Last Updated on November 11, 2021
Want to fill an American Japanese fusion shaped hole in your life, look no further!
Bao Yum is based in the impressive Westminster Hotel and makes a good breakfast or lunch option if you’re in the area or passing through. The American diner-esque décor nods nicely to the fusion vibe without being kitsch and the wall of words including “funs out buns out” is eyecatching. The menu is clearly sectioned making it easy to navigate the offerings. There is a wide range of grab and go options such as salads, sandwiches and drinks that are well packaged if you’re heading out into London for the day.
The restaurant name sums it up, their bao is yum as soft and pillowy buns encase fun flavours. Bring your indecisive friends because you can mix and match from their nine bao to make boxes of two, three, six or twelve! From the nine options we tried the cheeseburger, chicken satay and sweet custard bao. The cheeseburger was comforting and classic in its flavours and the familiar flavours of chicken satay worked well. They also have a collection of accompanying sauces to choose from and the char siu was sticky, sweet and was enjoyed alongside the bao. Something worth getting up early for would be the selection of breakfast bao. From baked beans and bacon to scrambled eggs, if you can eat it for breakfast, they can bao it. 
They don’t just stick to closed bao, there is a selection of open bao. It’s worth noting that these come with two per order; great if you’re sharing and want to try them all! The options include Nashville hot fried chicken, Japanese pork belly, vegan pulled ‘beef’ and lobster salad. Of these we tried the lobster salad and Nashville hot fried chicken, two big American flavours we were excited to see translated in bao. We also enjoyed the melt in the mouth pork belly however the lobster open bao truly put the ‘sea’ in seasonal. They arrived adorned like pumpkins complete with edible orange glitter and spooky silhouettes. Rumour is that there will be more seasonal specials so bring on Christmas! The Nashville hot fried chicken was our standout bao. The soft bun paired beautifully with the crunchy char siu slaw and spicy, crispy chicken. The hot sauce was warm and lingering, living up to its claim to being hot and truly living up to the Nashville name.
Of the other items on the menu, we tried the crunchy broccoli salad which was a great vegan option. The meaty mushrooms lent themselves well to the vegan pulled ‘beef’ aspect of a classic pairing of beef and broccoli. With generous broccoli helpings, the sesame dressing brought the bowl together nicely. Finally, the menu also boasts poke bowls, miso soup and lemongrass clam chowder so be sure to stop by. There is no way you’re leaving Bao Yum hungry!
Bao Yum
www.baoyum.com
The Westminster Hotel
30 John Islip St
London
SW1P 4DD
+44 20 7932 4747
Looking for a more conventional and substantial meal? We recommend the Blue Boar pub run by Sally Abé the 2021 Ayala Square Meal Female Chef of the year.
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