Three is the magic number at Bun House.
Talk about your triple threats. Soho restaurant Bun House has managed something pretty unique amongst London eateries, by virtue of being essentially three restaurants in one. With so much choice on offer, you’re sure to find something you’ll love, so it’s time to get your bao buns out.
It’s rather appropriate that Bun House is stuffed with eating options, because you’ll be stuffed by the time you leave. First up is the bun factory which gives the whole place its name. A cosy cafe, with steam gently rising from wicker baskets, this place makes some of the fluffiest buns in town. At £2.50 each, these are the kind of buns you’re going to want to bao down to.
Bun House offers five savoury options – pork, chicken, fish, lamb, and veggie – and two sweet options, a custard bun and a red chocolate version that you definitely need to try. What’s red chocolate, I hear you ask? Well, it’s chocolate flavoured with pig’s blood, but do not let that put you off because it’s truly amazing and indulgently rich.
Downstairs, you’ll find the second restaurant in the Bun House family, known as the Tea Room. Whereas the Bun House itself is a chilled cafe, the Tea Room is a late night spot. On the menu here are filling Chinese dishes such as Oolong smoked quail, and sugar skin Iberico char siu. Those with a strong stomach can opt for the chicken heart skewers, but you shouldn’t miss out on the clay rice pots, which end with a delicious crispy rice crust at the bottom.
The Tea Room also happens to make some top-notch cocktails, using ingredients imported from China. The likes of Peanut & Goji, Mint & Sichuan Sour, and Rose & Lapsang are complex, intriguing drinks that are worth the Soho prices. Plus, the neon-drenched decor lends the whole place a gorgeous Shanghai noir vibe that we just can’t get enough of.
Up until recently, Bun House could only claim to be two (admittedly excellent) restaurants in one. However, they seemingly decided that wasn’t enough, and threw a third into the bargain. Perched on the side of Bun House is an unassuming little hatch, curiously named Pleasant Lady Jian Bing Trading Stall. Here, a pleasant lady will serve you jian bing, which is a kind of savoury Chinese crepe, stuffed with meats, vegetables, and crispy wonton skin. As China’s most popular breakfast food, you can expect it to be pretty good.
It would be difficult to eat poorly at Bun House if it was just one restaurant. But when there are three mouth-watering eateries on offer, it becomes nigh on impossible to have a bad meal here. So it goes: you wait ages for a decent Chinese restaurant, and then three turn up at once…
Location: 24 Greek St, Soho, W1D 4DZ. Nearest station is Tottenham Court Road. See it on Google Maps.
Opening hours: Bun House and the Tea Room are open 11am-11pm (Monday to Wednesday), 11am-midnight (Thursday), 11am-late (Friday and Saturday), 12-10pm (Sunday). Pleasant Lady is open 11:30am-8:30pm, every day.
Price: bao buns are £2.50, mains at Tea Room begin from around £8, cocktails are £13.80, whilst jianbing start from £6.
More information: visit their website.
Featured image: @8unhouse
Also published on Medium.