Great pork buns for less than $1

It's been over a year since I've moved to Manhattan. New York usually lives up to its reputation in being one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in (New York City was ranked #5 in an international survey reported in June 2008), but there are many gems that serve great food at amazingly affordable prices.

I came across one of these gems today in Chinatown, a sure place to find great deals. Mei Li Wah, located on Bayard between Mott and Elizabeth, offers baked roasted pork buns for 80 cents a piece. There are customers continuously lining up to pick up their roasted buns, steamed buns, or rolls. I sat down at one of their 8-10 tables and enjoyed the fresh roasted pork buns, as well as the rice noodles with shrimp, shu-mai, and fish. The rice noodles were less than $3.00 and also delicious.

According to my friends, the baked roasted pork buns are very similar to Filipino pork buns, and we saw many people lining up to pick up dozens of buns that they had called in. The restaurant was remodeled after a fire in 2008, and looks more modern and cleaner than what it used to be, according to a friend who has frequented this restaurant over the years.

Great deal. I am definitely going back. Next time, I'd love to try the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory across the street after the pork buns. http://www.chinatownicecreamfactory.com/

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Mei Li Wah
64 Bayard St
(between Elizabeth St & Mott St)
New York, NY 10013
(212) 966-7866