Best Chinese bakeries?

[Peripatetic]

In particular I'm hoping to find good versions of baked pork buns (char siu bau) and "wife cakes". I've tried Yi Mei and Kee Wah in Monterey Park but was underwhelmed with their offerings.

Thanks in advance!

[monku]

Family Pastry also has "wife cakes"........I didn't know what they were until I "Googled" it. I've seen them there, but never ordered them, so I can't tell you how good they are. But the baked char siu bao, steamed dim sum items and other baked goods are pretty good. For what its worth, you get your money's worth there.

[Galen]

I love Won Kok's (Chinatown) golden cha sui baos.

[monku]

I don't go to Won Kok for dim sum, but I'll try it on your rec sometime. Its the only place in Chinatown you can get dim sum day or night (late too).

[liltamby5]

Diamond Bakery. They have really good fried wonton butterfly pastries...not sure what they're called but they're glazed with this honey sauce...to die for!

[trolley]

I went to I fu tang for wife cakes but i have to admit i was not impressed...

I Fu Tang Bakery
1611 S. San Gabriel Blvd. SG 91776
626-288-8280

[monku]

Best baked char siu bao is at Family Pastry across the street from CBS Seafood. They're big, lots of meat inside and 65 cents each. You can't beat them anywhere......and I've sampled my share.
Family Pastry
715 N Spring St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
[phone]
Open 7 days
7am-5:30pm

[Peripatetic]

Great, I'll try these, too, and report back.

Wow, three recommendations, all of them in Chinatown. I'm really surprised that there's nothing noteworthy in the SGV . . .

[monku]

One interesting thing about he Family Pastry baked char siu bao is many Japanese American groups I know buy them there and re-sell them at fund raising events. If you like steamed chicken bao they make a pretty good one too....85 cents and has steamed chicken, half hard boiled egg in it...good for breakfast. Also try one of their plain baked buns....not too sweet, big and yeasty...55 cents.

[Mattapoisett in LA]

interesting to Note Phoenix Bakery when we were there on Saturday was heralding its New Baked dim sum offerings including Char siu Bau and I think there were sweetheart cakes.

-----
Phoenix Bakery
969 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA

[Peripatetic]

Great, thanks. I'll try them, too.

[Chandavkl]

I really like the baked pork bun in the takeout department of CBS Seafood in Chinatown. The pineapple crust top version is reallly good.

[Peripatetic]

I never noticed CBS's takeout department. I'll definitely try them. Thanks!

[ipsedixit]

Your best bets for char siu baos would be from a dim sum joint like Ocean Star or 888.

[Peripatetic]

Agreed, some dim sum places have very good char siu bao (I love the ones at Elite when they have them . . . as they did yesterday). Do people routinely get take out from places like Elite and Sea Harbour? I have to confess I've never noticed patrons going in for take-out alone.

[ipsedixit]

I dunno if people "routinely" do it. But it's possible, and done quite a bit.

[raytamsgv]

Most dim sum doesn't taste that good when you do a takeout. If you order expensive dim sum, you should probably eat it at the restaurant. But you can always order takeout. Some restaurants, like Capital Seafood on Garvey and Atlantic in Monterey Park, have a dedicated take-out counter. Most of the stuff is the cheaper stuff (dumplings, baos) and meats (duck, pork, chicken).