Cantonese Food Guide: 15 Dishes You Must Try in Guangdong
Dim sum is just the beginning. Cantonese cuisine — born in Guangdong and perfected in Guangzhou, Shunde and Hong Kong — is China’s most influential regional cooking. Here are 15 dishes to hunt down on your food tour.
The Dim Sum Essentials
1. Har Gow (Shrimp Dumplings)
Crystal-clear wrappers, plump whole shrimp — the benchmark dish by which Cantonese restaurants are judged.
2. Siu Mai (Pork & Mushroom Dumplings)
The open-topped classic, usually topped with fish roe.
3. Char Siu Bao (BBQ Pork Buns)
Sweet, smoky barbecue pork in fluffy steamed buns — best straight from the bamboo steamer.
4. Cheung Fun (Rice Noodle Rolls)
Silky steamed rice rolls with shrimp, beef or fried dough, drizzled with sweet soy.
Shunde Specialties (UNESCO City of Gastronomy)
5. Double-Skin Milk (Shuangpi Nai)
Shunde’s famous layered milk custard — silky, rich, and unlike any dessert you’ve tried.
6. Stir-Fried Milk
A savory miracle: milk curdled and stir-fried into a creamy, tender dish with shrimp and ham.
7. Shunde Raw Fish (Yusheng)
Paper-thin fresh river fish, the ancestor of Singapore’s yusheng, tossed with sesame and herbs.
Chaoshan Classics
8. Hand-Beaten Beef Balls & Hotpot
Bouncy, impossibly springy beef balls in a rich broth — Chaoshan’s pride.
9. Lion-Head Goose
Slow-braised goose in dark soy and spices, served with garlic vinegar dip.
10. Oyster Omelette
Crispy-edged, gooey-centered oyster omelette from the Shantou coast.
Guangzhou Icons
11. White-Cut Chicken (Baiqie Ji)
The purity test of Cantonese cooking: poached chicken served with ginger-scallion oil.
12. Roast Goose
Crisp lacquered skin, juicy meat — at its best in Guangzhou’s old roast shops.
13. Claypot Rice
Charred-bottomed rice with cured meats, served sizzling from the claypot.
14. Cantonese Congee
Silky rice porridge with century egg, pork or fish — the ultimate comfort breakfast.
15. Herbal Tea (Liangcha)
Bitter, cooling herbal brews that Cantonese families drink for health — an acquired taste worth acquiring.
Where to Eat
Guangzhou’s old town (Liwan District), Shunde’s Huagai Road food street, and Chaozhou’s Paifang Street are the three must-visit food neighborhoods. A local guide unlocks the time-honored shops tourists never find. Explore our Guangdong food tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Cantonese and Sichuan food?
Cantonese food highlights fresh ingredients and light seasoning; Sichuan food is famous for numbing spice (mala). Cantonese is gentler and more subtle.
Is Cantonese food spicy?
No — authentic Cantonese cuisine is delicate and lightly seasoned, letting ingredients shine.
Can I find vegetarian Cantonese food?
Yes — vegetable dumplings, steamed greens, tofu dishes and congee are all vegetarian-friendly.
What is the best city for Cantonese food?
Guangzhou is the capital of Cantonese cuisine, but Shunde (UNESCO City of Gastronomy) is the true foodie pilgrimage site.
How do I order dim sum like a local?
Go in the morning (before 11am), order by ticking the menu card, and drink tea throughout — that’s the ritual.