While the major cities of the Pearl River Delta have many similarities, when it comes to dining, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai are worlds apart.
Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong, is home to Cantonese cuisine, one of China's eight major regional cooking styles.
Cantonese cuisine has three distinct cooking styles apart from standard fare: Chiu Chow, Hakka, and Shun Tak. Chiu Chow and Hakka tend to be heartier fare, while Shun Tak is more refined.
Cantonese restaurants can be found throughout the city, but cooking styles differ slightly from Hong Kong. Chefs have greater access to locally produced fruits and vegetables that are hard to source in Hong Kong, so it's worth trying unfamiliar dishes.
You can also find cafes and restaurants serving authentic dishes from Africa, the Middle East and Russia due to the city's large number of traders from these regions.
Shenzhen is a city of local migrants, and Cantonese restaurants are second only to those serving authentic dishes from other parts of the country. Hunan and Sichuan restaurants are especially popular, but you can also find eateries serving regional dishes from other parts of the country.
Zhuhai has a bustling food and beverage district known as Bar Street, which comes alive at weekends. Centred on Shuiwan Road, Shuiwan East Road, and Lovers' South Road, it is home to many outdoor beer gardens and pavement cafes serving dishes from all over the world. Many have dance floors and feature live bands.
