Log inGet started

Owner story · Rittenhouse, Philadelphia

“It’s like a great canvas, like a taco shell meets a hamburger bun.”

Kyle Billig · Co-founder, Bao Nine

$39Kof Bao Nine’s food delivered by PinkbotSince April 2026
11 daysfrom the first meeting to the first deliveryApril 2026
Bao Nine’s red sign with its smiling logo, on 19th Street
Trays of Bao Nine buns in their boxes, with bowls and blistered shishito peppers

38 S 19th St · Since 2020

Taipei’s street-style gua bao, with a Philly point of view.

Brothers Kyle and Jacob Billig, who started the Sweet Charlie’s rolled ice cream shops, opened Bao Nine near Rittenhouse Square on June 25, 2020, and gave away buns all day. Former Buddakan executive chef Hugh Moran built the opening menu and its sauces around the gua bao, the soft folded bun of Taipei’s street stalls. Today Bao Nine serves lunch and dinner on 19th Street, caters offices and parties, and offers franchises.

“That perfect bite should feel like floating on cloud nine.”Bao Nine, on its name
Bao Nine’s dining room: a coral wall of waves and clouds, a neon smile and wooden tables

The menu

Classic comfort, bold sauces, Philly personality.

The scratch-made “incredibao” buns carry fillings from all over: teriyaki chicken, an Angus slider, pastrami with spicy remoulade, braised short rib with house truffle wiz, blackened mahi, falafel with tahini labneh. Bowls come with shaved and pickled vegetables, herbs, crispy onion and crushed peanut, and the sides run from taro chips to blistered shishitos and a cinnamon-sugar bao. Order three or four buns a person, or trays of 10 to 100 for the office.

Teriyaki-glazed chicken, Persian cucumber, spicy sesame aioli, sesame seeds

Chicken bao

The Sticky ChickyTeriyaki-glazed chicken, Persian cucumber, spicy sesame aioli, sesame seeds
Angus beef slider, cheddar, umami aioli, red onion, pickles

Beef bao

The Prime TimeAngus beef slider, cheddar, umami aioli, red onion, pickles
Braised short rib, house truffle wiz, cherry pepper relish

Short rib bao

The Bao BoaBraised short rib, house truffle wiz, cherry pepper relish
Tempura shrimp, spicy aioli, pickled slaw, jalapeño

Shrimp bao

The Bang BangTempura shrimp, spicy aioli, pickled slaw, jalapeño
Falafel, tahini labneh, pickled chili and onion

Vegetarian bao

The GarbaonzoFalafel, tahini labneh, pickled chili and onion
Shaved and pickled veggies, herbs, crispy onion, crushed peanut, teriyaki and nuoc cham

Bowls

Short Rib BowlShaved and pickled veggies, herbs, crispy onion, crushed peanut, teriyaki and nuoc cham
A Bao Nine bun held out in its branded box

Pinkbot at Bao Nine

Since April 2026, Pinkbot has carried Bao Nine’s buns from 19th Street to the door.

  • $39K of foodOf Bao Nine’s food, delivered by Pinkbot since April 2026.
  • October 2026Bao Nine’s busiest month with Pinkbot so far.
  • 7 months togetherFrom the first delivery in April through November 2026.

Eleven days from the first meeting to the first delivery.

  1. Apr 1, 2026Bao Nine and Pinkbot meet for the first time.
  2. Apr 6, 2026Bao Nine goes live on Pinkbot.
  3. Apr 12, 2026The first Pinkbot delivery leaves 38 S 19th St.

Visit Bao Nine

Bao buns, bowls and big flavor in Philly.

38 S 19th StPhiladelphia, PA 19103
Order onlineCatering and parties@baoninephilly
Friends toast with Bao Nine drinks at the counter, under the neon Bao logo
Near Rittenhouse Square, City Hall and the Kimmel Center.Open every day for lunch and dinner, with pickup, delivery, catering and party bookings.

Other owner stories.

Carlos Moreno of La Hueca PicanteríaHow La Hueca went from a business card to delivering in two weeksCarlos MorenoOwner, La Hueca PicanteríaWatch the story Sunny Ilyas of Vale Food CoHow Vale Food Co cut delivery costs and cleared its dining roomSunny IlyasCEO and founder, Vale Food CoWatch the story Pedro Ochoa of TapHow Tap saved almost $15,000 in 10 monthsPedro OchoaCEO, TapWatch the story

Keep more of every order.