Cantonese bakery and counter · Chinatown, New York City

Mei Lai Wah

Mei Lai Wah: Cantonese bakery and counter in Chinatown, New York City. Order: Baked roast pork bun (char siu bao).

Local favoriteChef's pickWhere to eat baked roast pork bunStop on the New York City food walk

What to order

Baked roast pork bun (char siu bao)

Baked roast pork bun (char siu bao); the pineapple bun with roast pork.

Why go

A bakery that has turned out buns since the 1960s; the glossy-topped pork bun with a drippy barbecue filling costs a few dollars. It moved from Bayard St to a bigger Mott St space in 2024; go early, bring cash.

A tiny Chinatown counter known for baked barbecued pork buns with a golden top and a hot caramelised pork filling. It moved to 41 Mott from Bayard Street, and lines grew after it went viral.

Address
41 Mott St, New York, NY 10013
Neighborhood
Chinatown
Price
$
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Seen in atlasobscura.com, theinfatuation.com, The Infatuation, NYC Tourism, theinfatuation.com, atlasobscura.com

Also nearby in Chinatown

Fong OnPhê2nd Ave DeliA&A Bake & Doubles ShopAskaAtomixB&H DairyBalthazar
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Researched October 23, 2026 from the sources linked above. Places change; confirm hours and reservations before you go.

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