Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.

Chinese Shish Kebabs

by Neil Woodburn on Jan 3rd 2007 at 8:37AM

My friend Pete recently returned home from his first trip to China. Among his many photos of the Forbidden City, Great Wall and the skyscrapers of Shanghai, were a handful of shots from my favorite genre of photography: bizarre street foods.

If you look closely, most of these tasty snacks are somewhat recognizable, but there are also some rather alien-looking critters as well.

I guess the general rule in China is if it fits on a shish kebabs stick it can be eaten. I'm not sure about the starfish, though. Those things have got to be very crunchy and rather tasteless!

I wish I could tell you that Pete, being the curious traveler he is, tried each one of these Chinese delicacies. Sadly, he wimped out and ate at McDonald's instead. Way to go Pete! I think most of us will be right behind you.

Filed under: Food and Drink, China

Search Travel Deals

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 9)

lf Jan 3rd 2007 2:08PM

In which city were these pictures taken??

Pete Jan 3rd 2007 4:31PM

The photos were taken in Beijing. On the main shopping road (don't remember the name) Same street as the Peninsula.

Adrienne Jan 4th 2007 10:37PM

Incredible! I love this and have never seen anything like it. Um, yum?

A

Sherman Jan 6th 2007 3:22AM

You must mean Wangfujing Street. :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wangfujing

Paul Jan 8th 2007 6:23AM

No thanks!

keith Jan 8th 2007 6:55AM

You can find most of these foods in any coastal Chinese city. I was in Dalian China for two years with my family. My eight year old daughter (who was between the ages of 5-7 at the time) grew especially fond of the squid on a stick. Unfortunately you can't smell the 'stinky tofu' over the Internet. Imagine a pile of dirty socks from NFL football players that have been in a pile for about a month... that's what it smells like. The strange thing is that after having eaten it, the smell actually made us hungry as we'd stroll down markets. It's all good - After my experience in China, I can no longer go into a pet store here without getting hungry:)

Mr. Lyons @ http://blog.myspace.com/Kingbtd

erin Jan 8th 2007 7:05AM

i just recently came back from tokyo japan and alot of what was on here was there on the streets as well. i personaly think the grosses of them all that i saw was the baby squid on a stick!!! eww yuck!!! and it was even worse seeing someone eat it!!!! they eat it head first!!!!!!!! i did like the other guy and ate at McDonalds!!!!! and even that wasnt as good as it is here in the states. lol!!!

dolores montoya Jan 8th 2007 7:22AM

These look nasty!!

If you want something good on a stick go to
www.cookiesonastick.com

Nate Jan 8th 2007 7:28AM

That is the nastiest thing i have ever seen!!!!: squid and bug shish kebabs!!!! UGGG!

Joe Jan 8th 2007 7:30AM

All McDonald's is going to use this instead of its transfats.. Say goodbye to Fat America.

Lorenzen Jan 8th 2007 7:40AM

Those brownish, semented fat things are actually silk worms. I saw these a lot when I was there... they were usually still moving in the pan!

Paige Jan 8th 2007 7:44AM

You didn't show the baby sparrows on a stick...now that was pitiful. I also saw centipedes, silk worm cocoons, basically if it ever lived and it fits on a stick...someone in China will eat it.

justin Jan 8th 2007 8:02AM

Looking at all these tasty dishes are making my mouth water.Mmmm I`m hungry > I think i`ll go outside and dig for worms. maybe I can find some crunchy bugs under some rocks . Oops no Kebab sticks. I wonder if a toothpick will work.or maybe this old radio antanna . I`ll let you know how it turned out. Mmmmm I`m hungry gota go my dad is yelling 4 me .Think he`s out of beer. Take care guys ......

Jessica Kweitel Jan 8th 2007 8:03AM

The street is off of WanFu Jing in Beijing. I am certainly not an expert on the matter as I am from the States, but I have been living in Asia for about a year and I am facinated by food. My understanding is that the Chinese like to eat for a symptom rather than a craving. They will eat anything has wings except a plane and anything with 4 legs except a table. In all seriousness I like the stick food, Squid on a stick is quite nice!

JEFF Jan 8th 2007 8:03AM

I CERTAINLY CAN LOSE WEIGHT LIVING IN CHINA WITH "DELICACIES" LIKE THAT...OR, I CAN BE PUTTING WEIGHT ON VISITING MCDONALDS EVERYDAY...I GUESS I'LL BE FAT.

justin Jan 8th 2007 8:08AM

Marie Jan 8th 2007 8:11AM

I'm sorry if my comments offend anybody's sensibilities, but seriously... I'd rather starve to death than eat a scorpion shish-kebob. I have a list of about ten foods that I actually do like, so to get me to even be adventurous enough to try anything pictured here would definitely be at gunpoint. Who knows? I may opt for death! Eeeewwww...

Dianne Jan 8th 2007 8:24AM

One word....DISGUSTING.....

Martine Jan 8th 2007 8:55AM

Presentation! Presentation! Presentation! They are lovely to look at - it's nice we can't smell them. I'd have to try at least a few things before I made judgement. I'd at least know what I was eating even if they told me in Chinese. So many of the ingredents they put in processed food today sounds like Chinese - just read a food label... and I bet it's not as healthy!!! One item on a stick keep it simple, and to you Marie - who said, you only like about 10 foods - what a wimp!!! If your choice was death over trying something new - shame on you for not being more adventuresome!!!