The Bao Bros, Littlefoot Bar Footscray

The Bao Bros, Littlefoot Bar Footscray

1

I’ve moved closer to the “west side” recently and have loved discovering new eateries and cafes on the other side of the river. The inner west has had an extraordinary transformation in the last few years and is now home to a burgeoning foods and arts scene. There’s Rudimentary Cafe, which is housed in an old shipping container, 8bit for gourmet burgers and hotdogs  and my personal fave – Guerilla Espresso – which serves up specialist coffee and the best pork buns I have ever eaten.

One of my favourite discoveries recently has been the Bao Bros, a hidden gem in the heart of Footscray. The Bao Bros specialise in steamed delights called Gua Bao (more simply called bao).  The pop up is currently being housed in the Littlefoot bar, and there’s hope for a permanent store on the horizon.

The three boys behind The Bao Bros are not actually brothers, but they are close as family. They have searched far and wide to find the perfect bao and ingredients to inspire their menu. The buns are made locally by a family business that has been selling Chinese buns for almost 20 years. They are steamed daily in the tiny kitchen. The result? A delicious soft and pillowy bun.

The Bao Bros hope to foster a “bao culture”  in Melbourne, starting in the burgeoning food scene in Footscray. Hugely popular on the streets of Taiwan, the “”gua bao” is commonly called a “Taiwanese hamburger” – a soft fluffy steamed bun traditionally filled with braised pork belly, pickled vegetables and peanuts. Although baos make an occasional appearance on some Asian fusion menus, there are not many specialist bao eateries in Melbourne, besides Wonderbao and Baotime.

Inspired by Asian flavours, the Bao Bros menu is quite small with only a few types of gourmet bao fillings and side dishes.

DSC_5745 DSC_5741 DSC_5754

My personal favourite is the chicken bao, which is chock full of deep-fried chicken with spicy sriracha mayonnaise and slaw to add a touch of freshness.

1

The fish bao is another highlight: A generous nugget of  John Dory fish is deep-fried to perfection with a golden, crispy batter. It’s teamed with a jalapeno and dill tartare sauce which has a nice heat to accompany the fresh slaw.
23

For vegetarians, there’s also a veggie bao on the menu, filled with lightly battered eggplant with snowpeas and salsa verde. There are also a couple of sides to sink your teeth into, like the Crispy Chicken Wings fried to a crisp in The Bao Bros secret spices and the Littlefoot Chips paired with garlic aioli.

I can only hope that the bao culture continues to blossom in Melbourne; these little beauties are certainly worth getting your hands dirty for. Can’t wait for the permanent store to open.

 The Bao Bros

A 223 Barkly Street, Footscray VIC 3011
T 03 9396 1282
W thebaobros.com.au
Follow:
lisaeatsworld
lisaeatsworld

Find me on: Web

Share:

5 Comments

  1. June 2, 2023 / 7:57 pm

    I may need your help. I tried many ways but couldn’t solve it, but after reading your article, I think you have a way to help me. I’m looking forward for your reply. Thanks.

  2. September 20, 2023 / 1:54 pm

    Your article gave me a lot of inspiration, I hope you can explain your point of view in more detail, because I have some doubts, thank you.

  3. naumov
    February 1, 2025 / 2:17 pm

    Hey folks! royalreels7 is hands down the best online casino I’ve played at. The pokies selection is unreal, with everything from classic slots to modern ones with crazy features. The promotions are great too—I’ve gotten free spins and cashback offers a few times now. I’ve won a bit here and there, and withdrawing the money was hassle-free. It’s a great option for Australian players looking for a trustworthy casino.

  4. Dimonder
    February 4, 2025 / 12:16 am

    Hey everyone! I recently logged into Aud9 Casino and thought I’d share my experience so far. The login process was super quick and hassle-free, which is always a good start. Once I was in, I was greeted by a clean and modern interface that’s really easy to navigate. They’ve got a fantastic selection of games, from slots and table games to live dealer options, which I’ve been really enjoying. The live casino section is particularly exciting—it feels like you’re right there at the table, and the dealers are super friendly and professional. I’ve been exploring their slots, and I’ve already had a few small wins, which always adds to the excitement!

    What I really appreciate about Aud9 Casino is how smooth and reliable everything feels. Depositing funds was straightforward, and I didn’t have any issues when it came to withdrawing my winnings. Their customer support team has also been great—I had a question about a promotion, and they responded quickly with a clear and helpful answer. Speaking of bonuses, their welcome offer was a nice touch and gave me a little extra to play with right from the start. While I haven’t hit any huge jackpots yet, I’ve had a lot of fun playing, and the overall experience has been really positive. If you’re looking for a new online casino with a great selection of games, Aud9 is definitely worth checking out. Just remember to play responsibly and enjoy the games! Cheers! Aud9 Casino login here – https://on9aud.bet/

  5. Markiello
    February 11, 2025 / 7:49 am

    A Yoyo egy megbízható és könnyen kezelhető platform https://yoyo.casinobelepes.hu/, amely rengeteg lehetőséget kínál. A rendszer jól működik, és a különböző lehetőségek könnyen elérhetők, így az élmény kényelmes és gördülékeny.

Leave a Reply

%d bloggers like this: