Mei Sum Bakery — Restaurant in Portland

Asian Bakeries are like a time travel machine taking me back through the mists of my past into the years I lived in Japan and kicked around Asia as a young fledgling. One of the main joys of that kind of travel is the food and the community spaces where it is served. Meeting people, reveling in their cuisine, having things explained, trying interesting new foods.

Mei Sum hits some of those targets, it is as bright and shiny as a new penny and full of fun nostalgic bundles of exotic flavors. Really, it's a fun, colorful wonderland of tasty treats and I loved both the ambience and the offerings.

I will say that I didn't feel particularly welcome. Maybe it's my size or demeanor, or my rain hat, or odd beard, but there was no friendly welcome, no conversation, descriptions of goods... Just a quick, "anything else?" The covid plexiglass is still up in Aces and the small space for passing money felt very much like the pachinko windows in Japan where you go exchange your steel balls for cash.It felt anonymous as if the woman were hiding. Perhaps it is a language barrier or shyness, but friendliness should be a universal and i just didn't get that.

Great food, but not as friendly as the last place I tried where the staff engaged with me and made recommendations. Mei Sum still gets high marks because the food is good and the staff does not owe a big ugly Caucasian one ounce beyond the absolute required to make the exchange. But given the option I will go to Kings every time...

TLDR: egg custard bun!

Small bakery with limited seating. Parking lot shared with other businesses.

They cater and take special orders.

There is no menu. Pastries are displayed in the case and labeled with a name and price only. Not very descriptive for the inexperienced Asian pastry shopper. However, the staff are nice and know enough English to describe the fillings of each pastry.

This is an "Asian level sweet" bakery. Don't expect to get a sugar high or anything. Everything is moderately sweet and oh so fluffy. They lack filling though. I'm not a professional baker and don't know how much filling is allotted in baked goods but I do feel like they are skimping out.

Service: order at the pastry display case, pay at the register, your pastries will be boxed/bagged for you as needed.

Egg Custard Bun: my all time favorite! I always wish there is more custard than there actually is but it is still so good! The egg custard is not as runny as regular custard, it's more clumpy and is so satisfying in my opinion. But like I said, once you bite into it and see how little there is in there you will be sad.

Lotus Paste with Egg: another favorite sweet of mine. It's almost like a moon cake with a dried egg yolk inside. Man, reviewing it makes me want another.

Sponge Cake: like eating a sweet egg cloud! One of my personal carb addictions. I could snack on one of these all day.

Oops. I forgot to take pictures because I was too excited to...

09/22/21: 4.5 out of 5 - This is the busiest, slowest bakery ever. You would think people would come in to buy a few items, but it would seem that they get A LOT of items, which can hold up the line a bit.

However, I don't blame the staff at Mei Sum Bakery. The items that they have on the daily is typically very tasty. I've been on the receiving end, so was the first time going into the bakery.

I stopped into Mei Sum Bakery to pick up a birthday cake for my Mother-in-law's birthday.

It was a Durian Birthday cake. I know...for some it can be off-putting, but it's VERY TASTY and well made.

The staff at Mei Sum Bakery we're very nice to me, as I don't speak the same language, but they were quick to get the cake boxed up nicely.

For many Asians, this is a good bakery to come to for their fix. So, if you are interested in trying out some delicious Asian buns and sweets, this is the place to try.

If ever in the area, try it once and decide for...