American-style backyard barbecues might be the most familiar, but plenty of other places love mixing meat and flames. Argentina is one of the world's most passionate barbecue nations. Many people attend sociable, gut-busting asados (barbecues) on an almost weekly basis. Photo: Ryan Emberley/Graffigna Wines.
Asado (Argentina) —
American-style backyard barbecues might be the most familiar, but plenty of other places love mixing meat and flames. Argentina is one of the world's most passionate barbecue nations. Many people attend sociable, gut-busting asados (barbecues) on an almost weekly basis. Photo: Ryan Emberley/Graffigna Wines.
Ryan Emberley
As the nation's top culinary custom, the South African braai gathers friends, family and the community to grill juicy cuts of steak, sausage and chicken sosaties (skewers).
Braai (South Africa) —
As the nation's top culinary custom, the South African braai gathers friends, family and the community to grill juicy cuts of steak, sausage and chicken sosaties (skewers).
Sachinese, creative commons
The Philippines' lechon is a whole suckling pig spit-roasted over a charcoal bed or in an oven. The island of Cebu is often considered to serve the best lechon in the country.
Lechon (Philippines) —
The Philippines' lechon is a whole suckling pig spit-roasted over a charcoal bed or in an oven. The island of Cebu is often considered to serve the best lechon in the country.
Kris Krug, creative commons
From chicken skin strips to minced chicken meat, Japan's yakitori -- barbecued chicken on bamboo skewers -- comes in many forms. Nowadays, its definition has expanded to include any grilled, skewered food.
Yakitori (Japan) —
From chicken skin strips to minced chicken meat, Japan's yakitori -- barbecued chicken on bamboo skewers -- comes in many forms. Nowadays, its definition has expanded to include any grilled, skewered food.
Kanonn, creative commons
A churrascaria, a Brazilian barbecue restaurant that provides an endless supply of grilled meat cuts directly to patrons tables, is carnivore heaven. Churrasco is also available in other countries, including Bolivia, Ecuador, Guatemala and Portugal.
Churrasco, Brazil —
A churrascaria, a Brazilian barbecue restaurant that provides an endless supply of grilled meat cuts directly to patrons tables, is carnivore heaven. Churrasco is also available in other countries, including Bolivia, Ecuador, Guatemala and Portugal.
Daniel Clark
Korean BBQ gogigu usually features a grill placed in the center of a table, surrounded with an assortment of banchan (side dishes). Photo Rick Poon/Hanjip/Culver City, CA
Gogigu, Korea —
Korean BBQ gogigu usually features a grill placed in the center of a table, surrounded with an assortment of banchan (side dishes). Photo Rick Poon/Hanjip/Culver City, CA
Rick Poon
Pachamanca (meaning earth pot in Quechua) is one of Peru's most traditional Incan cooking customs. A hole is dug in the ground and lined with fire-heated stones to cook the food.
Pachamanca, Peru —
Pachamanca (meaning earth pot in Quechua) is one of Peru's most traditional Incan cooking customs. A hole is dug in the ground and lined with fire-heated stones to cook the food.
Samuq Machu Picchu Hotel
Despite the name, Mongolian BBQ is a technique that originated in Taiwan. "[It] consists of the combination of sliced meat, noodles and vegetables quickly cooked over a flat circular metal surface," says Taiwanese native Erin Yang.
Mongolian BBQ, Taiwan —
Despite the name, Mongolian BBQ is a technique that originated in Taiwan. "[It] consists of the combination of sliced meat, noodles and vegetables quickly cooked over a flat circular metal surface," says Taiwanese native Erin Yang.
Monica Weintraub
Fijian barbecue, or lovo, involves piping-hot stones placed into a large pit oven to allow slowly smoked cooking.
Lovo, Fiji —
Fijian barbecue, or lovo, involves piping-hot stones placed into a large pit oven to allow slowly smoked cooking.
CameliaTWU, creative commons
Similar to Fiji's lovo, Samoa's umu also involves underground cooking. Young Samoan men prepare the umu -- catching fresh fish or slaughtering a pig, for example -- hours before the traditional Sunday barbecue begins.
Umu, Samoa —
Similar to Fiji's lovo, Samoa's umu also involves underground cooking. Young Samoan men prepare the umu -- catching fresh fish or slaughtering a pig, for example -- hours before the traditional Sunday barbecue begins.
Ben Gracewood, creative commons
The iconic Indian tandoori chicken derives its name from the tandoor, a cauldron-like clay oven in which naan bread and various meat and vegetable dishes are cooked under high-heat charcoal.
Tandoor, India —
The iconic Indian tandoori chicken derives its name from the tandoor, a cauldron-like clay oven in which naan bread and various meat and vegetable dishes are cooked under high-heat charcoal.
Francois Decaillet, creative commons