Viral pineapple roast pork buns - sweet, savory, and crispy! Chinatown bakery gem, a must-try for a taste of tradition.
This Chinatown bakery is a beloved institution, particularly famous for its incredibly delicious and sweet pineapple roast pork buns. While the classic pork bun and other baked goods are also highly recommended, the pineapple version has garnered significant attention, often leading to long lines. Despite some debate on recent quality changes, it remains a must-visit for authentic Cantonese bakery fare.
The star of the show is the pineapple roast pork bun, often described as having a delightful balance of sweet, savory, and crispy elements. Other popular items include the original roast pork bun and various baked goods like red bean buns. While many rave about the classic flavors, some recent feedback points to inconsistencies in filling quality and sweetness, with a few users finding the buns too fatty or not sweet enough.
"The pineapple roast pork bun is the standout, frequently described as a must-try. Other highly recommended items include the original roast pork bun and various steamed buns like the steamed pork, red bean, and egg yolk buns."
Customers are divided, with many praising the iconic pineapple roast pork buns as "life-changing" and "absolutely delicious." However, a notable portion of reviews suggest a decline in quality, citing fattier fillings and overly sweet toppings, with some finding the buns not worth the wait.
Important Note
Some customers report a decline in the quality of the buns, specifically regarding the fattiness of the pork filling and the sweetness of the topping. The popularity of the restaurant can also lead to long wait times, which some feel diminishes the value.
"The pineapple roast pork bun was good, but not something the reviewer would race back for, earning a score of 7."
Neutral"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
