Showing posts with label Shangxiajiu. Show all posts

[FOOD] 20141223 Guangzhou Restaurant 广州酒楼 @ Liwan, Guangzhou


Guangzhou Restaurant was recommended by the locals when I asked for the best place to have Cantonese Cuisine. I guessed, if they are daring enough to use the name "Guangzhou Restaurant", they must be up to standard to be able to represent Guangzhou.

True enough, this old restaurant was established way back in 1935 with the name Xinan Restaurant  西南酒家 (West-South Restaurant) but was subsequently burned down during World War II. The present building was reconstructed in 1939 and with its current name "Guangzhou Restaurant", signifying the rich food culture of Cantonese Cuisine.

The restaurant has went through many up and downs over the years and has won numerous awards, a long list of them in fact. Currently, the restaurant group has 11 branches all over Guangzhou with the main branch located at Wenchang Road (Beside Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street), serving both traditional Cantonese cuisine and Cantonese Dimsum.

2, Wenchang S. Road, Liwan, Guangzhou
广州市荔湾区文昌南路2号
Nearest MRT Stations: Jordan, Exit C2
Telephone: +65 (020) 81380388 81389840 81392285
Opening Hours: 07:00am until 10:00pm

TO GO


Disclaimer: Google services are barred in China. You need to either bypass the "Great Wall" or use a VPN. Alternatively, you may use their domestic sites such as Baidu Map.

Directions to the main branch in Wenchang will be similar to my directions to Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street as the restaurant is located right the end of the junction of the upper nine street.

Unfortunately, there's no direct access of Guangzhou Metro line to Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street. However, the area is very accessible via public mini buses. I particularly like their bus because it goes through many small alleys where you are able to see the hustle and bustle of local lifestyle.

Dexing Road Terminal: Take Bus No. 17, 79 or 79A
Shangxiajiu: Take Bus 530
Baohua Road: Take Bus 5, 6, 15, 61 or 530




SPECIALITY



Recommended by the locals, the Guangzhou Restaurant is an old building located at the far end of the Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street, and with its reputation and location, it's not hard to understand why this place is full of patrons.

You will receive a warm welcome by the reception and waitresses and they will politely ask you what would you like to have and lead you to the correct section. There's even a lift in this building to assist the elderly to the upper floors. Today I'm here for the dim sum instead of cuisine.


The restaurant is a huge three-storey building, with each floor segregated for different purposes, i.e. the ground floor caters for Cantonese cuisine, while the first floor is for Dimsum, third floor is mainly VIP rooms. There's a big opening in the middle of the restaurant with landscape decorations and air well to gather natural light.


With this kind of reputation and setup, don't expect the prices to be cheap. In fact, it is comparable to Hong Kong's pricing and even more expensive than Tim Ho Wan during my visit to HK. 

*Caution: I forget to change my camera settings to RAW, so the white balance will be off*


High pricing comes with high expectations, and to be honest, it did not disappoint. The siew mai 蟹皇烧卖 is one of the I have tried with the price of RMB19 (RM11.50). Every part of the siew mai is made to almost perfection with juicy and tender fillings and well steamed wrappings. 


Next is the stir-fried glutinous rice 生炒糯米饭, with the price between RMB17 (RMB10) or RMB19 (RM11.50), couldn't remember as I didn't foot the bill. The usual glutinous rice that we have in restaurants would normally be steamed. However, to stir-fry the glutinous rice from raw to cooked requires quite some skill as it is very different than just steam otherwise the rice will be either too raw or too dry. I enjoyed this glutinous rice dish as it is not too raw and yet not too dry. The fillings and toppings are just nice to add flavour and texture to the overall enjoyment.


Braised Chicken Feet (Pheonix Claw) is not a dish that's acceptable to everyone but it's one of the signature Cantonese Dimsum. However, I will give this a pass instead. The chicken feet are too fragmented and not presentable. Taste just normal.


Cheong-fun or Vermicelli roll originates from Guangzhou, the locals have this almost on a daily basis with stalls and eateries selling this on almost every corner of the streets in Guangzhou (but all taste mediocre). Hence, this is definitely must try in Guangzhou Restaurant. The typical Cheong-fun wrapped with char siew (BBQ sweet pork) was ordered, and my oh my, I never know a Cheong-fun can taste this good. The skin/wrapping itself is very good, even much better than the one in Tim Ho Wan. Coupled with the light sweet soy sauce, two thumbs up for this dish.


Next is the prawn dumplings and the standard of the restaurant is upheld again with this dish. The prawns are very fresh with very nice texture of the wrappings, steamed to perfection. Flavour is also just nice.


The open-mouth type Char Siew Pau. Although I'm not used to the Char Siew here in China (our Malaysian char siew lean towards the sweet side), I do enjoy the Pau's (bun) texture and Chinese is still the best in making this traditional food.


Instead of the typical Raddish Cake, a Pan Fried Yam Cake was ordered instead. The yam used in this dish is very different from our local Malaysian yam. The texture is more gluey but full of flavour of yam in comparison to our local variant.

SUMMARY


It was a very satisfying meal in Guangzhou Restaurant with top quality dim sum served. However, the price is also towards the high side. The service was good and not forgetting to mention the tea that they served is also of high quality and served in front of you, showcasing the art of tea making (well, not really). A few dishes like the glutinous rice, siew mai, prawn dumplings and Cheong-fun are highligh recommended.

Taste
☆☆☆☆☆
One of the best dim sum I tried.
Value
☆☆☆
Pricey for China's standard
Service
☆☆☆☆☆
Cleanliness
☆☆☆☆☆
Opening Hours
07:00am until 10:00pm
Wifi
Nil
Parking
Limited
Website
http://www.gzr.com.cn/


GPS: 23.113817, 113.245831
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[PLACE] 20141223 Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street 上下九步行街 @ Liwan, Guangzhou


Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street 上下九步行街 or also known as Xiguan (西关) consists of upper nine street and lower nine street, hence the name "shang xia jiu" which literally mean upper and lower nine (streets).

Similar to Dongmen that I went in Shenzhen, Shangxiajiu is the centre of attraction for various commercial activities. You can find things to buy or to eat here and the merchandise here are usually to cater for the middle-lower class groups.

You will notice the unique architecture of the surrounding buildings that have a slight European shadow.

The pedestrian street is most accessible via public bus.

广州市荔湾区西关的上九路
Nearest Metro Station: Yide Lu Station
Telephone: Nil
Opening Hours: Daily

TO GO


Disclaimer: Google services are barred in China. You need to either bypass the "Great Wall" or use a VPN. Alternatively, you may use their domestic sites such as Baidu Map.

Unfortunately, there's no direct access of Guangzhou Metro line to Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street. However, the area is very accessible via public mini buses. I particularly like their bus because it goes through many small alleys where you are able to see the hustle and bustle of local lifestyle.

Dexing Road Terminal: Take Bus No. 17, 79 or 79A
Shangxiajiu: Take Bus 530
Baohua Road: Take Bus 5, 6, 15, 61 or 530


ATTRACTION



I took the Bus 17A (A for Air conditioned) after my visit at Chen Clan Monastery at the opposite side of the road to Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street. I got off at the Dexing Lu Terminal where you are welcomed with rows of shops and street food.


Competition is stiff in China if you want to get noticed by the population in billions here. The bigger the signboard, the better; the more also the better; the popularity of the ambassador is also directly correlated with the popularity of your products.


Rows and rows of street food, some of which selling "imported" street food from Taiwan and Korea. However, nothing here beats those in Dongmen, especially the one I tried in Kiyomi. However, I could be wrong as I didn't try every single stall here.


There's a square located right at the middle of the road, which is known as the Shangxiajiu Square (obviously). 


There are various offerings here with majority in fashion and accessories (the fashion and clothing street is just next to the pedestrian street). Other than that, toys and handicraft items are also available here.


There's also this very old cinema (research after trip to find it was built back in the 1951) that is still operating. Very interesting building indeed as Shangxiajiu was the main centre of commercial activity back in the older days. Just notice the hint of European architecture.


SUMMARY


Overall Shangxiajiu pedestrian street has a lot to offer in terms of shopping and food, but street food lacks authenticity. Do come in night time as the streets will be filled with neon lamp sign boards.

Attraction
☆☆☆☆
very busy pedestrian street with lots of activity
Cleanliness
☆☆☆☆
Entrance Fee
Nil
Opening Hours
Daily
Wifi
N/A
Parking
N/A
Website
N/A

GPS: 23.114951, 113.248861
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