Casual Chinese Fusion Bun House Take A Bao Plans Big L.A. Expansion

Look out world, here come the steamed buns. Take A Bao, a local outfit that first popped up at the Westfield Century City mall selling their own brand of stuffed Chinese buns, is looking to make a big move.

The team behind the popular fast casual Asian fusion concept quickly opened up a second location in Studio City back in 2011, turning the storefront into a more casual sit down restaurant, complete with wine, beer, and cocktails. Now Take A Bao has partnered up with Mike Israyelyan (Muse Lifestyle Group, Calle Tacos) to help breathe new life into the brand.

Take A Bao owners were already scouting for a third location anywhere from West Hollywood to downtown to Pasadena, but with new backing the plan is to go gangbusters, turning up five new outposts in three years. Each will be spread across the Southland and made unique in their own way, but with the same Take A Bao menu and feel. Look out for a local version to drop near you sometime soon.