"Mention Xiao Bao to anybody who lives in Nashville and their response will either be: “I’ve been dying to get over there," or “You got the cheeseburger bao bun, right?” Even a couple years after opening in East Nashville, it’s still a buzzy spot with an equally buzzy burger. And that patty, with a scattering of chopped ginger and scallion on top of melty american cheese, is a good representation of the menu: interesting Asian fusion food that you can’t find anywhere else in the city. Xiao Bao isn’t just a one-hit wonder, though. It’s the rare hybrid of a restaurant that’s fun and reliable for any occasion—easy and exciting, all at the same time. photo credit: Casey Irwin photo credit: Casey Irwin photo credit: Casey Irwin Things on the menu change so often that even the website can’t keep up, but what stays constant are the memorable flavors. Dumplings swim in curry sauce or buttermilk and chili oil. Rotating specials like the garlic- and chili-laden beef roll are so good, that we’ve often been tempted to come back tomorrow just on the off-chance we never see them again. And when the cravings for bacon yuzu rice cakes, okonomiyaki with pork candy, and tingly hand-pulled noodles strike all at once, there’s only one place to go. The short menu is truly no skips, so every time you come back, there’s not only something new, but a near-guarantee that whatever just got added is going to be good. Which means you can (and should) revisit this spot often—for a working lunch in the red booths, a bite between movies at The Belcourt, or a vibey birthday dinner where the crop-top-wearing bartender might play you his new pop song while mixing your sichuan highball. photo credit: Casey Irwin photo credit: Ryan Belk Food Rundown photo credit: Casey Irwin Hamburger Bao This is the general go-to (for lunch, anyway). It’s all the smashburger goodness you want, but stuffed in a perfectly fluffy, slightly chewy bao hamburger bun and loaded up with some chili, cheese, and ginger scallions. It’s a great order for any kids in your party (or if you just want to feel like one). photo credit: Casey Irwin Okonomiyaki There is one inescapable truth at Xiao Bao: if you’re not eating this cabbage pancake with pork candy, you are failing, friend. The cabbage on the inside is creamy, the outside is delicately crispy, and the drizzle of sauces complements each bite perfectly with a timed tug-of-war between sweet and savory. photo credit: Casey Irwin Dumplings The dumplings change often, but there hasn’t been one we haven’t got along with. Sometimes you’ll get steamed pockets of pork that seem like a head-scratcher, but taste like an Italian mom and a Korean aunt got together and cranked out some pesto chili oil magic, then drizzled buttermilk over the whole thing. Sometimes, they’re swimming in a thick, spicy curry sauce. Whatever dumplings you see, order them. Rice Cakes Perfectly fried little rectangular cakes made from millet and topped with roe and tiny dollops of bacon yuzu sauce. These are a no-brainer. Crab Rice The menu describes this dish as Thai butter fried rice with jumbo lump crab and citrus. What it doesn’t mention is that the pile of crab on top is incredibly generous. In a world where lots of places skimp on seafood, this little mini Everest of crustacean is a breath of fresh sea air. Beef Roll This handheld is full of tender beef and goes heavy on the garlic and chili in all the best ways. Originally, this was a one-day special that turned into a week that turned into a who-knows-how-long-we’ll-keep-doing-this situation. One bite and our only thought was: drop the limited-time nonesense and make this a lunch staple. Mochi Waffle With Strawberry Ice Cream Desserts are not aplenty here, and they don’t need to be. But they do have one adorable green spongy waffle topped with strawberry ice cream and sauce. Nice and sweet, yet a little earthy to keep it interesting, it’s the perfect exclamation point at the end of the meal." - Ann Walczak
