Where can I get amazing lava buns? I live in Carroll Gardens but I’m more than willing to travel to other boroughs for my favorite dim sum treat. I love unique takes on the lava bun too — I recently had one in Vancouver that had a deep fried exterior. I’m planning on trying Shanghai You’s purple mochi lava bun asap.
Note: I’m talking about molten lava buns/salted egg yolk/liu sha bao that have a grainy, rich, and slightly salty filling, NOT the ones that are just sweet custard. If you haven’t had one before, you must try it!
by prfla
5 Comments
The 流沙包 at House of Joy are very good
From Carroll Gardens it’s a short trip over to any of the dim sum joints on 65th st.
IDK if it’s the “best” but Golden Steamer has them. They sell them in 4 packs from the fridge as well.
I always feel like the “best” buns are the ones I can grab from the freezer and make them whenever I’m craving them at home for breakfast lol. If I have to travel specifically to eat them, I probably won’t like them as much. There’s 2 Golden Steamers in the Manhattan Chinatown (one of them opened like a month ago, they’re literally around the corner from each other lol). There’s also a Golden Steamer in each of the Brooklyn Chinatowns (Sunset Park and Bensonhurst).
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I would also recommend checking out BAO TEA House. They have a location in Chinatown (apparently their original location in Greenwich Village closed). I used to go there a decent amount because my old haircut place was down the block from their village location. I always thought their “modern” take on baos are pretty good. They specifically have a [salted egg yolk and water-chestnut bao](https://www.baoteahouse.store/menu) on their menu. I like their drinks a lot as well.
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Mabu Cafe has a molten salted egg yolk french toast with pork floss. Not sure if they still have crazy lines since I’ve only been there once and it was raining like heck that day lol. Might be worth a look.
mei lai wah has the most famous ones that are quite good. pro tip is to get the same buns from munchies on macdougal street if you’re in the neighborhood. golden steamer also has good ones, but make sure you don’t get the custard ones.
and then related: check out kong sihk tong’s salted egg yolk fried toast. very fried but an amazing combo
Jing fong hands down. NOT the UWS location obviously but the Chinatown OG