Viral pineapple roast pork buns, w/ long lines but worth the hype. Classic Chinatown bakery.
This Chinatown bakery has gained significant attention for its pineapple roast pork buns, which many describe as "life-changing" and "absolutely delicious." While the buns are a major draw, some find other offerings like the red bean buns to be less impressive. The establishment has a long history, with some patrons reminiscing about its earlier days before its recent surge in popularity.
The star of the show is undoubtedly the pineapple roast pork bun, praised for its sweet and savory combination and delightful texture. However, experiences vary, with some finding the red bean buns disappointing and others noting inconsistencies in the pork filling, occasionally describing it as too fatty. Despite mixed reviews on specific items, the bakery remains a popular spot for Chinese baked goods and dim sum.
"The pineapple roast pork bun is overwhelmingly recommended, with many calling it a must-try. Other recommendations include the plain baked pork bun, BBQ bolo buns, and milk tea."
Customers are divided, with many raving about the "life-changing" pineapple roast pork buns, while a vocal minority find them underwhelming or too sweet. Some long-time patrons note a decline in quality over the years.
Important Note
Some patrons mention long lines, especially due to social media hype. There are also conflicting reports on the quality of the buns, with some finding them to be a bit too fatty or sweet, and some noting a perceived decline in quality over time.
"This user suggested Mei Lah Wah in Chinatown for buns as part of a food crawl, highlighting the availability of Cantonese style cuisine and BBQ in the area."
Positive"This user mentions Mei Lai Wah as a place known for its pork Bolo Bao in Chinatown. They believe the Mei Lai Wah version is much better and half the price compared to another mentioned establishment."
Positive"This commenter stated that the pineapple pork bun from Mei Lai Wah was their absolute favorite."
Positive"This commenter noted that Mei Lai Wah has become very popular, with long lines, and suggested that similar, good quality char siu bao (bbq pork buns) can be found at other Chinatown bakeries like Golden Manna, M&W, and Tai Pan Bakery."
Neutral"The poster mentioned enjoying the pineapple bun from Mei Lai Wah."
Positive"Mei Lai Wah in Chinatown is recommended for delicious and cheap buns."
Positive"The author mentioned trying the Baked Roast Pork Bun at Mei Lai Wah Bakery."
Neutral"The original poster mentioned visiting Mei Lai Wah for Pineapple BBQ pork bun and steamed pork bun."
Neutral"This commenter expresses that Mei Lai Wah is okay and that influencers tend to overhype everything for likes and views."
Neutral"The user feels the filling in Mei Lai Wah's buns is less substantial than before and suspects the sweet buns run out early intentionally, attributing it to scarcity marketing and TikTok."
Negative"The commenter recalls the price of buns slowly increasing over time. They acknowledge Mei Lai Wah is doing well but haven't visited since around 2012."
Neutral"This commenter states that the quality of Mei Lai Wah's cha siu bao declined post-COVID, with the filling being almost 80% fat. They recommend the 'big bun' and coconut bun as authentic options."
Negative"This user agrees with not gatekeeping, stating they would rather deal with lines at their favorite places than see them close down."
Positive"This user mentions that Filipinos also used to buy buns in dozens from Mei Lai Wah, to the point that Mei Lai Wah had a sign stating they sold siopao due to their large Filipino customer base."
Neutral"This user finds Mei Lai Wah's egg yolk buns to be the perfect dessert."
Positive"This commenter feels that Mei Lai Wah's pork buns are now too fatty and asks if there are other places that offer them with more meat."
Negative"This commenter states that since Mei Lai Wah expanded and moved locations, it's not bad anymore, and they were able to get in and out quickly by going at 6 PM."
Positive"The commenter suggests that the 'famous buns' at Mei Lai Wah are slightly sweet and best eaten before trying their sweet offerings."
Positive"This user simply states 'egg yolk buns' as a recommendation from Mei Lai Wah."
Positive"The commenter believes Mei Lai Wah's char siu buns are not as good as they used to be, finding the char siu pieces too fatty and stating they are not worth the wait."
Negative
