Hoa Nam: when Asian tradition slips into a BAO

At Hoa Nam, a family-run Asian delicatessen in the 13ᵉ arrondissement of Paris, if Banh mi are among the most popular takeaway products, the delicatessen also offers another Asian street food star: Banh Bao!

These steamed buns are much more than just a snack: they're generous delights inherited from Vietnamese and Chinese traditions.

Stuffed with fragrant pork, hard-boiled egg and vegetables, they evoke the popular flavors of the streets of Hanoi or Saigon. Also called baozi in Chinese, these round buns, adorned with their emblematic swirl of dough on top, are found throughout Asia.

Depending on the region, the cooking and the toppings - sometimes sweet, with lotus purée or red beans. Long considered the meal of humble workers, today they're a veritable craze, and Hoa Nam perpetuates them with exacting standards and know-how.

You can enjoy them every day at Hoa Nam Traiteur, the iconic store in Paris's 13ᵉ arrondissement, where a steam cabinet keeps them piping hot all the time. Ready to be enjoyed at any time, the house Banh Bao are offered there in their authentic version, moist and generously garnished.

Many recipes are available: with minced pork, glazed pork, chicken or pork and mushrooms... there's even a Halal chicken version.

All HOA NAM brioches are also available to prepare at home, sold in frozen format directly from their boutique in the 13th arrondissement, as well as in many supermarkets. So you can treat yourself at home for any occasion.