Bao Down Now

BAO DOWN NOW HAS CLOSED IN FORTITUDE VALLEY & NOW POPS UP FROM THURSDAY TO SUNDAY NGHTS AT WILDE KITCHEN IN TENERIFFE.

Bao Down Now wears two hats – one as Fortitude Valley’s go-to for round-the-clock bao (steamed Chinese buns) – and the other as a funky industrial style bar and cool late night hang-out.

The bustling open-plan kitchen overlooking the street is a drawcard for bao fans, who line up to takeaway or grab a plate of delicious steamed buns or rice bowl and take refuge in the cool dark high-ceilinged apace with its edgy wall art, Chinese restaurant style tables and lounges.

Then from 10pm onwards, the giant red velvet curtain is drawn, tables and chairs cleared and the back area and bar turn into a kind of laidback nightclub. Meantime the kitchen keeps on churning out buns to passers-by and hungry night clubbers who rock up to get their fill of the best late night food around.

Bao fillings are simply divine and include Karaage Chicken (with Asian slaw, Sriracha chilli mayo, pickled ginger, chicken skin and cashews), How Now Brown Bao (braised beef cheek, kimchi salad, cucumber pickle, and beef crackle), Belly Bao (Pork, apple, radish, ssamjang sauce, caramel macadamia and pork crumbs), Yuzu Tofu (fried tofu, shiitake mushroom, lotus root and yuzu gochujang) or Crispy Hot and Sour Crab (tempura soft shell mud crab, cucumber daikon, tamarind chilli jam and watermelon rind pickle), all available in serves of 1 or 2 or as a Rice Bowl.

*From the bar there’s a cool range of cocktails that are served in teapots and perfectly complement the bao – look out for the Korea Sangria (plum wine, grape, orange and apple), Toasted Coconut (gin, coconut water, pandan, lemon and lime), Vietnamese Coffee (espresso, condensed milk, coffee liqueur and agave nectar) and Berry refreshing (vodka, forest berries, soda, lime and vanilla). Beer, wine and spirits are also available as well as a range of juices.

*At the time of writing in early Sept the bar licence was due any moment – check with Bao Down Now for updates.

Need to know - You'll find Bao Down Now on the Wickham St stretch between Brunswick St Mall and Chinatown Mall.