Guangzhou, also known as Canton, is home to the world-famous Cantonese cuisine and is regarded as the food capital of China. To be honest, there aren’t many tourist attractions in Guangzhou and when people visit, it’s mainly for business purposes and/or to stuff their faces with amazing food.

Winter is the best time to visit because you can warm up with a pot of delicious soup boiling in the middle of your table. Hot pot is incredibly popular in China where it’s enjoyed at home and in restaurants, and Guangzhou has its own special way of celebrating this special cuisine. Here are two hot pot restaurants I ate at in Guangzhou which I highly recommend for those who are visiting the city. I’ve included images of their business cards so that you can easily show them to your taxi drivers or get directions from the locals. Go on an empty stomach!

Zen Wei Restaurant: Pig Stomach and Chicken Hot Pot

You might be thinking, “pig stomach?!” But I assure you that it’s actually quite delicious. Pig stomach is typically boiled with white peppercorns in a bone broth and is considered a nutritious meal for those with weak constitutions and women who have just given birth. I’ve never heard of combining pig stomach with an entire chicken in a soup before but it sounded good to me!

The restaurant is situated in this large area with an outdoor parking lot and three other restaurants next to it. You can choose to dine inside or out in the tented area. When the weather is nice and cool, it’s definitely lovely to sit outside with the cold breeze blowing while your hot pot is boiling away in front of you like a mini campfire (but with better food).

The broth started out peppery and then became sweeter and sweeter as we added more ingredients to it. You can order whatever raw meats, seafood or vegetables you want to add to the boiling broth. What made our soup extra yummy was the addition of ears of sweet corn, bunches of Chinese spinach and sheets of fresh seaweed. The nutritious and humble seaweed was the secret ingredient that knocked the broth flavor out of the park!

Yi Pin Zou: Hotpot Congee

The next restaurant is literally around the corner from the first one! After you walk out the main entrance to the complex, on the right is another amazing restaurant called Yi Pin Zou (literal translation: top congee).

If you’re unfamiliar with congee, it’s basically savory rice porridge that can be plain or cooked with meat or seafood. It’s typically eaten during breakfast or brunch (especially at a dim sum restaurant) and when you’re not feeling well. But if you’re a true congee connoisseur, you don’t need an excuse to enjoy a steaming bowl of comfort food.

Congee hot pot is a Guangzhou specialty and it’s taking comfort food to a whole new delicious level! This restaurant serves rice porridge that’s been cooked for hours and has basically disintegrated into the broth. So you’re left with this thick, hearty broth to add various meats, seafood and vegetables to. After boiling all the different ingredients in your hot pot, you’re left with this incredibly intense savory goodness soaked into the congee. It will be the best bowl of congee you’ve ever eaten!

Even if Guangzhou isn’t on your radar to visit, it’s completely worth it just to go for the food if you’re already visiting other cities in Southern China. It’s easy and affordable to take the train into Guangzhou and the train station is modern and massive. So pack your bags and embark on a culinary adventure for your taste buds. Go hungry or go home!