Today we have handpicked 12 Michelin-Starred restaurants from Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, and Guangzhou that offer extraordinary food for less than RMB 300 (less than US$45), taking you onboard for our next Star-hunting restaurant adventure.
Two MICHELIN Stars: Excellent cooking, worth a detour!
63 Runan Street, Huangpu, Shanghai
Canton 8 (Runan Street)
Two MICHELIN Stars, MICHELIN Guide Shanghai 2024Cuisine: Cantonese
Budget: RMB212 per guest
This is the place to go for quality dim sum and classic Cantonese fare with a budget of RMB200. The signature pork char siu entices with its appetising colour, springy texture, and robust flavours. Save room for the exquisite desserts.
Address: 63 Runan Street, Huangpu, Shanghai, China
One MICHELIN Star: High quality cooking, worth a stop!
556 Fuzhou Road, Huangpu, Shanghai
Lao Zheng Xing (Huangpu)
One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Shanghai 2024Cuisine: Shanghainese
Budget: RMB186 per guest
Established in 1862, Lao Zheng Xing is reputedly the oldest Shanghainese restaurant in the city and was responsible for creating a number of classic dishes. Come with friends to enjoy signature dishes like fried river shrimps, eight treasures in spicy sauce, and braised sea cucumber.
Address: 556 Fuzhou Road, Huangpu, Shanghai, China
One MICHELIN Star: High quality cooking, worth a stop!
407 Zhaojiabang Road, Xuhui, Shanghai
Ren He Guan (Xuhui)
One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Shanghai 2024Cuisine: Shanghainese
Budget: RMB206 per guest
A budget of RMB200 can afford you a nostalgic ambiance lit up by food and music that are reminiscent of Shanghai in the old times. One highlight of the fish-heavy menu is crabs, as the owner picks the best ones from his own farm in Qingpu. Crabmeat and roe on rice and super-fine braised pork in brown sauce are unmissable. Fried shredded finless eel with water bamboo affords a nice contrast of textures.
Address: 407 Zhaojiabang Road, Xuhui, Shanghai, China
One MICHELIN Star: High quality cooking, worth a stop!
198 Andingmenwai Street, Dongcheng, Beijing
Huaiyang Fu (Dongcheng)
One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Beijing 2024Cuisine: Huaiyang
Budget: RMB260 per guest
The refinement and subtlety that characterise Jiangnan lifestyle are impeccably curated in the north. Braised pork belly in brown sauce and fried eel with paste in oil are worth saving room for.
Address: 198 Andingmenwai Street, Dongcheng, Beijing, China
One MICHELIN Star: High quality cooking, worth a stop!
3F, 66-16 Guanghuacun Street, Qingyang, Chengdu
Fu Rong Huang
One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Chengdu 2024Cuisine: Sichuan
Budget: RMB121 per guest
The endless stream of diners provides the best view for the restaurant despite the absence of luxury in its décor. The experienced kitchen team specialises in traditional Sichuan dishes, many of which are painstaking to prepare. For a very friendly price, enjoy the rich flavour profiles of Sichuan cuisine in the signatures like Kung Pao chicken, snowflake minced chicken, and the quintessential Sichuan sweet twice-cooked shaobai – pork belly slices layered with red bean paste over glutinous rice.
Address; 3F, 66-16 Guanghuacun Street, Qingyang, Chengdu, China
One MICHELIN Star: High quality cooking, worth a stop!
1 East Kangshi Street, Jinjiang, Chengdu
Ma's Kitchen
One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Chengdu 2024Cuisine: Sichuan
Budget: RMB142 per guest
Starting out as a stall in Meishan in 1923, the establishment shines with an array of popular Sichuan classics, like duck blood curd with pork offal, pork belly in sweet sauce, prawn balls with eggplant, and Dandan noodle. Crispy minced pork roll is a modified recipe that takes both the presentation and textures to the next level.
Address: 1 East Kangshi Street, Jinjiang, Chengdu, China
One MICHELIN Star: High quality cooking, worth a stop!
The Temple House, 81 Bitieshi Street, Jinjiang, Chengdu
Mi Xun Teahouse
One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Chengdu 2024Cuisine: Vegetarian
Budget: RMB231 per guest
Nestled in a courtyard of The Temple House hotel, this restaurant is an oasis of calm while enjoying convenient transportation. Hand-picked local ingredients are used to create light and refined vegetarian dishes inspired by the vegetarian food in the neighboring Daci Temple, such as Dandan noodle and vegan mapo tofu with chanterelles. For afternoon tea, pick an artisan cake and pair it with your choice of Chinese tea.
Address: The Temple House, 81 Bitieshi Street, Jinjiang, Chengdu, 610021, China
One MICHELIN Star: High quality cooking, worth a stop!
270 Changdi Damalu, Guangzhou
Xin Ji
One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Guangzhou 2023Cuisine: Cantonese
Budget: RMB192 per guest
The not-easy-to-find entrance did not stop diners’ steps. Still going strong after nearly 40 years in business, Xin Ji has crafted many sought-after dishes, such as pork belly with fermented red bean curd, stir fried razor clams in soy sauce, and crabs fried with onion and ginger. Try their signature eel dishes — freshwater eel braised with roast pork and swamp eel rice, both boasting fatty, firm flesh.
Address: 270 Changdi Damalu, Guangzhou, China
One MICHELIN Star: High quality cooking, worth a stop!
Shop 417, 4F, G.T. Land Plaza Winter, 16 Zhujiang East Road, Zhujiang New Town, Guangzhou
Song
One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Guangzhou 2023Cuisine: Sichuan
Budget: RMB279 per guest
Song has successfully earned a place for Sichuan cuisine in a city that is known for the sheer number and variety of restaurants. Signatures include spicy boiled tiger grouper and spicy crab. The painting Auspicious Cranes lends inspiration for the impressively bold décor.
Address: Shop 417, 4F, G.T. Land Plaza Winter, 16 Zhujiang East Road, Zhujiang New Town, Guangzhou, China
One MICHELIN Star: High quality cooking, worth a stop!
4F, Yi An Plaza, 33 Jianshe Sixth Road, Guangzhou
Lei Garden (Yuexiu)
One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Guangzhou 2023Cuisine: Cantonese
Budget: RMB230 per guest
Its chic dining room is always full. Rice and sticky rice with minced meat in lobster soup, crispy roasted pork, and dishes with emphasis on traditional Cantonese fare are what regulars come for.
Address: 4F, Yi An Plaza, 33 Jianshe Sixth Road, Guangzhou, China
One MICHELIN Star: High quality cooking, worth a stop!
172 Binjiang West Road, Guangzhou
Wisca (Haizhu)
One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Guangzhou 2023Cuisine: Cantonese
Budget: RMB216 per guest
The chain started life as a stall and has maintain high-standard food. The veteran crew follows ancient recipes to prepare reasonably priced Cantonese fare. The signature Ze Ze eels are sizzling swamp varieties served in a clay pot. Fried mantis shrimp in spiced salt burst with sweetness.
Address: 172 Binjiang West Road, Guangzhou, China
One MICHELIN Star: High quality cooking, worth a stop!
2F, White Swan Hotel, 1 Shamian South Street, Guangzhou
Hongtu Hall
One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Guangzhou 2023Cuisine: Cantonese
Budget: RMB254 per guest
For less than RMB300 you may enjoy the spectacular river view along with exquisitely crafted dim sum ranging from the classics to novel creations, as well as velvety congee and juicy roast meats. Make sure to try their jelly olive kernel roll and shrimp shaomai.
Address: 2F, White Swan Hotel, 1 Shamian South Street, Guangzhou, China
