My Sam Bakery

I’m a sucker for bakeries. I’m lured in by the fresh-​baked aspect, then lose an un-​witty battle when I smell and then see the pastries. I become befuddled. I go a bit ga-​ga. It’s like being in heart with the bad boy; bakeries are my Han Solo. They’re not *really* bad, they’re just… above the law, so to speak.
After eating more dumplings than I should have at Fu Fu, walking over to Fit and then back, I realized there was a bit of extra room in my stomach. Not really, but the drive back home was going to take a half hour or so and I knew I would eventually be hungry… possibly.
I’m not terribly knowledgeable when it comes to Chinese bakery items, so most items are a fun adventure. I got some sort of sponge cake/​pound cake roll. It was good, but was a bit plain with a few shaved almonds on top. Given the choice again, I would have gone with the milk roll. I also got a roll with red bean paste that was very good. I’m not big on red bean filling which still has beans in it, so this was a wonderful treat. The bread was sweet. The roll was perfect.
At the checkout, I noticed a sign with a list of steamed buns. Familiar territory forced me to go with red bean again, but now having read Thuy’s review, I’m going to get the BBQ pork steamed buns on the next go round. That and the milk rolls… and possibly the Taro rolls or steamed buns.
Oh, make certain you have cash. It’s cash only. I had to pay Eva back $ 2.50 in quarters. (sorry)

This place is great! The Char Siu Bao is delicious, baked & steamed. The King buns are also amazing, well to be honest I very rarely have been disappointed in any King bun.
The piece de la resistance is the Hot Dog bread. Ok now you have one eyebrow crooked and are staring at the screen thinking to yourself, this guy has lost his effin mind. But it’s true it’s wonderful. They took what is similar to Hawaiian rolls, made a mini version. Then they cut a hot dog into 6 pieces and pushed it into the top of this mini-​six pack of rolls. Then they made some kind of sauteed green onion topping and put it in the center. And they cost 90 cents a piece.
I was so excited, I skipped the rest of my work, so I could hand deliver some of these delicious slices of heaven to my hot dog hankerin homie. He concured, it is the most inventive and delicious use of hot dog since the dawn of the beanie weenie.
So if you like delicious cheap food, then you are like me, and will love this place.

My friend Susan’s husband owns a successful Chinese bakery in Chicago, and if he opened a bakery in TX, he’d have a gold mine.
My experience at My Sam is the same as at every other Chinese bakery I’ve tried in Dallas and Houston. Slightly dry, sad-​looking pastries, limited selection, high prices. I tried about 4 or 5 items to give it a fair shot.
I’ve been to Chinese bakeries in Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver, L.A., and San Francisco. Texas doesn’t even come close.

I know Thuy said it over and over, but the BBQ Pork Steamed Bun here is good. Ridiculous Good. Our aunt gave us a big bag of these to bring home, and they’re good for meals. All meals.
The coconut sweet bread was also delightful. I love how subtle Asian sweet breads can be! A good way to spice up ice cream or fruit as a light dessert.

Hands down, the BEST bbq pork steamed buns EVER!!!
This bakery is definitely a no-​frills joint, but people come here because of their excellent and very consistent baked goods. Do not expect glamour when you walk in, just your bare bones store front.
They have tons of different types of steamed buns: red bean, black sesame, pork and chive, bbq pork, ground pork w/​chinese sausage, mung bean, etc! Also available are coconut bread, cream filled buns, hot dog buns, etc…
But I only come here for the char siu bao (steamed bbq pork buns). And believe me, I know my bbq steamed buns! Having tried it from coast to coast, My Sam bakery wins my heart over and over again w/​each delectable bite.
The steamed bun is HUGE and definitely is a meal in itself. The bread is perfectly steamed with the desired fluffiness and slightly sweet when you bite into it. The bbq pork mixture is perfect: not too wet and not too dry and the meat itself is not just ALL fatty pieces of left over pork, but well-​shredded. The filling is savory and not overwhelmingly salty but a nice contrast against the slightly sweet and plain steamed bun. Heaven in your hand!!!
Honestly, I order it by the 50s here… and last time I remembered price was only 60 cents a piece… may have gone up, but it is well worth that price, considering the other Chinese bakeries willingly sell their inferior buns for at least a buck and some change.
Don’t be discouraged by the not very glitzy store front, because behind that ugly and run-​down façade is your piece of heavenly steamed delight!