BAO- A taste of Taiwanese street food

Dear Bao,

Visiting you = my fix for Taiwanese street food.

I have truly missed it since my holiday there two years ago and I am sooooo glad you finally arrived in London! What I am about to write will surely make you dribble...

Taiwanese Fried Chicken RRP £5
(鹹酥雞)

EDITOR's FAVOURITE: Selection of moist and juicy chicken thighs marinated in pepper and coated with a spiced batter. Topped with a special sweet chilli sauce, it almost tasted the same as the ones I had in Taiwan!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

Overall Rating: 
I would go back here to eat any time. Flavours are spot on. However, it can get expensive.

Service: 
Staff will patiently explain the menu to you. However, because the restaurant is always busy service is often rushed and staff will always hint to you to leave once you have finished your food.

Food: 
Love Love Love! I am so glad Taiwanese street food has finally arrived in London. The tea and side dishes all resemble Taiwanese flavours. The steamed bun used in the "Bao" are all fresh, soft and spongey. My absolute favourite has to be the fried chicken and the classic bao!

Atmosphere: 
The restaurant is very small with limited seats. There is always a long queue outside the restaurant. I would avoid going at busy times because you can expect up to an hour wait.

Value: 
Personally, I think you need to be very careful with your order. Bao has adapted a very clever (if not cheeky) marketing strategy. Every dish is under £5 on the menu, but because the portions are relatively small, you might be tempted to order everything on the menu!! On my visit I spent £40!

Sweet Potato Chips RRP £3
With plum pickle ketchup

 EDITOR's FAVOURITE: Sweet potato chips have always been my favourite. Good balance of sweet potato and batter, and is served fresh and hot. The plum ketchup makes the chips taste extra special with an extra hint of sourness. Yum!!

Aged beef rump cap, Aged White soy sauce RRP £6

Scallop, Yellow Bean Garlic RRP £3.50
蒜蓉干貝 

Pig Blood Cake RRP £3.50豬血糕

 EDITOR's FAVOURITE: This is the Taiwanese version of black pudding, but instead of fried, it is mixed with pig's fat and steamed, topped with a raw egg yulk (This is to dilute the strong taste of the black pudding). A very traditional dish and a must try.

Eryngii mushroom, century egg RRP £4
醬烤杏鮑菇

Trotter Nuggets RRP £4
炸豬腳凍

Fried Chicken RRP £5
鹹酥炸豬

 EDITOR's FAVOURITE: This is the same fried chicken as described above, and is my absolute favourite. Paired with a soft steamed bun and a squeeze of mayonnaise, I wish the portion size could double up!!

Classic RRP £3.75
With marinated minced pork and nut crunchies 
經典滷肉

EDITOR's FAVOURITE: Sweet marinate mince pork with nut crunchies. The nut crunchies were mixed with brown sugar and so added extra sweetness to the pork. I wish I could describe how delicious this is!! 

Confit Pork RRP £4.50
油封豬肉 

Lamb shoulder RRP £ 5
牧然羊肩

Fried Horlicks Ice cream RRP £4
好力克冰淇淋夾心炸饅頭

EDITOR's FAVOURITE: The fried bun in this dessert is different to the savoury baos. It is a crunchy texture. This horlick flavoured ice cream didn't really taste like horlick though, more like a strong vanilla. Love this ice cream sandwich!

Peanut Milk RRP £1.50
花生牛奶

 

Disclaimer: Review above is a mere personal opinion.

NO RESERVATIONS. For more information on this restaurant CLICK HERE.