Bao Sandwich Bar, serving some of the best affordable bao in Ontario, has opened up its second location in Mississauga at the end of November, and it's an absolute treat for vegetarians and carnivores alike. You may recognize Bao Sandwich Bar from its original Waterloo location, and now that same bao is available in Mississauga.
Bao Bar serves up fresh ingredients on their perfectly pillowy homemade bao buns; on top of their in-house bao buns, over 90% of Bao Bar's sauces are also house-made (except ketchup), their drinks are made in-house, and you can taste the homemade freshness when you order.
Bao Bar is constantly innovating its menu with its snack, sandwich and bao offerings; the chefs are experimenting with different bao combinations, which is why such a small location has such a diverse menu. The sandwich offerings can be served on a bao, or alternatively on a baguette they source from a bakery in Guelph. They specialize in the concept of Vietnamese sandwiches (banh mi) and Taiwanese steamed buns (gua bao). Banh mi is a consequence of French colonialism; it's the marriage of Vietnamese ingredients and flavour profiles to a French baguette. By borrowing from various Asian cuisines, Bao Bar can keep its menu inventive and fresh.
One of their most popular menu items is the Dynasty Duck Bao (Peking-style roasted duck, with hoisin garlic mayo, cucumbers, green onions and fried duck bits), the bones from the bao are used in the broth of their duck gravy (which you can get on their Dynasty Duck Poutine!). Fear not, vegetarians, their Avocado Banger (crispy breaded avocados, famous bao sauce, pickled daikon and carrot and cilantro) and Sriracha Tofu (fried tofu with bao sauce, sweet soy glaze, lettuce and green onions) are mouthwatering. You can order it with a side of their Seoul Kimchi Fries (with or without bulgogi beef, garlic mayo, kimchi and green onions).
Mississauga is always in desperate need of new independent businesses, and Bao Bar finally brings Mississauga its first specialty bao hub. Bao Bar Waterloo is incredibly popular and the owners felt Mississauga needed a spot that offered excellent bao in the city. You may recognize Bao Bar's current home as the original location for the much-beloved Cold Pressery (which has since moved to Lakeshore); the Bao Bar owner is actually great friends with the owner of Cold Pressery, Jenny, and she did the adorable art inside Bao Bar Mississauga.
