Sesame balls, a trending Chinese snack

A sesame ball is a Chinese snack made with rice flour dough that is formed into a ball, fried, coated with sesame seeds, and stuffed with sweet fillings — typically sweetened bean or lotus seed paste, although the possibilities for variation are virtually endless. They are appearing on more restaurant menus as consumers show interest in globally inspired sweets, particularly Asian ones.

With their crispy sesame-coated exterior and chewy, sweet-filled interior, sesame balls offer a unique texture and flavor experience.

As Asian-inspired treats such as mochi and boba gain in popularity, a broader swath of American consumers are getting comfortable with them and appreciate their approachable novelty. In the case of sesame balls, the fact that they’re fried and sweet automatically gives them broad appeal.

Sesame balls have grown on menus 36% over the past four years, and market research firm Datassential’s Menucast prediction tool forecasts the treat will grow by another 25% over the next four years.

Click through the gallery above to learn more about sesame balls and find out how one restaurant in Philadelphia is using it on the menu.