Small-Skewer Barbecue 小串烧烤

Small-Skewer Barbecue (小串烧烤) in Hegang (鹤岗) is distinguished by thin slices of meat threaded six or seven to a skewer and cooked quickly over fierce heat. Beef and mutton were the early staples; the local repertoire now also includes vegetables, seafood and bean products.

Thin cuts and quick grilling

The Heilongjiang (黑龙江) Department of Culture and Tourism describes skewers dipped in seasoning before they reach the fire and brushed again during cooking. The style emphasizes fresh meat seasoned as it grills. Individual shops maintain their own mixtures and control the heat to give the pieces a browned exterior and tender, juicy centre.

Shallots and bread

Local accompaniments include small shallots, Hegang baked flatbread and stir-fried noodles. Meat can be tucked into the crisp, risen flatbread, pairing the bread with freshly grilled skewers.

A street-stall tradition

Heilongjiang’s tourism department recalls vendors serving miners leaving their shifts in the 1950s. It traces Lao He Taitai Barbecue (老何太太烧烤) to a street stall started by the He family in the 1980s, which later expanded into a shop.