Cult Hong Kong Restaurant Little Bao is in Taipei this Weekend!
Great news! One of our favourite restaurants in Hong Kong is in town for the weekend at the Regent Hotel in Zhongshan. Little Bao is famous for its creative twists on the classic Chinese snack food. Foodies will appreciate not just their delicious baos, but also their flavourful sides.
In 2017, Little Bao chef May Chow was voted Best Female Chef in Asia by a panel of over 300 experts. We can attest that she deserves the title! We loved Little Bao when we stumbled upon it in Hong Kong and had to pay them a visit when we heard they were in Taipei.
The Little Bao pop up is located on B2 of the upscale Regent Hotel. Head down the stairs and take a right to find it.
The menu is short and sweet. Heads up: you’re required to order at least one combo per person, and there’s a 10% service charge added to the bill. While you have the option to order just a bao with a drink, we decided to go all out and chose the Want it All combo for the very steep price of NT$980 (whoops) that included a bao, drink, side of fries, and dessert.
Here’s what we got:
The Taiwan Taihu Craft Beer (NT$280) was smooth and refreshing.
The Pork Belly Bao (NT$360) came with slow-braised pork belly, leek and shiso red onion salad, sesame dressing, and hoisin ketchup. The meat was tender and the sauces were flavourful.
The Szechuan Fried Chicken Bao(NT$360) came with Chinese black vinegar glaze, Szechuan mayo, and coleslaw: a winning combo.
The Truffle Fries (NT$300) were INCREDIBLE. With shiitake tempeh, truffle mayo, and pickled daikon, this was our favourite dish.
The Drunken Clams, which we substituted for one of our truffle fries, were strong. Though we wouldn’t normally choose clams, they were delicious and alcoholic enough that they actually gave us a bigger buzz than the beer.
The Green Tea Ice Cream Bao (NT$220) had quality matcha flavour with a perfectly fried bun.
The Ube Ice Cream Bao (NT$220) with peanuts, salted caramel, and cilantro, seems to be inspired by the traditional Taiwanese snack. It packed a punch.
Overall, the meal was very satisfying. Although the baos that we ate at the original restaurant in Hong Kong were better – the buns on these were a little stodgier than we remember and the flavours didn’t have quite as much depth – they were still delicious. But the sides and desserts were the real winners – especially the truffle fries.
While you’re at the Regent Hotel, why not check out the massive Christmas display and get a photo with Santa?
Make sure to catch Little Bao this weekend before they head back to Hong Kong!
What’s the vibe?
Very welcoming staff in the sleek basement of the upscale Regent Hotel.
Worth it?
Maybe.
Warning: it’s not cheap. But if you’re into creative dishes full of flavour, you’ll want to pay a visit. The truffle fries were amazing and absolutely worth the price.
Would you go back?
Yes.
Little Bao is only here for the weekend, but we’ll definitely return next time we’re in Hong Kong!
Visited: December 2, 2017
| Little Bao at the Regent Taipei |
| Hours: 1/12/17: 6pm - 9pm 2/12/17: 11am - 9pm 3/12/17: 11am - 9pm |
| English Address: B2 Taste Lab, No. 3, Lane 39, Section 2, Zhongshan North Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City |
| Chinese Address: 104 台北市中山區中山北路二段 39 巷 3 號 |
Little Bao at the Regent Taipei:
Little Bao in Hong Kong:
