I love big buns I cannot lie and so, we decided to try this place called C Bao Asian Buns and More, few steps from Union Square. It's definitely not the kind of place where you go for the decor, the restaurant apparently not attaching that much attention to the way it looks as can attest the small area on the right side of the door. 

It is a big place with the counter and kitchen in the back. You order at the counter and they will call the number that is on the receipt once your meal is ready.

We first got our apple fizzy that was fairly good, with tiny pieces of apple that passed through the large straw.

Then came our order. I expected the bao to be on a plate, even paper plate...

Here is what we tried:

Peking Duck Bao (Chinese roasted crispy duck skin served with scallion, cucumber & house sauce):

Tofu Veggie Bao (fried organic tofu served with shiitake mushroom, oyster Sauce and Taiwanese relish):

Crispy Chicken Bao (fried chicken served with lettuce, tomato, cucumber and honey-mustard):

Original Bao (Taiwanese braised pork belly served with powdered peanut, cilantro and Taiwanese relish):

The bao were big and too thick compared to what was inside. My favorite was the Peking duck one, thanks to the house sauce that seemed to be simply hoisin sauce, but, again, too much "bread" versus filling. My least favorite was the crispy chicken that was dry, as well as the original bao and tofu bao, because of the Taiwanese relish that I did not like. The was very disappointing...

We also got scallion pancakes that were just ok.

So this was a disappointing meal and I doubt that I would go back to that place. For bao, I definitely prefer those served in ramen places like Ippudo or even Baohaus. Or even the ones I made one time at home (recipe here)!

Enjoy (...)!

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