Guangzhou Food Guide 2025: What to Eat in Guangzhou

Do you know that Guangzhou is considered the birthplace of dim sum? From dim sum to cut chicken, Guangzhou is a paradise for food lovers with the best Cantonese cuisine. Ready to discover what to eat in Guangzhou? Let’s explore the best of Guangzhou food.

Top dishes in Guangzhou

Dim Sum (点心)

No trip to Guangzhou is complete without enjoying dim sum, a spread of bite-sized dishes like shrimp dumplings (虾饺), steamed buns (叉烧包), and siu mai (烧卖). These are usually served with tea in small steamer baskets and are perfect for sampling a variety of Cantonese flavours.

Cut chicken (白斩鸡)

A classic Cantonese dish, cut chicken is typically served cold, with the chicken expertly chopped into pieces, marinated, and accompanied by a savoury dipping sauce.

Roast goose (烧鹅)

A highlight of Guangzhou’s cuisine, roast goose has crispy, golden skin and tender meat. Served with plum sauce, roast goose is a must-try for meat lovers and is a step above the roast duck.

Wonton noodles (云吞面)

Wonton noodles features delicate dumplings filled with shrimp or pork, served with springy noodles in a clear broth. It’s light, delicious, and often eaten for breakfast or as a snack.

Char Siu (叉烧)

Char Siu is sweet BBQ pork dish marinated in honey and soy sauce, then roasted to perfection. The caramelised edges and tender texture make it a crowd favourite.

Beef Chow Fun (干炒牛河)

Flat rice noodles stir-fried with beef, bean sprouts, and soy sauce create a smoky and savoury dish that’s beloved for its simplicity.

Claypot rice (煲仔饭)

Served in a sizzling clay pot, claypot rice features rice cooked with toppings like lap cheong (Chinese sausage), chicken, or ribs, finished with soy sauce. The crispy rice at the bottom is a delightful bonus!

Cheung Fun (肠粉)

Cheung fun consists of soft rice noodle rolls stuffed with pork, shrimp, or beef. It is often served with a sweet soy sauce or chili oil. It’s a popular choice for breakfast or a light snack throughout the day.

Congee (粥)

Congee is a beloved staple in Cantonese cuisine. The smooth rice porridge comes in a variety of flavours to suit every preference. Popular options include pork and century egg congee (皮蛋瘦肉粥), fish congee (鱼片粥), and chicken Congee (鸡肉粥). Whether enjoyed for breakfast or as a light dinner, congee is the essence of Cantonese comfort food.

Soups (汤)

Double-boiled soups (炖汤) are a highlight, slowly cooked to extract the full essence of ingredients. Favourites include herbal chicken soup (药材炖鸡汤), which combines tender chicken with Chinese medicinal herbs, and lotus root and pork rib soup (莲藕排骨汤), a hearty and earthy option. They’re a reflection of the tradition of combining nutrition with exceptional taste.

Steamed fish (清蒸鱼)

Fresh fish is steamed with ginger, spring onions, and soy sauce, highlighting the natural sweetness of the fish.

Cantonese herbal tea (凉茶)

To balance the body’s heat, locals often drink herbal teas made from cooling ingredients. It’s a great way to experience traditional Chinese medicine culture.

Best Cantonese desserts

Cantonese cuisine is as much about desserts as it is about savory dishes. The region offers a wide range of sweet treats that are not only delicious but also often steeped in tradition.

Mango pomelo sago (杨枝甘露)

A refreshing and popular dessert, mango pomelo sago features fresh mango, pomelo, and sago pearls in a creamy coconut milk base. It’s the perfect sweet treat to beat the heat on a hot day.

Double skin milk (双皮奶)

Double skin milk is a delicate Cantonese dessert made from milk and sugar, often served warm with ingredients like red bean or lotus seed. It’s light, soothing, and a favorite among locals.

Pineapple bun (菠萝包)

The pineapple bun is like a pineapple, though it contains no actual pineapple. The exterior is crispy and sweet; the inside is soft and fluffy. A popular variation is the pineapple bun with butter, where a slice of cold butter is placed inside the warm bun.

Cantonese sweet soups (广式甜水)

Sweet soups are a hallmark of Cantonese dessert culture. These warm, nourishing treats come in a variety of flavours, such as

• Red bean soup (红豆沙): Red beans, tangerine peel, and rock sugar, sometimes topped with glutinous rice balls.
• Black sesame soup (芝麻糊): Rich and smooth dessert made by grinding roasted black sesame seeds into a fine paste and sweetening it with sugar.
• Sweet almond soup (杏仁糊): Creamy and slightly nutty with a hint of bitterness from almonds.
• Sweet peanut soup (花生糊): A velvety dessert with a rich peanut flavour.
• Taro and coconut sweet soup (椰香芋头糖水): A hearty and fragrant mix of soft taro chunks and creamy coconut milk.

Where to experience the Guangzhofood

Traditional teahouses (茶楼)

Source: Trip Moments

For an authentic dim sum experience, head to classic teahouses like Guangzhou Restaurant (广州酒家) or Tao Tao Ju (陶陶居). These spots offer everything, perfect for morning meals.

Street food markets

Guangzhou’s street food is legendary, and night markets are where you’ll find some of the city’s most exciting flavours:

• Beijing Road night market (北京路夜市): A hotspot for snacks like grilled skewers, stinky tofu, and claypot rice.
• Xiguan Antique Street (西关古玩街): Known for traditional Cantonese desserts like sesame balls and water chestnut cakes.

For an immersive experience, visit Qingping Market (清平市场). It’s not just a place to shop but also a way to discover ingredients that make Cantonese cuisine unique.

Seafood restaurants

Guangzhou’s proximity to the coast ensures fresh and flavorful seafood. Try Bingsheng Pinwei (炳胜品味) for specialties like steamed fish and garlic prawns.

Claypot rice specialists

Min Ki (民记煲仔饭) serve up perfect versions, complete with crispy rice crusts and savoury toppings.

Fine dining

Source: White Swan Hotel official

For a fine dining on Cantonese cuisine, head to Jade River (玉堂春暖) at the White Swan Hotel, where you can enjoy refined dishes like braised abalone and bird’s nest sou.

Sweet treats

Stop by Nanxin Dessert (南信牛奶甜品专家) for tofu pudding or mango sago pomelo.