Our inaugural River BBQ Fest is just a little over two weeks away, taking over Langyuan Station's Riverside Cultural Plaza from September 19 to 21. We have over 40 vendors ready to serve a variety of smoky barbecue flavors from around the globe, and this post will focus on the first half of them.
From slow-smoked American brisket and sizzling Indian tandoori to juicy Turkish kebabs and spicy Thai street food, we've curated the city's top restaurants to present the world's most cherished grilled and smoked dishes. Get ready for a remarkable culinary journey featuring exclusive festival creations, ideal drink pairings, and diverse flavors from around the world.
**Home Plate BBQ (本垒美式烤肉)**
Beijing's go-to for authentic American BBQ, Home Plate will offer an array of Texas-style BBQ dishes plus a special festival exclusive.
**Menu Highlight(s):**
- Texas Barketta: An Italian classic reimagined Texas-style. A whole pork belly marinated for 24 hours with freshly toasted spices—mustard seed, fennel, garlic, and some secrets—before being coated in their signature Brisket Beef Rub and smoked low and slow until juicy and tender.
**Rak Thai • Thai Home Cuisine (爱泰风 • 泰式家常菜)**
Rak Thai specializes in authentic Thai home-cooked meals using secret family recipes and high-quality Thai ingredients. They will feature beloved Thai barbecue dishes paired with smaller plates.
**Menu Highlight(s):**
- Thai Grilled Pork Neck (Kor Moo Yang): Charred on the outside, tender inside, served with a house-made spicy dipping sauce.
- Sai Ua: Northern Thai sausage with fresh herbs.
- Thai Papaya Salad (Som Tum): A refreshing dish with green papaya, chili, and peanuts.
- Mango Sticky Rice: Layers of mango atop glutinous rice with coconut milk.
**Drinks:**
Thai Milk Tea, Thai Milk Tea Slushy, Thai Pandan and Longan Drink, Thai Pandan Longan Slushy, Thai Butterfly Pea and Fresh Lime Drink, Singha Beer.
**XiangJi (飨记)**
Representing Chinese barbecue, XiangJi will offer premium lamb and beef skewers, keeping it simple with basic seasonings.
**Menu Highlight(s):**
- Salt & Fire Original Lamb Skewer: Expertly grilled premium lamb from Inner Mongolia with just a pinch of salt.
- Pepper Trio Beef Skewer: Fresh beef seasoned with a blend of three types of peppercorns.
**Drinks:**
Lizao Craftbrew's Spring Wind Marzen – a full-bodied lager that's perfect for grilled meats.
**Dastaan Indian Cuisine (达斯坦印度餐厅)**
Recognized for their authentic Indian fare, Dastaan will showcase tandoori cooking at the fest.
**Menu Highlight(s):**
- Sikandari Raan: A whole leg of lamb slow-roasted in a tandoor, served with basmati rice.
- Bombay Chicken Tikka Pav: Grilled chicken thigh in a buttered bun with green chutney.
**Drinks:**
India Libre – an Indian twist on the classic Cuba Libre, Mohabbat Ka Sharbat – a summer street drink with watermelon and milk.
**BurningWood BBQ (灼木熏房)**
American BBQ specialists BurningWood will present Texas-style BBQ offerings and exclusive snacks for the fest.
**Menu Highlight(s):**
- Smoked Brisket: Beef brisket smoked for 12-14 hours, served with a side dish.
- A variety of fest-exclusive smoked meat snacks.
**Warisan Roemah Indonesia (瓦里山印舍)**
As China's first Indonesian cultural experience center, Warisan will bring Indonesian barbecue flavors.
**Menu Highlight(s):**
- Sate Ayam Saus Kacang: Chicken satay with a savory peanut sauce, grilled over charcoal.
**Drinks:**
Sumatra Mandailing Reserve Coffee – known as the world’s richest coffee, featuring rich flavors.
**Berlin Bites (柏林百特)**
Berlin Bites will serve their signature street foods, blending German and Turkish barbecue, with new unreleased items.
**Menu Highlight(s):**
- Döner: Famous for fresh veggies and sauces in their signature bread.
- Dürüm: Turkish flatbread stuffed with chicken or beef.
- Currywurst: Deep-fried pork sausage with special curry sauce.
- “Hush-Hush” unreleased menu items exclusive to the fest.
**Drinks:**
Berlin Mule – a twist on the Moscow mule with Jägermeister and ginger beer.
**The Dark Pig Yebameison (蒙吉黑野巴梅松)**
Experts in Inner Mongolian cuisine, The Dark Pig Yebameison will serve premium Chinese black pork.
**Menu Highlight(s):**
- Black Pork
An overview of the initial half of our vendors offering smoky barbecue tastes from various parts of the globe.