Juicy Bao Bao Opens On William Street

Lydia Zhang, owner of Authentic Bites Dumpling House, is a big claypot-rice fan. Unable to find one of her favourite tastes of home in Perth, she and her husband Yang jumped at the opportunity to open a second venue specialising in this Shanghainese classic. The appeal of the dish isn’t hard to understand; it’s meat and rice cooked together, complete with the crunch of a deeply caramelised sauce a la the socarrat of a good paella.

In addition to countering bouts of homesickness, the Yangs were also motivated by a desire to bring a taste of Shanghai-style cooking to Perth.

“We wanted to offer something more authentic,” says Zhang, “something that wasn’t adapted for a Western audience.”

The other aspect of their mission is – as the name suggests – an excellent selection of Shanghai-style dumplings (according to Zhang, bao refers to both dumplings and rice in Mandarin). While similar to Cantonese versions served at dim sum, Shanghai-style dumplings are notable for being larger and juicier and available in both steamed and pan-fried versions.

“Cantonese dumplings are more about the combination of ingredients and textural dough, whereas with the Shanghai style it’s all about the juicy filling,” says Zhang. Be warned: hot broth squirting across the table is a real danger.

Kitchen windows mean diners can watch seasoned chefs shape and twist these dumplings filled with combinations such as pork and chive, and beef and pickles. Pan-fried juicy pork bao – shen jian bao in Mandarin – are recommended for fans of Shanghai’s famous xiao long bao. Bottles of soy sauce and black vinegar join pots of deep-red chilli oil on the simple bench-style tables.

Juicy Bao Bao
344 William Street, Northbridge
0499 344 098

Hours:
Mon & Tue 11.30am–3pm, 5pm–9pm
Thu to Sun 11.30am–3pm, 5pm–9pm

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This article first appeared on Broadsheet on August 13, 2018. Menu items may have changed since publication.