(Image: Jackie Pal)
Name: Mean Bao
Neighbourhood: Queen West
Contact Info: 167 Bathurst St., 416-862-7737, meanbaotoronto.com
Previously: A short-lived burger shop called Burger Press
Chefs/Owners: Both the original location and this new outpost are co-owned by Jones and James Cheung, along with their nephew and niece Scott Ching and Erin Cheung. Everyone plays a role in the family business, including grandma.
The Food: Silky bao are piled with savoury ingredients, like peppery barbecue chicken with pickled daikon, or house-braised pork belly topped with a crunchy mixture of peanuts and black sugar. The “Sloppy Jones” is a bao-ified version of dan dan mien, a traditional Szechuan noodle dish made with minced pork, chili oil and scallions.
The Drinks: The soda selection includes highly coveted bottles of Schweppes Cream Soda, imported all the way from Hong Kong. (Co-owners Scott and Erin have fond memories of chugging back bottles while visiting their grandmother there.)
The Place: Mean Bao’s second location is a casual grab-and-go counter with a handful of bar stools for dining in. The mainly DIY design includes a classic peg-board menu and a self-serve saucing station stocked with interesting vinegars and hot sauces.
301945 The restaurant is located on Bathurst Street, just south of Queen West. (Image: Jackie Pal) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-01-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-01.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants/slide/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-01/ mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-01 0 0
(Image: Jackie Pal)
301946 Co-owners Scott Ching and Erin Cheung hand-made the marquee sign. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-02-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-02.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants/slide/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-02/ mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-02 0 0
301947 The restaurant has a handful of bar stools for eat-in customers. When the dim-sum steamer's going full throttle, it’s a pretty cozy space. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-03-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-03.jpg 667 1001 [] https://torontolife.com/food/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants/slide/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-03/ mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-03 0 0
301952 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-08-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-08.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants/slide/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-08/ mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-08 0 0
301948 Here's a selection of sandwiches. The buns are made for Mean Bao by a baker in Taiwan. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-04-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-04.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants/slide/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-04/ mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-04 0 0
301951 A vegan bao comes stuffed with tofu, enoki mushrooms, cabbage and carrots ($3.45). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-07-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-07.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants/slide/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-07/ mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-07 0 0
301950 The pork belly bao is flavoured with hoisin sauce and topped with a crunchy mixture of black sugar and crushed peanuts ($3.60). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-06-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-06.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants/slide/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-06/ mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-06 0 0
301949 Barbecue chicken is topped with slivered red pepper and pickled yellow daikon ($3.45). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-05-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-05.jpg 667 1001 [] https://torontolife.com/food/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants/slide/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-05/ mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-05 0 0
301953 Baskets of dim sum are steamed to order. The shumai (pork dumplings) are topped with masago, a bright orange fish roe (four pieces for $3.80). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-09-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-09.jpg 667 1001 [] https://torontolife.com/food/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants/slide/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-09/ mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-09 0 0
301955 In this vegan dish, sautéed veggies are stuffed in hollowed-out tofu squares and steamed to order (six pieces for $6.50). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-11-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-11.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants/slide/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-11/ mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-11 0 0
301954 Bottles of Schweppes Cream Soda are imported from Hong Kong ($2.25). https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-10-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-10.jpg 667 1001 [] https://torontolife.com/food/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants/slide/mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-10/ mean-bao-toronto-restaurants-10 0 0
Is this the same person at CNE this year? The name was ‘East end’ or something. Tasted good but seriously, service sucks. I saw owner throwing change and yelling at a customer. I would never go to this place if this is own by same owner from CNE.
I do not believe they are the same… the CNE one is korean owned…
Hi Gloria: yeah its the same owners. I noticed the help. That being said..its not properly priced for what you get…Way too many “veggies” or fluff as I call it which totally overtakes the meat/sauce ratio….
Is it the same Mean Bao located in Village by the Grange? If so this place is my favourite. Great boa’s and dim sum!!!
I don’t believe they are the same Gloria – I think their only other location is the one in Village by the Grange.
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