Joston Hotel - Pazhou Convention and Exhibition Center - Free shuttle to the airport

A must-try for spicy food lovers. Named after famous statesman Zeng Guofan of Qing Dynasty, the room pays tribute to him with his literary and calligraphic works. The menu also focusses on dishes and seasonal ingredients from Hunan province, where Zeng hailed from. The signature softshell turtle is either braised in sauces or blanched in stock, best ordered ahead of time. Also try the braised pork belly, a recipe from Shuangfeng County.

Chinese

TV may well have changed the life of the Hong Kong chef who helms Chōwa – after honing his skills in Western cooking, Louis Tam was inspired to explore Franco-Japanese fusion food by a Japanese TV drama. The seasonal six- and eight-course tasting menus embody his vision, and everything is made from scratch: the sauces, pickles, even the plum wine. The piping hot brioche has a springy texture thanks to the yudane recipe. Ask about wine and sake pairings.

Chinese

The decor mimics quaint mansions in the Xiguan district, with prints depicting Cantonese opera stories on the walls. The menu focuses on healthy cooking with seasonal, organic ingredients. Signature dishes include braised Doumen mud crab with hairy squash, which imparts robust seafood flavour, and juicy roast lemongrass-scented squab. To avoid disappointment, pre-order signature dishes and seasonal specials when booking your table.

As in other branches of this Singapore-based chain, the kitchen team never fails to deliver quality dishes thanks to inspired insights and honed skills. The must-try black pepper mud crab exudes an intoxicating aroma and seafood flavour, while double-boiled fish maw soup with shark bones warms the heart and soul. Their dim sum lunch is to die for – deftly crafted translucent rice noodle rolls and tofu skin rolls stuffed with shrimps and chives.

The Singapore-based chain opened its first outpost here in 2019. The head chef from Hong Kong ensures that Chaozhou traditions are respected in the kitchen, while adding a refined touch to his repertoire. The fried tofu skin roll in sweet and sour sauce is filled with ground pork, water chestnuts, shiitake and dried shrimps, delivering a variety of textures. The pork tripe soup with salted mustard greens and peppercorns warms the heart and soul.