New Chinese restaurant brings fresh bao, Sichuan flavors to the Lake Norman area
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said the restaurant was located in the former Antico space. Antico is still open at 9719 Sam Furr Road #C, Huntersville, NC 28078.
BaoBao has opened in Huntersville’s Northcross Shopping Center, bringing fresh, handmade Chinese food to the Lake Norman area with a focus on — you guessed it — bao.
Pro tip: This is the kind of restaurant where you’ll want to over order a few dishes to share, so bring a friend or two and come hungry.
Before you browse the menu at the restaurant owned by Vivian Chen, you can also look through the window in the dining room to take a peep at the chef crafting the bao.
The restaurant’s servers recommend starting with the chef’s specialty, Sheng Jian Bao. The handmade, Shanghai-style bao is filled with a pork meatball accented with ginger and scallion. You’ll get six pieces for $12.95.
BaoBao servers also recommend you give the Xiao Long Bao a try — and the dish comes with instructions. The traditional dish encases steamed pork and soup inside a dumpling, which you’re directed to poke a hole in. Carefully suck out the soup, then tear into the dumpling to eat the rest. An order comes with six pieces for $10.95.
If dumplings aren’t your thing, try one of the Sichuan specialties such as the popular Sizzling Black Pepper Beef or the Hong Shao Rou, a braised pork belly dish. Rice doesn’t come with the entrees, so if you want it, you’ll have to order that separately.
Hot pots are on the menu, but they aren’t available yet, so look for those early next year. Other additions on the way will include mixed drinks and boba tea.
Due to staff shortages, hours are limited to dinner service right now. Online ordering is available, as well.
BaoBao
Location: Northcross Shopping Center, 9715 Sam Furr Rd #C, Huntersville, NC 28078
Cuisine: Chinese
Instagram: @baobaochinesecuisine
This story was originally published December 7, 2022 at 9:00 AM.
