🍽️ Bengbu Pork Cutlet Bun

Sesame bun with fried pork cutlet.

Sesame bun with pork tenderloin is a hugely popular street snack among young people in Bengbu, Anhui, a local take on the meat burger. A freshly baked crisp sesame bun is split open and stuffed with a just-fried pork tenderloin cutlet: marinated, battered and deep-fried until crisp outside, juicy inside, then brushed with sweet bean sauce and chili paste, optionally with lettuce or ham. One bite layers the toasty crunch of the bun, the savory juiciness of the fried cutlet and a sweet-sour-spicy kick. Affordable and fast, it is a common sight at Bengbu night markets and school gates. Combining northern baked bread with a fried pork cutlet, it reflects the Huai River region's blend of northern and southern foodways.