If you follow any foodies on social media, you’re sure to have come across a few mouth-watering photos of bao (those delicate, fluffy, folded-over steamed buns) in the last year or two. Originally a Taiwanese street snack (known as ‘gua bao’ and traditionally filled with pork belly, pickles and crushed nuts), they gained mass appeal when they popped up on the menu at Momofuku in New York way back in 2004, and have been getting more and more popular ever since.
Australia’s going crazy over the humble bao at the moment, and chefs are starting to put their own creative spin on it with fillings such as peking duck and slow-cooked beef rib, right through to sweet versions like strawberries and ice cream (think of it as an ‘ice cream sandwich bao’). Canberra’s got its fair share of places serving amazing bao, so if you haven’t tried it yet or need to satisfy your craving, check out our list below!
Akiba | Civic
One of Canberra’s favourite ‘modern Asian’ hotspots, Akiba has been dishing out plenty of bao since opening in late 2014. They’ve got 3 varieties on the menu – pork belly and Asian slaw, soft shell crab with creamy ponzu, and BBQ beef with kimchi – which means you’ll find it impossible just to order one!
Eightysix | Braddon
Every visit to Eightysix is guaranteed to be different to your last, thanks to the exciting and ever-changing blackboard menu that’s built around seasonal produce. Eightysix has been known to feature a bao with duck and pickled cucumber in the past, so if word gets out that they’re serving it – drop everything and get down there.
The Fish Can | Westside Acton Park
It’s finally here – Canberra’s first venue dedicated to bao! Having recently claimed one of the shipping containers down at Westside Acton Park, The Fish Can offers a huge range of bao. Start off with one of the usual suspects such as pork belly or soft shell crab, step it up a notch with crumbed prawn and lime aioli or fried chicken and Szechuan peanuts, and then finish off with a dessert bao filled with Mars bar, sweet potato custard or taro. They’re all dangerously tasty and at very affordable prices – knock down 4 or 5 bao and you’ll still have change from a $20.
XO | Narrabundah
The boys at XO, Narrabundah’s new kids on the block, must have known they were onto a winner when they came up with their Shantung Bao. Served as a slider rather than the conventional folded-over style, the bun is soft and fluffy, and holds a generous slice of twice-cooked pork belly, thin slices of cucumber, pickled daikon and ginger, and a creamy mayonnaise to bring it all together.
Monster | New Acton
A night out in the New Acton area isn’t complete without checking out Monster (in the Hotel Hotel foyer) and its uber-cool, eclectic design. Their bar menu is served until 1am, and features a bao with pork neck that’s been cooked sous-vide for 38 hours (about the same time it takes the girls on Geordie Shore to get ready before a night out), and served with a tangy cucumber kimchi.
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Have any other favourites? Email us: [email protected] to let us know.
