Every major city in the US has a “Chinatown,” where one can go and experience the culture, taste the food and buy cheap, bootleg ass shit. Except for Miami. The closest thing Miami has to a Chinatown is the 1/2 mile stretch of shops on NE 163rd Street that’s across the street from that weird mall. For about 5 consecutive shopping plazas, there are Chinese restaurants, nail shops, Oriental markets, cheap photo places that Asian girls LOVE to take pictures at and one of the greatest bakeries ever - Mary Ann Bakery. 

Mary Ann Bakery sits between a liquor store and a tax preparation place and there’s a Dickies store in the same plaza. (Don’t let the red flags scare you off. There isn’t a baby selling weed on the corner, so it isn’t situated in the deep ghetto.) The bakery offers an array of Chinese pastries - cookies, buns and my favorite, roll cake. I’ve nicknamed this cake “Cloud Cake” because it’s the softest thing ever. The cake and creme is a perfect balance. It isn’t too sweet where it makes your cheeks shrivel up at the first bite. Mary Ann Bakery ships their roll cakes to other Oriental markets as far north as Lauderdale Lakes (this is how I first discovered the cake). They offer their cake in different flavors such as vanilla, chocolate and lemon (I think lemon, anyway..I just stick to the OG vanilla and sometimes mix it up with the vanilla cake that has vanilla creme with bits of chocolate in it. Ugh so good!)

The bakery also sells a variety of Dim Sum type snacks. I’ve heard good things about their curry puffs and beef jerky buns. I usually get one or two baked BBQ pork buns. I made a recent visit and got two pork buns and a slice of roll cake for only $3.50! 

This spot is open everyday from 8:30am-5:00PM.  It’s perfect for someone who wants a great snack that’s quick and cheap. Fuck a drive-thru, go to Mary Ann Bakery!