Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Hsieh.
Hi Kevin, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Bao Bei is my way of putting my family’s cuisine on the map.
Growing up, I was lucky enough to eat some of the most incredible authentic Taiwanese food made by my grandmas. As they got older and their health started to decline, I realized that if nobody learned these recipes, they could be lost forever. I’ve always wanted to do something meaningful for my family name, so I decided to learn and perfect the recipes I grew up with and share them on a much larger scale.
Bao Bei is still in its early stages. We’re coming up on one year with our first brick-and-mortar location, so it’s still very much a baby. We’ve taken a lot of steps to get here. We started by doing small events, then opened a ghost kitchen, and eventually opened our restaurant. Every stage taught us something new and helped shape what Bao Bei is today.
My goal is to expand Bao Bei globally so more people can experience how underrated Taiwanese food really is. I want people to enjoy the same food I grew up eating and show that authentic Taiwanese cuisine can thrive in a fast-casual format, served quickly without sacrificing quality or flavor.
When we first started, we only served the Bao Bei Bao, the classic dish that was my favorite growing up. Once people started loving it, we opened the ghost kitchen for pickup and delivery and slowly added more items to the menu. Today, our menu feels complete, and we’re excited about what the future holds as we continue to grow and expand.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nothing about this journey has been smooth. Everyone knows that building a business, especially a restaurant, comes with huge hurdles and challenges, and Bao Bei is no different. It forces you to take your work ethic to a completely different level. You sacrifice almost all of your free time, accept endless stress, and somehow still have to show up every day ready to work and keep moving forward. Even when you’re working your life away, it’s often hard to see results, which makes it even tougher.
Some days you’ll finish a 14 hour shift, grateful that the day went well, only to get home and see a bad review that completely kills your mood. Other days you’re physically exhausted, but you still have to prep all morning and run a 12-hour service because there’s nobody else to do it. At least for me, there really aren’t any days off.
Then there are all the things nobody tells you about. Learning how to build a following, reach new customers, stay active on social media, and maintain quality control every single day. Learning how to work with contractors, architects, inspectors, accountants, and the county. Learning how to manage your finances, budget correctly, and understand what it actually takes to make money. None of these things are easy, but they’re all part of the job.
And just when you think everything is finally going your way, a piece of equipment breaks, the AC goes out, or something else demands your attention and your wallet. There’s rarely a smooth week in this business. But that’s okay. That’s what makes it rewarding. The amount of stress, adversity, and responsibility you carry forces you to grow. It sharpens your mind, builds resilience, and teaches you lessons that you couldn’t learn any other way. That’s what I love most about this journey. It’s not just watching Bao Bei grow it’s watching myself grow alongside it, one challenge at a time.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Bao Bei is a fast-casual Taiwanese restaurant specializing in authentic Taiwanese street food, with a special emphasis on our handcrafted baos. From day one, our goal has been to make everything from scratch because we believe you can truly taste the difference. We don’t rely on store bought buns or shortcuts. Every bao, sauce, and topping is made with care to create a quality you simply can’t get anywhere else.
Our food stays true to authentic Taiwanese flavors while still reflecting our own personal touch. We want people to experience the food I grew up eating while also giving it the consistency and presentation needed in a modern fast-casual restaurant.
Beyond the food, Bao Bei is built around comfort and nostalgia. Our brand is warm, welcoming, and family friendly, with an aesthetic inspired by anime, video games, and the things I grew up loving. Those influences are woven throughout the restaurant to create an experience that’s fun, approachable, and memorable for guests of all ages.
Our brand is represented by a pig, not only because pork is our signature protein, but also because it’s my sign in the Chinese zodiac. It’s a small detail that makes the brand feel personal and connected to my own story.
At the end of the day, we want people to walk into Bao Bei and immediately feel welcomed. Whether it’s through our staff, our food, or the atmosphere we’ve created, we want every guest to leave feeling like they found a place they’ll want to come back to again and again.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
You can support Bao Bei by coming by and grabbing some of the best Taiwanese food ever, for lunch, dinner, anytime you want.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.baobei.menu
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baobei.kh/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/baobeikh/
