Guilin Local Cuisine
Explore the authentic flavors and must-try dishes of Guilin
Local specialty with chewy rice noodles in savory broth with various toppings
Best Places:
- Street vendors
- Local noodle shops
- Morning markets
Pro Tip:
Add pickled vegetables and chili oil for authentic flavor
Fresh Li River fish cooked with beer, creating a unique and flavorful dish
Best Places:
- Li River restaurants
- Yangshuo eateries
- Local fish restaurants
Pro Tip:
Best when fish is fresh from the Li River, ask for the daily catch
Local delicacy with snails stuffed with minced pork and herbs
Best Places:
- Traditional restaurants
- Local markets
- Specialty seafood shops
Pro Tip:
Use toothpicks to extract the meat, dip in garlic sauce
Sweet cake made with local osmanthus flowers, a Guilin specialty
Best Places:
- Tea houses
- Traditional bakeries
- Tourist shops
Pro Tip:
Best enjoyed with a cup of osmanthus tea
Rice cooked inside bamboo tubes with meat and vegetables, infused with bamboo flavor
Best Places:
- Mountain restaurants
- Traditional eateries
- Tourist areas
Pro Tip:
The bamboo imparts a unique fragrance, eat while hot
Tangy pickled vegetables served as condiments with rice noodles and other dishes
Best Places:
- Street vendors
- Local markets
- Noodle shops
Pro Tip:
Add to rice noodles for authentic Guilin flavor
Dining Etiquette
- • Use chopsticks properly, don't stick them upright in rice
- • Try a little of everything when dining with others
- • It's polite to serve others before yourself
- • Slurping noodles is acceptable and shows appreciation
Ordering Tips
- • Point at menu pictures if language is a barrier
- • Ask for "bu la" (not spicy) if you can't handle heat
- • Street food is generally safe from busy vendors
- • Don't tip - it's not customary in China