Snack Attack in Chinatown: The Best Siew Pau

Update: 31 Jan 2011

Got some clearer photos when I bought back more of the yummy siew pao (I go the pork/ char siew ones, but they have chicken as well) which I love and the egg tarts and portugese tarts which are my sister’s favourite.

photo by bookjunkie

Original Post: 5 Jan 2011

You can find the best Siew Pau in a little store facing the Chinatown market carpark entrance. It’s a barbequed pork filling in the most wonderful crumbly pastry. I think this is Cantonese style, which is my favourite style when it comes to Chinese food. It’s the yummy food you get in Hong Kong. I’d always rather skip lunch and have snacks when I’m in Chinatown. The store is called S’ban Siew Pau which should give you a clear indication of what they specialize in although they sell other things like egg tarts (custard filling) and Hong Kong style pastries. I wonder if S’Ban stands for Seremban, the little town in Malaysia, as a google search seems to indicate that the Seremban has the best siew pao.

B thinks that the lady selling the pao and the lady in the coffee shop are not on speaking terms as there was tension in the air. I really don’t know and now I feel like such a gossip. Anyway the lady in the coffee shop wasn’t too pleased when you have your pau in the coffeeshop even though you order drinks. It’s a bit confusing as the stall is located within the coffeeshop. I guess if you’re here, sit at the table outside the coffeeshop or just buy it as take-away. It’s packed into a nice box for you.

photo by bookjunkie

I also tried the luncheon meat bun, but it would have been better if it was warm.

photo by bookjunkie

The mug used for the coffee was a free one from the Police in their fight to spread the word against petty theft – interesting.

photo by bookjunkie

I also tried the Chicken Siew Pau at another stall called Leung Sang Hong Kong Pastries at 18 Sago Street, but I still prefer the one above. B thought this one was not too shabby. The lady here was much more friendlier and welcoming.