Must-see restaurants in China

  • Beancurd pudding at Kung Wo Tofu Factory

    Kung Wo Tofu Factory

    Kowloon

    Regulars come to this charming 50-year-old shop for fresh soy milk, pan-fried tofu and sweet tofu pudding (HK$12), made the traditional way from beans…

  • Duddell's

    Hong Kong

    Light Cantonese fare is served in riveting spaces enhanced by artwork at this one-Michelin-starred restaurant-gallery. There's a graceful dining room,…

  • Yè Shanghai

    Kowloon

    Dark woods and subdued lighting inspired by 1920s Shanghai impart an air of romance to this otherwise bustling restaurant serving exquisite Shanghainese…

  • Ultraviolet

    The Bund & People's Square

    You’ve probably paired food and wine before, but what about coupling an illuminated apple-wasabi communion wafer with purple candles and a specially…

  • Yue Kee Roasted Goose Restaurant

    New Territories

    In an alley lined with roast-goose restaurants, 60-year-old Yue Kee is the king. Order gorgeous plates of coppery-skinned charcoal-roasted goose (half is…

  • Bingsheng Mansion

    Guangzhou

    One of only eight restaurants awarded a star in the inaugural 2018 Guangzhou Michelin guide, this is the upmarket flagship of the esteemed Bingsheng chain…

  • Eight

    Macau

    The Eight is a stellar three-Michelin-starred restaurant and model of Cantonese culinary refinement inside the Grand Lisboa. You can dine on a 'simple'…

  • Commune Social

    Shanghai

    From UK celebrity chef Jason Atherton, this natty Neri & Hu–designed restaurant blends a stylish yet relaxed vibe with sensational tasting dishes,…

  • Jade Dragon

    Macau

    At three-Michelin-starred Jade Dragon, the genius of a Cantonese master is applied to top-notch ingredients and the results are mesmerising. We've all had…

  • 1 Restaurant

    Yunnan

    Built into a historic courtyard house once owned by a trader of the Tea Horse Road era, the restaurant's very modern menu features Yunnanese and Naxi…

  • Roasted sliced goose with mint on dish in restaurant

    Dadong

    Forbidden City & Dongcheng Central

    Dadong could be the best meal of your trip or an occasion to forget, and it all comes down to expectation. Less Peking duck restaurant and more temple to…

  • Eating roast duck at a Beijing roast duck restaurant

    Jingzun Peking Duck

    Beijing

    An unsung purveyor of Peking duck, Jingzun's bargain birds (¥138/79 for a whole/half) are every bite the equal of Beijing's more elite brands, unruly…

  • Yunnan Road Food Street

    The Bund & People's Square

    Yunnan Rd has great speciality restaurants and is the spot for an authentic meal after museum-hopping at People’s Square. Find Shaanxi dumplings and…

  • M on the Bund restaurant.

    M on the Bund

    The Bund & People's Square

    M exudes a timelessness and level of sophistication that eclipses the razzle-dazzle of many other upmarket Shanghai restaurants. The menu ain't radical,…

  • The Yunnan Rainbow Restaurant at 18 Shelter Street in Causeway Bay.

    Lamma Rainbow

    Lamma

    Gigantic Rainbow may boast 800 seats but you still need to book ahead for prime hours. Steamed grouper, lobster and abalone are the specialities at this…

  • Zhang Mama

    Beijing

    An absurdly affordable spice-fest, humble Zhang Mama is run by a multi-generational family of Sichuan exiles (including mama), all with mad wok skills…

  • Luna

    Guangxi

    This fine rooftop restaurant experience is one of Yangshuo's best. The view of Moon Hill isn't quite as amazing as it used to be – thanks to a neighbour…

  • Snow Mountain Creamery

    Xining

    This two-tier American-run spot is a winner and a must-do for fans of superb, handmade ice cream (¥15 a scoop), coffee, comfort and the whole Mountain…

  • Yúfúnán

    Beijing

    One of the best modern Chinese dining experiences in the capital, Yúfúnán is an insanely stylish spice fest, serving the sweat-inducing fare of Hunan…

  • Taco Bar

    Beijing

    The king, nay the emperor of Chinese taquerias, Taco Bar packs out with punters feasting on fiendishly tasty Mexican street-style tacos including al…

  • Jīn Dǐng Xuān

    Beijing

    Dripping in red neon and lanterns, this raucous Chinese restaurant by the south gate of Ditan Park is a magnificent monstrosity that never closes – even…

  • Taste of Dadong

    Beijing

    This casual concept eatery from Beijing's duck maestro Dong Zhenxiang – of famed sister restaurant, Dadong – lets you enjoy a portion of his famous roast…

  • Element Fresh

    Nanjing

    Ever-trendy Element Fresh gives the iffy Nánjīng cafe culture a good kick in the pants. The setting is smooth, the ambient tunes funky, the lines clean,…

  • Grandma

    Inner Mongolia

    Overlooked by a portrait of Genghis Khan, diners love this colourful, fun and vibrant upstairs restaurant that does a roaring trade. There's a huge…

  • Brut Eatery

    Shanghai

    An extremely popular casual cafe with half a dozen tables, plus steps with cushions and mini side tables out the front. Diners queue and then sit shoulder…

  • Dī Shuǐ Dòng

    French Concession

    Until the beer arrives, the faint breeze from the spreading of the blue-and-white tablecloth by your waiter may be the last cooling sensation you…

  • Hǎi Dǐ Lāo

    Shanghai

    This Sichuanese hotpot restaurant is all about service, and the assault begins the minute you walk in the door. Pre-dining options include shoeshines,…

  • Yang’s Fry Dumplings

    The Bund & People's Square

    The city’s most famous place for sesame-seed-and-spring-onion-coated shēngjiān (生煎, fried dumplings) has queues that can stretch to the horizon as eager…

  • Sichuan Citizen

    French Concession

    The subdued evening lighting and welcoming service concoct a warm and homey atmosphere at this popular outpost of Sichuan cuisine. The extensive photo…

  • Crescent Moon Muslim Restaurant

    Forbidden City & Dongcheng Central

    Mount your culinary camel and traverse the Silk Road sands to this singular Central Asian food fest. Grilled lamb doused in cumin and chilli, baked…

  • Zhao Family Crispy Duck

    Sichuan

    Foodies flock to this simple but superb restaurant for its speciality – sweet, crispy roast duck (jīn; ¥22). The draw is the skin, which is best described…

  • Ap Lei Chau Market Cooked Food Centre

    Aberdeen & South Hong Kong Island

    Above an indoor market, dai pai dong (food stall) operators cook up a storm in a sprawling hall littered with folding tables and plastic chairs. Pak Kee…

  • Zēng Lǎo Yāo Yú Zhuāng

    Chongqing City

    Outside, it's a seething mass of people crowded around tables. Inside, it's even more packed as you enter a former bomb shelter – white-tiled walls and a…

  • Xīndàlù

    Hongkou & North Shanghai

    Although definitive Běijīng kǎoyā (Peking duck) really needs to be flamed up within quacking distance of the Forbidden City, Shanghai’s best roast-duck…

  • Tim Ho Wan

    Kowloon

    Renowned as the first budget dim sum eatery to receive a Michelin star way back in 2010, Tim Ho Wan has spread from its Mong Kok roots (opened by a former…

  • Wordo Tibetan Courtyard

    Shigatse

    For something a bit special, head out to this stylish Tibetan restaurant near the Summer Palace of the Panchen Lamas. Sit in one of Tibet's loveliest…

  • Sproutworks

    French Concession

    A smart cafeteria where you're served food at the counter and clear and stack your own plate when you've finished. Unlike school lunches, however, the…

  • Kam's Kitchen

    Wan Chai & Northeast Hong Kong Island

    A family feud at the venerable Yung Kee in Central created this excellent-value spin-off. Kam's Kitchen serves classic, labour-intensive Cantonese dishes…

  • Tao Tao Ju Restaurant

    Guangzhou

    An esteemed name in Canton's yum cha dynasty, Tao Tao Ju packs in the over-60s for dim sum wheeled out on heated carts. There's no menu; you'll be given a…

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