Wang also suggests the Michelin inspectors might have missed out on eateries that many feel should have made it to the guide because of their lack of local knowledge.

"Many good eateries are tucked within older neighborhoods and in the suburban areas. A foreign company may not have such in-depth knowledge of Guangzhou," he says.

"Only a few restaurants on the star list like Bing Sheng and Wisca are indeed popular with locals," he adds.

Chinese food blogger Panpanmao, however, views the situation in a different light.

"Why do locals need to be so fussy about the Michelin guide? The guide is for tourists and foreigners to know more about Guangzhou," wrote Panpanmao, who has about a million followers on her Sina Weibo account.