Amap for Finding Restaurants in China: Guide for Foreign Travelers

When traveling in China, finding great local restaurants can be a highlight—but mainstream food-ordering and restaurant apps often create barriers for foreigners. Most popular platforms lack English support, making it hard to navigate. This guide introduces Amap for Finding Restaurants in China—a game-changer for foreign visitors seeking easy, reliable dining recommendations.

Mainstream Food & Restaurant Apps in China: Limitations for Foreigners​

China’s top food-related apps include Meituan (food delivery + restaurant bookings), Dazhong Dianping (restaurant reviews), Ele.me (food delivery), and even Taobao/JD (which now offer meal-ordering services). However, they all share a major downside:​

• No English Versions: Meituan, Ele.me, Taobao, and JD are entirely in Chinese, with no option to switch languages. Menu items, restaurant descriptions, and user reviews are unreadable for non-Chinese speakers.​

• Dazhong Dianping’s Flaw: While it has a basic English interface, the core content—like restaurant recommendations, dish names, and customer reviews—remains in Chinese. This makes it nearly useless for foreigners trying to decide where to eat.​

These limitations leave many foreign travelers stuck, relying on guesswork or tourist traps instead of authentic local spots.

Person browsing a restaurant app on a smartphone, set in a street with red lanterns and signs. Animated style, vibrant colors.

Amap for Finding Restaurants in China: The Solution​

Amap (known as Gaode Maps internationally) is primarily a navigation app, but its “Nearby Search” feature has become a lifesaver for foreign diners. Here’s why it stands out:

1. All Restaurant Information in English​

When you use Amap’s “Restaurants” search, every result shows:​

• English Names: No more struggling with Chinese characters—restaurants are listed with their official English names (e.g., “Xiao Nan Guo” instead of “小南国”).​

• Clear Details: You’ll see key info like cuisine type (Sichuan, Cantonese, Italian), average price per person (in CNY), and operating hours—all in English.​

• Visual References: Most listings include photos of the restaurant’s interior, exterior, and signature dishes. This helps you judge the atmosphere and food before visiting.

2. Real, Reliable Ratings​

Unlike Meituan or Dazhong Dianping—where fake reviews and inflated ratings are common—Amap’s scores are more trustworthy. The app aggregates feedback from regular users (not paid promoters), so a 4.5-star rating on Amap usually means the restaurant truly delivers on quality, service, and value.

3. Seamless Navigation to the Restaurant​

Once you pick a spot, Amap’s core navigation feature kicks in. It gives you turn-by-turn directions (in English) via walking, public transport, or ride-hailing—so you’ll never get lost on the way to your meal.

How to Use Amap to Find Restaurants Step-by-Step​

1. Download & Set Up Amap: Get the app from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android). Open it and go to “Settings” to switch the language to English.​

2. Access “Nearby Search”: On the home screen, tap the “Nearby” icon (looks like a magnifying glass with a location pin).​

3. Search for Restaurants: Select the “Restaurants” category from the list (other options include cafes, bakeries, and bars). Amap will automatically show spots near your current location.​

4. Filter & Sort Results: Use filters to narrow down by cuisine (e.g., “Sichuan”), price range (e.g., “¥50–¥100”), or rating (e.g., “4 stars and above”). Sort by “Distance” or “Rating” to find the best option quickly.​

5. Check Details & Navigate: Tap a restaurant to see photos, reviews, and contact info. When ready, tap “Navigate” to get directions.

Bonus Tip: Pair Amap with Translation Apps​

While Amap solves the restaurant-finding problem, menus at local spots may still be in Chinese. For this, use a translation app like Google Translate or iTranslate—just take a photo of the menu, and it will provide instant English translations. This combo (Amap + translation app) makes dining in China stress-free.

For foreign travelers, Amap for Finding Restaurants in China fills a critical gap left by mainstream food apps. It turns the challenge of finding good food into a simple, enjoyable part of your trip—letting you savor authentic Chinese cuisine without the language barrier.