Mei Lai Wah

Mei Lai Wah Is Expanding to a Bigger Chinatown Location | Eater NY

"After more than 50 years at its current address, the Chinatown bakery known for its char siu bao is moving to a larger space at 41 Mott Street, at Bayard Street — the former New Golden Fung Wong Bakery, which closed in July after having been there since 1961. The owners declared on Instagram, "We are EXPANDING!! FINALLY!!," adding "No more lining up outside on the smallest street in Chinatown!" They told Eater they’re aiming for a reopening in November or December, and the bakery remains open during the transition. The Chens said over DM to Eater, "the landlord is trying to push us out to sell the lease" at double or triple the price; if they can keep the original 62 Bayard location they plan to hold onto the space. This move is one of several recent expansions: in 2023 they took over Wonton Noodle Garden and rebranded it as a wonton noodle bar at 23 Pell Street, maintaining a menu of pork wontons and pan-fried noodles, most priced around $10. Earlier, Ivy and Ben Chen opened Munchiez in 2022 in Greenwich Village, channeling Hong Kong convenience stores with items like barbecue pork buns, cheung fun, tea eggs, and grilled skewers til 3 a.m.; they closed it in August, calling it a one-year pop-up on Instagram. The bakery has weathered temporary shutters before (in 2008 and again in October 2016) and, following COVID-era challenges, it later saw an influx of tourists and locals after being discovered on TikTok." - Melissa McCart