Food & Dining Guide

Food & Dining in China

Chinese cuisine is incredibly diverse — far beyond what you find in overseas Chinese restaurants. Here's what you need to know about eating well in China.

Must-Try Dishes in Guangzhou

Guangzhou is the birthplace of Cantonese cuisine, famous worldwide for dim sum:

• **Dim Sum (点心 diǎnxīn):** Steamed buns, dumplings, rice rolls. Best enjoyed at traditional tea houses like Dian Dou De (点都德) or Tao Tao Ju (陶陶居).
• **White Cut Chicken (白切鸡 báiqiējī):** Simple but perfect. Tender poached chicken with ginger-scallion sauce.
• **Wonton Noodles (云吞面 yúntūnmiàn):** Delicate shrimp wontons in rich broth with thin egg noodles.
• **Roast Goose (烧鹅 shāo'é):** Crispy skin, juicy meat. A Cantonese classic.

Food Delivery Apps

• **Meituan (美团 Méituán):** The biggest food delivery app. English interface available.
• **Ele.me (饿了么 Èlèmè):** Second largest, also has basic English.
• **Tip:** Link these to Alipay for easy payment.

Dietary Restrictions

• **Vegetarian:** Buddhist vegetarian restaurants are common. Look for the sign 素食 (sùshí, meaning "vegetarian food").
• **Halal:** Look for 清真 (qīngzhēn) signs. Lanzhou noodle shops are reliably halal.
• **Gluten-free:** Challenging in China. Stick to rice-based dishes and communicate clearly.

Useful Phrases