Bao bun concept set to open at SteelCraft

I Luv Ur Buns, a bao bun concept, will take over the former Waffle Love space at SteelCraft, an urban eatery that reuses old shipping containers to host food concepts.

The grand opening is set for July 20 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., with a soft opening Tuesday. The event Saturday will have raffles, discounts, games, live music and more planned for the celebration.

For I Luv Ur Buns co-owner Sonya Suon, opening her concept inside Steel Craft was something she's always wanted.

"I reached out to them before we even had a fully developed concept," Suon said. "They said thanks, but we weren't ready."

Looking back, Suon completely understands why it wouldn't have worked, but the rejection didn't deter her. Suon and her wife Mandy Bardisbanian opened I Luv Ur Buns in late September last year, working out of Daisy Diner ghost kitchen and hosting pop-ups by partnering with local businesses.

"We partnered with a lot of different breweries," Soon said. "Ambitious Ales was really great to us, they gave us two Sundays a month. We wanted to build a community."

While both Suon and Bardisbanian come from a corporate background, their travels after getting married led them to fall in love with bao buns. In the U.S. they were used to eating bao in the form of a steamed dumpling, but in Southeast Asia they tried bao buns for the first time and fell in love.

They began recipe testing using the soft, puffy bun to hold different types of fillings and I Luv Ur Buns was born. The name is meant to be playful, a commitment to a fun concept that is meant to bring people together over food that they may not be familiar with.

"The whole idea is taking flavors people are familiar with, but with a twist," Suon said.

The global buns on the menu include dishes like the Bao Mi with Vietnamese-style pork belly, spicy hoisin, cucumber, jalapeño, onion and cilantro served inside the bao bun. Each order comes with two buns for $10. Dessert buns are also available, like the "Baognets," fried bao buns stuffed with fruit, Nutella, and more ($5.50).

At SteelCraft, they will expand their menu to add breakfast baos from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Customers can get a bacon egg and cheese in a bao bun, or a play on fried chicken and waffles. The menu will also include plant-based options like an avocado "toast" with balsamic glaze, tomatoes and onions.

RSVP to the grand opening and receive a 10% discount on Saturday. Follow I Luv Ur Buns on Instagram for more updates.

SteelCraft Long Beach is at 3768 Long Beach Blvd.