How Many Calories in Wu Kok?

Deep-fried taro puffs with a lacy, crispy shell and savoury pork mince inside. Delicious, and the heaviest thing on the trolley.

300kcal / 2 pieces

Two wu kok (the deep-fried taro or yam puffs with the lacy crispy outside) are about 300 calories, roughly 150 each. The crispy honeycomb shell is mashed taro mixed with fat then deep-fried, so it soaks up oil. It is one of the most calorie-dense things on the dim sum trolley, and the filling of seasoned pork only adds to it.

Nutrition facts

Per 2 pieces (120g)	Amount	Per 100g
Calories	300 kcal	250 kcal
Protein	4 g	3 g
Carbs	30 g	25 g
Fat	18 g	15 g

Where the calories come from

Deep-fried taro shell (2)90g

230 kcal

Pork mince filling30g

70 kcal

The real talk

Wu kok is the one to be careful with bro. That gorgeous lacy crispy shell does not happen for free. It is mashed taro bound with fat, then deep-fried, and deep-fried mashed starch drinks oil like nothing else. One single puff is around 150 calories. Two and you are at 300, for what feels like a light, airy snack.

I am not saying never eat it. It is genuinely one of the best-tasting things on the trolley. I am saying respect it. This is the opposite of har gao. Same 300 calories gets you nearly six prawn dumplings full of protein, or two taro puffs that are mostly oil and starch. Pick your spots.

How the portions compare

150 kcal

1 piece

300 kcal

2 pieces

450 kcal

3 pieces

How to eat it lighter

Limit it to one piece if the table has ordered it. One wu kok as a treat is fine, the whole basket is not.
Balance it. If you are having fried wu kok, make the rest of your order steamed dumplings to keep the meal in check.
Let it drain on the paper for a minute before eating. It will not save much, but the looser oil does come off.

Common questions

Why is wu kok so high in calories?

The crispy lacy shell is mashed taro bound with fat and then deep-fried, so it absorbs a lot of oil. That is why a single taro puff is around 150 calories despite feeling light and airy.

Is wu kok the unhealthiest dim sum?

It is one of the heaviest. Deep-fried items like wu kok and fried wonton carry the most calories per bite. If you are watching it, balance one puff against mostly steamed orders.

What is wu kok made of?

Mashed taro (yam) formed into a shell around a savoury pork mince filling, then deep-fried until the outside turns into a crispy honeycomb lace. The taro shell is where most of the calories sit.

Go Deeper

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

Related foods

See all Dim Sum calories, ranked →

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.

New to all this? Read how I went from 128kg to 86kg without cutting rice →