Indian Food in Guangzhou: Popular restaurant a hit with Indians and Chinese

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Nearly half of the foreigners living in Guangzhou come from other parts of Asia. and Indian culture and cuisine have made big strides in the southern Chinese city. Mark Fontes reports.

"My Dad came to Guangzhou in 1999, and we decided to have a restaurant up here."

Indians make up one of the fastest growing segments of Guangzhou's 120-thousand-plus foreigners. And, their desire to enjoy the tastes of home is what has helped make Sharma Ji, a family-owned restaurant of nearly 20 years, a success story.

AMIT SHARMA CO-OWNER, SHARMA JI RESTAURANT "It's easy to work in Guangzhou. Actually, China is open to everyone not only to Indians, to all the foreigners working in China."

VICKY SHARMA CO-OWNER, SHARMA JI RESTAURANT "When I came to Guangzhou, it was not so developed. Now the people have more visibility of the world, they have more visibility of India."

A visibility of a closely-knit people who mostly don't eat meat, but have dinner as late as 10 o'clock. The brothers say their largely Chinese staff is also close, and that their warm spirit has had a positive ripple effect on business.

YA QUN WORKER, SHARMA JI RESTAURANT "I like working here because everyone is really nice. We are like a family. And many people I know like Indian food."

NAT POP MONTAGE MARK FONTES GUANGZHOU While the vast majority of the clientele at Sharma Ji are from India, the Sharmas say that in recent years, more local Guangzhou people have come here to enjoy themselves. They say that's thanks not only to friendly Sino-Indian relations, but also because local tastes have expanded, and elaborated.

"Last year, I had Indian food for the first time. A friend of mine recommended this restaurant. The food is indeed very nice."

AMIT SHARMA CO-OWNER, SHARMA JI RESTAURANT "Slowly people are diverting towards vegetarian food as well, so they want to try something Indian."

VICKY SHARMA CO-OWNER, SHARMA JI RESTAURANT "Indian food is Indian culture, like a mix of cultures and mix of varieties."

The Sharmas plan to keep their cultural mix in Guangzhou for years to come, and know that strong ties between the neighbor countries will help their business continue to thrive. Mark Fontes, CGTN, Guangzhou.