Cave Restaurant 岩洞餐厅
We were looking for a place to have dinner in Yangshuo when the kids suddenly got very excited. They had seen this spot on TikTok and insisted we had to go. A restaurant inside a cave. I was curious but also a little doubtful, thinking it might be all looks and no substance.
Walking in, I was proven wrong almost immediately. The restaurant was truly built within a cave, with natural rock ceilings stretching above us. Warm lighting softened the rugged stone, plants were thoughtfully placed around the space, and the whole setting felt intimate and welcoming rather than cold or gimmicky. The kids were beaming, proud of their discovery, and I had to admit they made a good call.
We started with a couple of Yangshuo signature dishes. The beer fish arrived first, rich and aromatic, the fish tender and soaked in a savoury sauce that begged for rice. The bamboo chicken followed, cooked gently inside bamboo, moist and fragrant, with a subtle herbal note that felt very local and comforting.
Then came the supporting cast, all solid and satisfying. Garlic pork ribs that were punchy and addictive. Crisp prawn fritters that disappeared quickly once they hit the table. A pot of braised pork belly with preserved vegetables, glossy and soft, deeply savoury in that familiar home style way. There were also cold kudzu noodles, slippery and refreshing, a nice contrast to the richer dishes. A simple plate of stir fried cauliflower rounded things off, clean and well seasoned.
This meal felt especially meaningful as it was our last dinner in Guilin before heading back to Guangzhou the next day. Sitting there in a cave, sharing good food and conversation, it felt like a proper send off to a beautiful trip.
