The Travel Chica

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Asian soul food (my most anticipated meal in Charleston)

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I already wrote a lengthy post (with lots of tempting photos) on the food of Charleston.

Bottom line:  this is a foodie city.

 

I ate so much fantastic food, but no meal was more anticipated than Xiao Bao Biscuit.

I Googled all 19 Charleston restaurants Kristin emailed me.

One of the top search results for Xiao Bao Biscuit referred to the cuisine as “Asian soul food.”

And I quickly discovered it was located a short walk from the apartment I rented.

Trying Asian soul food was a must, however, I had to wait.

My entire trip was scheduled around wedding activities and restaurant hours.  Xiao Bao Biscuit would be the last meal right before road tripping back to Ohio.

To make the anticipation even greater, I had to walk or drive by this place nearly every time I went anywhere.

Look how cool it looks from outside!

On Monday late morning, luggage was all packed, and my boyfriend and I eagerly walked down the street to finally get a taste of Asian soul food.

Xiao Bao Biscuit

The atmosphere comfortable and casual.

You can see the mix of Asian and southern before you even order your food.

I was instantly impressed when I saw my favorite Nicaraguan beer Toña on the menu.

The lunch menu is small, which I prefer.

It was still hard to choose because everything sounds so tasty and creative and completely new to my taste buds.

Som Tum with Chicken

I could eat this every day for the rest of my life.

The chicken is enrusted in a sweet black bean paste.  The spicy papaya salad is so fresh with a subtle spiciness that does not overpower the rest of the dish.

Mapo Dofou

 

When I see the word “spicy” on a menu, I get a little worried and ask lots of questions trying to determine whether or not the dish will be too spicy for me.

This spicy Sichuan tofu dish made me see why people love spicy food, even if it hurts.

 

The flavor packed into this bowl is so incredible that my usual instant reaction to this level of burning hot spiciness (yes, there is a ton of chili oil in it) was overpowered by my desire to savor the complex layers of deliciousness.

 

It is a good thing we saved Xia Bao Biscuit for the last day because I probably would have wanted to eat there every day.

Good things are created when cultures mix.

Comments

  8. Hold up, HOW did I miss this when I was researching the best places to eat in Charleston?! I was there for four days in April and heard nothing about Xiao Bao Biscuit! It looks absolutely amazing, never heard of Asian soul food before. I know where I’ll be heading if I return back to the city.

    For the record, Ernie’s and Jestine’s Kitchen were my favourite finds :)
    Tom @ Waegook Tom recently posted..Czech Food: Prague’s Must-Eat Treats

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