Artist rendering courtesy of Peoples Baos Bao
Artist rendering courtesy of Peoples Baos Bao

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D.C’s newest food truck, People’s Bao, began hitting the streets this week. The menu stars what People’s Bao founder Peter He calls the most popular food in China—warm and fluffy steamed buns. “Bao is essentially fast food for Chinese cuisine,” he explains. But there’s nothing fast food about the fillings, which range from heritage pork and duck confit to portabella mushroom and edamame hummus.

“We wanted to reintroduce bao to the American audience to see if they can accept it in a way that makes it stand on its on,” He says. “You can make a bao restaurant the way there are hamburger restaurants like Shake Shack.” 

Photo of pork bao courtesy of Peoples Baos Bao

While the People’s Bao food truck is sparkly and new, He has been operating out of farmers markets such as the one in D.C.’s Mt. Pleasant neighborhood and as a catering business. He says People’s Bao even catered one of last year’s White House correspondents’ dinners.

He used the money from the catering business to purchase the truck, which will be parking in various locations throughout D.C. They’ve entered into the food truck lottery system to gain prime real estate weekdays in locations like Farragut Square and Franklin Square. Visit the People’s Bao website or follow the truck on Twitter to track its location.

In addition to the menu (below), People’s Bao also has a “secret menu” of combinations that diners have to know about to order: 

Double: Pork, mushroom, onion sauce, greens 

Trifecta: Pork, duck and mushroom, onion sauce, greens

Triple Double: Pork, duck, mushroom, onion sauce, hot sauce, and greens

Bruce Lee: Two spicy mini buns (1 pork, 1 duck), double the greens, and green tea

Peoples Bao menu.s Bao menu.