Tao Tao Ju (literally 'House of Joy') has been serving morning tea continuously since 1880, when it began as a small tea stand in the old Xiguan merchants' quarter. The flagship Xiguan branch is the one that matters — three floors of carved redwood screens, hanging lanterns, and waiters pushing wheeled steamer trolleys (a tradition most modern places have dropped). Signature dishes: lao po bing (wife cake), guo zhuan rou (pan-fried pork dumplings), iced silken tofu, and the absurdly precise har gow shrimp dumplings — the kitchen folds each one with 14 pleats by hand. Yum cha hours 7:00-11:30 am and 14:30-17:00; the morning tea seating is the authentic experience but expect 30-60 min wait without a reservation. Lunch and dinner serve full Cantonese banquet menu. Most signage in Chinese only — pre-screenshot dish names on Trip Advisor or 大众点评, or just point at the trolley. ¥80-150/person for dim sum.
Address
20 Dishifu Rd, Liwan District, Guangzhou
荔湾区第十甫路20号
Highlights
- Wheeled Trolley ServiceOld-school dim sum trolleys — most modern places have abolished them
- Har Gow (蝦餃)14 hand-folded pleats per dumpling — the technical benchmark dish
- Lao Po Bing (老婆餅)Sweet 'wife cake' with winter melon filling — Cantonese tea-house classic
- Hand-Carved Redwood InteriorThe Xiguan flagship preserves 19th-century Lingnan tea-house decor
- Pre-screenshot Trip AdvisorMenus are Chinese-only; have photos ready or use the trolley point-and-pick
For foreign visitors
- English service: none
- Cards accepted: visa, master, cash_only
- Booking / entry: not needed
- Best time: Morning tea (10:30-11:30am) for full trolley service
- Wi-Fi: free
- Transit access: metro direct
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What travelers say (6 reviews)
Vanessa R.·TripAdvisor·5/5
1880 dim sum house — the trolley service alone is worth the visit. The har gow was textbook perfect.
2026-04-06
广府饮茶·Xiaohongshu·5/5
陶陶居西关店是灵魂!早茶要排队但值得,老婆饼、虾饺、灌汤包闭眼点。人均80。
2026-03-17
James W.·Google Maps·5/5
Old-school yum cha experience. Pre-screenshot menu items on Trip Advisor — most signs are Chinese only.
2026-04-23
Sandra Y.·Ctrip·4/5
周末要排1小时,建议工作日去。下午茶时段14:30-17:00人最少。
2026-02-11
DimSum_Doc·YouTube·5/5
Filmed a whole dim sum episode here. 14-pleat har gow folded by hand at the table-side trolley. Cantonese food temple.
2026-03-30
Tom P.·TripAdvisor·4/5
Service is brusque, decor is old-school, but the food is the real deal. Lao po bing and sago pudding are must-orders.
2026-01-15
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