Viral pineapple roast pork buns & classic Chinese bakery treats. A must-try in Chinatown!
A Chinatown institution, Mei Lai Wah is famed for its incredibly popular and often viral pineapple roast pork buns. While many rave about the sweet, crispy topping and savory filling, others find the buns can be inconsistent. It's a classic bakery experience, with a loyal following that keeps coming back for these quintessential Chinese baked goods.
Mei Lai Wah is renowned for its Chinese bakery items, especially its pineapple roast pork buns, which have gained significant viral attention. While many customers find these buns to be absolutely delicious, praising the sweet, crispy topping and flavorful filling, others have noted inconsistencies in quality and the pork-to-fat ratio. Some reviews also mention red bean buns being underwhelming.
"The pineapple roast pork bun is overwhelmingly the most recommended dish, often described as a must-try. Other praised items include the plain baked pork bun and various other baked goods."
Customer feedback is largely positive, with many praising the iconic pineapple roast pork buns as a must-try item. However, there are some mixed reviews regarding consistency and the pork filling.
Important Note
Some customers have noted that the quality of the pork filling can be inconsistent, with some buns being fatty or not sweet enough. The restaurant can also experience long lines due to its popularity, especially after being featured on social media.
"The commenter recommended Mei Lai Wah for their BBQ pork buns."
Positive"Roast pork buns from Mei Lai Wah were recommended as a food to take home."
Positive"The roast pork bun at Mei Lai Wah is considered gross due to fatty bits."
Negative"The author considers the Mei Lai Wah baked pork bun to be good, but acknowledges its inconsistency. They are willing to go for the times when it is particularly good."
Positive"This comment highlights the possibility of cross-contamination at Mei Lai Wah, suggesting a risk for individuals with severe allergies."
Neutral"The baked char siu bao at Mei Lai Wah is inconsistent, with fillings that can be too sweet or contain fatty bits. Many people haven't tried a truly good baked pork bun, leading to its popularity."
Neutral"The author found the baked BBQ pork bun to be underwhelming, with the pork flavor not standing out. They also noted that while they have had better steamed buns, they haven't had better baked ones, and the filling quality can vary."
Neutral"The baked BBQ pork bun from Mei Lai Wah was found to be underwhelming. The pork flavor did not stand out, and the bun was compared unfavorably to a Krispy Kreme donut."
Negative"The user doubts that Mei Lai Wah's pork buns are made with nuts, but advises caution for those with allergies due to potential sesame and nut presence in the kitchen. They believe cross-contamination is possible."
Neutral"This commenter recommends Mei Lai Wah among other places."
Positive"This commenter recommends Mei Lai Wah specifically for bao."
Positive"In response to a query about pineapple bbq buns, this commenter mentioned that Mei Lai Wah has a pineapple bun option."
Neutral"This commenter finds Mei Lei Wah's baked bbq pork buns too fatty and starchy, and notes the long wait times."
Negative"The original poster tried Mei Wah Lei's baked bbq pork buns and found the filling not sweet enough. They are looking for other recommendations in the city."
Neutral"The user mentioned having a pork bun from Mei Lai Wah."
Neutral"The user found the pineapple roast pork bun to be good, describing it as a nice compromise of flavors, and would have enjoyed more than one."
Positive"The user provided a link to a post about Chinatown Bakery as an additional bakery recommendation."
Positive"This user acknowledges that while TikTok has oversaturated some restaurant content, it has also helped businesses like Mei Lei Wa gain necessary exposure and business."
Positive"Mei Lai Wah is recommended in Chinatown for pork buns, both traditional and pineapple flavors."
Positive"Mei Lai Wah is recommended in Chinatown for pork buns, both traditional and pineapple flavors."
Positive
