Bao is a Chinese word for abalone.

Bao also refer to sweet or savory steamed buns which are popular among the Chinese communities all over Asia and is usually eaten during breakfast or as a snack at any time of the day and it goes very well with a cup of hot coffee or cold beverages (soda). It is filled with Kaya (coconut and egg jam), red beans paste, meat and many other variety of fillings.

In the Philippines, steamed buns is popularly called as Siopao, a savory bun filled with meat or meatballs. I have never seen any Siopao with a sweet filling so far. In Malaysia, it is called Bao and a sweet Bao filled with coconut and egg jam is called Kaya Bao.