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Macau (ๆพณ้–€), similar to Hong Kong (้ฆ™ๆธฏ), has a unique history and culture from most other parts of China (ไธญๅœ‹) because it was once a Portuguese colony. Itโ€™s a quick high speed ferry ride away from Hong Kong and is perfect for a day trip from Hong Kong. The city is known for its glitzy casinos, beautiful colonial architecture, and delicious eats.

To put it simply, Macanese cuisine is a delightful fusion of Cantonese and Portuguese cuisines, but it also includes spices and flavors from other Portuguese colonies in India and Africa. Youโ€™ll see these influences in dishes using turmeric, coconut milk, cinnamon, and piri piri.

Fun Fact: Macanese cuisine uses a lot of local Chinese ingredients in place of ingredients typically found in Portugal or other Portuguese colonies. For example, dishes requiring chorizo were met with Chinese lap cheong (่‡˜่…ธ) sausage and coconut milk was used in place of milk.

As they say, the best way to experience a culture is to try their food! And try the Macanese must eat food we did!

Here are some of the top things to eat in Macau and where to get it!

Portuguese Egg Tarts (่‘กๆ’ป/Pastรฉis de Nata)

These egg tarts are the most famous thing to get in Macau (and in Portugal too for that matter), but they are so delicious! I mean, if KFC came out with a version of it, YOU KNOW THEYโ€™RE AMAZING!

Portuguese egg tarts are similar to the typical Cantonese style custard egg tart except they include egg yolks, heavy cream, and a caramelized top. Their crusts usually tend to be more crispy with a creamier filling.

PRO TIP: Sometimes when weโ€™re on a short trip to Hong Kong, and canโ€™t make it out to Macau, weโ€™ll stop by KFC and get our fix.

Where to get it:

  • Lord Stowโ€™s Portuguese Egg Tart (ๅฎ‰ๅพท้ฒ่‘กๆŒž)
    1 Rua da Tassara, Coloane Island, Macau ๆพณ้–€่ทฏ็’ฐๅธ‚ๅ€ๆˆด็ดณ็ฆฎ่ก—1่™Ÿๅœฐไธ‹
  • Margaret’s Cafรฉ e Nata (็‘ชๅ˜‰็ƒˆ่›‹ๆ’ปๅบ—)
    Kam Loi Building, 17B Rua do Comandante Mata e Oliviera, Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro, Macau ๆพณ้–€ๆ–ฐ้ฆฌ่ทฏ้ฆฌ็ตฑ้ ˜่ก—้‡‘ๅˆฉไพ†ๅคงๅปˆ17Bๅœฐ่ˆ–

Visiting Hong Kong? Hereโ€™s where to find the best Hong Kong-style egg tarts!

Pork Chop Bun (่ฑฌๆ‰’ๅŒ…/Bifana)

The juicy pork chop surrounded by a warm bun is a street snack to be savored. It is said that this pork chop bun based upon the Portuguese bifana sandwich, which is made with marinated pork chop topped with caramelized onions.

The Macanese version is definitely much simpler (with less veggies) but also super delicious!

Where to get it:

  • Tai Lei Loi Kei (ๅคงๅˆฉไพ†่จ˜่ฑฌๆ‰’ๅŒ…)
    25 Rua de Sรฃo Paulo, Macau ๆพณ้–€ๅคงไธ‰ๅทด่ก—25่™Ÿๅœฐไธ‹Bๅบง
  • Sei Kee Cafe (ๆพณ้–€ไธ–่จ˜ๅ’–ๅ•กๅค–่ณฃๅบ—)
    G/F, Edf Cheong Son, 7-15 Patio Da Palha, Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro ๆพณ้–€ๆ–ฐ้ฆฌ่ทฏ่ณฃ่‰ๅœฐ้‡Œ7-15่™Ÿ้•ทไฟกๅคงๅปˆๅœฐไธ‹

 

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Crab Congee (ๆฐด่Ÿน็ฒฅ)

Crab congee isnโ€™t technically Portuguese fusion, but itโ€™s one of the best things to get in Macau.

They use crab roe to flavor the congee and thatโ€™s also why itโ€™s slightly yellow in color, as opposed to the typical whiter rice porridge. The porridge itself also has great fluffy texture. Youโ€™ll also find pieces of crab in your bowl, as proof they put actual crab in it!

Where to get it:

  • Casa de Pasto Seng Choeng (่ช ๆ˜Œ้ฃฏๅบ—)
    28-30 Rua do Cunha, Vila de Taipa ๆฐนไป”่ˆŠๅŸŽๅ€ๅฎ˜ไนŸ่ก—28-30่™Ÿ

 

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Almond Cookies (ๆไป้ค…)

This is one of Macauโ€™s famous exports, yes, traditional Chinese almond cookies. This is the stuff my mom and grandma grew up with so it holds a special place in their hearts.

Although Iโ€™m not the hugest fan, these crumbly cookies have entire almonds in them! Theyโ€™re super fragrant and I highly recommend them to nut lovers (which I am not).

Aside from almond cookies, Macanese bakeries also usually sell other souvenir-worthy items like other types of Chinese bakery pastries such as cookies, egg rolls (not the fried ones, ACTUAL egg rolls), and candy. Some even sell Portuguese egg tarts too!

BONUS: Walnut Cookies (ๆ ธๆกƒ้…ฅ), Cashew Cookies (่‘กๅผ่…ฐๆžœๆ›ฒๅฅ‡), Egg Rolls (่›‹ๆฒ), Coconut Peanut Nougat (ๆคฐ็ตฒ่Šฑ็”Ÿ่ปŸ็ณ–), Peanut Candy (่Šฑ็”Ÿ่„†็ณ–)

PRO TIP: They usually pass out samples on the street so you can try before you buy!

Where to get it:

  • Choi Heong Yuen Bakery (ๅ’€้ฆ™ๅœ’้ค…ๅฎถ Pastelaria Choi Heong Yuen)
    G/F, 209 Avenida Alemida Ribeiro R/C, Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro ๆ–ฐ้ฆฌ่ทฏๆ–ฐ้ฆฌ่ทฏ209่™Ÿๅœฐไธ‹
  • Koi Kee Bakery (้‰…่จ˜ๆ‰‹ไฟก/Pastelaria Koi Kee)
    70-72 Rua Da Felicidade, Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro ๆ–ฐ้ฆฌ่ทฏ็ฆ้š†ๆ–ฐ่ก—70-72่™Ÿๅœฐไธ‹

 

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Macanese-style Portuguese Chicken (่‘กๅœ‹้›ž)

This dish is also super popular in Hong Kong style cha chaan tengs, itโ€™s basically a creamy, coconut milk based chicken curry served with rice though some places will serve it in a bread bowl too. Itโ€™s one of my favorite things to get and is so yummy.

Where to get it:

  • Est. de Comida Portuguesa “Porto” (ๆณข็ˆพๅœ–)
    G/F, Block 4, Ka Hoi Court, Phrase 1, Chun Fok Village, Rua do Regedor, Vila de Taipa ๆฐนไป”่ˆŠๅŸŽๅ€ๅœฐๅ ก่ก—ๆณ‰็ฆๆ–ฐๆ‘็ฌฌ1ๆœŸ็ฌฌ4ๅบงๅ˜‰้–‹้–ฃๅœฐไธ‹
  • A Lorcha (่ˆนๅฑ‹่‘กๅœ‹้คๅปณ)
    Rua Almirante Sergio No.289, Sao Lourenco ไธ‹็’ฐๆฒณ้‚Šๆ–ฐ่ก—289่™Ÿ

 

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Meat Jerky (่‚‰ไนพ)

Assuming youโ€™re American, these arenโ€™t the types of jerkies youโ€™re used to as in โ€” dried strips of beef, pork, or turkey. While these are also cooked and cured, they are completely different. This is what I like to call โ€œChinese-style jerkyโ€, it is pressed strips of meat cooked, air-dried, drenched in a salty-sweet sauce.

Typically, these have a higher water and sugar content so your hands will get sticky! They are usually made of pork, beef, or mutton.

PRO TIP: People standing outside jerky souvenir shops will have tongs and scissors ready to snip a piece off for you to sample.

Where to get it:

  • Choi Heong Yuen Bakery (ๅ’€้ฆ™ๅœ’้ค…ๅฎถ Pastelaria Choi Heong Yuen)
    G/F, 209 Avenida Alemida Ribeiro R/C, Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro ๆ–ฐ้ฆฌ่ทฏๆ–ฐ้ฆฌ่ทฏ209่™Ÿๅœฐไธ‹
  • Heong Kei Jerky (้ฆ™่จ˜่‚‰ไนพๆ‰‹ไฟก)
    G/F, 4-6 Travessa Auto Novo, Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro ๆ–ฐ้ฆฌ่ทฏๆธ…ๅนณ็›ด่ก—4-6่™Ÿๅœฐไธ‹

 

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Seafood Rice (่‘กๅผ่‚ฅไป”็‚’้ฃฏ/Arroz de Marisco)

There arenโ€™t many things Chinese people love more than rice! So what better way to enjoy Macanese cuisine than with a seafood rice. Just make sure youโ€™re not expecting a paella valenciana with this one!

This Portuguese style rice is definitely more saucy so it is definitely on the soupier side, but fresh seafood is what makes it amazing!

Where to get it:

  • Portvgรกlia (่‘กๅคšๅˆฉๆญฃๅฎ—่‘กๅœ‹่œ)
    G/F, 5 Rua dos Negociantes, Vila de Taipa ๆฐนไป”่ˆŠๅŸŽๅ€่ฒท่ณฃ่ก—5่™Ÿๅœฐ่ˆ–
  • A Lorcha (่ˆนๅฑ‹่‘กๅœ‹้คๅปณ)
    Rua Almirante Sergio No.289, Sao Lourenco ไธ‹็’ฐๆฒณ้‚Šๆ–ฐ่ก—289่™Ÿ

 

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African Chicken (้žๆดฒ้›ž)

Though itโ€™s called โ€œAfrican Chicken,โ€ this is yet another Portuguese dish adapted by Macanese chefs during the colonial era. The dish uses a mixture of ingredients including oyster sauce, peanut butter, curry powder, coconut milk, and olive oil. Itโ€™s truly a delicious melting pot of spices and flavors from around the world.

Where to get it:

  • Restaurante Escada
    G/F, 8 Rua da Se, Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro ๆ–ฐ้ฆฌ่ทฏๅคงๅ ‚่ก—8่™Ÿๅœฐ่ˆ–
  • Albergue 1601 (ๅฉ†ไป”ๅฑ‹1601)
    8 Calcada da Igreja de S. Lazaro, Ferreira de Almeida ่ท่˜ญๅœ’ๆœ›ๅพทๅ ‚็˜‹ๅ ‚ๆ–œๅทท8่™Ÿ

 

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Portuguese Roast โ€œSucklingโ€ Pig (่‘กๅผ็‡’ไนณ่ฑฌ/Leitรฃo ร  Bairrada)

Thereโ€™s nothing like the crispy roasted skin or the tender juicy meat of a suckling pig, yum! In Macau, it is sometimes served with rice or a side of fries. ย 

The absolute best thing about this dish is the crispy skin, when itโ€™s cooked all of the fat melts away and youโ€™re left with a delicious pig skin chip.

Where to get it:

  • Restaurante Escada
    G/F, 8 Rua da Se, Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro ๆ–ฐ้ฆฌ่ทฏๅคงๅ ‚่ก—8่™Ÿๅœฐ่ˆ–ไป”่ˆŠๅŸŽๅ€ๅœฐๅ ก่ก—ๆณ‰็ฆๆ–ฐๆ‘็ฌฌ1ๆœŸ็ฌฌ4ๅบงๅ˜‰้–‹้–ฃๅœฐไธ‹
  • O Santos Comida Portuguesa (ๅฑฑๅบฆๅฃซ่‘กๅผ้คๅปณ)
    20 Rua da Cunha, Vila de Taipa ๆฐนไป”่ˆŠๅŸŽๅ€ๅฎ˜ไนŸ่ก—20่™Ÿ

 

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Serradurra (Sawdust) Pudding (ๆœจ็ณ ๅธƒไธ)

Some people don’t love this dish because they feel like it’s “nothing special” and just tastes like vanilla ice cream. But the most unique thing about this pudding is the textures. It’s creamy, a tad grainy, but it blends together so well in the cup. You canโ€™t go to Macau without getting this dessert! Itโ€™s one of my favorite things to get and so distinctly Macanese.

This creamy layered-pudding dessert is typically made of Marie biscuits, whipped cream, and condensed milk, which is also known as the โ€œoriginalโ€ version. Today, there are many more flavors of this dessert, ranging from fruity strawberry to coffee, green tea, and Oreo.

Where to get it:

  • Gelatina Mok Yi Kei (่Žซ็พฉ่จ˜)
    9A Rua da Cunha, Vila de Taipa ๆฐนไป”่ˆŠๅŸŽๅ€ๅฎ˜ไนŸ่ก—9่™ŸA่ˆ–
  • Serrdura (ๆฒ™ๅบฆๅจœ)
    Shop AA, G/F, Block 6, Phrase 1, Chun Fuk Sun Chun, Rua do Regedor, Vila de Taipa ๆฐนไป”่ˆŠๅŸŽๅ€ๅœฐๅ ก่ก—ๆณ‰็ฆๆ–ฐๆ‘็ฌฌ1ๆœŸ็ฌฌ6ๅบงๅ˜‰่ฃ•้–ฃๅœฐไธ‹AA่ˆ–

 

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Portuguese Braised Ox-tail Stew (็‚†็‰›ๅฐพ)

This traditionally Portuguese dish is insanely good especially when itโ€™s braised in Port or Madeira. The stew is usually super flavorful with the ox tail falling off the bone and is best when served with rice. Most places offer some form of it with red wine, but there are a couple of places offering a more creative curry option too.

Where to get it:

  • A Lorcha (่ˆนๅฑ‹่‘กๅœ‹้คๅปณ)
    Rua Almirante Sergio No.289, Sao Lourenco ไธ‹็’ฐๆฒณ้‚Šๆ–ฐ่ก—289่™Ÿ
  • Ali Curry House (ไบžๅˆฉๅ’–ๅ–ฑๅฑ‹)
    G/F, 4K Avenida da Republica, Sai Van ่ฅฟ็ฃๆฐ‘ๅœ‹ๅคง้ฆฌ่ทฏ4K่™Ÿๅœฐไธ‹

 

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Portuguese Salted Cod Fritters (้ฆฌไป‹ไผ‘็ƒ/Pasteis de Bacalhau)

Anything fried is always good right? Well this applies for salted cod fritters too! Of course, thatโ€™s assuming you like salted fishesโ€ฆ

These are some of the most popular Portuguese foods and are typically made of fried balls of salted cod, potatoes, eggs, parsley, and onion. Theyโ€™re usually ordered as an appetizer and are crispy on the outside and super soft and creamy on the inside.

Where to get it:

  • Restaurante Escada
    G/F, 8 Rua da Se, Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro ๆ–ฐ้ฆฌ่ทฏๅคงๅ ‚่ก—8่™Ÿๅœฐ่ˆ–ไป”่ˆŠๅŸŽๅ€ๅœฐๅ ก่ก—ๆณ‰็ฆๆ–ฐๆ‘็ฌฌ1ๆœŸ็ฌฌ4ๅบงๅ˜‰้–‹้–ฃๅœฐไธ‹
  • A Lorcha (่ˆนๅฑ‹่‘กๅœ‹้คๅปณ)
    Rua Almirante Sergio No.289, Sao Lourenco ไธ‹็’ฐๆฒณ้‚Šๆ–ฐ่ก—289่™Ÿ

 

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Garlic Steamed Clams (้ฆ™่’œ็‚’่œ†/Amรชijoas ร  Bulhรฃo Pato)

This dish is absolutely amazing and so full of flavor! Itโ€™s obviously best if the clams are fresh, but essentially itโ€™s clams cooked in a garlic white wine sauce. So much yum all in one bowl of clams, itโ€™s a definite must-have if you love seafood.

Where to get it:

  • A Lorcha (่ˆนๅฑ‹่‘กๅœ‹้คๅปณ)
    Rua Almirante Sergio No.289, Sao Lourenco ไธ‹็’ฐๆฒณ้‚Šๆ–ฐ่ก—289่™Ÿ
  • Restaurante Fernando (ๆณ•่˜ญๅบฆ้คๅปณ)
    9 Hac Sa Beach Coloane, Praia de Hac Sรก ้ป‘ๆฒ™ๆตท็˜้ป‘ๆฒ™ๆตท็˜9่™Ÿ

Map of the Eats

As you can see, Macau is full of amazing places to eat. There are literally too many must-have things to eat in the city. Let us know in the comments what your favorite Macanese eats were!ย 

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Macau isn't just about seeing the Ruins of St. Paul, it's also got some of the best foods in the area! It's past as a Portuguese colony has changed Chinese tastebuds to delicious Macanese fusion. We're sharing some of the must have eats in Macau! Including Portuguese egg tarts, serradurra, chicken curry, and many more! #macau #foodie #thingstoeat #macanesefood #chinesefood #travelfoodieMacau isn't just about seeing the Ruins of St. Paul, it's also got some of the best foods in the area! It's past as a Portuguese colony has changed Chinese tastebuds to delicious Macanese fusion. We're sharing some of the must have eats in Macau! Including Portuguese egg tarts, serradurra, chicken curry, and many more! #macau #foodie #thingstoeat #macanesefood #chinesefood #travelfoodie

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