See menu: New Toowoomba business opens, serves bao bun burgers

We’re sure you’ve heard of burgers and bao buns, but have you ever heard of baogers? Check out the new business and tasty menu here.

Copper Bench apprentice chef Damien Colthup prepares the unique bao-ger food item, now available through Pow Bao, Tuesday, March 15, 2022. Picture: Kevin Farmer

It’s been a long time coming, but a pair of Toowoomba foodies have started a new business which features the ultimate flavour fusion.

Copper Bench owners Tenzin Norbu and Sara Poolsirisook have always been passionate about food and now the couple have launched new business Pow Bao.

Owners of Copper Bench Sara Poolsirisook and Tenzin Norbu launch their new business Pow Bao, offering bao bun burgers that pack a punch, Tuesday, March 15, 2022. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Offering tasty burgers which pack a punch in flavour, the couple sandwich locally-sourced ingredients between two steamed bao buns, to create a tasty and unique meal.

“Sara has been experimenting for months and the design has finally been perfected so the bun doesn’t get soggy,” Mr Norbu said.

Copper Bench apprentice chef Damien Colthup prepares the unique bao-ger food item, now available through Pow Bao, Tuesday, March 15, 2022. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“It’s been a tough time for businesses in the hospitality industry with lockdowns and even if it’s in Brisbane, the dining scene just completely drops.

“We were most concerned about our staff, so to keep them going and to avoid reducing hours, we decided to open a second small business so we could rely on deliveries if another lockdown happened.”

Owners of Copper Bench Sara Poolsirisook and Tenzin Norbu launch their new business Pow Bao, offering bao bun burgers that pack a punch, Tuesday, March 15, 2022. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The couple soft launched their soft buns late last week and said it’s already been a massive hit among customers.

“We didn’t expect it to be this busy at all, but the first week has been phenomenal,” Mr Norbu said.

“Everyone told us to expect a slow burn, but the kitchen has been non-stop with orders coming through every three minutes – we even had to call in an extra set of hands to keep up.”

Pow Bao is currently offering lunch and dinner deliveries through DoorDash, from Thursdays to Sundays, with plans to extend hours in the future.

Owners of Copper Bench Sara Poolsirisook and Tenzin Norbu launch their new business Pow Bao, offering bao bun burgers that pack a punch, Tuesday, March 15, 2022. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Baoger menu:

• Chilli Fish – $16.50

Battered barramundi fillets, bacon chilli-jam, mesclun, sliced tomatoes and shaved carrot.

• Hawaii – Teri Chicken – $15.50

Teriyaki chicken, grilled pineapple, Teriyaki sauce, mesclun and sliced tomatoes.

• Mis-O Steak – $17.90

Porterhouse steak, Miso gravy, bacon, grilled onion rings, sauteed mushroom, and mesclun.

• Smokey Pulled Pork – $14.50

Smokey BBQ pulled pork, Korean pickled slaw, truffled mayo and mesclun.

• Southern Fried Chicken – $14.50

Southern fried chicken, Pow Bao spicy sauce, pickled radish, cheese sauce, mesclun and sliced tomatoes.

• Vegan (Beef-Less) Beef – $17.50

Smokey plant based protein patty, pickled red cabbage, hashbrown, tomato chutney, mesclun and sliced tomato.