Every culture has a staple bread that you can find at every local bakery, from the French baguette to Italian focaccia. Hong Kong’s is undoubtedly the pineapple bun, or bolo bao 菠蘿包. This sweet Cantonese bun can be found in Chinatowns across the world (I personally grew up enjoying the versions from NYC Chinatown institution Mei Lai Wah), but the best versions are of course in its birthplace of Hong Kong. So here are all of my personal favorite places to get a bolo bao, from simple buns to modern takes stuffed with everything from char siu to matcha.
What is a pineapple bun?
The pineapple bun or bolo bao is a traditional Cantonese bread that features a soft, squishy milk bread bun with a crispy topping made from sugar, butter, eggs and flour. There is no pineapple or even pineapple flavor in the bun—the name comes solely from how the crackled, golden brown topping resembles the outside of a pineapple.
It is most likely derived from the Mexican concha, a fluffy brioche-like bun with a crunchy shell made from sugar, butter and flour. You can actually find local bakeries that sell both concha buns and pineapple buns.
Best Pineapple Buns in Hong Kong
Sai Kung Cafe & Bakery
My favorite pineapple bun comes from this local bakery in the seaside town of Sai Kung. They are constantly churning out freshly baked bolo bao, though I recommend ordering a bolo yau, aka a pineapple bun with butter, so you can watch them cut your pineapple bun with scissors to add a big fat pat of butter for the ultimate indulgence. You get the ultimate textural contrast, as the perfectly golden brown, sugary topping is super crispy, and the bun is airy and squishy so it’s satisfying to sink your teeth into the bun that has a subtly sweet flavor on its own.
🎥 Watch me eat pineapple buns at Sai Kung Bakery
Cheung Hing Coffee Shop
This local favorite cha chaan teng (Hong Kong-style diner) in Happy Valley is beloved for their pineapple buns and old school vibes. To be honest, I flip flop between this and my #1 Sai Kung Bakery, since the butter here is spread more evenly across the middle of the bun so it’s easier to eat. Cheung Hing also serves sandwiches, with options that include luncheon meat and egg or satay beef (as pictured at the top of this post), so there’s more variety of savory fillings to pair with their crispy, slightly sweet and squishy buns.
🎥 Watch my visit to Cheung Hing on YouTube
Sleepyhead
For a gourmet take on the pineapple bun sandwich, check out this dog-friendly cafe serving a modern spin on cha chaan teng classics. Their char siu bolo bao has scrambled eggs, onion jam, pickled cucumber, fried shallots, and balsamic reduction on their own house-baked potato pineapple bun that has more of a burger bun texture to provide structure to the hefty sandwich (though I personally find the lettuce unnecessary 😂)
My Cup of Tea
This tiny cha chaan teng in Wan Chai is famous for their award-winning milk tea, but I primarily come for the pineapple bun sandwiches. While the bun itself is not as good as the spots listed above, they do a great job with the fillings, from creamy scrambled eggs with corned beef to char siu and vibrant orange-yolked fried eggs for salty-sweet combos.
Tai On Coffee & Tea Shop
If you love matcha, then you need to try this unique bolo yau in Yau Ma Tei. Tai On Coffee & Tea Shop is a revived old school cafe that’s kept its 1960s interiors, but upgraded the menu with proper espresso drinks (including next-level latte art) and unique Cantonese fusion items. Their loaded pineapple buns include this decadent version with matcha white chocolate, red bean and whipped butter. Don’t miss their lava egg tarts with a cookie crust as well.
Bolo Bolo
This new shop with a kitschy bright red design is tucked away on Wo On Lane near Hong Kong’s Lan Kwai Fong nightlife district, serving modern pineapple bun burgers. I’ve only tried their sous vide beef with satay sauce, scrambled egg and cheese, and will definitely be back to check out more of their creations on a crispy toasted pineapple bun.
Other Famous Pineapple Buns to Try
I’m personally not a fan of thick, bready pineapple buns as I prefer an airy, squishy bun. But I think it’s worth trying these famous spots so you can decide what you like for yourself.
Kam Wah Cafe
This cha chaan teng in Prince Edward is probably the most famous of all the spots on this list. It’s located right near Hong Kong’s Ladies Market, making it a destination for both locals and tourists alike. The flavor of the bun itself might actually be the best of them all, as the crispy sugary topping has a subtle hint of lemon to make it stand out from other bakeries. I personally find the bolo bao here to be too dense and bread-like for my taste though, so you end up left with a chunk of bread without any butter as you reach the end (as pictured above). But you’re definitely getting a good bang for your buck since it’s more filling. I need to go back to try it stuffed with their signature pork chop.
Kam Fung Restaurant
Down the street from My Cup of Tea is this popular old school cha chaan teng frequented by locals. While the topping is thick and crispy with nice flavor, the bolo bao here is thick and dense so you’re getting a higher ratio of bread vs. topping.
🎥 Watch my visit to Kam Fung Restaurant on YouTube
Check out my other guides on Things to Do in Hong Kong and Where to Eat in Hong Kong for more tips.
