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Nikuman 肉まん

A soft, steamed wheat bun filled with seasoned minced pork. The Japanese take on the Chinese steamed pork bun.

Checked October 2026 · next check January 2027 · 1 post since 2009

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About Nikuman

  • What it is: A fluffy yeast-dough bun wrapped around minced pork with vegetables such as onion, bamboo shoots and shiitake. It belongs to the chukaman family of Chinese-style steamed buns.
  • Where to try it: Every convenience store chain sells its own, kept hot in a steamer case by the till. In Yokohama Chinatown, a hot, freshly steamed bun is the classic snack to eat while you stroll.
  • Styles: In western Japan it is often called butaman, because niku there tends to mean beef. Convenience stores also sell anman (sweet red bean) and pizzaman (cheese and tomato).
  • Season: Sold from around September and through the winter.
  • Price: At convenience stores, a little over a hundred yen.
Season
  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D
Autumn and winter, from around September
Known for it
  • KanagawaYokohama Chinatown, steamed buns to eat while walking

Checked against: The konbini connoisseur's guide to nikuman | Time Out Tokyo · Chukaman: Types of Japanese Winter Steamed Buns | Japanese Products Blog · Yokohama Chinatown Travel Guide | GOOD LUCK TRIP.

Nikuman on Shibuya246

Photos and stories from the blog, as they were written at the time.

Food & Drink

Cute Nikuman

Has anyone seen this cute looking niku-man (肉まん) at your local convenience store? Imura-ya will be selling these niku-man with the face of a bear from the…