“Hot Asian Buns” is the huge, colourful sign that greets you when you walk into Bun House Disco.
You know, just in case you were worried this was a Pilates studio.
No, this is a place where subtlety gets left at the door, and in its place you’ll find disco-balls, colourful neon strip-lights, fluffy steamed buns packed with flavour, and inventive cocktails to wash them all down with.
It’s now open on the hairpin corner right at the top of Brick Lane, and its all-glass facade reveals its uniquely retro interior. It comes to us from the power couple behind Pleasant Lady and the original Bun House in Chinatown: Z He and Alex Peffly. Here they’re channeling the wild hedonism of ’80s Hong Kong by soaking the space in synth pop and easy-going drinking food.
If you’ve ever been to the pair’s old spot on Old Compton Street, Wun’s Tea Room, you’ll know that they’ve got a ridiculously stylish eye when it comes to recreating retro haunts. Here, they’ve peppered the industrially naked ceiling with multi-coloured strip lighting, backed the bar with corrugated steel, and added an actual disco ball. There’s no mis-reading the vibe here, it’s all geared towards casual, quick fun.
On the menu, things kick off with the eponymous, all-important, main characters: the buns. They come in pure white, tennis ball-sized globes that have a pliant fluffiness that practically begs to be torn into. And inside, the fillings are (pretty much) all flavoursome & delicious, ranging from lamb & cumin, to BBQ pork belly, chicken thigh with lemongrass, and salted egg yolk custard. After that there are baskets of dim sum, plates of smacked cucumbers, and bowls of wontons with an optional bathing in soup or noodles (or both).
There’s a cocktail menu too, and Z has also put together a collection of classics with a twist, bringing together Chinese herbs, spices and flavours to create imaginative new serves like the Sesame Old Fashioned, Pandan Negroni, and Chrysanthemum Martini. But you can stay teetotal with a classic Hong Kong milk tea, of you fancy. Oh, and the beer? Naturally there’s a lager & an IPA buuuut you can really push the boat out with a peach & basil sour.
If you’re in the area, and in the market for a quick bite, this is the place to go. And you’ll want to try everything with, ahem, wonton abandon.
NOTE: Bun House Disco is open now, Tuesday to Sunday. There are no bookings. You can find out more at the Bun House website.
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Bun House Disco | 118 Bethnal Green Road, London, E2 7EE
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