Why Trust This Article?
- • Author: Hesham Al-Daaja (based in China since 2019)
- • Last updated: October 15, 2026
- • Based on direct field experience with Arab travelers and buyers
Quick answer: where are the Arabic restaurants in Guangzhou?
I'm Hesham, and I've lived in China since 2019. If you ask me where to eat Arabic food in Guangzhou, the answer is that the Arabic restaurants cluster in three areas rather than being spread across the whole city.
- Xiaobei (Huanshi Middle Road, Yuexiu): the biggest group of Yemeni, Egyptian and Syrian restaurants, and the cheapest. Right by Xiaobei metro exit D.
- Xiwan (Fortune Mansion, Liwan): Levantine, Lebanese and Yemeni restaurants in and around one complex.
- Tianhe and Taojin: Turkish, Lebanese and Levantine places with a more upscale feel, good for families and business dinners.
1. Xiaobei: the heart of everyday Arabic food
Every Arab trader in Guangzhou knows this area. The restaurants are on and around Huanshi Middle Road, and prices are the lowest of any Arabic restaurants in the city.
- Hadramout (Yemeni): mandi, madhbi and fahsa. 2F, Yidong Mansion, 301 Huanshi Middle Road, beside Xiaobei metro exit D.
- Bab Alyemen (Yemeni): 1F, Huizhou Building, 313 Huanshi Middle Road.
- Al-Saddah (Yemeni): 1F, Jinying Building, 316 Huanshi Middle Road.
- Yemen Restaurant (Yemeni): chicken and lamb mandi, fattah, shakshuka, on Xiaobei Road.
- Shami House (Syrian): Shop 02, 2F, Zhaoqing Building, 301 Huanshi Middle Road.
- Cairo Restaurant (Egyptian): koshary, foul and falafel, one of the cheapest halal meals in Xiaobei.
2. Xiwan Road, Liwan: Levantine, Lebanese and Yemeni
Most of these are inside or next to Fortune Mansion, 149 Xiwan Road, so you can compare more than one restaurant in a single visit.
- Otantik (Levantine): Units 119-120 and 206-207, Yuexiu Fortune Mansion B2.
- Baladi (Lebanese): Shop 119, Building B1, Fortune Mansion.
- Zitona (Levantine): Shop 101, 149 Xiwan Road.
- Socotra Restaurant and Cafe (Yemeni): Yuexiu Fortune Mansion B1.
- Al Manara Resto Cafe (Lebanese): 1F, R&F Commercial Building, 25 Zhongshan 8th Road, Liwan.
3. Tianhe and Taojin: Turkish, Lebanese and family dining
- Li Beirut (Lebanese): mixed grills, tabbouleh, fattoush and hummus in Tianhe, a little pricier than Xiaobei.
- Otantik Tianhe branch (Levantine): No. 102, 81 Huangpu Avenue West.
- Midan Cafe and Restaurant (Arab): Room 201, 8-1 Tiansheng Village, Huanshi East Road, close to the Xiaobei cluster.
- Antalya (Turkish): doner, pide, lahmacun and kunafa, on Huanshi East Road.
- Antalya Garden (Turkish): 16 Xipu Street, 2 Liede Avenue, Tianhe.
- Bosphorus (Turkish): Room 101, 6 Xingsheng Road, Tianhe.
- Sultan (Turkish): inside the Baiyun Hotel, 367 Huanshi East Road.
- CZN Burak (Turkish): 1F, Hao World Plaza, 362 Huanshi East Road.
Near the Canton Fair in Pazhou
I know of an Arab café close to the fair complex in Pazhou serving Arabic coffee, mint tea, Arab sweets and light sandwiches. It's good for a break between halls, but it's a café, not a full-meal restaurant. For a proper lunch or dinner, head to one of the clusters above.
How to check a place is halal and still open
Restaurants in Guangzhou open, close and move quickly. I cross-checked the addresses above against more than one source, but before you travel across the city:
- Search the restaurant on your phone's map and check the most recent review date.
- Ask on site about the meat source and certificate, especially at Chinese restaurants. I can't vouch for any restaurant's certification on its behalf.
- If you're unsure, send me the name on WhatsApp and I'll check for you.
Pick by what you want
- Cheapest Arabic meal: Cairo Restaurant (koshary) or the Yemeni places in Xiaobei
- Mandi and Yemeni food: Hadramout, Bab Alyemen, Al-Saddah, Socotra
- Levantine and Lebanese: Otantik, Baladi, Zitona, Li Beirut, Al Manara
- Turkish: Antalya, Bosphorus, Sultan, CZN Burak
- Coffee and a break near the Canton Fair: Pazhou Arab Café
Frequently asked questions
Are there Arabic restaurants in Guangzhou?
Yes. Guangzhou has one of the largest Arab communities in China, with Yemeni, Lebanese, Syrian, Egyptian and Turkish restaurants concentrated in Xiaobei, Xiwan and Tianhe.
Where do Arab visitors eat during the Canton Fair?
Most head back after the day to Xiaobei, Taojin or Xiwan, because those areas have the most options. Arabic choices right next to the fair are limited, including an Arab café in Pazhou.
What is the cheapest Arabic restaurant in Guangzhou?
The Yemeni and Egyptian places in Xiaobei are usually the cheapest, for example Cairo Restaurant for koshary.
Where can I find Yemeni mandi in Guangzhou?
In Xiaobei: Hadramout, Bab Alyemen, Al-Saddah and Yemen Restaurant. In Xiwan: Socotra.
Do I need an Arabic-speaking companion in Guangzhou?
Not just to eat, since staff at the Arabic restaurants speak Arabic. But if you're negotiating with suppliers or visiting factories, a companion helps a lot, and that's what I do.
I'm with you in Guangzhou
I accompany Arab traders and visitors during and after the Canton Fair: interpreting, private driver, factory visits. Also read my Guangzhou halal food guide for Canton Fair traders and the Canton Fair Autumn 2026 guide, or browse all halal restaurants in Guangzhou.
