Review: Bao, Soho

I’ve had more than a couple of messy bao bun experiences in the past, struggling to keep the filling wodged in while taking bites… oops, there goes the fennel slaw. So it was a bit of a joy to devour the bao at BAO Soho. Their buns are so soft, sweet and fluffy that they wrap themselves perfectly around the generous filling and cuddle it very nicely while you gobble your way through. Bliss.

So, yeah, totally recommend the bao at BAO. For my money their original had the punchiest combination of flavours along with meltingly soft meat. Second place maybe tied between the lamb and the pork belly. The chicken bun was really delicious with the pickly little crunch of kimchi in with it, but someone has to come last.

We also ordered the blood pudding, which came as a sturdy brick topped with an amber egg yolk. The texture and taste very reminiscent of good English black pud, but with some pleasant warm spices. The yolk made it really lush, though a bit tricky with chopsticks.

Thinly sliced mushroom with century egg was very good. Pork trotter croquettes with a burnt green chilli dipping sauce were absolutely splendid; I could have stuffed down a few plates of these with sake and been happy all night. The aubergine with wanton crackers was a decent though forgettable veg dish with a strong miso-y flavour.

BAO is knock-out good food at a very good price; £20 would make a fine supper for one, before drinks. No wonder it is queued out of the door most nights.