Guangzhou dishes know as Canton Cuisine, is one of the most famous cuisine in China. There are about 150,000 restaurants in Guangzhou at last estimate. The only problem with dining in Guangzhou is choosing from the extraordinary range of restaurants. The city offers everything from traditional Chinese cuisine to Western favorites. Reservations are usually not necessary except in Western restaurants during the fair periods. Chinese banquets are part of all business deals here; you can organize a meal for local colleagues by contacting the restaurant at least a day in advance and either choosing the menu (if you're very familiar with banquet dishes) or specifying the number of guests -- to fill each table with 12 -- and price range and leaving it in the restaurant's experienced hands.

Places to Eat

Guangzhou Restaurant   Chinese, Y50 to Y165, Ancestral Guangzhou              

Address: 2 Wenchang Nan Lu, Guangzhou, China

Phone: 020-8138-0439 

Established in 1936, with branches in Hong Kong and Los Angeles, this Cantonese restaurant is the busiest in town, serving 10,000 diners a day. The setting is classic, with courtyards of flowery bushes surrounded by dining rooms of various sizes ranged along arcaded corridors. The house specialties are abalone sprinkled with 24-carat gold flakes; Eight Treasures -- including game, chicken, ham, and mushrooms -- served in winter melons carved to make a bowl; duck feet stuffed with shrimp; and roast liced goose. Acceptable Credit Card: AE, MC, VS, DC

Banxi Restaurant    Chinese, Y50 to Y165, Station District                             

Address: 151 Longjin Xi Lu, Guangzhou, China

Phone: 020-8181-5718

On the edge of Liwan Lake, this is one of the city's most attractive traditional restaurants. Its series of teahouse rooms and landscaped gardens interconnected by zigzag paths and bridges has the feel of a Taoist temple. One room is built on a floating houseboat. The food is as tasty as it looks, with dishes such as scallop and crab soup, and quail eggs cooked with shrimp roe on a bed of green vegetables. Acceptable Credit Card: AE, MC, VS,

Datong Restaurant    Chinese, Y50 to Y165, Colonial Canton
      
Address: Nanfang Dasha, 63 Yanjiang Xi Lu, Guangzhou, China

Phone: 020-8188-8988

Occupying all eight stories of an old building on the riverfront, with an open terrace on the top floor, this is one of the city's veteran dining places. It can be difficult to find seating as the restaurant is popular with locals all hours of the day. The atmosphere is chaotic and noisy, but the morning and afternoon dim sum and 1,000-dish menu is worth the fuss. Famous dishes include crisp-skin chicken and roasted Xishi duck. Acceptable Credit Card: AE, MC, VS, DC

Dongjiang Seafood Restaurant  Chinese, Y50 to Over Y165, Tianhe District    
   
Address: 276 Huanshi Zhong Lu, Guangzhou, China

Phone: 020/8322-9188

This city-center stalwart has a simple setting but a brilliant menu. Among the favorites are braised duck stuffed with eight delicacies and glutinous rice, stuffed giant prawns, crab in black bean sauce, salt-roast chicken, stuffed bean curd, and steamed pork with salted, dried mustard cabbage. Acceptable Credit Card: AE, MC, VS, DC

Nepal Royal Cuisine Restaurant and Bar   Asian, Y25 to Y49, Ancestral Guangzhou

Address: 21 Lianxin Lu, Guangzhou, China

Phone: 020-8338-3409

Next to the People's Park is this colorful restaurant serving traditional Nepalese food. The restaurant is tastefully decorated with Nepali art and press clippings. Entrées include Himalayan rabbit with rice, and curry lamb chops. There is also a wide selection of coffee drinks. Pay by cash.
1920 Restaurant   Germany Food & Bar, Guangzhou                                   

Address: 183 Yanjiang Zhong Lu, Guangzhou, China

Phone: 020/8333-6156
1920 Restaurant is popular with foreigners and locals alike. It serves up Bavarian food and imported wheat beers on an outdoor patio. Meals start from Y30, beers from Y28.

Sportsman's American Bar and Restaurant   Bar, Guangzhou                

Address: 28 Taojin Jie, Guangzhou, China

Phone: 020-8359-1509

Sportsman's American Bar and Restaurant is where locals catch the game (their satellite captures everything from American baseball to Australian rugby) over a steak and beer. The Hash House Harriers running club sets off from here every Saturday at 2 PM.

Vietnam Cuisine Restaurant   Vietnamese, Under Y25 to Y49, Colonial Canton     

Address: 54 Shamian Lu, next to Victory hotel, Guangzhou, China

Phone: 020/8121-5795

This small and elegantly decorated eatery near the Victory hotel on Shamian Island is popular with resident expatriates due to its low prices, helpful English-speaking staff, and fresh food. Recommended dishes include raw beef noodle soup (pho), Vietnamese spring rolls, and curry beef. Acceptable Credit Card: AE, MC, VS

Da Chuan Japanese Food Restaurant   Japanese, Y25 to Y49, Colonial Canton

Address: 294 Beijing Rd., 4th fl., Guangzhou, China

Phone: 020-8319-0283

This local eatery is conveniently located in a busy shopping area on Beijing Road. Prices are much lower than what you would pay at a five-star hotel restaurant, and the quality of the sashimi shows it. The best value is a sushi set meal, or you can dive into à la carte dishes plucked straight off the rotating sushi bar. Pay by cash

Haveli Restaurant and Bar   Indian, Y25 to Y99, Ancestral Guangzhou              
 
Address: 2 Aiguo Lu, opposite Holiday Inn, Guangzhou, China

Phone: 020-8359-4533

This inexpensive Indian restaurant near the Holiday Inn is a favorite of Guangzhou's sizable South Asian community, thanks to its tree-shaded garden and great tandoor-oven serving up chicken, king prawn, and lamb specialties. Pay by cash.

Cow and Bridge Thai Restaurant   Thai, Y25 to Y99, Tianhe District
               
Address: Xianglong Huayuan, 175-181 Tianhe Bei Rd., 2nd fl., Guangzhou, China

Phone: 020-8525-0693

Walking into this restaurant, the first thing you will notice is the sleek bar and the handsome gold Thai writing on the walls. The clientele is white collar, twenty- to thirty somethings. The menu impresses with over 300 selections, including tom yum (spicy Thai soup), seafood, curries, and fresh ice-blended juices. The staff isn't particularly helpful, but for the price, this restaurant is a good value

The Roof    Continental, Over Y165, Station District                                      
  
Address: China Hotel, Liuhua Lu, Guangzhou, China

Phone: 020-8666-6888 Ext. 71892

The China Hotel's fine-dining restaurant sits in understated splendor on the 18th floor, with panoramic views of Guangzhou. The menu offers seasonal specialties and classic staples, such as saddle of lamb marinated in mint and yogurt, fettuccine, scallops in saffron sauce, and prime cuts of U.S. beef. Closed Sun. No lunch. Acceptable Credit Card: AE, MC, VS, DC

Lai Wan Market   Chinese, Y100 to Over Y165, Ancestral Guangzhou                     

Address: Garden Hotel, 368 Huanshi Dong Lu, 2nd fl., Guangzhou, China

Phone: 020-8333-8989 Ext. 3922

A re-creation of the old Canton waterfront, this theme restaurant has booths shaped like flower boats and small wooden stools at low counters. The Market is known for its dim sum and two kinds of rice, one made with pork, beef, fish, and seafood, the other with fish, beef, and pork liver. Acceptable Credit Card: AE, MC, VS, DC

Lucy's   Eclectic, Y25 to Y99, Colonial Canton                                              

Address: 3 Shamian Nan Jie, Shamian, Guangzhou, China

Phone: 020-8121-5106

Shamian Island's most eclectic restaurant has a good mix of dishes at very reasonable prices. The main menu lists Asian curries, mixed grills, Tex-Mex dishes, fish-and-chips, noodles, burgers, sandwiches, and much more. There is an outdoor dining area and take-out service. No credit cards.

La Seine   French, Y100 to Over Y165，Colonial Canton                                     

Address: Xinghai Concert Hall, 33 Qing Bo Lu, ground fl., Er Sha Island, Guangzhou, China

Phone: 020/8735-2531

This upscale restaurant on Er Sha Island offers a daily lunch buffet. Dinner highlights include all the classic French fare, such as beef tenderloin, escargot, and foie gras. Located close to the city's concert hall it is an ideal place to eat before or after a show. Reservations essential. Acceptable Credit Card: AE, MC, VS, DC

Silk Road Grill Room   Continental, Over Y165, Colonial Canton                        

Address: White Swan hotel, Yi Shamian Lu, Shamian Island, Guangzhou, China

Phone: 020-8188-6968

This grill room in the White Swan hotel is the ultimate in sophistication. The service is impeccable. You can choose between the set menu, which includes appetizer, cold dish, soup, entrée, dessert, and drink (excluding wine), and à la carte. Highlight entrées include prime rib and sea bass fillet. Reservations essential. No lunch. Acceptable Credit Card: AE, MC, VS, DC
Chiu Chou City   Chinese, Over Y165, Colonial Canton                                   

Address: Landmark Canton hotel, 8 Qiao Guang Lu, Guangzhou, China

Phone: 020-8335-5988

One of the best places for authentic food from the Shantou area is this restaurant in the Landmark Canton hotel. It has a large main room and several private rooms, which are invariably packed for lunch and dinner. The house special is Chiu Chou goose, served as cold cuts or cooked in its own blood and dipped into a sauce of white vinegar and chopped garlic. Acceptable Credit Card: AE, MC, VS, DC