Spicy pork buns at Sakuramen (Alicia Mazzara).

Dish of the Week: Pork buns

Where: People’s Bao, Sakuramen, Bonchon

Unlike the pork buns one might find lining the steam carts at a Chinese dim sum restaurant, this week we’re highlighting the open-faced pork bun. Think of it as an Asian taco, but with a spongy, slightly sweet steamed bun standing in for a tortilla. Rather than stuffing the dough with meat and then cooking it, the bun and all its components are prepared separately. The result is a veritable party in your mouth, with slow-cooked meat, a savory sauce, and crunchy veggies tucked into a soft pillow of dough.

Pork buns put Momofuku on the map, but it will be some time before David Chang’s first D.C. outpost opens its doors. In the meantime, you can still get some excellent, if less famous, renditions around town. People’s Bao (8520 Georgia Avenue; weekends at Mt. Pleasant farmers’ market, Eastern Market) dishes up ultra-moist roasted pork buns topped with caramelized onions, a squiggle of sriracha, and a fluff of peppery arugula. But some of the best places to get pork buns actually specialize in other dishes. Bonchon (2201 N. Pershing Drive, Arlington, Va.) may be known for their fried chicken, but you’ll also find a succulent pork belly bun on the appetizer menu. Crunchy pickled vegetables and cucumber slices help cut through the fattiness of the meat. But it’s Sakuramen (2441 18th Street NW) that serves the gold standard of D.C. pork buns. The wrapper is always tender and fluffy, while the meat is deeply flavored and slightly charred. The pork buns come in two varieties: thin, spicy slices or sweet marinated belly, both topped with astringent slivers of green onion. There’s even a mushroom version for vegetarians.

Small Bites

That’s Amaro
Amaro means “bitter” in Italian, but the herbal liqueur has been popping up more frequently behind bars and in craft cocktails here in D.C. On Saturday, Urbana (2121 P St NW), will hold an amaro class that teaches attendees about different types of amaro, common brands, and how to mix it. Hosted by Urbana’s lead bartender Lee Carrell, the class is Saturday from 3 to 4 p.m. and costs $35. That includes samples, recipe cards and a gift to take home. Contact Ray Daly at ray.daly@urbanadc.com or (202) 956-6650 for reservations. —Juana Summers

Silverware optional
Eat with your hands for a good cause at F*ck Forks on Thursday night from 6 to 10 p.m. The event features unlimited food and drinks from a bevy of D.C. chefs and bartenders, including Erik Bruner-Yang (Toki Underground), Fredrick de Pue (Table), and Tiffany MacIssac (formerly of Buzz Bakery and GBD). While you nosh, enjoy entertainment from local graffiti artists, a roving magician, and drag and burlesque performers. The event takes place at Mess Hall (703 Edgewood Street NE), the city’s newest culinary incubator. Tickets start at $80 and proceeds benefit Fuck Cancer.

Germany in Georgetown
If you’ve never been to Oktoberfest, it’s probably too late to try and go this year. So consider the next best thing: a weekend-long Oktoberfest celebration taking place in Georgetown’s Cady’s Alley (3323 Cady’s Alley NW) this Saturday and Sunday from noon until 5 p.m. The Cady’s Alley corridor will feature Bavarian food provided by Kafe Leopold, a soft pretzel cart, two-story beer hall (complete with seasonal German beers), and various games and attractions. If you need to get some shopping done, retailers throughout the neighborhood are providing special promotions, including Rag & Bone, Bonobos, and Steven Alan. Admission is free. —Jordan Anthony-Brown

And then there’s “Bocktoberfest”
If you can’t get enough Oktoberfest, be sure and check out the lineup at The Fainting Goat (1303 U Street NW). Deals at the U Street pub include $5 pints and bottles of German beer including Erdinger Oktoberfest, Bitburg Pilsner and Pinkus Organic Pilsner. Hungry? Executive chef Nathan Beauchamp will be grilling up German-style goat sausage topped with beer braised onions and beer mustard for $8. The specials run through October 5.—Juana Summers

Balls and paddles and burgers, oh my!
Dream of staring in your own version of Balls of Fury? Then head to Shake Shack in Tyson’s Corner (7924U Tysons Corner Center) on October 4 for a table tennis tournament. The Shake Shack Table Tennis League tournament is free to enter and open to the public, with just 16 slots available. Shake Shack provides players with paddles, balls and a professional-grade table — so just bring yourself. In it for the win? Prizes include a $50 Shake Shack gift card, Shake Shack Table Tennis League t-shirt and a trophy. Stop by the store to register before it fills up. —Juana Summers