BAO Welcomes the Year of the Horse With Its “Dark Horse” Lunar New Year Menu

The celebratory offering rolls out across all locations, accompanied by a Lunar New Year graphic tee released as exclusive merchandise.

BAO

In commemoration of the Year of the Horse, the London-based Taiwanese restaurant chain BAO will introduce a special menu and exclusive offerings at all its locations from February 10 to 26, 2026.

The subject for this year focuses on the zodiac qualities of action, liberty, and innovation. The "Dark Horse" set meal, costing £35 per person (about $54 USD), includes a variety of the brand's distinctive soft buns, followed by Taiwanese Fried Chicken and a choice of either mushroom dumplings or Hispi cabbage with XO sauce, contingent upon the location.A key feature is the Prosperity Tossing Salmon Salad (yu sheng), a ceremonial dish in which participants combine ingredients to attract good fortune. The main entrée features Chilli Crab Noodles (or Chilli Crab Rice at Soho and Borough), accompanied by a distinctive horse-shaped BAO used for scooping the spicy sauce.

BAO

Unlike past years, such as the 2024 Year of the Dragon, which included private room dining and "Dragon Shots," the 2026 event prioritises enhanced accessibility across all restaurant locations. Previous editions frequently featured digital “BAOverse” red envelopes with rewards such as complimentary tattoos; however, the present emphasis is on the Red Stallion cocktail—a whisky and pineapple highball adorned with auspicious red Campari foam—and the “nearly too cute to eat” Crispy BAO Horse Charms. For an extra £5.50 GBP (about $8.50 USD), patrons can savour deep-fried bao in the form of horseshoes, cowboy boots, and Celtic coins, accompanied by an indulgent chocolate dipping sauce.

In addition to the restaurant menu, the company maintains its legacy of exclusive fashion collaborations. This year, BAO Creative Director Erchen Chang has crafted a hand-illustrated T-shirt commemorating the Year of the Horse. This year's release features a highly exclusive pop-up at Rose Bakery from February 6 to 7, followed by a restricted drop of commemorative T-shirts at Dover Street Market, unlike the successful drops for the Dragon and Rabbit in prior years.