In search of pork buns

Early on during the stay-at-home order put in place for NYC, I developed an intense craving for char siu bao, which are Cantonese BBQ pork-filled buns that are a staple at dim sum restaurants. I tried to put the craving out of my mind as there was nowhere near me that sold these delicious baked or steamed buns, but after eight weeks the craving was still there and I knew I had to do something about it. 

I first toyed with the idea of making my own char siu bao – after all, I love trying new recipes and what could be better than finally learning how to make one of my favorite dishes at home? However, that idea was soon squashed as I realized I’d need to venture out to a Chinese grocery store to find most of the items I would need, and there wasn’t one anywhere near me. 

Undeterred, I started to religiously check the website of my favorite Chinese bakery, called Fay Da, in hopes that it was open and I could satisfy my craving another way. Unfortunately, it hadn’t yet opened, but I found another bakery called Taipan Bakery that was open and thus my mind was made – I would walk across the Manhattan Bridge to procure pork buns! 

On a sunny Sunday in Brooklyn, I departed my apartment and headed towards the pedestrian entrance of the Manhattan Bridge, which is on the south corner of Sands Street and Jay Street. As you walk across the bridge, you can see the Brooklyn Bridge on the left and the subway track on your right, so it can get a bit noisy when a train is crossing. The bridge does have fencing, but despite that you still get a beautiful view, and as you cross over into the Manhattan side you also get a great view of Chinatown.

After about 30 minutes, I made it across the bridge and quickly made my way to my destination. Taipan Bakery was one of the few establishments open in Chinatown and had a great selection of freshly baked items – they even brought out fresh baked char siu bao while I was there (excellent timing for me!). Luckily it wasn’t too crowded, and everyone inside was wearing masks and doing their best to practice distancing in a smaller space. I left the store feeling elated and with a bag stuffed full of baked and steamed pork buns to thoroughly satisfy my craving.

The bun was a delicious golden color and light and pillowy, while the BBQ pork filling itself could have been a bit better. For my taste, I felt the onions could have been cooked a bit longer and there could have been more pork, but overall, it was still a delicious char siu bao! 

After quickly devouring my pork bun, I began to make my way back to the Manhattan Bridge, heading for the entrance located on the corner of Bowery Street and Canal Street.

I arrived home with a bag of steamed and baked char siu bao, happy that I was able to finally satisfy my craving and also help support a local Chinatown business as it tries to recover from losses during the COVID-19 shutdowns.  My entire journey took about 2 ½ hours, and it was definitely worth the trip. You can be sure that when Fay Da Bakery is open, I’ll be making the trek again!