🍽️ Char Siu Bao

Steamed bun split open with char siu filling.

Char Siu Bao is one of the four kings of Cantonese morning tea and ordered at nearly every table in Guangzhou tea houses. Fermented soft dough wraps a honey-char-siu filling; the bun stays white and fluffy, splitting open naturally at the top in the so-called smiling mouth to reveal glossy reddish diced barbecued pork inside. The filling uses roasted char siu cut into small cubes, mixed with its own savory sauce, sugar and thickening—savory with a sweet edge and rich with juice. Broken open while hot, the skin is cloud-soft while the filling is thick, glossy and sweet-savory. Good char siu bao depends on well-controlled fermentation and steaming, with a natural split that does not collapse or leak. It is the soul of Guangzhou morning tea and has spread worldwide with Cantonese cuisine, making it a first lesson for visitors exploring Cantonese steamed dim sum.