Guilin Dining

Guilin's central location has given it a cuisine that is influenced by the food of Canton, Sichuan, Hunan, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Fujian. In recent years, the development of tourism has had an effect on eating habits, as local snack foods are enjoyed by tourists from around the world.

Among the more popular of these local snacks are Guilin rice noodles (mifen), chestnut glutinous rice dumplings (banli zong), stewed duck with gingko, lotus-leaf duck, and stewed duck with ginger. Please find more information about food and dining in Guilin.

Guilin Chili Sauce

Guilin cuisine is known for its snacks and the use of spices, especially chili. The famous Guilin chili sauce, which is used widely in cooking by locals, it's made of fresh chili, garlic and fermented Soya beans.

Guilin Rice Noodles

Guilin rice noodles have been the local breakfast staple since the Qin dynasty and are renowned for their delicate taste.

Rice noodles, which can be either round or flat, are the most popular snack in Guilin. The thing that sets one dish apart from another is the soup, which is made of pork, steak, and various seasonings.

Depending on the ingredients used in the soup, rice noodles can be divided into vegetable, three-fresh, original soup, spicy and sour, beef, and horse meat rice noodles. The Guilin Rice Noodles are also available as stir-fried (Chao Fen). This is served everywhere.

Traditionally the noodle and the topping are first eaten without soup, and once the topping has run out there is usually a pot of soup to add flavor to the rest of the noodles. There are also various pickles and condiments which can be added to noodles.

Well-known rice-noodle restaurants that travelers should look up during their stay in Guilin include Huixian Lou, Youyi Xuan, Qin Ji; Rong Gui, Liu Bo Niang, Shi Ji, Shengli and Weixiang Guan.

Glutinous Rice

Glutinous rice is widely used. It can be made into rice paste (ciba), rice flour dumplings (tangyuan), rice dumplings (Muomifan), and glutinous rice dumpling wrapped in a bamboo leaf (zongzi). The stuffing varies, and may include sweetened bean paste, sesame powder, water chestnut powder, chestnut, lotus seed paste, peanuts, meat, or preserved ham.

Zongzi

Zongzi is a dumpling made from glutinous rice and bean paste wrapped by bamboo leaves and is another popular delicacy in Guilin.

 Horse Hoof Cake (Matigao)

A local snack is Horse Hoof Cake, which is a crumbly cake stuffed with red beans filling. Another delicious breakfast item is sweet tofu infused with a certain flower. Look for roadside vendors adding orange-colored liquid to a steaming hot bag of tofu, which you then drink with a straw.  

Stewed Duck with Ginkgo

This is a traditional dish thought to be a remedy for lung problems. Ginkgo, cubes of duck meat, ham slices, and other ingredients are steamed in braising cups. The result is light but savory soup in which the tender duck meat contrasts pleasantly with the smooth, slightly slimy texture of the ginkgo.

Lipu Taro Pork

This dish is made up of lipu taro, pork, Guilin preserved bean curd, and various other ingredients. The pork and taro cubes are fried separately and then steamed together, so each piece is golden on the outside and soft and flavorful on the inside. Health benefits of this dish include extinguishing any "fire" (inflammation) in your body and improving your complexion.

Stewed Clams & Chicken

The stewed clams and chicken is an award-winning dish of the region. A chicken, a pair of clams, preserved longan, and slices of ham are stewed with other ingredients in a covered porcelain pot for two hours. This mellow-flavored dish has many healthful benefits.

Lohan Boiled Chicken

As the name implies, the lohan boiled chicken is steamed with traditional Chinese herb like Lo Han Kuo, astragalus, and codeonopsis pilosula. This refreshing soup can help to lower blood pressure.

Fried Chicken with Water Chestnut

This dish uses Guilin water chestnut, quality chicken, fresh mushrooms, and other special ingredients. This dish is delicious and beautiful as well.

Duck Wrapped in Lotus Leaf

Duck wrapped in lotus leaf is very tasty and healthy. First, the duck is fried to agolden brown. Then cubes of lean pork, bamboo shoot, ham, taro, mushroom, green beans, and shrimp are stir-fried with seasonings and stuffed into the duck, which is then wrapped with a lotus leaf and steamed. The unique fragrance of the lotus leaf permeates the tender duck meat, making this dish especially delicious.

Steamed Pork with Rice Flour Wrapped in Lotus Leaf

This is a traditional homemade dish. The pork is boiled and then stir-fried with soybean sauce, dipped into mung bean flour, wrapped in a lotus leaf, and steamed. The dish is rich but not greasy and helps to lower cholesterol.

Fried Meat Floss with Sweet-Scented Osmanthus

It's a good appetizer with a glass of wine. The pleasant scent of osmanthus is the highlight of this dish.

Sour Fried Dried Fish

Dried fish is smoked with fruit peels and then dried in the sun. The dried fish is stir-fried with preserved pepper and bamboo shoots and then boiled in Sanhua wine and water.The resulting re-hydrated fish is served with spicy condiments such as garlic sprouts. This dish is a mouthwatering combination of spicy and sour.

Zhutongfan(Bamboo-Cooked Rice)& Youcha(Oil Tea)

These are two ethnic delicacies that are definitely worth trying.

Guilin Bravo Hotel Restaurant
This restaurant servers Sichuan cuisine
Address: No.14 Rong Hu South Road, Guilin

Tong Lai Guan
This restaurant offers local snacks and traditional dishes
Address: No. 4 Zhongshan Middle Road (opposite to Guilin Hotel), Guilin

Lao Xiang Qin Restaurant
This restaurant serves Beijng and Tianjin cuisine
Address: Southeast of Shizi Street Square, Guilin

Guilin Ren Chain Restaurant
The is the leading caterer in Guilin
The chain restaurants are spread throughout the city.

Zhengyang Soup City
This restaurant servers typical Cantonese soups and dishes. More than 30 kinds of soups are served daily.
Address: Zhengyang Street, Guilin

Hao Da Ma Cate Square
This serves buffets featuring a variety of dishes. Also from here, you can enjoy the bustling Center Square and Zhongshan Road.
Address: 1/F Bagui Building, Guilin

Mingtien Coffee Language
Address: Zhengyang Street, Guilin

Guilin Ren Western Restaurant
Address: Yiren Road, Guilin

NOTE: Although this information is correct at the time of our web publication, it is still advised that you call the phone number and confirm the address before going to the venue because some venues may have changed their telephone numbers or address locations.