Banyan Bar + Refuge

4.6

1386 Reviews

$31 to $50

Asian

Make a booking

2 people

16 Mar 2025

19:00

Booked 35 times today

Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

Neighbourhood 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 11:00–15:00 Dinner Daily 16:00–22:00 Happy Hour Mon–Fri 16:00–18:00
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
US$10.00 per person
Prepaid
27 Mar 2025 only
20:00
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 ?
14 Mar 2025 - 5 May 2025
Mon - 16:00 - 21:45
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 RiceUS$20.00
ahi tuna, crispy rice cakes, sriracha, scallions, unagi sauce
Ahi Tuna Tartare US$20.00
raw ahi tuna, pickled mango, avocado, chips
Thai Shrimp Ceviche Lettuce Wrap (gf)US$18.00
shrimp, lettuce, garlic, cilantro, onion, lime, peanut, soy
Miso Caesar Salad (gf*, vg)US$16.00
Napa cabbage, kale, miso caesar dressing, parmesan, cured egg yolk, breadcrumbs
Snow Pea SaladUS$15.00
Butter lettuce, watermelon + french radish, tofu "feta", sesame-ginger dressing

Hot Plates

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

Bao Buns

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

Noodles

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

Large Format

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

What 1,386 people are saying

Banyan Bar + Refuge reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

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 4 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!
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D
Daniel
Greater Boston1 review
5.0
Dined on 8 March 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great food and service Love the miso ceasar salad!
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E
Emily
Greater Boston2 reviews
5.0
Dined on 1 March 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
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A
Angie
Greater Boston1 review
5.0
Dined on 27 February 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
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V
Victor
Greater Boston1 review
5.0
Dined on 17 February 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.
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G
Giulio
Greater Boston5 reviews
5.0
Dined on 15 February 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.
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TO
TaylorO VIP
Greater Boston13 reviews
5.0
Dined on 15 February 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
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S
Stephen
Unspecified1 review
5.0
Dined on 14 February 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!
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R
Revathy
Greater Boston1 review
5.0
Dined on 11 February 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.
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S
Suling
Greater Boston1 review
5.0
Dined on 28 January 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.
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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 booking

2 people

16 Mar 2025

19:00

Booked 35 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 11:00–15:00 Dinner Daily 16:00–22:00 Happy Hour Mon–Fri 16:00–18:00
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 booking

About this restaurant

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 SaladUS$8.00

EdamameUS$8.00

Shishito PeppersUS$10.00

Smashed Cucumbers

French FriesUS$6.00

Marinated Tofu FetaUS$8.00

Cold Plates

Ahi Tuna Crispy RiceUS$20.00

Ahi Tuna Tartare US$20.00

Thai Shrimp Ceviche Lettuce Wrap (gf)US$18.00

Miso Caesar Salad (gf*, vg)US$16.00

Snow Pea SaladUS$15.00

Hot Plates

Salt + Pepper Shrimp (gf)US$22.00

Green Curry MusselsUS$23.00

Sticky ChickenUS$21.00

Veggie Wonton (vg)US$14.00

Oko-Style Brussels Sprouts (v*)US$18.00

Coconut Calamari (gf)US$19.00

Mushu Pork TacoUS$15.00

Lobster RangoonUS$18.00

Mapo-Tofu EmpanadaUS$15.00

Thai Chili Cauliflower (vg)US$17.00

Chili Garlic Green BeansUS$12.00

Bao Buns

Lobster BaoUS$23.00

KFC Bao (vg, v*)US$13.00

Avocado Bao (vg, v*)US$14.00

Fried Chicken BaoUS$15.00

Pork Belly BaoUS$15.00

Fried Oyster BaoUS$16.00

Noodles

Soba Noodle SaladUS$15.00

Dan Dan NoodlesUS$23.00

Large Format

Whole Fried Fish (gf)US$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 bookings?

Make a booking

Dining areas

Additional information

Featured in

Where to drink in Boston right now