Who doesn’t love a good pair of buns? We’re talking about steamed bao buns, of course. For those who don’t know what a bao bun is – it’s a traditional, fluffy dish packed with flavours, served with a spicier version of soy-based sauce (Hoisin sauce) that originated in China. This stuffed, light meal is also known as “baos”.
The dough is soft and has a slight sweetness to it since it’s made with milk and sugar. Most commonly, a steamed bun is stuffed with protein (chicken, shrimp, or pork) or tofu, some vegetables, and herbs or spices such as ginger, coriander, etc. Then, the milk buns get steamed. The steamed buns can also be a sweet dish, depending on what they are filled with.
This full-of-taste dish might remind you of dumplings since they are similar in shape and size. You are also supposed to eat one bao in one bite. When ordering this food at a restaurant, you’ll most likely receive some pickled cucumber, edamame, slaw or kimchi as a side dish. There is nothing tastier than fresh, steamed baos paired with a cold beer.
Is your mouth watering yet? Let’s explore where you can eat some of the best, steamed buns in all of Auckland.
Steamed Buns & Pork Buns: The Tastiest Selection
China Yum Char
Address: 2 Beach Road, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Website: http://www.chinayumchar.com/
Phone number: 9-309 4808
Email: N/A
Working hours:
Monday – Friday
11am – 2:30pm and 5:30-9:30pm
Saturday – Sunday
11am – 3pm and 5:30-9:30pm
Services:
Pork bao, sweet baos, Chinese cuisine
China Yum Cha got their name from “Yum Cha”, which is a Cantonese tradition of brunch that involves Chinese tea and dumpling-like food Their steamed buns are served in a customary bamboo steamer, and they’re known for their fluffy, fresh, and almost sweet flavours. They have one of the most delicious in-house made milk buns (stuffed with pork), that are so full of taste, that you’ll dub this restaurant “Yummy Cha”. (Horrible joke, but you get the point.) If you’re really craving some good, authentic Chinese food, we recommend trying the All Day Yum Char Dim Sum Set Menu. Be warned, this is not a light meal; it can easily cover the whole table with food, as well as fill your whole belly in one sitting.
Nanam
Address: 178 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna, Auckland 0622, New Zealand (Royal Oak location closed)
Website: https://nanam.co.nz/
Phone number: 09 488 9976
Email: nanam.reservation@gmail.com
Working hours:
Dine In: Sun & Mon: Closed, Tues & Wed: 4:30 pm to 10:00 pm, Thu to Sat: 11:30 am to 2:30 pm / 4:30 pm to 10:00 pm
Takeaways: Sun & Mon: Closed, Tues & Wed: 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Thu to Sat: 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm / 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Services:
Drinks, pork, steamed baos, vegetarian food
It used to be known as the jewel of Royal Oak, however, that location has been permanently closed. Now, it’s located at 178 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna, Auckland 0622, New Zealand. Naman is known for a number of different reasons; premium taste being the number one. They have a menu that contains their signature cocktails, which are a must, if you’re visiting this restaurant. They are usually packed, so be sure to book a table on time. Apart from a great drink selection and fantastic desserts, they do baos like no one else. Their doughy goodness dish is filled with all kinds of flavours and you can choose your most ideal sauce to go with it. Nanam steamed buns are known for their colour – bright pink; since they are made with beet juice. Alongside the best steamed buns, you get a side of sticky pulled pork, homemade, fresh pickled cucumber, crushed peanuts, and pork crackling.
The Tastiest Pork Belly Buns
The Blue Breeze Inn
Address: Ponsonby Central, 146 Ponsonby Road, Auckland 1011, New Zealand
Website: https://thebluebreezeinn.co.nz/
Phone number: +64 9-360 0303
Email: bookings@thebluebreezeinn.co.nz
Working hours:
Every day: 12–10PM
Services:
Steamed buns, Chinese cuisine
Blue Breeze Inn is often referred to as “the” Pacific Chinese restaurant and bar. The main goal of the Blue Breeze Inn chefs is to extract the maximum flavours out of each ingredient. Nobody does Sichuan and chilli peanuts like this restaurant. The culinary legacy of China lives on in the Blue Breeze Inn kitchen. Whether you are looking for amazing dumplings, exquisite pork buns, shrimp shumai, pork belly, a meal with chicken, or mouth-watering stir-fry tofu dishes, they have it all. All of their dishes are cooked by, what they call, talented food lovers. Which ensures that all of the food on their menu is cooked with love and dedication. Book a table and enjoy all the eateries your heart could desire. If you’ve never tried baos, try their in-house steamed bao roasted pork belly (served with pickled cucumber, coriander and an amazing sauce) or their steamed bun with gochujang-spiced tofu (also served with coriander, sauce, and pickled cucumbers) for the vegetarians. PS. We recommend stopping by on a Sunday and experiencing the Sunday Funday menu.
Bun Hut
Address: 563 Dominion Rd, Mount Eden, Auckland 1041, New Zealand
Website: N/A
Phone number: +64 9-638 8898
Email: N/A
Working hours: 8AM–6PM
Services:
Traditional Chinese breakfast, delicious baos, pork belly buns, Chinese dining
If you are looking for a generous serving of bao, you’re at the right place if you’re visiting the Bun Hut. Pork belly is their most famous dish, and they know all about making the most flavourful pork belly buns. This wondrous place on Dominion Rd can be misconceived as a bakery from the outside, but their menu will quickly show you that they have some of the best Chinese (street food) dishes you can find in Auckland. If you are a true lover of pork, you must try their soft, fluffy, sticky pulled pork baos. Of course, their menu has other stunning, fresh food that is full of flavours, but if you wanna get a bite of the finest pork – eat a meal at the Bun Hut. Trust us, you won’t regret it.
Chinese Bao: A Must Try
In China, the word bao has a few different meanings. The meaning changes depending on which qualifier you use around it. Did you know that if you were to translate “bao bun”, you would be, essentially, saying “dough dough”?
No matter what you call these delicious steamed buns, what they are filled with, or what they are served with, baos have a superior taste. If you’ve never had at least one of these steamed buns, don’t miss the opportunity to visit some of the premium taste dining places we’ve recommended.
Will you go for a cool and coloured steamed bun like the bright pink baos from Nanam or are you ordering more traditional pork buns, or perhaps even chicken baos?
Let us know what your choice was and if we missed your favourite steamed buns restaurant.
