Honest Bao

If you’re a fan of high-end sashimi but you’re getting a bit "sushi-fatigued," the Kaisendon (seafood rice bowl) is your best friend. It lacks the delicate hand-pressed refinement of a proper nigiri, but what it lacks in "art," it more than makes up for in raw, unadulterated volume. Amazing tuna with affordable price The Pedigree Don't let the touristy location fool you. Seagen (海玄), which opened in 2021, is actually operated by Yamayuki, the legendary tuna wholesaler from Toyosu. These are the same guys who bid millions on the top tuna at auction and supply elite, impossible-to-book Omakase spots. By eating here, you’re basically cutting out the middleman and going straight to the source - sounds too good to be true? Hope they will keep the menu price affordable The Experience It’s tucked away in a side street of the busy Tsukiji Outer Market. I arrived in the late morning and faced about 10 people in the queue. A 20–30 minute wait is a small price to pay for w...

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...

When the calendar flips to September, signaling the glorious return of oyster season! And where did I find myself celebrating this auspicious occasion? Alsace, France. A landlocked region famous for Riesling, half-timbered houses, and... absolutely no sea. It's a bit like looking for a decent curry in Antarctica. But where there is great wine, there is usually a desperate need for great food—and a surprising number of places happy to oblige with the fruits of the sea. After some serious digging, I found two spots that prove you don't need a salty breeze to enjoy a fresh oyster. Chère Amie: The Unexpected Speed Date Picture this: my dining buddy and I are aiming for a late dinner, but the pre-dinner hunger pangs were a real issue. So, we thought we'd try to squeeze in a 'quick' seafood hit beforehand. No reservation. No plan. Just sheer, unadulterated gluttony. We waltzed into Chère Amie in Strasbourg and, luckily snagged a spot. Fresh oyster in a reasonable price Th...

Alright, this time, I’ve left the rain-soaked streets of England for the sun-drenched shores of Barcelona. A city of surreal Gaudi architecture, late-night tapas, and a seafood scene that will make your taste buds do a little Flamenco dance. Spain, a country bordered by the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, knows a thing or two about pulling delicious creatures from the deep blue. So naturally, my first mission was a pilgrimage to the city's best seafood joints. Lluritu: The Unpretentious Seafood Sorcerer Good decor and vibe Now, I'm not one for frills and fancy tablecloths. Give me a place that lets the food do the talking, and I'm a happy Bao. Lluritu is exactly that kind of place. Tucked away in what feels like a local's secret spot, this restaurant serves seafood that is so fresh, it practically winks at you from the plate. The cooking method? A glorious ode to simplicity. A whisper of olive oil, a gentle caress of garlic, a sprinkle of salt. It's so basic it'...

Hola, when you think Spain, you might think tapas I raved about last time. But let me tell you, their seafood? Absolutely out of this world! Let's talk about Galician cuisine. Hailing from the northwestern corner of Spain, Galicia is a seafood paradise. Their culinary philosophy is all about showcasing the pristine quality of their catch, often with minimal fuss, usually simply boiled or grilled to let the natural flavours sing. It’s honest, hearty, and utterly delicious.  Restaurante Ogrelo: Where Seafood Dreams Come True! Restaurant entrance The dinner started with oysters. Again, not peak season, so they were decent but didn't blow my socks off. But then, the main event: the seafood platter. The staff were kind enough to swap out the crayfish for some glorious clams. And what arrived was a vision of oceanic perfection! Nice decor Here’s the thing about Ogrelo: there's no fancy trickery, no elaborate sauces trying to steal the show (as I mentioned earlier this is the Gali...

Welcome back to the Madrid series agin and I am trying the Spain's signature – tapas! A quick tapas tutorial: Tapas are essentially small, savoury dishes, designed for sharing (or, if you're like me, for pretending to share while secretly hogging the best bits). They're meant to be enjoyed with a drink and good company, hopping from bar to bar as many as your belly can handle. From my highly scientific, one-person research, I certainly felt that the tapas game is different in Madrid vs. Barcelona. Barcelona, with its undeniable tourist magnet vibes, seemed to offer more "refined" and perhaps "fancy" tapas – the kind that look great on Instagram but sometimes leave your wallet feeling a bit light. Madrid, on the other hand, felt more… rustic? Traditional? I'm not saying one is better than the other and you can still definitely find lots of great tapas in Madrid but just a bit less. Anyway, I dove headfirst into Madrid's tapas scene, and two spots...