The people behind everyone’s favourite cult Taiwanese restaurant micro-chain have opened up another Bao, this time in Kings Cross. The other locations have gradually increased in size, from a tiny street stall in Hackney’s Netil Market, to a packed-out Soho sleeve, all the way to a Borough Market venue with its own karaoke room.
If anything, it should be them taking a bao.
It neighbours the all-new Hoppers – which, at 6,000 combined square feet, is easily the largest site in either portfolio. Described as “a nostalgic take on Western-style cooking commonly found throughout Asian cafes”, it draws its inspiration from the iconic Bolero restaurant in Taipei city (literally the country’s oldest Western eatery), as well as from the cafes & tea-rooms of Japan and Hong Kong.
Impressively for its sleek, new-build setting, the interiors are every bit as characterful as its predecessors. The double-height windows flood light onto a warm, wood-panelled space with smoothly curving walls and a red vinyl floor. Seating is typically kitsch and retro, and there’s a constellation of paper lanterns suspended over the whole café.
On your left as you enter you’ll spot the on-site bakery, where there’s sweet cakes, sad-face buns and Pump Street Chocolate bao cookies available to take away. Choose to sit in, though, and you’ll be able to enjoy an all-day menu featuring luxe bao with lobster; ‘pizza bao’ stuffed with meat and cheese; and even ‘BAOfiteroles’, profiterole versions of their iconic deep fried Horlicks ice cream bao.
So you’ll definitely want to take a bao, too.
NOTE: You can find out more, and make a booking at Bao Kings Cross on their website HERE.
Bao Kings Cross | 4 Pancras Square, N1C 4AG
Like spending time in the neighbourhood? Check out these other excellent King’s Cross restaurants