Take A Bao籠上隆 is a restaurant on Oteha Valley Road in Lucas Heights, on Auckland's North Shore, holding a strong 4.7 rating on Google. As the name suggests, bao are the draw.
A good bao shop lives or dies by the steamer: the dough should arrive pillowy and warm, never dense or chewy, which means small batches turned over often rather than buns sitting around. It is casual, quick food, best treated as a graze. Order two or three, eat them while they are hot, and add more if you are still hungry. Regulars tend to dodge the midday rush, when popular fillings can run out and the wait stretches.
For Lucas Heights locals and anyone driving Oteha Valley Road, this highly rated little spot is worth stopping for when a steamed-bun craving hits.