Laoban, the Asian frozen food brand known for delivering the dumpling shop experience with its high-quality ingredients and mouth-watering flavor, is expanding beyond its fan-favorite dumplings with the launch of bao buns. Rolling out exclusively this June in select Whole Foods Market locations nationwide, Laoban is thrilled to bring new frozen options to consumers seeking quick and elevated anytime meals.
The cousin of the dumpling, bao buns are a Chinese specialty comprising fluffy dough filled with savory or sweet stuffing. Laoban’s frozen bao buns were developed by co-founder and culinary director, Chef Tim Ma, a Michelin-recognized chef with a family background in Chinese restaurants. Like the rest of Laoban’s offerings, the bao buns are packed with complex yet approachable flavors—layered with seasoning and featuring top-quality ingredients like free-range chicken, Berkshire pork, grass-fed beef, and shiitake mushrooms. The bao buns are microwave-ready in just one minute, making them the perfect on-the-go bite or a quick and easy complement to a larger meal.
“Our buns tap into the two greatest reasons consumers turn to us—the unique combination of high-quality convenience and delectable flavor,” said Laoban Co-Founder Patrick Coyne. “We want to change the way consumers think about the frozen aisle by making quality frozen food like our buns part of your weekly, or daily, routine.” Laoban’s Bao Buns come in a frozen pack of four buns. Flavors Include:
- Chinese Style BBQ Pork: Berkshire pork seasoned with Chinese BBQ spices, an homage to the classic char siu bun.
- Spicy Beef: Grass-fed beef boldly spiced with chili and cumin.
- Sesame Chicken: Free-range chicken, shiitake mushrooms, and savory sesame.
“I’m so excited for Laoban’s new Bao Buns to hit freezers nationwide,” said Laoban Co-Founder Chef Tim Ma. “We’ve spent the last year working on the recipes to make sure we’re bringing the restaurant experience straight to your home kitchen. The final recipe gives me visceral memories of eating Bao buns as a child with my family, and I hope it evokes that same feeling for everyone who eats them.”
About Laoban
Laoban Dumplings started as a humble dumpling shop in Washington, DC, in 2017. While living and teaching in China, co-founder Patrick Coyne frequently found himself in the dumpling shop near his school. He loved spending time in the shop and developed a special appreciation for the care and craftsmanship shown by the shop's boss, or “laoban." Once back stateside, Patrick sought to honor that tradition, and Laoban Dumplings was born. Through a fortuitous encounter, Patrick met Michelin-awarded Chef Tim Ma, a first-generation Chinese American who was raised in his family's restaurants. Recognizing in each other a kindred spirit who had taken an unconventional route to the food industry, the duo teamed up to develop the concept beyond Laoban’s restaurant walls. In 2021, Patrick and Tim created a line of restaurant-quality frozen dumplings using premium ingredients and chef-driven recipes. Made from scratch, they are easily integrated into any weekly meal routine, featuring mouth-watering flavors such as grass-fed beef, Berkshire pork, and free-range chicken. Laoban proudly boasts a clean label and is free of preservatives, hormones, and additives. Laoban is one of the fastest-growing frozen brands in the country and is available nationwide at retailers such as Whole Foods and online via Instacart.
