In spite of a wave of bao madness overseas in recent years -- a lot are overpriced and underwhelming -- the best gua bao still comes from the island. It's a hamburger, Taiwan-style.
A steamed bun sandwiches a hearty filling of braised pork belly, pickled Chinese cabbage and powdered peanuts. The filling is chopped into small pieces and mixed together so there's a bit of everything in every bite. Take a big mouthful and you get salty, sour and sweet flavors and greasy pork swimming in your mouth.
Lan Jia's famous gua bao has peanut powder sprinkled on it for extra sweetness.