Cantonese restaurant
Encyclopedia
A Cantonese restaurant is a type of Chinese restaurant
that originated from Southern China. This style of restaurant soon flourished in Hong Kong
.
were influenced by Cantonese people
. Throughout the history of Hong Kong cuisine, a great deal of Southern China's diet became synonymous with Cantonese style food.
As many Cantonese people, including chef
s, emigrated from Hong Kong
to the Western world
, authentic Cantonese restaurants began appearing in many Chinatown
s overseas. From 1980 to 1986, an estimated 21,000 left Hong Kong permanently each year. Beginning in 1987 the numbers rose sharply to 48,000 people a year.
Many Chinese restaurants in the United Kingdom
are actually Cantonese take-out
restaurants with few people recognising the difference between Cantonese and mainstream Chinese.
are served during yum cha
hour. A few Cantonese dishes
may be available. In the evening, various Chinese banquet
s of Cantonese cuisine
are held in the restaurant.
There are two main types of Cantonese restaurant.
Others.
Modern cantonese dishes are a far cry from its early root in Guangzhou. They include generous use of off-the-shelf condiment, enrich by natural and artificial additives, boosting uncanny color and favor. Most chinese restaurant nowadays cannot afford 100% cooking with raw herbs and spices.
, dim sum
, dishes, and banquets with their business varying between the hour of the day. Some restaurants try to stand out by becoming more specialised (focusing on hot pot
dishes or seafood, for example), while others offer dishes from other Chinese cuisine
s such as Szechuan, Shanghai
, Fujian
(Teochew
cooking, a regional variation of Guangzhou is similar to that of Fujian), Hakka
, and many others.
A new kind of Cantonese restaurants are quickly spreading overseas and mainland China. It is often referred as Hong Kong-style zau lau (香港式酒樓) outside Hong Kong.
Chinese cuisine
Chinese cuisine is any of several styles originating in the regions of China, some of which have become highly popular in other parts of the world – from Asia to the Americas, Australia, Western Europe and Southern Africa...
that originated from Southern China. This style of restaurant soon flourished in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
.
History
Some of the earliest restaurants in Colonial Hong KongColonial Hong Kong
In the 19th century the British, Dutch, French, Indians and Americans saw Imperial China as the world's largest untapped market. In 1840 the British Empire launched their first and one of the most aggressive expeditionary forces to claim the territory that would later be known as Hong Kong.In a few...
were influenced by Cantonese people
Cantonese people
The Cantonese people are Han people whose ancestral homes are in Guangdong, China. The term "Cantonese people" would then be synonymous with the Bun Dei sub-ethnic group, and is sometimes known as Gwong Fu Jan for this narrower definition...
. Throughout the history of Hong Kong cuisine, a great deal of Southern China's diet became synonymous with Cantonese style food.
As many Cantonese people, including chef
Chef
A chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
s, emigrated from Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
to the Western world
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
, authentic Cantonese restaurants began appearing in many Chinatown
Chinatown
A Chinatown is an ethnic enclave of overseas Chinese people, although it is often generalized to include various Southeast Asian people. Chinatowns exist throughout the world, including East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Americas, Australasia, and Europe. Binondo's Chinatown located in Manila,...
s overseas. From 1980 to 1986, an estimated 21,000 left Hong Kong permanently each year. Beginning in 1987 the numbers rose sharply to 48,000 people a year.
Many Chinese restaurants in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
are actually Cantonese take-out
Take-out
Take-out or takeout , carry-out , take-away , parcel , or tapau , is food purchased at a...
restaurants with few people recognising the difference between Cantonese and mainstream Chinese.
Restaurant types
Typically in the afternoon, dim sumDim sum
Dim sum refers to a style of Chinese food prepared as small bite-sized or individual portions of food traditionally served in small steamer baskets or on small plates...
are served during yum cha
Yum cha
Yum cha , also known as Ban ming , is a Chinese style morning or afternoon tea, which involves drinking Chinese tea and eating dim sum dishes...
hour. A few Cantonese dishes
Cantonese cuisine
Cantonese cuisine comes from Guangdong Province in southern China and is one of 8 superdivisions of Chinese cuisine. Its prominence outside China is due to the great numbers of early emigrants from Guangdong. Cantonese chefs are highly sought after throughout the country...
may be available. In the evening, various Chinese banquet
Banquet
A banquet is a large meal or feast, complete with main courses and desserts. It usually serves a purpose such as a charitable gathering, a ceremony, or a celebration, and is often preceded or followed by speeches in honour of someone....
s of Cantonese cuisine
Cantonese cuisine
Cantonese cuisine comes from Guangdong Province in southern China and is one of 8 superdivisions of Chinese cuisine. Its prominence outside China is due to the great numbers of early emigrants from Guangdong. Cantonese chefs are highly sought after throughout the country...
are held in the restaurant.
There are two main types of Cantonese restaurant.
- chaa lau (茶樓), literally tea house, is a place serving only tea, dim sum and simple dishes.
- jau lau (酒樓), literally wine house, is a place serving banquets. i.e. 9-course menu usually for a table of 12 guests. From the early 20th century, jau lau started providing tea and dim sum like cha lau. Thus only a few chaa lau remain in business.
Others.
- Seafood jau ga (海鮮酒家), are restaurants that specialize in live seafood dishes.
Modern cantonese dishes are a far cry from its early root in Guangzhou. They include generous use of off-the-shelf condiment, enrich by natural and artificial additives, boosting uncanny color and favor. Most chinese restaurant nowadays cannot afford 100% cooking with raw herbs and spices.
Business
Nearly all the Cantonese restaurants provide yum chaYum cha
Yum cha , also known as Ban ming , is a Chinese style morning or afternoon tea, which involves drinking Chinese tea and eating dim sum dishes...
, dim sum
Dim sum
Dim sum refers to a style of Chinese food prepared as small bite-sized or individual portions of food traditionally served in small steamer baskets or on small plates...
, dishes, and banquets with their business varying between the hour of the day. Some restaurants try to stand out by becoming more specialised (focusing on hot pot
Hot pot
Hot pot , less commonly Chinese fondue or steamboat, refers to several East Asian varieties of stew, consisting of a simmering metal pot of stock at the center of the dining table. While the hot pot is kept simmering, ingredients are placed into the pot and are cooked at the table...
dishes or seafood, for example), while others offer dishes from other Chinese cuisine
Chinese cuisine
Chinese cuisine is any of several styles originating in the regions of China, some of which have become highly popular in other parts of the world – from Asia to the Americas, Australia, Western Europe and Southern Africa...
s such as Szechuan, Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, Fujian
Fujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
(Teochew
Chaozhou
Chaozhou is a city in eastern Guangdong province of the People's Republic of China. It borders Shantou to the south, Jieyang to the southwest, Meizhou to the northwest, the province of Fujian to the east, and the South China Sea to the southeast...
cooking, a regional variation of Guangzhou is similar to that of Fujian), Hakka
Hakka cuisine
Hakka cuisine is the cooking style of the Hakka people, who are primarily found in southeastern China , but also may be found in many other parts of China, as well as in the Chinese diaspora...
, and many others.
A new kind of Cantonese restaurants are quickly spreading overseas and mainland China. It is often referred as Hong Kong-style zau lau (香港式酒樓) outside Hong Kong.
Notable restaurants
- Luk YuLuk YuLuk Yu is a tea house and dim sum restaurant located in Stanley Street, in the Central district of Hong Kong established in 1933. As a long time favourite of many famous writers, Luk Yu is Hong Kong's oldest and one of its most famous tea houses and has been frequently featured in movies and...
(陸羽茶室) - (繡記)
- Jumbo Floating Restaurant
- Lin Heung (蓮香樓)
- Lung Mun (龍門大酒樓)
- Maxim'sMaxim's CateringMaxim's is Hong Kong's largest food & beverage corporation and restaurant chain. Founded in 1956 by Dr James Tak Wu and his brother S.T...
(美心大酒樓)