PappaRoti Bakery
While PappaRoti is not quite a restaurant per se, the sweet buns served here are so good that the author feels impelled to share this gem of an establishment with readers. PappaRoti is a bakery franchise originally from Malaysia, with locations in Thaila...
While PappaRoti is not quite a restaurant per se, the sweet buns served here are so good that the author feels impelled to share this gem of an establishment with readers. PappaRoti is a bakery franchise originally from Malaysia, with locations in Thailand and Singapore as well. Kunming is the first city in China to be graced with a PappaRoti outlet, but it will certainly not be the last. Around 500 locations in China are planned to open in the near future. As far as the author is aware, PappaRoti offers only one option to customers: a sweet coffee-creme coated bun that is crispy on the outside, and light and fluffy with melted butter on the inside for 4 RMB. There is usually a line of people waiting to savor PappaRoti’s buns, and understandably so - PappaRoti is Malaysia’s answer to the donut, and it is simply delicious. WARNING: PappaRoti’s buns are addictive.
Directions: PappaRoti is located in Kunming Zou Lang on Renming Zhong Lu (人民中路）, very close to the Parksons. If you are standing facing the road on Renming Zhong Lu in front of the Parksons, walk to your left just past a small skate park, where you will see a sloped alleyway lined with shops to your left. Go up that alley and PappaRoti will be on your left - you will be able to smell the buns from at least 100 meters away, well before you see the bakery.
Find it on the map
Directions: PappaRoti is located in Kunming Zou Lang on Renming Zhong Lu (人民中路）, very close to the Parksons. If you are standing facing the road on Renming Zhong Lu in front of the Parksons, walk to your left just past a small skate park, where you will see a sloped alleyway lined with shops to your left. Go up that alley and PappaRoti will be on your left - you will be able to smell the buns from at least 100 meters away, well before you see the bakery.
Find it on the map
Mazagran Café
Mazagran offers its customers a growing menu of choices, including a nice selection of coffees and deserts. Mazagran’s cheesecake is among the best in town. However while most options are good, they tend to be served in small portions and a b...
Mazagran offers its customers a growing menu of choices, including a nice selection of coffees and deserts. Mazagran’s cheesecake is among the best in town. However while most options are good, they tend to be served in small portions and a bit on the pricey side.
Find it on the map
Find it on the map
Mazagran is located on Wenhua Xiang just off of Wenlin Jie near Yunnan University.
Bangkok Café
The Bangkok Cafe serves decent Thai food near Yunnan University. Prices are very reasonable and options are quite filling. The menu is filled with dozens of choices, including Thai soups, noodles, rice, and dishes. There are also a few options that are not on the menu that can b...
The Bangkok Cafe serves decent Thai food near Yunnan University. Prices are very reasonable and options are quite filling. The menu is filled with dozens of choices, including Thai soups, noodles, rice, and dishes. There are also a few options that are not on the menu that can be ordered, including Thai curries that are quite tasty.
Find it on the map
Bangkok Cafe is located on Wenhua Xiang, across from Mandarin Books Near Yunnan University. When walking down Wenhua Xiang, it is easy to miss Bangkok Cafe because the name over the door is written in Thai and the sign that has the name in English is quite small. Bangkok Cafe is situated between a Disney store and Yunjoy Cafe.
Moonlight Corner Thai Cuisine
Why review a Thai restaurant that is rather difficult to find and whose remote location makes leaving a chore as well? Because Moonlight Corner Thai Cuisine serves some of the best Thai food in China!
The restaurant imports its ingredients from Thailand every week, so that it...
Why review a Thai restaurant that is rather difficult to find and whose remote location makes leaving a chore as well? Because Moonlight Corner Thai Cuisine serves some of the best Thai food in China!
The restaurant imports its ingredients from Thailand every week, so that its four Thai chefs can comfortably concoct the freshest, tastiest, and most authentic Thai dishes around. Located literally in the golf driving range more than 1 km into the Expo Gardens, Moonlight Corner is certainly not easy to get to and from.
Taxi drivers are not familiar with the location and there are none waiting around to escort patrons home after their meal. Yet the food, elegant atmosphere, great service, and magnificent view is truly worth the headache of transportation to and from this restaurant.
Directions: Moonlight Corner is located at 3 World Horticultural Expo Garden North Gate. If possible I would suggest riding a bike or having a friend with a car take you to this restaurant. Otherwise, take a taxi through the north gate of the Expo Garden. Drive up the windy road for a few minutes until you come to a T intersection.
Turn right at the T, and then you will soon see the driving range on your right-hand side. The restaurant is upstairs in the driving range. If you took a taxi to the restaurant, you might have to walk all the way back to the north gate of the Expo Garden to catch another cab home. Otherwise, try asking one of the kind people at the front desk of the driving range to call the north gate, so the guard can waive a taxi in for you if you are lucky.
Seafood Market & Restaurants
If you like seafood, go directly to this section of town. A large market full of fresh fish and other seafood fresh off the boats opens up around 5 pm daily. If you aren't much of a cook, then head for one of the several large, pavilion-type restaurants next to the market. It ca...
If you like seafood, go directly to this section of town. A large market full of fresh fish and other seafood fresh off the boats opens up around 5 pm daily. If you aren't much of a cook, then head for one of the several large, pavilion-type restaurants next to the market. It can be difficult to tell one from the other. As you approach, hostesses will beckon you inside. Some may try to strong arm you in. Take your time and see which one appeals to you. I’ve been to several and loved them all.
If you choose to dine out, first find a hostess. She will escort you through the market where you can point and choose the type and amount of fish you would like to eat. Back at the table the staff will ask you how you want it prepared. If you don’t speak Mandarin, smile, shrug, and nod. Have a sense of humor and be flexible. The food is generally excellent regardless of how its prepared. Waiters and waitresses will wander by with platters of fresh vegetables, nan (flat, fried bread), and various local specialties. Roving musicians will serenade you for the current going rate of 5 yuan per song. If you are a foreigner the musicians will probably play either Celine Dion’s “Titanic Theme” or “Auld Lang Syne.” These restaurants are almost always packed.
Detailed instructions on how to get there: Across the street from the Old Clock Tower (a Haikou landmark) at the end of Jiefang Lu, take the #39 or #14 bus. The bus will follow the river on the left for a ways, then turn right by a freeway overpass. Eventually the bus will turn left onto Wenming Dong Lu. The bus will cross the river. Get off at the first stop after the river. If you miss it, don’t worry, the bus will turn right and there’s another stop very close. Across the street on the corner you will see a Bank of China. Follow the street that the bank is on (Wenming Lu) to the first street on your left — Banqiu. A Mobile Station is right across from it. Go down about two blocks and you will come to the restaurants and market on your left. Buses #13 & #34 also go by here, although I’m not sure where you catch them from.
