Must-see restaurants in Guangdong

  • Bingsheng Mansion

    Guangzhou

    One of only eight restaurants awarded a star in the inaugural 2018 Guangzhou Michelin guide, this is the upmarket flagship of the esteemed Bingsheng chain…

  • Tao Tao Ju Restaurant

    Guangzhou

    An esteemed name in Canton's yum cha dynasty, Tao Tao Ju packs in the over-60s for dim sum wheeled out on heated carts. There's no menu; you'll be given a…

  • Bingsheng Taste

    Guangzhou

    This marvellous restaurant, one of several branches of Guangzhou's highly regarded chain that also boasts upmarket editions like Bingsheng Mansion and …

  • Supin

    Guangzhou

    The gleaming interior of this Shamian mansion conversion is all glass, marble and chandeliers, baiting you to photograph it. Equally social-media…

  • Diǎn Dōu Dé

    Guangzhou

    With around 25 branches in Guangzhou, Diǎn Dōu Dé is one of the best-loved names in dim sum, turning out delicious shrimp dumplings, shāomài (烧卖, shrimp…

  • Panxi Restaurant

    Guangzhou

    Set in Liwan Lake Park amid ornamental gardens interlinked with pools, courtyards and corridors, Panxi is typical of Guangzhou's garden restaurants,…

  • Phoenix House

    Shenzhen

    This is one of the most popular Cantonese chains in town, so expect noisy waits for a table after 11.30am. Must-try dim sum here are the sweet durian…

  • Zheng's Private Kitchen

    Guangdong

    A private kitchen that whips up impressive Chaozhou-style seafood dishes. Ask a Mandarin- or Cantonese-speaking friend to call and book at least a day in…

  • Hoi Fan

    Shenzhen

    Get an iced lemon coke with your 'kung fu' crispy duck at this fun contemporary Canto chain, originally from Guangzhou. The bilingual picture menu…

  • Fán Lóu

    Shenzhen

    Excellent dim sum is served in square steamer baskets at this friendly and highly affordable restaurant. The tick-box picture menu is Chinese only; a…

  • Lianhua Vegetarian

    Guangdong

    An excellent vegetarian restaurant opposite Kaiyuan Temple with delicacies such as lotus-flowers on skewers. The menu also features Chaozhou specialities,…

  • Bollywood Cafe

    Shenzhen

    Here you'll find the best food from the Indian subcontinent in Shenzhen, if not all Guangdong. Tandoor-baked breads and succulent meats are complemented…

  • Táng Lì Yuán

    Guangzhou

    Known for its roasted pigeon (金牌乳鸽, jīnpái rǔgē), this traditional garden-restaurant is nestled inside Lìwān Lake Park (荔湾湖公园, Lìwān Hú Gōngyuán). You can…

  • Guangzhou Restaurant

    Guangzhou

    The grand master of dim sum, this is reckoned to be Guangzhou's oldest restaurant, still churning out bamboo steamers of deliciousness the traditional way…

  • Muslim Hotel Restaurant

    Shenzhen

    Enjoy juicy roast mutton from the great plains of northern China at this halal restaurant run by Hui (Chinese Muslims). The roast lamb legs, tender boiled…

  • Kuaihuolin Restaurant

    Guangdong

    If you're in the mood for seafood, this restaurant near a fruit market will overwhelm with its options. It's wildly popular and, at peak times, can get…

  • Dabu Handmade Noodles

    Guangdong

    This neighbourhood shop whips up al dente Hakka tossed noodles (腌面, yānmiàn) and pig-innards soup (三及第湯, sānjídì tāng). The strands also come stir-fried …

  • West Lake Spring

    Shenzhen

    A mural of the Su Causeway crossing Hangzhou‘s West Lake greets you as you enter this classy restaurant. The 11th-century creator of the causeway, Su…

  • Mǐ Mǐ Jiā

    Shenzhen

    For a cheap and easy meal, this canteen-style restaurant invites you to help yourself to petite bowls of freshly prepared (and spicy) Hunan dishes from…

  • Magpie

    Shenzhen

    Dine on small-plate fusion fare at this hip and stylish restaurant in OCT-LOFT. The Chinese chef owners draw inspiration from their Manchurian roots with…

  • Zhōnghuá Dōnglù

    Guangdong

    A short walk east of central Chikan are over half a dozen stalls serving Kaiping's speciality bāozifàn (煲仔饭): rice and meat or eel cooked directly in…

  • Summer Tea House

    Shenzhen

    An unexpected oasis of tranquillity in a dull office block, this wood-panelled teahouse has deep armchairs just begging for your bottom and a creative,…

  • Bōhǎilóu

    Guangdong

    This restaurant with lake views serves Zhaoqing delicacies such as sticky rice dumplings (裹蒸粽, guǒzhēngzòng), containing beans, pork, chestnuts and egg…

  • Laurel

    Shenzhen

    A longstanding dim sum restaurant with more than half a dozen branches in Shenzhen, Laurel prides itself on friendly service. This one is right by the…

  • Wilber's

    Guangzhou

    Tucked away on the fringes of Yuexiu District, gay-friendly Wilber’s gets top marks for cocktails and atmosphere, and the food isn't far behind. You can…

  • Social&Co

    Guangzhou

    The Australian owners of this casually cool cafe command some of the best value (for the quality) international dishes in Guangzhou. Highlights are the…

  • Cháojiāngchūn

    Guangdong

    This excellent restaurant serves the local speciality – braised wild-grown goose (狗仔鹅, gǒuzǎi é). The steamed tofu with shredded taro and ground pork …

  • Chén Tiānjì

    Guangzhou

    In a narrow alley off Baohua Lu, this hugely popular hole-in-the-wall serves three dishes – crunchy blanched fish skin (鱼皮, yúpí) tossed with peanuts and…

  • Dayang Coconut Chicken Soup

    Guangzhou

    Cooking chicken soup in a coconut with its own sweet coconut water is as delicious as it sounds. Then add superfood goji berries, bamboo and stewed…

  • Qiáo Měishíjiā

    Guangzhou

    The best restaurant on Shamian Island, specialising in Canto fare such as steamed fish, sticky char sui pork, and roast squab, which you pull apart with…

  • Feng’s Kitchen

    Guangdong

    A farmer restaurant that cures its own meat and grows its own vegetables (¥13 per plate). Reservations necessary. Mr Feng can arrange for car hire of any…

  • Dōngméndīng

    Shenzhen

    For grazers or gazers, this hectic warren of Chinese street food is a feast for the senses, offering everything from ¥10 steamers of dim sum to spicy…

  • Tiger Prawn

    Guangzhou

    The nightly queues (up to an hour) reflect the remarkably enduring popularity of this Southeast Asian favourite, which must be down to using the right…

  • Kapok

    Guangzhou

    An easy option if you have kids in tow near Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street, with photo menus in English, kids' meals and snacks, and clean spacious booths…

  • Weilong Coiled Dragon House Restaurant

    Guangdong

    From inside a maze-like 19th-century Hakka house, this atmospheric eatery serves local dishes such as salt-baked chicken (盐焗鸡, yánjú jī; ¥58) and pork…

  • Nánxìn

    Guangzhou

    This time-honoured emporium is a must-visit for Chinese tourists for its Cantonese custard-style puddings. A speciality originating from the nearby town…

  • Yunlaiju Vegetarian

    Shenzhen

    A soothing respite from the street-food bedlam below, this spacious restaurant serves a range of tasty vegetarian dim sum, hand-pulled noodle dishes, mock…

  • Fó Yǒu Yuán

    Guangzhou

    An unpretentious, popular vegetarian restaurant hidden in the Xìngfǔ Xīncūn residential quarter. Dine on mock-meat and seafood dishes that taste…

  • Big Buddha Temple Vegetarian

    Guangzhou

    On the 2nd floor of the main building of the Big Buddha Temple, you'll find this sprawling veggie banquet hall of rough-hewn timber tables, costumed…

  • Dabu Gourmet Street

    Guangdong

    Littered with tiny eateries, Huliao Tongyen Lu, built in the Qing dynasty, is known as Dabu Gourmet Street. Comb its 330m for Dabu and Hakka snacks such…

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