What to Eat in Guangzhou? Top 10 Must-Try Dishes

If you’re a food lover, Guangzhou is an unmissable destination. This city is the cradle of Cantonese cuisine—one of the eight major culinary traditions of China. With its refined cooking techniques, elegant yet rich flavors, Guangzhou is known as a “foodie’s paradise” for all travelers. Let’s join Vietjet to explore the top 10 dishes you must try when visiting this city!

1. Introduction to Guangzhou Cuisine

Guangzhou—the capital of Guangdong Province—is not only an economic hub but also the “birthplace of Chinese gastronomy.” When people think of Cantonese cuisine, they immediately imagine an array of cooking styles that emphasize the freshest ingredients, combining a wealth of produce while preserving the natural flavors.

Guangzhou is famous for its bustling food streets where you can find every signature dish of the city.

Moreover, locals in Guangzhou have a habit of “eating all day long,” with three main meals and many snacks in between—especially the “yum cha” culture, enjoying dim sum with hot tea in the morning or afternoon. Whether it’s a street-food stall or a high-end restaurant, each dish here delivers an irresistible, unique flavor.

2. Top 10 Must-Try Dishes When Visiting Guangzhou

Today, let Vietjet review Guangzhou’s street-food scene to help you pick the 10 “must-try” dishes when you visit!

2.1 Dim Sum (Cantonese Breakfast)

It would be remiss to talk about Cantonese cuisine without mentioning dim sum. This traditional Chinese breakfast is typically served in small bamboo steamers, with a wide variety of options such as:

Shrimp Har Gow: translucent, thin wrappers filled with crisp, fresh shrimp.
Siu Mai: minced pork mixed with mushrooms and salted egg roe.
Liu Sha Bao: fluffy buns with a molten salted-egg yolk filling.
Shrimp Rice Rolls: tender rice-flour rolls stuffed with savory shrimp.

Compared to northern China where wheat-flour wrappers are common Guangzhou’s dim sum often uses rice flour or vegetable ingredients, giving it a distinct character. If you have the chance to visit Guangzhou, be sure to sample the street-food dim sum!

Guangzhou dim sum are dainty, with thin, tender wrappers and richly flavored fillings, perfectly complemented by delicate dipping sauces to create an unforgettable taste.

2.2 Roast Goose

Guangzhou roast goose stands as the “counterpart” to Beijing roast duck in both fame and flavor. Its glossy, golden-brown skin is irresistibly crispy, while the meat remains tender and aromatic, fully infused with seasoning. What sets it apart is the signature marinade—honey, soy sauce, and five-spice powder—imparting a deep, unforgettable taste. A side of tangy plum sauce completes the experience, delivering a burst of flavor you won’t soon forget.

Guangzhou roast goose features irresistibly crispy skin, tender, sweet meat thoroughly infused with seasonings—creating a rich, mouthwatering flavor.

2.3. Five-Spice Duck Heads

A uniquely Guangzhou street-food specialty worth trying is five-spice duck heads. After cleaning, the duck heads are pan-fried with ginger until golden, then tossed in an aromatic blend of herbs and spices. This snack delivers an exciting interplay of sour, spicy, salty, and sweet flavors. In Guangzhou you’ll find it sold everywhere—especially at night as a popular late-hour treat.

2.4. Congee Hot Pot

Guangzhou’s congee hot pot has a simpler broth than many other Chinese hot pots, yet it’s refined enough to stand apart from ordinary congee. The stock is simmered with chicken, fresh ginger, and select seasonings, then rice is slowly cooked in it until silky smooth. To eat, you simply add your chosen ingredients to the simmering pot and enjoy them as they cook—just like a traditional hot pot. Common additions include shiitake mushrooms, black cardamom, red dates, and young ginseng—all classic ingredients in Chinese herbal cuisine—so each bite carries authentic Chinese herbal notes. If you’re looking for something lighter, give this delicate Guangzhou congee hot pot a try!

2.5. Sweet-and-Sour Pork

Though sweet-and-sour pork is found around the world, Guangzhou’s version offers the authentic original taste: crispy pork pieces coated in tangy-sweet sauce and stir-fried with bell peppers, onions, and pineapple for extra appeal. This dish dates back to the Qing dynasty, when foreign visitors in Guangdong loved Chinese cuisine—especially sweet-and-sour ribs—but found the bones difficult to eat. Cantonese chefs ingeniously created boneless pork chunks bound with starch, deep-fried until golden, and tossed in sweet-and-sour sauce. The result is a signature Guangzhou classic that enriched the region’s culinary heritage.

2.6. Cantonese Wonton Noodles

Cantonese wonton noodles feature springy yellow egg noodles in a clear, umami-rich broth made from pork bones and dried shrimp—an iconic Guangzhou street-food staple. The wontons are filled with crisp, fresh shrimp and served with scallions and cilantro for maximum flavor. Legend has it that Emperor Qianlong once got lost during a trip and stumbled into a roadside eatery that had run out of food, with only flour, shrimp, and eggs on hand. The quick-thinking cook combined them into a brand-new dish that so delighted the emperor he cleared his bowl and personally named it “wonton noodles.”

Cantonese wonton noodles in Guangzhou feature springy, tender egg noodles topped with generously filled shrimp-and-pork wontons, all bathed in a clear, lightly sweet broth—creating an irresistibly refined flavor.

So if you have the chance to visit Guangzhou, you absolutely must try these wonton noodles!

2.7. Cantonese Rice Noodle Rolls (Cheung Fun)

In Guangzhou, rice noodle rolls are ubiquitous—from street-side stalls and pushcarts to upscale restaurants. The fillings vary widely (beef, chicken, shrimp…), each stir-fried briefly with seasonings to deepen the flavor. When served, the rolls are drizzled with sweet soy sauce for an extra layer of taste.

No matter how they’re prepared, all Guangzhou cheung fun share a paper-thin, tender wrapper, a savory filling, and a silky sauce that meld together in perfect harmony. To experience them at their best, eat them piping hot—many restaurants keep the rolls steaming in bamboo baskets and only lift the lids when they’re brought to your table, releasing fragrant steam that heightens the anticipation. Whether from a roadside vendor or a fine-dining eatery, don’t miss this hallmark of Guangzhou street food!

2.8. Kung Pao Chicken

Another chicken dish that captivates visitors in Guangzhou—but with a twist on the classic Sichuan original—is Kung Pao chicken. Adapted to suit local tastes, Guangzhou’s version is milder in spice and enriched by the nutty crunch of peanuts. Chefs here also get creative, swapping in beef, pork, or seafood for the chicken to deliver new, surprising flavor combinations.

2.9. Pantang Chestnut Cake

Named after the village famed for the finest chestnuts, Pantang cake is a must-try in Guangzhou. Simple to make—chestnut flour mixed with sugar water, then steamed—the cake’s elegance lies in its pure, unforgettable taste.

Often cut into small squares and either steamed again or pan-fried, Pantang cake boasts a soft, chewy texture that holds its shape, a golden-brown hue, and the distinctive buttery aroma of chestnuts. Some versions even include bits of chopped chestnut, adding pops of nutty goodness to each bite and elevating the tasting experience.

2.10. Hong Kong–Style Milk Tea

Hong Kong–style milk tea combines robust black tea with rich condensed milk. It’s less cloyingly sweet than many bubble-tea varieties, finishing with a clean, fragrant aftertaste. Typically brewed from a blend of several black teas for mild astringency and deep aroma, it’s steeped long enough to extract full flavor and attain its characteristic dark color.

In Guangzhou you’ll find this milk tea served at traditional tea houses or Hong Kong–style cafés (cha chaan teng). Renowned spots include Lianxianglou (莲香楼), Tao Tao Ju (陶陶居), and other local cha chaan teng where you can savor an authentically smooth and satisfying cup.

End your day’s feast with a rich, sweet Hong Kong–style milk tea in Guangzhou—simply wonderful!

3. Three Recommended Spots for Authentic Cantonese Dining

To experience true Guangzhou flavors, consider visiting one of these destinations:

3.1 Beijing Road Food Street

A vibrant culinary thoroughfare offering hundreds of tempting dishes. Address: Beijing Road, Yuexiu District, downtown Guangzhou.

How to get there:

Metro Line 6: Exit at Beijing Road Station, Exit B
Metro Line 1 or 2: Exit at Gongyuanqian Station, Exit D, then walk about 800 m east

3.2 Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street

A street-food paradise with wallet-friendly prices, located in Liwan District.

How to get there:

Metro Line 1: Exit at Changshou Lu Station, Exit D, then walk 5–10 minutes
Metro Line 6: Exit at Huangsha Station, Exit E, then a short walk

3.3 Tao Tao Ju Restaurant

A time-honored dim sum institution, celebrated for its authentic Cantonese breakfast. Address: 20 Dishifu Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou

How to get there by metro:

Line 1: Exit at Changshou Lu Station, Exit D → walk ~7 minutes
Line 6: Exit at Huangsha Station, Exit E → walk ~10 minutes

Enjoy unforgettable culinary adventures in Guangzhou!

4. How to Travel from Vietnam to Guangzhou

4.1 By Plane

A flight of just two hours saves you time and energy—and keeps you fresh for your gastronomic journey in Guangzhou! Vietjet operates direct routes to Guangzhou, with fares starting from 890,000 VND. Book during the golden window of 12:00–14:00 daily to snag tickets for 0 VND!

Let’s explore Guangzhou’s cuisine with Vietjet right now!

4.2 By Train

From Hanoi, you can take a train to Nanning, then connect onward to Guangzhou. This journey takes about 18–22 hours. It’s sure to be a memorable experience, as the train stops at interesting stations along the way and offers scenic views throughout.

Guangzhou isn’t just a shopper’s paradise—it’s also a culinary heaven. If you have the chance to visit this city, don’t forget to sample the top 10 signature dishes to fully appreciate the essence of Cantonese cuisine and see for yourself that Vietjet’s street-food review of Guangzhou isn’t an exaggeration! We hope this article has answered your question of what to eat in Guangzhou.

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