COMING SOON
Found at Pancras Square in King’s Cross, Cafe Bao is the first all-day dining concept from the team behind cult London restaurant Bao, which already boasts sites in Soho, Fitzrovia and Borough.
Bao is often seen as responsible for putting Taiwanese steamed buns on the map in the capital, thanks to its simple format of a tick-list menu, counter seating and pillowy bao buns filled with everything from pork belly to beef short rib. Cafe Bao represents a bit of a departure from previous sites though, and is the first in the portfolio to serve breakfast.
The breakfast menu is served until midday and features dishes which blend classic western and Asian recipes. Early risers can tuck into the likes of baked ham hock congee pie with bacon, or an egg and cheese spring onion pancake. There is a bread-based Bao loaf too, topped with syrup and butter, while later in the day, you can expect to find all of the usual Bao staples, as well as a few specials which are exclusive to the café.
Elsewhere, diners also have the chance to sample BBG, otherwise known as Bao Bakery Goods. The handmade selection features savoury delights such as a pork pie baozi and a salted egg ‘muffin’ bao, while sweeter options include a cookie made using Pump Street chocolate. You can enjoy your baked goods in the restaurant or if you are short on time, snap them up via the ‘to-go’ counter.
Speaking about Cafe Bao’s opening, Bao’s founder and food art director, Erchen Chang, said: “The inspiration for Cafe Bao stemmed from Yoshoku cuisine, an interpretation of western food, seen through an Asian lens. This style of cooking is something that’s always resonated with us and made us feel quite nostalgic. After a recent trip to Taipei, Hong Kong and Osaka we realised we wanted to bring it to life.”