New bivariate Griffiths polynomials of $q$-Racah type are introduced and characterized. They generalize the polynomials orthogonal on the multinomial distribution introduced by R. Griffiths fifty years ago. They also correspond to a $q$-deformation of the Griffiths polynomials of Racah type introduced previously by the authors and collaborators. The latter are recovered from the former by a $q\to1$ limit. We show that these new polynomials are bispectral and biorthogonal. We also exhibit some symmetry relations that are essential in the proof of the bispectrality property.