food · 5 May 2026

Chinese BBQ: Ten Things Worth Eating at a Chinese Grill

Chinese barbecue (烧烤) is not the same as Western BBQ. It is fast, smoky, skewered street food cooked over charcoal or electric grills. Here are ten items worth ordering at a Chinese grill restaurant or street stall.

Chinese BBQ (烧烤) is skewered, charcoal-grilled street food, most active from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Ten items worth ordering: (1) Lamb skewers (羊肉串) — cumin, chilli, salt; the defining flavour of Chinese street BBQ. (2) Pork belly skewers (猪五花) — thinly sliced, fat-rendered, crispy. (3) Lamb kidneys (腰子) — strong and mineral, needs cumin and chilli. (4) Grilled corn (玉米) — charred cob brushed with soy and butter. (5) King oyster mushrooms (杏鲍菇) — chewy, smoky, served with garlic sauce. (6) Grilled oysters (生蚝) — in shell with garlic, glass noodles, and spring onion. (7) Chicken hearts (鸡心) — small, dense, flavourful, inexpensive. (8) Whole eggplant (茄子) — grilled and split open with garlic, chilli, sesame oil. (9) Pressed tofu skin (千层豆腐皮) — crispy edges, absorbs smoke. (10) Fish tofu (鱼豆腐) — processed fish cake, mild and chewy. Find street BBQ on residential backstreets in any Chinese city; Dongbei restaurant-style BBQ offers the widest selection.