Last checked: November 2026
Guyanese Chinese food is everyday food in Guyana, not a special night out. A typical order is fried rice or chow mein loaded with meat and vegetables, with a side of crisp fried chicken. It grew out of 170 years of Chinese cooking adapted to local ingredients and Guyanese taste.
At a glance
- What it is: Cantonese-rooted cooking adapted with local seasoning, peppers and portions
- What to order first: chicken or mixed fried rice, chow mein, low mein, fried chicken, wonton soup
- Where: Chinese restaurants on almost every main road in Georgetown and coastal towns, with Sheriff Street the busiest strip
- Cost: varies; ask for a current quote
- Best for: a quick, filling lunch or a late-night meal
How did Chinese food come to Guyana?
The first Chinese indentured workers reached British Guiana on 12 January 1853, aboard the Glentanner, with the Lord Elgin and Samuel Boddington close behind. Guyana now marks 12 January as Chinese Arrival Day. Like Indian and Portuguese workers, they were recruited to fill the labour gap on sugar plantations after slavery ended.
After their contracts, many Chinese Guyanese moved into shops, trade and restaurants. Over time, the dishes they cooked became part of everyone’s diet. Soy sauce and other imports were sometimes hard to find, so cooks worked with what was local.
What makes Guyanese Chinese food different?
It is loaded. Guyanese fried rice comes heavy with chicken, pork, shrimp or a “mixed” combination, plus vegetables. It is a full meal, not a side.
It is seasoned the Guyanese way. Expect thyme, garlic and hot pepper. Home cooks sometimes add a little curry powder or cassareep, the black cassava syrup used in pepperpot, to chow mein.
It uses local vegetables. Bora (long beans) and cabbage turn up often. A pile of thinly shredded cabbage is a common side.
Pepper sauce is on the table. Ask for it on the side if you’re not used to wiri wiri heat.
What should you order at a Guyanese Chinese restaurant?
Fried rice. Chicken, pork, shrimp, vegetable or mixed. Many Guyanese eat it almost daily, and it is a fixture at family gatherings.
Chow mein. Thin yellow noodles stir-fried with meat and vegetables. Guyanese versions bear only a passing resemblance to chow mein in China.
Low mein. The Guyanese spelling of lo mein: softer noodles, usually saucier than chow mein.
Fried chicken. Chinese-style fried chicken, crisp and well seasoned, often ordered on top of fried rice or chow mein. Abroad, especially in Guyanese restaurants in North America, the combination is often sold as “chicken in the rough.” In Guyana the older phrase “chicken in de ruff” was used for chicken and chips, sold at local fast-food shops and named for its rough, crunchy crust.
Roast pork and roast chicken. Thinly sliced and served with rice or noodles.
Wonton soup. Light broth with pork dumplings, a common starter.
Chinese cake. A pastry filled with sweetened black-eyed pea paste, a cousin of the mooncake, sold in bakeries and snack shops.
How is it served?
Most people order takeaway, packed in foam or foil boxes. Portions are large, so one plate often feeds two. Ask for sauce and pepper on the side.
Larger restaurants serve Cantonese-style banquets at round tables with lazy Susans, good for groups.
Where can you eat Guyanese Chinese food in Georgetown?
- New Thriving (32 Main Street, corner of Hope Street) is the city’s best-known Chinese restaurant, with formal dining upstairs and takeaway below.
- Sheriff Street has a long run of Chinese restaurants and takeaways, many open late. It is the easiest place to try several in one evening.
Where can you eat it in Berbice?
New Amsterdam, Rose Hall and the Corentyne villages all have Chinese restaurants and takeaways, and the Berbice Chinese Association holds its own Chinese New Year celebrations.
FAQ
Is Guyanese Chinese food the same as American Chinese food? No. It shares the Cantonese roots but uses Guyanese seasoning, more meat and local vegetables, and it is eaten far more often.
What is “mixed” fried rice? Fried rice with a combination of meats, usually chicken, pork and shrimp.
Is Guyanese Chinese food spicy? The food itself is mild to medium. The heat comes from the pepper sauce you add.
Can I find it outside Guyana? Yes. Guyanese restaurants in New York and Toronto sell fried rice, chow mein and fried chicken. See our Guyanese food in New York and Toronto guides.
Next step: For the rest of the menu, read our Guyanese food guide or our Georgetown street food guide.
