The traditional Chinese bao, otherwise known as ‘baozi’ has been a prevalent delicacy in Northern Chinese cuisine for centuries. After a New York chef named David Chang shared his iconic pork belly bao at his restaurant Momofuku, baos have turned into a staple at almost every Asian-fusion eatery. Auckland has jumped onto the delicious pillowy buns with enthusiasm, adding their own modern spin to the morsels. For those looking to try the bao on home soil, here is where to get the best.
Miso-braised Wagyu brisket bao from Hello Beasty
The bao from Hello Beasty might not look like the most decadent but it’s packed with unique flavours and is one of our favourite baos in town. The Wagyu brisket is tender and flavoursome What differentiates this bao from the rest is the chilli lime sauce, which has a zest and zing rather than the sweetness most baos tend to lean towards. The yuzu pickled cucumber also adds to the tanginess to the overall flavour and as these are quite light, they are unbelievably moreish.
Signature slow-cooked pork belly bao from Hot Hot Asian Eatery
Sandringham Road is renowned for its delicious Indian fare, but Hot Hot Asian Eatery is also worth noting as this restaurant serves some of the tastiest Asian-fusion dishes in town. The signature slow-cooked pork belly bao is paired with spicy sriracha and creamy mayo, making the pork saucy, seeping through the pillowy soft buns. The addition of crushed peanuts adds a heavenly crunch, a slight milkiness and a nutty aroma, acting as the ‘cherry’ on top of the bao.
Pulled pork bao from The Rolling Pin
For those that want a bao that is stuffed to the brim and can barely shut, The Rolling Pin is where you need to go. Back when they were only a food truck, dumplings were the signature dish, however, the bao specials that occasionally popped up would sell out every time. Now, in the new permanent space located in Wynyard Quarter, The Rolling Pin has put two types of baos on the menu and the pulled pork version cannot be beaten. The juicy and saucy pork is elevated by the apple slaw and the thick slather of chilli mayo makes it ooze with sauce following each bite.
Organic tofu buns from Janken
Everyone raves about the steamed buns at this Herne Bay spot. Although Janken is not a Chinese restaurant, baos have also been a part of Japanese cuisine for as long as we can remember. You might think that these ones have the potential to be quite dry as the bao is thicker in comparison to the filling, but the softness of the bao makes the overall dish so light, it ends up balancing the ratios. The thick slab of tofu is glazed with teriyaki dressing, lending the bao an umami flavour, and the eggplant is doused in a sweet date miso with pickled ginger.
Pork belly bao from The Blue Breeze Inn
If you didn’t have a pork belly bao when dining at The Blue Breeze Inn, you might as well say you didn’t dine there at all. These are an absolute must, they have never been taken off the menu and probably never will for very good reasons. The bao itself is unbelievably plushie and soft like a cloud, but we think the star is the filling. A thick cut of pork belly with crunchy crackling is sandwiched between the bao along with a slather of hoisin sauce, pickled vegetables and coriander. You really can never go wrong with these.
Smoked brisket bao from Chop Chop Noodle House
Right around the corner from The Blue Breeze Inn is its little sister restaurant, Chop Chop Noodle House. Although these two eateries are closely related, Chop Chop most definitely has its own unique and exclusive dishes, one of them being the smoked brisket bao. The tender beef is paired with slivers of kimchi and special Korean-inspired hot ‘ssam’ sauce which is a mix of soybean paste and red pepper paste, creating a distinct flavour that resonates with a spicy miso.
Pork buns from Sunny Town
This restaurant is much more traditional when it comes to baos, reminding us that basic done right is sometimes the best. Sunny Town’s pork baos do not have a slit in the middle, and instead, showcase the traditional shape and form of the bao. The buns encase a generous amount of slightly sweet and saucy diced pork, which steams all over your face when you tear the bun open. The ratio to pork and bun is spot on at this establishment and ensures that each bite includes a little bit of both components.
Steamed bun sliders from The Candy Shop
As much as we love baos, the size of them can get a tad overwhelming, but not at The Candy Shop. The steamed bun sliders come in the perfect snack-size portions and act as the ideal starter to any meal. Offered as either a tempura tofu version or a more commonly seen pork belly iteration, the tempura tofu is our go-to for its citrus hoisin sauce and slaw.
