Fair Breaks | Where to eat like a local in Guangzhou

The 139th Canton Fair will open in Guangzhou on April 15, 2026. Beyond the exhibition halls, Guangzhou's everyday food scene is well worth exploring. Skip the fancy high-end dining options and follow the streets locals love—where you can wander, snack, and discover authentic flavors.

Tongfu Road (同福路), Haizhu District

Built in 1926, Tongfu Road stretches about two kilometers and is divided into three sections—Tongfu West, Tongfu Middle, and Tongfu East. Lined with arcade-style buildings, the street retains a distinct local character. Small eateries serving herbal soups, fried snacks and Cantonese dishes are found throughout the area. The air is filled with the scent of herbal soups, the sizzle of food frying in oil, and the chatter of neighbors catching up at street-side tables. Under the arcades, patterned windows overhead and the hum of daily life create a vivid local atmosphere.

(Photo: Guangzhou Haizhu Fabu)

Nearby Metro: Line 2, 2nd Workers' Cultural Palace Station (Exit D, near Tongfu East Road); Line 8, Tongfuxi Station (Exit A, near Tongfu West Road)

Recommended Spots:

Xiongji Chicken Congee (熊记鸡粥) – congee, rice noodle rolls

Anle Stewed Soup (安乐炖品) – double-boiled soups

Chunxin Bakery (纯心饼店) – bread, pastries

Zha Jia Yi Snacks & Milk Tea (炸加姨奶茶美食) – fried snacks

Mingzaiji Desserts (明仔记糖水) – Cantonese desserts

Yingji Eatery (英记食店) – congee, noodles, snacks

Dezheng Middle Road (德政中路) & Wenming Road (文明路), Yuexiu District

Situated near the Peasant Movement Institute, this area is often described as a street of time-honored local eateries. From wonton noodles and Lai Fun rice noodles to roast meats and slow-cooked soups, the area brings together many of Guangzhou's everyday staples. At the intersection of the two roads, a cluster of dessert shops has earned the local nickname the Sweet Corner.

(Photo: Guangzhou Yuexiu Fabu)

Huifu East Road is also nearby and worth a visit if time allows. It offers a more international vibe, where Cantonese snacks meet flavors from around the world.

Nearby Metro: Line 1, Peasant Movement Institute Station (Exit A / Exit B)

Recommended Spots:

Dayang Original Stewed Soup (达扬原味炖品) – double-boiled soups

Meigui Desserts (玫瑰甜品) – Cantonese desserts

Jiuye Chicken (九爷鸡) – roast meats

Caifu Noodles (才福面家) – noodles

Mei Jia Hua Bakery (美嘉华) – bakery

Longjin Road (龙津路), Liwan District

Located near the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall (Chen Clan Academy), Longjin Road stretches nearly three kilometers and is divided into Longjin East, Middle, and West sections. Known for its historic arcade-style buildings and long-standing Cantonese eateries, the street forms part of the traditional Xiguan area, a key center of local culture.

(Photo: Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Liwan District)

You can enjoy morning tea in a traditional teahouse, then move on to classic dishes like claypot rice, roast meats, or a comforting bowl of congee. Nearby streets like Changshou Road and Duobao Road extend the experience, with local favorites tucked into the neighborhood.

(Photo: Guangzhou Liwan Fabu)

Nearby Metro: Line 1/8, Chen Clan Academy Station (Exit B for Longjin East Road; Exit B/D for Longjin Middle Road); Line 1, Changshoulu Station (Exit D/E, near Longjin West Road)

Recommended Spots:

Ronghua Teahouse (荣华楼) – dim sum

Xiangqun Restaurant (向群饭店) – Cantonese dishes

Wu Zhan Ji (伍湛记) – congee

Chaoji Claypot Rice (超记煲仔饭) – claypot rice

Tang's Cuisine · Taishan Shuibu Eel Rice (汤氏美食·台山水步黄鳝饭) – eel rice

Kaiji Desserts (开记甜品) – Cantonese desserts

Xihua Road (西华路), Liwan District

Xihua Road has become one of Guangzhou's most talked-about food streets in recent years. Many shops here are small and unassuming, operating without prominent signage, yet they continue to draw long queues. A sandwich shop loved by students, a noodle stall known for its rich, slow-simmered broth, and a dessert shop where sesame paste is still stone-ground, all speak to the street's enduring appeal.