Food first, thoughts after... Wow the buns are delicious here. Thin chewy dough with flavorful filling. No excessive juice so not messy but not dry. The insides are minced and packed full of flavor. The chili oil and radish on the side made it perfect. read more

Lee & Bai Buns and Noodle - Chengdu braised pork buns - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Flushing, New York

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Quite amazing fresh made bun and snack Buns are made then steamed after you place your order. read more

This was yet another place that got a little IG hype and failed to live up to it. I had high hopes for wontons in chili oil, which was the dish making me want to check this place out. It fell short. The wontons are made well, but they are sitting in a bowl of relatively flavorless red oil which I found a bit surprising. Better versions of this dish can be found elsewhere. The vegetable and mushroom bao was pretty forgettable as well, but to be honest I wasn't expecting too much from this dish. I would have tried their Chengdu braised pork bun instead, but I went along for the ride on this one. The bun is pleasant enough, but there was a lack of any flavor or texture to the veges that makes this skippable. read more

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They have a few tables and counter seating. They also have another location for quick takeout. We opted to eat in. The service is ok. They didn't call out our order number, and instead shouted out hello a couple times, before we realized it was for us. Wonton in Chili Oil was mediocre. A lot of oil but barely any flavor or spiciness. The wonton were cooked well though. Vegetable and Mushroom Mixed Bao were better. They were also cooked well. The bun was soft and held the filling in. There was a good amount of filling, with a good ratio of vegetables and mushroom. Overall, not a spot I'd go back to when there are so many other bao and wonton spots in the area. read more

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In the west many people associate the word "bao" with what are actually Taiwanese gua baos. I personally much prefer the traditional steamed variety, and was very excited to find this new specialist hailing from Chengdu serving mini baos (6 per order). While the pork filling is their signature, they also offer a green vegetable-mushroom filling for vegetarians like myself. Unfortunately it's not good - this is probably one of the least flavorable vegetarian dumpling or bao fillings I've tasted to date. On top of that, the mushroom had an off-putting gummy texture that prevented me from finishing more than one bao. It sounds from other reviews like their traditional pork variety is solid, so maybe just don't deviate from that (and don't come here if you have any dietary restrictions). read more

Lee & Bai Buns and Noodle - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Flushing, New York

Not as good as I would like it to be!! Buns were good but very salty!! Got the meal for under $10 & it came with soy milk. Definitely not coming back!! read more

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I ordered Togo in NJ branch yesterday. The bun was already broken open during packing, and they even put it at the bottom of the container so it wouldn't be noticed immediately. Pretty gross and careless. I expected better food handling than this. read more

Lee & Bai Buns and Noodle - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Flushing, New York

Lee and Bai is a chain that started in Chengdu, China and now has a NYC outlet! Cozy spot on the second floor but bustling with many new customers. They have a contactless touch ordering system that lets you order and pay via credit card. They have several combo deals currently for the buns+drinks+other entrees. I got the buns+noodle+soymilk+meat for a very affordable price. Food came out very quickly. Note when they call out the number they say it in Mandarin only (and I didn't see any non-Chinese people ordering food however). The standout items for me were the steamed buns and the tea soymilk. Buns were so light and fluffy it felt like biting into a cloud. I got the camellia and tieguanyin soymilks and both were solid. The noodles I would not get again--they were big portions but not particularly flavorful. Same deal with the meat. Overall it delivers a quick, easy, filling, and reasonably priced casual breakfast/brunch. It's not the best bao in the world but it tastes solid and feels like you've been transported to Asia. Would get the combo with soymilk+bun again. read more

Lee & Bai Buns and Noodle - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Flushing, New York

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I absolutely loved their soy milk (all 3 types), and their buns I heard are quite good (my mom had it, but I did not). The one thing I absolutely loved wsa how clean this place is. It was well kept, there was no grime, and it was brightly lit. You can see into part of the kitchen, and you can tell how clean it is. Their soy milk had an interesting flavor. The gardenia and tieguanyin didn't taste too different in my opinion, but the camellia had a really nice almost rose like flavor. read more

Love that the cashiers are super friendly and that you can sit to eat your order without tipping. There's plenty of seats! I love their original Chengdu pork buns but the other fillings are a little lacking (especially the green pepper pork one, the pork is almost like shredded pork floss texture). read more

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My parents said their buns were very good and the bread was very soft and well made. I loved the Gardenia Soy Milk- its the green bottle and it is seriously the best soy milk I have. It was a thicker milk than I have had before, I really liked it, wish it was a little cheaper than $2.99 but cheaper than bubble tea. read more

Cuisine: 6 Service: 7 Decor: 6 Value: 6 Overall: 6 This second floor shop opened maybe a month ago right near the police station on Union Street. This is a no frills type of steam bun and noodle shop. After two visits, I have tried at least one item from each of the sections of the menu. I really want to like this place, but unfortunately it did fall short of my expectations. First of all, they heavily advertise their steamed buns, so I'll start there. Overall, the texture of the dough is the same for all of them, I would score it 7 out of 10. Only difference was the leaf-like shape of the Vegetable & Mushroom Mixed Bun. As for the taste, it was relatively light and not too doughy. However, the quality of the fillings were inconsistent, which I shared individually below. Chengdu Braised Pork Bun (8/10) - This is their signature item and the ground pork was quite flavorful. Chive Fresh Pork Bun (3/10) - Way too mushy meatball with little chive flavor. Not very good. Green Pepper & Braised Pork Mixed Bun (6/10) - Not spicy at all, which was very disappointing. The ground pork was decent. Vegetable & Mushroom Mixed Bun (5/10) - The lack of vibrant green color of the veggies told me that it will lack crisp, and it certainly did. Need more salt. Since steamed buns were their top item, I would say that I was really hoping for an overall better product. Sadly, I could find similar quality, if not better, all over Flushing. Let's talk about the other foods at the restaurant. Porridge w/ Tomato & Shrimp (5/10) - Intrigued by the flavor profile, but felt that it was kind of a miss. The consistency was fine, but taste was not for me. Fried Dumplings (4/10) - At $1.50 each, these are expensive. The crust on the bottom was somewhat lacking in crispiness. Then biting into a mushy filling with little chive flavor makes this one a miss too. Special Minced Sauce Noodle (5/10) - Sauce was not bad, but the noodles were overcooked and mushy. Sliced Beef & Tripe w/ Chili Sauce (8/10) - This dish was thinly sliced and had great texture. The chili sauce was quite delicious. Cucumber & Yuba Mixed (7/10) - Refreshing. The crunchy cucumbers paired well with the soft yuba that soaks up the garlicky sauce worked well. Tea Egg (7/10) - A good version where the marinade did penetrate the egg, but the yolk was overcooked. You can tell how much of the yolk was green instead of yellow. Camellia Tea Soybean Milk (9/10) - $2.99 seems a bit high for such a small bottle, but the floral flavors were amazing. Tieguanyin Tea w/ Soybean Milk (8/10) - Also flavorful with more of a Oolong taste. Smooth and delicious. For me, some of the dishes and drinks are worth a revisit, and I will come back again to check on consistency and try new items. However, some of the fails were big and I'll simply bypass those items, which should result in a better overall meal. read more

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Their name suggests that their specialty is buns and noodles. But I was pleasantly surprised by their wontons as well. Despite the bath of chili oil that it's sitting in, the dish is not as spicy as it looks. I'd consider it more like chili soup instead but it's flavored quite well and the skin is very thin, which I love. The buns are fantastic - very well flavored and the meat is juicy. I do wish there was a little bit more meat inside, but the taste is good. I'm a sucker for their classic chengdu braised pork bun but their spicy versions are fun as well. I was also impressed with their soy milk, which is flavored with different types of tea. A nice bin on the classic soy milk. The reason I can't give it five stars is because I also ordered a congee which was the worst I've ever had. It had absolutely no flavor so I had to add soy sauce myself. After stirring it only a few times, it became completely watery and basically just a soup at that point. I guess I will stick to Cantonese places for congee. Overall, their buns are delish and worth coming back for. read more

Lee & Bai Buns and Noodle - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Flushing, New York

Tried their breakfast set with 4 different buns, millet/congee and dried chili noodles. I also added an order of wife and husband beef which is a popular Chinese side dish. It was such a comforting breakfast for us! It reminded me of a simple breakfast you would get in China. They had 3 different types of soy milk which I am eager to try next. Really great value for a set meal. read more

A solid choice for juicy small/medium sized baos. I think one order of 6 can fill the regular person up comfortably, so order accordingly. They just opened a little while ago and are up a short staircase, I don't believe there's an elevator option. You order from a tablet at the counter. We grabbed the 6 piece signature bun to get a taste of everything (you get one of each type) and went back for more because they were that good. The soy milk is really good - just like Vitasoy cartons. The Chengdu braised pork bun was our favorite! There's vinegar and pickles at the counter to add to your food as well, which I highly recommend. read more

What a surprise about how great a bai bun can be. Better than the best in Manhattan's Chinatown, and good in size...not so gargantuan. Dumplings were also a surprise how savory and delicious they were. My only critique is that you can't pick your own mixed assortment-- they are all pre-set...but that's very minor. read more

I ordered the camellia soybean milk, steamed dumplings, and fried dumplings for breakfast. This small restaurant was busy around 11 am. The cashier told me that the food would take about 15 minutes to get ready, which seemed long to me. However, people who arrived after me got their food before me. Just checking again, I got my order. Despite this, I enjoyed the dumplings and the soybean milk. Although the food came as a small portion, I felt full and energized for what came ahead during the day. read more

Lee & Bai Buns and Noodle - Steamed dumplings - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Flushing, New York

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Lee & Bai Chinese Steamed Bun - 4/5 Stars I tried the combo that comes with buns and a cup of soy milk. They claim everything is made fresh daily, and it does taste fresh. The food was good overall--solid and satisfying--but nothing particularly special stood out. No real service, it's more like a fast food restaurant. Still, it's a decent spot if you're craving steamed buns. I'll give their noodles a try next time to see if they surprise me. read more

I told the cashier last time I made the order u guys didn't give me the egg. Then I show her the image of the receipt in my cellphone she give an egg today .so I order These buns very juice and fresh waited 6 minutes for the order. Will come back for more please check your items before u go because in flushing very hard to find a parking space. read more

Lee & Bai Buns and Noodle - Buns - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Flushing, New York

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I had my meal to go since there wasn't much seating in the store itself. The service was fast enough--just employees doing their job. The buns were a bit pricy for the size, but they were filled and the flavor itself nice. Compared to most other places nearby, their skin to filling ratio is definitely among the best I've had. read more

Too good to go - the value of the surprise bag should be $15 and I was given 9 cold buns in a plastic bags. The packaging was terrible and the staff was unfriendly. I won't order from them. read more

Lee & Bai Buns and Noodle - My surprise bag - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Flushing, New York

Happened on this place during soft opening one morning and they are always very busy. This cozy spot is located on the second floor and serves both bao, noodles and green bean drink. I think fir the price and taste, it is just ok. Looking forward to how they continue to upgrade. read more

Good! A cozy atmosphere and very attentive staff . Got the mifen which is quite authentic. There are complimentary turnip appetizers, a common staple in Chengdu! Can't speak about the buns haven't tried them yet. read more

Lee & Bai Buns and Noodle - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Flushing, New York

The seating place is clean. The buns are freshly made! Must try the hot soy milk! The chengdu pea mix noodle is well balanced! We'll be back to try the dumplings. read more

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I love the veggie bun and tofu skins veggie, price reasonable.few tables to dine in. Mostly to go

We got the mixed steamed buns so we could try all the flavors. The pork & chive and the pork & green pepper ones were the best. Would be back to pick up some buns. Quick and easy order through kiosk and fast service. read more

We found this place (also known as Lee & Bai Chinese Buns Shop) thanks to Dave Cook of Eating in Translation. We tried the Chengdu pork buns and the pickled veggie buns (which seemed to be vegetarian despite what the menu said) and both were outstanding. Also you get to puzzle over mysterious phrases like "Intangible Cultural Heritage." I'll be back to try more items here soon, I hope! Highly recommended! read more

Nice new Bai place In Flushing Union Street. A lot of selection of bai. Shop is clear and comfortable to dine in.Will come back next time. read more

Lee & Bai Buns and Noodle - Just open today. Nice new bai shop in Union street. Taste good. Shop is clear and comfortable for din in. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Flushing, New York

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This place has been open for about half a year. I couldn't tell from the outside but when I went in it was quite a busy place with lots of customers. They make their pork buns fresh to order, the kitchen is kinda see through so you see the dough machine mixing, and the people making the buns, and then being put on the steamers by the wall. I don't think they serve pre-cooked items, so there is a wait unless you call to order in advance. Place was well lit and clean, since it's a new place it is quite sanitary as compared to the usual hole in the wall bun shops. I would come back again. read more