Char Siu Sauce Substitutes
叉烧酱 · chā shāo jiàng
By The Chowmi Test Kitchen · Updated June 6, 2026
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Char siu sauce is the ready-made jarred marinade and glaze for Chinese BBQ pork — a sweet, savory, slightly funky red-brown sauce of fermented soybean, sugar, soy, garlic and five-spice. The best substitute is to make it yourself, because the jarred version is easy to replicate from pantry staples: combine hoisin sauce, soy sauce, honey (or sugar), Shaoxing wine, a little five-spice and grated garlic — that's essentially the marinade in a from-scratch char siu recipe. For an even quicker fix, hoisin sauce thinned with a splash of soy and a drizzle of honey gets you most of the way, since hoisin already shares char siu sauce's sweet-savory base. The optional red color in store-bought versions comes from food coloring or fermented red bean curd and is purely cosmetic — the flavor comes from the marinade.
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Every char siu sauce substitute, ranked
| Substitute | Ratio | Match |
|---|---|---|
| Homemade char siu marinade The real thing · vegan | Hoisin + soy + honey + Shaoxing + five-spice + garlic | 92% |
| Hoisin + soy + honey Quick swap · vegan | 2 part hoisin : 1 part soy + a drizzle of honey | 75% |
| Hoisin sauce alone In a pinch · vegan | 1:1, thinned slightly | 62% |
- Homemade char siu marinade: Essentially what's in a from-scratch char siu recipe — and it tastes better than the jar. See our char siu recipe for exact amounts.
- Hoisin + soy + honey: Hoisin already shares the sweet-savory base; the soy and honey tune it toward char siu. Add a pinch of five-spice if you have it.
- Hoisin sauce alone: Sweeter and less complex, but in the same family. Loosen with a little water or soy so it glazes evenly.
What is Char Siu Sauce?
Char siu sauce is a thick, sweet-savory Cantonese sauce sold in jars (Lee Kum Kee is the standard) specifically for making char siu — Chinese barbecue pork. It's used as a marinade and a basting glaze, and it doubles as a dip or stir-fry sauce. It's closely related to hoisin but tuned for roasting meat, with more sweetness and a five-spice backbone.
Flavor: Sweet, savory and garlicky, with a five-spice warmth and a sticky, glaze-ready body.
Char siu sauce vs hoisin sauce
They're close cousins — both dark, thick, sweet-savory soybean-based sauces — which is why hoisin is the go-to substitute. The difference is purpose: char siu sauce is tuned for roasting pork, so it's a bit sweeter, often more garlicky, and carries a clear five-spice note for that BBQ-pork flavor. Hoisin is more all-purpose. To turn hoisin into char siu sauce, add soy, honey and a pinch of five-spice.
Char siu sauce vs making the marinade from scratch
Jarred char siu sauce is convenient, but the from-scratch marinade — hoisin, soy, honey, Shaoxing wine, five-spice and garlic — is easy and arguably better, because you control the sweetness, saltiness and spice. Many home cooks skip the jar entirely. Our char siu recipe walks through the exact ratios, including the honey glaze for that lacquered, sticky finish.
Where to buy char siu sauce
Stock real char siu sauce
Lee Kum Kee char siu sauce is the standard and is in many supermarkets' Asian aisle, plus Asian markets, Weee!, Yamibuy and Amazon. That said, you likely already have what you need to make it: a jar of hoisin, soy sauce, honey and five-spice cover it.
Char Siu Sauce FAQ
What can I use instead of char siu sauce?
Make it: mix hoisin sauce, soy sauce, honey, Shaoxing wine, a little five-spice and grated garlic — that's essentially char siu marinade, and it's better than the jar. For a fast version, hoisin thinned with soy and a drizzle of honey gets you most of the way to the sweet-savory BBQ-pork flavor.
Is char siu sauce the same as hoisin sauce?
They're closely related but not identical. Both are dark, sweet-savory soybean-based sauces, but char siu sauce is formulated for roasting pork — a bit sweeter and more garlicky, with a five-spice note. Hoisin is the standard substitute; add soy, honey and a pinch of five-spice to tune it toward char siu.
Do I need the red color for char siu?
No. The red tint in store-bought char siu sauce comes from food coloring or fermented red bean curd and is purely cosmetic. Leaving it out changes nothing about the flavor — your char siu will just be a deep mahogany brown instead of red, which many cooks prefer anyway.
Can I use char siu sauce for chicken or other meats?
Yes. Although it's made for pork, char siu sauce (or the homemade marinade) works beautifully on chicken, ribs, tofu and even as a glaze for roasted vegetables. Marinate, roast, and baste with extra sauce near the end for a sticky, caramelized finish.
How do I make char siu without the jarred sauce?
Use a simple marinade of hoisin, light soy sauce, honey (or maltose), Shaoxing wine, five-spice powder and garlic, then roast the pork hot and baste with a honey glaze for the signature sticky edges. Our char siu recipe gives the full method and exact ratios.
Recipes that use char siu sauce
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