Continuing my pursuit after Oriental and Asian food we went to visit “The Bun”. This Asian-American-Street food Fusion restaurant concept is to make a selection of sandwiches freshly made using a steamed-Chinese style bun. Then this bun is burned with the brand name “The Bun”. The menu also features different other interesting dishes, small and large. The place itself is tiny! Which for me also means that there’s big potential, located strategically just outside of the Ha’karmel Market – my favorite area in Tel-Aviv.
We came in, sat at the bar right in front of the cook. I like seeing what’s going on in the kitchen. It was fun. The atmosphere was relaxed and homey.
Sitting at the bar viewing the open kitchen. My favorite spot.
The menu is very reasonably priced: 16-39 NIS for starters and 56-68 NIS for mains.
We wanted to focus on the steamed buns so we ordered one from the menu and one daily special then finished with a bowl of Pho.
Sirloin Burger, caramelized onions, smoked chilly sauce (38 NIS for two buns)
The meat was very tasty, the bun was amazingly soft and sweet, the sauce was good. The onions were a bit disappointing – not so caramelized just seared on the plancha with the meat. Overall – great little burger.
Daily special – Pork Belly slow cooked and seared, pickles, miso-BBQ sauce (39 NIS)
This was delicious. For those who like pork belly and have no problems with fatty food. I wish the pickles and lettuce would be replaced with something more interesting like pickles of radishes, and some seasonal fruit to cut the fatness like mango or peach.
THE BUN! This little streamed bum is so good and well made, fluffy and soft, a hint of sweet and a hint of yeasts. Whatever you put inside, it would be awesome.
Pho, Onglet of beef, seasoned broth, rice noodles, herbs and chilly (58 NIS)
The soup was nice and tasty, you should squeeze all the lime inside, it changes completely the flavor. The meat was good and fresh as well, the stock was too salty but when we asked to dilute it the cook was happy to add as much milder stock as we needed. I had many Pho’s in Paris. We’re getting closer to that here in Tel-Aviv. This and this are my standards, by the way, in the meantime.
Hillel hazaken 18 , 63309 Tel Aviv
03-604-4725
Second Visit to The Bun on December 2013:
We didn’t stay in The Bun for dessert because Omer just brought me some of his favorite chocolates from “Cardinal Chocolates”. He’s an international expert when it comes to chocolate and so the chocolate was so good!
Ginduja Heart and me
Heart made of milk chocolate and mashed roasted hazelnuts from Rome with whole pecans, pure cocoa powder from the Caribbean. Rich texture, melted and dissolved with the crunch of pecans subtle flavors of caramel and vanilla (free google translation from the description on the website). It was as good as it sounds.
I wasn’t able to eat any more chocolate that some evening but there were more surprises in the bag: Thin milk chocolate sheet with salted caramel – addicting. And a selection of 15 handmade fresh pralines.
I remember especially liking (not wanting to share): 1. the top row second column from left; 2. the little heart; 3. the top row forth from the left with some roasted coconut.
Thank you for the present!!
60, Ibn Gabirol Tel-Aviv
03-6958612
