Burger and bao operators collaborate on new Leeds opening

The 16-cover BYOB restaurant is the brainchild of former street food trader, Little Bao Boy, and the former owner of burger restaurant Boss Burgers.

Aiyo’s menu puts modern twists on the Asian dishes that Little Bao Boy owner Jamies Ooi grew up eating.  

On the menu are bao burgers, with fillings including spiced buttermilk fried chicken with Asian salad; and deep-fried marinated tofu, chilli, spring onion and hoisin sauce.

Besides bao burgers, diners can choose from a selection of vegetable rice bowls; noodle soups; vegan shiitake congee with fried garlic; and slow cooked massaman chicken thigh.

Side dishes include pak choi; Asian salad; and salt and pepper fries with sriracha mayonnaise.

Aiyo is located on the former site of a Boss Burgers restaurant, which closed in December 2017. The space has been refurbished and now has hand painted murals by local artist Mike Winnard, featuring a Chinese dragon and lucky carp.

“At Aiyo we want people to be able to try traditional Asian food along with a few Western influences in a contemporary environment,” says co founder Ooi.

“A lot of our dishes aren't that readily available around Leeds mainly because we wrote the menu from scratch and these are dishes that I grew up eating, as opposed to dishes you would find in a Chinese restaurant.”

Ooi has amassed a strong following, having had a successful year of hosting pop ups and events across the north of England with his Little Bao Boy brand.