Bread-centric restaurant Buns & Buns is to open in London’s Covent Garden Market this Thursday (15 November).

The restaurant, which debuted in Miami, showcases founder Alex Zibi’s take on the “world’s best breads”, including Taiwanese bao and pala romana – a crunchy Roman-style pizza bread.

“I’ve travelled all over the world, and what struck me most was the huge variety of breads at the centre of every dinner table,” said Zibi.

“I wanted to cherry-pick my favourites and bring them to Buns & Buns, where we hope that every table will happily break bread together, something people have been doing for thousands of years.”

To celebrate its arrival in the UK, staff will be dishing up free brioche lobster rolls for the first 100 dinner guests on opening day.

The restaurant features a towering bamboo steamer filled with bao, including Buns & Buns’ signature shiitake mushroom bun and a bourbon pork belly bun.

The menu includes a brioche lobster roll with skinny fries, clams and mussels in white wine with sourdough, and blackened rotisserie chicken with pão de queijo – a Brazilian bread loaded with melted cheese.

To finish, there will be a selection of bread-based desserts on offer such as bread and chocolate pudding and seasonal doughnuts.

Breads from around the world are increasing in popularity in the UK, particularly steamed breads such as bao. Last week, Chinese street café Bun House announced its second restaurant opening in London.

Subscribers to British Baker can also read our report on the ethnic breads driving the speciality market here.