A Jayd Bun Experience - Wakefield, RI

Jayd Bun is Rhode Island's biggest little secret, serving up authentic, handmade Chinese food, Instagram's viral pork buns, and some of the spiciest dishes you'll find in the state. I had been eyeing this place ever since I saw my girl, TylerAnne, post about it.

The History

Jayd Bun opened in 2019, right before the pandemic began, by husband-and-wife duo Joe and Annie Parisi. Bringing authentic Chinese food to Rhode Island, inspired by Annie's upbringing in Tianjin, China, Jayd Bun is known for its fresh, handmade pork buns, dumplings, noodles, and bold flavors. The small takeout spot quickly became one of Rhode Island's most iconic hidden gems.

The Restaurant

I pre-ordered my food 3-5 days in advance, as recommended. The ordering process was super easy. I just read the menu online, picked out a few dishes, and emailed my food & pickup time request to jaydbun@gmail.com. I received a response back within a day, and now all I had to do was wait!

Once you step inside to grab your order, you'll hear the walls, covered in framed newspaper articles and all the awards that they've received over the years, tell you just how much heart lives here. We were enthusiastically greeted by Joe, who gave us wonderful recommendations for chili sauces and condiments to pair with each dish. There is no indoor seating, and while there are tables outdoors, I went in April with some friends when it was a bit chilly, so we brought our food to Whaler's, a nearby brewery, to eat.

The Food

Jayd Pork Buns

The viral Jayd Buns were (little) giant, fluffy bundles of joy bursting with flavor. With their soft dough and juicy filling, they definitely live up to the hype, and Joe's homemade, crunchy chili sauce was the perfect touch!

Jin-Jin Dumplings

Very moist and juicy, and everything you would expect from a dumpling. The fresh, handmade dough really made a difference. You could tell by the way it absorbed the dipping sauce, adding a whole new dimension of flavors and textures. Out of all the dishes we tried, this was the most fun to eat.

Spicy Yo Po

This was my friend's favorite dish. They loved the texture of the noodles and how they captured the flavor of the Yo Po, even calling it "lip-smacking delicious." They don't have any comment on the egg, because I swooped in and snatched it first... (It was very tasty & flavorful.)

Spicy Wontons

These were nothing like anything I've ever experienced before. Not only were they delicious from the very first bite, but they were just as good, if not better, the next day as leftovers, after all the flavors had settled and mixed overnight.

Peanut Butter Noodles

This was my favorite dish. I'm not sure if it was because it was so creamy and delicious, or because it felt so comforting after eating all of the other spicy dishes 🥵🌶️. Probably a mixture of both.

Green Monstah ***

If you're not into hott stuff, leave this one out. If you like experimenting with hott stuff, I'd save this for last. If you come for the hott stuff, this is the dish for you. Warning, everything will taste hott after this, in case you're into that kind of stuff. 😝

Interview with Joe & Annie:

What makes your restaurant different from other Chinese restaurants?

We offer a unique style of Chinese food not found in many places. Our menu is one-of-a-kind, and you won't find it anywhere else in the country. Most people are used to American Chinese food, but that's not what we do.

Why is it important for you to serve authentic Chinese food?

We want to offer authentic Chinese food that my wife grew up eating and is accustomed to.

 What do people misunderstand most about your restaurant?

Some people don't understand our food is not fast food. We try to make it very clear to everyone that our food takes time because everything is made fresh by hand for each order.

Can you explain the process behind your handmade buns?

The buns take 30 minutes from start to finish. 15 minutes to prep the buns and get them in the pot, then 15 more minutes to cook.

What does a typical workday look like for you?

People don't realize how hard we work or how many hours we work. We're here every day between 8 AM and 9 AM, and we usually don't leave until 10 PM. Even on the days we open at 4 PM, we're still here at 9 AM. Some days, we're here until 3 AM prepping.

What keeps you motivated after working such long hours?

We absolutely love what we do and take pride in it.

What was it like opening right before COVID?

When we first opened in 2019, we didn't think we were gonna make it through the winter. It was so slow, but we kept pushing and teaching ourselves.

How did you grow the restaurant despite the challenges?

We kept adding more and more menu items, and little by little, we became what we are today.

What are you most proud of today?

We're so proud of all we've accomplished and all of the awards and recognition we've gotten.

How important are reviews and social media to a small business?

People don't realize how important social media is, how important word of mouth is, and most importantly, how important reviews are. Reviews matter.

How do you want customers to feel when they come into your restaurant?

We go above and beyond to make everyone laugh. We try to treat every single customer that walks through our door like friends and family, not a ticket.