Ultimate Guide to Guangzhou Halal Food: Authentic Cantonese Halal Dim Sum, Roast Meats & Historic Mosques along the Maritime Silk Road
[Internet Repost]
Must-Try Halal Restaurants in Guangzhou: A Guide from Authentic Cantonese Halal Cuisine to Northwest Hand-Grabbed Lamb
Abstract:
A handpicked selection of Guangzhou's top-rated and most distinctive halal restaurants. Covering traditional Cantonese halal hot dishes, authentic Lanzhou beef noodles, and Northwest shouzhua yangrou (hand-grabbed lamb), this guide provides a reliable and detailed culinary map for both locals and travelers.
Hey everyone! It's been a little over a month, and all you friends have been sliding into my DMs asking for a new post.
This week, I've put together a guide to the halal dining scene in Guangzhou. Ever since the Tang Dynasty, Guangzhou has been a major overseas trade hub in China. As a key city on China's southeast coast, the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road, and one of the earliest trading ports, waves of Arab and Southeast Asian Muslim merchants came here to do business, intermarry with locals, and settle down...
Back then, Guangzhou was home to the largest number of wealthy Arab merchants. With the support of the local government, they built a grand mosque—today's Huaisheng Mosque (Light Pagoda Mosque). The mosque's name expresses the deep respect and longing for the Prophet Muhammad shared by believers both at home and abroad. Also known as the Lion Mosque and colloquially as the Guangta Temple, Huaisheng Mosque is one of the four ancient mosques in China (I wrote about Hangzhou's Phoenix Mosque before—feel free to click and check it out if you're interested) and stands as the oldest surviving mosque architecture in the country.
With such a rich cultural vibe, Guangzhou actually has plenty of halal restaurants. You can find halal Cantonese cuisine, Xinjiang food, Northwest cuisine, Southeast Asian food, Turkish food, and Arab dishes all right here in Guangzhou... Today, I'm sharing a few unique halal spots with you~
Guangzhou Muslim Restaurant (Huimin Restaurant)
The predecessor of Guangzhou Muslim Restaurant was the Guangzhou Halal Cafeteria founded in 1956. Back then, the cafeteria mainly specialized in shaola (Cantonese roasted meats / roast duck), with a kitchen crew made up of master chefs from Gaosheng Teahouse, the Hui Fengcheng Roast Meat Shop, and the Halal Deji Roast Meat Shop. In 1959, the halal cafeteria was reorganized into the Huimin Restaurant, moving to its current location on Zhongshan 6th Road in 1975. In early 1994, Guangzhou Muslim Restaurant became a Sino-Hong Kong joint venture. Along with a complete interior remodel, they brought in a famous Hong Kong chef who layered Hong Kong-style cooking techniques on top of traditional Guangzhou halal eats, ultimately shaping the Huimin Restaurant we know and love today.
The signature scallion pancakes are a must-order for every table. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, sprinkled with little bits of emerald-green chopped scallions across the top, they taste incredible~
The mutton char siu buns are a specialty pastry at Huimin Restaurant. One reviewer shared: 'I totally love the "springy mutton char siu buns" made right here! They look just like regular pork char siu pork buns, but the filling is lamb. It has this wonderful, rich mutton aroma, it's super soft, and you've gotta eat 'em while they're hot!'
If the steamed buns aren't enough, you can order a standalone plate of honey-glazed mutton char siu. Made by roasting lamb, it looks identical to the forbidden pork char siu found out on the streets, but it's 100% made from halal lamb, featuring that unique, rich mutton gamey flavor and incredibly tender meat. Foodies who have never been able to try "char siu" can finally get a taste~
Braised squab is one of traditional Cantonese culinary masterpieces, belonging to the Cantonese food family. There's an old folk saying in China that goes, 'A single pigeon beats nine chickens.' Braised squab is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Most people don't even spare the bones when eating braised squab because the birds are simmered in master stock and then deep-fried, making the flavor go all the way down to the bone. The braised squab at Huimin Restaurant is also in super high demand, so if you want to try authentic Cantonese flavors, you've got to get there early~
The steamed beef meatballs pack a rich beef punch, packed with tiny pieces of crunchy, sweet water chestnut and a delicate whisper of aged tangerine peel.
Har gow (shrimp dumplings), 16 RMB a basket—the wrappers are translucent without sticking to your teeth, the shrimp are fresh and snappy, paired with bamboo shoot strips. So delicious!
Huimin crispy roast goose: Golden in color, with crackling skin, juicy meat, and rich, savory meat juices. It looks seriously appetizing~
They also serve a niu-yang za tang (hearty organ meat soup made from beef and lamb offal) loaded with ingredients—definitely not the same flavor profile as northern lamb soups~
This has got to be the most authentic halal Cantonese food on the mainland. In short, you've gotta check it out next time you visit Guangzhou~
Guangzhou Muslim Restaurant (Huimin Restaurant)
Recommended dishes: Signature Scallion Pancakes, Braised Squab, Springy Mutton Char Siu Buns, Har Gow (Shrimp Dumplings)
Average cost per person: 56 RMB
Address: No. 325, Zhongshan 6th Road (Exit A of Ximenkou Metro Station, turn left and walk 50 meters)
Phone: 020-81303991
Stason Chef & Floral Western Restaurant
A Chinese-run halal Western restaurant with an incredible vibe. The interior design is gorgeous, filled with flowers everywhere like a half-flower shop. It's super easy to get drawn in just walking past it~ The location is very easy to find, right outside Exit C of Dongshankou Metro Station.
The 'Charcoal-Grilled Lamb Chops with Persimmon Puree' hits all the right notes: tender, juicy. This time, they even added a little crunch on top of the lamb chops, which tasted like toasted garlic bits, adding great textural layers to the whole dish. The side veggies feature finger carrots, skin-on baby potatoes, and mini mushrooms roasted in olive oil and salt, preserving the natural flavors of the vegetables.
The 'Lemon Vinaigrette Shrimp Salad' is packed with details. You wouldn't expect a simple salad to be this satisfying. The balsamic vinaigrette is sweet, tangy, and layered with a wonderful fruity acidity. The shrimp are marinated, and you can actually taste a fruity sweetness—I later found out they marinate them in lychee juice, which shows a lot of thought. The lettuce is super fresh, and the roasted pumpkin mixed in is amazing. They use top-tier New Zealand mini pumpkins, simply roasted and tossed into the salad, delivering killer texture and sweetness. Absolute MVP of the meal.
The 'Mint Garlic Seafood Squid Ink Pasta' is super tasty with an intense seafood punch, heavy garlic notes, and a subtle, clever hint of fresh mint.
The 'Tomahawk Steak' is a newly launched menu item with a huge, hearty portion. The medium-rare steak is incredible. This time, we asked the chef to use the sous-vide low-temperature slow-cooking method. When the knife cuts into it at the table, there are tons of meat juices, the meat is tender, and every bite fills your mouth with savory juices—so satisfying. It comes with two sauces: one is a black pepper sauce where the pepper flavor is dialed back a bit to let the natural beef flavor shine through, and the other is a yellow sauce with a slight tang that pairs exceptionally well with the rich beef fat.
‘Forest First Snow’ is their brand new dessert. This dessert is so unique and visually stunning. The base is made of a creamy button mushroom cream with a soft texture, topped with sour cream, crispy bits, macerated button mushroom pieces pickled in preserved sour plums (huamei), and two crispy pieces of bread. Even people who hate mushrooms probably won't find the mushroom flavor overpowering, because the button mushrooms are handled so skillfully that the natural mushroom funk is minimal, leaving a tender, juicy texture where you can barely tell it's made from mushrooms. The overall flavor profile of the dessert is super complex, like a rich symphony. You can imagine walking across a mossy forest floor right after a fresh snowfall, with tree branches and pinecones resting under a thin layer of pristine snow, crunching under your boots as you walk; some snow is deeper while other patches are melting, and some are still pure white.
Stasen Kitchen Floral Western Cuisine
Must-try dishes: Char-grilled lamb chops with persimmon puree, Lemon vinaigrette shrimp salad, Lychee wood-fired charcoal grilled beef short ribs, Minty garlic seafood squid ink pasta
Avg. spend per person: 87 RMB
Address: 2nd Floor, Dongshan Jinxuan Modern City, Nonglinxia Road
Phone: 13360008961
Mint Leaf Meets Sri Lanka
Mint Leaf Meets Sri Lanka is a specialty Muslim restaurant focusing on Sri Lankan flavors, and the interior design is packed with rich Islamic features! It's located at No. 233 Beijing Road, Beijing Street (diagonally opposite Lido Hotel, next to Goelia), about a 300-meter walk from Exit B of Beijing Road Station on Metro Line 6!
The 'Signature Beef Masala' is the restaurant's most recommended and must-order dish. You can choose your preferred spice level; most people find the regular spice level quite manageable. It's got beef, tomatoes, onions, and a definite spicy kick. Masala means 'spice,' and all curries contain many well-known Indian spices. However, this restaurant's version feels like it's been adapted, making it a bit milder in comparison. But eating it on its own, it still packs a punch, so it’s perfect with a bowl of white rice or the restaurant's special feibing (flying bread).
Feibing (flying bread) is another popular dish. They have many varieties like butter feibing, banana feibing, durian feibing, and more. You gotta eat feibing while it's hot; the crust is super crispy and fragrant. It also tastes amazing dipped in the masala sauce.
The 'Whole Pineapple Seafood Rice' is made with fresh pineapple. The tangy pineapple chunks cut through any richness, and it's loaded with ingredients. What's really special is the raisins inside – they actually pair surprisingly well with everything!
Their 'Thai Tom Yum Goong' is the kind you'll want another bowl of after finishing the first. It looks quite light, but it’s actually sour and spicy. The spices are super aromatic and totally get your appetite going.
The 'Filipino Grilled Prawns' are large, grilled prawns seasoned with salt and pepper. The shells are super crispy, and the flavor is awesome.
Mint Leaf Meets Sri Lanka
Must-try dishes: Signature Beef Masala, Signature Indian Pulled Tea, Durian Feibing (flying bread), Whole Pineapple Seafood Rice
Avg. spend per person: 84 RMB
Address: No. 223 Beijing Road, Beijing Street (diagonally opposite Lido Hotel, next to Goelia)
Phone: 020-83333269, 020-83333993
Antalya Turkish Restaurant (formerly Andalus Arabic Restaurant)
The area around Xiaobei Metro Station in Guangzhou is a hotspot for foreigners, including many Arab merchants and Africans who live here year-round. This has naturally led to a boom in Arabic and Turkish restaurants. Andalus Arabic Restaurant opened in 2014 and has maintained a good reputation since. It's now rebranded as 'Antalya Turkish Restaurant,' so don't get lost trying to find it!
The 'Mixed Grill' comes with a lamb roll, a beef roll, and a chicken skewer, served with grilled green peppers, tomatoes, and two pieces of soft flatbread. The meats are perfectly seasoned and super tasty, especially the lamb which is incredibly aromatic and fatty. The side dishes are fresh, natural-flavored veggies, light and pleasant, creating a great balance with the meat.
The 'Turkish Pide' is seriously good. It's topped with minced lamb, and if you eat it hot, it's incredibly fragrant. The thin crust is super crispy, with a hint of lamb aroma – a fantastic texture.
The 'Mixed Sliced Kebab' only has chicken and beef. The chicken can be a bit dry, and the beef is grilled to be somewhat like stewed beef. It tastes great wrapped in bread/flatbread. Overall, the flavor isn't too salty, but you can add your own pepper and salt. If you prefer just one type of meat or have dietary restrictions, you can order them separately.
The 'Herb Salad' is an absolute perfect match for the meat dishes. It has diced tomatoes and some kind of gourd, like a mini-cucumber or zucchini. It's sweet and sour, crisp, and incredibly refreshing.
Antalya Turkish Restaurant
Must-try dishes: Mixed Grill, Mixed Sliced Kebab, Turkish Pide, Turkish Bread, Herb Salad
Avg. spend per person: 80 RMB
Address: Shop 03, 1st-2nd Floor, Zhaoqing Building, No. 304 Huanshizhong Road (Xiaobei Metro Station, Exit A)
Phone: No phone number available
XL Istanbul Restaurant & Cafe Halal Western Restaurant
This Turkish restaurant is run by authentic Turkish guys. Most of the staff are foreigners, but their Chinese is excellent, so you won't have any communication issues.
The restaurant's interior is decorated like a Western bistro, with a massive space that easily seats over a hundred people. It's an awesome choice for throwing Western-style wedding banquets or birthday parties.
Actually, Turkish and Arabic food styles are pretty similar, so I won't go through them one by one, but this spot's grilled meat platter is seriously impressive—total carnivores definitely need to check it out. Guangzhou also has a bunch of other great Turkish restaurants; if you're into this kind of food, you should totally take some time to try them all and compare.
XL Istanbul Restaurant & Cafe (Halal Western Restaurant)
Top recommendations: Turkish mixed grill with hummus, hollow giant bread, Turkish beef kebab, baked fresh prawns in tomato sauce.
Average cost: 135 RMB per person
Address: Shop 112, No. 1 Chenyue Road (next to the West Gate 1 of Poly Tianyue)
Phone: 020-89114450, 020-89114460
If Western or foreign cuisines aren't really your vibe, there are still plenty of fantastic Halal Chinese restaurants to choose from.
Xinyue Muslim Restaurant (Xinjiang Cuisine Theme Restaurant)
This classic Xinjiang spot has been open for nearly 30 years. It originally started in the Xinjiang Mansion, and plenty of locals literally grew up eating here. It's located on the 3rd floor of the Kaisa Plaza inside the Sinopec Building, just a short walk out of Exit B of Linhexi Metro Station.
Right now, it's ranked number one on Dianping's trending list for Northwest Chinese food in Guangzhou, so you'll usually have to wait in line during peak hours~
Lamb skewers, dapanji (Xinjiang big plate chicken), grilled lamb chops, nang (baked flatbread)... for all my Muslim foodie friends out there, I probably don't even need to introduce these classics...
Xinyue Muslim Restaurant (Xinjiang Cuisine Theme Restaurant)
Top recommendations: Xinjiang lamb skewers, signature grilled lamb chops, Xinjiang nang (baked flatbread), Xinjiang dapanji (Xinjiang big plate chicken), Xinjiang liangpi (cold skin noodles).
Average cost: 95 RMB per person
Address: 3rd Floor, Kaisa Plaza, Sinopec Building, No. 191 Tiyuxi Road (Direct access to Sinopec Building via Exit B of Linhexi Metro Station)
Phone: 020-38680585, 020-38680586
Donglaishun Halal Restaurant
If you're craving hot pot shuan yangrou (instant-boiled mutton) and Beijing cuisine, Donglaishun is a solid choice. Even though Donglaishun has branches all over the country and hot pot is notoriously hard to standardize—meaning the flavor can't totally match the original Beijing flagship—it's still super comforting to find a familiar brand when you're far from home.
The shuan yangrou hot pot still uses traditional cloisonné charcoal pots, and the soul of the hot pot—the dipping sauce—is now uniformly processed by their factory, so the flavor is actually pretty good~
You can grab a couple of grilled skewers on the side to tide you over while the meat cooks~
Word has it that Quanjude used to have a branch in Guangzhou, but it didn't do too well and ended up closing down. So if you're craving roast duck, Donglaishun's version is definitely worth a try.
Donglaishun Halal Restaurant • Mutton Hot Pot (Hengfu Road Flagship Store)
Top recommendations: Shuan yangrou (instant-boiled mutton), Donglaishun's secret recipe lamb skewers, classic marbled beef, Beijing roast duck.
Average cost: 140 RMB per person
Address: 2nd Floor, Meizhou Building, No. 338 Hengfu Road (near the Auto Parts City)
Phone: 020-83586596, 020-83488197
Gaoyuan Guniang Handmade Lamian (Plateau Girl Handmade Lamian)
If nothing else is hitting the spot, getting a bowl of lamian (hand-pulled noodles) is never the wrong move. Gaoyuan Guniang Handmade Lamian serves up Qinghai beef noodles. They started out in Changsha, built their own brand, and have since expanded to cities everywhere. Their Guangdong branch gets amazing reviews, and tons of people make a special trip just to try it out.
It's everything lamian should be: crystal-clear broth, white noodles, a few slices of beef, and a dusting of chili oil. Suddenly, the foodie inside me is craving a bowl of noodles...
The yangrou chuan (skewers of grilled lamb) are grilled to absolute perfection, too~
Even the tableware has such a unique and gorgeous vibe.
While digging for content, I randomly stumbled across a video about this spot. It tells the incredible journey of a young woman from Qinghai who started from scratch to build her very own brand. I'm honestly so hyped to see Qinghai hand-pulled noodles—which have popped up all over China—evolving past the old 'Lanzhou beef noodles' 1.0 era to finally establish their own distinct identity and service style. I know they're gonna take things global someday soon.
Halal Gaoyuan Guniang Shougo Lamian / Qinghai Hand-Pulled Noodles (Capitalland·Yunshang Branch)
Recommended dishes: niurou lamian (beef hand-pulled noodles), yangrou chuan (grilled lamb skewers), lao suan nai (traditional fermented yogurt), kao yangpai (roasted lamb chops), xiaopan niurou (small-plate braised beef)
Average price per person: 36 RMB
Address: Basement Level 1, Capitalland Yunshang, 890 Yuncheng West Road (10-meter walk from Exit A)
Phone: 020-86210297
Must-Try Halal Restaurants in Guangzhou: A Guide from Authentic Cantonese Halal Cuisine to Northwest Hand-Grabbed Lamb
Abstract:
A handpicked selection of Guangzhou's top-rated and most distinctive halal restaurants. Covering traditional Cantonese halal hot dishes, authentic Lanzhou beef noodles, and Northwest shouzhua yangrou (hand-grabbed lamb), this guide provides a reliable and detailed culinary map for both locals and travelers.
Hey everyone! It's been a little over a month, and all you friends have been sliding into my DMs asking for a new post.
This week, I've put together a guide to the halal dining scene in Guangzhou. Ever since the Tang Dynasty, Guangzhou has been a major overseas trade hub in China. As a key city on China's southeast coast, the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road, and one of the earliest trading ports, waves of Arab and Southeast Asian Muslim merchants came here to do business, intermarry with locals, and settle down...
Back then, Guangzhou was home to the largest number of wealthy Arab merchants. With the support of the local government, they built a grand mosque—today's Huaisheng Mosque (Light Pagoda Mosque). The mosque's name expresses the deep respect and longing for the Prophet Muhammad shared by believers both at home and abroad. Also known as the Lion Mosque and colloquially as the Guangta Temple, Huaisheng Mosque is one of the four ancient mosques in China (I wrote about Hangzhou's Phoenix Mosque before—feel free to click and check it out if you're interested) and stands as the oldest surviving mosque architecture in the country.
With such a rich cultural vibe, Guangzhou actually has plenty of halal restaurants. You can find halal Cantonese cuisine, Xinjiang food, Northwest cuisine, Southeast Asian food, Turkish food, and Arab dishes all right here in Guangzhou... Today, I'm sharing a few unique halal spots with you~
Guangzhou Muslim Restaurant (Huimin Restaurant)
The predecessor of Guangzhou Muslim Restaurant was the Guangzhou Halal Cafeteria founded in 1956. Back then, the cafeteria mainly specialized in shaola (Cantonese roasted meats / roast duck), with a kitchen crew made up of master chefs from Gaosheng Teahouse, the Hui Fengcheng Roast Meat Shop, and the Halal Deji Roast Meat Shop. In 1959, the halal cafeteria was reorganized into the Huimin Restaurant, moving to its current location on Zhongshan 6th Road in 1975. In early 1994, Guangzhou Muslim Restaurant became a Sino-Hong Kong joint venture. Along with a complete interior remodel, they brought in a famous Hong Kong chef who layered Hong Kong-style cooking techniques on top of traditional Guangzhou halal eats, ultimately shaping the Huimin Restaurant we know and love today.
The signature scallion pancakes are a must-order for every table. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, sprinkled with little bits of emerald-green chopped scallions across the top, they taste incredible~
The mutton char siu buns are a specialty pastry at Huimin Restaurant. One reviewer shared: 'I totally love the "springy mutton char siu buns" made right here! They look just like regular pork char siu pork buns, but the filling is lamb. It has this wonderful, rich mutton aroma, it's super soft, and you've gotta eat 'em while they're hot!'
If the steamed buns aren't enough, you can order a standalone plate of honey-glazed mutton char siu. Made by roasting lamb, it looks identical to the forbidden pork char siu found out on the streets, but it's 100% made from halal lamb, featuring that unique, rich mutton gamey flavor and incredibly tender meat. Foodies who have never been able to try "char siu" can finally get a taste~
Braised squab is one of traditional Cantonese culinary masterpieces, belonging to the Cantonese food family. There's an old folk saying in China that goes, 'A single pigeon beats nine chickens.' Braised squab is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Most people don't even spare the bones when eating braised squab because the birds are simmered in master stock and then deep-fried, making the flavor go all the way down to the bone. The braised squab at Huimin Restaurant is also in super high demand, so if you want to try authentic Cantonese flavors, you've got to get there early~
The steamed beef meatballs pack a rich beef punch, packed with tiny pieces of crunchy, sweet water chestnut and a delicate whisper of aged tangerine peel.
Har gow (shrimp dumplings), 16 RMB a basket—the wrappers are translucent without sticking to your teeth, the shrimp are fresh and snappy, paired with bamboo shoot strips. So delicious!
Huimin crispy roast goose: Golden in color, with crackling skin, juicy meat, and rich, savory meat juices. It looks seriously appetizing~
They also serve a niu-yang za tang (hearty organ meat soup made from beef and lamb offal) loaded with ingredients—definitely not the same flavor profile as northern lamb soups~
This has got to be the most authentic halal Cantonese food on the mainland. In short, you've gotta check it out next time you visit Guangzhou~
Guangzhou Muslim Restaurant (Huimin Restaurant)
Recommended dishes: Signature Scallion Pancakes, Braised Squab, Springy Mutton Char Siu Buns, Har Gow (Shrimp Dumplings)
Average cost per person: 56 RMB
Address: No. 325, Zhongshan 6th Road (Exit A of Ximenkou Metro Station, turn left and walk 50 meters)
Phone: 020-81303991
Stason Chef & Floral Western Restaurant
A Chinese-run halal Western restaurant with an incredible vibe. The interior design is gorgeous, filled with flowers everywhere like a half-flower shop. It's super easy to get drawn in just walking past it~ The location is very easy to find, right outside Exit C of Dongshankou Metro Station.
The 'Charcoal-Grilled Lamb Chops with Persimmon Puree' hits all the right notes: tender, juicy. This time, they even added a little crunch on top of the lamb chops, which tasted like toasted garlic bits, adding great textural layers to the whole dish. The side veggies feature finger carrots, skin-on baby potatoes, and mini mushrooms roasted in olive oil and salt, preserving the natural flavors of the vegetables.
The 'Lemon Vinaigrette Shrimp Salad' is packed with details. You wouldn't expect a simple salad to be this satisfying. The balsamic vinaigrette is sweet, tangy, and layered with a wonderful fruity acidity. The shrimp are marinated, and you can actually taste a fruity sweetness—I later found out they marinate them in lychee juice, which shows a lot of thought. The lettuce is super fresh, and the roasted pumpkin mixed in is amazing. They use top-tier New Zealand mini pumpkins, simply roasted and tossed into the salad, delivering killer texture and sweetness. Absolute MVP of the meal.
The 'Mint Garlic Seafood Squid Ink Pasta' is super tasty with an intense seafood punch, heavy garlic notes, and a subtle, clever hint of fresh mint.
The 'Tomahawk Steak' is a newly launched menu item with a huge, hearty portion. The medium-rare steak is incredible. This time, we asked the chef to use the sous-vide low-temperature slow-cooking method. When the knife cuts into it at the table, there are tons of meat juices, the meat is tender, and every bite fills your mouth with savory juices—so satisfying. It comes with two sauces: one is a black pepper sauce where the pepper flavor is dialed back a bit to let the natural beef flavor shine through, and the other is a yellow sauce with a slight tang that pairs exceptionally well with the rich beef fat.
‘Forest First Snow’ is their brand new dessert. This dessert is so unique and visually stunning. The base is made of a creamy button mushroom cream with a soft texture, topped with sour cream, crispy bits, macerated button mushroom pieces pickled in preserved sour plums (huamei), and two crispy pieces of bread. Even people who hate mushrooms probably won't find the mushroom flavor overpowering, because the button mushrooms are handled so skillfully that the natural mushroom funk is minimal, leaving a tender, juicy texture where you can barely tell it's made from mushrooms. The overall flavor profile of the dessert is super complex, like a rich symphony. You can imagine walking across a mossy forest floor right after a fresh snowfall, with tree branches and pinecones resting under a thin layer of pristine snow, crunching under your boots as you walk; some snow is deeper while other patches are melting, and some are still pure white.
Stasen Kitchen Floral Western Cuisine
Must-try dishes: Char-grilled lamb chops with persimmon puree, Lemon vinaigrette shrimp salad, Lychee wood-fired charcoal grilled beef short ribs, Minty garlic seafood squid ink pasta
Avg. spend per person: 87 RMB
Address: 2nd Floor, Dongshan Jinxuan Modern City, Nonglinxia Road
Phone: 13360008961
Mint Leaf Meets Sri Lanka
Mint Leaf Meets Sri Lanka is a specialty Muslim restaurant focusing on Sri Lankan flavors, and the interior design is packed with rich Islamic features! It's located at No. 233 Beijing Road, Beijing Street (diagonally opposite Lido Hotel, next to Goelia), about a 300-meter walk from Exit B of Beijing Road Station on Metro Line 6!
The 'Signature Beef Masala' is the restaurant's most recommended and must-order dish. You can choose your preferred spice level; most people find the regular spice level quite manageable. It's got beef, tomatoes, onions, and a definite spicy kick. Masala means 'spice,' and all curries contain many well-known Indian spices. However, this restaurant's version feels like it's been adapted, making it a bit milder in comparison. But eating it on its own, it still packs a punch, so it’s perfect with a bowl of white rice or the restaurant's special feibing (flying bread).
Feibing (flying bread) is another popular dish. They have many varieties like butter feibing, banana feibing, durian feibing, and more. You gotta eat feibing while it's hot; the crust is super crispy and fragrant. It also tastes amazing dipped in the masala sauce.
The 'Whole Pineapple Seafood Rice' is made with fresh pineapple. The tangy pineapple chunks cut through any richness, and it's loaded with ingredients. What's really special is the raisins inside – they actually pair surprisingly well with everything!
Their 'Thai Tom Yum Goong' is the kind you'll want another bowl of after finishing the first. It looks quite light, but it’s actually sour and spicy. The spices are super aromatic and totally get your appetite going.
The 'Filipino Grilled Prawns' are large, grilled prawns seasoned with salt and pepper. The shells are super crispy, and the flavor is awesome.
Mint Leaf Meets Sri Lanka
Must-try dishes: Signature Beef Masala, Signature Indian Pulled Tea, Durian Feibing (flying bread), Whole Pineapple Seafood Rice
Avg. spend per person: 84 RMB
Address: No. 223 Beijing Road, Beijing Street (diagonally opposite Lido Hotel, next to Goelia)
Phone: 020-83333269, 020-83333993
Antalya Turkish Restaurant (formerly Andalus Arabic Restaurant)
The area around Xiaobei Metro Station in Guangzhou is a hotspot for foreigners, including many Arab merchants and Africans who live here year-round. This has naturally led to a boom in Arabic and Turkish restaurants. Andalus Arabic Restaurant opened in 2014 and has maintained a good reputation since. It's now rebranded as 'Antalya Turkish Restaurant,' so don't get lost trying to find it!
The 'Mixed Grill' comes with a lamb roll, a beef roll, and a chicken skewer, served with grilled green peppers, tomatoes, and two pieces of soft flatbread. The meats are perfectly seasoned and super tasty, especially the lamb which is incredibly aromatic and fatty. The side dishes are fresh, natural-flavored veggies, light and pleasant, creating a great balance with the meat.
The 'Turkish Pide' is seriously good. It's topped with minced lamb, and if you eat it hot, it's incredibly fragrant. The thin crust is super crispy, with a hint of lamb aroma – a fantastic texture.
The 'Mixed Sliced Kebab' only has chicken and beef. The chicken can be a bit dry, and the beef is grilled to be somewhat like stewed beef. It tastes great wrapped in bread/flatbread. Overall, the flavor isn't too salty, but you can add your own pepper and salt. If you prefer just one type of meat or have dietary restrictions, you can order them separately.
The 'Herb Salad' is an absolute perfect match for the meat dishes. It has diced tomatoes and some kind of gourd, like a mini-cucumber or zucchini. It's sweet and sour, crisp, and incredibly refreshing.
Antalya Turkish Restaurant
Must-try dishes: Mixed Grill, Mixed Sliced Kebab, Turkish Pide, Turkish Bread, Herb Salad
Avg. spend per person: 80 RMB
Address: Shop 03, 1st-2nd Floor, Zhaoqing Building, No. 304 Huanshizhong Road (Xiaobei Metro Station, Exit A)
Phone: No phone number available
XL Istanbul Restaurant & Cafe Halal Western Restaurant
This Turkish restaurant is run by authentic Turkish guys. Most of the staff are foreigners, but their Chinese is excellent, so you won't have any communication issues.
The restaurant's interior is decorated like a Western bistro, with a massive space that easily seats over a hundred people. It's an awesome choice for throwing Western-style wedding banquets or birthday parties.
Actually, Turkish and Arabic food styles are pretty similar, so I won't go through them one by one, but this spot's grilled meat platter is seriously impressive—total carnivores definitely need to check it out. Guangzhou also has a bunch of other great Turkish restaurants; if you're into this kind of food, you should totally take some time to try them all and compare.
XL Istanbul Restaurant & Cafe (Halal Western Restaurant)
Top recommendations: Turkish mixed grill with hummus, hollow giant bread, Turkish beef kebab, baked fresh prawns in tomato sauce.
Average cost: 135 RMB per person
Address: Shop 112, No. 1 Chenyue Road (next to the West Gate 1 of Poly Tianyue)
Phone: 020-89114450, 020-89114460
If Western or foreign cuisines aren't really your vibe, there are still plenty of fantastic Halal Chinese restaurants to choose from.
Xinyue Muslim Restaurant (Xinjiang Cuisine Theme Restaurant)
This classic Xinjiang spot has been open for nearly 30 years. It originally started in the Xinjiang Mansion, and plenty of locals literally grew up eating here. It's located on the 3rd floor of the Kaisa Plaza inside the Sinopec Building, just a short walk out of Exit B of Linhexi Metro Station.
Right now, it's ranked number one on Dianping's trending list for Northwest Chinese food in Guangzhou, so you'll usually have to wait in line during peak hours~
Lamb skewers, dapanji (Xinjiang big plate chicken), grilled lamb chops, nang (baked flatbread)... for all my Muslim foodie friends out there, I probably don't even need to introduce these classics...
Xinyue Muslim Restaurant (Xinjiang Cuisine Theme Restaurant)
Top recommendations: Xinjiang lamb skewers, signature grilled lamb chops, Xinjiang nang (baked flatbread), Xinjiang dapanji (Xinjiang big plate chicken), Xinjiang liangpi (cold skin noodles).
Average cost: 95 RMB per person
Address: 3rd Floor, Kaisa Plaza, Sinopec Building, No. 191 Tiyuxi Road (Direct access to Sinopec Building via Exit B of Linhexi Metro Station)
Phone: 020-38680585, 020-38680586
Donglaishun Halal Restaurant
If you're craving hot pot shuan yangrou (instant-boiled mutton) and Beijing cuisine, Donglaishun is a solid choice. Even though Donglaishun has branches all over the country and hot pot is notoriously hard to standardize—meaning the flavor can't totally match the original Beijing flagship—it's still super comforting to find a familiar brand when you're far from home.
The shuan yangrou hot pot still uses traditional cloisonné charcoal pots, and the soul of the hot pot—the dipping sauce—is now uniformly processed by their factory, so the flavor is actually pretty good~
You can grab a couple of grilled skewers on the side to tide you over while the meat cooks~
Word has it that Quanjude used to have a branch in Guangzhou, but it didn't do too well and ended up closing down. So if you're craving roast duck, Donglaishun's version is definitely worth a try.
Donglaishun Halal Restaurant • Mutton Hot Pot (Hengfu Road Flagship Store)
Top recommendations: Shuan yangrou (instant-boiled mutton), Donglaishun's secret recipe lamb skewers, classic marbled beef, Beijing roast duck.
Average cost: 140 RMB per person
Address: 2nd Floor, Meizhou Building, No. 338 Hengfu Road (near the Auto Parts City)
Phone: 020-83586596, 020-83488197
Gaoyuan Guniang Handmade Lamian (Plateau Girl Handmade Lamian)
If nothing else is hitting the spot, getting a bowl of lamian (hand-pulled noodles) is never the wrong move. Gaoyuan Guniang Handmade Lamian serves up Qinghai beef noodles. They started out in Changsha, built their own brand, and have since expanded to cities everywhere. Their Guangdong branch gets amazing reviews, and tons of people make a special trip just to try it out.
It's everything lamian should be: crystal-clear broth, white noodles, a few slices of beef, and a dusting of chili oil. Suddenly, the foodie inside me is craving a bowl of noodles...
The yangrou chuan (skewers of grilled lamb) are grilled to absolute perfection, too~
Even the tableware has such a unique and gorgeous vibe.
While digging for content, I randomly stumbled across a video about this spot. It tells the incredible journey of a young woman from Qinghai who started from scratch to build her very own brand. I'm honestly so hyped to see Qinghai hand-pulled noodles—which have popped up all over China—evolving past the old 'Lanzhou beef noodles' 1.0 era to finally establish their own distinct identity and service style. I know they're gonna take things global someday soon.
Halal Gaoyuan Guniang Shougo Lamian / Qinghai Hand-Pulled Noodles (Capitalland·Yunshang Branch)
Recommended dishes: niurou lamian (beef hand-pulled noodles), yangrou chuan (grilled lamb skewers), lao suan nai (traditional fermented yogurt), kao yangpai (roasted lamb chops), xiaopan niurou (small-plate braised beef)
Average price per person: 36 RMB
Address: Basement Level 1, Capitalland Yunshang, 890 Yuncheng West Road (10-meter walk from Exit A)
Phone: 020-86210297
