Guangzhou would not be a global metropolis if you could not find spicy Hunan food, Mexican, Italian, Arabic and even African food around the city. Even Michelin star Guangzhou restaurants, offering the best of Western, Chinese and Asian Fusion Kitchen. However, one thing you need to eat: Dim Sum Guangzhou style.
Guangzhou food and Restaurant Guide
Cantonese Cuisine
Guangzhou is the heart of Cantonese cuisine, a culinary style of Chinese food eaten worldwide. Known for its light and simple flavors, Cantonese food highlights fresh ingredients and refined techniques. From dim sum Guangzhou style to other traditional Guangzhou dishes like stews and pudding. While you may encounter some unique ingredients, most dishes are simple, delicious, and perfect for anyone eager to explore Guangzhou food.
Zhao’s Legacy Dessert Shop (赵记传承)
Zhao’s Legacy Dessert Shop or called Zhao Ji is a local chain for Cantonese desserts that can be found all around Guangzhou.
Shun Ji Ice Cream (顺记冰室)
Shun Ji Bing Shi in Guangzhou is a historic eatery known for handmade ice creams and classic Cantonese dishes.
Baihua Dessert Shop (百花甜品店)
Great local Chinese dessert shop serving good quality and self-made Cantonese sweets and desserts. Huge variation, good prices!
Dayang Soup (逹揚原味燉品)
Small local Cantonese soup restaurant in yuexiu district. Recommend by guide Michelin and more importantly recommend by my wife.
Yin Ji Rice Rolls (银记肠粉店)
Chang fen is the breakfast item in Guangzhou. Yin Ji is the oldest and Cantonese restaurant in Guangzhou specialized in rice noodle rolls.
Ming Kee Restaurant (西关明记)
Classic Guangzhou Restaurant with modern touch. Beautifully decorate Cantonese restaurant offering local Guangzhou dishes. Worth a try!
Min Kee Clay Pot Rice (民记煲仔饭)
Clay Pot Rice in Guangzhou with meat, sauce and some veggies cooked in a clay pot over fire. providing a crispy layer of rice on bottom.
Tsui Wah Restaurant (翠华餐厅)
This hong kong style restaurant is a famous chain with stores all over Guangzhou. Perfect if you crave a mix of western and Cantonese cuisine.
"Always Good" Options
In this category we try to list restaurants or restaurant chains in Guangzhou that are a safe bet for any visitor. Not only in Guangzhou but also China in general. We know that sometimes, when you travel or reside for a certain amount somewhere, you do not need fancy dining or street food everyday. Sometimes you just want to explore something simple or “normal” from the local cuisine.
Tongxiang Hunan Restaurant (同湘会)
Great Hunan style restaurant in Guangzhou. Tasty and not to expensive restaurant serving tasty Chinese food for anyone visiting Guangzhou.
Lanzhou Pulled Noodles (兰州拉面)
The most famous halal restaurants in Guangzhou. Pork free noodles that can be found all over Guangzhou and all over China. Never a miss!
Tsui Wah Restaurant (翠华餐厅)
This hong kong style restaurant is a famous chain with stores all over Guangzhou. Perfect if you crave a mix of western and Cantonese cuisine.
Guizhou Huaxi Beef Noodles (贵州花溪牛肉粉)
Simple and good rice noodles in Guangzhou. Perfect before to strengthen after or before strolling through Dongshankou.
Double Egg (2颗鸡蛋)
Jian Bing a famous street food from north-china is a healthy alternative to fried options. Double Egg makes them available all over Guangzhou.
Yujian Noodles (遇见小面)
What to eat visiting China? Spicy Noodles! Yujian Noodles, a large chain that never disappoints when it comes to spicy food in Guangzhou
Dumpling Xi (喜德家虾仁水饺)
Jiaozi are one of the most famous Chinese dishes, and although they come from the north, Xide restaurant in Guangzhou offers great dumplings.
Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants
As a vegetarian living in Guangzhou for many years, I have been to many vegetarian restaurants in Guangzhou and in China. There are surprisingly many good options available, and you can generally place them in two categories. The first are vegan restaurants nearby Buddhist temples. These restaurants are usually top notch in terms of what you can get for your money. The second type of vegetarian restaurants in Guangzhou are focusing on healthy and fusion kitchen. They often have very unique dishes and beautiful interior. There are even vegetarian Hot Pot restaurants in Guangzhou.
Hongshan Vegetarian (弘善素食)
Hongshan Vegetarian restaurant next to Hoi Tong Monastery is a small communal restaurant in Haizhu district of Guangzhou serving the poor.
Lawei Vegetarian Buffet (腊味素食自助餐)
Lawei vegetarian buffet near wangguo outlets is a great and affordable vegetarian restaurant in the jiangnanxi area of Guangzhou
Big Buddha Vegetarian Buffet (大佛寺素食阁自助餐馆)
vegetarian buffet inside the most famous temple in Guangzhou. Try Chinese and Cantonese dishes and sit down in a stunning dining hall.
Huanxi Guan (歡喜关)
Huanxi Guan or Happy Place is a small Buddhist vegetarian restaurant in Tianhe district of Guangzhou. Easy comfort food for a good price.
Hong Yi Su Vegetarian Restaurant (红艺素)
Hong Yi SU translates to red art vegetarian restaurant and can be found in Liwan district of Guangzhou. Their Clementine Buns are must try!
Soodle (蔬稻 素菜)
Soodle is a beautiful vegetarian restaurant in the heart of zhujiang new town of tianhe district in guangzhou china.
Home Source Vegetarian Restaurant (家源素食餐厅)
This small vegetarian restaurant in Guangzhou Yuexiu district, directly near Ximenkou station offers out-of-the-box vegetarian dishes.
Yi Xin Vegetarian Restaurant (怡新素食)
Yi Xin is a vegetarian restaurant in Guangzhou near Taojin station and they serve fresh fusion kitchen. Western-Asian Fusion Kitchen.
International Cuisine
Even though Chinese and Cantonese Cuisine has much to offer, sometimes we crave food from home or maybe a good Pizza sitting in a riverside Guangzhou restaurant. Not forget a good Thai Curry or Indian and Turkish Dish. There is even Tuareg Restaurant in Guangzhou which we still want to taste in the near future on our Guangzhou food journey.
Supafama (农场西餐)
supafama is a western food restaurant near Pazhou, near the Canton fair. Beautiful decorated and comfort food for any westerner in Guangzhou.
Mise en Place (味式那不勒斯披萨)
Pizza restaurant and bar down on the mid west of Haizhu district. Great place to watch football in Guangzhou and get a Pizza, Steak or Beer.
Commune Restaurant & Bar (幻师)
Commune is a great night out place in Tianhe offering western cuisine and a beautiful view for sitting outside enjoying a cold beer.
The Kilimanjaro
Tanzanian restaurant in guangzhou with fair prices and simple food. No fuss, just BBQ fish, curry and other african food in Guangzhou
PIPA Trattoria (枇杷小厨披萨研究所)
Pipa is easily one of the best pizza restaurants in Guangzhou. Have a visit to one of the two branches in Haizhu for authentic italian food.
Brasston
Brasston is the best place for Pizza in Guangzhou. One if not the most authentic Neapolitan pizza just in the heart of zhujiang new town.
Saba Restaurant (沙巴餐厅)
Saba restaurant is one of the few Arabic restaurants in Yuexiu district. Great choice If you want to have arabic or halal food in Guangzhou.
Dato Henry’s Taco (亨利拿督的塔可)
A fresh Taco right in the center of Guangzhou? Data Henrys Taco is a small street food stall south of Tiyu Xilu in Tianhe district.
Restaurants for a Date
Once in a while you need a restaurant for dating in Guangzhou. Maybe you met someone new or maybe you just want to take out your loved one again. All the quiet and beautiful Guangzhou restaurants we found, are listed in this category of places to see in Guangzhou.
Park Cafe (绿茵西餐)
Park Cafe is a romantic restaurant in Guangzhou next to Yuexiu Park. The restaurant features a large garden which is great for events.
MannAlley (法漫里洋楼餐厅)
Mann Alley is a romantic restaurant inside an old villa which is near Martyrs Park in Guangzhou. Ideal for Dating or gatherings.
Wen Feng Xiang Yue (闻风相悦素食餐厅)
This star dining experience located in the heart of Guangzhou is a relaxing experience for one evening. Vegetarian food in a beautiful Garden
Zen Tea Vegan (炳胜 禅意茶素)
This pearl of a vegan restaurant in Guangzhou is included in the Michelin guide, making sure you can eat the finest vegetarian meal.
Bakeries & Sweets
Baked goods, egg tarts, cakes and ginger milk. Sweet treats in Guangzhou can be literally found on every street corner, we listed a few of the best sweet Guangzhou street food stalls but also some comfort snacks you might now from home. Not recommend to eat much of this type of Guangzhou food though 🙂
Zhao’s Legacy Dessert Shop (赵记传承)
Zhao’s Legacy Dessert Shop or called Zhao Ji is a local chain for Cantonese desserts that can be found all around Guangzhou.
Shun Ji Ice Cream (顺记冰室)
Shun Ji Bing Shi in Guangzhou is a historic eatery known for handmade ice creams and classic Cantonese dishes.
Baihua Dessert Shop (百花甜品店)
Great local Chinese dessert shop serving good quality and self-made Cantonese sweets and desserts. Huge variation, good prices!
Renxin Old Shop (仁信老铺)
Traditional Cantonese Snacks and a great treat on your visit in Guangzhou. Pudding, Ice cream and fresh fruits served in traditional way.
Waffle Daily
Waffles de Liege in Guangzhou. The perfect and easy on the go snack for any commuter or traveler. Simple, sweet, delicious.
Luxi Peach Cake (泸溪河桃酥)
Chinese or Cantonese pastry has lots to offer and Luxi is our personal favourite. Their pineapple cakes are top notch and worth trying.
Bao’s Pastry (鲍师傅糕点)
Chinese pastry is great and very tasty. Baos pastry is one of the top addresses for sweet snacks in Guangzhou. Try a few and enjoy!
Baker Talent (贝克达人)
Baker talent is a small local bakery chain with several stores in Guangzhou. Most of their bread is not special, however one option tops all.
Explore just the right Food for You!
No one should end his visit to Guangzhou China without having tried some local Cantonese specialties, like dim sum and other Chinese food. However if you are on a certain diet, Halal, Vegetarian or Vegan, your Guangzhou trip might be more difficult without guidance. In this Blog we gather Guangzhou restaurants and street food suitable for many kinds of diets, from the best local cuisines up to international kitchen you might not find at home. You will not need to go home on an empty stomach after your Guangzhou visit with our food guide.