Which Taiwanese comedian and restaurateur created Mongolian barbecue?

The Taiwanese comedian and restaurateur credited with creating Mongolian barbecue was Wu Zhaonan.

Wu, who was originally from Beijing, fled to Taiwan after the Chinese Civil War and opened a street-food stall in Taipei in 1951. He developed the dish there before becoming widely known as a xiangsheng, or crosstalk, comedian. His food stall attracted customers ranging from ordinary diners to diplomats and wealthy businesspeople.

Despite its name, Mongolian barbecue is neither a traditional Mongolian dish nor a direct continuation of Mongolian cooking. Wu initially wanted to call it “Peking barbecue,” after his hometown, but political sensitivities surrounding Beijing led him to choose the name “Mongolian barbecue” instead.

The modern format usually involves diners selecting sliced meat, vegetables, noodles, and sauces before the ingredients are stir-fried on a large circular griddle. That buffet-and-griddle presentation became especially popular outside Taiwan, where numerous restaurants imitated Wu’s creation.