As I continued my visits to businesses in the Grainger Market, I decided to head to somewhere that I had been curious about for a long time, Bao Down.
Found in alley 3 of the market, Bao Down had originally been based in Stack before it closed, but moved to the Grainger Market in 2022.
I decided to head down to market in order to try one of their quintessential products, which is of course the Bao Bun. These come in meals of two with a range of fillings, and I opted for the Classic Barbeque Korean Pork and the Crispy Peking Duck, with a San Pellegrino drink alongside as part of a £9 meal deal.
As I sat down to eat on the tables to the left of the counter, which also has a bar area attached, I looked forward to trying the food, especially considering how delectable of a scent it was giving off. I got started, first digging into the Classic Barbeque Korean Pork, which melted in the mouth and had a sweetness to it which was sublime.
(Image: Chronicle Live)
Next, I tried my second Bao, the Crispy Peking Duck, which was a very different flavour, complimenting the sweetness well with the savoury nature of the hoisin sauce. The texture of the Bao Bun itself was my favourite part however, as it seemed to be the perfect mix between a crispy bread and a soft dough.
Owner Alex Hindson has been in the street food business for eight years, after first starting in 2016 at Newcastle’s Quayside Market. He started Bao Down during lockdown, then opened a venue at Stack and traded there for a year before the site closed.
He then went on to open a Bao Down site at Stack Seaburn, but he was desperate to open another shop in Newcastle, and now Geordie diners can pay a visit to the Grainger Market venue that can sit up to 20 people. They can expect tasty steamed Bao buns, just like the ones I had, with a range of fillings, as well as gyoza, loaded fries, rice bowls and a number of vegan items.
(Image: Chronicle Live)
Alex said: “It has a lovely Asian bar where you can sit and have Bao buns and gyoza, and I think there aren’t many places like it in the city. Bao buns are really only a piece on menus and are not done great, but we are fully focused on them.
“Some people were saying they had to travel to Sunderland to get their food before we came back, and people were saying to me at that time on social media that it’s great to have us back in the city again.”
As I was heading back out of the Grainger Market, very satisfied from my lunch, I pondered over the fact that exciting, modern businesses like Alex’s are going to benefit from the £9m restoration of the building. These changes aim to make the Grainger Market an even more attractive place for both prospective businesses and visitors, and I am sure this will bring in many more delicious food places like Bao Down.
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/tried-bao-down-grainger-market-29007709
