Shantou Restaurants

I won't describe each restaurant in detail but since good food in Shantou is scarce, i'll just offer my suggestions

Chinese :
Chinese food can sometimes be scary. Try to find out what you are eating before putting it in your mouth. Having said that - chinese food can be quite good here. The vegetarian restaurant is a safe resort and an alternative to the otherwise scary restaurants that your host might take you to :

The Vegetarian Restaurant is on Hai Bin Lu - pronounced Hi bin lu.

It is excellent if you enjoy vegetarian dishes. Since it is a buddhist joint the food is very simple, and prices are quite reasonable. Note that the restaurant closes early and they do not use onion and garlic.

There is another vegetarian restaurant on Jin Sha Lu - near di yi cheng, but I do not have the details.

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For western cusine, i like the following :

I will use the golden gulf as the landmark , and describe where each restaurant is in comparison.

Haileys - Jin Sha Lu. Exit the Golden gulf hotel, turn right, and walk straight until you reach the traffic light. take another right and it should be on your left.

La Cafe (not la bar) - Get out of the Golden gulf. Walk straight. along Jin hua lu. Pass the ICBC bank and take the first right. Keep walking straight and you will see LA Cafe. You will find a variety of dishes that aren't all that bad. Also has free Wifi Access.

Western coffee Shop at the Mertius Hotel. Opposite Golden Gulf Hotel.

Pizza Hut - down Jin Sha Lu (take a left after exiting the Golden Gulf hotel) - get a richshaw and ask him to go straight down.

Coffee : the best and cheapest coffee with a coffee shop ambience is Bread Diary. The bakery is downstairs and the coffee is upstairs : call them for directions : 0754 8992033

Il saint - great pizza, pasta. Ask for Andrea or Thorsen to cook you up a special meal. 754 88803978. Tasteful decor and a pleasant ambiance unlike many places in shantou!

** this was updated on Oct 09. Things may change.

Favorite Dish: At the vegetarian restaurant :

My favourite is the sweet and sour Taro in a taro nest.
The Tofu is also quite good.
They give a free dish of Char Kway Teao (noodles) which is also really good.

Western Coffee Shops Serving everything from Pasta, to Pizzas and Sandwiches :

La Cafe :
Try the baked spinach rice without the salmon.
You can always tell the waitress to amend the dish anyway you like it.

If you like coffee and need more than 2 cups - instead of ordering two cups, order a bottle which makes about 4 cups. You'll spend less than 2 cups, and have more to share.

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Haileys :
Nachos is ok. Not great. Not bad
The Capolloni without the beef is good!!

Note: The Western food is relatively good but nothing compared to the food you find in bigger cities.

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La Cafe :
This is a great place to hang out at night - they have a live band and the owner, Wendy, is very social and well known. They have a good selection of drinks and food.

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Il Saint - this is a great place to enjoy a 'real' pizza' and the other dishes are good too. They have a great selection of drinks aswell.

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If you prefer to avoid meat when you're in china, use the following phrase when ordering :
Vegetarian : Wo Boo Che Row - wo boo yao row