The Cantonese food culture in Guangzhou can be a totally new and enjoyable culinary experience for many foreigners who come to the city for the first time. Ranging from changfen (肠粉), tingzaizhou (艇仔粥), zongzi (粽子), to baozaifan (煲仔饭), Guangzhou surprises tourists from home and abroad with its diverse dishes. However, this may pose a challenge to the new comers to find local food as the natives. Silk Road Post is here to provide you with an easy and quick way to find authentic Cantonese food.

Many eateries in Guangzhou, especially the smaller ones, focus more on the quality and taste of food than promotion and advertisement. They often have competitive prices on the market, which appeal to the practical Guangzhou locals.

With this strategy, the founders or owners manage to run the restaurants for many years till they become middle-aged or elderly uncles or aunts. Therefore, the names of these eateries usually combine Ji (fellow), or Shu/Yi (uncle/aunt), with the food they served.

Here are some recommended places following this naming rule for you to discover a tasty Guangzhou.

Mingji Changfen (明记肠粉)

(Photo/Silk Road Post)

Located near the Lychee Bay scenic spot, the restaurant is known for its tender and smooth changfen (rice noodle roll). "The recipe of changfen was created by my great grandfather, who also owned a rice shop in the Qing Dynasty," the restaurant's founder Chen Hanming said.

(Photo/Silk Road Post)

With nine kinds of fillings from egg, beef, pork, shrimp to youtiao (deep-fried dough sticks), the offerings here can satisfy diners' diverse tastes. Visitors can also try Tingzaizhou (sampan porridge), which is a good companion of changfen.

Address: No. 72 Longjin Xilu, Liwan district, Guangzhou (广州市荔湾区龙津西路72号)

(Photo/Silk Road Post)

Other recommended places:

Chaoji Baozaifan (超记煲仔饭)

Address: 103 room, No. 24 Cangqian Zhijie, Yuexiu district, Guangzhou (广州越秀区仓前直街24号103)

Jianji Noodle Shop (坚记面店)

Address: No. 303 Changshou Donglu, Liwan district, Guangzhou (广州荔湾区长寿东路303号) 

Yuanji Changfen (源记肠粉)

Address: No. 93 Huagui Lu, Liwan district, Guangzhou (广州荔湾区华贵路93号)

Zaiji Meishi (仔记美食)

Address: No. 199 Zhuguang Lu, Yuexiu district, Guangzhou (广州越秀区珠光路199号)

Feiyi Taishanzong (肥姨台山粽)

(Photo/台山发布)

Zongzi (glutinous rice dumplings), a traditional snack usually served during Dragon Boat Festival, can be enjoyed all year round in Guangzhou thanks to zongzi shops dotted in the city, including Feiyi's shop. Feiyi is a nick name of the owner, a chubby auntie, who insists to sell freshly wrapped and cooked zongzi.

Every morning visitors will be greeted with tantalizing aromas of meat and fresh reed leaves wafting from Feiyi's stall. A tourist surnamed Li from Hunan province, does not hesitate when talking about her favorite Cantonese food — zongzi. She says she came to Feiyi's stall particularly for the handmade zongzi. "It took me a long time to find the place," she says. "I like zongzi made in the traditional way."

Address: No. 443 Huifu Donglu, Yuexiu district, Guangzhou (广州越秀区惠福东路443号)

(Photo/台山发布)

Other recommended places:

Uncle's stall of imitation shark fin soup (阿叔碗仔翅)

Address: Zhongshan Liulu, Yuexiu district, Guangzhou (广州市越秀区中山六路中六电脑城惠爱大厦门口对面)

Jinyi's pickles (金姨咸酸)

Address: No. 1 Xidi, Shiji village, Pazhou street, Haizhu district, Guangzhou (广州海珠区琶洲街石基村西堤1号)

Author: Annie

Editor: Pauline