Meet BFF: BAO’s Radical Take on Fast Food and Asian Convenience Store Culture
Starting with a dedicated pop-up in Taipei.
Summary
- BAO launches BAO Fast Foods (BFF), reimagining Taiwanese culture within global fast food
- Menu highlights include split wings, chopper fried chicken, nitro teas and BAO‑branded treats
- A Taipei pop-up opens on June 11, ahead of a 2027 permanent location
BAO is set to launch its newest concept, BAO Fast Foods (BFF), marking a bold reimagining of fast food through the lens of Taiwanese culture. Rooted in BAO’s journey from a humble East London car park stall to a cult restaurant group with seven locations in London, BFF aims to bring everyday Taiwanese culture into the global fast food narrative.
The concept draws inspiration from Asian convenience stores, offering a seamless, speedy experience that feels generous rather than compromised. The menu will feature concise yet inventive offerings such as Taiwanese fried chicken reworked into playful formats like the split wing – carved in half for easier eating – and the chopper, which is designed with an exposed bone so diners can hold it comfortably. Nitro teas served in frozen disposables, BAO‑branded treats, as well as collaborations with other creators will round out the selection, reinforcing the brand’s playful yet thoughtful approach to design and food.
The culinary lineup also includes nitro teas served in frozen disposables, own-branded BAO treats, classic Asian convenience store goodies, and unique collaborations. As teased on social media, the menu pushes the boundaries of fast food with inventive items like a street-style shaved beef noodle soup and a unique braised pork-flavored distilled liquor created in partnership with SC Lab. Emphasizing the broader vision behind these offerings, co-founder Shing Tat Chung notes, “BFF stands for BAO Fast Foods, but it also stands for Best Friends Forever and Better Fast Food… when we say better, we’re exploring what that can really mean not better in the sense of health, but how can it be better for a community?”
Before opening its first permanent brick-and-mortar location in early 2027, BAO is heading back to Taiwan – its cultural roots – to test and develop BFF from the ground up. The experimental pop-up convenience store will run from June 11 – 27, 202 in Taipei’s Songshan District, allowing the team to trial the concept with the community actively involved.
BFF（Bao Fast Foods)
1F, No. 2, Lane 32, Alley 16, Guangfu S. Road,
Songshan District, Taipei City 105, Taiwan
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