7 favourite bao venues in Sydney

Bao Stop
A regular fixture at the Night Noodle Markets, Bao Stop are back again and this time they're also doing peking duck fries. No, this has nothing to do with steamed buns, but everything to do with seeking their stall out at the market and destroying at least one serve alongside all those steamed buns. Night Noodle Markets, Hyde Park.

Belly Bao
Late-night steamed buns. Music to every midnight snacker's ears. So Goodgod Small Club disappeared into the lockout void, which broke the hearts of music and party fans city-wide. In its place, Plan B Small Club delivers late night action while Belly Bao offers the likes of soft shell crab and salt'n'pepper tofu encased in a soft steamed bun. 53–55 Liverpool St, Sydney

Blaq Piq
Breakfast bao. It's happened. Witness the corned beef Benedict – a sort of breakfast-for-supper incantation of corned beef and hollandaise, on a steamed bun. Blaq Piq do regular steamed bun specials, each more outrageous than the last. 11 Alberta St, Sydney

Hem Nine Nine
Experimental bao. What a world we live in. At this newish Vietnamese restaurant, they're doing the crowd favourites (pork belly/fried chicken/salt'n'pepper tofu) but also branching out with a few side projects, including a cheeseburger number. Stay tuned. 99 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe

Ippudo
The ramen shop that brought you the toasted Japanese sandwich and, of course, some very solid ramen also offers a series of steamed buns including our favourite, the shrimp katsu. 436 Victoria Ave, Chatswood

Mr Bao
A Taiwanese bun shop offering edible pillows filled with the likes of fried tofu, barbecue pork, crisp chicken or crunchy prawns. Sweeten things up with a dessert bao filled with yuzu custard. 3/56–58 York St, Sydney

One Tea Lounge
David Yip, the man that brought the ramen burger to Night Noodle Markets a few years back, appeared with a new insta-sensation last year with the ice-cream baoger – and yes, it's exactly what you think it is. Try one at Night Noodle, or pull up a pew at his permanent restaurant in York Street. Upper Ground Floor, 73 York St, Sydney

Want more? There are buns aplenty at these fun events as part of Good Food Month

Little Bao X Master bunfight at Salaryman

Missed Master since it closed its doors? Always wanted to try May Chow's famous Little Bao steamed buns but Hong Kong just seemed like a bit of a trek for dinner? We've got your back. Join May Chow at Salaryman as she joins forces with John Javier to create a feast of steamed buns and Master favourites. Salaryman; 52-54 Albion St, Surry Hills. Tue Oct 25, 6.30pm. $65 a person (food only) option, add $45 for matched beverages.

Night Noodle Markets

The Night Noodle Markets are back, with all the sights, sounds and smells of an Asian hawker market plus the buzz, hype and vibe of a huge outdoor festival. This long-running Sydney institution sees the return of some of your favourites: Mr Bao, Mamak, Hoy Pinoy as well as desserts from Black Star Pastry x N2 Extreme Gelato. Joining them this year are the gang from House of Crabs and Queenies. Take in the excitement that is the ever-popular Night Noodle Market dragon dancers as they illuminate the crowd in a sea of acrobatics, dance and lights. Hyde Park, Sydney. Oct 6–23, 2016