The Best BBQ and Grilled-Meat Traditions Around the World

Fire and meat may be humanity's oldest recipe, yet every culture grills its own way. Some smoke low and slow for hours, others sear over screaming coals in minutes, and the rituals around the table are as distinct as the flavors. Grill-house menus abroad are often written only in the local language, with cuts named in regional terms, so photographing one to translate it helps you order the right piece. Here are the world's great grilled-meat traditions.

Korean BBQ

You cook at your own table over charcoal or gas, grilling samgyeopsal (pork belly) and marinated galbi (short ribs). Tip: wrap each bite in lettuce with garlic, ssamjang, and rice for the full effect.

Argentine Asado

A slow, social grill where the parrilla turns out bife de chorizo, short ribs, and chorizo sausage. Tip: start with provoleta (grilled cheese) and let the asador set the pace, as nothing is rushed.

Texas BBQ (USA)

Brisket is king here, smoked over post oak for many hours until tender, alongside pork ribs and sausage links. Tip: order it by weight, take the fatty end of the brisket, and skip the sauce if it is good.

Yakitori (Japan)

Skewers of chicken, every part of it, grilled over binchotan charcoal and seasoned with salt or tare sauce. Tip: let the cook choose an omakase run of skewers from mild to bold.

Turkish Mangal

Charcoal grilling of adana kebap, lamb sis, and kofte, served with flatbread and grilled vegetables. Tip: the smoky chili-spiced adana is the dish to lead with.

Brazilian Churrasco

Skewers of beef, especially picanha (rump cap), carved tableside at a churrascaria. Tip: pace yourself and flip your token to red when you need a break from the parade of meat.

South African Braai

More social ritual than meal, with boerewors sausage and marinated meats over wood coals. Tip: it is an all-afternoon affair, so settle in and graze slowly.

Wherever you grill, the etiquette is generosity and patience. When the cuts on the menu are named in an unfamiliar language, translate a photo first, then order the piece the regulars swear by.