The best of Asia ... right in our own backyard

I started the evening with a Mango Mai Tai

Can you believe we have finally eaten in the best Asian restaurant in Joburg a mere three weeks away from our departure? Yep. And besides it's being a stone's throw away from Valley Lodge, I have been literally passing by it at least four times a day on the days Vince is in Joburg and I drive him to and fro his office. 

It's our fault really. We have totally taken for granted the low-hanging fruit right in our own backyard and instead have been lured by the more tough to get to restaurants in far-flung locations. But now that time is running out, we are starting to think and act more locally. Case in point, Gwefey Asian Cuisine located in the World Trade Center in Morningside, Sandton. 

Displayed in its windows on the West Road side are the many awards it has received - as one of the Best of Joburg Reader’s Choice Awards - since it opened a scant three years ago. Best Eastern Restaurant. Best Business Lunch Restaurant. Best Romantic Restaurant. And it was named one of the 2014 Eat Out 500​, the power list of the best restaurants across South Africa.


An unlikely place for a fine dining experience, Gwefey Asian Cuisine is located in an elevated atrium at the base of the World Trade Centre on the edge of the Sandton CBD. But its location is probably responsible for its Best Business Lunch Award. It is within sight of several major corporate headquarters such as Investec, Old Mutual and IBM.

I made a dinner reservation to celebrate the end of the EcoMobility World Festival and told Vince to walk on over after work. (It is only about three blocks from his office and about half way home to Valley Lodge.)




Their menu is Pan-Asian with an extensive assortment of dishes from all over the region - Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, etc. and several provinces and cities in China including Sichuan, Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Everything we sampled was really really good! And the Vegetable Spring Rolls were crispy and crunchy just the way I like them. That definitely explains the Best Eastern Restaurant Award.

Shanghai soup dumplings!

Gwefey had all our faves, albeit many with different names. Shanghai Soup Dumplings are called Xiao Long Bao, Singapore Mei Fun are Char Kway Teow, and Sesame Noodles are called Dan Dan. And they have a nice selection of Sichuan specialties to satisfy our collective "spicy tooth" such as the Spicy Shredded Pork, Hot and Sour Soup, and garlicky Sizzling Eggplant we sampled. They have a Tea House downstairs and they do take out and delivery!





The name Gwefey comes from a legend about the controversial love affair between the reigning Chinese Tang Emperor and his son’s ex-wife. Their obsession with each other blinds them to the corruption unfolding around them, and finally the legend culminates in her tragic death and the fall of an Empire. That legend and the gorgeous views may explain the Best Romantic Restaurant accolade. All I know is I'm certainly in love with Gwefey.

And even though we are leaving soon and came rather late to the game with Gwefey, I have to console myself with the fact that we are soon moving to the Best Asian Restaurant in the World. Asia itself!

There are two other locations for Gwefey in the area. There is a Gwefey Tea House with a little gift shop attached in Sandton City and the Gwefey Meeting Spaces are in the Sinosteel Plaza.

Now it's your turn to fall in love with Gwefey ...