All a-BAO-t the best places to enjoy delicious bao buns in Dubai
The Chinese-Indonesian culinary scene has blessed the world with countless exquisite dishes. But undoubtedly one of the most universally adored is ‘baozi’, more famously known as ‘bao’. These delicious steamed soft buns have become all the rage in the UAE…and for good reason. Who doesn’t love a fluffy bite of pure tastiness, doused in Asian spices and stuffed with meat or veggies? We certainly do! Which is precisely why we’ve been out and about discovering the best places for bao in Dubai, from fine dining to classic cafés. Time to tuck in!
BEST BAO IN DUBAI
SOCIALICIOUS
The heavenly baos at Socialicious…it’s love at first sight!
Located in the family-friendly community of Jumeirah Village Circle, Socialicious is a modern spin on a traditional Asian café. Make new friends and beautiful memories at this cosy space while chef Nimraj Budha and staff conjure up delicious magic in the kitchen.
Fresh herbs and robust Asian flavours are the secrets of their supremely delicious bao served with hand-cut sweet potato fries. The steamed South-Asian buns come in various fillings and seasonings, including crispy cottage cheese bao, shitake mushroom bao, prawn tempura bao and more.
- Price of the bao: From AED 28
- Location: Ground Floor, Condor Castle Residence, Jumeirah Village 2
- Timings: All days 12:00 pm to 11:30 pm
- Contact: +971-4-240-0204
CHINA BISTRO
Have a wholesome Pan Asian culinary experience at China Bistro!
Known for their age-old family recipes, the eatery brings the flavours of the street food from China, Korea, Thailand and many other Asian regions right to your table. China Bistro, which serves delectable cuisine in a modern bistro environment, started its journey from Mumbai, India, back in 2012.
One of the best Chinese restaurants in Dubai, China Bistro serves the most delicious baos in the city. The other drool-worthy items on the menu are dim sum, sushi and curries. Plans for a family dinner? It’s worth noting that herbivores in the group can also order bao, as they serve vegan bao packed with tofu and sweet soy sauce.
- Price of the bao: From AED 31
- Location: Ground Floor, Al Balorah Building, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street, Al Karama
- Timings: All days 11:30 am to 02:00 am
- Contact: +971-56-525-6207
MISS TESS – TAJ DUBAI
Visit Miss Tess for the fluffiest bao in Dubai. Located in the iconic Taj Hotel, the restaurant’s interior is an eclectic and kitsch collection of lanterns and wall paintings. The chandeliers’ vibrant and natural tones create the impression of a classy street style eatery. You can also dine al fresco in Miss Tress, one of Dubai’s top dim sum restaurants.
Try their roasted duck bao bun with strawberry hoisin glaze and leeks or the kalbi beef ribs bao bun with slow-braised short ribs and spring onion. Customers rave over Miss Tess’ crispy Korean chicken bao served with gochujang chilli mayonnaise, honey and chives.
- Price of the bao:
- Location: Taj Hotel, Business Bay
- Timings: 06:00 pm to 02:00 am
- Contact: +971-50-498-8505
CARNIVAL BY TRÈSIND
You live in Dubai, love Indian food and have never heard of Carnival by Trèsind…that’s not possible. Nestled in the bustling commercial heart of the city, DIFC, Carnival is the festivity of magnific food. The cuisine theme at this sophisticated fine dining place changes every few months.
The Indian fusion restaurant also has the best tasting menu in Dubai. Fit for royalty, their multiple-course menu features bao in their starter section. The vegetarian bao contains corn cutlets and teriyaki glaze, while the non-vegetarian version has lamb cutlet and pickled cucumber. Patrons can check out their Sunday Brunch for more variations of bao.
- Price of the bao: From AED 32
- Location: Podium Level, Burj Daman, DIFC
- Timings: All days 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm
- Contact: +971-52-242-4262 | +971-4421-8665
NEW SHANGHAI
Had a long day of shopping at The Dubai Mall? Hungry shoppers can head to New Shanghai for a scrumptious meal.
Guests can savour the lip-smacking fare while taking in the live cooking station (which they call their “dumpling-making theatre”). The interior of this popular Dubai Mall restaurant is inspired by Shanghai’s busy, colourful streets. You can find your beloved bao among the vibrant array of delicious dishes on the menu.
One of the best places for bao in Dubai, their Truffle Chicken Xiao Long Bao is a must-try. The other varieties are Chicken Xiao Long Bao, Crab & Chicken Xiao Long Bao, Eggplant & Portobello Bao and Soy Duck Gua Bao.
- Price of the bao: From AED 12 per piece
- Location: Lower ground floor, Dubai Mall
- Timings: Sunday to Thursday 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm | Friday and Saturday 12:00 pm to 12:00 am
- Contact: +971-4-224-6819
ASIA KITCHEN BY MAINLAND CHINA
If diversity is what you are looking for, head over to Asia Kitchen by Mainland China. The Open Bao category on the menu features three different types of filings. Try the version that comes with cottage cheese, pickled carrots and tomatoes smothered in spicy Sriracha mayo. Or, go for the prawn tempura bao drizzled in tangy Sriracha sauce and green apple kimchi.
One of the patrons’ recommendations, “Smoked chilli chicken,” is filled with chef special BBQ chicken, covered in herbs and spices, making it the perfect dish to satiate your taste buds! Adding their famous Iced Peach Tea with the meal would make the ideal combination.
You can either visit the restaurant for an exquisite dining experience or place an online order through their website.
- Price of the bao: From AED 28
- Location: BurJuman, Ground Floor, Bur Dubai | Mall of the Emirates – Level 1, Near Ski Dubai
- Timings: 11:30 am to 11:30 pm
- Contact: BurJuman: +971-4-325-2123 | Mall of the Emirates: +971-4-547-4585
SIZZLING WOK
At Sizzling Wok, your taste buds will be tantalised by the tastiest Asian food in town. Watch as the chefs construct a magnificent Asian feast using only the finest ingredients, bringing the vibrant flavours of Thailand, Vietnam, China, and Singapore to life. The eatery is considered to be light on the pocket but high on taste!
Their pan Asian menu features steamed bao served with spicy chilli dip that comes with vegetable, chicken and prawns options.
- Price of the bao: From AED 48
- Location: Citymax Hotel Business Bay | Citymax Hotel Bur Dubai
- Timings: All days 6:00 pm to 12:00 am (Bur Dubai) | All Days 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm (Business Bay)
- Contact: +971-50-100-7065 (Bur Dubai) | +971-563-16-2573 (Business Bay)
THE NOODLE HOUSE
It’s fast, it’s fresh, it’s The Noodle House!
Everyone is greeted with a smile here. The Noodle House is a UAE-based company that first started in 2002. With 16 locations worldwide, it is the proud flagship of Jumeirah Restaurants.
The house offers an excellent selection of dishes, from hand-crafted wontons and dumplings to crispy and juicy calamari and duck char siu bao. Vegans must try their tofu bao served with wakame, scallion, cucumber and soy glaze filling at this Nakheel restaurant.
- Price of the bao: From AED 24
- Location: Souk Madinat Jumeirah | Jumeirah Beach Residence | Nakheel Mall
- Timings: 12:00 pm to 11:30 pm (Souk Madinat Jumeirah) | 12:00 pm to 12:00 am (JBR) | 10:00 am to 12:00 am (Nakheel Mall)
- Contact: 800-666353
DIN TAI FUNG
Looking to get a quick bao fix? Head to one of Din Tai Fung branches for a mouthwatering treat. The New York Times named Din Tai Fung one of the world’s Top Ten Best Restaurants. The Michelin-starred restaurant was founded in Taiwan back in 1972. It uses the freshest products and believes in a simple cooking approach.
- Price of the bao: From AED 16 per piece
- Location: Multiple branches, including Mall of the Emirates and The Dubai Mall
- Timings: +971-4-265-1288 (Mall of the Emirates) | +971-4-362-7500 (The Dubai Mall)
- Contact: All days 10:00 am to 12:00 am (Mall of the Emirates)
WAGAMAMA
Influenced by the fast-paced Japanese ramen bars, the eatery is a celebration of Asian food. One of Dubai’s top ramen restaurants, Wagamama is a go-to spot for authentic Japanese delicacies with multiple branches across the UAE. Bao lovers can enjoy their fluffy Asian buns handmade with love and passion.
- Price of the bao: From AED 38
- Location: Multiple branches including Dubai Marina Mall and Golden Mile 1, Palm Jumeirah
- Timings: +971-4-394-0440 (Marina Mall) | +971-4-551-0192 (Palm Jumeirah)
- Contact: Sunday to Wednesday 11:00 am to 11:00 pm, Thursday to Saturday 11:00 am to 12:00 am (Marina Mall) | all days 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm
FAQS
WHAT ARE THE OTHER PLACES YOU CAN GO FOR BAO IN DUBAI?
You have a lot to live up to when you name yourself after the meal you serve. Bao Kitchen and Bao House Dubai are examples of this. Thanks to their delicious buns, these bao hotspots live up to their reputations.
WHAT ARE THE BEST CHINESE RESTAURANTS IN DUBAI?
Due to the city’s significant demand for Pan Asian cuisine, Dubai has a big number of Chinese restaurants. Some restaurants truly stand out in terms of food quality and customer service are P.F. Chang’s, The Monk, Golden Dragon and Royal Orchid.
And that’s a wrap! These restaurants have perfected the art of consistently serving delicious bao in Dubai. However, the culinary diversity of Dubai does not end there. The city’s restaurants are full of devilishly unique dishes and fusion cuisine selections. Those looking for an out-of-the-box dining experience should definitely check out these hot pot restaurants in Dubai.
Any personal favourites that we didn’t mention? Let us know in the comment section below. We’d love to hear from you.
