To be honest, I just come for the buns, maybe some popcorn chicken if there's time to sit down with a friend. I've tried and enjoyed the french toast in the past as well, but the buns are the stars of the show for me. It's a treat to get a curry or bbq little ball of warmth and have it on the way to work/class/home. These guys know what they're doing and have been doing it for a long time - it's definitely worth it to get a few for snacking (or to bring home, freeze and reheat)! The bubble tea is reliable, definitely satisfying, but if you're looking for something amazing I'd go to other places. It always pairs nicely with some sweeter buns (pineapple is great imo) if you're willing to double-fist - drink in one hand, precious golden bread in the other. You can like, work out with them, or something. Get your reps in while enjoying something comforting and tasty. It's a win-win. read more

Just ordered take-out from Meesum and it is soooo good. Their baked seafood with rice is quite simply the best! When we ordered, the staff was super kind and attentive. The manager double checked that everything as we ordered and picked up a bubble tea while we waited. We got entrees and still were able to get buns which are usually sold out. Go here if you are looking for delicious food and excellent service! read more

Mee Sum Pastry - Seafood rice, Crab Rangoons (6), Tofu Eggplant with Thai Basil Sauce Entree, Sesame Ball, and curry bun - Chinese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Stopped here for a quick snack walking back from the train station and the steamed chicken bun hit the spot. Service was quick and friendly and the bun was tasty. The only drawback is that one bun cost me $5.51 which seems too steep. read more

Mee Sum Pastry - Steamed chicken bun - Chinese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

5 stars for the curry bun holy god the best curry buns I've ever had... mee sum hit the slay button

I overall like their foods. Their foods are like mom's cooking. Very comforting. The tomato beef with egg served with rice is a simple dish, yet the seasoning was just right to me. Not overall soured by ketchup but still you can taste the tomato's natural texture and its tanginess. French toast was great. Not sure what the middle filling was but not peanut butter, maybe Malaysian kaya? read more

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I'd love me some Mee Sum, was that a good food pun? Hahaha. This seem to be an upgraded version of Oasis with food and pastries. Late night hanging out area for Asians. The food menu have everything from your typical boba shop snacks like popcorn chicken to Taiwanese comfort food like stewed pork over rice to more traditional Chinese dishes like fried rice or chow fun. I ordered a "Hong Kong styled ham with egg noodle soup", it came out to be more of spam and instant ramen, but that's the traditional dish in Hong Kong cafes. Don't expect anything fancy, you bus your own table type of place, but it's a nice casual local place to go eat that's convenient with the late hours. Management was also really nice as we got a refund for a dish we didn't end up liking so much but already bite into it, you typically wouldn't see that kind of service at Asian restaurants. Tell me about your experience if you've been here or is going to after reading this review:) read more

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A certified Seattle classic, this and their Pike Place Market location are both iconic with great food and service. Although their both a little dingy of stores look wise, it fits in with the neighborhood and the vibe. This location has fun games to play and their famous bao's all with no line compared to the pike places markets crazy lines. Many of my friends swear by this place, and I love it. read more

Mee Sum Pastry - Entrance - Chinese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Love this place! Back before COVID hit, my friends and I would eat here & hangout/ do hw here ALL the time bc the food is pretty good and the portions are nice, especially for the price! They are currently offering takeout & delivery right now. My favorite things to order are: - CURRY BEEF HOMBOW (YUM!!! You can't go wrong with the curry buns. The sweet crust on the top mixed with the warm savory curry flavor inside is unbeatable. I used to always get them to go on my way to class before they sold out lol) - stewed pork belly over rice (looks small, but it's actually a decent amount & really tasty) - black pepper cube steak (the meat is so tender & flavorful - but last time I ordered it was a bit overcooked) - tomato beef special (sauce is very sweet and savory) Also their milk teas are pretty solid. Would recommend getting the Hong Kong Milk tea (my fav), Rose Milk tea or Grass Jelly Milk tea. You can also adjust the sweetness levels :) read more

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Stepped into Mee Sum Pastry and had another college flashback to either the ID or the UDistrict's Ave. The dining area was well patronized as most of the tables were full at the Ave's location. Made an immediate beeline to the end of the counter line to buy these specific items: two large almond cookies, two sesame red bean balls, and one BBQ baked bun. Even received a punch card even though I didn't buy a bubble tea. Friendly and fast service. Just ate at Issian in Wallingford, and yet The Homie ate most of the purchased items when we got home. This teenager must have tapeworms! Just glad that the quality remains with inexpensive prices, perfect for students or budget minded individuals wanting a tasty treat. read more

Mee Sum Pastry - BBQ pork baked bun, almond cookie, and red bean sesame balls (1/6/18) - Chinese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I order from Mee Sum about once a week. The food is all good and they have Bubble Tea! Today I ordered General Tso's Chicken, Salt and Pepper Green Beans, Honey milk tea with boba, 2 Sesame balls. There's lots of food, enough for 3 or 4 days for one person. read more

TLDR: It's been a few years since I've been to Mee Sum, and their boba seems to have gotten worse :/ only came here because Ding Tea was out of boba. Our order: Passion Fruit Green tea (half sugar, half ice, with boba), Strawberry Black Tea (half sugar, half ice, with boba) Pros: -No line -Boba was nice and chewy, still a little too sweet Cons: -We came in around 10:30PM, no line, ordered, then realized no one was making our drink after 5-7 min, when I saw no one was making anything -Someone said the person making drinks was in the restroom, then he ended up making the drink (so not sure if that is why our drinks weren't very good) -Drinks were way too sweet. Tasted like cough syrup, ended up tossing it after drinking a little bit of it read more

I ordered a naked panda with lychee jelly split in two cups (which i paid extra for 75 cents). Here we have 90% ice and 8% drink and 2% lychee jelly. They said they split the drink and topping into two cups. I guess they forgot to split the ice into two cups then?? They gave me THIS. We maybe took about 4 sips each cup and drink was all gone. All we had left was ICE. I paid like $5 for ice. Do not go here unless you need ice at home desperately enough that you would buy it for $5. read more

Mee Sum Pastry - Naked Panda - Chinese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Mee Sum is quite mediocre. My girlfriend was raving about this place and their amazing chicken wings, so I decided to come try it with her. First thing to note is that it's always more worth it to get the fried chicken wings as a side rather than the meal. We got an order of the wings as well as braised pork belly. The wings are very underwhelming. On the good side, they are quite crispy and came out piping hot. On the bad side, they don't taste all that good, are overly salted, and don't taste like anything (besides salty). I felt gross afterwards because it just felt like I was eating salty oily chicken. The braised pork belly was a little better, but it was also nothing special. It was a little dry and lacking the fatty tender goodness that I was looking for. It was nice that it came with a seasoned egg, though. read more

Covid time review: I've only ever walked in for a couple of sesame balls to eat while wandering on the Ave. Mee Sum is currently only doing takeout or delivery via the various apps. They set up a barrier by the entrance such that you can no longer walk up to the deli case to order. All the staff are wearing masks and they require customers to wear masks. There is no seating at this time. Their sesame balls are so good! Freshly made daily, with nice red bean paste inside (not metallic or overly sweet like the canned stuff), cooked to perfectly golden and smothered in sesame seeds. Li'l bit o' heaven. They also let me pay for 2 sesame balls with card so thaaaanks. read more

steamed bbq bun/ matcha sesame ball food: 7/10 steamed bbq was fine but you have to eat while it's warm but the sesame ball, this is another LEVEL it is so mochi and chewy and the redbean filling was not too sweet but gives you enjoyable sweetness balanced with sesame seed service: 5/10 it wasn't that busy I hope they could be nicer and more polite:/ + the location was good, very easy to find and ambiance, just market vibe read more

Mee Sum Pastry - a view of a ferris through a window - Chinese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

While Mee Sum doesn't serve the best food in the University District, it's a four star for me because the food makes me very nostalgic to home. Mee Sum specializes in Hong Kong and Taiwanese style food. Food: The pork chop with spaghetti is one of my favorite dishes here. The pork chop serving is generous and the way the cheese is melted onto the spaghetti noodles makes it a perfect combination. The pork belly over rice is a simple dish that is done really well here. It's simple yet delicious. I think the buns here are kind of underrated in the University District. The pork bun has really good flavor and the bun is nice and fluffy. Service: A lot of self service by busing your own table at the end. Overall, I would come back with friends to try some of their new dishes or enjoy an old favorite. Generally good for a large group of people to go to read more

Mee Sum Pastry - Pork Chop over Spaghetti - Chinese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I used to live in the neighborhood around 2010 and would regularly come here for the bao. I have revisited in 2022 and it did not disappoint. The baked bao here are very delicious. The bread has an appetizing shine on the outside, with a slight crisp, and is soft and fluffy when you bite in. The filling is delicious and *generously* portioned. The bao are hot and ready, making it the perfect grab-and-go food. The price is about the same as you would pay for a Dick's Deluxe, a slice of Pagliacci pizza, or a piroshky. It is well worth it. read more

I have not tried their food menu only their pastries. The prices are standard at most places. I digged for meat/ jam like a treasure hunt everytime. I think their stuffings are better than their bread. read more

Mee Sum Pastry - Bbq pork bun - Chinese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Last night my friends & I went to Mee Sum for dinner. I went with their popcorn chicken meal in which for a simple meal, still brought out a great presentation. Being presented with the fried boneless chicken, garnished with basil, accompanied with a side of rice & salad, I was excited to try what this meal had to offer. Going for the salad first, it was nothing spectacular. It had to be one of my least favorite salad I ever had, but it is merely an add-on that should not have a heavy weight in reviewing this dish. Moving on to the most important part, the popcorn chicken with rice, definitely upholds the entire dish. The flavor in the popcorn chicken is rich, and is complimented immensely with the basil. Even eating the basil itself packs a wonderful flavor. Biting into the chicken feels as if the breading and meat just explodes in your mouth, leaving nothing but flavor in your taste buds. Accompanied with the rice that has different toppings used to garnish, it is a great combination especially for a college student needing a break during the week. read more

Mee Sum Pastry - Popcorn Chicken Meal at Mee Sum. - Chinese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place used to be good... in all fairness some of their food is still good, but their customer service is lacking. Long story short. I wanted a refund, because to me, twice cooked pork does not have a massive amount of tofu and cabbage. When the owner put her hands in the food to show the tiniest sliver of pork and wanted me to take it is when I insisted on a refund. I told her that the menu doesn't state that there is tofu and not everyone can have it. My lunch was over, I didn't have time to eat anything, and I reiterated my request for a refund. She insisted that it has never been a problem before and I told her that it was now, it should really be on the menu, and I would really like my refund. She copped an attitude and said she didn't need me there to refund me, then literally shooed me away, like a fly. It was the rudest treatment I had ever received for asking for a refund. I wasn't rude, only insistent that I would like a refund. She then took hours to refund my card. Super rude and I will not be going back. I have been going there on and off for many years and the food quality is going downhill right along with the service. Terrible owner. If you love the buns like I do, try the Mee Sum Pastry at Pike Place Market, hopefully it's a different owner. read more

Popcorn chicken has a weird sour taste, and it was soaks in oil, not crispy at all. Feel sick after having the chicken.

I'm really recommend of the Curry Beef Brisket Braised Beef with Daikon and Black Pepper Cube Steak that was the most I try at a lot of places here was the one I will come back again read more

Mee Sum - Small mom and pop joint popular among foodies for Taiwainese, Hong Kong, and Sichuanese food including Chinese baked pastries and buns. Meals are served with their soup of the day. Restaurant is open late night and has board games you can check out. They also have a huge menu for boba teas and unique smoothies. 1. The entire meal we ordered includes soup. 2. Fish fillet in hot chilli oil 3. Century egg with tofu 4. Popcorn chicken - I crave for this at least once a week! Delicious! One of the best popcorn chicken I have had and definitely addictive. Flavorful and spicy with a hint of basil. Fish fillet in chilli oil was on point. Tofu was excellent, soft and fresh. My palate is still getting used to duck eggs. Other wise rest of the dishes were perfectly cooked and priced. read more

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I will say, that even after graduating from college, Meesum is still one of my favorite places to hang out, eat, and drinking boba. It's a small enough place where you still get the intimate setting when hanging out with friends and it's a large enough setting where things don't feel too cramped together. Located right next to the American Apparel on the Ave (University St), Meesum is pretty easy to find. Food and Boba here are reasonably priced. For food, I highly recommend getting the popcorn chicken, hot cross buns, braised pork/beef over rice and the regular buns! The regular buns (pineapple, beef, pork) are pretty big and tasty. For the hot cross buns.......these are strangely addicting. The buns are just toasted buns and you dip them with condense milk. Strange combo but oh so yummy. As for meals, most of them come with soup as a side. If you dine in, a number is given to you and someone will serve you your food. The popcorn chicken meal is never a fail. Always serve with a delightful crunch with various seasonings, this popular dish is always a safe choice to get when you're hungry and unsure at what to get. For boba, I really do enjoy their various milk tea and the special drinks. Japanese milk tea is pretty tasty and popular and if you want something light and refreshing, go for an avocado shake (so creamy and good!) As for service, there has been quite an improvement throughout the years. Just this other day, went to eat dinner with a friend and when his food order got screwed up, the staff acted pretty quickly in fixing the issue and were pretty pleasant to work with. Overall, if you're looking for a place to hang out late with friends, play games, or do some school work, Meesum is a nice stop by. read more

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The service attitude is very good and the meals are fast. This crispy chicken wings so delicious.... read more

Mee Sum Pastry - A3. Crispy Chicken Wings Appetizer - Chinese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I ordered delivery from Mee Sum. The items were egg rolls, orange chicken, and fried rice. The eggroll a were probably the best part, cooked just right and very tasty. The orange chicken was mixed. Some of the pieces had nice chunks of chicken breast, but there were also many hard doughy chunks. The fried rice was ok, but kind of bland. If you are in the mood for Chinese food I might try them, but with different entrees. read more

Mee Sum Pastry - Fried rice - Chinese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Love this place!! I come to eat here all the time, and the service is fast and friendly. Great place to hang out, especially for students. The workers are very nice and patient, and the food is great! I tried their new sesame buns recently that has a matcha exterior. Very good! read more

Mee Sum Pastry - Sesame Balls - Chinese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I am not really much of a boba fan. I guess I can not get around having weird tapioca balls in my tea or any drink for that matter. I do however like the flavored teas that are offered in shops that sell such things. Of all the bubble tea shops on the Ave., I ended up at Mee Sum. The interior of this store is decent. There are several tables to sit at and it looks like a cool college hangout. Upon review of the menu, I decided to get a BBQ pork humbao and a watermelon tea. The humbao was a bit steep at around $2 for one. You can find humbao cheaper in the I-District. The taste also was a bit plainish in regards to flavor. The tea was also average. The unfortunate reason behind the rating would be the service. While there was two people on staff, the tea that I ordered took upwards of 20 to 25 minutes which seems pretty slow and regretted ordering afterwards due to the wait. read more

the portions were huge!!! and the chicken was so crisp. it was nice that the sauce was given separately (at least for takeout), so it all stayed crisp. it was all well seasoned too. read more

A cute little Chinese restaurant right on the University's campus. I got the orange chicken, which I enjoyed. Staff was helpful and friendly, and I'll tell you why. My mom is gluten, dairy, soy, and egg-free, and the menu doesn't really accommodate for those restrictions. However, they were able to make something that wasn't part of the menu, and it seemed like they really tried. I'd recommend this place if you're in the area. read more

I came here yesterday to study and try out the boba. One pretty disappointing thing was the wifi didn't work. Luckily my studying was mostly reading, so I didn't need to access the internet, but that's a big minus. Also, it was a little cold inside, which wasn't the best. I had a honey oolong milk tea with boba, which the cashier recommended, and it was pretty good. Probably not as good as kung fu tea or sharetea, but it was definitely cheaper and a big size. I also tried a pineapple bun, which was slightly sweet and had a nice sugary crackly top. One big positive about this place is that it's inexpensive relative to other boba places, so I might come back just for that, and maybe next time the wifi will work. Also something to note, they take credit cards but there's a transaction fee, I think .25. read more

Mee Sum Pastry - Honey oolong boba and pineapple bun-$4.55 total - Chinese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place is really mediocre. The highlight of Mee Sum is probably its humbow, which I have tried in my recent visits. I have stopped trying its main dishes here. The portion is either too small or too greasy. While this place's Chinese food is slightly more tolerable than some of its competitors on the Ave, I would really try to avoid Chinese food on the Ave in general. Do try its humbow. It is reasonably priced and very delicious! read more

This is the worst chinese food I've ever had... Lol. I ordered orange chicken and it was soggy and the sauce was like sugar syrup. Also didn't come with any rice? The kung pao chicken was rubbery and bland and I really didn't want to eat it at all. My milk tea which I ordered 1/4 sweet was WAY too sweet and tasted more like sugar syrup than actual tea. Sigh. read more

I ordered this for a big group via Eat24. The food was what you expect - Americanized Chinese - but for $120 with tip, it was definitely more than enough for 8 people. They delivered fast, and to my surprise, the crispy chicken was actually still crispy. One cool thing they do is that they only fry up the chicken and give you sauce on the side - a little unorthodox, but worked pretty well since we all wanted varying levels. We were also allowed to make anything on the menu spicy, or not spicy, which helped considerably. They don't include rice with the entrees, so you do need to order it separately, and they don't give chopsticks unless you ask. They do, however, give you a good number of fortune cookies :) read more

Horrible experience with waiting time, not organized at all. They prioritize mobile orders last. read more

Mee Sum Pastry - Chinese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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One of my go-to places after tennis club practice. It's very convenient that this place stays open quite late. Usually when I go here, I have a couple of dishes that I always stick to and that's the Beef Chow Fun or the Popcorn Chicken meal. I also love the Naked Panda drink. It tastes like a Yakult and Sprite mixture and it's my go-to drink at Mee Sum. The food here is pretty good but it's not the best. The food here can also be quite salty at times but I don't mind since I like my food salty. Mee Sum isn't that big and can fit probably 15-20ish people and have great food but I have yet to find something that is amazing here read more

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3 star review for takeout Order wonton noodles and a early grey milk tea with boba. The wontons were not that flavorful, but the broth was the right flavor. Also, this might just be due to takeout, but the noodles were very chewy and stiff. I had to let it soak in the broth for a while before I could actually eat it. The bubble tea was somewhat up to par. I asked for 50% less sugar, but I still couldn't taste the early grey over the sweetness level. read more

One of my go-to spots on the Ave when there is a craving for Taiwanese food. Their popcorn chicken is decent but seems like they have skimped a little recently. It is still crispy and tasty but not really out there. Haven't really had any issues over the few times I've been here and their pork belly over rice always does justice for me. Consistency is key and they seem to have that pretty pat down for these items. Even though it's not really a milk tea specific shop, I would say they have one of the better milk teas in the area though I generally go for the more artificial flavored ones like taro or coconut. It's not generally crowded from what I have experienced and a decent option if you don't feel like waiting too long. Ordered online once before and had it delivered and it came fine. Don't forget to get a stamp card with your milk tea! read more

Mee Sum Pastry - Popcorn chicken - gold standard - Chinese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The boba pearls here are sweet and delicious. In contrast to a few boba places out there, they actually have some flavor. They have some tasty-looking wrapped pastries, and some warmed buns behind the counter. They have a lot of manga novels around for guests to read, and you can rent games with your ID. They have a punch card. read more

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Meh...my Boba was decent (very sweet) but the service is seriously lacking. I ordered two drinks and got one right away. Then after waiting 15 minutes, got two others. When they realized they had served me someone else's drink incorrectly, two women behind the counter got angry at me for taking it, making quite a scene in both English and then yelling in their native tongue. I felt badly, but it certainly wasn't my fault and I definitely will not go back after being treated so poorly. read more

Mee Sum Pastry - Mango boba - Chinese Near Me - Seattle, Washington