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The Infatuation
The Best BBQ Pork Buns In SF
By Julia ChenPatrick Wong,
5 hours ago
Whether you’re a steamed devotee or go baked all the way, there’s no shortage of BBQ pork buns at takeout bakeries and sit-down restaurants across town. But the truly great versions? Those need bread that’s steamed until fluffy or baked until golden brown, and a porky interior that toes the line between sweet and savory. After filling approximately one billion bright pink bakery boxes, emptying just as many steamers, and conducting a blind taste test, we’ve whittled our list down to these 10 spots making the best BBQ pork buns in SF.
The BBQ pork buns from this takeout-only dim sum bakery in Chinatown tick off every box on the “What a BBQ pork bun should be” checklist. The brioche-like bread is airy, and the generous heap of BBQ pork means you get some meat in every bite. Any visit to this SF institution (which is also one of our Top 25 Restaurants), requires this bao. Order in bulk because they tend to sell out fast and the lines are relentless no matter the time of day.
Lung Fung’s BBQ pork buns are the Richmond’s hottest commodity since the invention of “Do Not Block Driveway” signs. They have enough filling to gush out of the sides when you take a bite, the tops are crispy, and they’re typically still warm when they get peeled off the baking sheets and tucked into a pastry box. You will need a dozen, minimum. This is also the fastest item to sell out, so get here when they open at 7:30am or prepare a back-up order (the egg tarts and sponge cakes are great plan Bs).
This trio of baked pork buns has bottoms so crispy that there’s a lacy, caramelized edge that snaps right off. The ratio of bun to pork is an ideally balanced 50-50, and the filling gets evenly spread throughout the dome of fluffy bread. The service at this sit-down dim sum spot in SoMa matches the caliber of their buns, as evidenced by the tableside xiao long bao and the fact that you’ll never know what the bottom of your teapot looks like. If you’d rather have your pork bun steamed, the versions here are like clouds.
One plate of baked pork buns at this dim sum standby in the Richmond (the sister spot of HK Lounge Bistro) comes with three bao with a sugar topping we’d like to harvest and crumble over every future dessert. Plan on ordering more than you think you need for the table—it’s easy to clear off an entire serving alone. If you’d rather not put all of your eggs in the baked bun basket, their steamed version gets filled with the same savory pork and is light enough to float down Stow Lake.
This Chinese bakery in the Sunset serves every type of pineapple bun imaginable—they’re mostly sweet, like the ones stuffed with guava or pandan butter, but this savory edition with char siu deserves your attention, too. The pork bun from Pineapple King comes with a nice, crumbly bolo bao topping that’s not overly cavity-inducing, and the dough itself has a Tempur-Pedic softness, though we wish there was more of the saucy filling.
The line at Good Luck Dim Sum tends to snake down Clement most mornings, and almost everyone is here for—you guessed it—pork buns. The baked versions are the size of an outstretched adult hand. These could almost classify as dessert, thanks to the sugary filling and sticky glaze on the outside. Grab a few, plus whatever else looks freshest out of the big steamers (read: everything), and take your treats to nearby Golden Gate Park for a picnic.
What makes Garden’s BBQ pork buns stand out in a sea of doughy buns and pastries is its filling. Tender cubes of pork swim in a thick gravy that gets soaked up by the bread casing. The ovens seemingly have a vendetta against empty display cases, so chances are you’ll get a warm bun every time you order. Bring cash—Garden doesn't take card. But if you’re not looking to make a trip to the ATM, you can always order online.
Hard decisions must be made when you go to Yummy. Will you choose the baked BBQ pork bun or the BBQ pork bun with pineapple bao topping? Both versions are almost leaking with savory-sweet BBQ pork, so much so that some will inevitably fall to the ground after every bite. Our advice is to order both types. Why stop at one great episode when you can binge the whole season?
Squeeze your way into the line at Mr. Bread in Parkside whenever you want a pork bun that’s filled to the brim with cubed meat and has squishy bread that could fit right in with a toddler’s Jellycat collection. The takeout-focused bakery makes buns with caramelized edges that make the whole thing taste like a barbecue potato chip. Load up a box and take these to McCoppin Square nearby to eat in the grass.
Go to this Richmond bakery if you like your char siu bao with more of a crunch at the top. The deep golden brown buns at Wing Lee have been baked a bit longer than other versions on this guide, so the bread feels sturdier than most. We’ve also noticed the inner filling has hunkier pieces of pork than most spots. And in case you’re in a rush, this place also tends to have less of a line than Good Luck Dim Sum down the street.
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