广州舒格艺术酒店

Yao Ji has been a household name in Panyu District for over 40 years. On the menu, classic Cantonese flavours work their magic in painstaking recipes that are a rarity these days. The sweet, steamed lotus root puree is sticky and chewy and well complemented by briny dried shrimps and aromatic scallion. Oyster sauce chicken is nicely browned and boasts an inimitable umami flavour thanks to scallion and ginger.

As an art lover, Chef May chose to open her place away from the city, in an airy space adorned by artworks on loan from the gallery nearby. Tables are well spaced out, but consider booking a private room for special occasions. Fujian cuisine prevails on the menu and most ingredients are shipped straight from the province. Specialities such as the umami-loaded sea worm jelly and the aromatic Xiamen ginger duck stew are well executed.

This design-forward restaurant is located within an industrial park of remodelled factory buildings. Aptly, the décor exudes an industrial chic that complements the origami art hung from the ceiling. Trained as a designer, the owner took care of the décor and furnishings, whereas the Hunanese chef recreates classics from his home province. Dongting fish head, wotou cornbread and sweet fried dumplings are cooked with acumen and dexterity.

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.

The chain operates branches in Hunan and Guangdong, but everything started in this flagship venue with a landscaped garden and a running stream. Its namesake signature dish is rice cooked in a pigeon and pork bone broth, boasting a crispy golden crust on the bottom and topped with steamed pigeon or a combo of pigeon meat and gizzards. Besides deep-fried or salt-baked fowl, the sautéed squid with cucumber is also a must.

(The restaurant is temporarily closed.) The main dining room on the bottom floor evokes relaxed vibes with sheer curtains and rattan chairs while the upper level houses private rooms exclusively. The private rooms serve a special menu with keenly sought-after Hunanese ingredients in limited quantity. Try ice-chilled crisp lotus root from Dongting Lake, or Cantonese-style braised sea cucumber with premium chilies from Zhangshu Port. Pre-order these dishes to avoid disappointment.

The majestic red and gold colour scheme is a fitting lead-in to the Cantonese classics reimagined by Chef Chan with a refined touch. Try his juicy and tender char siu or the Peking duck with its dark and crispy caramelised skin. The array of dim sum on offer, such as apple sauce char siu puff pastry, is also a highlight. With vivid colour and varied textures, the steamed red yeast rice roll stuffed with minced shrimp in a crispy crust is enticing.