If you haven’t tried those tasty little steamed buns that frequently make an appearance on our Instagram feeds, you’re seriously missing out. When we see the doughy goodness on any Asian menu, we just can’t resist – and if there’s one city that does ’em well, it’s ours. Check out our picks of where to get damn good bao buns in Manchester.
1. Wolf at the Door
Wolf at the Door keeps things pretty simple. Good booze, and no-fuss grub. While you can pick up a pretty lavish bottle of vino at a premium cost, you can also polish it off with a few tacos and bao buns on a budget. Prices start at just £1 per bao bun, and trust us when we say, they’re bloomin’ tasty. Flavours range from kimchi, Char Siu Pork and even ham, egg and chips.
📍Wolf at the Door, 30-32 Thomas St, M4 1ER.
2. Hello Oriental
The newest food hall to hit the slabs in Manchester is Hello Oriental, located in the Circle Square development off Oxford Road. Consisting of a whole host vendors offering delicious Chinese cuisine, Hello Oriental has a top notch selection when it comes to bao buns, including fillings such as katsu aubergine, crispy tofu and duck, in addition to classics such as chicken and teriyaki beef. There’s much more than bao buns to explore at Hello Oriental, but it does offer some of the best in Manchester.
📍Hello Oriental, Unit 3B, South Pavilion, 2 Symphony Park, Manchester, M1 7FS.
3. Suki Suki
One of the last Asian-inspired restaurants to arrive in Manchester, Suki Suki serves some of the best bao buns in the city. Feast on fluffy baos filled with the likes of teriyaki pork, hoisin duck, Korean chicken, tofu or soft shell crab, served with perfectly fried chips. Suki Suki is also great for steaming bowls of ramen, stir fry dishes and curries (including katsu) and is an absolute feast for the eyes and belly.
📍Suki Suki, Great Northern Warehouse, 227 Deansgate, M3 4EN.
4. Shoryu Ramen
Bringing authentic Japanese grub to the rainy city, Shoryu Ramen may specialise in ramen, but they also serve up some seriously good baos. There are three options to choose from on the Manchester menu, including BBQ pork, chicken karaage, and pumpkin croquette – with plenty of tasty sides to pair them up with.
📍Shoryu Ramen, 1 Piccadilly, M1 1RG.
5. Little Bao Boy
Located inside the wonderful North Taproom in Circle Square, Little Bao Boy provides the goods for those testing the fruits of the brewery’s labour. Bao buns may not be the first thing you thing of to accompany a craft pint, but they work surprisingly well together, and with some of the best creations in Manchester you really get the premium experience. With fillings ranging from beef brisket and pulled pork, to salt and pepper aubergine and gochujang cauliflower, there’s something for everyone, and perfect for bao bun novices to get hooked on the doughy delights.
📍Little Bao Boy, North Taproom, Vita East, Circle Square, Nobel Way, Manchester, M1 7FA.
6. Yum Cha
Following success in Liverpool, Yum Cha serves authentic Chinese small plates, roasted meats, dim sum, as well as fluffy steamed baos – the same dough as your bao buns, but more like a dumpling. Located at Kampus, guests can to tuck into the likes of baos filled with honey barbecued pork or chicken or shengjian bao which are pan fried minced pork and prawn baos, served with chinkiang vinegar & finely chopped fresh ginger. The Manchester restaurant even has sweet bao buns on the menu if you can’t enough of them – choose from one filled with warm custard or Nutella and have them fried and sprinkled with sugar for a perfect sweet finish.
📍Yum Cha, Kampus, 44 Aytoun St, M1 3GL.