It’s not often you come across a handmade bao stall in a food centre.
Making bao from scratch is labour-intensive and takes real skill, which is why so many places now go the factory route.
At Bao Zai 光记包仔 in ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre, things are still done the old way.
The stall has been around for decades. It’s run by Uncle Leong, who started learning the craft in his teens.
Every bao is made fresh on-site. You’ll sometimes catch him in action, rolling dough, portioning filling, or steaming trays full of fluffy buns.
The stall offers a variety of traditional dim sum items and bao, all at wallet-friendly prices.
The selection includes Big Bao ($1.80), Small Bun with Pork ($0.90), Char Siew Bao ($0.90), Red Bean Bao ($0.90), and Lotus Paste Bao ($0.90).
For something more filling, there’s Lor Mai Kai, or glutinous rice ($2.20) and Fan Choy ($2.20).
If you’re in the mood for something bite-sized, the Siew Mai goes for just $0.80.
The Char Siew Bao ($0.90) is smaller than the usual.
You would find the skin so fluffy, the filling rich and smoky, packed into a soft, pillowy bun.
The pork has proper texture, not that overly processed stuff.
The sauce is savoury with a touch of sweetness, closer to the old-school char siew than the bright red kind you see in chain shops.
When I saw several customers ordering the Fan Choy ($2.20), I knew I had to get one too.
It comes in a foam box, no frills, just sticky rice packed with flavour and topped with a generous layer of char siew.
The rice is soft and seasoned with that classic soy-based glaze, slightly sweet, slightly savoury.
The char siew slices are meaty and caramelised, not too fatty, and not overly oily.
The Siew Mai ($0.80) is straightforward and old-school.
Each piece is wrapped in a thin yellow skin, with a filling that’s firm and meaty. You won’t find prawn bits or flashy garnishes. This is classic pork siew mai done hawker-style.
Bao Zai is about doing the same thing well, day after day.
In a time when everything’s automated and standardised, it’s worth treasuring a stall that still makes everything by hand.
Bao Zai 光记包仔
ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre #01-135, 6 Jalan Bukit Merah, Singapore 150006
Opening Hours: 11am – 7pm (Mon – Tues, Fri – Sun), Closed Wed, Thurs
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After eating not feeling well.