Best Chinese Bakery in Vancouver Metro

[teamkitty]

For all you Left Coasters: what is your opinion on the best Chinese bakery in the greater Vancouver area? I'm specifically searching for those 3" long coconut filled buns in kind of a rich bun dough. My husband is keen on the mochi-type rice buns filled with coconut and peanut. We'll be visiting Vancouver next week and would appreciate the input.

TK

[waver]

I usually go to the one on MacDonald St. at about 23rd (across from Driver's Services). My kids love the coconut buns and the chocolate pineapple buns but I don't know how they compare around town. I go there for the freshly made dumplings (the ones with the bitter greens) and other savoury pastries (flat ones filled with daikon, greasy but in a satisfying salty way) and for the homemade spicy pickled cabbage and daikon, and vegetarian rice noodle concoctions. People always walk out with strings of leaf wrapped packages of sticky rice, but I've not tried them yet.

[grayelf]

Thanks for your post, waver. I've wondered about that bakery for ages and never stopped in. Now I know they have coconut buns, that should soon be rectified -- much closer than Chinatown for us :-). The fresh made dumplings sound great too.

[Sam Salmon]

The *Best Egg Tarts in Chinatown* are still from New Town Bakery.

Second Place-The Boss.

[balini]

I didn't see this post before I answered the question about our favorite Vancouver snacks but the coconut cocktail buns from Maxim's in China town and Michelle's cake shop on West Boulevard have always been a special weakness of mine.... hard to explain why they're so addictive but they are....kind of a hot dog bun shaped ,hot cross bun with a yummy coconut filling instead of the yucky dried fruit , if you go to Michelle's early in the morning they'll still be warm and a box of those taken to go with a morning coffee break is always a huge hit

[flowbee]

I really like King Wah on the corner of Victoria Drive and 41st Ave. Great price, quality and consistency.

[Fid]

Agree about King Wah. It's one of our go-to Chinese bakeries whenever we hit Vancouver.

[fmed]

I drive by King Wah regularly but I have never thought to stop. Tough to find parking in that area. I'll make sure to try it out now.

[gourmet wife]

King Wah's pretty good. I do like the cocktail buns at Pine House. They have grounded peanuts in the coconut filling that makes it really tasty, plus they grind their coconut really finely too.

With Anna's, I find it hit and miss. Sometimes it's really good and other times it's meh. There's a bakery at Crytal Mall (not the korean one), their stuff's not too bad.

[flowbee]

That one in Crystal Mall is called "De Fresh" :D

It's pretty good, but their stuff's a little more expensive than King Wah.

My wife really likes the "dai bow" (big bun) at Pine House, that has pork and hard-boiled egg inside.

[twinkienic]

I am also curious about about where the best "cock tail buns" are. I don't usually buy them but I'm visiting SF next month and my friend there loves them and I'd like to bring her some.

Otherwise, I just visit Chinese bakeries for specific favourites: Anna's for their chicken pie and Michelle's for their Portuguese-style egg tarts.

[fmed]

I don't know if it is the "best", but I like Anna's Cakehouse, Goldstone and New Town (though mainly for Char Sui Bao and other steamed items) and Kam Do (Rmd).

[teamkitty]

Thanks, fmed. The Wing Lee Bakery in San Francisco (503 Clement, near Kamei Housewares) will be your friend should you ever venture down to the SF Bay area. My favorite as a girl used to be in Oakland, but this bakery excels in both steamed AND baked goods.

[fmed]

I should note that in the recent Chinese Restaurant Awards, Anna's took Gold, La Patisserie took Silver, and Maxim's Bronze in the Chinese Bakeries Diners' Choice categories. These places do baked goods well (eg Mango Cake)

I must admit that I have limited knowledge of Chinese Bakeries (there are so many here) - we tend to stick to a couple of family favorites which I don't know would really the "best": New Town for steamed buns (...although their coconut buns, etc are pretty good), Tung Hing (Vietnamese-Chinese Bakery), and Goldstone (Bakery and HK Cafe).

I hope others post their recs.

[grayelf]

Thanks for the SF tip, tk -- duly noted for my next trip :-).

I don't know much about these types of bakeries, but nothing beats a fresh baked coconut but from New Town in my book and I don't even like sweet coconut! You have to get them fresh, mind...

I was wandering through Chinatown today and deeked into a little shop that is more dimsum than bakery but they had gorgeous looking rice mochi offerings (shoulda taken a pic, doh) that were kinda translucent, if that's what the OP is after. They have stuff wrapped to go, and a steam tower as well with bao, har gow etc. It is on Gore about half a block south of Pender on the west side, and my SIL has had good luck there, albeit with the char siu bao. They also have lots of frozen offerings that looked very tempting.

[felix the hound]

I never visit Vancouver without having a " Bola Bola" steamed bun ( or two) at the New Town Bakery on Pender. Anything else we tried on the menu, except for their steamed and baked buns, was at best average but probably a good value for the price . Will try Anna's and Goldstone next time ( they sound more like Jewish delis than Chinese bakeries)

[fmed]

Their cocktail (coconut) buns are quite nice...not the best (the bread itself could be softer, etc..)...they are generous with the filling and they are very good when fresh out of the oven (which is a common occurence since they have high turnover). They do get stale quickly - quicker than usual, I find.

They also have a nice 'best of both worlds' bun - a pineapple/coconut bun.