What Locals Order at a Cantonese Restaurant
What is Cantonese food, and why is it loved and unforgettable?
Is it the crispiness of roasted duck skin? Maybe the scent of shallots and ginger on hot oil? It can also be the first bowl of soup that tastes exactly like home.
Cantonese cuisine is centred on fresh ingredients, subtle tastes, and a light hand. It does not attempt to wow with a show. Instead, it remains balanced, consistent, and comforting meal after meal.
Continue reading to find out why it is such a popular choice.
Why Locals Love It
The tastes of Cantonese food make you feel nostalgic, like the recipes have been around for a long time. For some, it tastes like their childhood. Others have joyfully made it a tradition as they understand it's gratifying and best experienced with others.
Each meal is produced with fresh ingredients and prepared with care, allowing the tastes to shine without overwhelming. It's easy, inviting, and memorable. This is a food you really won't forget.
Going for Dim Sum and Small Plates
Having Cantonese cuisine on weekends feels like yum cha at home, minus the washing up.
Har gow. Siu mai. BBQ pork buns that are full of flavour on the inside. A table full of bamboo steamers, tiny tongs, and way too much tea is just happiness.
Locals love starting their meal with prawn toast, crisped on the edges but soft in the middle. Add a chilli dipping sauce, and you’ll get why it’s a quiet crowd favourite. Small plates, big impact, and the best way to sample a spread without overcommitting.
Favoured by Many: Signature Mains
Roast meats are the heart of most Cantonese recipes. You can try the signature mains such as sweet and sour pork, roast duck, and crispy shandong chicken. It's typically done low and slow, just how it should be.
The steamed barramundi, topped with ginger, shallot and hot oil, lands on tables at least twice a night. It’s a go-to for families marking a birthday, or couples ordering like they’ve done it a hundred times before.
Mains are made for sharing, so it's best to have it with a group.
At modern restaurants such as The Rice Den, we give classic Cantonese meals a modern twist: extra crunch, a sharper sauce, and the occasional surprising match. It's the dinner you want after a long day, served with a little grit and a lot of excitement.
You can also check out our groups & events.
Sought-After Soups and Stews
Cantonese soups are subtle but soul-filling. No fiery heat here. Just clarity, depth, and a long simmer.
It is what people order when the weather cools or they need a pick-me-up. Herbal chicken broth that is light but definitely nourishing? This is the kind of meal your aunty would make if you’re feeling under the weather.
There's always a bowl to go with your meal, whether you want something brothy or fatty.
The Classic Rice and Noodle Staples
Let’s be honest: even after dim sum and mains, everyone’s still getting a rice or noodle dish.
The Rice Den fried rice with lap cheong Claypot rice comes to the table with crispy bits stuck to the bottom, on purpose. It’s a little smoky, a little chewy, and a lot addictive. Try it with lap cheong or chicken and mushrooms for peak Cantonese satisfaction.
Then there's the Singapore noodles. These light rice vermicelli are tossed in a hot wok with tender prawns, bright peppers and crunchy bean sprouts. Every bite is both comforting and exciting. Aromatic and simply scrumptious.
Flavours and Sauces That Define It
If you ask any regular, they will tell you it’s the little things that make the meal, like a house-made XO sauce. It's umami, spicy, packed with dried seafood and a whole lot of attitude.
Or they're fond of the wok hei: that smoky smell of the wok is what makes Cantonese food so good.
Fresh garlic, ginger, scallion, soy, and oyster sauce. Each Cantonese dish leans into these core flavours without overdoing it.
What to Try If You're New
New to Cantonese? Start simple.
The sweet and sour pork is a fan favourite. Crispy battered chunks in a sauce with the ideal sweet-sour balance.
BBQ pork with rice? Classic. No notes.
Wonton soup is like a warm hug in a bowl. You can also add a dab of chilli oil if you like spicy food.
You can always look at the menu before you go in if you're interested and just want to know what else the restaurant serves. You’ll find a few fusion surprises, too.
Ready to Order Like a Local?
Are you craving something nostalgic? Or would this be your first time eating Cantonese food? There is always something you can go for!
By now, you would know that Cantonese food is familiar, comfortable, and flavourful, making it a great choice for both simple afternoon snacks and lengthy family dinners.
At The Rice Den, we make it a point that our take on the Cantonese flavours that everyone adores will always give any table that we serve a feeling of warmth and a sense of nostalgia.
So go browse the menu, check out our preorder specials, or see what’s on this week. Or if you're planning for something bigger, reach out to us about our group and event options.
When you’re ready, book your table here and pull up a seat. We’ll have something warm waiting.
