New Town Bakery & Restaurant

I don’t know if this place is affiliated with the Chinatown store but the buns taste different. The only thing that is better than Chinatown are the apple tarts. They run out so you have to order them in advance. It’s been a long time since I’ve been here.

I’m Chinese and I’ve had steamed buns my whole life and I don’t know how to appreciate this «Filipino» bao bakery. I think all their baos (including their popular deluxe one, balo balo) basically taste like all the other baos I’ve had my whole life.

I’m kind of embarrassed to have only discovered New Town recently. I’ve only lived here for 20 years…
The BBQ pork buns are what got me hooked but the sticky rice. Oh… my god. They taste like better versions of the kind my Chinese grandmother made when I was young. It’s so incredibly flavorful and perfectly salty. There’s never a line at this location and the adorable couple running the joint are kind and always friendly. In conclusion, try the sticky rice.

Not quite sure if this bakery is affiliated to the one with almost the same name in Chinatown but I was disappointed with buns ordered.
Bola Bola is usually my absolute favourite but the one from here is flattish and dough was mushy. The texture of the bun is usually a little airy but this one tasted like mushy dough. Contents also not particularly tasty. Maybe quarter of an egg yolk, small piece of chinese sausage, some pork. I liked the contents more than the texture of their bun. Disappointed.
Also tried their Jamaican patty. Was told it was spicy but it wasn’t. Filling was fatty minced beef. Lacked seasoning. Tasted like salt and minced beef without any other spices. Been to Jamaica before and there is definitely more to a Jamaican patty than just beef!
Then I tried their mushroom filo pastry. Tasted bitter for some reason. Will not order again. Actually, not sure I will be back. Will probably stick to my Chinatown bakery. They get ‘A’ for variety but taste simply did not impress
Nice and friendly service from (perhaps) the husband and wife. Place looked clean.

Great couple who own this bakery. We’d go in for the odd cookie when the kids were younger and the elderly owners would often give the cookies for free. We often buy the steamed buns from here. You couldn’t find nicer owners in any bakery in town I bet! Prices are really good too!

Great bakery and very reasonable price for what you get. The interior is old but overall good items and the BBQ pork buns were delicious. The lady behind the counter is super friendly and nice. I would not hesitate to come back!

The only reason why I left out one star was because they don’t have my favourite prawn turnovers like the Chinatown location does.
But honestly, I would go to this location just to talk to the old lady at the counter! The sweetest person around, she greets you with a smile when you come and when you leave. We talked about my tattoo and about how nice the weather was. The pork siopao is always tasty and they also have cookies!
The food is delicious and cheap and the couple that runs the joint are the friendliest, kindest people around.

the couple that served me my 2 steamed buns (SO CHEAP!!!) we’re incredibly nice. the buns were exactly what I needed at the time and really hit the spot!
if you’re in the neighbourhood, you should come here and grab a snack! it’s great, cheap and incredibly fast.

The old lady at the counter greeted me with a smile both when I went in and when I left :) was pleasantly surprised.
I got the chicken bola-​bola and a coconut cocktail bun. Chicken bola bola was a bit smaller than I’d expected, from what I’d had before at the other locations, but the taste was good as usual. I swear there was more bun than filling though.
The coconut cocktail bun was great, pretty standard but I’m glad it wasn’t too sweet. I’d go back to try some of the other stuff. This location is quite different from the Richmond one that I usually go to… it doesn’t have some of my favourite Chinese pastries (wife cakes, red bean/​green bean cakes) but it has cookies and even cheesecake!

Cheap little bakery. I’m not sure how people are complaining about the price — $ 1.60 for a BBQ pork bun, that’s a load of meat in there people, and you’re complaining that’s too much? Ok if it is more expensive than anything in Chinatown fair enough, but we are stil talking about a yummy steamed bun for under $ 2! My daily cup of plain coffee is more than that!
End rant. Super sweet baking goods, reminded me of a bakery growing up in London. Yummy enough food, I got 2 buns at 3pm and they still tasted nice. I always stop by when in the neighborhood :)

I had a steamed BBQ pork bun and my friend had a spicy pork bun, and we were both content! It wasn’t amazing, but the services was friendly and the prices were fair.
I’d recommend it if you’re in the neighbourhood looking for a snack!

Door says Baking since 1948. Super nice older couple run the place. They make a wide range of breads. Other items including Jamaican patties, apple pies and tasty cookies. It one of the long term neighborhood business that may not be cutting edge but adds to the livability of a community.

The bun’s were alright. I wandered in before going to Balilicious next door. They had a lot of different types of baked goods. Yes, the lady was somewhat rushing me to make a purchase. But when I thought about it, it made sense. Think about it, she’s selling you a handful of yummy goodness… starting from $ 1.50 a piece. I’m pretty sure the rent in that place is $$$$$!!! Especially on Cambie st. But you know what? I’m glad I wandered in as I was pretty filled up for cheap! (Later that night I was very disappointed in next door for not filling me up for $ 30. It was tasty, just not filling for the price. So I’m really glad I had 2 buns for less than $ 3.)

Great prices, staff and food.
I have read the other reviews and am baffled by some of them. I agree with Yoony P the most.
I love coming into this bakery and being greeted by the woman who works there. She is always smiling and says thank you after you purchase anything. She does have one of the best sausage rolls I’ve head in the city so far. And her selection of pastry’s, breads and other foods is great considering the size of the store (small). But what I love is I’m not getting ripped off like at other stores. In fact, I feel I am ripping her off because the prices are great!
I didn’t find the staff «pushy». In fact I found them fun. Sure. Slightly impatient. But I only ever see the same woman working there and she seems quite busy all the time. So the impatient quality is there but overshadowed by her «thank you’s». And the buns are great. But I am the type of reviewer who won’t review a place after going to it once. Or if I do, I mention that and give an extra star to the place because EVERY business has that one «off» day or bad employee. It could have just been the day you were at. I have gone to this place about six times and love it. I suggest you try it. But if you are picky about buns, maybe go for the delicious pastries. Or the Sausage roll. ;)

I have given up trying to find a decent Chinese bakery in Vancouver outside of Chinatown after a few other failures and this latest experience at New Town.
Blech — dry, doughy and stale tasting buns at 1:30 in the afternoon. Some of the items I picked out were priced 50% higher than in Chinatown as well.
If walking down Cambie I would keeping walking on by this place and would turn into Balilicious next door instead.

After reading @crystals ’ s review on the New Town in Chinatown, I decided to try this location out.
Unlike @marcd I wasn’t bombarded by a pushy lady. I walked in and took my time looking around.
I was amazed by the different selection of items including jamaican patties (they dont look too authentic, I’m used to seeing a yellow flaky crust, not something more closely resembling a calzone), jamaican rolls (think sausage roll), cornish pasties (what are these things anyway?), and the ever popular white chinese buns filled with bbq, chicken, veg, or red bean.
As I was paying for a red bean and bbq bun, I noticed the counter had pineapple cocktail buns for .85 each (My fav!) so I asked for those as well.
I ate the coconut bun on the way home. The bread is a different consistency from the average Chinese bakery as is the coconut inside; not bright yellow and super sweet but a bit darker in colour and a bit more mellow in flavour. Very fresh, and quite yummy.
I’m already planning my trip back to try their Jamaican Roll. :P

Average to below average Chinese bakery. The one time I visited they had a very limited selection, and the woman behind the counter was overly pushing towards some of the items that were clearly not fresh. She was trying to clear out the old stock. No thank you.
Now don’t start thinking, «Oh, Vancouver people are so not used to different cultural norms, blah blah blah, etc.» I grew up in one of the pushiest cultures in the world — New York.
As such: you push, I ignore. You push harder, I take more time. You push even harder, I walk out and Unilocal about your pushing.