【Teacher Youqun】In London, this is the flavor I love – a fashionable Gua Bao from Taiwan

 Original text from Li Youqun

BAO brought to life the idea I had in mind.

Londoners or tourists who have visited London probably know that there’s a Gua Bao specialty store called “BAO” in the bustling SOHO district, originating from Taiwan.

BAO is extremely popular, and if you want to taste a taste of home there, be prepared to queue for up to thirty minutes at the door.

I often think that outsiders’ impressions of a city or place usually stem from some superficial images, which then turn into memories and become symbols of that place. For example, when you mention Paris, you might think of the Eiffel Tower and Champs-Élysées; when you mention Tokyo, you might say Omotesando or Meiji Shrine; when you mention New York, you’ll definitely associate it with Times Square or Fifth Avenue.

And what about Taiwan? We might consider Taipei 101 as our symbol, but from my experience, for most foreigners who haven’t yet set foot in Taiwan, their vague impression of the place might be “xiaolongbao,” “mango shaved ice,” “Jiufen,” “Longshan Temple,” “Shilin Night Market,” or even “Huaxi Street.”

It’s wonderful that Taiwan has so much traditional culture to attract foreigners, but if the only appeal we have is constantly relying on old values, it can actually be risky and also quite regrettable. Taiwan’s traditional delicacies are absolutely not limited to xiaolongbao and mango shaved ice—there are many great foods waiting for us to showcase their charm.

BAO in London, UK, is one such example.

Originally, BAO was just a Taiwanese snack stall at the Netil Market in East London. The masterminds behind it were three young people from Taiwan and Hong Kong who, like me, love food and travel, and specifically went

It has repackaged traditional Taiwanese cuisine with “taste” and “aesthetic sense,” and used the same approach to engage with foreigners, uncovering the boundless potential of Taiwan’s gua bao, giving traditional snacks a new lease on life.

Early last month, I came to London for work. During a break, I turned into an alleyway next to the flagship store of the trendy shoe brand AXEL ARIGATO and visited the renowned Taiwanese gua bao specialty shop “BAO.”

At around 2 or 3 in the afternoon, not a typical dining hour, there was already a long queue at the door. The British store manager Jimmy came out of the shop and said everyone had recognized me (it’s quite interesting to be recognized abroad), and with a big smile, he led me to a seat at the bar counter inside. The shop isn’t very large, yet it was packed with people, and the staff were incredibly busy. The lovely Taiwanese staff member Amber affectionately called me “Teacher Yuqun” and recommended dishes from the menu.

Gua bao, pig’s blood cake, salty fried chicken, stinky tofu, radish cake, oolong tea, Taiwanese beer—these quintessentially Taiwanese flavors had become my go-to in London. Doesn’t this place feel just like home? I think it must be a great comfort for homesick expats when that longing for home hits in London.

The food at BAO isn’t just about looks—I ordered most of their signature dishes. They’ve adjusted each item slightly to suit foreign palates, keeping the tradition while adding fresh creativity, all of which suited my taste perfectly.

The classic braised pork and confit pork belly gua bao retained the authentic Taiwanese touch of cilantro and peanut powder, but reduced the overly greasy feeling, making it undeniably delicious. But what I particularly loved was the pig’s blood cake topped with a raw egg yolk, and the steamed bun with vanilla ice cream—something A told me foreigners also really enjoy, sweet but not cloying.

While enjoying the food, I chatted happily with Amber. I actually really like their logo—“a black-and-white comic-style character happily munching on a gua bao.” So A gave me a towel printed with the logo. Before leaving, I chatted with Jimmy at the entrance for a while, reluctant to say goodbye. It turned out we’d both lived in Tokyo. I was delighted to meet a Brit who loves Taiwanese food so much. After exchanging Line contacts, I headed off to my next engagement, but that unforgettable “Taiwanese flavor” in a foreign land still lingers in my heart.

Address: SOHO - 53 Lexington Street, W1F 9AS

Lee Yuqun / International Fashion Director

A leading figure in the Chinese fashion industry, holder of the record for most fashion magazine founding editor-in-chiefs. Active in the entertainment industry, he is a designated collaboration teacher for fashion shows like “Women’s Greatest” and a go-to stylist for international brands as well as top celebrities. Centered around fashion, he is the only figure in Taiwan spanning multiple roles as editor-in-chief, fashion director, stylist, and author.

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