Xihua Road Food: So NOT Delicious!
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Well, let me tell you folks, when I was in Guangzhou, choosing which street to eat on almost gave me a headache! There are popular food streets like Beijing Road, Xiasjiu Pedestrian Street, and Xihua Road. I pondered over it for quite some time before finally deciding on Xihua Road.
- I strolled from Chen Clan Ancestral Hall (a well-known ancient architecture attraction).
- As for results? At the end of the street, if I am honest, there wasn't anything that truly made my mouth water.
- From rice noodles, donkey meat (which refers to a food consisting of various offal of cows stewed), roast goose, congee dessert (Guangdong-style dessert), casserole rice (rice cooked in a small sandpot)…
- These items are commonly seen all over the Guangdong province; there doesn't seem to be any necessity in specifically coming here amid such huge crowds. It almost made me cry! [Teary-eyed...]
️ Warning for future visitors:- Super Crowded: The crowds are so packed that it’s hard to walk.
- Sanitation Issues: It is a concern. These street-side shops, you know how they can be.
- Solution: If hygiene is important, it might be better to choose cleaner-looking restaurants with better premises.
- Lack of Unique Features: If you have already tasted many local specialties elsewhere in Guangdong, this place might not surprise you much.
As such, I did not end up entering any restaurant; I just couldn’t get enough appetite there. So, Xihua Road was more of a taste of 'local living' experience (a kind of typical busy local urban flavor).
However, after some thoughts, I still thought it’s more trustworthy to go to a 'chain teahouse restaurant' like 'Man Wah Ice Hall' (a chain restaurant originated from Hong Kong with cleaner environments and stable cooking standard). At least, it wouldn’t lead to disappointment!
Oh well, I guess Xihua Road was not such a pleasant visit... #XihuaRoadFoodGuide #TipsForVisitorsToXihuaRoad #HonestReviewsOfGuangdongFood
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But how can you say it's not good if you haven't even tried it? I think snacks like Gelindo, imitation shark fin soup (Wanzai Chi), Teng Yuan, oyster omelettes (Ho Jai Lo), and sesame paste are actually pretty good. Though I agree, some of those trendy 'internet-famous' spots aren't worth the long queues.
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You're right, I didn't actually get to eat anything. When I said 'not good' in the title, I really meant the experience wasn't very smooth or convenient.
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As a Xihua Road resident, here's my take on whether it's worth a visit for tourists:
If you're a serious foodie with high standards, willing to spend and put in the effort to discover hidden gems, I'd suggest heading straight to the upscale restaurants and farm-to-table places in Shunde, or the star-rated hotels in Guangzhou.
For the average tourist who prefers a more casual, surface-level experience, honestly, there aren't many snack streets in China that can rival Xihua Road in terms of variety and local character.
For tourists who fall somewhere in between, Xihua Road, Longjin Road, the Ximenkou area, the Shi Er Gong area, and the area around the Provincial Library are all good for a stroll and some street food. -
Sigh... anyway, if you're visiting Guangzhou, Xihua Road is probably one to skip.
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Hmm... (puzzled)
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If you're going to eat on Xihua Road, try Gelindo, Huazhou beef offal, pig's blood and chicken giblet soup, Cheng Cheng egg waffles, shredded fish soup (Chai Yu Geng), three-shreds with pork skin soup (San Si Fu Pi Geng), Sanhe Meishi, Weiming rice noodle rolls (Cheung Fun), preserved meat rice (Lap Mei Fan), and Lai Fun noodles.
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Ordered from Gelindo; the special tuna was really delicious.
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Saying it's not good without even eating it? My assessment: that's not quite right. Personally, I think Xihua Road has pretty tasty food.
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Gelindo, Fujiwara (Teng Yuan), and Wen Ji He Fen (rice noodles) are super, super, super delicious!
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On Xihua Road, apart from that very, very old bakery and the toy store that have been there for decades, most other places are new. There's really not much that's good to eat. Sanhe Noodle Shop has been around for over 10 years, but it's not that great either.
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Just wondering about the progress of Xihua Road No. 17 Middle School's new campus. If anyone happens to pass by... The principal mentioned at the school anniversary that the new gym was completed, but the pictures shown were still the AI-generated ones from the old brochure. Our current campus definitely doesn't have a new gym, so I'm guessing it must be at the new campus.
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Even the locals from Xihua Road don't recommend you come.
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Just wondering about the progress of Xihua Road No. 17 Middle School's new campus. If anyone happens to pass by... The principal mentioned at the school anniversary that the new gym was completed, but the pictures shown were still the AI-generated ones from the old brochure. Our current campus definitely doesn't have a new gym, so I'm guessing it must be at the new campus.
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Xihua Road is famous precisely because it has so many distinctive Guangzhou specialty foods! If you're looking for trendy 'internet-famous' food, you're better off going to a commercial street.
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I just feel like there are too many places offering similar things. For example, there's a dessert shop (Tong Sui) every few steps, but it's hard to tell what makes each one unique. It's like there are tons of choices, but none really stand out. Without someone familiar to guide you, you end up not wanting to try any of them.