Recommended Places for Morning Tea in Guangzhou ! Must-Try Morning & Lunch Teas, Desserts & Cantonese Cuisine in Guangzhou ! A Guide to Queuing Up at Time-Honored Restaurants

Written by Liu Ni

Over the years living in Taiwan, I often hear people say about Cantonese people: “I heard you Cantonese will eat anything except for a four-legged stool?” While half of this is an exaggeration, it does reflect the Cantonese people’s love for food. As a native Cantonese, I can responsibly tell you that Cantonese people not only “love to eat,” but also “know how to eat”: the streets and alleys are filled with distinctive delicacies; all kinds of ingredients can be turned into delicious dishes.In addition to the morning and lunch tea culture, Guangdong is also home to world-renowned desserts, Cantonese cuisine, and more.So do you know which restaurants you must visit when you come to Guangzhou? Today, let me be your guide and take you to find out !

1. Cantonese Morning & Lunch Tea

▲ Guangdong-style morning tea offers a rich variety with diverse flavors. (Photo / Xie Yingyi)

Shrimp dumplings, chicken feet, shrimp siu mai, water chestnut cake, char siu buns, siu mai... Tempting dim sum fills the table, while elders enjoy their tea snacks and chat (“blow water”). This is a common scene in Guangdong’s teahouses. The culture of drinking tea in Guangdong has a long history. Starting from the late Qianlong period, a pot of tea and two pieces of dim sum became the standard for literati enjoying storytelling in teahouses. Nowadays, tea drinking is no longer just for the literati, but has become a way for ordinary folks to meet up, chat, and relax. And the selection of tea snacks is no longer limited to a few staples—it’s as rich as a “Manchu Han Imperial Feast.” Below are some classic types of Cantonese dim sum introduced for you:

Shrimp Dumplings
Translucent wheat starch wrappers encase fresh, plump shrimp. When you bite through the skin, you’re greeted with springy, crisp shrimp goodness.

▲ Translucent wheat starch wrappers hide fresh, springy shrimp. (Photo / Che Jianjiang)

Soy Sauce Chicken Feet
Cantonese people are particular with words, often using “phoenix” () instead of “chicken,” so “chicken feet” are called “phoenix claws.” Plump, crimson-colored claws soak in savory soy sauce. With a gentle chew, the skin melts in your mouth, leaving behind the rich flavor of the sauce. Each piece makes you want to gnaw from skin to bone. Some even go all out, using both hands to eat every bit until there's nothing left—now that’s satisfaction.

▲ Phoenix claws soaked in soy sauce are tender and flavorful. (Photo / Intern Reporter Liu Ni)

Glutinous Rice Chicken
Glutinous rice is stuffed with fillings such as chicken, char siu, salted egg yolk, and mushrooms, then wrapped in lotus leaves and steamed. When you unwrap the lotus leaf, the fragrance of the herbs, the aroma of the rice, and the umami of the meat waft out. The glutinous rice is sticky yet smooth and delicious, and with the super rich filling, eating one is deeply satisfying.

▲ Lotus leaf-wrapped glutinous rice chicken gives off the aroma of herbs. (Photo / Screenshot from Dianping.com)

Water Chestnut Cake
Water chestnuts, which resemble a horse’s hoof in shape, are commonly known as “horse hooves” in southern China. There are two ways to prepare water chestnut cake: steamed or pan-fried. Steamed versions are crystal clear, embedded with ivory-colored water chestnut bits, smooth and sweet. Pan-fried ones have a golden crust, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

▲ Crystal-clear cake embedded with snow-white water chestnuts, crispy outside and soft inside. (Photo / Sourced from Dianping.com)

Cheung Fun (Rice Noodle Roll)
Early in the morning, long lines form in front of market stalls. Everyone is waiting for a common Guangdong breakfast—cheung fun. The vendor brushes the batter onto layers of “drawers” with a small spatula, pushes the tray into the steamer, and a few minutes later, pulls it out. Freshly made cheung fun—“white as snow, thin as paper, glossy and shiny, smooth and delicious”—is ready. The wrapper is made from rice slurry, giving it a silky texture. Varieties include vegetarian, egg, meat, and shrimp. So popular among locals, “cheung fun” is even dubbed “fighting for rolls.” You can find it everywhere, from local eateries and teahouses to five-star hotels.

▲ Cheung fun with egg and pork is a daily breakfast staple for many Cantonese. (Photo / Li Yiwen)

Other common Cantonese dim sum include: egg custard buns, char siu buns, milk custard buns, durian pastries, radish & beef offal, osmanthus cake, and many more—too many to list. When in Guangdong, be sure to set aside a morning, grab some family or friends, head to a teahouse, sit around a table, enjoy the dim sum, and soak in the lively, bustling atmosphere., too numerous to list. When in Guangdong, be sure to set aside a morning to head out early with friends or family to a teahouse, sit around a table, savor dim sum, and soak in the lively, bustling atmosphere.

Where to Eat:

Tao Tao Ju
Tao Tao Ju is a time-honored restaurant in Guangzhou, established during the Qing Dynasty’s Guangxu era. Its building features a hexagonal pavilion on the roof, and the interior walls are adorned with calligraphy and paintings, poetry couplets, especially the colorful glass screen engraved with poems and paintings, all exuding the distinctive Lingnan style of Guangdong. The place is very popular—the morning tea service only accepts walk-in queuing, so patience is required.
Recommended dishes: Lava custard buns, water chestnut cake, radish and beef offal, preserved egg and lean pork congee
Address: No. 20, Dihai Road, Liwan District (near Datong Road)

▲ The exterior of Tao Tao Ju is full of Cantonese Lingnan characteristics. (Photo / Screenshot from Dianping)

Lin Heung Tea House
Lin Heung Tea House is also a century-old famous shop. It was originally a pastry and dim sum specialty store called "Pastry Shop," and was renamed Lin Heung Tea House during the Guangxu era. Its mooncakes are known as the "No. 1 Lotus Paste Mooncake." The layout of the tea house’s hall is themed around “lotus,” featuring large, rustic yet elegant lotus lamps that showcase the charm of Lingnan style. Like Tao Tao Ju, this place only accepts walk-in queuing for morning tea.
Recommended dishes: Shrimp dumplings, cheung fun, char siu buns, durian paste/u>
Address: No. 67, Dihai Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province

 ▲ The interior of Lin Heung Tea House is designed with a lotus theme, giving it an elegant and traditional feel. (Photo / Screenshot from Wikipedia)

II. Cantonese-style Desserts
Due to their geographical and cultural proximity, Guangdong and Hong Kong share overlapping dessert styles. The standout feature of Cantonese desserts is their focus on health, wellness, and a blend of Eastern and Western influences. Here are some popular Cantonese desserts:

Mango Pomelo Sago
Made with coconut milk as the base, topped with sago, and then layered with brightly colored mango and pomelo, the smooth and fragrant coconut milk pairs perfectly with the sweet mango and tangy pomelo. Add in the chewy texture of sago, and you’ll find yourself unable to stop at just one bite. Not only is it delicious, but it also helps soothe coughs, expel phlegm, and prevent cardiovascular diseases—how can you not love it?

▲ The smooth coconut milk base paired with sweet and tangy mango creates the unique flavor of Cantonese desserts. (Photo / Che Jianjiang)

Lotus Seed Sweet Soup
This bowl of rock sugar soup includes soft lotus seeds and sweet red dates, sometimes also enriched with nourishing longan flesh. It's served chilled in hot weather and warm in cold weather. It's a nourishing treat that benefits the spleen, stomach, and calms the spirit.

▲ Lotus seed sweet soup is not only delicious but also offers detoxifying and health-boosting benefits. (Photo / Xie Yingyi)

Guilinggao (Turtle Jelly)
Made by grinding the plastron of the precious Chinese soft-shell turtle and dried smilax root into powder, then dissolving and cooling it until it solidifies into a dark gel-like substance, guilinggao becomes a bouncy and slightly sweet jelly. Though it may not look appetizing and has a mildly bitter taste (which can be offset with honey), it offers heat-clearing, detoxifying, skin-beautifying, and energizing benefits, making it a top choice dessert for beauty-conscious individuals.

▲ Despite its unappealing appearance, guilinggao is made from valuable medicinal ingredients. (Photo / Xie Yingyi)

Double Skin Milk
A specialty dessert from Shunde, Guangdong, double skin milk involves a complex process including boiling milk, cooling it, preserving the “skin,” removing some milk, and boiling it again. The result is a bowl of milk with two distinct layers of “skin.” The milk here has a creamier and richer texture than regular milk. The top layer is lightly sweet, while the bottom layer is silky smooth and melts in your mouth. A spoonful delivers an explosion of milky fragrance.

▲ The making of double skin milk with its two delicate layers is quite intricate. (Photo / Screenshot from Dianping)

Where to eat:

Hee Chang Desserts
Hee Chang Desserts combines traditional and modern-style sweets. The shop’s theme centers on “happiness,” using red and brown as the main color scheme. It emphasizes a relaxed and cozy atmosphere, offers full Wi-Fi coverage, and uses an iPad ordering system, blending fashion with warmth.
Recommended dishes: Mango cheung fun, durian pancake, durian tiramisu, apricot juice snow fungus stew
Address:
Lok Fu Plaza Branch Address: Shop S03, B2 Floor, Lok Fu Plaza, No. 106-108, Gongye Dadao North, Haizhu District
Harbour City Branch Address: Shop 104, 1st Floor, Harbour City, No. 418 Yanjiang East Road, Yuexiu District (opposite Dashatou Bus Terminal)

▲ Hee Chang Desserts offers both traditional and modern desserts, with a stylish shop interior. (Photo / Screenshot from Hee Chang Desserts official website)

Xinghua Building
Established in the first year of the Xianfeng era during the Qing Dynasty, Xinghua Building is a century-old brand specializing in traditional Cantonese desserts. Though located in a bustling area with a relatively noisy environment, it stands out for its affordable prices and high quality, offering a taste of the most authentic traditional Guangzhou sweets.
RecommendedRecommended dishes: Mango Pomelo Sago, Phoenix Custard, Almond Pudding, Tapioca Skin Glutinous Rice Balls
Address: No. 36, Tiyu West Road, Tianhe District (near Yulei Community)

▲ Xinghua Building focuses on traditional desserts where you can savor the classic flavors of Guangzhou. (Photo / Screenshot from Dianping)

III. Cantonese Cuisine
Cantonese cuisine is one of China’s four major culinary traditions and is internationally recognized as a representative of Chinese food, exerting far-reaching influence.

Salt-Baked Chicken
The traditional method of making salt-baked chicken involves rubbing the chicken’s cavity with salt, sesame oil, and other seasonings, wrapping it in paper, and baking it in a pile of salt for about an hour. The resulting chicken has a light yellow hue, with a crispy skin and tender meat. This dish is also one of my personal favorite hometown flavors — highly recommended!

Plain-Boiled Pork Tripe
Plain-boiling preserves the original umami of the pork tripe without any strong gamey flavor. Fresh and clean tripe, dipped in soy sauce, offers a thick yet crisp texture.

Roast Goose
The golden-skinned goose is cut into small pieces, with the skin, meat, and bone connected yet easily separable. The meat melts in your mouth, rich with savory juices yet not greasy. It can also be served with plum sauce for dipping, offering a uniquely delightful flavor.

Premium Stewed Soups
Cantonese people love “brewing premium soups.” A pot of water is simmered over low heat for dozens of minutes along with a rich medley of ingredients to produce just a few bowls of aromatic, nutritious “old-fire premium soup.” There are many varieties, such as lotus root and pork rib soup, chestnut chicken stew, and seaweed egg drop soup. When visiting Guangdong, be sure to have a bowl before your meal — every cup is a concentrated essence.

▲ Black char siu features a crispy, caramelized exterior and is juicy without being greasy. (Photo / Screenshot from Bing Sheng Pin Wei official website)

▲ Wenchang chicken has tender and smooth meat, making it the top choice for plain-boiled chicken dishes. (Photo / Screenshot from Bing Sheng Pin Wei official website)

▲ Golden, enticing suckling pig is an essential dish at Cantonese birthday banquets. (Photo / Screenshot from Guangzhou Restaurant official website)

Where to Eat:

Bing Sheng Pin Wei
A century-old Cantonese restaurant with multiple chain locations. Its flagship store in Zhujiang New Town is situated in the heart of the district, covering a construction area of 12,000 square meters with nearly 2,000 seats. Classical furnishings and décor are found throughout, exuding a rich cultural heritage of Xiguan.
Recommended dishes: Crispy Skin Char Siu, Roast Goose, Pineapple Buns, Cold-Blanched Pork Tripe, Goose Intestines
Flagship store address: 5th Floor, Shoufu Building, No. 2 Xiancun Road, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District (near Guangdong Museum)

▲ The retro-style architecture of Bing Sheng makes you feel as if you’ve stepped into an old-time teahouse. (Photo / Screenshot from Bing Sheng Pin Wei official website)

Guangzhou Restaurant
A time-honored establishment open for over 70 years, it’s hailed as “the No. 1 place to eat in Guangzhou.” In addition to its signature classic dishes, it also offers modern interpretations of Cantonese cuisine, with moderate prices suitable for all ages.
Recommended dishes: Guangzhou Wenchang Chicken, Braised Imperial Pigeon, Qilin Steamed Mandarin Fish, Red Cotton Jiaji Duck
Flagship store address: No. 2 Wenchang South Road, Liwan District

▲The dining hall at Guangzhou Restaurant is spacious, offering a comfortable environment for meals. (Photo / Screenshot from the official website of Guangzhou Restaurant)