Perhaps the best thing about Guangzhou is its food. The Chinese saying "be born in Suzhou, eat in Guangzhou and die in Liuzhou" is a fitting way to describe the wealth of great food available here. Eating is certainly a pleasure for the local residents. There are literally hundreds of good restaurants serving authentic Cantonese cuisine.
Because of its location on the sea, fresh seafood is readily available. The land is fertile and a wide range of vegetables and fruits are grown. Historically, Guangzhou was a poor area and that had an effect on the local cuisine. The visitor to Guangzhou today will find an incredible range of dishes that use ingredients in an unusual and inspired way. Most restaurants in Guangzhou are open from morning until midnight.
Guangzhou has a few good European style restaurants scattered about the town, most of them on Shamian Island. There are numerous cafes and bars that serve adequate western style cuisine, and the big hotels, such as the White Swan, have some nice international restaurants for those who need a break from Cantonese cuisine.
PRICE GUIDE
$ = inexpensive
$$ = reasonable
$$$ = expensive
$$$$ = very expensive
Banxi Restaurant
Add: #151, Longjin Rd., West
Tel: 81815718
Description: One of the best Cantonese Style restaurants
Type of Cuisine: Cantonese
Hours: 06:00-23:00
Average Cost: $$-$$$
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Chinese
Language Spoken: Mandarin
Guangzhou Restaurant
Add: #2, Wenchang Rd.
Tel: 81888388
Description: offers a vast number of Cantonese style dishes and snacks
Type of Cuisine: Cantonese
Hours: 07:00-23:00
Average Cost: $$-$$$
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Chinese
Language Spoken: Mandarin
Nanhai Seafood Restaurant
Add: No.350, Huanshi Rd., East
Tel: 83806111
Description: great seafood
Type of Cuisine: Cantonese
Hours: 11:00-22:00
Average Cost: $$$-$$$$
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Chinese
Language Spoken: Mandarin
Snake Restaurant
Add: #41, Jianglan RD.
Tel: 81882517
Description: unique snake dishes served
Type of Cuisine: Cantonese
Hours: 11:00-22:30
Average Cost: $$-$$$
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Chinese
Language Spoken: Mandarin
Guangzhou International Restaurant
Add: #117, Liuhua Rd.
Tel: 86677513
Description: great western style food.
Type of Cuisine: western
Hours: 11:00-22:00
Average Cost: $$$
Credit Cards: Major Credit Card.
Menu: Chinese, English
Language Spoken: Mandarin, English
Muslim Restaurant
Add: No. 325, Zhongshan 6th Rd.
Tel: 81888414
Description: special Muslim dishes
Type of Cuisine: Muslim Hours: 10:30-21:00
Average Cost: $$
Credit Cards: Not Accepted
Menu: Chinese
Language Spoken: Mandarin