It’s been one hell of a year to say the least, particularly for those of us based in China. We’ve seen ‘The Tweeter in Chief’ launch (and then halt) a trade war between the world’s two leading economic powers, Fan Bingbing disappear and then reappear (with a major fine to pay) and another record-breaking Singles’ Day haul for Alibaba. To wrap up 2018, our editorial team has put together a list of the year’s most unforgettable viral stories, recounting major occurrences that defined the worlds of sports, tech, arts, fashion and food. Here’s to another year of eclectic, weird and wonderful life in China, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Below, in no particular order, we share our favorite eateries to debut in Guangzhou in 2018:
1. Mercato
Image via Mercato
The winner of not one but two awards at the 2018 That’s Food & Drink Awards in Guangzhou, Mercato is the real deal.
A selection of crudo and appetizers make for perfect tapas-style shareables. Try the sliced kingfish with crushed olives and dill (RMB98); house-made ricotta swirled with strawberry and olive oil on bread (RMB98); and the wood-oven-roasted asparagus with prosciutto and fontina cheese (RMB98). Homemade pastas and risotto also feature; try the lobster and shrimp ravioli, doused in olive oil, lemon and fresh herbs (RMB138/198). Light and clean, it speaks volumes to those who understand what real pasta should taste like.
If you crave meat-focused main, order the crispy beef short rib (RMB368), served with a glazed, sticky topping of smoked chili, cranberry and chianti, with a side of polenta fries covered with shaved parmesan. The rib is expertly braised for 12 hours, after which all excess fat is trimmed off. It’s then fried for a mere three seconds, resulting in a delicate yet crispy exterior and tender, juicy, pull-apart perfection within.
Price: RMB400
Who’s going: well-suited high rollers, devout fans of modern Italian fare
Good for: crispy beef short ribs, tapas, artisanal pours
Nearest metro: Huangcheng Dadao (APM line), 5 minutes
Read our full review here. See listing for Mercato.
2. The Pizza Factory 2.0
Image by Matthew Bossons/That's
As its name suggests, The Pizza Factory is all about ‘za! Here you can build your own unlimited topping pizza or order one of the restaurant’s specialty pies. We recommend the former, because, in the immortal words of someone, somewhere: “Custom is king.”
First, choose a size: 9-inch (RMB58), 12-inch (RMB78) or 14-inch (RMB98). Next, choose your desired sauce (tomato, pesto, white or pink) and cheese (mozzarella or a four-cheese blend).
Once you have the pie’s foundation, it’s up to you to adorn it with toppings – of which there is no shortage. Fruit and vegetable options include tomatoes, onions, spinach, roasted bell peppers and cauliflower, olives, jalapenos, corn and pineapple, among others.
Price: RMB70-100
Who’s going: picky devotees of the ‘za, young Chinese women
Good for: custom eats, crafty cupcakes, your 10-year-old's birthday party
Nearest metro: Gongyuanqian (Exit E), five minutes
Read our Full Review Here. See listing for The Pizza Factory 2.0.
3. Alan’s Kitchen
Image via Alan's Kitchen
Helming the kitchen at Alan’s is the award-winning Alan Yu himself, a Shanghai-born, American-raised executive chef. Yu has served at 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana in Hong Kong and Shanghai, as well as cooktops at some of the most desirable Michelin-starred locations in New York and Washington DC. Currently running Le Rivage and Alan’s Bistro in Shanghai, Alan’s Kitchen is his latest establishment in our humble South.
The one page, leather-bound menu is undoubtedly short, but there’s a ‘less is more’ philosophy here. For appetizers, start with the burrata cheese (RMB78), with fresh rocket, grape fruit and a light balsamic dressing. Colorful, albeit on the smaller side, this fresh starter comes with a drizzle of crunchy hazelnuts, adding a textural component.
The beef Wellington is one reason to dine here. It seems like a crazy idea for any chef (unless your name is Gordon Ramsay) to pursue, as it’s one of the hardest preparations to pull off. A chunk of tenderloin is covered with Parma ham under a spread of finely chopped mushrooms and then packaged individually in a light puff pastry. Sitting on a buttery bed of potato puree with a rich red wine jus, the meat is well-cooked and the pastry flaky, although a decent touch of seasoning is needed to bring this dish up to snuff.
Price: RMB300
Who’s going: fans of restaurants like Li Chateau, chilled beef lovers
Good for: swanky mall meets, dress-down fine dining
Nearest metro: Huacheng Dadao (APM Line), 2 minutes
Read our full review here. See listing for Alan's Kitchen.
4. Supin
Image by Tristin Zhang/That's
Boasting a farm-to-table approach, Supin guarantees that garden-fresh, organic produce is used in the preparation of its handsome brunch and salad selections. The dedication to freshness is apparent in the strangely named ‘healthy nut beef and guacamole with beef fruit’ (RMB68): mozzarella, sliced avocados, beef and tomatoes are layered on a piece of bread, with mayo and guacamole applied in between. This dish is sided by a mixed, green salad and mashed potatoes.
We strongly recommend sampling the ‘double flow heart egg tuna salad’ (RMB58), which matches tuna seasoned with black pepper together with baby carrots, poached eggs, cucumbers, yellow peppers, snow peas and lettuce. The flavors are heavenly, bridging the gap between the robust and the delicate.
On top of cakes, croissants and pies, hungry patrons may also opt for a hearty pasta. For drinks, the menu offers run-of-the-mill coffees, teas and juices, as well as several rice milk choices.
Price: RMB50-100
Who’s going: Shamian explorers, health-conscious folks
Good for: brunching, organic salad
Nearest metro: Huangsha (Exit F), 10 minutes
Read our full review here. See listing for Supin.
5. Bandidos Mexican Cantina
Image by Matt Bossons/That's
The man behind Bandidos’ menu, Arturo Villegas Rosas, is originally from Mexico City but has spent time living all over Mexico. Described to us by restaurant proprietor Rob Turnbull as a man who “takes food seriously,” Arturo has been preparing traditional Mexican cuisine for 16 years – and his expertise is evident in Bandidos’ food.
We started our gastronomic gallivant through the menu with the aguachile (RMB48), one of the Arturo’s signature dishes: a hearty portion of fresh shrimp mixed with purple onions and cabbage, tomatoes and cucumber, all soaked in piquant lime juice. Flavorful and texture-rich, this refreshing dish is served with a bowl of corn tortilla chips for scooping. We’re willing to bet the aguachile will be a popular snack on Guangzhou’s hotter, more humid days.
And of course, no trip to a Mexican cantina is complete without tacos! We sampled two of the three taco varieties currently available: tacos de carne asada and tacos de pastor (both RMB68 for three tacos).
The tacos de carne asada come on a double corn tortilla, stuffed with roasted beef with a touch of cumin, corn and coriander, while the tacos de pastor boast Mexican-style roasted pork with pineapple pico de gallo. We found the portion sizes for both orders to be quite fair, particularly when compared with some of Guangzhou’s other taco purveyors.
Price: RMB150
Who’s going: virtually everyone (on our visit anyway)
Good for: authentic Mexican eats, margaritas, feeling like you’re not in China
Nearest metro: Zhujiang New Town (Exit B2), 10 minutes
Read our full review here. See listing for Bandidos Mexican Cantina.
6. Sunshine Bay Cafe
Image by Lena Gidwani/That's
Sunshine Bay Cafe appears to attract an eclectic, conscious crowd. On our visit, we spotted a merry band of yoga enthusiasts stretching away in unison, a group of middle-aged men chomping down on fresh fruit, and several smaller clusters, from families to lean young lasses posing for selfies.
Sunshine’s signature is undoubtedly the acai bowl, a nutritional powerhouse made from a thick blend of antioxidant-rich acai berries and bananas, topped with granola and a selection of superfoods like coconut flakes, chia seeds and goji berries. For a dose of daily protein, add a serving of whey powder for RMB15.
Nutrient-packed juices like the kaffir aroma (RMB29) and toxin flush (RMB32) are made to order, so expect to wait a few minutes for service. Salads are a feature too: try the hummus avocado (RMB59), a large serving of crisp hydroponically-harvested kale, topped with egg, sliced avocado, pumpkin seeds and a generous serving of homemade hummus.
Price: RMB60-100
Who’s going: health junkies, those on island time, boot campers
Good for: vitality and freshness in a bowl (or plate), healthy grab-and-go eats
Nearest metro: Huacheng Dadao (APM Line), 1 minute
Read our full review here. See listing for Sunshine Bay Cafe.
7. Pandan Indonesian Restaurant
Image via Pandan Indonesian Restaurant
For those of you who know the ‘Zhou, you’d know that Pandan had quite a cult following. So, when all three branches shut down recently, disappointed tongues were left wagging, so to speak. Making a bona fide comeback at China Plaza is this authentic Indonesian gem.
At Pandan, there’s a telling of a story of a country, as they cook up a respectful take on its adored culinary repertoire. There’s all the essentials, from gado gado (RMB27) to soto ayam (RMB29), and seafood staples like grilled prawns (RMB59).
The impossibly enjoyable sate ayam, with juicy bits of meat, is served with peanut dipping sauce, like those sold from street stalls. Fried and served with green chili, the ayam bakar cabe ijo is a treat at just RMB42. On the rice section of the menu, you can find a seafood nasi goreng (RMB38) that lives up to its esteemed reputation.
Price: RMB80
Who’s going: reminiscent Pandan fans, curry lovers
Good for: a taste of Indonesia, sambal, sate ayam
Nearest metro: Martyrs' Park (Exit A), 5 minutes
Read our full review here. See listing for Pandan Indonesian Restaurant.
8. Doors
Image via Doors
Doors is all about flair and theater; the result garners a boatload of oohs, aahs and WeChat likes, and quite rightfully so. Our selection of three salads – the Turkish, grilled marinated eggplant, and kidney bean – are not just a visual treat, but off-the-hook in terms of taste, aftertaste and presentation. Priced between RMB48-65, they’re decent value for money, too.
To complement the red wine, cocktails, liquors and raki, order red and white meat dishes in portions so that you get to try the whole lot: there are several varieties of beef, lamb and chicken that fit the bill. The lamb shish kebab (RMB106) melts with meaty juices, and Ceylan jumps in expertly: perfect for stuffing into crispy homemade pockets of lavash flatbread (RMB20). It melts so naturally on the tongue and makes for such fulfilling bites that it leaves you asking the obvious: "What else can I order?"
Who’s going: super extra taste lovers, those who got dough and like to eat it too
Good for: meat flamboyance, sensual seafood, Turkish delights
Price: RMB350
Nearest metro: Liede (Exit D), 8 minutes
Read our full review here. See listing for Doors.
9. Poké Remix
Image by Matthew Bossons/That's
Inconspicuously located on the second floor of Fuli Dongshan New World, the small and casual interior of Poké Remix is dishing out delicious Hawaiian-inspired eats that will satisfy lovers of seafood, salad and rice bowls all at once.
Before we dive into Poké Remix’s choice dishes, some background: poké (pronounced 'poh-kay') is a salad composed of raw fish that hails from the beautiful American state of Hawaii. In many regards, the dish is comparable to fish Carpaccio or Japanese sashimi and it can be served as plain 'n' simple raw fish in sauce (such as soy sauce and sesame oil) or with additional ingredients, like rice, nuts and fruit.
On our recent visit, we sampled the ‘Traditional Remix’ bowl (RMB79), which comes with 100 grams of diced ahi tuna, house sambal and ponzu sauces, avocado, gomasio, edamame, dried bonito and seaweed all set on a dark, blackish-brown bed of five-grain rice. It's a refreshing blend of edible components that offers a range of textures and tastes. We’re told that the prawn and shrimp poke bowl (RMB69), which spices things up a notch with chipotle mayo dressing, is also worth a dabble.
Price: RMB50-80
Who’s going: homesick Hawaiians, surfer bros, pescetarians
Good for: healthy edibles, building your own meal
Nearest metro: Yangji (Exit B), 15 minutes
Read our full review here. See listing for Poké Remix.
10. Slow Life Kitchen Elite
Image via Slow Life Kitchen Elite
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.
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
Click here to read our full review. See listing for Slow Life Kitchen Elite.
Read more Guangzhou restaurant reviews, cafe reviews and bar reviews.
For more 2018 Year in Review coverage, click here.
[Cover image via Doors]
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