The menu is very limited in this place. They only serve a variety of baos (buns), sweet bao fries (deep fried mantou), and F.O.B. drinks. I ordered the Chairman Bao (braised Berkshire Pork Belly bao with crushed peanut, cilantro, Haus relish, and Taiwanese red sugar), Haus Bao (signature all natural hanger steak bao with crushed peanut, cilantro, Haus Relish, and Taiwanese red sugar) and Uncle Jesse Bao (pan fried organic tofu coated in sweet potato starch topped with our Haus sauce, cilantro, crushed peanut and Taiwanese red sugar). I later added the Birdhaus Bao (chicken brined-overnight-and-fried-to-order bao, served with spicy seasoning salt, cilantro, and crushed peanuts). I ranked them:
1. Birdhaus Bao (Juicy, piping hot, addictive)
2. Chairman Bao (flavorful, melts in your mouth, and come on, it's pork)
3. Uncle Jesse Bao (surprisingly tasty for tofu, great seasoning)
4. Haus Bao (very similar to the Chairman Bao, not a big fan of beef so I ranked it last although this bao is Eddie Huang's claim to fame)
I got the sweet bao fries in pandan sauce. I wanted to stay true to my Asian root and picked durian at first but they ran out. The sauce is basically flavored condensed milk sauce drizzled over deep fried muntou cut up in strips. So simple, yet so good.
My F.O.B. drink of choice is cold chrysanthemum tea. I find it funny that it says "Authentic Asian Drink" on the carton. But I guess anything that reminds of Chinese New Year in Asia ought to be able to claim that title right?
If you are really hungry, you can order the combo meal, named the straight frush. It's $13 for any three baos with a free drink. Now just make sure you say it in your fobbiest accent when you order the straight frush.
Baohaus
137 Rivington Street
New York, NY 10002
