Char Siu (BBQ Pork)

Char Siu is Cantonese BBQ at its finest. Pork shoulder or belly is marinated in a mixture of honey, fermented red bean curd (nam yu), soy sauce, and five-spice powder, then roasted over an open fire until the exterior caramelizes into a sticky, crimson glaze. The result is tender, juicy meat with charred edges and a deep, complex sweetness. It's served on its own, over rice, or inside fluffy bao buns.

📖 History

Char siu's origins trace back to the Song Dynasty, when Cantonese chefs began roasting meats with honey. The technique was refined over centuries into the signature hanging-roast method used today, where the meat is suspended vertically in the oven.