Dine and Dash: Chinatown and Hing Shing Pastry

Sunday, I’ll continue my indulgence in all things patisserie. A friend of Mr Alyk introduced us to the Chinese Pork Bun, and damn, if those things aren’t addictive. We’ve sampled pork buns from several Chinatown bakeries, and one of the best is Hing Shing Pastry at the corner of Beach and Hudson. The tiny bakery sits across the street from the Chinatown Gate, and its yellow sign is visible in most photos of the gate. The perfect mix of chewy, yeasty dough and savory, sweet pork filling can be picked up for under a dollar; an excellent deal by any standard.

The housing in Chinatown isn’t as bargain-oriented as its pastry: $860 per sq. ft. is average, but that jumps to over $1400 sq. ft. at the Ritz-Carlton. As with other downtown neighborhoods, the location drives up the cost, but Chinatown has the best transportation options in the city: easy access to the Red Line, Green Line, Orange Line, Silver Line, and the Commuter Rail. Loads of dining and Theatre District entertainment make the area perfect for anyone who doesn’t mind the grit of the city and wants to feel smugly superior to the Bridge and Tunnel crowd.

Part of the convenience of Chinatown is hitting all the open houses in under thirty minutes.

40-44 Harrison Avenue, #7D
Boston, 02111
Beds:1 /Baths: 2
SQ.FT.: 885
$479,000
Open House: Sunday, October 12, 2008 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
multiple units showing

170 Tremont Street, #205
Boston, MA 02111
Beds: 0/Baths: 1
SQ.FT.: 537
$319,000
Open House: Sunday, October 12, 2008 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM

151 Tremont Street, #8M
Boston, 02111
Beds: 1/Baths: 1
SQ.FT.: 590
$469,000
Open House: Sunday, October 12, 2008 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Hitting the Links
Boston Sweet Digs Home

Image: Flickr user Shoothead under Creative Commons