酢豚(すぶた)

A Chinese-origin dish popular in Japan, consisting of deep-fried pork pieces coated in a sweet and sour sauce with vegetables. Composed of 酢(す) (vinegar) and 豚(ぶた) (pork). It is one of the most recognized dishes in Japanese-style Chinese cuisine (中華料理(ちゅうかりょうり)).

Common collocations

• 酢豚(すぶた)を作(つく)る: make sweet and sour pork
• 酢豚(すぶた)定食(ていしょく): sweet and sour pork set meal

Cultural note

Whether pineapple belongs in 酢豚(すぶた) is a famously divisive topic in Japan, similar to the pineapple-on-pizza debate in Western countries. The original Cantonese dish (咕咾肉(グーラオロウ)) typically includes pineapple.

Related words

• 麻婆豆腐(まーぼーどうふ): mapo tofu — another popular Chinese-origin dish
• 回鍋肉(ほいこーろー): twice-cooked pork
• 青椒肉絲(ちんじゃおろーすー): pepper steak