SteelCraft’s newest tenant, I Luv Ur Buns, brings extravagant baos to Bixby Knolls

I Luv Ur Buns, an Asian-fusion eatery previously serving out of Daisy Diner in the Washington neighborhood, now has a permanent space at SteelCraft Long Beach .

The wife-and-wife duo that owns the restaurant, Sonya Suon and Mandy Bardisbanian, will be on hand at the grand opening ceremony Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. for a day full of games, raffles and a prize wheel. There will also be live music from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. from DJ Emerald and the Surfabilly Cats.

When Suon started the business less than a year ago, she envisioned serving out of SteelCraft. Her initial application was “politely declined,” but she reapplied after serving at Daisy Diner for six months, and that led to her landing the new spot.

“It’s very gratifying to finally be here,” Suon said. “I love the concept of an outdoor space.”

Serving out of the space that formerly housed Waffle Love , I Luv Ur Buns will showcase its new breakfast menu , which will be available daily from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Bao buns are fluffy, airy buns made from yeasted dough that’s steamed. They are commonly served closed, but I Luv Ur Buns serves all of its dishes with the bun folded in half with the fillings inside.

New breakfast buns include the Sticky Bird — an homage to chicken and waffles — an everything bagel sandwich bun called the L.B.C., and the Nutella Bomb featuring the customer’s choice of strawberries, blueberries, caramelized apples or bananas.

Each breakfast order ranges from $6.50 to $8.50 with an option of getting six Baognets (like beignets) for $40.

Another breakfast bun is the Appley Ever After containing caramelized apples, sweet cream cheese and caramel sauce inside a deep-fried, cornflake-crusted bao.

From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends, 12 “global buns” will be offered, featuring a vast array of combinations. Each lunch or dinner bun order ranges from $10 to $12 and comes with two buns.

Bun-dles range from $15 for two buns, fries and a drink to $65 for eight buns (up to four kinds), two large fries, a choice of two sides and two drinks.

One of the most popular offerings, U Make Khmer Day, has Cambodian-style beef with housemade lemongrass season, spicy hoisin sauce and pickled cucumber, carrot and onion along with cilantro.

Other combinations feature Vietnamese-style grilled pork belly, Thai-style grilled chicken and Korean-style Bulgogi marinated beef along with less adventurous fried chicken options.

The expansive menu also contains crinkle-cut fries, crab rangoon, gyoza and plant-based options.

Suon and Bardisbanian came up with the idea for the eatery while on their honeymoon in Bali and Singapore.

Born to Cambodian parents in a refugee camp in the Philippines, Suon was raised in the Washington D.C. area before moving to Long Beach about a decade ago.

She spent over 10 years in the food service industry prior to starting I Luv Ur Buns. Suon handles the cooking while Bardisbanian has played a major role in the company’s branding and social media marketing. When not devoting her time to I Luv Ur Buns, Bardisbanian is the vice president of business and development for Striker Entertainment.

“It’s a labor of love so we have to make sure it survives,” Suon said of the restaurant.

I Luv Ur Buns is at Steelcraft Long Beach, 3768 Long Beach Blvd. It is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends.

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