A pineapple bun, for those of you who have never heard of it, is a popular snack in Hong Kong and Macau. Also known as Bo Lo Bao, it is a pillowy soft bread with a crunchy and sugary top crust which looks like a pineapple, hence the name. There is no pineapple in the bun. Most places serve it with a piece of butter stuffed into the middle of the bun (Bo Lo Yau). Imagine the butter melting within the soft and fluffy bread. A good pineapple bun is to die for, and one of the must-eats in Hong Kong.
There are probably dozens, if not hundreds, of good bakeries, cha chaan teng and dim sum restaurants in Hong Kong that do a good Bo Lo Bao. Below, we will share with you 5 of the best pineapple buns in Hong Kong, including a special creation of a hybrid between croissant and pineapple bun.
Canton Deli
Canton Deli at Harbour City is a popular Chinese restaurant and it serves reasonably good Chinese food, but not many people know that it also offers a very good Bo Lo Yau. I have tried many pineapple buns in Hong Kong, but this is one of the few that still lingers on my mind till today.
Shop 3303 3/F Gateway Arcade, Harbour City
17 Canton Road Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 2613 9889
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Nearest MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui
Kam Fung Restaurant
Kam Fung Restaurant is a local institution known for its excellent milk tea, egg tarts, baked chicken pies, and Bo Lo Bao. It is not to be missed when you are exploring the Wan Chai area. Go there early and get it fresh out from the oven.
G/F Spring Garden Mansion
41 Spring Garden Lane
Tel: +852 2572 0526
Daily: 6.30am – 7pm
Nearest MTR: Wan Chai
Kam Wah Cafe
Ask any locals where to find the best Bo Lo Bao in Hong Kong and they will reply Kam Wah Cafe at Bute Street in Mong Kok. I wholeheartedly agree. Kam Wah’s rendition, to me, is the perfect pineapple bun. It has a gorgeous golden brown top crust, and the bread is so soft that I can easily eat half a dozen of it in a go. I will fly to Hong Kong just to eat this.
Kam Wah Cafe is always crowded, but trust me, the pineapple buns are worth queueing up for.
47 Bute St
Prince Edward, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2392 6830
Daily: 6.30am – 12 midnight
Nearest MTR: Prince Edward
Tsui Wah Restaurant
Tsui Wah needs no introduction. It is probably the most famous cha chaan teng in Hong Kong, with locals and tourists flocking there for their signature chicken rice, fish ball noodles, and Bo Lo Yau. What I like about Tsui Wah’s pineapple bun with butter is that it is always consistently good no matter which outlet you visit.
15 Wellington Street
Tel: +852 2525 6338
Daily: 24 Hours
Nearest MTR: Central
For more recommendations, read our guide to the Top 10 Hong Kong Cha Chaan Teng
Yum! Isn’t it look like Roti Boy without mocca flavour? I can imagine how soft the bread is.
Kam Wah’s Polo Buns sell out fast? Never seen them sold out before.
I’ve never seen Kam Wah’s bo luo bao sold out either and I’ve visited them for close to a decade! I live in HK and they serve my favourite bo luo bao, this i agree. But are you serious that you can eat half a dozen of them at one go? That is really exaggerating as I’m usually so stuffed just by eating one bun! Don’t dramatize.
Just went to the Urban bakery this afternoon, was devastated to find they dont have the Ball Law anymore:(