It’s Game Over for Loaded Bao Spot Baoser

Say bye-bye to the Nintendo-themed spot Baoser: The SE Hawthorne bao-bun and rice bowl cafe shuttered last week. The restaurant’s official Facebook changed its status to permanently closed May 22, but the team says it will rebuild with a new schtick, which seems to be the theme around here (see: Penny Diner and The Crown, Roman Candle and Holiday, Superbite and Bistro Agnes).

The cafe originally opened last year, centered around Mario villain Bowser; owner Philip Ragaway is also the man behind Quarterworld arcade. When it was open, Baoser hawked $2 buns filled with soy-braised pork belly, spicy steak, and fried chicken. Ragaway says the business model didn’t take hold, but the new concept “will be awesome and a great addition to the neighborhood.” No word on what that is just yet, but for now, you’ll have to grab your bao buns at Bao Bao and XLB.

• Baoser [Official]
• Baoser [Facebook]
• Nintendo-Themed Baoser Starts Steaming Buns on SE Hawthorne [EPDX]