Celebrate National Bao Bun Day in Rhode Island with These Top Spots

When it comes to show-stealing Chinese street food, bao buns reign supreme. Whether seeking a quick bite or a gourmet experience, Rhode Island offers numerous spots to savor these soft, pillowy filled buns. From traditional pork belly to inventive vegetarian options, each place adds its unique twist to this beloved dish. 

Ebisu

Ebisu serves a Taiwanese Pork Belly Bun, in which tender pork belly mingles with pickled mustard greens, peanut sugar, and cilantro. For those feeling adventurous, the Spicy Honey Chicken Bun offers crispy katsu chicken, spicy honey sauce, romaine lettuce, and scallion. Providence & Warren, EbisuRI.com

Ichiraku Ramen & Fusion

Ichiraku’s bao buns offer a variety of flavors, including Karaage Chicken, Beef Brisket, or Duck Belly Buns, each with succulent meat, fresh cucumber, and spicy mayo. Smithfield, IchirakuRI.com

Jayd Bun 

The husband-and-wife team behind this authentic Chinese eatery offers bao buns with choices of chicken, pork, or vegetarian fillings. What sets them apart is their daily handmade preparation, ensuring unbeatable freshness. South Kingstown, JaydBun.us

King’s Garden 

For those with a sweet tooth, King’s Garden offers the Golden Lava Bun. This bao boasts a fluffy exterior that hides a molten core of salted egg yolk, butter, sugar, milk powder, and custard. Cranston, KingsGardenRestaurantRI.com

The Kitchen @ The Surf Shack Bed & Breakfast

The Kitchen’s Crispy Island Steamed Buns are a bao lover’s dream. These fried buns are packed with pork belly, BBQ glaze, cucumber kimchi, daikon, carrot slaw, scallions, and cilantro. Narragansett, SurfShackNarragansett.com

Mindy’s Restaurant & Sushi Bar 

Mindy’s offers two types of pork buns: steam roasted and pork belly. Each of these buns are cooked to perfection, delivering a signature fluffy texture with savory fillings to match. Portsmouth, MindysRI.com

New Wave Kitchen 

For a bold take on the classic dish, New Wave Kitchen’s Tuna Bun combines fresh tuna with wasabi, seaweed, and eel sauce, creating a wave of flavors that will delight any palate. Wakefield, NewWaveKitchenRI.com

Sakuratani Ramen & Izakaya 

Simplicity shines at Sakuratani with their Pork Belly Bun. This appetizer dish is a no-frills combination of pork belly, cherry tomato, and lettuce, all served up in a warm, soft bun. Bristol, Sakuratani-Ramen.com

Senjoy 

Senjoy’s Eel Bun caters to seafood lovers, combining eel, shredded lettuce, cucumber, Japanese mayo, and a secret house-made sauce. Vegetarians can savor the Ajitsuke Inari Tofu Bun, which swaps eel for marinated tofu but keeps all the fresh fixings. Pawtucket & Warwick, SenjoyPawtucket.com

Tori Tomo 

Tori Tomo offers an authentic Pork Belly Bun, featuring braised pork belly, pickles, and a crisp spring mix. Their dishes reflect centuries of family recipes, providing a true Japanese dining experience. Providence, ToriTomoPVD.com

Yagi Noodles

From the O.G. char siu pork belly bao to the Gochujang Chicken Bun, every choice impresses at Yagi Noodles. Seafood lovers can enjoy the Fillet-O Ebi with panko shrimp or the Lobster Bun with kewpie, yuzu, celery, and nori. Newport, YagiNoodles.com

Y Noodle & Bar

A trio of traditional Butakaku pork bao is a crowd-pleaser, along with the Kung Pao Chicken or Vegetable Bao (why not try all three?). Y Noodle & Bar also offers the Shang Hai Pan-Fried Bao, paired perfectly with their many craft cocktails. Providence, YNoodleBar.com