Anyone who knows me knows that if there's an bao shaped opportunity, I'm all over it. The severe dearth of bao-related goodness in my otherwise perfectly satisfying city is something that continues to baffle and upset me in equal measure.
Bristol's effort was very good. Not quite Dim Sum Su level. Or Bao in London. But very respectable indeed.
Took advantage of the very reasonable deal - 2 bao with fries for £8.50 which was plenty to fill me. The chips seemed a bit of a curveball, as not something I'd normally pair with bao, but it worked ok and they were cooked well.
The bao themselves were lush - fried chicken with chilli mayo and daikon, and the amusingly named Chairman Bao with confit pork belly, hoisin and peanut dust. Shame they didn't have the shrimp bao as it sounded delicious but understandably it's their biggest seller, and I arrived late. The buns were soft and pillow-like, and the filling nice, albeit not exactly plentiful.
Overall a solid 4*, and well worth a lunch trip, or light-ish dinner.
It's BYOB as well, which I didn't realise. read more