Butaman or Nikuman?

In Japan there is a popular Chinese food called "butaman" or "nikuman".

They are kinds of pork buns.

You can buy them from Chinese restaurants, street vendors or even convenience stores nowadays.

Actually, butaman and nikuman are same stuff.

In eastern Japan (for example , Tokyo, Kanagawa), usually the word "niku (meat)" means pork meat for the people of the region, so they call the pork buns nikuman.

In contrast to east, people in western Japan (Osaka, Hyogo, etc.) use the word niku for beef meat.

Japanese word for pork is buta, so in Osaka, Hyogo or other prefectures, people call the pork buns butaman.

See?

Even their names are different depending on the region, you can enjoy them without worry.

In the end, let me tell you some brands of our pork buns.

In Osaka city, "551's butaman" is popular as a daily snack or a souvenir of Osaka.

The pork bun is soft, springy and containing tasty gravy inside.

I myself eat it often.

Besides, a pork bun from the restaurant "Roushouki" in Kobe city is famous too.

As the inventor of butaman, the restaurant has a longer history than 551 restaurant.

The pork bun served by them is smaller than 551's but tasty as well.

I want to tell you about famous nikuman brands too, but unfortunately I haven't eaten any nikuman at the eastern region yet.

I hope you will tell me about them near future.