Chinese barbecue is bold, smoky, sweet, spicy, and utterly addictive. From street food skewers to slow-roasted specialties, this cooking style captures incredible flavor with every sizzle and glaze. Whether grilled over charcoal or baked to sticky perfection, these dishes are a celebration of texture and taste. Bursting with rich marinades and irresistible aromas, they’re a true feast for the senses. Ready to get hungry? Here are 15 mouthwatering Chinese BBQ dishes that will have you drooling before you even take a bite.
Char Siu (BBQ Pork)
This iconic Cantonese dish features pork marinated in a sweet and savory glaze, then roasted until glossy and caramelized. The edges get perfectly charred while the inside stays juicy and flavorful. It is often sliced over rice or steamed buns and melts in your mouth beautifully.
Chinese BBQ Chicken Wings
Sticky, smoky, and full of flavor, these wings are marinated in hoisin, soy sauce, and five spice powder. Grilled or baked, they come out with crispy skin and tender meat. These wings disappear fast at every single party, so be sure to make extra for everyone to enjoy and have plenty of leftovers for later.
BBQ Duck (Shao Ya)
Crispy skin, tender meat, and a rich marinade make Chinese BBQ duck unforgettable. The duck is roasted to perfection and brushed with a sweet soy glaze. It’s often paired with pancakes, cucumbers, and plum sauce, giving you the ultimate balance of flavor and texture.
Grilled Lamb Skewers (Yang Rou Chuan)
These spicy cumin lamb skewers hail from Northern China and are a street food classic. The meat is seasoned generously with chili flakes and ground cumin, then grilled to smoky perfection. Chili oil boosts flavor and adds extra heat, making every bite incredibly satisfying and savory.
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BBQ Pork Ribs
Chinese-style ribs are marinated in a mix of hoisin, honey, soy, and five-spice. They’re slow roasted or grilled until the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender. Sticky fingers guaranteed and totally worth the extra napkins for a deliciously messy experience every time you eat them.
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BBQ Squid
Popular at night markets, whole squid is grilled and brushed with a spicy soy-based sauce. The texture is slightly chewy, with charred edges and a deep umami flavor. Try it with chili powder for even more kick, or add a dash of lime to enhance the freshness.
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Honey Glazed Chicken Thighs
Juicy chicken thighs are marinated in a blend of soy sauce, garlic, and honey. Grilled until caramelized and slightly charred, they’re packed with flavor and perfect for weeknight grilling. Delicious when served over scallion fried rice too, making it an easy yet impressive meal option.
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BBQ Tofu Skewers
Even tofu lovers get in on the BBQ action with skewered tofu slabs brushed in sweet soy glaze. Grilled until crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, they absorb all the smoky flavor. Great with peanut dipping sauce for extra flavor, and an ideal vegetarian BBQ choice.
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BBQ Pork Belly
Fatty, flavorful pork belly is seasoned, skewered, and grilled until golden and crisp. The outside becomes beautifully charred while the inside stays juicy and rich. Sprinkle with sesame seeds for texture and added flavor pop, making each bite a perfect balance of savory and sweet.
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Grilled Eggplant with Garlic Sauce
A whole eggplant is grilled until tender, then topped with a fragrant garlic-soy sauce. Slightly smoky and packed with flavor, it’s a satisfying veggie option. Garnish with scallions and red chili flakes before serving for an extra punch of flavor and a beautiful visual appeal.
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Five Spice BBQ Chicken
This chicken is marinated with soy, sugar, ginger, garlic, and five spice. It’s grilled or roasted until caramelized and bursting with warm, aromatic flavors. Best enjoyed with noodles or sticky rice on the side, creating a hearty and flavorful dish everyone will love.
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Grilled Beef Short Ribs
Marinated in soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, garlic, and brown sugar, these ribs are grilled until crusty outside and tender within. Rich, meaty, and perfect with rice or on its own. Try adding crushed peppercorns for a bold flavor contrast, elevating the dish with a spicy kick.
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BBQ Corn with Spicy Powder
Corn on the cob is brushed with oil, grilled, and dusted with chili powder. Slightly charred, smoky, and sweet with a fiery finish. A squeeze of lime juice brings balance and extra brightness, creating a perfect side dish or snack that everyone will keep coming back to.
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Grilled Prawns with Garlic Butter
Fresh prawns are grilled with soy, garlic, and a buttery glaze. Charred just enough to stay juicy and full of umami. Serve with lemon wedges and crispy rice for a feast, making it a delicious and satisfying option for seafood lovers at any gathering, perfect for impressing your guests with minimal effort.
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Sweet Soy BBQ Sausages
These Chinese sausages are sweet, sticky, and deeply flavorful when grilled. Their chewy texture crisps up beautifully on the outside. Enjoy sliced over congee or stuffed into bao buns, making them the perfect accompaniment to any meal or as a standalone snack.
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From meats to seafood to tofu and veggies, Chinese BBQ delivers serious flavor. Each bite is smoky, sticky, savory, and seriously satisfying. Crank the grill and make these hits at home, bringing bold Chinese BBQ flavors straight to your table for unforgettable meals.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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