Abb Air: Thai Cuisine 1982, CBD Sydney (11 May 2018)

Shop 9.6, World Square Shopping Centre
40 Goulburn St, Sydney NSW 2000
https://abbair.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/abbair1982/

One plate wonder

I never realised how good this place was until a recent post on Sydney Food Bloggers mentioned it and this dish. #69 Pad Prik Khing - stir fried crispy pork belly with curry paste with green beans, sliced kaffir lime leaves and pork rind ($14.90) had thinnish slices of pork with a good balance of nice crackling bits and fatty bits. Very tasty flavours and a pleasant chilli kick sitting on a bed of rice. A one plate wonder most suitable for a solo diner. Service was friendly and the menu looked interesting with a mix of Thai classics and some others dishes I haven't seen before. Will definitely need to return.

Mr Bao, CBD Sydney (13 Mar 2017)

Shop 3, 56-58 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000
http://www.mrbaobuns.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/MR.BAO.STEAMEDBUNS
https://www.instagram.com/mrbaobuns/
https://twitter.com/mrbaobuns

Bao A game strong

These guys having been bringing their bao A game for a while now in Sydney with lunch time punters still going strong. The menu special of any two gua bau with fries for $15 catches my eye. I choose the Crackling Pork Belly, signature hoisin sauce, lightly pickled cucumber & coriander and the Karaage Chicken with spicy aioli, pickled red cabbage & coriander. Usually I'd think bao are pretty small but these pillow soft bad boys are generously filled to make a satisfying lunch eat along with the pimped up crispy Sweet potato fries  with spicy aioli with some serious flavour impact. Loving the crunchy slab of pork crackling and the fairly juicy karaage chicken. I would have loved the cucumber and red cabbage pickling to a bit more heavy handed for that added extra zing. There's some seating available and kitchen turnaround service was pretty quick.

Wonderbao: Chinese steamed buns and Taiwanese gua bao, CBD Melbourne (30 Apr 2013)

Shop 4/19-37 A'Beckett Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

http://www.wonderbaokitchen.com.au

Cheap wonders of Melbourne

“Melbourne's street kitchen featuring authentic Chinese steamed buns and Taiwanese Gua Baos!”

My first question when visiting this place was 'where can I find a place like this in Sydney?' I'm still not sure if such a place exists but I'm pretty sure it would do extremely well around Oxford Street for late night munchies or near any university where students are on the look out for a cheap feed. Service was friendly and efficient and seating is very limited so be prepared to have as take away or try and find a milk crate outside and admire the street art and laneway bins as I did. The Roast pork belly gua bao ($3.80) with cucumber, pickled carrots & daikon & hoison sauce was my favourite of the day. I thought a great price considering it's filled with a decent amount of moist pork. The bun was lovely and soft like pillows. I was hoping for more tasty filling in Char siu bao ($2) but perhaps this one just missed out on a more generous touch. My preference was for the eggy Nai wong bao ($1.70) instead of Taro bao ($1.70). I didn't get to try my friends Da pork bao ($3.20) or Da chicken bao ($3.20) but they were quite generously filled inside. If you're not sure what F.O.B is on the menu I believe it stands for the drinks that are 'Fresh Off the Boat'.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Cheap and tasty options, Down-to-earth and efficient service

CONS: Very limited seating so more suited for takeaway

MUST TRY: Roast pork belly gua bao, Finding a place in Sydney that does the same thing

VERDICT: For a quick and simple lunch bite at a reasonable price this place ticks the box

—

Roast pork belly gua bao with cucumber, pickled carrots & daikon & hoison sauce ($3.80) — tasty flavours with tender piece of pork. Add a dash of chilli sauce for extra flavour punch
SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Braised pork belly gua bao ($3.80) — quite tasty although a little messy to eat

Fried silky tofu gua bao with pickled mustard, coriander, sweet soy sauce & crushed peanuts ($3.80)

Can't remember if this one was Da pork bao ($3.20) or Da chicken bao ($3.20)

Char siu bao ($2) — nice but a bit slim on the filling

Nai wong bao: egg custard ($1.70) — I preferred this one to the taro

Taro bao ($1.70) — if you like taro then you might like this one but was a bit heavy going for me 

Nai wong bao ($1.70), Fried silky tofu gua bao ($3.80), Braised pork belly gua bao ($3.80), Roast pork belly gua bao ($3.80)

Da pork bao ($3.20), Da chicken bao ($3.20), Char siu bao ($2), Taro bao ($1.70)

Menu — limited at a sweet price

Only a few window seats for dining in

Drinks fridge filled with FOB aka 'Fresh Off the Boat'

Chilli sauce for those who like it hot

Very Melbourne street view

Be sure to look up and check out the awesome building graphic

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