The Best Pork Bun in NYC: Mei Li Wah

My pork bun story starts with a New York City photographers Meetup. When I was first committed to learning to use my digital camera, I joined a lot of Meetups. Free ways to learn about my camera, maybe make some friends (if you’ve lived in New York you know how hard this can be). Little did I know one would introduce me to the best pork bun in NYC.

I had a couple favorite photo Meetups, once I went to Adorama and listened to Tom and Jeremy Jauncey (ya know, those awesome guys behind Beautiful Destinations, NBD). Nigel Barker showed up too. (Like what?!) I was one of maybe 30 people there, it was crazy- I even got to meet them! I thought to myself, HOW DOES NO ONE KNOW ABOUT THIS???? Anyway, I digress.

My other favorite meetup was a street photography meeting with street photographer extraordinaire, Daniel Shaefer. It was me, a hodgepodge of other eager learners, Daniel and the city of New York. This was one of the most diverse groups of people I had stumbled upon yet in NYC, from young to middle-aged, people from many different countries, white, black, Australian, you name it.  There we were standing outside of Adorama, fidgeting awkwardly with our basic DSLR cameras, waiting for the journey to begin. 

My Pork Bun Story

Before we left, Daniel let us know the general path we were going to take and also that this was going to end in pork buns. These were the best pork buns he’d ever had and he had tried them all. So now, I’ve got pork buns on the brain, all the while feeling super nervous to run around NYC with my new friends and snap pictures of strangers. Onward.

We started at Adorama on 18th Street with pork buns in Chinatown on the other end. There I was, a part of one of those hilarious groups of seemingly newby photographers wandering down the busy streets of Manhattan following closely behind our fearless leader. I won’t lie, I had judged these kind of things before but was at a point in my life where I was willing to try anything (which I think we all should because this was a blast). I had left a lot of my fears behind when I moved to New York to say the least. 

We start wandering down Union Square West, snapping away, and into Washington Square park for a very uncomfortable challenge where we had to ask a stranger to pose for a shot. Although incredibly uncomfortable. I made it out alive and we continued down the breathtaking streets of NYC, winding through all kinds of new places I had never seen! Now I don’t remember our exact path but we ended up on Mott Street which I fell in LOVE with. So many adorable little bars and restaurants with adorable little sidewalk patios. (You should check it out next time you’re there.)

Finally we hit the hustle and bustle of Chinatown and where Mott St hits Bayard St, we took a left and stumbled upon Mei Li Wah. There it was, the best pork bun in NYC. (Side note, my photos show Mei Lai Wah as the name but apparently it has changed to Mei Li Wah as that is how it shows on google and on their website.)

Mei Li Wah

As everything in Chinatown, this teeny restaurant was unassuming with beautifully tacky photos of all the buns on the window. It would be all too easy to pass this one by. Now I love a good steamed bun but Daniel swore the best was the “baked roast” pork bun, so I took his advice. I should probably add, these puppies run for $1 a pop so you could try all the kinds if you had the stomach space. After the first bite I was hooked. This thing was like nothing I had ever had. It was almost like the perfectly cooked savory, saucy pork was rolled up into the best dinner roll you’ve ever had. And honestly, that doesn’t even do it justice. Basically you just have to go try it. Plus, its a CHEAP lunch. 

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I have returned many times since and tried the steamed bun which is also to die for. And I will go back every time I am in NYC from here on out. So that’s it, my pork bun story. Never thought I would have one of those, but there it is. I had to share this because you HAVE TO GO GET ONE. I am not over exaggerating here, it will change your life. Best pork bun in NYC. Love you.

xx,

Hannah

Are you looking to travel more? Check out my post seven small shift to help you travel more for a little inspo.

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