4:00 PM - 9:45 PM
We're so excited for patio season + we just can't hide it ! To celebrate counting down the days, we want you to come to Banyan for complimentary Burger Baos every Monday. (available for dine-in only Mondays through May 5) Never had one ? We combined our beloved Gallows Our Way Burger and our signature Bao Buns for the perfect bite ! (one order per table by mention of this offer) excludes Marathon Monday April 21

Popular dishes

Ahi Tuna Crispy Rice$20.00
ahi tuna, crispy rice cakes, sriracha, scallions, unagi sauce
Ahi Tuna Tartare $20.00
raw ahi tuna, pickled mango, avocado, chips
Thai Shrimp Ceviche Lettuce Wrap (gf)$18.00
shrimp, lettuce, garlic, cilantro, onion, lime, peanut, soy
Miso Caesar Salad (gf*, vg)$16.00
Napa cabbage, kale, miso caesar dressing, parmesan, cured egg yolk, breadcrumbs
Snow Pea Salad$15.00
Butter lettuce, watermelon + french radish, tofu "feta", sesame-ginger dressing

Hot Plates

Salt + Pepper Shrimp (gf)$22.00
crispy wok-fried shrimp, green onion, jalapeño, Indonesian sauce (spicy)
Green Curry Mussels$23.00
Coconut milk, Thai chilis, basil, cilantro, lime
Sticky Chicken$21.00
crispy chicken thighs, sweet garlic + soy glaze, miso-scallion ranch
Veggie Wonton (vg)$14.00
carrots, corn, cream cheese, scallions, soy sauce, thai chili sauce
Oko-Style Brussels Sprouts (v*)$18.00
roasted brussels sprouts, vegan miso aioli, furikake, okonomiyaki sauce, bonito flake
Coconut Calamari (gf)$19.00
fried calamari, toasted coconut, makrut lime + thai chili aioli
Mushu Pork Taco$15.00
Scallions pancake, chimichurri
Lobster Rangoon$18.00
lobster, corn, cream cheese, scallions, thai chili sauce
Mapo-Tofu Empanada$15.00
Pork belly, chili sauce, stracciatella
Thai Chili Cauliflower (vg)$17.00
roasted cauliflower, Thai-chili butter, edamame pureé, lime, scallions, cilantro, mint, crunchy shallots
Chili Garlic Green Beans$12.00
Chili-garlic sauce

Bao Buns

Lobster Bao$23.00
chilled lobster, mayo, lemon, scallions, onion, celery
KFC Bao (vg, v*)$13.00
fried cauliflower, sweet+spicy sauce, scallions
Avocado Bao (vg, v*)$14.00
crispy avocado, bbq sauce, onion, pickles
Fried Chicken Bao$15.00
crispy fried chicken thighs, Korean style sweet + spicy glaze, pickles
Pork Belly Bao$15.00
pork belly, shaved onion, pineapple, peanuts, cilantro
Fried Oyster Bao$16.00
Thai chili-makrut lime, mango slaw

Noodles

Soba Noodle Salad$15.00
Red cabbage, beets, carrots, snow peas, cilantro, cabbage, watermelon radish, peanut sauce
Dan Dan Noodles$23.00
Spicy szechuan chicken ragu, lo mein noodles, peanuts

Large Format

Whole Fried Fish (gf)$29.00
crispy whole fried fish, sweet + spicy glaze

What 1,386 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.5Food
4.5Service
4.7Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Banyan Bar + Refuge is loved for its "creative and balanced menu," boasting standout Asian fusion dishes like bao buns and Dan Dan noodles. The "best patio in the South End" creates an inviting atmosphere. While some found service inconsistent, the food's "unique flavors" and "fun cocktails" make it a popular Boston spot.

1,386 Reviews

D
Dnmrj
Greater Boston6 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food is exceptional. We’d been before but had forgotten just how good the food is. A definite 5 star experience!
Is this helpful?
D
Daniel
Greater Boston1 review
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great food and service Love the miso ceasar salad!
Is this helpful?
E
Emily
Greater Boston2 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 1, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
We went for a before theatre dinner. We got there before 6 so were able to take acetate of happy hour specials for dumplings and spring rolls - both of which were excellent. Server was attentive and lovely. Great dinner options but not so impressed by the deserts which we skipped
Is this helpful?
A
Angie
Greater Boston1 review
5.0
Dined on February 27, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had a great time and the staff was wonderful. The food was delicious. Thanks for everything! Angie
Is this helpful?
V
Victor
Greater Boston1 review
5.0
Dined on February 17, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Awesome, just amazing! Food was delicious & staff was quick & efficient. I can’t wait to go back.
Is this helpful?
G
Giulio
Greater Boston5 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 15, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had a wonderful meal! Every single bite was delicious and transformative. Manuel, our server, was very attentive and always brought our food and drink out quickly.
Is this helpful?
TO
TaylorO VIP
Greater Boston13 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 15, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Love the atmosphere! Food was great, our favs were pork ribs, crab Rangoon (which was like a giant mozzarella stick), and chicken boa bun. Drinks were fantastic
Is this helpful?
S
Stephen
Unspecified1 review
5.0
Dined on February 14, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This place is fantastic! From the service to the prices! Very affordable and extremely tasty! Will definitely be back! The bao buns are my favorite!
Is this helpful?
R
Revathy
Greater Boston1 review
5.0
Dined on February 11, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Lovely ambiance and vibe. When that’s there. The food is extra special.
Is this helpful?
S
Suling
Greater Boston1 review
5.0
Dined on January 28, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I say this as a Southeast Asian American— I RARELY find Asian fusion spots that I enjoy, as they usually cater towards white Americans. Banyan hit the nail, and that’s what sets them apart. The food was delicious while paying homage to the cultures in both texture and taste. Every drink I tried I enjoyed (again— rare), and pairs well with many of the dishes. The dandan noodles aren’t spicy as I was hoping but still yummy. The larb cabbage wraps were super comforting to eat, and the salt pepper shrimp were surprisingly amazing (the best part was how sweet and tangy the paired sauce was). Great ambiance, cozy lighting and intentional vibes. New favorite spot, I will 100% be back here.
Is this helpful?

FAQs

Banyan Bar + Refuge offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (617) 556-4211.

Banyan Bar + Refuge is rated 4.6 stars by 1386 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 15, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 38 times today

Experiences are available.

553 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02116

Dining areas

Additional information

Phone number
(617) 556-4211
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Asian, Gastro Pub
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Daily 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Fri 4:00 pm–6:00 pm
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Street parking is available.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Delivery & takeout
Order direct

Featured in

Where to drink in Boston right now

Banyan Bar + Refuge

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information

Where to drink in Boston right now

THE DOUBLE D SHOW

Ever had a Burger Bao ?

Fried Chicken Bao

Dan Dan Noodles

Sticky Chicken

Snacks To Start

Korean Carrot Salad$8.00

Edamame$8.00

Shishito Peppers$10.00

Smashed Cucumbers

French Fries$6.00

Marinated Tofu Feta$8.00

Cold Plates

Ahi Tuna Crispy Rice$20.00

Ahi Tuna Tartare $20.00

Thai Shrimp Ceviche Lettuce Wrap (gf)$18.00

Miso Caesar Salad (gf*, vg)$16.00

Snow Pea Salad$15.00

Hot Plates

Salt + Pepper Shrimp (gf)$22.00

Green Curry Mussels$23.00

Sticky Chicken$21.00

Veggie Wonton (vg)$14.00

Oko-Style Brussels Sprouts (v*)$18.00

Coconut Calamari (gf)$19.00

Mushu Pork Taco$15.00

Lobster Rangoon$18.00

Mapo-Tofu Empanada$15.00

Thai Chili Cauliflower (vg)$17.00

Chili Garlic Green Beans$12.00

Bao Buns

Lobster Bao$23.00

KFC Bao (vg, v*)$13.00

Avocado Bao (vg, v*)$14.00

Fried Chicken Bao$15.00

Pork Belly Bao$15.00

Fried Oyster Bao$16.00

Noodles

Soba Noodle Salad$15.00

Dan Dan Noodles$23.00

Large Format

Whole Fried Fish (gf)$29.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Review summary

FAQs

Does Banyan Bar + Refuge offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Banyan Bar + Refuge restaurant rated?

Is Banyan Bar + Refuge currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information

Featured in

Where to drink in Boston right now