Guilin is famous for it's beautiful karst scenery, flowing rivers and gorgeous terraces but there is an entire food scene hungrily waiting to be explored by food lovers! Guilin Food Tours is run by passionate Guilin locals, for passionate food travelers looking to get out of their hotel, hit the streets and taste the real foods that Southern China has to offer.
Our goal is to welcome hungry visitors from all over the world and take them on a whirlwind journey through the backstreets of Guilin stopping at various vendors, restaurants and noodle stalls along the way. We have chosen the best options available from an extensive list and take pride in offering a diverse range of food showcasing locals' favorite dishes. You will get to taste the famous Guilin noodles, wontons, barbecue, seafood, vegetarian dishes and more during your time with us!
It's What's for Dinner!
If you want to explore more of Guilin and it's food scene, try us, you won't be disappointed.
The Most Important
The most important foods in Guilin introduced just for you!
The Most Delicious
We've spent HOURS finding the most delicious foods in Guilin!
The First
We're the first (and the #1) food tour in Guilin & please support locals :)
Guilin Food Tours was born in (of all places), McDonalds. Yes, you read that correctly, the American Fast Food Chain selling McNuggets, Fries and Little Macs all across China. That McDonalds. What should've been born from a 4am chef starting his work at a local Guilin Rice Noodles Stand (with hundreds of years history) or an inter generational BBQ shop featuring exotic foods, actually began across from a deep fryer, McMeals and 1 CNY soft-serve cones (they were that cheap back then!).
After his third attempt at attempting to pronounce the Chinese word for 'McChicken' to the utterly confused McDonalds counter attendant, I figured it was my duty as a somewhat reasonable English speaker to at least help translate so his McChicken didn't end up actually being Filet of Fish (people in China who have ordered these burgers will know what I mean!). Then he explained his world of pain.
Apparently, it wasn't the first but actually the third time that week he'd eaten McDonalds. Not for any other reason aside from the fact that he wasn't a local, couldn't speak Chinese and didn't know where to eat outside of the restaurants catering to the Western, Non-Mandarin speaking Traveler. He then went a step further and asked if I could take him to the most off-the-beaten track Rice Noodles Shop in Guilin where:
only locals visit,
he wouldn't see an English menu;
he'd be the only foreigner.
And even better, he offered to pay me, which is the exact time that the idea of Guilin Food Tours was born - over a Large McChicken Meal and a 1 CNY soft serve cone.