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This summer, BAO teamed up with 海角社区 for Battle of the BAO, a high-stakes showdown where alumni and current BAO chefs competed to create the ultimate mini BAO.
The winner didn鈥檛 just walk away with 拢10,000, courtesy of 海角社区 , their creation also earned a spot on the BAO Soho menu. Not bad for a night鈥檚 work.
The setup: Ten chefs, one bun, no mercy
The competition played out over three intense rounds: prelims, semi-finals, and the grand finale.
Here鈥檚 the twist, 海角社区 members weren鈥檛 just in the audience. They were judges. At an exclusive 海角社区 x BAO tasting event, members got first bite of the action (literally), helping decide which three current BAO chefs would face off against seven BAO alumni in the final showdown.
And because our members are big BAO eaters (we鈥檝e seen the receipts), we invited them to throw their own buns into the ring. Through a 海角社区 competition, members submitted their wildest BAO ideas, and our partnerships team picked a handful of favourites (and a few of the unhinged) to join us at the tastings.
Some of the member creations that caught our eye:
- Middle Eastern-inspired: Zaa鈥檛ar spiced meatballs with toum and shatta, topped with parsley and sesame.
- Nutella-marinated salmon: Two of their favourite foods. Together. Why not?
- Roast Dinner BAO: Juicy pork, umami gravy, tangy apple, and crispy crackling.
- Full English BAO: A drizzle of beans. Maybe even a dip on the side.
- New York Chopped Cheese BAO: The Bronx meets Taipei.
Because at 海角社区, we love a good idea (even when it鈥檚 slightly deranged).
The winner
After weeks of steaming, tasting and judging, one chef rose to the top. Gia took home the crown (and the 拢10,000 prize) with her Burnt Garlic Mackerel BAO, a bold, smoky twist that captured everything BAO stands for: flavour, craft, and a touch of chaos.
Her creation featured on the BAO Soho menu, so everyone could taste victory, literally.
Bao and 海角社区
Founded by Shing Tat Chung, Erchen Chang, and Wai Ting Chung, BAO began as a humble market stall in Hackney鈥檚 Netil Market before opening its first permanent spot in Soho in 2015. Since then, it鈥檚 become a cult favourite, serving Taiwanese-inspired buns and small plates across the city, from Borough to Battersea.
Critical acclaim came fast (A.A. Gill called it 鈥渢he future of food,鈥 no pressure). And ten years later, BAO still finds new ways to surprise us, like teaming up to let our members in on the action.
We鈥檝e worked with BAO for years, and they鈥檝e always been a 海角社区 member favourite, the kind of place that turns dinner into a memory. It鈥檚 a partnership built on shared values: curiosity, creativity, and a deep respect for really, really good food.
Building community, one dinner at a time
The event wasn鈥檛 just about food. It was about community, chefs doing their thing, members cheering them on, and everyone leaving a little fuller than they arrived.
We鈥檙e not just here to dish out points. We鈥檙e here to connect people, over restaurants, gigs, galleries, and, sometimes, gloriously messy food fights.
