Honest Bao

Happy Christmas, guys! 🎄 Time put down the chopsticks occasionally when the festive season rolls around. This week, I swapped the soy sauce for some European flair at The Ivy in Birmingham. Is The Ivy Actually "Posh" or Just Very Good at Wallpaper? I’ve been to The Ivy a few times (different branches) now. It’s the "Old Reliable" of the UK dining scene—the kind of place you take your parents when you want them to think you’ve finally made it in life. It’s decent, reasonably priced for what it is, but usually about as "groundbreaking" as a pair of socks for Christmas. Too fusion for me I was genuinely shocked by how rammed it was. I booked a Sunday slot easily enough online, but when I walked in, it was 90% full. Clearly, the Christmas spirit (or just the lack of washing up) was in full swing. One thing you can’t knock is the decor. They clearly spend a fortune on it. It’s got that high-end, "I should probably be wearing a better shirt" vibe, eve...

Back in England for a cold "Christmas" and New Year. It is so cold that requires more than just a puffer jacket; it requires a culinary hug. Naturally, I headed straight to Birmingham’s Chinese Quarter to find some liquid gold. So, what on earth is a "Trolley Noodle"? My all time favourite sides Before we dive in, let’s talk history. Trolley Noodles (or Che Tsai Meen) are the ultimate Hong Kong DIY comfort food. Originating in the 1950s from street vendors pushing wooden carts, it’s a "choose your own adventure" style of dining. You pick your noodle type, your soup base, and then go wild with toppings. It’s messy, it’s customisable, and it’s legendary. The Review: Hong Kong Dining (港味茶餐廳/香港車仔麵) I popped into Hong Kong Dining, a classic Cha Chaan Teng (HK-style café) that’s currently serving up these nostalgic bowls. The setup is simple: the more toppings you hoard, the more you pay. It’s a dangerous game for a glutton like me. Lots of classic sides availab...

As you know from my last update, I’ve been staying in Taipei for a few days. Now, normally I’m all about that succulent pork belly life, but I couldn't help but notice that Taipei is absolutely crawling with vegetarian options. Scrambled egg with mushroom Honestly, I used to have this stereotype that Chinese veggie food was strictly for the "grandparent" demographic or the local temple crowd. Boring, bland, and a bit grey, right? Well, Taiwan has clearly had a word with itself and completely rebranded the whole "leaf-eater" vibe. The new spots are chic, modern, and honestly quite cool. The dishes are anything but traditional. I popped into two of them to see if they could win over a meat-lover like me. Fried rice with a unique seasoning First up was Veggienius(不葷主義). Word of warning: you absolutely have to book ahead because this place was buzzing like a London pub on a Friday night. The food was genuinely decent, featuring some proper funky seasonings that you ...

When someone mentions "buffet," your mind probably conjures up images of lukewarm, vaguely-Chinese food trays and a general sense of regret. But hold onto your chopsticks, because East Asia’s buffet game is a completely different. We’re talking next-level quality, and prices to match. This time, Honest Bao scaled the ultimate peak in Taipei to review what might be the city's highest and most expensive buffet... and I'm here to tell you if it's the absolute best. Great view on Taipei city This place is seriously popular, so ditch your spontaneous dinner plans. You must book in advance, and here's a cheeky little catch for you international travellers: they tend to charge foreigners a tad more since you typically have to use a booking agent like Klook to snag a spot. Once you're in, though, prepare to be impressed. The restaurant sprawls across the entire floor, and the variety of food is absolutely monumental—it easily dwarfs any buffet spread I've enco...