ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia — In a massive spectacle of smoke, iron, and ancient culinary tradition, 1,000 master chefs gathered on August 22 at the Nomads World Culture Festival, that took place in Taij Khairkhan of the Nalaikh District of Ulaanbaatar, to simultaneously prepare khorkhog—Mongolia’s iconic steppe barbecue.

Initiated by the Association of Mongolian Chefs under the leadership of President D.Buyandelger, the grand gathering attempted to claim an official Guinness World Records title for the largest simultaneous preparation of the traditional dish. The event brought together culinary professionals from across the country’s 21 provinces to showcase the country's rich nomadic heritage on an unprecedented scale.

The art of the steppe fire

Unlike conventional outdoor grilling, authentic khorkhog relies on an ancient pressure-cooking technique with red hot stone developed on the Central Asian steppe by nomadic tribes.

Chests of butchered mutton and fresh vegetables are packed tightly into sealed metal containers alongside smooth river stones heated over open wood fires. As intense heat radiates internally from the rocks while external flames heat the vessel, steam builds inside to render the meat tender.

During the festival performance, rows of cooks tended to hundreds of blazing fires, handling the scorching black stones with heavy metal tongs. Upon opening the vessels, the hot, grease-slicked stones were handed out to festival-goers—a traditional nomadic practice believed to improve blood circulation and restore physical energy.

A decade in the making

Organisers noted that the ambitious attempt was ten years in the making. With more than 90,000 people employed across Mongolia’s catering and hospitality industry, the association designed the event to elevate national cuisine internationally and boost cultural tourism.

"Promoting our national culinary heritage on the international stage is a crucial step toward enhancing the industry's reputation," stated D.Buyandelger. "This initiative reflects the core identity of our nomadic culture."

Guinness World Records by Mongolia

Mongolia has previously leveraged its historic heritage to claim major official Guinness World Records titles rooted in the legacy of Chinggis Khaan and the martial traditions of his descendants. 

• The most sparsely populated sovereign country is Mongolia, which had an estimated population of 3,198,913 in July 2021, occupying 1,553,556 km² (599,831 miles²) of land. This is equivalent to a density of 2.05 people to every 1 km² (5.3 people to every 1 mile²).
  
• In 2011, the nation set the record for the world's largest wrestling tournament when 6,002 competitors took to the mat to practice Bökh—the traditional wrestling style famously used by Chinggis Khaan to condition his imperial armies. 
• Also, the world's largest traditional throat singing assembly (1,308 participants in Khovd) was listed by Guinness World Records, as one of mass-participation achievements. 
• Largest Parade of Horses, set during a massive cultural gathering honoring World Horse Day on July 13 during Naadam festival 2026 when 15,000 horsemen paraded (pictured above).
• Most of the sumo-related Guinness World Records—such as Most Top-Division Championships (45), Most Career Matches Won (1,187), and Most Undefeated Tournament Wins (16)—were set by Mongolian Yokozuna M.Davaajargal or Hakuho Sho. He is also longest-reigning yokozuna in Japanese sumo sports with 84 consecutive basho from July 2007 to September 2021.
• The most medals won on the IJF World Tour is 39, achieved by M.Urantsetseg (Mongolia) from December 17, 2010 to March 26, 2021. She has won 13 golds, 11 silvers and 15 bronze in the women’s -48 kg and -52 kg categories.
• The longest horse race in the world is the 1,000-km Mongol Derby in Binder, Mongolia.