Le Dai Riverside Barbecue

Nestled along the serene riverside in the wooded hills of western Sichuan outside of Chengdu city, I stumbled upon a culinary surprise - a quaint barbecue restaurant with an incredibly affordable price. For just 68 yuan per person, the lunch buffet offered an array of spicy meat cuts, succulent seafood like oysters, scallops and prawns, fresh local fish and plenty of local vegetables.

As I settled into my table, the soothing sounds of the fast-flowing stream beside me provided a perfect backdrop for a slow and relaxing weekday lunch or a leisurely long weekend brunch. The cool air coming off the stream helped take the edge off the summer mugginess and the heat from the electric grill. I came here on a weekday so the place wasn't crowded and I had a large table all to my small group. On a weekend, riverside barbecue joints like this are jam-packed full of people and getting your choices at the buffet table could involve jostling elbows with fellow diners.

The meat cuts of pork, beef and chicken had just the right amount of spice in their marinades. The prawns, mantis shrimp and scallops were fresh and their trays were quickly emptied by hungry diners. Unfortunately, the oysters were probably frozen and had mushy insides, so I might avoid those the next time I drop by here. The electric grill makes it easy to control done-ness for your chosen meats. Keep an eye on the grill at all times to stop seafood from being overcooked though.

Did I mention this place also offered unlimited bottles of a cheap local beer? It's a good thing I showed up riding a rented bicycle because ice-cold beer was a delightful treat on a steaming summer afternoon. I slowly walked back after more than a few bottles and copious amounts of barbecued meat in my belly.

Note: Chengdu has some of the best bicycle trails in China so it's a great place to get a good workout on top of a good meal.