Located in the hustle-bustle city of Ho Chi Minh, there is an up-and-coming restaurant serving the juiciest duck and roasted pork for those seeking some Cantonese comfort. Xiu by Baozi is a open-space two-storey restaurant with river views, big enough for large bookings (14+) and accessible enough for a quick late night drunken feed.
📍 830 Đ. Trường Sa, Phường 14, Quận 3, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam, this is an up-and-coming
📍 830 Đ. Trường Sa, Phường 14, Quận 3, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam, this is an up-and-coming
Food
This was the prawn wontons. It was 159,000₫ ($10). Delicately wrapped in silky, thin dumpling skins, the prawn wontons burst with juicy, ocean-fresh sweetness. However, it was overshadowed by the next few WOWZA dishes…..
Okay, not this wowza dish. The next one 😂.
But you can’t have a Cantonese dinner without a staple Chinese broccoli.
But you can’t have a Cantonese dinner without a staple Chinese broccoli.
This was the large char siu for 220,000₫ ($22). Every piece was juicy and flavorful, with a perfect balance of sweetness and smokiness, while the marinade infused the tender pork with rich, caramelized depth that kept each bite utterly satisfying.
This was the braised chicken for 154,000₫ ($10). It was succulent and juicy, like we could taste the chicken, but it missing an oomph. The dish served its purpose as a comforting reminder of Hong Kong. The plating could use some work on this dish. The accompany dipping sauces were great.
We got a roast duck in 3 dishes. This was 660,000₫, equivalent to $40 AUD. SO CHEAP!
The first option was duck pancakes. Think crispy duck skin on top of a warm sheet of fluffy pancake with scallions and hoisin sauce – a creme de la creme of Cantonese cuisine.
The first option was duck pancakes. Think crispy duck skin on top of a warm sheet of fluffy pancake with scallions and hoisin sauce – a creme de la creme of Cantonese cuisine.
The second way was a simple half the duck roasted in its own juices. The crispy skin shattered with each bite, releasing a rich aroma, while the tender, succulent meat melted in my mouth. I devoured this dish, gnawing on every tendon and bone. It was simple but the things of childhood and comfort, ya know 🤤.
The third way was the duck stir-fried in herbs. This was savoury and full of umami. Everyone loved this dish, especially with rice as there was so much flavour packed into each bite. (My fat ass preferred the 2nd dish because I can’t resist duck fat 😂).
This was the chicken noodle soup for 77,000₫ ($5). The fragrant broth was light yet deeply flavorful, infused with hints of soy, ginger, and scallions that warmed every sip. Silky noodles, tender meats, and crisp vegetables came together perfectly.
This was a roasted duck on rice for 99,000₫ ($6). You can’t go wrong with roast duck and fried rice. The flavour and tenderness was on point. The only downside was the choice of plate. It was very difficult to grab a portion.
Finally we had a char siu bao for 77,000₫ ($6). Soft, pillow-y, and filled with sweet, caramelized char siu, each bite of this bao delivered a perfect balance of fluffy dough and rich, savory-sweet barbecued pork 🤤🤤.
Service
The service started off really good at the start (attentive, fast, in rhythm) but once the restaurant filled up, they started losing track of dishes. We waited quite a while for the last 2 dishes, and they left our dirty dishes out for a tad too long, knowing we were still waiting for more food. Considering this was their soft opening, they did really well and there’s always room for improvement.
Review
It is honestly so hard to get authentic Cantonese food in Vietnam. I know us Australians would not be going for this cuisine in our short holiday, but for those living in Ho Chi Minh, they may be craving something different and Xiu by Baozi delivers the satisfaction. We are keen to see how this place grows in the future.
Thanks for reading. Happy eating!
Thanks for reading. Happy eating!
