Hirata Buns and Rock n’ Roll

Aaah! Aaagh! Aah-aah. Oh, oh the humanity! Aaagh! 

Newman (Seinfeld episode “The Pothole”) 

This is definitely the year of Taiwanese buns. The Taiwanese street food, kind of a burger, popularised in NYC by David Chang’s Momofuku it’s surely but slowly coming their way into London. So when I heard that chef Ross Shonhan opened a spin off of it’s successful ramen bar Bone Daddies I Couldn't resist to visit as soon as I could.

The place in Covent Garden

The menu of Flesh & Buns is focus on the Hirata buns, basically the New York City version of the Taiwanese street food. The place is in a Basement nearby the Seven Dials. Noisy as his big brother Bone Daddies, but not as dark playing with white bright colours, and industrial lamps. 

F&B

Bar

Long Live the Communal Table

Not all in the menu are buns they also have nice starters going from rolls to prawn tempura. We went for three different small plates, first oysters, they were nice and fresh, little spicy kick thanks to the jalapeño dressing, and lovely touch of coriander. 

Oysters

Moving on we got the soft shell crab, it was amazing, perfectly executed, the jalapeño mayo to dip was at the right spicy level and not too rich which was perfect, I definitely loved soft shell crab. 

Crab time

The last starter was fried squid, beautiful, it was crispy and perfectly executed, good spicy level, touch of pepper and lime. 

Squid

Then to the main show, we got the braised pork belly, buns are DIY, it was amazing and fun creating your own bun. The pork belly was cooked perfectly, nice touch of the mustard miso, messy and yummy. 

DIY

Extra buns just in case

Making my Hirata

Ready to eat

To wash down the buns there is a selection of sake. We got the sparkling specialty, Mio sweet and cold sake with hints of vanilla. They should call it Spake the Sparkling Sake.

Sparkling Sake

To end the lunch we decided to have our own bonfire. S'more includes a small Asian kind of cute bonfire to melt marshmallow and prepare a biscuit with the green tea chocolate they provide. The marshmallow, green tea, and chocolate sandwich/biscuit is amazing, I have to say it was the highlight of the day, and remember I’m not a sweet tooth, again fun and tasty. 

Fogata

Campfire

Getting Ready

Burning the marshmallow

S'More

The place is perfect, excellent food, great service, nice music, I would recommend stop reading and head to Covent Garden for some Hirata Buns.

Flesh & Buns

T: 020 7287 8581

Asian Cuisine

Approx Damage: £37pp

Area: Covent Garden

Borough: Camden

Twitter: FleshandBuns

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BAO and more Street Food Fetivals [Street Food]

Hey, come on! Let's go! I thought we were going to take a steam

Cosmo Kramer (Seinfeld episode “The Outing”) 

The street food festival frenzy keeps its pace. Every week you have at least two festivals, Feast, Realfood, Street Feast, Kerb, Burger Mondays, and so on. I just wonder when we are going to saturate of all this, just less than a year ago there was one every quarter now we seem to get into the top of the trend, but who really knows it might just be the beginning. 

Gizzi's full in action

One of this is Street Feast, based in East London, they have a weekly night market on Fridays and a noon to 10pm on Saturdays. One of their main attractions is Ben Spalding’s Stripped Back every Friday, and some quite notorious events that go against our waistlines such as Taco Wars, Gizzi’s Barn Party, Gin Stock, Rib Stock, etc. 

Bao

John Salt

I went to Gizzi’s Barn Party with only one objective to finally try BAO’s steam buns. Everyone is talking about them, highly marks, one of the new additions to the street food frenzy for sure, even though they are active since 2012. Their menu is based on small eats or Xiao Chi, and the specialty is the traditional Taiwanese street food snack Gua Bao (steamed pork bun). How could I resist I die for pork buns, have tracked them since I lost my steamed bun virginity with Momofuku in NYC. 

Finally

They had two specials that day beef skirt and cumin lamb ribs, so guess what I had one of each. The steamed bun was great. The beef skirt was marinated on shacha sauce, nice balance, with all the trimmings, coriander, peanut powder, and home pickles. The lambs were amazing, tender, perfectly cooked, and the touch of cumin was spot on. 

Bun time

Ribs

Anatomy of a Bun

To end the day I also tried the Salt Yard Group burger. The group just in case you don’t know are the owners of Opera Tavern. The burger was great, wonderful flavours, the patty from Basque beef with chorizo and carefully smoked. Really nice. 

Salt Yard Burger

My humble suggestion don’t miss BAO, you will need to track them down through their site or twitter as they keep moving. Regarding the food market explosion I just love it, I have to come back to Street Feast to try Ben's menu.

BAO

Taiwanese Cuisine / Street Food

Approx Damage: £7pp

Twitter: bao_london

Street Feast

T: 078 1169 0012

Street Food Market

Area: Dalston

Borough: Hackney

Twitter: StreatFeastLDN

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Bun Mobile [On The Road: Brisbane]

During my stay in Brisvegas I read about this van that serves steamed buns during lunch and changed their location every day. So to find The Bun Mobile you need to follow them on Facebook, twitter, or at the Where the Truck At website that locates different food trucks across Australia. 

The Bun Mobile

The kitchen is under directions of chef Harold Fleming. The vision gourmet style affordable street food made with local ingredients. The buns are Momofuku style, and you know how much I love David Chang’s restaurants in NYC. The menu is simple only three different steamed buns, a twice-cooked pork, a char grilled teriyaki chicken, and slow cooked Wagyu beef. Also there is a daily special to give a bit of a twist. 

The Menu

The Bun

I found the van in the water front park of Fortitude Valley. Got the special lamb with Haloumi and the Wagyu beef. Both were superb great flavour, street food at its best. The Wagyu one was exceptional, tender, perfectly cooked, shitake mushroom, butter lettuce, red dragon sauce, perfection. The special, nice as well, the grilled haloumi, slow cooked lamb, an olive tapenade that was to die for, and a touch of rosemary infused jus.

Lamb Special

Wagyu Bun

Highly recommended, I love them so much I was tempted to try the other two.

The van reminds me the Seinfeld episode ”The Junk Mail” 

Jerry: I don't want a van

Elaine: Well, just tell him you want the SAAB

Jerry: You don't understand. This is Fragile Frankie Merman. When we were in
camp, if you upset him, he'd run out to the woods, dig a hole, and sit in it

Elaine: Well, I have an idea. Keep the van, and get a bumper sticker that
says, if this vans a-rocking, don't come a-knocking

Jerry: Always helpful

The Bun Mobile

T: +61 4 0142 0922

Street Food / Steamed Buns

Approx Damage: AU$10pp

Brisbane

Twitter: TheBunMobile

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