The original Bun House on Greek Street has now flipped into Wun’s, a restaurant and bar inspired by 1960s Hong Kong, but you can still get your steamed bun fix at the new Chinatown branch. As both the name and the steaming pile of baskets in the door suggest, those Cantonese buns are very much the focus with street food snacks and rice pots bulk out the menu.
Eating here is more of a quick in-and-out job rather than somewhere you’d linger over a meal. After ordering at the counter, which is laden with those bamboo baskets, you collect your food and grab a seat wherever you can find one. Aim for the colonial style tea room space on the ground floor, otherwise you’ll have to balance your buns whilst navigating a very tight staircase to get to more tables upstairs.
Obviously buns should be first on your order. The pig bun is a best seller, and with sweet, rich char siu pork encased in fluffy dough, it’s not hard to see why. The lamb bun, punched up with cumin and garlic, is also worth a go, and you can’t skip the sweet custard bun either. Be warned though, the salted egg custard floods out so don’t even attempt to split it open with your hands unless you want to be wearing it. We may or may not be speaking from experience on that one. If you want a bit of spice, the smashed cucumbers come drenched in vinegar and chilli oil, and the wok fried cheung fun (that’s rolled rice noodles) are moreish too.
Bun House is best if you’re in need of a quick meal that won’t break the bank – £2.50 a bun ain’t bad at all.
26-27 Lisle St, London, WC2H 7BA
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