Dongguan Dining
Although Dongguan is a mid-size city in area, a large number of restaurants and hotels have opened here, serving almost all of the flavors of China. Even with these various cuisines, the local special dishes and snacks will definitely give visitors a pleasant surprise. Benefiting from the advantageous location and climate, plenty of seafood and quality rice were produced there, both of which figure in the staple diet of locals. The history of Dongguan's snacks can be traced back to the Qin Dynasty (221 BC-206 BC), when it is said that the famous local snack-Ma Ge was first made. In more recent times, a large number of immigrants from the other parts of China to the city brought their local foods with them. These, combined with the local products and traditions, now feature as typical Dongguan foods.
Generally speaking, the local food consists of different kinds of snack, and some tasty dishes. Among the local snacks, you should not miss the cakes which are made from the local quality rice. These cakes are usually made by families and can be preserved until the following spring. During some festivals, they are also the most favored food to entertain relatives and friends. At any time, you can try several of them at any snack-bar in the city.
As well as cakes, you will definitely be attracted by some popular local delicious snacks. The first recommended one should be Lai Fen, a kind of thick rice noodles strongly favored by locals. The Lai Fen with roast goose made by the snack-bars located in Houjie Street is considered to be the best. Further, almost every township of the city has one or more snacks of its own. For example, the well-known San He Banquet and Zongzi (dumplings made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves) of Daojiao Town are well worth trying.
Of course, the distinctive dishes of Dongguan are a must on your trip. It seems that most of the dishes there include meat, probably because of the abundance of quality seafood produced there. Just like the snacks, each township there has its characteristic dishes. Humen Town, located in the southwest part of Dongguan, is a top place for visitors who favor seafood. The quality seafood, such as the green crab, Mantis shrimp, greasy-back shrimp and stone grouper, will tempt your appetites for a certainty.
In the city, there are several streets which will provide you with a good dinner. The Garden New Village located in Huayuan Street of Dongcheng District boasts a great number of restaurants and snack-bars. Xinwan Street in Humen Town and Xinmin Street in Chang'an Town are also ideal places for seafood.
Here are some of the restaurants you might like to visit:
Local Flavor Restaurant
Flower Garden Gruel City (Canton flavor)
Yinfeng location: No.10, Yinfeng Road, Huang Village, Nancheng District
Huayuan location: No.52, Huayuan Road, Garden New Village, Chengdong District
Dongcheng Restaurant (Canton flavor, tea art, Canton style mooncake)
Address: No.205, Taisha Road, Humen Town Western Food Restaurants
Le Monmartre French Restaurant
Address: No.20-21, Xiangxieli Business Street, Houjie District
Time for service: 10:00 - 02:00 the next day
Garden Bistro
Address: located at the lobby level of Sofitel Royal Lagoon, No.8, Yingbin Road, Dongcheng District
Time for service: 11:00 - 24:00
Rhine Castle
Location 1: located at the north part of the lobby in Dongguan Hotel
Time for service: 06:45 - 24:00
Dongcheng location: No.C02, Dongcheng Business Walking Street
Time for Service: 10:30 -24:00 Vegetarian Restaurant
Fortunail Vegetarian Restaurant
Address: No.70, Yujing New Time Walking Street, Dongcheng District
Bus routes: 3, 4, L5, C1
Time for service: 10:00-22:00 Fast Food
Both KFC and Mcdonald's have set up a number of branches in the city, so visitors can easily find one to have a quick meal. Furthermore, there are several branches of Mcdonald's which are open 24 hours a day.