Formosa Bun & Dumpling Factory held its long-awaited grand opening in Newton Centre with a celebratory ribbon cutting on March 28.
After many months of preparation and a soft launch in early December, the shop had been able to complete takeout orders while waiting for permits to clear. Back then, retiring City Councilor Rick Lipof had spoken with the shop’s owner, Kristina Pan, about the building-permit delays, and he resolved to look into expediting them. Lipof attended the ribbon-cutting and later told Fig City News:
“I began helping Kristina early on because she found the City’s permitting process cumbersome and time consuming. As a City Councilor, and a big fan of Taiwanese cuisine, I made calls to help speed the process along. With the transition in the Mayor’s office, Laura Berman, Director of Economic Development, helped Formosa to the finish line. We need to re-think and revamp the overall process and experience for new businesses. The Mayor’s focus on economic development and support for Newton’s businesses will improve the customer experience and move us in the right direction.”
Mayor Marc Laredo and Charles C. H. Liao, the Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office of Boston, both spoke at the ribbon cutting. Director General Liao remarked on the pan-fried bao buns and dumplings on Formosa Bun’s menu, noting their wide fame and popularity as street food in Taiwan. Mayor Laredo praised the food and affirmed that the City will improve its permitting process and responsiveness to small businesses.
State Representatives Amy Sangiolo and Greg Schwartz also attended the ribbon-cutting celebration, along with Newton’s Director of Community Engagement Hattie Kerwin Derrick and Economic Development Director Lauren Berman and Deputy Director Cheryl Lappin.
Restaurant owner Kristina Pan began her journey to open this restaurant over a year ago. Before that, for over three decades, she had managed successful sushi chains and her own restaurants in New York. With Formosa Bun & Dumpling Factory, she is returning to her roots to share Taiwanese traditional cuisine. She found the market in Newton attractive when she arranged to sell her pan-fried bao buns, based on a family recipe, at the Newton Taiwan Day festival at the Hyde Community Center, where they were in high demand. In addition to bao buns, she says the shop’s dumplings are also very popular.
Formosa Bun & Dumpling Factory is located at 740A Beacon Street — the site of the former Jake’s Falafel Corner.
