 Breadcrumbs

  



 [What's New](/life/food/whats-new)

 /  26 June 2019  

#  Everyone’s Talking About…. Bao Buns  


Doughy deliciousness that pack a sweet and savoury punch in one hit. This is the year the bao bun moves from social dining to home cooking, nudging its way from specialist store to mainstream British supermarket shelf…  


[ Save To My Favourites ](/user/0/favourites)

 

 



 

 

 

 



 

If you’ve been to restaurants Flesh &amp; Buns, On The Bab, and Bao, you’ll be familiar with Bao buns. These little, fluffy, edible clouds of light and doughy yumminess pack a sweet and savoury punch in one hit. Described as “pillows of joy”, it’s the ability of these little pockets to be the perfect vessel for all sorts of fillings which has fuelled their popularity, appearing in all our favourite supermarkets.

Steamed buns – known as baozi, humbow, nunu, bakpau, bausake and pow, as well as bao – are popular in East Asian countries such as Korea, Taiwan, China and Japan and have been a mainstay of the street food scene for some time (award-winning Yum Bum in Old Spitalfields Market pops up at feasts and festivals and has three outlets in London that are well worth a trip). When it comes to a quick foodie fix, it seems we’re all lining up down the street and around the corner.

Flesh &amp; Buns’ chef Ross Shonhan is such a fan, he opened a restaurant specifically in which to serve them, and it’s now a mainstay of the capital’s food scene. “People started seeing bao buns on their travels, from Northern China and Taiwan to South Japan and New York. With social media images popping up on their accounts, people soon decided they wanted what their friends had on the other side of the world!”

Ross compares a bao bun to a piece of white bread – indulgent, simple yet able to carry a variety of flavours. “In our latest restaurant [Flesh &amp; Buns Fitzrovia](https://www.fleshandbuns.com/restaurant/flesh-and-buns-oxford-circus/), we’ve installed a smoker oven and the smoked brisket with chipotle and miso sauce is proving a hit.”

When it comes to making your own bao buns at home, consider how you balance your flavours and textures. “There’s a reason our crispy piglet belly and crispy duck are so popular,” adds Ross. “The sweet stickiness of the sauces works well with the lightness of the bao bun. Add to that the acidity and texture of pickles, and you have a successful contrast in both taste and texture.”

## How to DIY your bao buns at home…

 

 

 

 

[Marks &amp; Spencer ready-to-fill buns](https://www.marksandspencer.com/c/food-to-order/not-just-any-food/food-news/bao-buns) are available in store. All you need to do is pop them in the microwave and fill them up.  
  
Lots of supermarkets have ready-made slow-cook ranges which work brilliantly for fillings, such as the Vietnamese slow-cooked pork belly; you can add a quick pickle made of finely shredded carrots, cucumber and radish steeped in a little lime juice and rice wine vinegar.

Why not try ready-to-eat chilli and coriander king prawns, warmed through in the frying pan and served with crushed avocado, fresh coriander leaves, a drizzle of mayo, squeeze of lime and a sprinkle of dried fresh chilli?

For vegetarians, try using shitake mushrooms. Brown the mushrooms in a frying pan, add a splash of hoisin sauce and warm it through. Add more sauce to your bun, stuff with the mushrooms, some pickled vegetables, peanuts, spring onions and coriander.

[Waitrose &amp; Partners School of Wok Bao Bun Kit](https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/school-of-wok-bbq-bao-bun-kit/540481-680079-680080) has everything you need to make your bun from scratch and instructions on how to knead, shape and steam your little cloud ready to be filled. You don’t even need a steam basket.  
  
If you want to make your buns properly, [this is the steamer](https://www.ocado.com/webshop/product/Lekue-Buns--Baos-Silicone-Steamer/403113011) to go for. Afterall, who doesn’t need another gadget in the kitchen?

 

 

 



 

 

 ![Bao Bun Kit from School Of Wok](/sites/sheerluxe/files/styles/max_600x600/public/articles/2019/06/new-school-wok-kit-waitrose-partners-ps250.jpg?itok=ut_wS1fh)

 

 

 

[#### Bao Bun Kit](https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=3691&awinaffid=69421&clickref=&p=%5B%5Bhttps%3A//www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/school-of-wok-bbq-bao-bun-kit/540481-680079-680080%5D%5D)

##### School Of Wok, 



£2.50

 

[ Flag this item ](/user/0/favourites "Add product to my favourites")

 

 

 

 ![Bao Buns from Marks & Spencer](/sites/sheerluxe/files/styles/max_600x600/public/articles/2019/06/new-marks-and-spencer-bao-buns.jpg?itok=O6xIVgLc)

 

 

 

[#### Bao Buns](https://www.marksandspencer.com/c/food-to-order/not-just-any-food/food-news/bao-buns)

##### Marks &amp; Spencer, 



Available in-store

 

[ Flag this item ](/user/0/favourites "Add product to my favourites")

 

 

 

 ![Buns & Baos Silicone Steamer from Lekue](/sites/sheerluxe/files/styles/max_600x600/public/articles/2019/06/new-lekue-buns-baos-silicone-steamer-ocado.jpg?itok=RtJ4zfG1)

 

 

 

[#### Buns &amp; Baos Silicone Steamer](https://www.ocado.com/webshop/product/Lekue-Buns--Baos-Silicone-Steamer/403113011)

##### Lekue, 



£21.99

 

[ Flag this item ](/user/0/favourites "Add product to my favourites")

 

 

 

 ![Slow Cooked Pork Shoulder from Waitrose](/sites/sheerluxe/files/styles/max_600x600/public/articles/2019/06/new-waitrose-slow-cooked-pork.jpg?itok=f05c8osv)

 

 

 

[#### Slow Cooked Pork Shoulder](https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=3691&awinaffid=69421&clickref=&p=%5B%5Bhttps%3A//www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/waitrose-slow-cooked-pork-shoulder/630568-497912-497913%5D%5D)

##### Waitrose, 



£3.75

 

[ Flag this item ](/user/0/favourites "Add product to my favourites")

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

  

## *more from*

### Life



 [View All Life](/life) 

  ![Our Latest TikTok Saves For Wedding Cake Inspo](/sites/sheerluxe/files/styles/teaser_200/public/articles/2025/05/sl-wedding-site-assets-may-thumb-cakes.jpg?itok=ZthLHDBS)

  

 

 



 

 [The Wedding Edition](/weddings)/

  11 May 2025  

 [##  Our Latest TikTok Saves For Wedding Cake Inspo  


 

 ](/life/weddings/our-latest-tiktok-saves-for-wedding-cake-inspo) 

 

 

 

  ![The Luxury Collection All Brides & Grooms Need To Know About](/sites/sheerluxe/files/styles/teaser_200/public/articles/2025/05/sl-wedding-site-assets-may-thumb-jimmy-choo-approval.jpg?itok=v7LOKNLo)

  

 

 



 

 [The Wedding Edition](/weddings)/

  11 May 2025  

 [##  The Luxury Collection All Brides &amp; Grooms Need To Know About  


 

 ](/life/weddings/the-luxury-collection-all-brides-grooms-need-to-know-about) 

 

 

 

  ![5 Affordable City Wedding Looks](/sites/sheerluxe/files/styles/teaser_200/public/articles/2025/05/sl-wedding-layout-may-25-thumb.jpg?itok=Y03cU4Dt)

  

 

 



 

 [The Wedding Edition](/weddings)/

  11 May 2025  

 [##  5 Affordable City Wedding Looks  


 

 ](/life/weddings/city-wedding-dress) 

 

 

 

  ![My Wedding Beauty Prep: Emma Hoareau](/sites/sheerluxe/files/styles/teaser_200/public/articles/2025/05/sl-wedding-site-assets-may-thumb-hero-emma-haoreau-beauty-interview_0.jpg?itok=Vnaaon9Z)

  

 

 



 

 [The Wedding Edition](/weddings)/

  11 May 2025  

 [##  My Wedding Beauty Prep: Emma Hoareau  


 

 ](/life/weddings/my-wedding-beauty-prep-emma-hoareau) 

 

 

 

  ![The SL Directory: Wedding Illustrators](/sites/sheerluxe/files/styles/teaser_200/public/articles/2025/05/sl-wedding-site-assets-may-thumb-hero-illustrators.jpg?itok=VpmiLsZd)

  

 

 



 

 [The Wedding Edition](/weddings)/

  11 May 2025  

 [##  The SL Directory: Wedding Illustrators  


 

 ](/life/weddings/wedding-illustration) 

 

 

 

  ![Me & My Wedding: A Personal Day In Hampshire ](/sites/sheerluxe/files/styles/teaser_200/public/articles/2025/05/sl-wedding-edition-110525-me-my-wedding-thumb.jpg?itok=3BjsVz1k)

  

 

 



 

 [The Wedding Edition](/weddings)/

  11 May 2025  

 [##  Me &amp; My Wedding: A Personal Day In Hampshire  


 

 ](/life/weddings/me-my-wedding-a-personal-day-in-hampshire) 

 

 

 

  ![32 Stylish Wedding Gift Ideas For The Groom](/sites/sheerluxe/files/styles/teaser_200/public/articles/2025/05/sl-wedding-site-assets-may-thumb-hero-groom-gifts.jpg?itok=glRgbUvS)

  

 

 



 

 [The Wedding Edition](/weddings)/

  11 May 2025  

 [##  32 Stylish Wedding Gift Ideas For The Groom  


 

 ](/life/weddings/gifts-for-my-groom) 

 

 

 

  ![The Wedding Wines That Will Elevate Your Big Day](/sites/sheerluxe/files/styles/teaser_200/public/articles/2025/05/sl-wedding-site-assets-may-thumb-nyetimber-approval.jpg?itok=DejaSx5q)

  

 

 



 

 [The Wedding Edition](/weddings)/

  11 May 2025  

 [##  The Wedding Wines That Will Elevate Your Big Day  


 

 ](/life/weddings/good-wine-for-wedding) 

 

 

 

  ![Everything New In Weddings Right Now](/sites/sheerluxe/files/styles/teaser_200/public/articles/2025/05/sl-wedding-site-assets-may-thumb-wedding-bites.jpg?itok=FOao5VuI)

  

 

 



 

 [The Wedding Edition](/weddings)/

  11 May 2025  

 [##  Everything New In Weddings Right Now  


 

 ](/life/weddings/everything-new-in-weddings-right-now-1) 

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

 

 

 



  

 Share This Story

 [Facebook

 ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?display=popup&redirect_uri=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com&u=https%3A%2F%2Fsw18.sheerluxe.com%2Flife%2Ffood%2Fwhats-new%2Feveryones-talking-about-bao-buns&t=Everyone%E2%80%99s+Talking+About%E2%80%A6.+Bao+Buns) [ Pinterest

 ](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsw18.sheerluxe.com%2Flife%2Ffood%2Fwhats-new%2Feveryones-talking-about-bao-buns&description=Everyone%E2%80%99s+Talking+About%E2%80%A6.+Bao+Buns&media=) [ E-mail

 ](<mailto:?subject=Everyone’s Talking About…. Bao Buns&body=Hi%0A%0AI&#039;ve just read this article https://sw18.sheerluxe.com/life/food/whats-new/everyones-talking-about-bao-buns and thought you might like it, too.%0A%0ASheerLuxe is your in-the-know friend keeping you up to date with everything new in fashion, beauty, culture, lifestyle %26 home.%0A%0AYou can sign up for the FREE daily newsletter here. https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsignup%3Fseed%3Dsharing%26utm_source%3DWebsite%26utm_medium%3DSL%26utm_campaign%3DEmail%26utm_id%3DSharing>) 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: We endeavour to always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at <info@sheerluxe.com>.

 

 

 

  ##  Fashion. Beauty. Culture. Life. Home 

###  Delivered to your inbox, daily 

 [Subscribe](/signup)