Six of the best: Street snacks

Liangpi 凉皮

Don’t be fooled by its eerie translation, ‘cold skin’ - liangpi is a refreshing noodle dish made of wheat or rice flour and topped with peanuts, gluten, cucumber strips and plenty of hot sauce. Originally from Shaanxi province, we adore liangpi down south (sold outside Tee Mall in Tianhe) as an appetizing pick-me-up on a hot summer’s day.

Beef entrails 牛杂

Bear with us – beef entrails are a Cantonese tradition and one of the most commonly found street foods in the PRD (aside from stinky tofu, which we still haven’t learned to like). Brewed in a savory broth and served with boiled radishes, this grub is ideal for adventurous eaters. Find niu za on older streets in Yuexiu, Haizhu and Liwan.

Steamed buns 包子

The least elegant of the roadside snacks somehow snuck into Canton’s classy dim sum menu. We know they’re too ‘putong’ for some, but we adore the nai huang (奶黄) flavor found exclusively in Guangzhou. Bursting with creamy custard, these steamed treats go perfectly with black coffee in the morning. Find them at any street-side baozi shop.

Hong Kong fish balls 香港鱼丸

Statistics say Kongers devour 1.3 billion of these balls annually, or 196 per person! The deep-fried spheres of fish are dipped in mouth-watering flavors (like curry) and served on a bamboo stick. They’re sold outside in Mong Kok, HK, and are usually featured with other seafood goodies, such as spicy squid.

Midnight BBQ 烧烤 (pictured above)

Encompassing everything from seasoned Xinjiang lamb to charred mantou and grilled fish, this is the broadest category of all, and for good reason. Emerging after dark, portable BBQ stands offer partygoers a perfect ‘xiaoye’ (midnight snack). Head to Xiaobei for delectable seared fish or search below any overpass for more traditional skewers.

Jianbing 煎饼果子

King of take-away delicacies, the jianbing is a unanimous favorite among expats and locals alike, made by spreading crepe-like batter over a hot skillet. This is then brushed with egg and filled with a deep-fried wonton wrapper, lettuce and hot sauce. Find these near the west gate of South China Normal University or outside the nearby metro stop, exit E.