With many Malaysian Chinese have roots in Southern China and thanks to the affordable flight tickets as well as ease of entry (waiver of tourist visa for Malaysians), Guangzhou has been a popular travel destination for many. There are plenty of options when it comes to flight, including many direct flights from Malaysia directly to Guangzhou. The costs of living are pretty much similar, if not lower in Guangzhou as compared to Malaysia.
Moving around the city was a breeze- we utilized DiDi in our entire trip and never bothered to use the public transportation. DiDi costs are generally inexpensive in Guangzhou and the app is user-friendly (via Alipay). Accommodation-wise, we stayed in Mercure Beijing Road Guangzhou. The hotel is strategically located in the middle of Beijing Road Pedestrian Street and basically you get to explore everything in the vicinity with a breeze. High recommend!
Sharing the below food places that we've been to during this trip:
1) Tao Tao Ju 陶陶居
Business Hours: 8 am to 10 pm. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: +020-83700611
Roasted Goose 例牌烧鹅 (RMB 98/ standard portion)
Prawn Dumplings 陶陶居虾饺 (RMB 36)
Buffalo Milk Polo Bun 水牛奶菠萝包 (RMB 36)
Chinese Doughnut 莎翁 (RMB 24)
Steamed Oysters with Garlic 蒜蒸鲜蚝 (RMB 12 each)
Steamed Fresh Abalone 陈皮蒸鲜鲍 (RMB 12 each)
Proudly listed on the Guangzhou Michelin Guide, Tao Tao Ju 陶陶居 is often seen as THE place to go to for Dim Sum in Guangzhou. Not only that the brand is long established and bagged many awards, the brand has strong presence across Guangzhou. It is easy to spot great crowd waiting eagerly to dine-in outside of any Tao Tao Ju branches. We visited the one right next to our hotel- Mercure Beijing Road. This one can be found on 7th floor of Tian He Mall Beijing Road. We recommend trying their Har Kaw or Prawn Dumplings- amazingly juicy with delicious and fresh Prawns. The size of the Har Kaw is definitely bigger than the normal ones, though it comes with a price. The Roasted Goose was good too- tender with pockets of fats. The skin was expertly roasted to a crisp with a fair share of fats; best for sharing as it be a little overly greasy if one to finish it entirely. None of the dishes disappoint, worth trying.
2) Renxin Old Shop 仁信甜品
Business Hours: 12 pm to 10 pm. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: +020-83189986
Shuang Pi Nai with Ice Cream 香草雪糕双皮奶 (RMB 21)
Ginger Milk Pudding 姜汁撞奶 (RMB 16)
Mango Coconut Milk Sago 芒果椰奶西米露 (RMB 16)
Shun De Shuang Pi Nai and Ginger Milk Pudding are some of the must-try delicacies in Guangzhou and Renxin Old Shop 仁信甜品 is a convenient spot to have these Cantonese desserts. You can find the long established Renxin Old Shop in any tourist-packed locations, including Beijing Road Pedestrian Street. They have a big menu, featuring an array of Cantonese desserts, though the main differences will be the toppings. The Shuang Pi Nai and Ginger Milk Pudding were very sweet, a lot sweeter than most places we had. Not so much for absolute taste but if convenience is your concern, then Renxin Old Shop is a decent choice.
3) Chao Fa Beef Hotpot 潮发潮汕牛肉店
Business Hours: 11:30 am to 2:30 am. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: +020-33370424
Chao Fa Standard Set for 2-3 pax (RMB 148)
Iced Lemon Tea (RMB 6.60)
Chao Fa Beef Hotpot 潮发潮汕牛肉店 is literally everywhere in Guangzhou city, they have strong presence in many malls. The brand is popular amongst both tourists and locals. It serves the local specialty of Teo Chew Beef Hotpot where the Beef is freshly sourced and cut in an open-kitchen. You get to witness the whole process and they even label the time the beef is delivered to ensure absolute freshness. The broth is lightly seasoned and the meat is thinly sliced. It is easier to order the package meal as it includes the hotpot broth. The flavor-combo is pretty straight-forward but the real draw is the dipping sauce, which is a Teo Chew-inspired Chili dip. Definitely worth visiting if you enjoy fresh Beef and hotpot.
5) Chen Tian Ji Fish Skin 陈添记鱼皮
Business Hours: 10 am to 10 pm. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: +020-81828774
Shun De Fish Skin 顺德鱼皮 (RMB 33)
The Shun De Fish Skin is one of the proud Shun De delights and it can be found in any Shun De restaurants. But Chen Tian Ji Fish Skin 陈添记鱼皮 remains as one of the popular ones not only amongst the tourists but the locals as well. We had some Shun De Fish Skin in a different restaurant but we though Chen Tian Ji's was better. Chen Tian Ji's Fish Skin was impossibly chewy and addictive. The Fish Skin was lightly dressed with Soy Sauce and Peanut Oil, served with julienned Spring Onions, Coriander and roasted Peanuts. Pretty simple and straight-forward but the flavor combo was unique and lip-smacking.
6) Kai Ji Dessert 开记甜品
Business Hours: 9 am to 12 am. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: +020-81704795
Water Chestnut Dessert 生磨马蹄沙 (RMB 11)
Mung Bean Dessert 招牌香草陈皮绿豆沙 (RMB 13/ cold)
Do not leave Guangzhou without trying some old-school, authentic Cantonese Tong Sui. One of the best places to try some would be at Kai Ji Dessert 开记甜品, a dessert house that withstood the test of time. The place has been around for years and has been churning out some delicious and inexpensive Tong Sui to the neighborhood. It has been excavated by some on social media, exposing this hidden gem. We took the opportunity to try some of Tong Sui that are uncommon in Malaysia. One being the Water Chestnut Dessert, basically a gooey-slimy sweet soup with bits of Water Chestnut. It was served cold and it was super refreshing. Not overly sweet but definitely good enough to end a meal.
7) Yin Ji Cheong Fun 银记肠粉
Business Hours: 6:30 am to 12:30 am. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: N/A
Golden Sand Red Cheong Fun 金沙红米肠 (RMB 28)
Beef and Prawn Cheong Fun 滑牛鲜虾肠粉 (RMB 22)
Li Wan Tingzai Porridge 荔湾艇仔粥 (RMB 12)
Chinese Crullers 油炸鬼 (RMB 3.50)
One of the most convenient places to experience local, authentic Cantonese Cheong Fun in Guangzhou would be at Yin Ji Cheong Fun 银记肠粉. With many branches in Guangzhou, the one near Beijing Road Pedestrian Street is the most convenient one. The place is super busy on mornings so do plan your visit accordingly. The menu revolves around some classic Cantonese breakfast choices like Cheong Fun, Porridge and various fried fritters. We had the Beef and Prawn Cheong Fun, it was delicious. The Cheong Fun was silky smooth and not overly thick. The Porridge was a little diluted but it was silky smooth and easy on the palate. We recommend trying their Golden Sand Red Cheong Fun which has some fried fritters rolled up, creating an addictive crispy texture. Affordable and delicious meal.
8) Sesame Paste Family 芝麻糊世家
Business Hours: 10:30 am to 11 pm. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: N/A
Sesame and Peanut Sweet Soup 芝麻花生糊双拼 (RMB 9.80)
Many sing their praises on the Sesame Paste by the Sesame Paste Family 芝麻糊世家. They have a few branches but we visited the one at Beijing Road. Place your order and wait for your turn to take the dessert with you. Rich and bold flavors but not overly sweetened, a decent Sesame and Peanut sweet soup but not out of the world good.
9) Da Yang 达扬原味炖品
Business Hours: 11 am to 12 am. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: +020- 8332 7931
Chicken and Coconut Soup 椰子炖鸡 (RMB 23)
Da Yang 达扬原味炖品 is probably the best place for you to experience a local, down-to-earth meal as it is likely you don't get to find the whole table for yourself but to share with the locals. They do have another shop at the back of the alley but the place is often full. Super limited menu but the place is always full, with a mix of locals and tourists. The Chicken and Coconut Soup was the only item on offer during our visit. It was served to us piping hot and the broth was delicious- expertly cooked and seasoned, with an umami-aftertaste. Do check it out if you are in the vicinity but not worth the trip to come all the way here.
10) Chao Ji Claypot Rice 超记煲仔饭
Business Hours: 10 am to 9 pm. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: +020- 8370 5031
Duo Toppings 双拼- Beef 香滑牛肉 and Chicken Claypot Rice 滑鸡煲仔饭 (RMB 30)
One of my favorite meals in Guangzhou was at Chao Ji Claypot Rice 超记煲仔饭, the place is a short walk from Beijing Road. The place specializes in serving Cantonese-style Claypot Rice, the only difference is to order those with different toppings as well as some slow-boiled soups. We had the duo-topping version of Chicken and Beef. Not so much on the toppings... the real draw was the scorched rice at the bottom of the Claypot. They were crisp and beautifully scorched. The rice is not seasoned and it is entirely up to the amount of Soy Sauce you pour in. Highly recommended. This place is also on the Michelin Guide Guangzhou.
11) Five Generation Dessert Shop 五代同糖 糖水甜品专门店
Business Hours: 10 am to 11 pm. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: N/A
Milk Mochi with Matcha 宇治牛奶麻薯 (RMB 22)
Jade Pistachio Dessert 翡翠开心果糊 (RMB 30)
It is easy to spot Five Generation Dessert Shop 五代同糖 near the Beijing Road Pedestrian Street, the place is especially busy on weekends and after dinner hours. As the name suggested, the place specializes in serving Chinese desserts and sweet soups. The place gained fame due to its stretchy Milk Mochi which went viral on social media. We had it with Matcha and it was bland- not sweet nor salty, just tasteless. It did carry a hint of milky fragrant but it was overall, bland. Like-wise for the Jade Pistachio Dessert, it did not carry the unique Pistachio aroma, though it has hint of nuttiness but it was very weak. They were not sweet at all. Not a place that I would recommend to visit.
12) Yu Shi Dessert 余时冰室
Business Hours: 11 am to 10 pm. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: N/A
Matcha and Grapes Shaved Ice 抹茶青提波波冰 (RMB 38)
If you yearn for shaved ice dessert, check out Yu Shi Dessert 余时冰室. They are available in several locations across Guangzhou but we visited the outlet at One Link Walk (万菱汇), a huge shopping mall at Tian He area. It is strategically located near to one of the escalators on the basement floor. This place is popular amongst the young couples. They have quite a few choices when it comes to shaved ice, the base is pretty much the same (ie: milk base) but the toppings differ. We had the Matcha and Grapes, the base was still Milk (not Matcha); some Matcha powder was sprinkled on the top. Overall it was not very sweet but we enjoyed the refreshing combo with chewy and pulpy elements. Good for sharing.
13) Wen Ji Chicken 文记壹心鸡
Business Hours: 11 am to 2:30 pm, 5 pm to 9 pm. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: +020-8172 8887
Signature Poached Chicken 广东鸡 (RMB 79/ half bird)
Claypot Fish Maw 啫啫鱼卜 (RMB 63)
Flat-thick Noodles with Onions and Gingers 姜葱捞面 (RMB 33)
Wen Ji Chicken 文记壹心鸡 is on the Michelin Bib Gourmand's list, according to the guide- the restaurant maintains its Qing Ping Chicken cooking technique which was passed down for generations. A specific breed- Qing Yuan Chicken is used, the breed is known for its high quality meat and distinctive flavor. It is a must to order their Signature Poached Chicken here, served with the Cantonese Scallion-Ginger paste. Unfortunately, we did not know how to appreciate the Chicken. While the Chicken carried a good, distinctive meaty flavor; we thought the texture was a little too rough to our liking. We were expecting something near to the Hainanese Chicken but unfortunately not. The Scallion-Ginger paste was good though. The Claypot Fish Maw was delicious- the fresh Fish Maw has a delicate crunchy texture. The restaurant is hidden in an alley so do pay attention to the signage.
14) Chao Hui Ju Restaurant 潮惠居饮食店
Business Hours: 8 am to 10 pm. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: N/A
Teo Chew Fish Ball Noodles (RMB 13) + Beef Balls (RMB 10)
Braised Beef Brisket Noodles (RMB 25)
Teo Chew Squid and Prawn Cake (RMB 26)
Sour Plum with Sprite (RMB 7)
Chao Hui Ju Restaurant 潮惠居饮食店 is a neighborhood Teo Chew restaurant but be prepared for a slightly long walk from Beijing Road Pedestrian Street... expect to walk for at least 20 minutes to this place. The restaurant is really local with very few tourists in sight... mainly those living in the neighborhood. The menu is simple- only Egg Noodles and Koay Teow. We had the Fish Ball Koay Teow and Braised Beef Brisket with Egg Noodles; both were good. The Fish Ball with Koay Teow was pretty much similar to the Penang Koay Teow Th'ng but with more toppings. The Beef Balls were amazingly bouncy and yummy. The Egg Noodles were somewhat similar to our Wan Ton Noodles... no surprises on the taste but we agree that they were delicious.
15) Xie San Bao 蟹叁宝
Business Hours: 11 am to 10 pm. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: N/A
Signature Crab Roe Set 蟹黄金捞 (RMB 126)
Crab Roe Dumplings 蟹粉小笼 (RMB 48)
A popular chain known for serving Crab Roe dishes- Xie San Bao 蟹叁宝 is available all over China but there is a branch within walking distance from our hotel. We missed this place in our last trip to Shanghai so we took the opportunity to visit this branch in Guangzhou. We tried the Signature Crab Roe Set; we opted for Rice because they recommended so. There was no seafood stench at all and we could taste the seafood sweetness. Some black Vinegar was served to cut through the greasiness. We recommend 2 person sharing one portion so you can save some space for others. You might also want to consider ordering their Crab Roe Dumplings- not overly exciting but decent enough.
16) Xi Guan Noodles 西关竹园竹升面
Business Hours: 9 am to 10 pm. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: N/A
Prawn Dumpling Noodles 鲜虾云吞面 (RMB 18)
No trip to Guangzhou is complete without trying Wan Ton Noodles as Guangzhou is the birthplace for Wan Ton Noodles. A short walk from the Beijing Road Pedestrian- Xi Guan Noodles 西关竹园竹升面 has bagged several Michelin awards. The place is known to serve handmade Bamboo Wan Ton Mee (pressed using Bamboo log). We had their signature one and it was delicious. The noodles were springy and the broth carried a bold dried seafood fragrance, primarily from the Dried Flat Fish. The Wan Ton or Prawn Dumplings were delicious too- generously wrapped with plump and fresh Prawns. The serving portion can be small though. They also carry instant noodles in boxes, suitable to be brought back as gifts or souvenirs.
17) 1699 Zhuo Jian Cafe 1699 拙见大咖
Business Hours: 10 am to 9 pm. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: N/A
Value Saver Combo Set- Burnt Cheese Cake 原味巴斯克 and Iced Lemon Tea 手打柠檬茶 (RMB 46)
Beautifully housed in an old Chinese mansion at Hui Fu E Road (within walking distance from Beijing Road Pedestrian Street), 1699 Zhuo Jian Cafe is definitely a cool spot for some instagrammable portraiture shots. The cafe has limited food choices so it is not a place meant to enjoy the food but more for the ambiance and a pitstop to rest the shopping feet. On our visit- Burnt Cheese Cake was the only option available but it was not disappointing. The Cake itself was okay-average but the winning recipe was the lightly salted cream-foam which was light and easy on the palate but worked magically with the Cheese Cake. We spent a leisure afternoon here as well as some time to take some really nice photos.
18) Da Rong Shu Xia 大榕树下
Business Hours: 11 am to 9 pm. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: N/A
Shun De Fish Skin Salad 顺德拌鱼皮 (RMB 29)
Shun De Lotus Root Yong Tofu 顺德公煎酿莲藕 (RMB 29)
Shun De Chicken Salad 顺德捞鸡 (RMB 69)
Red Beans Shuang Pi Nai 红豆双皮奶 (RMB 13.80)
Conveniently situated in Tian He Mall Beijing Road, Da Rong Shu Xia specializes in Shunde delights and it was one of the best meals during our trip. Dishes are reasonably priced here with generous serving portion. We recommend trying their Shun De Lotus Root Yong Tofu- almost like our Yong Tofu but using Lotus Roots so you get the crisp texture with the addictive meaty fish paste sandwiching in between. The sauce was the soul to the dish- so perfect that it went super well with rice! The ambiance is comfortable and the restaurant is clean, a convenient and easy spot to dine-in especially if you have senior citizens or young kids traveling with you.
19) Shun De Yang Yan Ji 顺德杨廷记
Address: Ling Nan Tian Di, Foshan.
Business Hours: 10:30 am to 9:30 pm. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: N/A
Feng Cheng Fried Milk 凤城炸牛奶 (RMB 23)
Feng Cheng Handmade Fish Cake 凤城手打鱼饼 (RMB 20)
Shun De Shuang Pi Nai 顺德双皮奶 (RMB 15)
Strategically located in the Ling Nan Tian Di at Foshan, Yang Yan Ji has several branches across Guangzhou but we checked out this one at Ling Nan Tian Di. Big crowd on weekends so suggest to head there earlier if you want to have a meal there. We did not manage to try the mains here but some of the classic Shunde delights like the Fish Cake, Shuang Pi Nai and Fried Milk. None of them disappoint, certainly a good spot to rest your shopping feet or to indulge in the Shunde delicacies.
20) Shun De Song Ji 顺德松记食店
Business Hours: 11:30 am to 2:30 pm; 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: N/A
Crisp Flesh Grass Carp 脆肉鲩鱼腩 (RMB 68)
Crisp Flesh Grass Carp 脆肉鲩鱼肉 (RMB 48)
Eel 黄鳝 (RMB 70)
Jiang Xi Chicken 江西草鸡 (RMB 58/ half bird)
Fish Skin Dumplings 鱼皮饺 (RMB 33)
Beancurd Skin 乡下腐竹 (RMB 28)
Pickled Daikon 腌萝卜 (RMB 8)
A brand that withstood the test of time, Song Ji has been established for more than 4 decades and it is a popular hotpot restaurant in Foshan and Shunde. Song Ji is known to serve clear water hotpot- literally using clear mineral water instead of seasoned broth. The restaurant is also known to serve crisp flesh Grass Carp and various Shun De delights. We highly recommend trying their Crisp Flesh Grass Carp, a type of freshwater fish with unbelievably crispy and addictive texture.... unlike anything you can find in Malaysia. The rest of the ingredients were fresh too. A very unique and delicious meal that you should not miss if you happen to be in Foshan!
Sharing some Photos on Beijing Road 北京路
Sharing some Photos on Yong Qing Fang 永庆坊
Sharing some Photos on Foshan Zu Miao 佛山祖庙
Entrance Fee: RMB 20 per pax
Sharing some Photos on Shang Xia Jiu Street 上下九街
Have Fun Exploring Guangzhou!
No comments:
Post a Comment