Bao will be familiar to many Londoners as the purveyors of Taiwanese steamed buns and small plates so delicious that they inspire mile-long queues.
Café Bao is the fourth physical outlet from Bao and first opened in London’s King's Cross neighbourhood only a few days before the UK December lockdown. Now – on 17 May 2021 – Bao is reopening its little-seen King's Cross location and has fitted it out with everything restaurant-starved customers could hope for.
Café Bao will feature some of the restaurant's classic dishes as well as innovative new plates that take inspiration from Taiwan’s oldest Western Style cafe, Bolero, as well as the traditional kissatens of Japan.
Visit in the morning for an indulgent breakfast of Baked Ham Hock Congee Pie or a Bao Dough Loaf coated in syrup and butter. For lunch or dinner, feast on fusion bites like Hamburger Bao, Lobster Bao and Taiwanese Fried Chicken Kiev.
Finish it all off with a cocktail that doubles as dessert, like the Bao-ppino, which sees prosecco poured over mango sorbet, or the Midori Float, a twist on an ice cream float made with Japanese Toki whisky.
Good food is even better when it's had in an enjoyable setting, and Café Bao certainly doesn’t skimp on the interiors. The two-floor restaurant is designed by Macaulay Sinclair and inspired by Western-style cafes in Asia. The result is a stylish yet relaxed setting filled with mid-century wood panelling, Bauhaus-red flooring and Noguchi paper lampshades.
So delightful is the experience, that there’s little doubt you’ll leave without longing for more. To satisfy your bat-induced cravings, make sure you pick up a sweet treat at the Bao Bakery Goods (BBG) counter by the front door. We recommend scanning the glass case for the Salted Egg Custard ‘Sad Face’ Bao. It’s guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.
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