Dish Explainer

What Is Char Siu?

Cantonese · Chinese name · Ordering guide

What Is Char Siu explained: Chinese name, pronunciation, taste, menu role, common variations, dietary concerns, and ordering context.

Quick answer

Char siu is Cantonese barbecued pork, usually marinated with sweet-savory seasonings and roasted until glossy.

Chinese name	Pinyin	Cuisine or format	Usual heat level
叉烧	chā shāo	Cantonese	Varies by preparation

What it tastes like

Sweet, savory, roasted, porky, and aromatic, often with a red or mahogany exterior.

How it appears on menus

On a menu, this item may appear as a dish name, a category item, or a variation within a broader restaurant format. Look at nearby dishes, menu section headings, and sauce descriptions to understand whether the restaurant is presenting it in a regional, American Chinese, cafe, or banquet style.

Common variations

Char siu over rice
Char siu bao
Char siu noodle soup
Lean or fatty barbecue-window versions

Dietary issues

Char siu is pork and commonly includes soy sauce, hoisin-style sauce, sugar, and sometimes food coloring or maltose.

What to order with it

Balance the item with something from a different role: a green vegetable, a soup, a cold dish, a rice or noodle starch, or a milder dish if the main item is spicy or rich.