Daddy Bao is Back in town!

London

Daddy Bao

Tooting has a little not so secret that is Daddy Bao, a Taiwanese independent casual dining spot that is one of 3 dotted in London serving some of the best of small Taiwanese plates and of course those fluffy buns taking over London. Now Bao is said to have two meanings, said one way, it means “dumpling,” but said another way, it means “treasure” or “something precious.” And it’s a sure thing that Daddy Bao is serving up the latter as upon ordering from the super stylish menu you can be sure you are about to experience an array of delicious pillowy goodness in a sharing, social way which is the main theme here.

The super friendly staff seat you to your table after having a drink at the stylish bar that serves up a variety of house cocktails. We chose the Daddy Spritz, a delicious fresh cocktail of Prosecco., Plum Wine and Gin and Tonic to wet the appetite! Now the way things go is you order a number of sharing plates for the table so you can experience a number of delicious plates. The menu caters for even the pickiest diners having a range of options. We chose to sample Tenderstem broccoli with Ponzu Sauce and creamy slightly tangy spicy sauce that perfectly complements the blanched stems. We next had the Crispy Juicy Chicken accompanied with Spring Onion and Sriracha Mayo., perfectly seasoned chicken pieces that explode with flavour! Next up was aubergine with Sweet and Salty Miso Sauce that hit your taste buds with that umami!! Now the pomegranate and sesame with this soft aubergine was a taste sensation and this will definitely be a combination I will be taking away! Daddy Bao are just hitting those combos! Of course, dumplings or better known as Gyoza are a mainstay in the Far East and I definitely have my favourites! Daddy Baos are with their delicious juicy pork and chilli oil. Crispy soft and juicy they are highly recommended! So with sides and starters out the way .... we are onto the main event BAO!! I have tried many in London and most being found in China town it is rare to find really good ones outside. This is where Daddy Bao really hit the spot! We ordered up the crispy Chicken, the textures of the soft pillow with Crispy Juicy chicken with creamy spicy sauce was just heaven! The Shredded Beef was juicy and flavoursome with just a perfect hint of spice without being overpowering. The Prawn was a surprising find and actually provided a nice alternative to the usual finds! Topping off the dishes we actually found room to have a dessert and decided to share the fried Bao with Matcha Ice Cream. I was skeptical if fried Bao really worked but I was pleasantly surprised. It was crispy and soft with the creamy earthy sweet matcha! Daddy Bao serves everything up so beautifully and the staff cannot do enough for you. I really enjoyed Daddy Bao and it’s a perfect spot for both a date and equally a date with a mate. You could easily spend hours here with delicious drinks, authentic food, atmosphere, and service. I can’t wait to try the other 2 spots in Peckham and Westfield Shepherds Bush.

More Info: Daddy Bao Website