Here are all the new restaurant openings we featured in our September 2018 issue:
Jiangzi Japanese Cuisine
Image via Matt Bossons/That's
Browsing the menu at Jiangzi is done on a metal tablet that weighs enough it to easily double as a weapon in the event a sake-fueled brawl breaks out. Standard Japanese fare abounds: sashimi, nigiri, tempura and ramen, although rolls are strangely absent from the menu.
The salmon nigiri (RMB17/two pieces) and salmon and tuna sashimi (RMB39 per order) arrive quickly, and the cuts of fish all taste fresh with a silky mouthfeel. The spicy ramen noodles, while not bad, do leave something to be desired, particularly when compared to the heavenly pork and kimchi ramen served next door at Diaoxi Haichan. The subtle spice is pleasant, but the portion of protein seems meager considering the dish’s RMB45 pricetag.
With vibrant, poster-covered walls, Jiangzi Japanese Cuisine is a funky and undeniably fun spot to dine. Staff are friendly and upbeat, and on our recent visit the restaurant’s open dining area was full of patrons happily chatting away over tea and tuna.
Price: RMB100-150 per person
Who’s going: funkalicious fish lovers
Good for: fresh seafood, rad ambiance, fun dates
Nearest metro: Shayuan (Exit B), 10 minutes
Read our full review here. See listing for Jiangzi Japanese Cuisine.
Kigo Poke
Image via Matt Bossons/That's
To the best of our knowledge, Kigo Poke is only Guangzhou’s second restaurant to specialize in Hawaiian poke bowls and the first of its kind in Haizhu District. Located a short stroll from Changgang Metro Station, Kigo dishes out fresh, fish-loaded bowls at prices notably lower than the competition.
Simple paper menus are haphazardly arranged at the restaurant’s front counter, each proudly displaying eight poke bowls, four smoothie bowls, two bossed-up bagels and a selection of fruity sodas and teas. On our visit to Kigo Poke, we sampled the avocado Hawaiian salmon poke bowl and the spicy mayo salmon poke bowl, both of which can also be made with tuna.
The avocado Hawaiian salmon bowl (RMB55) comes packed with its namesake vegetable, onion, scallions, tobiko, pineapple, pistachios, cashews, wakame, corn, cucumbers, seaweed and fried shallots with a soy sauce and ginger dressing. It’s fresh, and the portion of raw salmon provided in the bowl is considerable – particularly when its RMB55 pricetag is compared to Guangzhou’s other poke purveyors.
Price: RMB40-60
Who’s going: pescetarians, curious Changgang locals
Good for: fishy food, lean and clean eating
Nearest metro: Changgang (Exit D), 2 minutes
Read our full review here. See listing for Kigo Poke.
Slow Life Kitchen Elite
Image via Slow Life
Much like Slow Life’s first restaurant, Elite aims to introduce patrons to the ‘rarity’ of authentic Western fare through an array of well-crafted, eye-pleasing dishes and a delectable array of tapas.
Highlights from the tapas menu include the highly-recommended Spanish-style garlic shrimp (RMB75), a full-flavored dish with thumb-sized crustaceans steeped in a sour and spicy soup, as well as the roasted asparagus and scallops with truffle cream sauce (RMB90), which mashes up flavors to deliver a juicy yet delicate mouthful of shellfish.
Meat lovers should go with the roasted New Zealand shin beef with black vinegar, mushrooms and garlic butter (RMB168), which just might delight your palate with its rich flavor. Plus, wait staff will offer to cube it for you.
Price: RMB150-200
Who’s going: the downtown white-collar, businesspeople
Good for: a taste of Spain, slowing down
Nearest metro: Huacheng Square (Exit B), 5 minutes
Read our full review here. See listing for Slow Life Kitchen Elite.
Szechwan Lane
Image via Tristin Zhang/That's
At Szechwan Lane, diners are served bitter buckwheat tea, a special herbal beverage from Sichuan that is believed to boast a number of health benefits. The one-page menu is simple and displays cold dishes, mains and desserts, as well as must-try specialty dishes.
Here in South China, the Sichuan dish that receives the most attention is the beloved spicy and sour fish. Utilizing deboned and discerningly selected weever fish, the spicy sour fish at Szechwan Lane (RMB68) comes served with pickled cabbage, chilies and lemon, all in a broth that blends spice a with tongue-numbing finish.
Also recommended here are the popular charcoaled frogs with peppers and onions in a copper pot (RMB68) and the classic spicy rabbit with peppers (RMB68), both of which promise to crank your meal up a couple of notches.
Price: RMB100-150
Who’s going: in-the-know diners, gua laowai
Good for: spicing up a meal, spicy and sour fish
Nearest metro: Yuexiu Park (Exit C), 10 minutes
Read our full review here. See listing for Szechwan Lane.
Read more Guangzhou restaurant reviews, cafe reviews and bar reviews.
[Cover image via Slow Life]
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