Before there were bao, there was BAO. Well, that’s not strictly true – bao has existed in Chinese culture for centuries. But in London, the proliferation of this fluffy steamed bun in London can largely be traced back to BAO, which began life as a street food stand in 2012. Today, founders Erchen Chang, Shing Tat Chung and Wai Ting Chung operate a small empire of Taiwanese small plates, expanding beyond bao to rice, noodles and various sharing dishes.
The trio, consisting of married couple Erchen Chang and Shing Tat Chung, and Shing’s sister, Wai Ting Chung, run three small, but perfectly formed restaurants in Soho, Borough Market and King’s Cross. Each one is designed with specific customers and a story in mind – whether it’s their emblematic “lonely man”, a single diner who just wants a quiet meal, or the busy commuter looking for a quick bite on his way home.
