26 Best Restaurants in Southwestern China, China

Regularly packed to capacity and brewing some of Kunming's best coffee using a custom blend of Yunnan beans, Salvador's also has an extensive food menu. About half of its ingredients are organic, and more are being added regularly, with the goal of becoming one of the few entirely organic eateries in China. Popular main dishes include burritos, quesadillas, and falafel. The place has Wi-Fi and comfy sofas for lounging, along with outdoor seating ideal for people-watching on bustling Wenhua Xiang.

Without a doubt the best organic Chinese restaurant in town, Tusheng Shiguan is a must for anyone who wants to try the finest Yunnan cuisine. Don't miss the erkuai (rice pancakes), the fuzhu (a tofu-skin dish whose misleading name translates to "rotten bamboo") or the ginger beef dish, and ask which vegetables are in season. The inside and outside seating is comfortable, and the service is most hospitable. Make sure to order rice if you're having spicy dishes, and try a small jug of the home-brewed corn liquor.

This often hectic eatery may be the best place in Kunming to enjoy Dai cuisine, which is known for its liberal use of chili peppers. If you want to go straight for the heat, try the gui ji or "ghost chicken," a cold salad that is slightly sour and extremely spicy. Tamer options include pineapple rice, fennel omelets, dried beef, wild mushrooms, fried fish, and tapioca with cookies in coconut milk. Dai cuisine features many dishes and ingredients that are foreign even to coastal Chinese residents. There are other branches of this chain throughout town.

Tucked away in an alley off bustling Wenlin Jie, As You Like is a quaint vegetarian restaurant and deli. The freshly baked bread, healthy salads, and all kinds of pastries will make your mouth water, and the pizzas are some of the best around. It's in an old house, so tall people will have to mind their heads, but the food more than makes up for it.

Tired of the local rice noodles? This is where many transplants from northeastern China come to dine on traditional dongbei cai. A large dumpling menu is complemented by a full range of northeastern favorites, such as moo shu pork and disanxian (eggplant, potatoes, and green peppers in a brown sauce). Wash it all down with a cold Harbin beer. The staff is friendly, and the menu has photos and descriptions in English.

For a taste of one of Yunnan's major cash crops, head to the Bird Bar, which grows, roasts and grinds its own coffee beans. The owner's love for antique buildings clearly shines through in the coffeehouse's cozy, old-fashioned interior.

On a cozy corner on bustling West Street, Café China serves addictive rotisserie chicken made from a highly guarded local recipe. The kitchen roasts between 12 and 18 chickens each night, so in-the-know diners call at least an hour in advance. One whole chicken will set you back Y50. In addition, the kitchen also turns out shepherd's pie and sandwiches on baguettes.

A longtime favorite specializing in Western and Chinese classics as well as some local Bai specialties, Café de Jack serves good breakfast, lunch, and dinner—and the strongest cup of coffee in Yunnan. All three floors are a bit different: the first floor feels like a bar, the second floor is more like a restaurant, and the rooftop is a perfect place to kick back with a beer. Catch up with the rest of the world via computer terminals or Wi-Fi.

Hidden inside a leaning shack, this little dumpling palace wraps the best jiaozi in Dali and the surrounding region. Other dishes are on offer, depending on what's available in the local markets. The menus have been kindly translated into English by expat regulars, but they don't mention the selection of splendid house-made liquor. The owners both hail from China's freezing northeastern reaches.

A 20-minute walk from Yangshuo's center, the Village Retreat is an excellent place to enjoy a healthy breakfast, filling lunch, or a romantic dinner with views of the surrounding scenery. Trained by European masters, the chef clearly understands how Western food ought to taste—without neglecting the Chinese menu. You may find yourself astonished by signature dishes such as sirloin steak served with Belgian-style fries. Finish your meal with coffee or a milk shake and a piece of their magnificent chocolate cake.

Understated decor, comfy seating, and high-quality imported coffee turned into tasty beverages by skilled baristas are the highlights here. There are also savory panini on homemade bread, as well as a wide selection of teas, smoothies, and desserts. The affable American owner, who's often here, always tries to make visitors feel at home. The smoking area is separated from the rest of the dining area.

Beloved by expats, this closet-size café is an escape from the hustle and bustle of West Street. On any given night, English teachers can be found sampling tasty Chinese-style dumpling soups and drinking beer in the cobblestone pavilion.

In addition to well-known Chinese dishes, this extremely popular restaurant serves a number of less-common dishes, such as bamboo stuffed with sticky rice, or stir-fried mountain vegetables.

This little restaurant may have the best Western food in Guilin. The menu is straightforward: pizza, pasta, and sandwiches that are made when you order. The cozy urban decor creates an ideal environment for reading a book, checking your email, or planning the next step in your trip. Most of the young, friendly staff speaks English.

Popular with locals but unknown to most travelers, this family-owned restaurant serves an amazing array of local dishes, with a focus on fish from the Li river. There are no English menus, but the owners will bring you into the kitchen and let you pick out what you want. It is hard to find: look for it on the small street two blocks north of the bus station, next to the large statue of Guanyin, the Buddha of Compassion.

This is a good place to compare notes with other travelers, as many people come here to buy tickets, book tours, or get travel information. One of the few places in Jinghong with an English-speaking staff, Meimei Café serves Western and Chinese favorites, as well as great coffee and juices. Open from early morning to late at night, the terrace is a splendid place to enjoy the sunrise.

Opened by a Frenchman who was once a hotel chef and his Chinese wife, Mekong Café is a favorite with all sorts of travelers. Backpackers, expats, couples as well as locals gather on its large front and back patios to enjoy afternoon dessert, delicious French cuisine, Chinese classics, or simply a drink to recover from the Jinghong heat. The chef's exquisite carpaccio salad is also great value for money. Like the Meimei Café, Mekong also offers various travel services and tours.

Whether you believe in good karma or not, Mood Food Energy Café is a great destination for excellent vegetarian and vegan food, as well as juices. The cuisine is eclectic, with Mexican wraps and Indian soups sharing the same menu. If you're just thirsty or looking for a treat, why not have a power shake or spoon away at a tapioca dessert? Inside and outside are conceived as an oasis of peace, so you can attempt to align your chakras as you refuel for the day.

This vegetarian restaurant serves a variety of mouthwatering creations, including almond rolls, crispy tofu skin in a spicy sauce, and a vegetarian version of the famous Shanghainese shizi tou (meatballs). The Zen-like interior adds to the calm atmosphere, helping diners forget about the hubbub outside. The staff is helpful, there's an English menu, and the prices are very affordable.

Just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the Sheraton Hotel, the Rosemary Cafe has outside seating in the middle of a calm pedestrian street, making it a nice place to while away an evening. It may not have the most inspired decor, but don't let that deceive you: the Western menu includes delicious burritos and salads, which you can wash down with a glass of freshly pressed pineapple juice.

Run by an interesting lady from New Zealand, Slice of Heaven is an increasingly popular place for Western fare. The bakery-turned-restaurant boasts a tasty breakfast, some great pizzas topped with local ingredients like goat cheese, and all kinds of bread, buns, and sandwiches. The service can be a bit quirky, but don't let that put you off.

The dessert counter here has some of Dali's best cakes, which can be enjoyed with a coffee and a book on the second floor if you're after somewhere quiet. It's one of the best places in town for good Western food and take-away stuffed baguettes.

Dali's expat community indulges in its love of pastries at this low-profile little eatery. Surprisingly enough, it also cooks up some of the best Mexican food in town. The prices are more than reasonable, but the seating is limited.

Here you'll find authentic Belgian waffles topped with whipped cream, ice cream, or just a dusting of powdered sugar. If you don't have a sweet tooth, sip a cold Belgian ale while you watch the people stroll past. It's easy to miss, as this place is no more than a cutaway in the street with some chairs out front. The Wi-Fi is a plus.

In business for decades, Xinghua Cun is a no-nonsense Chinese restaurant with the usual revolving-top tables and a counter filled with all kinds of homemade liquor. If you look past the spartan decor, you'll notice what this place does best: tasty Yunnanese and local Bai dishes, all served with a smile. The menus are in Chinglish, but ordering is easily done by pointing at pictures.

Inside what was once the residence of General Huang Xuchu, this much-acclaimed restaurant serves excellent versions of classic dishes, such as cold beef slices drenched in lemon juice, pork rolls, and roast duck. The menu includes plenty of pictures for easy ordering. The restaurant accommodates guests in private dining rooms, so noise levels are kept relatively low.