Hong Kong’s famous Sheng Jian Bao shop just opened their first store in Thailand, and as a long-time fan, I’m here Day 1 to try them out.

So, what’s on offer? How was it? And most importantly, does it compare to the original in Hong Kong? Let’s Get to It. How Good is Cheung Hing Kee’s Thailand Store Actually?

–Menu–
–Combo Set 6pcs.–
–Signature Sheng Jian Bao–
–Black Truffle Sheng Jian Bao–
–Spicy Mala Sheng Jian Bao–
–Verdict–
–Getting There–

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📋 Menu 📋

Cheung Hing Kee’s signature item is their Sheng Jian Bao (Pan Fried Buns) with 3 fillings to choose from:

🍖 Signature Pork Pan-fried Buns 🍖
2pcs. – 80฿
4pcs. – 160฿
6pcs. – 240฿

🍄 Black Truffle Pan-fried Buns 🍄
2pcs. – 150฿
4pcs. – 300฿
6pcs. – 450฿

🌶️ Spicy Mala Pan-fried Buns 🌶️
2pcs. – 90฿
4pcs. – 180฿
6pcs. – 270฿

🥯 Trio Set 3pcs. (1 of each) – 160฿ 🥯
🥯 Combo Set 6pcs. (2 of each) – 300฿ 🥯

One thing that caught my attention was that these Baos are actually slightly cheaper than the stores in Hong Kong! (Classic is 40฿ per piece VS Hong Kong’s HK$11/~46฿)

And for combo prices, there’s no discount between the 2/4/6pcs options, so feel free to try out a smaller portion before committing to their larger offerings. (20฿ discount for the 6pcs combo.)

They also have some other items on the menu, but for today’s review – let’s focus on their famous Sheng Jian Bao.

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🥯 Combo Set 6 pcs. – 300฿ 🥯

First impressions – pretty accurate to the ones at Hong Kong! The tops were nice and shiny (with different garnishes for each flavor.) and the bottoms were golden brown and had a crispy fried bread-like crust that keeps the filling sealed in.

As for how to eat these Sheng Jian Bao? Start by taking a small bite on the top of the Bao, and enjoy the broth inside. (Do note that it might be quite hot!)

Once most of the broth is gone, you can now enjoy the Bao as is or with the accompanying sauce or chili oil – though make sure to include both the steamed tops and crispy bottom with each bite.

Compared to their Hong Kong version, two things did stand out to me though. Let’s start with the size.

In Hong Kong, Cheung Hing Kee’s Baos are somewhat medium-sized, meant to be enjoyed in roughly two bites. Here, the Baos are slightly larger – requiring around 3-4 bites to finish. 

Objectively, you do end up with a larger, higher value-for-money product (larger Baos + cheaper price point,) but the tradeoff is that the Baos are a little bit unwieldy to cleanly eat. 

Most people would prefer a larger Bao anyways, so it’s not a big issue. Just something to note.

The other point of note: the wrapper, which is slightly thicker than the ones at HK. For the tops, I didn’t notice much of a difference since it’s just a single layer, but the folds at the bottom do add up, resulting in a noticeably thicker, more doughy bottom (on the inside) than I’m used to in HK.  

The thicker wrapper is probably there to ensure no Baos leak during the cooking process, so I assume the thickness will get closer to the HK one over time as the chefs master their wrapping + cooking technique.

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🍖 Signature Sheng Jian Bao 🍖

Now on to each individual Sheng Jian Bao filling, starting with their Signature flavor (pork.) 

As the standard Sheng Jian Bao, the flavors are on the simpler side – but what’s there definitely has a lot of depth to it. 

The pork filling was subtle, yet had all the meaty flavors you’d expect. The collagen broth was light and rich, with a very nice mouthfeel to it. Combine that with the contrasting texture of the wrappers, and you have a rich soup-dumpling style dish with a light but complex profile.

Suffice to say, it was really good!

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🍄 Black Truffle Sheng Jian Bao 🍄

The Black Truffle Sheng Jian Bao, by far their priciest option at 75฿ a piece. For the most part, the ingredients & flavor profile is very similar to the Signature one, but with one main addition: truffle & mushrooms (a generous amount, to my surprise.)

I’m a big fan of anything truffle, but I’m not particularly fond of truffle dishes with mushrooms, as the mushrooms often take center stage – with just the hint of truffle.

The truffle here? Surprisingly good! The truffle was very pronounced right from the start, while the mushrooms played a supporting role and extended the earthy notes without overshadowing the rest of the Bao.

Same thoughts on the rest of the Bao as the Signature one, but I’ll note that the broth combined with the truffle flavor makes for one amazing flavor profile. The collagen-rich pork broth combined with the earthiness and fragrance of the truffle really makes for one good combo!

I’d still lean towards the Signature for my Sheng Jian Bao of choice, but the Black Truffle one was definitely a welcome addition.

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🌶️ Spicy Mala Sheng Jian Bao 🌶️

Heading back to a more affordable option, the Mala Sheng Jian Bao – at 45฿ each – features a spicier take on the Signature Baos for those who prefer something more… hot. 

Despite the intimidating Mala spice topping and darker orange color, the Bao itself was pleasantly mild. Warm and a bit sharp, to be sure, but nowhere near the numbing experience you’d associate with a Mala hot pot.

You could argue that it can be even spicier, but as a quick snack-type food? I say it’s exactly the right level.

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⭐VERDICT⭐

So how good is Cheung Hing Kee’s Thailand store actually? Price-wise, it’s great! Being cheaper than it’s original store in HK is already a sweet deal, and for 40฿ per Signature Bao, you really can’t go wrong with it.

Flavor-wise, it’s also quite nice. The wrapper tops were nicely steamed, the bottoms added a nice crunch, and the collagen-rich broth and pork filling does a great job in creating a well-rounded experience. Sure, there’s little nitpicks I have with the size and wrapper thickness, but overall, it was quite the nice experience. 

And finally, is it as good as the Hong Kong Store? There’s some fine-tuning to be made for sure, but the flavor profile is definitely in the right direction. Will it replace my visits to the HK store? Probably not. But I can definitely see myself coming back here whenever I’m in the mood for some Hong Kong street food.

So if you’re around Bangkok and would like to try out some of Hong Kong’s most famous street foods – at a very nice price point, head on over to Cheung Hing Kee’s Thailand store.

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🚗 GETTING THERE 🚗

Cheung Hing Kee’s Thailand Store is located on the 1st Floor of Central Chidlom. Via BTS, head to Chit Lom Station, exit at Exit 3, and take the skybridge into Central Chidlom.

Cheung Hing Kee Thailand Store

🌏 Location 🌏
Central Chidlom Tower, 1st Floor, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330
🗺 Map 🗺
https://maps.app.goo.gl/mf5xHwg2vtAuwJw88
⏰ Opening Hours ⏰
10 A.M. to 10 P.M.
💻 Facebook 💻
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579176610340

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