A Chinese restaurant has become an Internet sensation by selling an unusual snack — flavored bamboo sticks that let people enjoy a barbecue taste without the calories. The dish, called “Spicy Bamboo Skewers”, is taking southern China by storm as a popular late-night treat.
The idea came from Mr. Ma, a barbecue restaurant owner in Shaoyang, Hunan Province. He noticed many weight-conscious customers, especially women, avoided ordering food late at night. To solve this, he created bamboo sticks covered in chili, spices (香料), and spring onions, then grilled (烧烤) them slightly for a smoky flavor. Customers suck on the sticks to taste the seasoning (作料) instead of eating food. Sold in sets of 50 for just 10 yuan, the snack became an instant hit for being affordable and guilt-free.
At first, Mr. Ma thought of it as a fun marketing trick to attract online attention. But when a video of him enjoying the skewers became popular on Douyin, everything changed. Hundreds of curious visitors began arriving daily to try the unique snack. Now, he struggles to keep enough bamboo sticks in stock but happily earns a 5-6 yuan profit per order.
For Mr. Ma, what started as a simple solution for diet-conscious customers has turned into a tasty business opportunity. As one customer joked, “It’s like enjoying barbecue flavor without breaking your diet rules — the perfect midnight snack!” Whether the trend will last remains uncertain, but for now, these spicy bamboo sticks are giving traditional snacks a run for their money.
The popularity of these skewers showcases how innovative food trends rapidly gain attraction on Chinese social media. Interestingly, this isn’t the country’s first unusual snack to grab headlines. Recently, people have talked about grilled ice cubes and stir-fried river rocks — dishes that look more like jokes than real food.
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