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Pork Buns at Masa 14
Pork Buns at Masa 14
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Where to Go for Addictive Pork Buns

The tasty treat is a D.C. favorite

by Tajha Lanier
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Pork Buns at Masa 14
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by Tajha Lanier

A good pork bun is a compact dish worth making a trip for.

By definition, the bun is relatively simple: A delicate, fluffy bao (bun) gets filled with pork — barbecued, slow-cooked or otherwise marinated — then lined with hoisin sauce and garnished with (depending on the chef) a range of tangy pickles or crunchy raw vegetables like scallions or carrots or cucumber. Done properly, the diversity of flavors and textures in the small-but-satisfying dish make for a transporting experience.

The good news is Washingtonians have a range of options all over town when it comes to the pork bun (no major road trips required). The D.C. dining scene has it all, from casual buns-out-of-a-food-truck via People's Bao, to those on the menu at the D.C. outpost of high-profile Momofuku downtown, to the unexpected pork bun locales like Driftwood Kitchen on H Street. Looking for a meat beyond pork? There's always The Source, which has duck bao buns on its current menu.

Here are several bun spots around town worth a try.

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Bonchon Chicken (Multiple Locations)

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They might not be what traditionally brings the diners out to Bonchon, but this fried chicken chain with locations in Arlington and Southeast D.C. does boast pork buns as a main course.

1015 Half St SE, Washington, D.C., 20003
(202) 488-4000
(202) 488-4000
Official

Also featured in:

Chaplin's Restaurant

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A devoted pork bun enthusiast can spot the dish at Chaplin’s in Shaw, almost hidden among the ramen dishes, dumplings, and other offerings. The Japanese ramen spot serves up its buns with braised pork in a spicy teriyaki sauce.

1501 9th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 644-8806
(202) 644-8806
Yelp

Also featured in:

DC Noodles

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The casual atmosphere at DC Noodles on U Street belies an excellent menu. And the pork buns (appetizer) are no exception — here they’re served with cucumber, scallions, komatsuna (a kind of Japanese mustard spinach) and lemongrass hoisin sauce.

1412 U St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 232-8424
(202) 232-8424
Yelp

Driftwood Kitchen

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Driftwood Kitchen is, by all other indication, a restaurant devoted to hearty American or European fare like shrimp and grits or gnocchi bolognese. That's why the pork buns on the menu, served as an appetizer, stand out so much. Here the delicately steamed buns are served with pork belly, cured cucumber, crushed peanuts, and sriracha aioli.

400 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
(202) 803-2651
(202) 803-2651
Yelp

Also featured in:

JINYA Ramen Bar

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The Jinya bun is one of many small plate appetizers this new ramen house has on its menu. They will soon open a D.C. location as well.

2911 District Ave, Fairfax, VA 22031
(703) 992-7656
(703) 992-7656
Facebook

Also featured in:

Maketto

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Eric Brunner-Yang’s trendy H Street restaurant, cafe, and marketplace serves pork steam bao on its informal lunch, more upscale dinner, and weekend dim sum menus. Pork buns are essentially always available at Maketto.

1351 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
(202) 838-9972
(202) 838-9972
R. Lopez

Also featured in:

Masa 14

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Perhaps unsurprisingly, the pork buns at this Asian-Latin fusion spot have some exciting ingredients beyond the norm. These pork belly-dominated buns come with achiote, pineapple sambal, cilantro, and serrano chili (and they’re one of the restaurant’s most popular items). Find them on the dinner menu.

1825 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 328-1414
(202) 328-1414
Facebook

Also featured in:

Momofuku CCDC

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David Chang’s Momofuku outpost in CCDC is home to a variety of flavors of steam buns. The pork buns served here at lunch and dinner are simple: pork flanked by hoisin sauce and topped with scallions and cucumber.

1090 I St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 602-1832
(202) 602-1832
Nick Solares/Eater.com

Also featured in:

People's Bao

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People’s certainly serves the most mobile buns on this list. This food truck takes pride in using natural ingredients and sustainable packaging. The truck is often around popular office locations like Chinatown or Capitol South during the workweek lunch hour — check Twitter for an up-to-date location.

Washington, D.C.
Yelp

Reren Lamen & Bar

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The buns at this Chinatown spot come under the name “bun’s sandwich” and can be served with pork belly or chicken.

817 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 290-3677
(202) 290-3677
Yelp

Also featured in:

Sakuramen

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This Adams Morgan ramen bar also boasts steamed buns as an appetizer option. The pork buns come one of two ways: “spicy sweet” with mushrooms, lettuce and scallion, or with pork belly and peppered scallion.

2441 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 656-5285
(202) 656-5285
Yelp

Also featured in:

Sei

Copy Link

The pork buns at this trendy Chinatown restaurant and lounge can be found on both the lunch and dinner menus. The buns top pork belly with pickled cucumber and roasted peanuts.

444 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 783-7007
(202) 783-7007
Yelp

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Bonchon Chicken (Multiple Locations)

1015 Half St SE, Washington, D.C., 20003

They might not be what traditionally brings the diners out to Bonchon, but this fried chicken chain with locations in Arlington and Southeast D.C. does boast pork buns as a main course.

1015 Half St SE, Washington, D.C., 20003
(202) 488-4000
(202) 488-4000
Official

Chaplin's Restaurant

1501 9th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

A devoted pork bun enthusiast can spot the dish at Chaplin’s in Shaw, almost hidden among the ramen dishes, dumplings, and other offerings. The Japanese ramen spot serves up its buns with braised pork in a spicy teriyaki sauce.

1501 9th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 644-8806
(202) 644-8806
Yelp

DC Noodles

1412 U St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

The casual atmosphere at DC Noodles on U Street belies an excellent menu. And the pork buns (appetizer) are no exception — here they’re served with cucumber, scallions, komatsuna (a kind of Japanese mustard spinach) and lemongrass hoisin sauce.

1412 U St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 232-8424
(202) 232-8424
Yelp

Driftwood Kitchen

400 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Driftwood Kitchen is, by all other indication, a restaurant devoted to hearty American or European fare like shrimp and grits or gnocchi bolognese. That's why the pork buns on the menu, served as an appetizer, stand out so much. Here the delicately steamed buns are served with pork belly, cured cucumber, crushed peanuts, and sriracha aioli.

400 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
(202) 803-2651
(202) 803-2651
Yelp

JINYA Ramen Bar

2911 District Ave, Fairfax, VA 22031

The Jinya bun is one of many small plate appetizers this new ramen house has on its menu. They will soon open a D.C. location as well.

2911 District Ave, Fairfax, VA 22031
(703) 992-7656
(703) 992-7656
Facebook

Maketto

1351 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Eric Brunner-Yang’s trendy H Street restaurant, cafe, and marketplace serves pork steam bao on its informal lunch, more upscale dinner, and weekend dim sum menus. Pork buns are essentially always available at Maketto.

1351 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
(202) 838-9972
(202) 838-9972
R. Lopez

Masa 14

1825 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the pork buns at this Asian-Latin fusion spot have some exciting ingredients beyond the norm. These pork belly-dominated buns come with achiote, pineapple sambal, cilantro, and serrano chili (and they’re one of the restaurant’s most popular items). Find them on the dinner menu.

1825 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 328-1414
(202) 328-1414
Facebook

Momofuku CCDC

1090 I St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

David Chang’s Momofuku outpost in CCDC is home to a variety of flavors of steam buns. The pork buns served here at lunch and dinner are simple: pork flanked by hoisin sauce and topped with scallions and cucumber.

1090 I St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 602-1832
(202) 602-1832
Nick Solares/Eater.com

People's Bao

Washington, D.C.

People’s certainly serves the most mobile buns on this list. This food truck takes pride in using natural ingredients and sustainable packaging. The truck is often around popular office locations like Chinatown or Capitol South during the workweek lunch hour — check Twitter for an up-to-date location.

Washington, D.C.
Yelp

Reren Lamen & Bar

817 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

The buns at this Chinatown spot come under the name “bun’s sandwich” and can be served with pork belly or chicken.

817 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 290-3677
(202) 290-3677
Yelp

Sakuramen

2441 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

This Adams Morgan ramen bar also boasts steamed buns as an appetizer option. The pork buns come one of two ways: “spicy sweet” with mushrooms, lettuce and scallion, or with pork belly and peppered scallion.

2441 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 656-5285
(202) 656-5285
Yelp

Sei

444 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

The pork buns at this trendy Chinatown restaurant and lounge can be found on both the lunch and dinner menus. The buns top pork belly with pickled cucumber and roasted peanuts.

444 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 783-7007
(202) 783-7007
Yelp

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