- The Soho Baos -
Typically, a queue in London is for a bar. However, ever since the opening of the Taiwanese restaurant, Bao, in March, it seems as if people are just as willing to spend their time queuing for this Taiwanese restaurant. 3 months later, the line is just as long.
The first thing you have to know about me is that I love carbs, although I do try to eat wholegrains most of the time, white carbs are amazing. I’ve seen Bao all over Instagram but it just never occurred to me how a bao (aka a bun) can be worth the wait. I mean, if I really wanted a bao, I can just go to Chinatown.
Finally, we decided to give it a shot and got there at 5:30pm, which is when the dinner service begins. However, it seems as if we weren’t the only ones thinking of getting there early. Luckily, we only waited for about 15mins.
We decided to try 4 of the baos, classic, lamb shoulder, daikon, and confit pork. The bun was so soft and the fillings were seasoned to perfection. They were honestly better than any bao I have ever tasted, even better than the ones in Hong Kong.
Classic Bao Daikon Bao
The classic was filled with shredded pork, coriander, and crushed nuts. This was my second favourite as I love the taste of coriander and the nuts gave it a nice texture.
As for the vegetarian option, the daikon bao, the daikon was covered in panko and deep fried. The daikon itself was delicious, but with the bao it was slightly too dry and definitely needed a bit more dressing.
Lamb Shoulder Bao Confit Pork Bao
The second pork bao was the confit pork and in this case, they used slightly fatter pieces of pork with shallots.
The lamb shoulder bao was my favourite (and also my boyfriend’s). The meat was so tender and the sauces (coriander, garlic mayo and chili) accompanied the lamb so well.
Taiwanese Fried Chicken
Afterwards, we also ordered the Taiwanese fried chicken, only because ever else was ordering it. And we can see why. The chicken had a nice spicy kick and wasn’t as oily compared to fried chicken that you normally get. This definitely left us wanting more.
Taking the simple concept of buns, Bao has definitely taken it to the next level. This place is a must if you love the Asian cuisine. And with take away coming soon, I can definitely see myself coming more often!
Website:
www.baolondon.com/