How Many Calories in Liu Sha Bao?

The molten salted egg custard bun. That golden lava centre is sugar, butter and salted yolk, so it punches above its size.

190kcal / 1 bun

One liu sha bao (the steamed bun with the molten salted egg yolk custard) is about 190 calories. The bun is light, but the lava filling is made with salted egg yolk, butter, sugar and custard powder, which is rich and calorie-dense. For a small bun it carries more fat and sugar than you would guess from the size.

Nutrition facts

Per 1 bun (70g)	Amount	Per 100g
Calories	190 kcal	271 kcal
Protein	5 g	7 g
Carbs	24 g	34 g
Fat	9 g	13 g

Where the calories come from

Steamed bun dough40g

90 kcal

Salted yolk custard lava30g

100 kcal

The real talk

Liu sha bao is the influencer darling of dim sum now bro, that money shot of the golden lava pouring out. And yeah it is incredible. But understand what that lava is: salted egg yolk, butter, sugar and custard powder. That is basically a dessert filling. One small bun is around 190 calories, and the fat-and-sugar density is high for the size.

It is a treat, full stop. Do not file it next to har gao in your head as just another steamed thing. The bun being steamed does not make the molten butter-and-yolk centre light. One is a nice end to the meal. Three of them is a dessert course you did not account for.

How the portions compare

190 kcal

1 bun

380 kcal

2 buns

570 kcal

3 buns

How to eat it lighter

Treat it as dessert and have one. The filling is rich enough that one usually satisfies.
If you are also eating egg tarts, pick one or the other. Both are sweet, fatty finishers and they double up fast.
Eat it fresh and slow. It is rich, so giving it a moment helps you stop at one rather than reaching for the next.

Common questions

How many calories in liu sha bao?

About 190 calories for one salted egg custard bun. The bun is light but the molten centre is made with salted yolk, butter and sugar, so it is richer than its size suggests.

Is liu sha bao unhealthy?

It is a treat rather than an everyday food. The lava filling is high in fat and sugar, so it behaves more like a dessert. One is fine, but it is easy to eat several without noticing the calories.

What is inside a salted egg custard bun?

A molten custard made from salted duck egg yolk, butter, sugar and custard powder, wrapped in a soft steamed bun. That rich filling is where most of the calories come from.

Go Deeper

Read the full dim sum calorie guide: what to order and skip →

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Calorie and macro figures are estimates for a typical hawker or kopitiam serving. Actual numbers vary by stall, recipe and portion size. Use them as a guide, not gospel.

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