The Bao Super Bowl, Battle 2
A Part of the 🍿 Vegan Fried Chicken Showdown
July 20, 2019
There is a lot more bao in Manhattan than in Brooklyn. So this second bao battle would have me back, representing the East Village and the Lower East Side, and a bit closer to naming the “chicken” bao who’ll be entering the official Vegan Fried Chicken Showdown.
Baohaus is a sliver of space between 2nd and 3rd, amidst the hustle and bustle that is 14th street. Upon entering, the heat from the cooking operation hits you immediately as does the feeling that you’re walking into a gritty dive bar–dark, stickers everywhere, loud music, and general grodiness. Suffice to say the space and their customers’ comfort level is not the priority here. Luckily there is a redeeming reason to step into such a space: great bao.
I don’t know who Uncle Jesse is but his namesake bao is the epitome of bao deliciousness: Organic fried tofu served with their “Haus” Seasoning Salt, crushed peanuts, Taiwanese red sugar, cilantro, and “Haus” Sauce. The star of the show is the fried tofu– wonderfully seasoned, both with the house salt and the sugar. Add the texture of peanut and the fresh cilantro inside that soft bun and it hits all the marks.
The bao of my dreams.
A final word on Baohaus, though the grimy space and the website text and business model a bit off-putting–bro-ish and Vice-y–the bao is fantastic. But if up against a similarly stacked bao in a space more conducive to eating, the environment might be an important variable. We really couldn’t get out of there fast enough.
To the LES to The Bao Shoppe, more of a fusion-y eatery as obvious from the the kimchi below. Now lots of things would taste wonderful wrapped in a pillowy and slightly sweet bao bun, but this combination didn’t work together all that well. First the kimchi was overpowering; the raw kale taste was second, leaving the unseasoned fried tofu twiddling its thumbs uselessly. It needed a sauce, some sweetness and some seasoning on the tofu. And a green with a brighter freshness.
All in all, it was just aight. With some tweaks, it could be much better. I really need to start a food consulting business. Especially since everyone is all plant-based friendly!
Winner: Baohaus
The clear winner here is Baohaus! They advance to face off against the winner of Battle 3: Buswick’s Darlings Crispy Tofu Bao special (Drooling.) and Chinatown’s Spring Cafe.
