Char Siu, a sweet and savory pork dishChar Siu, a sweet and savory pork dish

Char siu, a Cantonese-style barbecued pork known for its sweet and savory glaze, is seeing growth on United States restaurant menus, supported by rising consumer interest in bold Asian flavors and regional Chinese cuisine.

Restaurant chefs are spotlighting char siu as both a standalone dish and as an ingredient in other dish formats, sometimes taking their own approaches with premium cuts of meat and modern presentations.

Char siu’s rich flavor profile and cultural authenticity make it an ideal fit for restaurant diners seeking globally inspired comfort foods. Awareness is highest among Asian consumers, but 14% of all American consumers say they have tried it.

Char siu has grown by 29% on U.S. restaurant menus over the past four years, and according to Datassential’s Menucast prediction tool, it will grow by 30% over the next four years.

Click through the above gallery to learn more about char siu and to see how one restaurant with locations in Las Vegas and Honolulu is using it on the menu.