Guangzhou Asia Hotel

Named after the owner-chef who also runs Taian Table, Stiller is a different dining concept altogether. Start the meal with a personalised cocktail at the bar or the lounge area by the floor-to-ceiling windows. Then head to the colourful dining room with comfy couch seating. The menu features seasonal offerings alongside some German-inspired dishes which are rare to find in the town. Also ask servers for recommendations.

This outpost of the Hong Kong-based chain is well known among locals and tourists for its nicely made traditional Cantonese fare, such as crispy roast pork belly, and slow-boiled or double-boiled soups. Kick off your meal with chilled jellyfish salad; the mildly tangy black vinegar accentuates the lovely crunch. Save room for the grand finale – a double dessert whammy of sweet almond milk and steamed sticky rice jujube cake.

This multifaceted dining concept in a heritage building is supervised by celebrity chef Lan Guijun. It hits the spot every time, thanks to quality ingredients, deft execution and thoughtful service. A few set menus are available – all require pre-ordering. The assortment of six small plates in a silver box highlights the varied taste profiles in Sichuanese fare. Try also the five-colour cold noodles with spiny lobster, and golden thread noodle soup.

Tucked in an alley filled to the brim with halal restaurants, this two-storey establishment has a dining room on the ground floor and some private rooms upstairs. Lamb is big on the menu, such as the juicy boiled premium version, which is chopped into chunky pieces with skin on and bone in. Pair it with garlic for extra pungency. Heyan flat noodles and Dongxiang stir-fried chicken are also worth ordering. For drinks, the eight-treasure tea is a must.

This three-storey building is the brand's first outlet, dating back to 1981. Known for traditional Cantonese food at bargain prices, the restaurant prides itself on meticulous cooking techniques and attention to detail. Their speciality of steamed chicken uses only free-range birds from Qingyuan for their firm, silky flesh and fine, springy skin. The goose intestines blanched in soy sauce are also impeccably made.

In the 1940s, the founder opened a shop on Enning Street that made noodles with duck eggs and flour only. Nowadays, his successors honour this heritage and make everything like in the olden days. In the signature shrimp wonton noodle soup, bite-sized wonton packed with springy shrimps come in a clear broth flavoured with dried plaice, dried shrimps and yellow chives. The blanched noodles tossed in lard, another must-try, are simple but addictive.

As the name suggests, Laifen noodle soup is the main item sold at this rustic shop, and is served alongside ingredients such as barbecue pork, beef balls or octopus. The creamy rice soup has hints of mushroom and dried shrimp flavours. "Water caltrop", consisting of rice noodles shaped like bite-size buffalo nuts topped with shredded egg, preserved cabbage, cracklings and peanuts, is an old-time dish that is hard to find elsewhere.