About me

About Me: Your Honest Guide to Global Eats (and Why I Started This) 🍜🌍

Hey there, fellow food adventurers! 👋

If you're anything like me, you've probably faced the universal travel dilemma: "Where do I eat something actually good?" 🤔

It's a question that's become increasingly tricky. As someone who loves exploring new cities and cultures through their food ✈️🍽️, I've often found myself frustrated. Trying to navigate the culinary landscape abroad, or even just in a new neighborhood, can be a minefield. Are those glowing Google Maps reviews truly authentic, or just a result of a fleeting good mood? 🤷‍♀️ And let's not even get started on Instagram posts – it sometimes feels like every beautiful shot comes with a hefty "paid partnership" tag hidden somewhere in the caption. 💸📸

That's where this blog comes in. My mission is simple: to cut through the noise and provide genuinely honest, unsponsored reviews of restaurants around the world. 💯 I'm here to share the delicious triumphs, the surprising delights, and yes, even the occasional culinary misstep 😬, all from a real diner's perspective. No free meals, no hidden agendas – just my honest take on the food, the service, and the overall experience. ✨

A little about me: I hail from the Far East, and my roots have given me a deep appreciation and discerning palate for Asian cuisine. 🌏🍜 While I'll be venturing into all corners of the global food scene, you can expect a particular emphasis and passion in my reviews of Chinese, Japanese, Korean. I understand the nuances, the authentic flavors, and what truly makes an Asian dish sing. 🥢🥟🍣

So, whether you're planning your next big trip or just looking for a truly authentic recommendation in your own city, pull up a chair. I hope this blog becomes your trusted companion in finding delicious, honest eats, wherever your travels take you. 💖

Got a question or a place you think I have to try (or avoid!)? Feel free to reach out – I'd love to hear from you! 👇

Dig in!

Honest Bao

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🍜 Noodle Nova London- Beyond Chinatown's Gravitational Pull

When you're craving proper Chinese food in London, your brain immediately screams 'Chinatown!' and you're mentally bracing for the jam-packed street. But London's culinary map is expanding faster than my waistline after a day out. I was loitering around the Temple station area, pretending to be a fancy lawyer (didn't work, my shoes were too muddy), when my stomach issued an urgent demand for noodles. A quick search later, and I found myself staring at Noodle Nova, a new kid on the block that's doing Lanzhou beef noodles. The Vibe and the Broth Giant vase in the centre First impression: Nice décor. And true to its Chinese name, Qing Hua Yu (青花鈺), which means something like 'Porcelain Jade,' there was a rather large, fancy vase in the shop. Clearly, they've gone for aesthetic as well as noodle. Spicy broth taste good too but I prefer non-spicy one Now, onto the main event. As a specialist beef noodle joint, they offer a whole spectrum of noodle thi...

A Joy -Taipei's Highest (and Priciest) All-You-Can-Eat Truly Worth the Sky-High Bill?

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...

Barcelona's Best-Kept Secret? Finding High-Quality Sushi at Sato I Tanaka

As a big city and famous for seafood, it's no surprise that Barcelona has some quality Japanese restaurants. It seems people are really crazy for them here too, as I really struggled to find any online availability when I tried to make a reservation. They are definitely busy, but not 100% full every day. Stay until the end of the post for a little tip to secure a table. Good quality tuna from Spain Sato I Tanaka, a small, unassuming spot that promised an omakase experience for less than the price of a flight to Japan. The moment I walked in, I felt like I was back to Japan. A long, elegant wooden counter, the quiet clatter of knives, and a chef who looked like he knew his way around a fish. This was the real deal. Love the red prawn We went for the lunch tasting menu, and at under 50 euros, my expectations were set to "cautiously optimistic." I mean, I've paid more for a sad-looking sushi platter in London. But what arrived was pure magic. The rice was perfectly seas...