Q: What is in the great dry rub used on the "Northern Style Spare Ribs" at P.F. Changs?
Source: How to Cook Anything / Ask Bittman Anything

A: I am not sure exactly how they prepare their ribs, but northern Chinese cooking tends to use a lot of black pepper, rice vinegar, and sugar. I'd recommend rubbing them with a generous amount of black pepper and cooking them over a low fire for a few hours. After they are cooked (this could take upwards of two hours), raise the heat and baste the ribs with a mixture of 3 parts honey, 2 parts rice vinegar, and 1 part soy sauce.