What To Serve With Bao Buns (22 Best Sides)

Thinking about making your own Asian inspired street food feast, but not sure what to serve with bao buns to make them into a filling and hearty meal? 

If so, you’ve come to the right place! 

Bao buns originated in Taiwan, Singapore, and Fujian, though their popularity has increased in recent years right across the globe. 

They typically consist of a slice of tender, stewed meat, served inside flat steamed bread and dressed with various condiments and veggies. 

They’re perfect for picking up and eating as a snack, but if you’re having a dinner party or you just want them to be part of an evening meal, you might be wondering what side dishes and accompaniments you should choose. 

Just need some quick ideas? 

No problem! 

Some of the best options to serve with bao buns include cucumber salad, steamed pak choi, pickled carrot salad, turmeric roasted cauliflower, teriyaki salmon bites, hoisin glazed aubergine, kimchi, and braised mushrooms. 

Read on for more ideas, including easy to follow recipes and low prep inspiration… 

1. Cucumber salad 

A cucumber salad is a wonderfully light and refreshing option for what to serve with bao buns, and it’s super easy to make your own at home. 

Simply slice your cucumber, add a splash of vinegar and sesame oil, and if you like a little bit of heat, and a sliced fresh chilli. 

This can be served on the side or spooned over your buns, depending on what you prefer.

It’s often a good idea to let your guests help themselves so they can make that decision! 

2. Steamed pak choi 

Pak choi is a beautiful Chinese green that goes so well with many Asian inspired dishes.

It’s good stir fried too, but I personally prefer to steam it.

It’ll take just a few minutes – don’t overdo it, or you’ll lose the satisfying crunch! 

Pak choi is crammed with essential vitamins and minerals such as iron, zinc, and vitamin K, so you can be sure that you’re serving a dish that has huge health benefits too. 

3. Pickled red cabbage 

The vinegary kick of a good pickled red cabbage makes it a great choice of side dish for bao buns. 

It also has such a bright and vibrant colour, adding something special to your plate! 

You can buy a readymade version in most supermarkets, but it’s straightforward to make your own and it will last for a good while. 

I recommend this pickled red cabbage recipe, which includes red wine, cider vinegar, and a mix of fragrant spices. 

4. Pickled carrot salad

You might be noticing a bit of trend here when it comes to pickles!

Pickled carrot salad is another easy but tasty side dish for bao buns.

Here’s a simple recipe:

Ingredients:

• Carrots, peeled and julienned or thinly sliced
• White vinegar or apple cider vinegar
• Water
• Sugar
• Salt
• Optional flavourings: garlic cloves, peppercorns, mustard seeds, fresh dill, or red pepper flakes for heat

Preparation:

1. Prepare the Carrots: Peel the carrots and cut them into thin matchsticks or use a mandoline slicer for uniform thin slices. Place the julienned carrots in a clean jar or a bowl.
2. Make the Pickling Solution: In a saucepan, combine equal parts of vinegar and water (enough to cover the carrots in the jar or bowl). Add sugar and salt to taste (a typical ratio might be 1 cup of vinegar to 1 cup of water, with 1 tablespoon of sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt). You can adjust these amounts depending on how sweet or tangy you prefer your pickles.
3. Add Flavorings: If desired, add optional flavourings such as a couple of garlic cloves, a few peppercorns, mustard seeds, a pinch of red pepper flakes, or fresh dill to the pickling solution for additional flavor complexity.
4. Heat the Solution: Bring the pickling solution to a boil, stirring until the sugar and salt are completely dissolved.
5. Pour Over Carrots: Pour the hot pickling solution over the julienned carrots, ensuring they are fully submerged. Let the mixture cool to room temperature.
6. Refrigerate: Once cooled, cover the jar or bowl and refrigerate the pickled carrots. They will start to take on flavour within a few hours, but for best results, let them marinate for at least 24 hours before serving.

5. Edamame beans

Edamame beans are immature soy beans and they’re often found in Eastern Asian cuisine. 

You can serve them after simply boiling in some slightly salty water, or if you want to go for something a little more interesting, try these salt and chilli edamame beans! 

6. Bitesized omelettes 

Similar to bao buns, omelettes can often be found being served at nighttime food markets in Taiwan.

You can make them any size, of course, though opting for something a little smaller will mean that your guests or your family can try out lots of different dishes as part of your feast. 

Try making your omelettes with eggs (of course!), prawns, your favourite greens, and mushrooms.

Top with some sweet and sour sauce and finely sliced spring onions. 

7. Crushed avocado 

Prepped avocado is another choice for what to serve with bao buns that can either be an accompaniment or added directly into your buns before serving. 

Just gently mash a ripe avocado with a fork, and add freshly squeezed lime juice, chilli flakes, and chopped coriander. 

8. Dipping sauces 

It’s always a good idea to have some dipping sauces available for when you’re serving your bao buns! 

Sweet chilli and soy sauce are strong choices, and you can make your own or save a little time by picking up some readymade versions at the supermarket. 

9. Ramen Noodle soup

Soup and a sandwich is a combination that many of us enjoy every day of the week, so why not create your own Asian inspired version? 

You can then enjoy your buns alongside a ramen style soup, packed with noodles and your favourite veggies such as mushrooms, radishes, and onions. 

For extra satisfaction, add a jammy egg! 

10. Turmeric roasted cauliflower

Cauliflower lends itself so well to being roasted, and you’ll be rewarded with crispy, tender morsels that make a delectable side dish for a wide variety of different meals. 

Adding a little turmeric will give your cauliflower a beautiful golden colour, and throwing in a little cumin and garlic will create a real taste sensation. 

This turmeric cauliflower recipe takes just half an hour to prepare and make. 

11. Potstickers

Potstickers are also known as gyoza, and they’re delicious little dumplings that are often stuffed with meat and veggies, and served alongside dipping sauces. 

They can be boiled, steamed, or fried, depending on the texture you prefer, and you’ll often find really great readymade frozen varieties in Asian supermarkets. 

If you fancy making your own, I highly recommend this potsticker recipe. 

They have a traditional pork and cabbage filling, and they’re so wonderfully crispy on the outside. 

Serve alongside your bao buns for a fun and informal meal with friends. 

12. Stir fried noodles 

For a quick but totally delicious dinner, serve with bao buns with a helping of stir fried noodles, packed with all your favourite veggies! 

This is a meal that I typically enjoy once or twice a month, and it’s always a big hit with the whole family. 

Use any veggies that you might have lurking in your crisper drawer that need using up – beansprouts, peppers, mangetout, and spring onions are my favourites, and I like to keep them crunchy. 

Dress with a little soy sauce or sesame oil, and you’re good to go. 

13. Soy sauce eggs

Soy sauce eggs – also known as ajitsuke tamago – are such a beautifully tasty accompaniment to bao buns.

Here’s a quick guide on how to make them:

Ingredients:

• Eggs (as many as you’d like to make)
• Soy sauce
• Water
• Mirin (sweet rice wine)
• Optional additions: sake, sugar, garlic, ginger, scallions, or star anise for added flavour

Preparation:

1. Boil the Eggs: Bring a pot of water to a boil. Gently lower the eggs into the water and cook to your desired level of doneness—soft-boiled (about 6-7 minutes) or hard-boiled (about 9-12 minutes). Adjust the cooking time depending on the size of the eggs and starting temperature (cold or room temperature).
2. Prepare an Ice Bath: While the eggs are cooking, prepare an ice bath by filling a bowl with ice and water.
3. Cool the Eggs: Once the eggs are cooked, transfer them to the ice bath to stop the cooking process and cool them down quickly. This also makes peeling easier.
4. Peel the Eggs: Once the eggs are cool enough to handle, gently crack and peel them.
5. Make the Marinade: In a separate bowl or container, mix together soy sauce, water, and mirin in a 1:1:0.5 ratio (for example, 1 cup soy sauce, 1 cup water, and 1/2 cup mirin). You can adjust the quantities based on how many eggs you’re making and how strong you want the marinade flavour to be.
6. Marinate the Eggs: Place the peeled eggs in the marinade, ensuring they are completely submerged. If necessary, you can use a paper towel or a small plate to keep them down. Cover and refrigerate.
7. Refrigerate and Wait: Let the eggs marinate for at least 2 hours, though overnight is preferable for a more intense flavour. The longer the eggs marinate, the deeper the flavour and colour will be.

14. Teriyaki salmon bites

If you’re a seafood lover, you should definitely consider serving your bao buns alongside some teriyaki salmon bites! 

You’ll marinade your salmon in a delicious blend of citrus juice, ginger, chilli, and garlic, and you can serve on skewers, if you like, for an extra fun factor. 

15. Hoisin glazed aubergine

Slices of aubergine, tossed in hoisin sauce, and then baked or grilled until tender make for a fantastic side for bao buns, especially if you’re looking for a vegetarian friendly option. 

For extra presentation points, garnish with sesame seeds, coriander, and finely chopped spring onions. 

16. Asian meatballs

Drenched in a satisfyingly savoury sauce, these Asian meatballs are a popular choice when served alongside bao buns with your favourite fillings! 

I like to use pork mince instead of beef as I find it’s extra succulent, though you can of course go with your own preferences. 

You could even use chicken or turkey mince if you prefer! 

17. Kimchi 

I’ve almost always got a jar of kimchi in my fridge, whether it’s homemade or picked up at the supermarket, and it’s the secret ingredient that you can add to a massive variety of dishes to bring an extra element of umami flavour and crunch. 

Add it to tacos, burgers, fajitas, sandwiches, rice bowls, or of course, bao buns! 

It can be something of an acquired taste if you’re not too familiar with it, so I like to let my guests help themselves rather than piling it on for them. 

18. Tempura vegetables

Lightly battered and fried vegetables like sweet potato, zucchini, and bell pepper make for a delightful side with a crispy texture.

Add a dipping sauce, like sweet chilli, and you’re good to go with a light yet satisfying meal. 

19. Yakitori skewers

Yakitori skewers are a popular Japanese dish, consisting of chicken marinaded in a savoury, sweet Asian sauce then grilled until tender and delicious. 

They can be enjoyed as an appetiser or as a main meal, but I especially like to serve them with bao buns and another few sides for a fun, helping yourself style dinner. 

For more ideas, check out what to serve with yakitori. 

20. Spring rolls

Everyone loves a spring roll! 

They’re crunchy, full of delicious veggies and Asian flavours, and they’re the perfect finger food for serving with bao buns. 

You can stuff yours with protein if you like, such as minced chicken or pork, though when serving with meaty bao buns, a selection of your favourite shredded vegetables will be enough to satisfy everyone at your dinner table. 

Want to have a go at making your own? 

This spring rolls recipe makes authentic rolls, just like you’d find at your favourite dim sum recipe. 

Once you’ve made your own, you’ll never go back to store bought varieties! 

Get more inspiration by browsing what to serve with spring rolls. 

21. Braised mushrooms 

If you love savoury flavours and meaty textures, but you’re looking for veggie friendly side dishes for bao buns, try braised mushrooms. 

Just fry your favourite mushrooms with soy and oyster sauce for a flavour packed side that really couldn’t be any easier to prepare. 

22. Shrimp in sweet chilli sauce

For a seafood inspired side, pan fry some shrimp and toss in a sweet chilli sauce. 

This one is simple yet impressive, and it’s easy to scale up if you’re feeding a crowd. 

Save these ideas for side dishes to save with bao buns 

If you want to save these ideas for another day, you can pin the image below to your foodie Pinterest board! 

Have you tried any of these side dishes? 

Which was your favourite, and do you have any extra ideas to throw into the mix? 

Leave a comment and let us know… I love hearing what you’ve been up to in the kitchen!