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Chef Eddie Huang Bringing BaoHaus to 14th Street

A pair of signature bao sandwiches from BaoHaus.
A pair of signature bao sandwiches from BaoHaus.
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Flickr/roboppy

EAST VILLAGE — One of downtown’s most well-known food personalities is opening a second branch of his popular Lower East Side Taiwanese restaurant in the East Village.

Chef Eddie Huang, of BaoHaus on Rivington Street, plans to bring his signature steamed-bun sandwiches to East 14th Street by the end of the month.  

Huang, who grabbed headlines last year for offering the now-banned alcoholic energy drink Four Loko as a drink special, had been negotiating for the much-larger space between Second and Third avenues since early May.

“I like to open in neighborhoods on blocks I’m familiar with,” said Huang, 29, who used to live around the corner on East 12th Street. “This second one is going to be much more comfortable, much more of a finished concept.”

Huang, whose Taiwanese restaurant Xiao Ye on Orchard Street closed last year after just four months due to the Four Loko scandal, explained that his newest location will allow for an expanded menu and more seating compared to his tiny Rivington Street digs.

“It looks like a bomb shelter,” he said of his current shoebox-size eatery, adding the new space will have bathrooms, seating for up to 25 people and connection to a gas line.

“I can’t stress how important it is that we have gas,” Huang said, noting the perks of his new space will allow him to experiment more in the kitchen. “We’re finally going to get to do BaoHaus they way we always wanted to.”

In addition to the items on his current menu, Huang plans to broaden his offerings with more vegetarian-friendly selections and full meals, including an oyster po’ boy-style bao, tempura broccoli, and minced pork stew over rice served with fried chicken or pork chop.

He’ll also expand his hours of operation — staying open until midnight Sunday through Tuesday, and until 3 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday, with the goal of eventually serving until 5 a.m. — but some things will remain the same.

“If you ask for hot sauce,” he said, “I’ll kick you.”

BaoHaus, 238 E. 14th St., opening July 25.