One of my favorite things to do when traveling is to discover a destination through its food. Culinary experiences often tell stories that go beyond what we see in guidebooks, they tell the traditions, culture and everyday life that have shaped a city. Besides the beautiful scenery, food hold a strong memory connection and as experience too.
Guangzhou Restaurant 广州酒家 is exactly that kind of place. During our culinary journey through Guangzhou 双城寻味广州行 with Golden Success Holiday 鑫驰旅游 and Kwong Wah Yit Poh 光华日报, we visited the Wenchang Main Restaurant, the birthplace of this iconic brand. Established in 1935, Guangzhou Restaurant is a recognized Chinese time-honored brand and is known as "食在广州第一家“, that translated as "the first name in Guangzhou dining"
A Lingnan Garden in the Heart of the Restaurant
Stepping into Guangzhou Restaurant, I was immediately drawn to the beautiful Lingnan-style courtyard at the heart of the restaurant. It felt so surreal to find such a tranquil garden tucked within a bustling city.
The central courtyard has a large glass skylight featuring colorful stained-glass elements that tells about Guangzhou, allowing sunlight to filter through the vibrant glass and illuminate the space below. Surrounding the courtyard are landscaped greenery, a pond, trees and stone. Such a beautiful balance between heritage and modern design.
It is not only a photogenic setting but also makes dining here feel almost like enjoying a meal inside a traditional Lingnan garden. The combination of water, greenery, natural light and architecture gives the restaurant a character that feels distinctly Guangzhou.
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| Cheering for the success of jointly planned culinary trip through two cities with Kwong Wash Yit Poh 光华日报, Guangzhou Self-Media Association 广州市自媒体协会, Guangdong Culinary Association 广东烹饪协会 and KOL from Penang at Guangzhou Restaurant |
A Taste of Traditional Cantonese Cuisine
Guangzhou Restaurant is known for its traditional Cantonese cuisine and dim sum, making it a nice place to experience the Cantonese yum cba culture where slow mornings spent over pots of tea, backets of freshly steamed dim sum and conversations around the table.
The highlight of the meal for me was the seasonal Red Plum Blossom Pastry 红梅酥 was the highlight of our dinner. It was almost too pretty to eat, meticulously crafted to resemble a blooming five-petal plum blossom. It is also share cultural connection to Guangzhou's city flower, kapok flower 木棉花. The pastry is a beautiful example of how Cantonese cuisine can be both culinary and artistic, turning a traditional pastry into an edible piece of art.
What made it even more special was that this is a seasonal item, available only during certain festive periods and the spring season. I felt particularly lucky to be able to try it during our visit.
Another adorable creation was the Red Date Bun 红枣包, shaped like an oversized red date. Bite into the soft bun and you get a sweet, rich red-date filling inside.
For dim sum classics, the Large Shrimp Dumpling 虾饺 is one you should not miss. The translucent skin wrapped around plump, generous pieces of shrimp, giving it that satisfying combination of delicate texture and fresh seafood flavour. The Fried Shrimp Ball 炸虾球 was another favourite. Crispy on the outside with juicy shrimp inside, it was wonderfully addictive.
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| Red Plum Blossom Pastry 红梅酥 |
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| Red Date Bun 红枣包 |
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| Red Date Bun 红枣包 |
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| Fried Shrimp Ball 炸虾球 |
Moving on the main dishes, the Steamed Mandarin Fish 蒸桂花鱼, was simple yet comforting. The fish was fresh and tender, while the premium soy sauce brought out its natural sweetness without overpowering it.
The Roasted Goose 烧鹅 was another standout. The skin was beautfully crisp, glazed with a slightly sweet sauce that added another layer of flavour to the rich and succelent meat.
We also try their Lai Fun 濑粉, thick rice noodle served in a comforting broth that worked particularly well alongside the richer dishes. To round everything off, we added a Scallion Pancake 葱油饼, thin and crispy with plenty of fragrant scallion aroma.
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| Roasted Goose 烧鹅 |
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| Steamed Mandarin Fish 蒸桂花鱼 |
Dining at Guangzhou Restaurant was more than just another meal during our Guangzhou trip. From its century-old culinary heritage and beautiful Lingnan courtyard to the traditional flavours on the table, it gave us a small but delicious glimpse into the food culture that makes Guangzhou so special in my heart.
Want to explore more dim sum spot, check out my post here.
Read more of my 5D4N Guangzhou's itinerary here.
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