Shenzhen is perhaps best known as a tech hub and shopper’s paradise, but the megacity's gastronomic landscape has experienced a remarkable flourishing in recent years. We’re spotlighting seven top restaurants that have contributed to Shenzhen's growing reputation for culinary excellence.
Credit: Ensue
Credit: Ensue
Credit: Ensue
Opened in the summer of 2019, Ensue has secured a position on the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list in just a few short years – Shenzhen's sole representative. Led by Christopher Kostow, America's youngest recipient of three Michelin stars, and Guangdong-born head chef Jeff Wu, the establishment champions regional, farm-to-table cooking, masterfully synthesising Cantonese and Western culinary traditions. One signature creation is a dish of caramelised onion with bitter melon purée and braised white fish maw, embodying the Chinese philosophy of “sweetness emerging from bitterness”. To cap things off, a location at the pinnacle of the Futian Shangri-La Hotel means diners get magnificent vistas alongside their meal.
40F, Futian Shangri-La, 4088 Yitian Rd, Futian District, Shenzhen
Credit: Avant
Credit: Avant
Credit: Avant
A fixture of the vibrant Overseas Chinese Town (OCT) neighbourhood in Shenzhen's Nanshan district since 2020, Avant is the only restaurant in the city to have garnered a two-diamond rating in this year's Black Pearl Restaurant Guide. Under the guidance of chef Jerry Tian, formerly of Chicago's three-Michelin-starred Alinea, the establishment unites regional ingredients with an international outlook. Its innovative “airline ticket” themed menu adds a touch of playfulness to the dining experience, guiding patrons on a journey of global gastronomy.
109A, Shenzhen Circuits Building, OCT East Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen
Credit: Fumée