It’s been said that construction projects at Universal Orlando Resort start and finish overnight, but this time it literally happened! Bend The Bao, the newest restaurant officially opened Tuesday, June 15th, 2021. Located next to the upstairs exit of Cinemark, it replaces the venue where Fusion Bistro Sushi once was. Bao grabs the eye with loud colors and ornate details, in a way emulating The Cowfish art style. Animals from the Chinese zodiac can be seen weaved into the paintings.
At the first window, you place your order. There are 7 bao buns to choose from. 2 per order at $11.99 with each additional bun for $4.49. Team Member & Passholder discounts may be applied.
-Kimchee FC Kimchee fried chicken, kimchee butter, gochujang, cucumber, scallion, sriracha aioli.
-Pork Belly Pork belly, scallions, cucumber, honey roasted peanuts, cilantro.
-Duck Braised duck, kimchee slaw, XO sauce, cilantro, 5 spice aioli.
-Beef Brisket Beef brisket, fried jalapeno, pickled red onion, cilantro, avocado lime crema.
-Veggie Roasted oyster mushrooms, spinach, sweet potato, caramelized onion, smoked ricotta cheese, tomatillo salsa.
-Shrimp Fried shrimp, shredded cabbage, avocado, pico de gallo, chipotle crema.
-Crab Cake Maryland style crab cake, shredded lettuce, diced tomato, mustard aioli.
Picky eaters and those with food allergies fear not, your bao bun can be altered to your needs.
After ordering, you’re directed to take a seat at a nearby table for your name to be called, or you can stand off to the side and watch your food being prepared!
The service is excellent and our wait time was non-existent. In moments our boas were in our hands. Each unique flavor can be felt evenly across the menu. The standouts were the beef brisket and crab cake buns. The sauces and meats meld perfectly with the textures. The buns themselves are light, fluffy, and hold together well between bites.
You can pair your food with select Coca-Cola products, green tea, and authentic imported Chinese beers! These make the perfect snack before heading into the parks, whether it be for Halloween Horror Nights or a regular day!
Universal has been making creative strides in bringing non-traditional theme park food to guests packed with variety and flavor. Bend The Bao becomes the next success in an already stellar restaurant line-up.
Operating hours are 11:00 AM-10:00 PM
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Clint Gamache is the owner of ThrillGeek. He started ThrillGeek to share his love of theme/amusement parks and pop culture with the world. You can find him at Halloween Horror Nights. Also, be sure to follow him on Twitter @iamcg83