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Dim Sum for Yum Cha
Yum Cha (早茶), a Cantonese tradition involving tea drinking and enjoying small dishes known as dim sum, is a significant aspect of Guangzhou's food culture. Unlike other snack-like foods, dim sum comes in a wide variety of flavors and preparation methods -- steamed, baked, fried -- making each dish unique.
The taste of dim sum ranges from savory to sweet, with an emphasis on fresh, subtle flavors that delight the palate. This contrasts with some other regional cuisines that might use heavier sauces or stronger spices.
Representative Dishes You Can Try in Guangzhou:
Har Gow (虾饺)
These are delicate steamed dumplings filled with shrimp, a classic dim sum dish known for its translucent wrapper and fresh, seafood flavor.
Phoenix Talons (凤爪)
While this dish might seem intimidating to some, chicken feet are a dim sum favorite. They're typically deep-fried, then steamed, and finally stewed in a fermented black bean sauce.
Red Rice Sausage (红米肠)
A traditional Cantonese sausage made by fermenting and steaming glutinous rice with red yeast rice, giving it a distinctive red color and a slightly sweet, wine-like taste.
Cheung Fun (肠粉)
These are soft, thin rolls made from rice noodle sheets, often filled with meat, seafood, or vegetables. They're known for their smooth, slippery texture.
Siu Mai (烧麦)
Another dim sum classic, these are open-topped steamed dumplings typically filled with pork and shrimp, often topped with a single pea or roe.
Egg Tarts (蛋挞)
A sweet ending to a dim sum meal, these tarts feature a flaky pastry crust and a creamy, lightly sweetened egg custard filling.
Where to Eat Dim Sum - Popular Restaurants in Guangzhou
In Guangzhou, opportunities to enjoy Yum Cha and dim sum are abundant, with options available on every corner, from bustling main roads to quiet alleyways. However, a few locations and restaurants stand out for their exceptional offerings:
Taotao Ju (陶陶居): 20 Dishifu Rd, Shangxiajiu Commercial District, Liwan District (has branches)
Established in 1880, Taotao Ju is one of the oldest restaurants in Guangzhou with the style of arcade (Qilou) architecture. Its special dishes include shrimp dumplings (Har Gow) and chicken feet (Phoenix Talons).
Lian Xiang Lou (莲香楼): 67 Dishifu Rd, Shangxiajiu Commercial District, Liwan District (has branches)
This upscale establishment, known for its delicious Char Siu Bao and other dim sum, has been serving locals and tourists alike for more than a century.
Dian Dou De (点都德): 57 Zhongshan 1st Rd, Yuexiu District (has branches)
Another classic dim sum destination in Guangzhou, Dian Dou De is famous for its Red Rice Sausage and Ju Pai Shuang Pin, a combo of chicken feet and spare ribs.
Yin Deng Restaurant (银灯食府): 37 West Second Horse Road, Liwan District
With good flavors, a wide range of dishes, and affordable prices, Yin Deng Restaurant has become the top choice for many locals for dim sum.
Meat Dishes of Cantonese Cuisine in Guangzhou
Unlike other Chinese cuisines that often employ heavy seasonings or spices, Cantonese cuisine prides itself on the original flavors of the ingredients, with a balance between umami and sweetness, and a light touch of salt and oil. Common cooking techniques include steaming, stir-frying, and roasting.
Representative Dishes You Can Try in Guangzhou:
Roast Goose (烧鹅)
A classic Cantonese dish, roast goose is renowned for its crispy skin and tender, juicy meat, usually served with a sweet plum sauce.
Char Siu (叉烧)
Known for its glossy coating and tender texture, Char Siu is sweet and savory, often served sliced in thin pieces.
Soy Sauce Chicken (酱油鸡)
This dish features a whole chicken cooked in a flavorful soy sauce mixture, resulting in a tender and moist chicken with a savory-sweet glaze.
Steamed Spare Ribs (蒸排骨)
This dish is made by steaming pork ribs with fermented black beans and chili, offering a succulent texture and a great depth of flavor.
White Cut Chicken (白切鸡)
A whole chicken is poached in water with ginger and served with ginger-scallion oil. It's celebrated for its tender, smooth meat and pure, savory taste.
Where to Eat Meat Dishes & Recommended Restaurants:
Guangzhou offers a wide array of restaurants serving excellent Cantonese meat dishes. Some of the most notable include:
Bingsheng Pinwei Restaurant (炳胜品味餐厅): 33 Dongxiao Rd, Haizhu District (has branches)
Known for its innovative and high-quality Cantonese meat dishes, Bingsheng Pinwei is a top choice for locals and tourists.
Taotao Ju (陶陶居): 20 Dishifu Rd, Shangxiajiu Commercial District, Liwan District (has branches)
Established in 1880, Taotao Ju is one of the oldest restaurants in Guangzhou and is famous for its traditional Cantonese meat dishes.
Lei Garden Restaurant (利苑酒家): 4th Floor, Yi'an Plaza, No. 33 Jianshe Liuma Road, Yuexiu District (has branches)
Lei Garden is a renowned, high-end Cantonese restaurant chain that originated in Hong Kong. Signature items often include roast meats, seafood dishes, superior soups, and dim sum items.
Rice and Noodle Dishes of Cantonese Cuisine in Guangzhou
In Cantonese cuisine, rice and noodle dishes hold a special place, serving as the backbone of many meals. Rice, as the staple grain in Southern China , is commonly used in a variety of dishes. The types of noodles used in Cantonese cuisine are diverse, ranging from thin rice vermicelli to wide ho fun noodles, and from egg noodles to wonton noodles.
Representative Dishes You Should Not Miss:
Wonton Noodles (云吞面)
A classic Cantonese noodle dish featuring delicate wontons filled with shrimp and pork, served in a rich broth with thin egg noodles.
Rice Noodle Rolls (肠粉)
These are thin, steamed rice noodle sheets often filled with ingredients like shrimp, beef, or barbecued pork, and coated with a sweet soy sauce.
Claypot Rice (煲仔饭)
A hearty and comforting dish where rice is cooked together with a variety of ingredients such as meats and vegetables in a clay pot, absorbing all the savory flavors.
Congee (广式粥)
Cantonese-style congee is a type of rice porridge that is slow-cooked until the grains are fully broken down, resulting in a creamy and velvety texture. It can be made with a variety of ingredients, such as lean meat, fish, and preserved eggs, providing a comforting and nourishing meal. One of the most famous versions is the "Century Egg and Lean Meat Congee" (Pi Dan Shou Rou Zhou).
Where to Eat & Recommended Restaurants:
In Guangzhou, you can find authentic Cantonese dishes such as Claypot Rice and Wonton Noodles everywhere, from street food stalls to high-end restaurants. Here are three recommended restaurants where you can enjoy these staple dishes:
Min Ji Claypot Rice (民记煲仔饭): 452 Huifu East Road, Yuexiu District
Established in 1979, Min Ji Claypot Rice has a history of 43 years. Most of the patrons are local residents from nearby neighborhoods, so you can be confident in the great taste.
Wan Xing Claypot Rice (万兴煲仔饭): 289 Wanfu Road, Yuexiu District
The Beef and Egg Rice is the star dish at this restaurant. The egg and beef are mixed together, combined with the aromatic scorched rice at the bottom of the pot, making it so delicious that you'll want to scrape every bit from the pot!
Wu Cai Ji(吴财记云吞): No. 20, Helongli, Datong Road, Liwan District
Wu Cai Ji, recommended by Michelin for five consecutive years, has a history of over seventy years, making it a truly time-honored brand. Its specialties are Beef Brisket Lo Mein and Fried Wontons.
Guangzhou Desserts
Cantonese desserts, often referred to as "tong sui" (sweet water) or "tim tong" (sweet soup), are a hallmark of Guangzhou's culinary scene. These desserts are typically light, mildly sweet, and are often believed to have health benefits according to traditional Chinese medicine. The main ingredients used in these desserts include red beans, lotus seeds, black sesame, glutinous rice, milk, and various types of fruits. The preparation methods can range from boiling, and steaming to slow cooking, and the results are often served both hot and cold, depending on the dish.
Representative Dishes You Can Try:
Double-Skin Milk (双皮奶)
A traditional Cantonese dessert made from milk, egg whites, and sugar. It involves a special technique of forming a "skin" on the heated milk, making a pudding-like texture.
Black Sesame Soup (黑芝麻汤)
A rich, smooth sweet soup made from ground black sesame seeds. It is often slowly cooked until it forms a thick, creamy consistency.
Red Bean Soup (红豆汤)
This is a subtly sweet soup made from red adzuki beans, often slow-cooked and served with glutinous rice balls.
Sweet Almond Soup (杏仁豆腐)
A traditional Cantonese dessert made from sweet almonds. The almonds are usually soaked, ground into a paste, and then cooked with sugar and water.
Mango Pudding (芒果布丁)
This refreshing dessert is a soft and creamy pudding made from fresh mangoes, gelatin, and cream. The ingredients are mixed together, set to cool, and then served chilled.
Where to Eat Dessert & Recommended Places:
There are numerous places in Guangzhou where you can enjoy these traditional Cantonese desserts:
Nanxin Milk Dessert Shop (南信牛奶甜品店): 47 Dishifu Rd, Shangxiajiu Commercial District, Liwan District
This shop has been serving traditional Cantonese desserts for over 80 years and is famous for its Double-Skin Milk.
Sha Wan Dessert Restaurant (沙湾甜品食馆): Shop 101, No. 33 Yijin, Xihua Road, Yuexiu District
Sha Wan Dessert Restaurant is a popular dessert spot often frequented by locals with 20 years. Double Skin Milk" (Shuang Pi Nai) is a signature dish of this shop.
Wu Li Tang (勿理堂): No. 429, Xihua Road, Yuexiu District (has branches)
Wu Li Tang is a renowned bakery known for its exquisite pastries, particularly its puff pastry desserts. One of its most popular items is the custard tart, which features a rich, creamy custard filling encased in its signature puff pastry.
Guangzhou Stew Soup
In Guangzhou, the art of stewing soup, also known as "bao tang", is an integral part of the local culinary culture. Guangzhou stew soup is characterized by its clear broth, fresh ingredients, and balanced flavors. The ingredients used in these soups typically include a variety of meats, seafood, vegetables, and medicinal herbs.
The choice of ingredients often depends on the season, the health, and the age of the individuals consuming the soup, as it is believed that different ingredients can help balance the body's "yin" and "yang" energies.
The soup is typically prepared by simmering the ingredients over low heat for several hours. This slow-cooking process allows the flavors of the ingredients to meld together, creating a rich, deeply aromatic broth. The soup is typically served hot, often as a starter to a meal or as a meal in itself.
Representative Dishes You Can Try in Guangzhou:
Old Fire Soup (老火汤)
A general term for various soups slow-cooked over low heat for hours, often involving a mix of meats, vegetables, and medicinal herbs.
Pork Rib and Chinese Yam Soup (排骨山药汤)
A traditional stew soup made with pork ribs and Chinese yam. It is often enjoyed for its nourishing properties and is believed to benefit the digestive system.
Chicken and Ginseng Soup (参鸡汤)
A hearty soup made with chicken and ginseng, enjoyed for its potential to boost energy and strengthen the immune system.
Fish Maw and Mushroom Soup (花胶鸡汤)
A luxurious soup made from simmering fish maw, mushrooms, and other ingredients to produce a flavorful and nourishing broth.
Snake Soup (蛇羹)
A traditional Guangzhou delicacy with a history of over 2000 years, this soup is typically made with snake meat, chicken, and mushrooms, creating a unique and complex flavor.
Where to Eat Stew Soup & Rcommended Restaurants:
Da Yang Original Stew (达扬原味炖品): No. 160, Wenming Road, Yuexiu District
Da Yang Original Stew is a time-honored stew restaurant with a history of forty years. One of its distinctive features is the use of coconuts as containers for their stews. The representative soup of this restaurant is the Bamboo Silky Chicken (椰子炖竹丝鸡) stewed in a coconut.
Da De Stew (大德炖品): No. 31, Haizhu Middle Road, Yuexiu District
Da De Stew has been stewing soups for three generations. Most of the stews in the shop have therapeutic effects, and customers can choose soups based on specific health needs.
Seafood Dishes of Cantonese Cuisine in Guangzhou
Guangzhou, located near the Southern China Sea, is renowned for its exceptional seafood. The city's culinary tradition emphasizes freshness and the natural flavors of ingredients, which is particularly apparent in its seafood dishes. Seafood in Guangzhou is often sourced from local rivers or the nearby ocean, ensuring that it's as fresh as possible.
Cooking techniques vary and can include steaming, stir-frying, deep-frying, braising, or roasting. Each method is chosen to highlight the unique texture and flavor of the seafood. Guangzhou chefs are also known for their delicate sauces and seasonings, which enhance rather than overpower the natural taste of the seafood.
Representative Dishes:
Steamed Scallop with Garlic and Vermicelli (蒜蓉粉丝扇贝)
This dish showcases the freshness of the scallop, enhanced with the flavors of garlic and vermicelli. It's typically steamed to preserve its natural flavor.
Roasted Oysters with Black Bean Sauce (豉汁生蚝)
This dish features oysters roasted to perfection, topped with a flavorful black bean sauce.
Braised Sea Cucumber with Scallion Oil (葱油海参)
A traditional dish featuring sea cucumber braised until tender, then finished with aromatic scallion oil.
Steamed Sea Bass with Ginger and Scallion (姜葱蒸鲈鱼)
A classic Cantonese dish showcasing the freshness of sea bass, steamed with ginger and scallions to enhance its natural flavors.
Where to Eat & Most Recommended Restaurants in Guangzhou:
Panxi Restaurant (泮溪酒家): No. 151, Longjin West Road, Liwan District
A historic restaurant serving a wide range of traditional Cantonese seafood dishes in a garden-like setting.
Tao Yuan Restaurant (陶苑酒家): No. 43, Qingbo Road, Ersha Island, Yuexiu District
Located on Ersha Island, it offers views across the river to the Guangzhou Tower with a history of over 20 years.
Aunty Zhen's Cuisine (贞姨美食): No. 97, Liwan Road, Xiaoxiguan, Liwan District
It is known for its home-style cooking and comfortable atmosphere. The restaurant is often praised for its authentic flavors and the use of fresh, quality ingredients.
Guangzhou Street Food
Guangzhou street food is characterized by its varied selection, including popular dim sum snacks, sweet soups, and broths. The appeal lies in the simplicity, convenience, and portability of these foods, making them ubiquitous throughout the city and enjoyed by both locals and tourists alike. These dishes are also known for their fresh ingredients, balanced flavors, and the ability to be enjoyed anytime, anywhere.
Representative Dishes
Cheong Fun (肠粉)
These thin, steamed rice noodle rolls are often filled with beef, shrimp, or vegetables and topped with a sweet soy sauce. Their easy portability makes them a popular street food item.
Lo Mai Gai (卤麦盖)
A traditional Cantonese dish, Lo Mai Gai consists of glutinous rice filled with chicken, Chinese mushrooms, and sausage, all wrapped in a lotus leaf and steamed. This compact, savory snack is ideal for on-the-go consumption.
Tong Sui (广式糖水)
These are a variety of sweet broths or desserts that may contain ingredients like red beans, black sesame, or sago. They're often served in portable bowls or cups, making them a convenient street food option.
Fish Balls (鱼丸)
Made from fish paste, these are often boiled in a light broth. Their convenient, bite-sized nature makes them a common street food item.
Roasted Chestnuts (烤栗子)
Particularly popular in the colder months, these freshly roasted chestnuts offer a sweet, nutty flavor. Their ease of consumption while strolling around the city makes them a popular street food.
Where to Eat & Best Places to Try Street Food in Guangzhou
Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street (上下九步行街):
A bustling street filled with food stalls offering a wide range of street food, from Cheong Fun to Tong Sui.
Beijing Road (北京路商业街):
Another popular hub for street food, teeming with vendors serving dishes like traditional dim sum treats and roasted chestnuts.
Yongqing Fang (永庆坊):
A historic and cultural area in Guangzhou, Yongqing Fang has been revitalized into a vibrant street that showcases the city's traditional culture and cuisine. The street is lined with stalls and small eateries offering a variety of street foods, from traditional Cantonese snacks to innovative fusion dishes.
Explore Guangzhou with Local-based Asia Odyssey Travel
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