Dongguan is bordered by rivers and the sea, endowed with abundant aquatic resources, making seafood one of its signature local specialties. It is renowned for farmed white shrimp, alongside famous catches such as creamy crabs, double-shell crabs, mantis shrimp and groupers. Xinwan Town in Humen is the top destination for seafood dining. More than a dozen open-air food stalls line the coastline in a row. Dining here while listening to the crashing waves and savouring fresh seafood delivers an incomparable wonderful experience.

Dongguan’s most iconic local delicacies are the Three Rice Pests Feast and Houjie Roast Goose Rice Noodles. The "Three Rice Pests" refer to rice worms, rice sparrows (hunting of which is now prohibited) and rice carps — all highly nutritious and wonderfully flavourful. Daojiao Water Town is an ideal spot to taste rice worms and rice carps. Houjie Roast Goose Rice Noodles feature slippery rice noodles simmered with whole geese, thick chunks of meat and bones, plus a unique blend of medicinal herbs and spices. This tempting delicacy draws numerous tourists from Guangzhou, Shenzhen and even Hong Kong, who travel all the way to Dongguan just to enjoy it. Other local snacks include Houjie preserved pork sausages and Dongguan rice noodles, Daojiao lotus-leaf-wrapped steamed rice dumplings and meatball congee, Shilong malt sugar and candied pomelo peel, Shatian lotus roots, Shijie hibiscus pork and taro stalks, Gaobu Xiansha fish balls, and Changan mullet.

In addition, Dongguan boasts a diverse array of cuisines from all over China. Visitors can find Hunan restaurants in Yonghua Garden, Taiwanese eateries along Shanhu Road (Taiwan Street) in Houjie, Northeastern Chinese restaurants on South Dongcheng Road, and chain vegetarian restaurants in Nancheng District — catering to every taste imaginable.

Located along Huayuan Street in Qiantou, Dongcheng District, this is a well-known dining hub in downtown Dongguan. It houses seafood restaurants, Western restaurants, bars, congee houses, Hong Kong-style tea restaurants, fast-food outlets, bakeries, juice shops, tea houses, Hakka restaurants and sweet soup dessert shops.

Situated in Xinwan Fishing Village, Humen Town, this nearly 100-metre-long food street is built with bamboo sheds. It serves ultra-fresh seafood paired with simple bamboo tables and chairs, featuring a distinctive coastal vibe.

Found in Xinmin Village, Changan Town, the street consists of open cooling sheds built from fir wood and bark that stretch out towards the sea. Local seafood including tiger shrimp, mullet and creamy crabs are caught and cooked on the spot for an exclusive authentic flavour.

Located in Zhongkeng Village, Shipai Town, local restaurants here specialise in elaborately cooked freshwater pond fish, with standout preparations of Dongguan’s four major farm fish: bighead carp, grass carp, silver bream and dace.

Restaurants in Dalingshan Town excel at traditional snake feasts. Snake soup is slow-simmered in large clay vats over burning sawdust firewood, yielding a rich, deep flavour that diners can enjoy bowl after bowl without feeling cloyed.

Qingxi Town is a major Hakka settlement in Dongguan. Many local restaurants serve authentic Hakka dishes, most notably Hakka braised dog meat and stuffed tofu.