Today I found a package of Island Wok brand steamed pork buns at Grocery Outlet and decided to give them a try. I LOVE pork buns, and while these were a bit expensive ($4 for 6 3.5 oz pork buns, about the same price you can get freshly made ones at your local Chinese restaurant), I liked the convenience of having them in my freezer. They also seem to be made with natural ingredients. Unfortunately they weren’t very good.
My main complain is the filling. I like my pork buns at least a little bit sweet and these ones are not. Probably the most notable flavor is that of the soy sauce. Mika thought that there was too much bread for the amount of filling, but I don’t think they’re more unbalanced than most pork buns. In all they weren’t bad, and they microwave very easily (1 minute each), but given their price I think I may just stick with the ones from New Hong Kong.
Island Wok is a brand of Harvest Food Products, a Hayward based Asian frozen food company. One of the things I do like about GO is that they give small producers a chance. While I didn’t love these pork buns, I will try other Island Wok/Harvest Food products.
I found some pork buns at Trader Joes a week or two ago – they were pretty good and not too expensive. Next time you go – look for them in the freezer section!
I think Island Wok Steamed Pork Buns are the best! They have a lot of filling and I like the flavor. Others I’ve tasted had hardly more than a dot of filling and the rest dough. I use to get them at the Chinese restaurant in the Terra Linda Mall. I was so disappointed that Grocery Outlet didn’t have them on my last trip 🙁 . I hope they’re still selling them.
I will try Trader Joe’s.
I bought another Island Wok branded item, a 32-ounce package of Orange Chicken at Grocery Outlet, but was not at all impressed. There was far more batter than chicken in the package. The bits of chicken, when they existed at all inside a piece of batter, were just that: tiny bits; many pieces of batter had no chicken in them at all. The package promised a “delicious, restaurant quality meal” for which I would “come back for more!” Neither statement is true of what I purchased. It’s also worth noting that the Harvest Food Products Web site doesn’t even admit to the existence of this brand; it has pages for four other brands, but not Island Wok.
I absolutely love Chinese food and frequent a few pricy restaurants regularly as well as Panda Express at least 2x’s weekly. I have tried many frozen brands and Island Wok has delicious options. Our favorites are General Tso and Orange Chicken!!! Anyone who doesn’t enjoy these must frequent $1.00 Chinese spots, they don’t know good Chinese food.
Great flavor and portions- 1 bag feeds our family of 4 – add steamed veggies and rice to complete the meal.