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bao_soho
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BAO Soho

76

Signal score

Strong, consistent praise across multiple sources.

A tiny, bustling, minimalist wood-paneled box serving Instagram-famous Taiwanese steamed buns to a perennial queue of tourists and locals.

Cuisine

Taiwanese

Price

££

Neighborhood

Soho

Location

53 Lexington St, London W1F 9AS, United Kingdom

Date SpotCounter Dining

Ordering Strategy

Go solo or in a pair to beat the queue, fill out the paper tick-box menu with 2-3 baos and a few xiao chi small plates per person.

What to order

Safe first

Classic Bao

The signature fluffy bun with braised pork, peanut powder, and fermented greens that started the craze.

Hungry

Fried Chicken Bao

Frequently cited as a favorite over the classic, featuring soy milk marinated chicken, sichuan mayo, and golden kimchi.

Wildcard

Fried Horlicks Ice Cream Bao

The essential dessert: a scoop of malty ice cream sandwiched between a hot, deep-fried doughnut-like bao.

What to skip

Skip
Eryngii MushroomDescribed by some reviewers as a 'humdrum affair' compared to the more flavorful meat or daikon options.

More in Soho

See all restaurants in Soho

Signal Score

76
Strong SignalStrong, consistent praise across multiple sources.Agreement 85%1 Elite · 2 Editorial · 10 mentions

Signal score reflects how strong and consistent the review coverage is, not a star rating.

Top critic: The Good Food Guide (90%)

Editorial Weight 58 pts

Authority + depth + recency

Agreement 9 pts

How aligned the critics are

Coverage 10 pts

How many real review signals exist

Public Signal 0 pts

Google rating + volume

Boosts 0 pts

Manual boosts + hidden gem

Review signals

1 Elite · 2 Editorial · 7 total signals

Public signal

(0 reviews)

Good to know

They do not take reservations and there is almost always a line, though it moves faster for solo diners. The backless stools and small space are designed for quick eating, not lingering.

Trust signals

  • Not yet visited
  • mediumConfidence level

More Taiwanese in London

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