The Trend of ‘Anything Can Be Grilled’ is Booming in China
In China, the trend of grilling everything from watermelon and cactus to ice cubes is becoming extremely popular, attracting billions of views on social media platforms.
The habit of eating grilled food in China has taken a bizarre turn, with the emergence of dishes like “grilled high heels” and “grilled grenades.” Instead of traditional meat skewers, diners can now enjoy grilled watermelon, grilled cactus, grilled ice cubes, and even eggplant carved into the shape of high heels.
A recent video on the social media platform Xiaohongshu, posted by food blogger Jinkesi, has garnered over 18,000 likes. This video showcases the preparation of these unique dishes at a restaurant in Chengdu, Sichuan province. It begins with images of long slices of watermelon neatly arranged on the grill. Once seasoned, they quickly turn a deep red and are ready to be served.
Cactus is another surprising but appealing grilled dish. Large slices of cactus, with their spines removed, are grilled with a coating of chili powder and cumin, resulting in a unique taste. One diner commented in the post, “Grilled cactus is surprisingly juicy and delicious.”
This quirky grilling trend is spreading across China. On the social media platform Douyin, the hashtag “anything can be grilled” has attracted nearly 3 billion views, with grilled ice cubes standing out, gaining 2 million likes. The video shows frozen ice cubes being placed on the grill, brushed with spicy sauce, and dipped in black sesame seeds and colored candy sprinkles. Viewers are curious as to why the ice doesn’t melt on the grill and wonder whether the dish should be eaten hot or cold.
This grilling craze has inspired many to create their own unique grilled items, turning everyday objects like boots, toys, and even military weapons into grilling inspirations. For example, green peppers are shaped like grenades, and sausages are molded into the shape of Peppa Pig, the cartoon character.
The online community has embraced these strange grilled dishes with amusement. Some joked, “How do you grill a plane, a tank, or a submarine?” Another commented, “When I lose my mind, I’ll try these dishes too.”
The prices of these unusual grilled items are not cheap. For instance, grilled ice skates are sold for 2 USD each, and grilled cactus at a barbecue restaurant is priced at about 3.5 USD per skewer, almost the same as a piece of grilled beef.
With over 330,000 BBQ restaurants competing fiercely across the country, the passion for grilled food in China is “unparalleled.” The city of Zibo in Shandong province is even dubbed the “new outdoor BBQ capital of China,” featuring a unique serving style where grilled meat is wrapped in local scallions and thin bread.
In March of last year, around 4.8 million tourists visited Zibo just to enjoy the city’s barbecue.
Before this odd grilling trend, China had already witnessed other unique culinary fads like Starbucks’ pork belly coffee or scallion milk tea—a prank from April Fool’s Day that turned into a popular drink.
Although these culinary trends receive mixed reactions, they have contributed to boosting local tourism and the economy. With the rise of new trends, China’s coffee market now boasts over 400 million consumers aged 20-40, with a growth rate of 15% per year, far outpacing the global rate of 2.2%.
