Char Siu Bao (BBQ Pork Bun)

Char Siu Bao is the dim sum icon that nobody forgets. Each steamed bun uses 65 grams of dough proofed to a snowy-white, cloud-like softness, while the baked version gets a honey glaze that caramelizes at 400°F. The filling—sweet barbecued pork in a savory sauce—outperforms Cheung Fun in sheer portability, requiring just one or two bites per bun. Its profit margin for dim sum houses averages 70% higher than the category benchmark, due to low ingredient costs and universal appeal.