Chaozhou | A Complete Guide to Discovering Chaoshan Cuisine in June
🍜Eat in Guangzhou, savor the flavors of Chaozhou! In June, Chaozhou is bursting with fresh seafood, seasonal fruits, and authentic snacks. This in-depth food map will take you on a culinary journey from morning till night, making gaining five pounds in three days a real possibility!
🥩 A Guide to Beef Hot Pot Mastery
Guantang Brothers Beef Hot Pot 🏆 The pinnacle of Chaozhou beef hot pot! Guantang is the birthplace of Chaozhou beef, where the cattle are freshly slaughtered and cut to perfection—they're so fresh they'll practically dance! Each cut—tenderloin, brisket, chuck, and five-flower shank—only needs 8 seconds in the broth, dipped in satay sauce and celery granules, and it's incredibly tender! For just 60 RMB per person, you'll be stuffed—unbelievable value!
💡Tips: Be sure to order the beef tendon balls—they're bouncy and bursting with juice! The brisket looks fatty but tastes crispy—a must-order!
Abin Beef Hot Pot 🥘 The most popular beef restaurant in the city, frequented by locals. The beef is consistently high-quality, the knife skills are superb, and the beef bone broth becomes more fragrant the longer it simmers. We recommend the snowflake beef, with its evenly distributed fat that melts in your mouth; the tripe is crisp and delicious.
Chuangdi Beef Balls 🔴 A decades-old shop specializing in beef balls. Their handmade beef balls are so bouncy they could be used as ping-pong balls! Buy a few pounds, vacuum-packed, to take home – delicious in noodles or soup.
🦪 Must-Try Classic Snacks List
Lao Bin Oyster Omelet 🦪 The quintessential Chaozhou oyster omelet! At 15 yuan a serving, fresh oysters are coated in sweet potato starch, pan-fried until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, drizzled with fish sauce, and served with cilantro. One bite and the aroma of oysters fills the air – crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, absolutely divine! Don't eat it on Paifang Street; the original shop on Xima Road is the most authentic.
Hu Rongquan Duck Egg Dumplings 🍡 A century-old brand, the pinnacle of Chaozhou desserts! Duck Mother's Dumplings are essentially large glutinous rice balls, with a chewy skin and generous filling. They're made with ginger and syrup, sweet but not cloying, warming and comforting, perfect for summer. Spring rolls are also delicious, savory, and crispy.
Lei Kee Kueh Teow Noodles 🍜 A 24-hour shop, their peanut sauce rice noodle rolls are incredibly smooth, made with freshly ground rice flour, thin skin, and generous filling; the beef kueh teow soup is incredibly flavorful, 30 yuan a set, suitable for breakfast or a late-night snack.
Xi Ma Road Licorice Fruit 🍉 A Chaozhou specialty! 10 yuan a box, various seasonal fruits drizzled with licorice juice, sweet and sour, refreshing and appetizing. Mango, guava, wax apple, and mandarin orange—each one is delicious, so refreshing in summer.
Lao Wei Kueh Chap 🥣 A Chaozhou breakfast staple! Rice flour cakes, drizzled with braising sauce, topped with braised eggs, braised pork, and dried tofu, are savory and rich. A bowl of these is sure to give you a boost of energy. The old shop on Xima Road always has a long queue.
🦞 Seafood and Specialty Dishes
Guantang Raw Fish 🐟 A top-tier Chaozhou delicacy! Fresh grass carp is sliced thinly, as thin as cicada wings, and served with dozens of seasonings: garlic slices, ginger shreds, dried radish, peanuts, cilantro, sesame oil, and soy sauce. Mixed together, the rich and layered flavors are the essence of Chaozhou cuisine.
Braised Goose 🦢 A representative of Chaoshan braised dishes! The head, liver, feet, and wings of a Lion Head Goose are all braised to perfection. The liver is tender and delicate, while the feet are chewy and flavorful. It's absolutely delicious with congee.
Clay Pot Congee 🥣 The soul of Chaozhou late-night snacks! Shrimp and crab congee is incredibly fresh and sweet. The rice is freshly cooked until the grains are fully opened, allowing the essence of the seafood to infuse into the congee. Sprinkled with scallions and pepper, a bowl of this warms you right up.
Fried Taro with Sugar Coating 🍠 A classic Chaozhou dessert! The taro is fried until crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, coated with sugar frosting. Sweet but not cloying, it's a must-have dessert at Chaozhou banquets.
🍵 Tea and Sweet Soups
Zhenji Beef Offal Rice Noodles 🍲 A representative of Chaozhou beef offal, the offal is stewed until tender and flavorful, the rice noodles are smooth, and the broth is rich. Adding a spoonful of galangal powder makes it sour, spicy, and appetizing—a taste locals have enjoyed since childhood.
Kaiyuan Laobin Glutinous Rice Pig Intestine 🌭 Glutinous rice is stuffed into pig intestines and steamed. Sliced and dipped in brown sugar, the aroma of glutinous rice blends with the aroma of meat, a unique sweet and savory flavor you must try.
Eighteen Bends Old Tail Fish Dumplings 🥟 Dumpling wrappers made with fish meat, filled with pork, and cooked in fish dumpling soup—incredibly delicious! The fish noodles are also very tasty, chewy and springy.
Old Tangerine Peel / Old Fragrant Tangerine Peel 🍋 One of the three treasures of Chaozhou, these are aged, pickled fruits. When steeped in water, they aid digestion, stimulate the appetite, and cut through greasiness. They make a perfect souvenir.
🗺️ Food Street Map
📍 Xima Road: A local favorite food street, offering a variety of dishes from one end to the other.
📍 Paifang Street Surrounding Alleys: Hidden gems of traditional restaurants; avoid the main street.
📍 Guantang Town: The birthplace of beef hot pot, a 20-minute drive from the city center.
📍 Xinqiao Road: A popular spot for locals to shop and eat, offering good value.
📍 Hanjiang Riverside Food Stalls: A great place for seafood congee in the evening.
⚠️ Food Avoidance Tips
❌ Don't eat a full meal on the main street of Paifang Street; it's expensive and not authentic.
❌ Don't trust restaurants recommended by tricycle drivers; they often offer kickbacks.
❌ For raw fish, go to reputable restaurants and pay attention to hygiene.
❌ Snacks are small portions; order several to share.
❌ Try the licorice and fruit before buying; choose what you like. The delicious food of Chaozhou is hidden in the vibrant atmosphere of this ancient city, in the craftsmanship passed down through generations. Here, there's no flashy marketing, only the ultimate pursuit of the original flavor of ingredients. In June, let's experience the charm of this culinary capital with our taste buds—eating our way through Chaozhou is the real deal!
--- Accommodation
🏨 Chaozhou Green Sprout Manor (Wenci Branch)
Opened in 2023, this mountain manor is located in Heshang Mountain, Wenci Town, Chaoan District. Its 14 rooms are nestled among the mountains and forests, offering party facilities, KTV, and barbecue facilities—a luxurious and secluded retreat for friends and team building.
🏨 Dadulin Resort Hotel (Chaozhou Raoping Branch)
Located within the Raoping Dadulin Resort, it covers over 100 acres and is a half-hour drive from the city center. Surrounded by mountains and forests, the tranquil environment makes it a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle, close to nature.
🏨 Yizhai Xitang Private Hot Spring Designer Guesthouse (Chaozhou Fengxi Branch) Hidden in the heart of Tiantouhe Village, Fengxi Town, adjacent to the core area of ceramic culture, each room features a private hot spring bath. The designer style is simple yet sophisticated. A 10-minute drive from the ancient town, it offers both privacy and convenience.
🏨 Muhe Campsite (Chaozhou Tiepu Town Branch) A lakeside resort campsite with duplex loft rooms offering stunning views. Equipped with a Western restaurant, bar, tea room, and children's playground, it provides everything you need for barbecues and camping, making it a great choice for family vacations and getting close to nature.