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Chinese Shish Kebabs
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
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 9)
Jennifer Jan 8th 2007 4:54PM
You know the Chinese are weird, they eat the nastiest crap, they are the ones that run around and kill dogs over rabies thinking that will fix their problem, they also kill pets and eat them, this does not surprise me and let me tell you that country has issues, any country that would go around killing peoples dogs over a rabies issue is not a good country, they would abuse them in public, it is terrible. I do not like this country or what they eat. UGH
Dr. Ronald Shultz Jan 8th 2007 10:37AM
I have been in Thailand and they have some interesting dishes as well. They eat rice bugs that look like cockroaches on steroids. Usually raw and if it is a female with eggs it is dee mock! I have eaten dog because I thought it was jerky and it was quite tasty. I can't tell my daschund though he may need therapy or never look at me again. ;-) They waste nothing when they butcher a cow. They drink the blood, grind the bones for meds and make soup out of whatver might be left over. The meatballs on a stick they called monkey balls but I am sure they were water buffalo. Tarantulas are also a tasty treat in Thailand when roasted. I still love a Thai restaurant here in the states called The Banana Leaf. They don't have the "exotic" dishes but it is Number 1! Don't forget Americans have some odd eating habits as well. Remember chittlins and Rocky Mountain Oysters, gizzards, souse, scrapple and the list could go on. In a land the size of China and as poor as many others you will eat what you can if you want to live. Not everyone gets to have their way. ;-) Eat hearty!
Richard Jan 8th 2007 4:58PM
Wow!!! Who knew that Fear Factor would be the trend setters for a new line of carnival foods.I would love to see kitty cat on a stick vendors outside of the local animal humane society. Puppy dog tails on a stick,happy bunnies and yes even local pests like racoons,armadillos,and bats. How about the never so famous until now deep fried and totally awesome possum blossum......
Big Fatty Pig Fatty Jan 8th 2007 10:12AM
Sheesh The 4th photo down looks like BRAINS of a small animal. Looks like slices of my MRI but way smaller. Are those brain slices?
Doc Jan 8th 2007 6:59PM
Some of these are gross, but one item to rival these is a Vietnamese food, nuoc mom. It is gross.
Bob Jan 8th 2007 6:20PM
Does it taste like chicken?
Lindy Jan 8th 2007 12:11PM
Having lived in Australia for 9 years, I am one American that absolutely loves the Australian people, their culture, language and spirit is inspirational to say the least. The Aussies have a very genuine character for the most part and their 'slang' is one of the many ways they express their original, unique approach to life. I was married to an Aussie man and believe me it can get very 'interesting' with the uniqueness of definitions of some words when 'conversing'. I'm pissed for instance means 'I'm drunk' in Aussie land...and I could go on for some time with that...some of my funniest memories are of the crazy slang misintrepretations that happened. The Australian people as a whole ARE 'fair dinkum' and straight shooters. I was always welcomed by Australians anywhere I traveled there and their friendly curiousity about America was always refreshing. Who are we to judge anyone? Lighten up...the Aussie slang is great...are some of you just a little jealous because you can't come up with some lingo that isn't rude and crude...that's just a little crazy and funny?
Hal Jan 8th 2007 10:21AM
And I thought that the Minnesota State Fair had the corner on the food on a stick market!
Diane Gabbard Jan 8th 2007 10:22AM
When we were kids we would sometimes jokingly ask for a chocolate covered hard boiled egg on a stick, compared to this stuff that doesn't sound so bad.
hollie Jan 8th 2007 10:27AM
no wonder there is not an overweight population in China...i would not have a weight problem if i lived there....thank God i can make the wrong food choices.
monique Jan 8th 2007 10:33AM
im sorry, but looking at these pictures really turned my stomach...and i really cant say what i would or wouldnt eat to survive.. but it has to be involuntary for me to eat these things... not by choice. Im really shocked (and hopefully, not appauled) by keith's remarks... keith, are you sincere when you say that you actually associate a pet store with fluffy animals in it with something youve had on your dinner plate? When i see a chicken clucking around i dont imagine a bucket of the kernel's crispiest....
im sure other cultures find what we eat in america to be distasteful as well... to each his own... but keith... i just cant imagine the association.. are you for real????
Porscha Jan 8th 2007 10:38AM
People in the States crack me up. I grew up a Military Brat and thank God I did. I have a very open mind and will try everything at least once. Sticking to what you know and are comfortable with makes you dull and ignorant. Not saying this insultingly of course I am stating a fact, Ignorance is lack of knowledge. All though it all looks and may smell nasty, I will close my eyes, plug my nose and try it one time. If I like it, I'll have more but if I don't then I will move on to the next. Try stepping outside sometimes, its fun!
Tina Jan 9th 2007 8:35AM
My husband lived in Japan for 3 years, he is the adventours one not me if its not chicken or beef forget it!! Maybe shrip or crab but nothing else!! I even eat dear on occasion but I draw the line there nothing more exotic than dear!!! That other stuff just is gross I don't care if its edible I would rather starve!! I would eat rice and beans if I went to China no whacky foods for me!!
Kurt Jan 8th 2007 10:54AM
I am no nutritionist, but the sad part of seeing these pictures posted is probably the fact being that the items are healthier than any fastfood found in any fastfood restaurant.
They all look like pure protein to me.
Sh'ay Jan 8th 2007 10:54AM
wow - I shouldn't knock what I haven't tried,BUT I can't see me eating anything on those pictures. I didn't see any rats on a stick? guess they were sold out.
Don Jan 8th 2007 10:54AM
The next time you are at a seafood place and order Calamari, you are eating Squid, There are many things that you saw in the photos, that you say is gross, but you may eat them and not know it as they are called something else. Bon Apatite
leahilani Jan 8th 2007 11:06AM
I actually like the squid once its cooked its great. I come from hawaii and we eat a variety of different foods from every culture. The one thing I would never try is dog or cat. Oh lets not forget roaches ewww now that is gross. Believe me we have some fat roaches that fly in the islands. But like they say dont knock it until you try it... Aloha lol
Richard Jan 8th 2007 10:57AM
I am Dr. Short Ph.D.**** The united states Agricultural department maintains old and new published information relating to percentages of otherwise inedible substances that are allowed in the food eaten in the USA. Knowing that every small rodent, large or small bug, worm, snake, ticks, fleas, Grubs and portions of seafood in the guisse of edibles, molds and more than I can mention are (as a finished product) considered safe for human consumption. In China you get the un-varnished product; here, you get mystery food. Having lived in Asia I can tell you with a certainty, your stomach and mouth will overide your resistance to what you now consider gross. Just what are the contents of potted meat and remember all contents are not required to be listed.
Jenny Jan 8th 2007 10:59AM
basically if it ever lived and it fits on a stick...someone in China will eat it.
i gray Jan 9th 2007 10:12AM
I had some of the best food I've ever tasted while I was in China. Do you not realize that many people here eat squid and octopus? Why so squeamish? Broaden your horizons and learn about other cultures; you may find something that will delight and amaze you.