Bao Makers Review 13/07/19
Came over for lunch on a Saturday as I had recently bought some Chope Vouchers. Overall, spent $53.80 for 2 pax. With the Chope Voucher ($25 discount), comes up to $14.40 / pax. The restaurant itself was very elongated with a sleek modern minimalistic design and just a hint of Japanese decor.
Each main (The rice bowls that we ordered) comes with a side of House Salad and a cup of (refillable) roasted hot/iced green tea. Felt that the dressing for the house salad was too sour making the salad less appetising but the flavour of the roasted tea was very pronounced and hence very enjoyable to drink.
- Comes with 2 pieces of salmon belly that had a layer of mentaiko sauce, an onsen egg, bits of lettuce and seaweed on top of a bed of white rice
Unfortunately, the rice itself was not the typical Japanese rice and was definitely not sticky. Without any sauce added to it, it was bland when eaten alone and with a significant serving of rice provided, the rice will highly likely be eaten alone after the other ingredients have been finished. Mentaiko salmon did have the mentaiko flavour that one would expect but felt that the salmon or the dish overall could have afforded more sauce, perhaps on top of the rice as well? Overall, I think that this dish could be improved by adding some form of sauce to the rice, using JAPANESE RICE, or having more toppings (Like the seaweed).
Taste: 5/10
'Pan seared beef steak, house blend teriyaki sauce, onsen egg'
This main was a lot better mainly because the rice was drenched in their house blend teriyaki sauce which was not too sweet. In fact, the rice was so flavourful that I did not mind eating it on its own. The beef steak itself was nicely seared and provided a nice slightly saltish contrast to the dish; Strong beefy flavour as well. I think my only gripe with this bowl would be that more beef could have been given.
Taste: 8/10
True to their name, the baos were what truly stood out in this restaurant. Now, if only they could be bigger...
'Deep fried bun, fresh crabmeat with Singapore style chilli sauce'
Simply comforting, deep-fried 'mantou' with loads of crabmeat drenched in a sweet and spicy chili crab sauce; Favourite bao.
Taste: 10/10
'Steamed sesame bun, signature salted egg sauce, seasoned fried chicken'
If you love salted egg, you will love this bun. Loaded with creamy salted egg goodness and a really juicy and crunchy slab of chicken.
Taste: 10/10
'Steamed white bun, fried salmon, cod roe sauce, cheese, tobiko'
This bao is essentially an elevated version of my salmon mentaiko bowl, with the rice being replaced by sweet fluffy buns and a rich cheese flavour to complement the mentaiko salmon. (Unfortunately, I do not remember the tobiko in the bun)
Taste: 9/10
Overall, felt that this restaurant was a tad pricey without the discount but I guess I should be expecting that due to where its located. While the rice bowls are the ones that will fill you up here, I would strongly suggest skipping them and going straight for their baos. Personally, I will only come back again if I've another huge discount.
Each main (The rice bowls that we ordered) comes with a side of House Salad and a cup of (refillable) roasted hot/iced green tea. Felt that the dressing for the house salad was too sour making the salad less appetising but the flavour of the roasted tea was very pronounced and hence very enjoyable to drink.
Salmon Mentaiko Bowl ($14.80)
- Comes with 2 pieces of salmon belly that had a layer of mentaiko sauce, an onsen egg, bits of lettuce and seaweed on top of a bed of white rice
Unfortunately, the rice itself was not the typical Japanese rice and was definitely not sticky. Without any sauce added to it, it was bland when eaten alone and with a significant serving of rice provided, the rice will highly likely be eaten alone after the other ingredients have been finished. Mentaiko salmon did have the mentaiko flavour that one would expect but felt that the salmon or the dish overall could have afforded more sauce, perhaps on top of the rice as well? Overall, I think that this dish could be improved by adding some form of sauce to the rice, using JAPANESE RICE, or having more toppings (Like the seaweed).
Taste: 5/10
Teriyaki Beef Steak ($17.80)
'Pan seared beef steak, house blend teriyaki sauce, onsen egg'
This main was a lot better mainly because the rice was drenched in their house blend teriyaki sauce which was not too sweet. In fact, the rice was so flavourful that I did not mind eating it on its own. The beef steak itself was nicely seared and provided a nice slightly saltish contrast to the dish; Strong beefy flavour as well. I think my only gripe with this bowl would be that more beef could have been given.
Taste: 8/10
True to their name, the baos were what truly stood out in this restaurant. Now, if only they could be bigger...
Chili Crab Bao ($4.50)
'Deep fried bun, fresh crabmeat with Singapore style chilli sauce'
Simply comforting, deep-fried 'mantou' with loads of crabmeat drenched in a sweet and spicy chili crab sauce; Favourite bao.
Taste: 10/10
Salted Egg Chicken Bao ($4.30)
'Steamed sesame bun, signature salted egg sauce, seasoned fried chicken'
If you love salted egg, you will love this bun. Loaded with creamy salted egg goodness and a really juicy and crunchy slab of chicken.
Taste: 10/10
Salmon Mentaiko Bao ($4.30)
'Steamed white bun, fried salmon, cod roe sauce, cheese, tobiko'
This bao is essentially an elevated version of my salmon mentaiko bowl, with the rice being replaced by sweet fluffy buns and a rich cheese flavour to complement the mentaiko salmon. (Unfortunately, I do not remember the tobiko in the bun)
Taste: 9/10
Overall, felt that this restaurant was a tad pricey without the discount but I guess I should be expecting that due to where its located. While the rice bowls are the ones that will fill you up here, I would strongly suggest skipping them and going straight for their baos. Personally, I will only come back again if I've another huge discount.
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