January 26, 2026
桂林壮飨大排档
After a full day exploring Guilin on foot, our legs were tired and everyone was hungry. With a group of 12, we were not looking for anything fancy, just a place that could fit us, feed us well, and let us sit down properly. We wandered around, followed the noise and lights, and somehow landed at 桂林壮飨大排档. No planning, no expectations, just hunger leading the way.
The meal started with a big bowl of clam soup. Light, clean, and gently sweet, it was exactly what we needed on a cold evening. That first sip warmed the body and slowed everyone down. After a long day outside, it felt comforting and reassuring.
Then the table slowly filled up. There was crispy duck with golden skin, fragrant and satisfying. Pork ribs wrapped in paper arrived next, juicy and flavourful, the kind you eat with your hands without caring too much about manners. We had river prawns, grilled meat skewers, a rich tofu dish topped with minced meat sauce, and a simple plate of stir fried greens to balance things out. Bowls of rice kept appearing, and plates were shared freely across the table.
To keep ourselves warm, we drank 二锅头. Strong, fiery, and unapologetic. One sip and you feel it straight away, burning slightly, then warming you from the inside. Perfect for a night like this.
It was a good meal. Not polished, not quiet, but full of life. A cold night, tired feet, a table full of food, and everyone talking at once. Sometimes the best dinners are the ones you never planned.
The meal started with a big bowl of clam soup. Light, clean, and gently sweet, it was exactly what we needed on a cold evening. That first sip warmed the body and slowed everyone down. After a long day outside, it felt comforting and reassuring.
Then the table slowly filled up. There was crispy duck with golden skin, fragrant and satisfying. Pork ribs wrapped in paper arrived next, juicy and flavourful, the kind you eat with your hands without caring too much about manners. We had river prawns, grilled meat skewers, a rich tofu dish topped with minced meat sauce, and a simple plate of stir fried greens to balance things out. Bowls of rice kept appearing, and plates were shared freely across the table.
To keep ourselves warm, we drank 二锅头. Strong, fiery, and unapologetic. One sip and you feel it straight away, burning slightly, then warming you from the inside. Perfect for a night like this.
It was a good meal. Not polished, not quiet, but full of life. A cold night, tired feet, a table full of food, and everyone talking at once. Sometimes the best dinners are the ones you never planned.
