Guangdong cuisine, represented by Cantonese cuisine, is characterized by its light flavors and diverse cooking methods, excelling in highlighting the original taste of ingredients. Guangdong cuisine is divided into five major schools, each with its unique flavors and specialties.
Five Schools of Guangdong Cuisine
Cantonese Cuisine
Cantonese cuisine is the representation of Guangdong cuisine, which is mainly popular in Guangzhou and (Zhujiang) Pearl River Delta region. It is known for its light, fresh, and tender flavors, emphasizing the original taste of ingredients. The cooking methods are diverse, including steaming, boiling, stir-frying, stewing, and braising, with a particular expertise in soup making. Representative dishes of Cantonese cuisine include White-Cut Chicken, Shrimp Dumplings, Char Siu (BBQ Pork), Rice Noodle Rolls, Clay Pot Rice, and Long-Stewed Soup.
Chaoshan Cuisine 
Chaoshan cuisine, mainly popular in Shantou and Chaozhou, is a unique school of Guangdong cuisine. It focuses on the freshness and original taste of ingredients, with flavors that are light, salty, fresh, and sweet. The region is especially famous for its seafood and beef hot pot. Representative dishes of Chaoshan cuisine include Beef Hot Pot, Chaoshan Porridge, Chaozhou Preserved Duck, Oyster Omelette, Fengcheng Fish Balls, and Chaozhou Rice Dumplings.
Hakka Cuisine
Hakka cuisine, mainly popular in Meizhou, Huizhou, and Heyuan, is one of the three major schools of Guangdong cuisine. It is characterized by its salty, fragrant, rich, and thick flavors, emphasizing cooking techniques and fire control, with a preference for heavier flavors. The main ingredients are often meat, especially pork and chicken. Representative dishes of Hakka cuisine include Hakka Stuffed Tofu, Braised Pork with Preserved Mustard, Salt-Baked Chicken, Radish Cake, and Taro Braised Pork.
Western Guangdong Cuisine
Western Guangdong cuisine, popular in Zhanjiang, Maoming, and Yangjiang, is known for its seafood, given its proximity to the coast. The flavors are salty and spicy, with cooking methods mainly focusing on steaming, poaching, and boiling to retain the original taste of the ingredients. Representative dishes of Western Guangdong Cuisine include Zhanjiang White-Cut Chicken, Zhanjiang Oysters, Yangjiang Shark Fin, and Mackerel Rice.
Shunde Cuisine
Shunde cuisine is a branch of Cantonese cuisine, popular in Shunde, and is an important part of Guangdong cuisine. It is renowned for its fresh ingredients and meticulous cooking. The cooking methods are diverse, with a particular expertise in steaming, boiling, stewing, and braising. Representative dishes of Shunde cuisine include Double-Layer Steamed Milk Custard, Fish Salad, Roast Goose, Soy Sauce Chicken, and Shunde Fish Cake.
Five Classic Guangdong Dishes
Char Siu
Char siu is a classic Cantonese roast meat dish. It is made from pork with a good balance of fat and lean meat, marinated in a flavorful mixture of soy sauce, honey, and other seasonings, then roasted at a low temperature. The result is a bright red, crispy exterior and a juicy, tender interior. With its perfect balance of sweetness and saltiness and its rich flavor, char siu is often served with white rice or used as a filling in char siu buns and char siu pastries. It is an indispensable delicacy in Cantonese cuisine.
White-Cut Chicken
White-Cut Chicken is a traditional Cantonese dish, made with Qingyuan chicken known for its tender and smooth texture. The whole chicken is boiled and then soaked in ice water to achieve crispy skin and juicy meat. Served in pieces with a dipping sauce of ginger, spring onion, and oil, it highlights the original flavor of the chicken. With its crisp skin and tender, delicate taste, White-Cut Chicken is a classic Cantonese dish that showcases the true essence of the ingredient. Often served as the first dish at banquets, it is widely loved for its light and fresh flavor.
Zhanjiang Oysters
Zhanjiang Oysters are a specialty from Zhanjiang, Guangdong. They grow in pristine, unpolluted waters, known for their tender, plump, and sweet meat with a crisp texture. The most classic dish is charcoal-grilled oysters, where the oysters are roasted over charcoal with seasonings like garlic and chili, preserving their natural flavor. Zhanjiang Oysters can also be steamed, used in soups, or stir-fried, offering diverse culinary options. They are rich in nutrients, including protein, vitamins, and micro elements.
Chaoshan Raw-marinated Seafood
Chaoshan Raw-marinated Seafood is a specialty from the Chaoshan region in Guangdong. It uses fresh seafood like shrimp, crab, and shellfish, marinated for several hours in a mixture of sea salt, soy sauce, garlic, chili, and cilantro. The dish has a refreshing and moderately salty-spicy flavor, preserving the original taste of the seafood. Known as an “addictive poison,” its unique taste makes it hard to forget.
Hakka Stuffed Tofu
Hakka Stuffed Tofu is a classic dish from the Hakka region of Guangdong. It features tender tofu with hollowed-out cavities filled with a savory mixture of minced pork, mushrooms, and other seasonings. The tofu is then pan-fried until golden and stewed to perfection. The dish has a crispy exterior, juicy and flavorful filling, and a rich, savory sauce. Combining the smoothness of tofu with the flavor of the meat filling, it is one of the most representative Hakka dishes, symbolizing reunion and completeness, and is a staple on Hakka dining tables.
