Variety of Barbecue Dishes in Xishuangbanna

Local barbecue, also known as “chuan chuan” (串串), is characterized by skewers that are both fragrant and spicy, offering a rich variety of grilled items. From grilled chicken, beef skewers, fatty intestines, fish, shrimp, leeks, potatoes, eggplants, to tofu, there’s something for everyone. The tilapia (罗非鱼), about the size of a palm, is particularly sweet; the dishes that are grilled at high temperatures with oil are also must-try items. Each place may use similar ingredients, yet the distinctive flavors of the fried rice noodles (炒米干) set them apart. Barbecue in Xishuangbanna not only features fresh ingredients but also a rich variety.

While enjoying your meal, you can also indulge in teppanyaki (铁板烧), where diners sit around charcoal fires and grill ingredients until they are about 80% cooked, then wrap them in aluminum foil to keep warm. With options like pork belly, fresh beef, and chicken, it’s a feast that pairs perfectly with sweet and savory sauces. Different grilled items are often complemented by various dipping sauces, making this style of barbecue a beloved local taste.

Here are some recommended barbecue dishes to try:

• Lemon Grilled Fish (柠檬烤鱼)
• Grilled Chicken (烤鸡)
• Grilled Tofu (烤豆腐)
• Wrapped Grilled Pork (包烧肉)
• Wrapped Grilled Pig Brain (包烧猪脑)
• Wrapped Grilled Wild Vegetables (包烧野菜)

You can also try pig skin eggplant (猪皮茄子), oil-seared stinky beef skin (油呛臭牛皮), heart tubes (心管), and tripe (毛肚), all of which are aromatic with robust seasonings that will whet your appetite. To balance the heat of the barbecue, those who can handle a bit of bitterness might enjoy local dishes that cool the body, such as sea boat (海船), small bitter fruit (小苦果), bitter cold dishes (苦凉菜), and water coriander (水香菜).

Recommended Local Barbecue Spots:

• Oil Town Barbecue City (油乡烧烤城)
• Hailong Company (海龙公司)
• Green Island Parking Lot (绿之洲停车场)
• Next to Dalian Hotel (大连酒店旁)
• Next to Dragon Boat Square (龙舟广场旁)

Barbecue Cooking Methods

Dai-style barbecue is one of Yunnan Province’s (云南省) specialty dishes, which can be categorized into three different cooking methods: “bing” (并), “bing wo” (并窝), and “bing ya” (并雅). Each method produces foods that differ in color, aroma, and flavor. The meat is fragrant without being tough, rich in seasoning, and appealing in both color and taste.

Characteristics

• Appearance: Dai-style barbecue has a glossy yellowish appearance, with vibrant green ingredients interspersed with red.
• Flavor and Texture: The barbecue is flavorful without being overly chewy; the meat is tender and juicy, with a strong taste from the seasonings, showcasing an impressive color and aroma.
• Nutritional Content: Dai-style barbecue is rich in protein and other nutrients.

Core Ingredients (核心材料)

The core ingredients for Dai-style barbecue include enoki mushrooms (金针菇), pork (猪肉), and fish (鱼肉).

Cooking Techniques (制作技艺)

1. “Bing” (并): This method involves grilling without any additional ingredients, using only soy sauce (酱油), salt (食盐), Sichuan pepper oil (花椒油), star anise powder (八角粉), and lard (猪油) as seasonings. It is suitable for grilling fish, chicken, duck, and various meats.
2. “Bing Wo” (并窝): This method requires more ingredients to be added within the main ingredient, which are then wrapped and grilled. This allows the grilled food to absorb the flavors of the added ingredients fully.
3. “Bing Ya” (并雅): This method employs banana leaves (芭蕉叶) or wood leaves (木叶) to wrap the food during grilling, allowing the aroma to penetrate the food without escaping. It is suitable for grilling animal brains, small fish, small shrimp, and wild vegetables.

Core Production Area

Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture (西双版纳傣族自治州) in Jinghong City (景洪市), Yunnan Province (云南省).

Availability

Available year-round (全年皆有).

Practical Guide

• Eating Method: Ready to eat after cooking.
• Storage Method: Refrigerate; it is recommended to eat freshly grilled items.

Specialty Pairings of Dai-style Barbecue

Dai barbecue combines both grilling (烤) and wrapping (包烧) methods. Wrapping refers to the practice of using banana leaves or myrtle leaves (柊叶) to encase the ingredients before placing them on the grill. The grilling method involves placing ingredients directly over charcoal. Dai-style charcoal grilling is similar to most grilled dishes, but it transforms into Dai-style barbecue when paired with the unique aromatic lemongrass (香茅草).

Tools for Making Wrapped Grilled Dishes

The wrapping utilizes the most natural green plant leaves, commonly banana leaves or myrtle leaves, to enclose the ingredients before grilling. This method retains moisture and nutrients within the ingredients, producing a pure flavor that pairs excellently with unique Dai-style sauces.

Signature Dishes of Dai-style Barbecue

Lemongrass Grilled Fish (香茅草烤鱼) is one of the signature dishes, embodying the principle of “eating fish by the riverside” (靠山吃山,靠河吃鱼). In barbecue culture, the Dai’s lemongrass grilled fish offers a distinctive flavor that leaves a lasting impression, making it one of the most recognized dishes in Dai cuisine.

Recommended BBQ Places in Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna

1. Lao Wei BBQ (老味烧烤)

Address: Enter the alley next to the Fudian Bank in Xishuang 12 City (西双十二城富滇银行旁巷子里进去)
Must-try: Spicy Pork Intestines (呛心管), Fried Rice Noodles (炒米干), Grilled Sausage (烤粉肠)
This restaurant has moved several times, but it has always maintained a loyal following. The Spicy Pork Intestines is truly considered the pinnacle of oily and spicy dishes.

2. Liu Yan BBQ (刘燕烧烤)

Address: Opposite Huaneng Lancang Company near Dalian Hotel on Mengzhe Road (勐遮路大连酒店附近华能澜沧公司对面)
Must-try: Passion Fruit Stewed Fish (西番莲煮鱼), Spicy Bone Marrow (呛骨髓), Spicy Water Spinach (呛空心菜), Spicy Chicken Skewers (香辣胸标)
The Passion Fruit Stewed Fish served with rice noodles is absolutely delicious. I can visit this place twice a week just for this dish, while their skewers are generally average.

3. Xiao Ma’s Grilled Bullfrog (小马家烤牛蛙)

Address: Opposite Youxiang Kindergarten on Yiwu Road No. 4 (易武路4号油乡幼儿园正对面)
Must-try: Grilled Tilapia with Sauce (酱烤罗非鱼), Grilled Chicken Skewers (酱烤胸标), Grilled Bullfrog (烤牛蛙), Wrapped Grilled Chicken Tendons (包烧鸡脚筋)
Their signature dish is the Grilled Tilapia with Sauce. The wrapped chicken tendons are a big highlight of Xishuangbanna, where the aroma of banana leaves enhances the flavor of the ingredients.

4. Guo Xi Li BBQ (果喜哩烧烤)

Address: 390 Jiangbei Mandou on Xuàn Wèi Avenue (宣慰大道江北曼斗390号江畔)
Recommended: Mango Clams (芒果花甲), Spicy Baby Squid (呛墨鱼仔), Bitter Gourd (苦果)
The restaurant is located by the riverside, providing a pleasant dining experience. The clams are exceptional, while the bitter gourd and chopped raw fish are authentic Dai flavors—non-locals should approach with caution.

5. Alan Grilled Fish (阿兰烤鱼)

Address: Inside Hailong Company on Airport Road (机场路海龙公司内)
Must-try: Grilled Fish with Lemon (柠檬烤鱼), Tofu (豆腐), Small Cucumber (小瓜)
The grilled fish paired with lemon dipping sauce is incredibly fresh and sweet. I can devour five fish by myself! Whenever I return to any city, my first priority is to eat fish, while I find the other dishes fairly average.

6. Meng Yang Lao Nai BBQ (勐养老奶烧烤)

Address: Opposite Huaneng Lancang Company near Dalian Hotel on Mengzhe Road (勐遮路大连酒店附近华能澜沧公司对面)
Must-try: Grilled Milk Residue (烤奶渣)
This place has a great reputation for quality skewers, and their grilled milk residue is my favorite. The owner is from Meng Yang and has successfully brought this popular dish to Jinghong.

7. Grandma’s BBQ (老奶奶烧烤)

Address: Enter the alley near the Police Station No. 1 (jiao 警一大队巷子里进去)
Must-try: Chicken Feet (鸡pi股), Chicken Gizzards (鸡胗), Chicken Wings (鸡爪), Milk Residue (奶渣)
A hidden gem without a sign, located at the entrance of a construction company. Their barbecue ingredients are fresh, and simple seasoning with charcoal grilling makes the food delicious—often, the best-tasting foods are the simplest.

8. Ma Zha BBQ (玛扎烧烤)

Address: Opposite the Agricultural Bureau Accommodation Area on Mengla Road No. 33 (勐腊路33号农业局住宿区傣乡水城对面)
Must-try: Mustard Shrimp (芥末虾), Spicy Cold Noodles (干巴炒凉粉), Cold Rice Noodles (凉拌米线), Stir-Fried Ferns with Cherry Tomatoes (小番茄炒蕨菜)
Opinions on this restaurant vary, but I personally love their cold rice noodles. The aroma of the spicy sauce combined with oyster sauce is an unbeatable combination. A friend is willing to fly over just for this dish!

9. Lao Nai BBQ (老奶烧烤)

Address: Enter the alley next to Xinzhi Book City in Daxing Times Square (新知图书城大兴时代广场店旁边的巷子进去)
Must-try: Chicken Skewers (胸标), Milk Residue (奶渣), Beef Tendons (牛筋)
Their skewers are truly flavorful, and I find myself wanting to go back frequently. I can eat 30 skewers of beef tendons by myself, paired with a cold beer—it’s just too enjoyable!

10. Grilled Fish Tribe – Sa Pie Dai (烤鱼部落 撒撇傣)

Address: Youxiang Hotel Food City (油乡宾馆美食城)
Must-try: Sashimi (生鱼片), Sa Pie Rice Noodles (撒撇米线), Large Shrimp (大虾)
Both restaurants are located within the Youxiang Food City, our favorite late-night BBQ spot. Both offer delicious food, and after 9 PM, the place is packed—showing that the nightlife in Xishuangbanna is among the best in the country.