Is the sticky rice at Mei Lai Wah worth trying?
Yes. Full stop. Mei Lai Wah at 64 Bayard Street has been a Chinatown institution since 1925, and most visitors walk in knowing one thing: the roast pork bun (cha siu bao). That bun deserves its reputation. Soft, slightly sweet dough. Generous filling of barbecue pork. Under $2. But if you leave without trying the lo mai gai (sticky rice in lotus leaf), you’re making a mistake.
The sticky rice is a dense, savory parcel of glutinous rice steamed inside a lotus leaf. Inside you’ll find bits of pork, Chinese sausage (lap cheong), dried shrimp, and shiitake mushroom. It’s filling enough to be a meal on its own, and it costs around $3. The lotus leaf isn’t eaten, but it infuses the rice with a subtle, earthy fragrance you won’t get from a takeout container.
The move: Order one roast pork bun, one sticky rice, and one egg custard tart. That’s a complete Mei Lai Wah experience for under $8.
What makes Mei Lai Wah’s buns so famous?
The roast pork bun here is baked, not steamed. That’s the key distinction. The exterior has a lightly golden, slightly crackly top with a pillowy interior. The filling is sweet-savory cha siu pork, not too saucy, not too dry. It’s been called the best pork bun in Chinatown by nearly every food publication in the city, and the line out the door on weekends confirms it.
Other buns worth trying: - Coconut bun (cocktail bun): sweet, buttery, with a shredded coconut filling - Hot dog bun: a no-frills snack that kids love - Egg custard tart (dan tat): flaky pastry shell, silky custard center
How do I plan a small bites food crawl and shopping day in Chinatown?
Start at Mei Lai Wah early. Grab a bun and sticky rice before the lunch rush. Then work your way through the surrounding blocks:
- Mei Lai Wah (64 Bayard St): Roast pork bun + sticky rice
- Nom Wah Tea Parlor (13 Doyers St): Dim sum in NYC’s oldest dim sum parlor. The original egg roll is a must.
- Tasty Hand-Pulled Noodles (1 Doyers St): Watch noodles pulled to order. A bowl of beef hand-pulled noodle soup runs about $7.
- Canal Street Market (265 Canal St): Browse the food hall for Japanese-inspired crepes, Taiwanese bao, and more.
- Aji Ichiban (37 Mott St): A Hong Kong-style dried snack shop. Stock up on dried mango, gummy candies, and preserved plum.
- Yunhong Chopsticks (50 Mott St): Custom-engraved chopsticks make a great souvenir.
This loop covers about six blocks. You can walk the whole route in under two hours, eating included.
What are the best dessert spots to hit during a Chinatown food walk?
Chinatown’s dessert game runs deep. After your savory crawl, hit these:
- Mei Lai Wah (64 Bayard St): Egg custard tart and coconut bun
- Chinatown Ice Cream Factory (65 Bayard St): Literally next door. Flavors like black sesame, lychee, and taro. A single scoop is around $5.
- Kampo (various pop-ups, check Instagram): Matcha and ube soft serve
- Tai Pan Bakery (194 Canal St): Another strong contender for egg tarts and sponge cake
- Sweet Moment (75 Mott St): Mango pomelo sago and durian desserts for the adventurous
What is the best itinerary for exploring Chinatown’s street food scene?
If you have three hours and an empty stomach, here’s the route:
| Stop | Spot | Order | Approx. Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mei Lai Wah, 64 Bayard St | Roast pork bun + sticky rice | $5 |
| 2 | Wah Fung No. 1, 79 Chrystie St | Roast pork over rice | $4.50 |
| 3 | Nom Wah Tea Parlor, 13 Doyers St | Shrimp rice roll + egg roll | $12 |
| 4 | Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, 65 Bayard St | Black sesame scoop | $5 |
| 5 | Joe’s Shanghai, 9 Pell St | Soup dumplings (xiao long bao) | $10 |
Total damage: around $35 for five stops. Walk south from the Canal Street subway station (N/Q/R/W/J/Z/6 trains) and you’re in the middle of everything.
Pro tip: Weekday mornings are the best time to hit Mei Lai Wah. Weekend lines can stretch out the door by 11am. If you see a line, it moves fast. The staff doesn’t do small talk. Know your order before you reach the counter.
A note on Little Italy
Mulberry Street is one block west. After your Chinatown crawl, it’s a natural pivot. Little Italy is smaller than it used to be (Chinatown has absorbed most of the old neighborhood), but a few blocks of Mulberry between Canal and Broome still hold down the Italian flag. For a kid-friendly sit-down Italian meal, Rubirosa (235 Mulberry St) serves thin-crust pizza and classic pasta in a relaxed setting. Ferrara Bakery (195 Grand St), open since 1892, is the move for cannoli and espresso.
The two neighborhoods share a border. You can eat a pork bun on Bayard Street and be sitting in front of a plate of rigatoni ten minutes later. That’s New York.
Turn this guide into a personalized plan.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Mei Lai Wah accept credit cards?
- No. Mei Lai Wah is cash only. There are ATMs on Canal Street and Mott Street within a block.
- What are the best items to order at Mei Lai Wah?
- The roast pork bun (cha siu bao), sticky rice in lotus leaf (lo mai gai), and egg custard tart (dan tat) are the three essentials. The coconut bun is a strong fourth pick.
- What subway station is closest to Mei Lai Wah?
- Canal Street station serves the N, Q, R, W, J, Z, and 6 trains. From the Canal and Lafayette exit, Mei Lai Wah at 64 Bayard Street is a three-minute walk south.
- Is there seating inside Mei Lai Wah?
- No. Mei Lai Wah is a grab-and-go bakery with no indoor seating. Most people eat on the sidewalk or walk to nearby Columbus Park (at Bayard and Mulberry) for a bench.
- When is the best time to visit Mei Lai Wah to avoid lines?
- Weekday mornings before 10am are the quietest. Weekend lines form by late morning but move quickly, usually under 10 minutes.