Cantonese · dumpling
Char Siu Bao (BBQ Pork Buns)
叉烧包 · Chāshāo Bāo
Steamed white buns with a sweet-savoury BBQ pork filling. Two styles: traditional steamed and modern baked.
Char siu bao come in two main styles. Traditional steamed (the most common): white fluffy bun with a chopped char siu filling in a sweet-soy-thickened sauce. Baked / pineapple-bun-style: golden glazed top, butter-rich pastry, char siu filling. Tim Ho Wan's baked version is its signature item.
Where to try
Steamed: any yum cha house. Baked: Tim Ho Wan, Yum Cha (the chain), Lung King Heen.
Dietary notes
Pork, wheat, milk in baked version.
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