Nikuman (肉まん; derived from 肉饅頭 niku (meat) manjū) is a Japanese food made from flour dough, and filled with cooked ground pork or other ingredients. It is a kind of chūka man (中華まん lit. Chinese-style steamed bun) similar to the Chinese baozi (包子), Also known in English as pork buns.
Nikuman are steamed and often sold as street food. From about August or September, through the winter months until roughly the beginning of April, Chūka man are available at convenience stores, where they are kept hot.
Butaman(豚まん,butaman?) — essentially an equivalent to nikuman, this name is more common in the Kansai region.
Anman(あんまん,anman?) — the ingredients consist of azuki beans (koshian or tsubuan). Lard and sesame oil are typically added to increase flavor and taste. Similar to Chinese Doushabao.
Pizza man(ピザまん,pizaman?) — the ingredients consist of a mixture of pizza sauce and other common pizza ingredients such as cheese, sausage, pepperoni, and corn. The specific ingredients vary slightly depending on the maker.
Curry man(カレーまん,karēman?) — turmeric or food coloring is added to the skin to make it yellow. The ingredients are the same as meat buns or pork buns with curry-style flavoring. There is also curry man similar to curry bread or dry curry.
Special variations of chūka man
Various convenience stores have offered seasonal varieties of chūka man:
