Review: Steam Bunny, a bao bistro in Leith

Steam Bunny was a late 2023 discovery for me as I hadn’t encountered their street food form until this bright orange bao specialist moved into their new home in Jane Street.

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#streetfood fusion levels up as edinburgh’s Steam Bunny. Now a bright orange bistro, you can visit the Jane Street location for fusion bao and drinks from the neighbouring boozer are corkage free.

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As these things tend to happen, I’ve since seen the bao truck at Edinburgh Street Food by the Omni Centre and tested it at Moonwake during one of their market special events. As a result, I can confirm that mobile Steam Bunny is as good as Jane Street.

And Steam Bunny is good for bao buns.

Steam Bunny’s food

The launch of Jane Street was straightforward, with three or four bao options on the menu. Given how often I’ve been buying two baos at a time, I should have eaten my way through it twice. However, Steam Bunny keeps changing it up and keeps luring me back with new and exciting ideas.

The bao buns here are interesting and certainly not traditional. I think my favourite was the Christmas dinner in a bao. Yep! A whole juicy meal.

Or perhaps it was the tempeh one. Tempeh is an underrated but high-protein vegan food, not one you often find, so I’m citing it here as evidence of clever Steam Bunny ideas. Veggies should find at least one bao on the menu; that might not sound like a lot, but omnivores only have a few more options.

I’m a big eater, as I like to remind people, and while I wouldn’t call these bao buns “giants of their category”, they are significant. I don’t think one is enough for me, but it would be for many people I know, and I’m usually happy with two. 

I know there are ambitions to grow the menu and to turn Jane Street into a more rounded bistro, but based on my trips, I’ll agree there’s generally a dessert option (another bao) but limited sides or much else. At the tail end of 2023, Steam Bunny’s new establishment was a bricks-and-mortar recreation of the food truck. Give them time.

Steam Bunny’s vibe

I love the TARDIS-like aesthetic of the orange bistro, but you first have to find it. Jane Street is just off Leith Walk, but I’d hesitate to call it a prime location. It’s a bit around the corner, it’s certainly down a curve, and no other hospitality establishments are on the street except for The Mother Superior, on the corner, the Bunny’s neighbour. 

Pushing the door open might give you cause for concern, too, as you find yourself in an empty, small room. It’ll look pretty, I suspect, with the orange and bunny character, but you might wonder if you’ve made the right decision to come. 

You probably have. There’s a downstairs work area, and give the proprietor a few seconds, and you’ll hear feet on the steps, and soon you’ll be fully engaged.

In that short wait, you will probably notice a passage out the back. There’s a second room; you’ll find tables for small groups, comfortable chairs and even more dramatic Steam Bunny decorations.

Expect also charisma and attention. I’ve never once been here without being engaged in conversation and politely checked on to make sure everything was okay. I was remembered after just one visit. It turns out that Steam Bunnies are people bunnies.

Things to do in Leith

There’s no shortage of things to do in Leith, but Jane Street is at the bottom of Leith Walk, with retail options and Steam Bunny competitors rather than entertainment.

Often, when I’ve popped into Steam Bunny, it has been because of a trip to Out of the Blue, the art space on Dalmeny Street. Just down from Jane Street, there’s the shopping magic of Ancient Robot Games, the community Argonaut Books, and the gift hunters oasis of Logan Malloch. 

However, if we’re sticking strictly to entertainment, Leith’s WonderWorld is a pool and soft play, and Leith Links is sometimes home to fairs and celebrations. 

Overall

Let’s get dangerous! Edinburgh is blessed with many really good bao places, and if I haven’t decided on my favourite quite yet, I am sure Steam Bunny is a contender. Which is the best bao bar in the ‘Burgh? You have to give Steam Bunny a go.

I like the ‘high tea’ vibe of the Jane Street back room and how it somehow works with the bunny character.

Importantly, I trust Steam Bunny to feed me good food quickly.

Recommended.