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The city is well known both in and outside of China for its fresh and diverse selection of seafood, due to its close proximity to the South China Sea. Tender braised and barbecued meats are available in delicious variety, and succulent dim sum still rules the roost as the city's hometown favorite.
In addition to Chinese restaurants, Guangzhou has a number of Indian, Italian, Thai, and Vietnamese eateries as well.
Worth a visit for the decor alone, Beiyuan is a throwback to 1928, the year the restaurant opened. The two-story dining room wraps around a traditional Chinese courtyard and includes a well-manicured garden and a pond with goldfish. The restaurant's interior is jazzed up with Chinese screens, lanterns and chandeliers. The menu—specializing in Cantonese cuisine and dim sum—is available in Engish, though it can be a struggle to get your hands on a copy.
Take the lines outside of Binsheng as an indication that the food here is worth the wait. A local Cantonese favorite, Bingsheng is most famous for its char siu, or barbecued pork. Wading through the huge picture menu (which includes English) can be a task, so look for the specialties: the chef's black barbecue pork is a signature, as well as the homemade, extra silky tofu, and enormous, piping hot pineapple buns. People come here for lively, family-style surrounds and excellent local fare, not for the service.
Avoid the rush by getting in line by 6 pm or after 8:30 pm.
This aptly named eatery has a cheerful home-away-from-home feel, complete with flags from various countries hanging from the ceiling and beers from around the world. The food is inexpensive and good, with pizzas, pastas, and excellent bruschetta prepared by an Italian chef. Food from the menu is much better than the buffet, which is Y158 per person and lasts from 6–11 pm nightly.
With so many cuisines represented on its menu (Asian curries, Tex-Mex favorites, British fish-and-chips, and much more), a UN think tank could happily share a table here. Steak is one of Lucy's signature dishes. A favorite among foreigners, this eatery in the old Shamian district has a lovely outdoor dining area; even the dining room has a few trees growing through the roof. A friendly and helpful staff is at your service.
With a name that means "house of happiness," this is one of the city's most revered traditional Cantonese restaurants. Opening its door more than a century ago, Tao Tao Ju is famous for its dim sum, especially the nai huang bao (buns made with milk and egg yolks). The menu, available in English, has many items that you're unlikely to find elsewhere, including tasty kudzu and frog rice.
