Saigon Kitchen takes top spot in Bao-a-licious 2026
Voting is now closed, and Launceston Central is pleased to announce the winner of the inaugural Bao-a-licious foodie competition is Saigon Kitchen!
Hosted by Launceston Central from 5 to 19 March 2026, Bao-a-licious saw eight local eateries enter the battle of the bao, where community members were invited to buy, try, and vote for their favourite bao. Saigon Kitchen won the popular vote, winning over hungry voters with their signature Saigon Crispy Pork Bao.
While only one business can claim the top spot, all participating venues benefited in Bao-a-licious, as hungry voters reported eating nearly 900 bao over the duration of the two-week competition.
Bao-a-licious is one of several foodie-themed competitions that have been delivered by Launceston Central, designed to encourage hungry customers to visit to the city centre, support local businesses, and discover something new in our UNESCO City of Gastronomy. In 2025, Launceston Central hosted Slice-a-licious, and this year’s Bao-a-licious was the first competition to feature bao, a favourite entrée in many Asian eateries. Saigon Kitchen is no stranger to winning. In both 2019 and 2024, Saigon Kitchen took home the top spots in Soup-a-licious, Launceston Central’s competition to find the best soup in town.
Voting may be closed for Bao-a-licious, but locals can still enjoy the tasty bao from all eight participating venues listed below:
Browse the venues
Visit all eight and try their signature bao and more
Conveniently located in the Morty’s Food Court complex, Saigon Kitchen serves up authentic Vietnamese dishes, including the much beloved Pho. Crispy fried chicken wings, fried rice, duck noodle soup, stir fries, curries and spicy beef noodle soup...
Saigon Kitchen
169 Brisbane Street, Launceston
Bluestone is a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner that incorporates modern bistro cuisine with a focus on quality and comfort. Head Chef Murray designs his menus with presentation and quality top of mind, and the rest of the crew are...
Bluestone Bar & Kitchen
12-14 Saint John Street, Launceston
More than a restaurant, Canton Restaurant strives to create a true taste experience with impeccable service for their guests. Established in 1961 Canton has been serving Launceston for almost 60 years. Offering its guests a constantly varied...
Canton Restaurant
203 Charles Street, Launceston
This little hole in the wall eatery is a fantastic place to grab lunch in the city. They serve Chinese street food in a flash; including handmade dumplings, fried quail egg skewers, chicken wings, tempura mushrooms and veggies, honey lemon chicken,...
Goldfish Express
Tenancy 3, 74-82 Saint John Street, Launceston
In their own words - “You’ll find that we use the most fresh and quality ingredients. From locally sourced, full-flavoured herbs, coffee roasted in Hobart through to Tasmania’s award winning Ashgrove milk and Meander Valley cream, we aspire to give...
Inside Cafe
8 A3, Launceston
Established over twenty years, Mudbar is an ideal place to celebrate good times; with a fierce reputation for fresh, seasonal, handmade food. Achieving the rare feat of being all things for all people, Mudbar has created an ambience that suits those...
Mudbar Restaurant
28 Seaport Boulevard, Launceston
Looking for a unique dining experience in the heart of Launceston? Sun and Moon Eatery delivers a fusion of Korean, Japanese, Thai and Taiwanese cuisine, and the results are delicious. As carefully considered as their menu, the décor is open and...
Sun and Moon Eatery
tenancy 4, 74 Saint John Street, Launceston
Wang’s Restaurant is a casual and family-friendly restaurant serving both modern and traditional Chinese and Cantonese cuisine. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options are all available here, along with mild through to very spicy foods - just ask...
Wangs Chinese
75 George Street, Launceston
