Bao Soho, London

Celebrated table

Bao Soho

Discover the pillowy buns, shared plates, and playful drinks that earned this Soho staple a place in The Good Food Guide.

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The story

Bao Soho: Award-Winning Taiwanese Dining in Central London

From street stalls to the dining room

Bao Soho delivers consistently praised Taiwanese cuisine in the heart of London. The venue secured a recommendation in The Good Food Guide after years of turning casual walk-ins into regular destinations. The concept began as a modest gazebo equipped with a single cooler, operated by founders who met while studying art. That humble street stall gradually expanded, yet the Soho location maintains a strict focus on careful Taiwanese cooking techniques.

Shared plates and signature buns

Guests typically order several items to share across the table, though a dedicated solo menu also accommodates diners seeking a quiet meal. The steamed buns arrive pillowy and warm, featuring fillings like slow braised pork tossed in crushed peanuts and preserved vegetables. Another popular option layers soy milk marinated chicken with Szechuan mayonnaise and golden kimchi. Smaller plates such as mapo aubergine served over chi shiang rice provide additional texture for those exploring the broader menu.

Drinks and the evening atmosphere

The beverage program leans toward playful combinations that complement the modern Taiwanese kitchen. Patrons frequently order house-made peanut milk or experiment with layered citrus sodas topped with light foam. A selection of sake varieties pairs well with the richer bites, while a separate lounge area hosts karaoke sessions when the dining room settles down. Private dining rooms remain available for larger groups who prefer a more contained environment.

Recognition

Awards & accolades

2026
The Good Food Guide
Good

Ambience

A glimpse inside

Details

At a glance

The Good Food Guide 2026 — Good
Cuisines Taiwanese
Services Delivery, Dinner, Private Room

History

On the record

2026
The Good Food Guide — Good

It may have started out as a ‘gazebo with a cool box’, but the dinky original branch of hot-ticket Taiwanese bun specialist Bao is now something of a legend among the capital’s ‘walk-in’ restaurants. Long queues snake down Lexington Street whatever the weather, but it’s worth the slog once you’re inside and have the tick-box menu in front of you. Fluffy steamed bao buns are the main event here, ranging from the classic braised pork with peanut powder and fermented greens to fried chicken marinated in soy milk with Szechuan mayo and golden kimchi. Just add some tantalising xiao chi snacks (pig’s blood cake with soy-cured egg; mapo aubergine on chi shiang rice), plus sides such as sweet potato chips with plum pickle ketchup. Also order a glass of homemade peanut milk and don’t forget to put your final tick against the fried bao filled with Horlicks ice cream. Although the food is made for sharing, this branch is perfect for singletons and even has a special ‘long day menu’ promising ‘a perfect moment of solitude for the solo diner’. A shot of bao-friendly ‘weeping saké’ does the trick or you could investigate the kooky ‘dream drinks’ (grape soda with aloe vera foam, say).

Established

Location

Find us

53 Lexington Street, Soho, W1F 9AS
London, United Kingdom
info@baolondon.com
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Map showing Bao Soho