Dim sum dish explainer
Steamed Spare Ribs with Black Bean Sauce (豉æ±æŽ’骨)
Small pork rib pieces steamed with fermented black bean sauce. This page explains what it is, how to order it, how to eat it, and what dietary signals to check.
Quick definition
Steamed Spare Ribs with Black Bean Sauce (豉æ±æŽ’骨 · chǐ zhī pái gǔ) is small pork rib pieces steamed with fermented black bean sauce.
Dim sum works best as a shared small-plate meal, so balance across steamed, fried, baked, and starch-heavy items matters more than choosing a single "main" dish. Dim sum was already established in China by the Song dynasty, long before the modern cart-service version most diners picture today.
What it is made of
Pork spare ribs, fermented black beans, garlic, soy sauce, starch, and sometimes chile or bell pepper.
Flavor and texture
| Dimension | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Flavor | Savory, garlicky, porky, and lightly fermented. |
| Texture | Tender rib pieces with cartilage and bone. The sauce should be glossy. |
| Category | Steamed meats |
How to order it
Order as a meat dish to balance dumplings and buns. It is especially good with rice or congee if available.
How to eat it
Eat carefully around bone and cartilage. This is not a boneless meat dish.
Dietary and allergy signals
Contains pork and soy. May contain wheat through soy sauce and possible cooking wine.
For serious allergies or religious dietary requirements, ask the restaurant about fillings, sauces, wrappers, broth, cooking wine, lard, shared steamers, shared fryers, and shared prep surfaces.
Quality signs
The ribs should be tender and seasoned through, not watery or bland.