Macau Food Guide: Best Food + Restaurants in Macau

Since I am based in Hong Kong, I visit Macau a few times a year. Every time I go on a weekend trip to Macau, I try to explore new neighbourhoods, revisit some popular tourist sites, and find new places to eat.

So, it’s taken me a while to compile a list of the best restaurants in Macau, but I think this is an excellent food guide for anyone who has never been to Macau and wants to try all the flavours of the city.

From traditional Portuguese cuisine to Hong Kong-style cafe-inspired food, you can thoroughly enjoy all the good food the city has to offer. Plus, you can try the unique local Macanese food that you can’t find anywhere else.

Keep reading and find out the must-eat foods in Macau and where to find them.

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Tips for eating in Macau

Before starting your culinary adventure in Macau, check out my post on things to do in Macau to get an idea of what you can do in the city.

Here are a few additional tips for eating in Macau:

• Macau’s official currency is the Macanese Pataca (MOP). Many establishments will accept Hong Kong Dollars (HKD). However, when you pay for something in HKD cash, you might get change back in MOP.
• Bring your credit card. Some restaurants accept credit cards, and it is a convenient way to pay your bill.
• Solo dining is quite common in Macau. If you’re dining in a local cafe, you may or may not have to share a table with strangers, depending on how busy it is.
• Check hours of operation. Many Macanese & Portuguese restaurants open only for lunch and dinner. Some restaurants and cafes close on Wednesdays and some on Tuesdays.

Best Food in Macau: What to eat

Macanese Food in Macau

Macanese cuisine is a hybrid of Portuguese and Chinese cooking techniques. The people of Macau also incorporate other European, Indian, and African flavours with local spices and ingredients, and the result is simply delicious.

There are many local Macanese foods in Macau. Here are a few common ones you can find at most traditional restaurants:

1. Minchi – a typical Macanese dish featuring minced beef or pork and diced fried potatoes,
2. Galinha à Portuguese – or Portuguese chicken, which is made with chicken, mild yellow curry, and coconut milk.
3. Galinha à Africana – or African chicken, a Macanese take on barbecue chicken and it is finished with a thick sauce made with coconut milk, peanuts, and spices.
4. Bafassa Pork – a pork stew heavily spiced with saffron. Served with steamed rice. 
5. Balichao Tamarind Pork – slow-cooked pork stew in tamarind shrimp paste sauce. The sweet, sour, and spicy pork is excellent with steamed rice.

Portuguese Food in Macau

In traditional Macanese and Portuguese restaurants, you can find many classic Portuguese dishes on the menu. Here are some excellent dishes to look for:

1. Ameijoas a Bulhão Pato – clams in garlic, olive oil, white wine and coriander sauce
2. Carne de Porco Alentejana – clams, marinated pork cubes and fried potatoes
3. Grehlhao Peixe – usually it is a whole fish grilled to perfection. You can choose seabass, sardines, and many more.
4. Frango Assado – roasted spatchcocked chicken marinated in olive oil, garlic and lemon
5. Arroz de Pato – shredded duck meat, chorizo sauce baked on top of savoury rice
6. Arroz de Mariscos – a saucy stewed rice made with a mix of seafood, including shrimp, clams, mussels and squid

Hong Kong-style Cafe Food in Macau

Hong Kong-style food is inspired by traditional Cantonese cuisine, British food culture and other Asian flavours.

In Macau, you can find classic HK cafe foods and local specialties inspired by HK food culture. Here are some top recommendations:

1. Pork Chop Bun – fried whole pork chop sandwiched in a fresh baguette bun or pineapple bun. This is the most popular Macanese HK-style inspired food.
2. Spicy Fish bun – canned sardine or mackerel in a bun. Excellent as breakfast or a snack.
3. Stir-fry beef with Macaroni – marinated beef with macaroni pasta
4. French Toast – (extra) thick white toast with jam or red bean filling

Street Food in Macau

The street food culture in Macau is very prominent. The touristy areas in both the Macau Peninsula and Taipa offer many street food options. Here are two most popular choices:

1. Beef Offals in Curry – a local Macanese street food snack that is made with beef offals (intestines, tripe, liver, etc) braised in mildly spicy curry broth
2. Egg Waffles – also known as eggette, egg puffs, and gai dan zai, the waffle has round bubbly “eggs” all connected together. In Macau, you can get one with Portuguese egg custard inside each bubble.

Portuguese, Macanese and Chinese Desserts

And of course, you have to try desserts in Macau! If you have a sweet tooth, you must try the most popular Portuguese, Macanese and Chinese desserts in the city.

1. Pastel de Nata – or Portuguese egg tart, which is similar to a Chinese egg tart, but the Portuguese egg tart has a slightly burnt top.
2. Serradura – a traditional dessert where crushed tea biscuits are layered between whipped cream and condensed milk. This unique Macanese dessert is only offered in Macau.
3. Steamed Egg Pudding – Chinese-style steamed sweetened egg that is egg-y and silky smooth. It has a consistency similar to egg custard and crème brulée. It is eaten hot or cold. Also, try steamed milk pudding.

Macau Food Souvenirs

Before you go home, visit one of the many food souvenir shops and bring some goodies home. If you can’t decide, you can sample some before you buy. Below are the two most popular options:

1. Beef and Pork Jerky – large sheets of beef and pork jerky are a favourite amongst tourists
2. Almond Cookies – almond-flavoured cookies. Dry in texture but very flavourful.

Macau Food Map: Where to eat

Now that you know more about what to eat in Macau, let’s dive right into all the places you can find these local specialties.

Here is an interactive map of all the Macau food places mentioned below. When you click the pin, it will show you the restaurant name and description. And if you click on “View in Google Maps”, it will open your Google Maps app with the pinned location.

When you scroll down further, you can see the restaurant names and the description of each place to eat. The hyperlink will also take you to the pinned location on Google Maps.

Best Places to eat in Macau

Macanese & Portuguese Restaurants

Macau Peninsula

1. Cozinha Aida (12-2:30pm & 6-9:30pm; closed Mondays) – many locals eat at this iconic and affordable Macanese restaurant. Look for michi, balichao tamarind pork, bafassa pork and grilled fish on the menu.
2. Apomac (12-2:30pm & 6-9pm) – the Macau Association of Retired Personnel, Veterans and Pension Recipients has a canteen that is open to the public. They serve family-style dishes like minchi, balichao tamarind pork, Portuguese chicken and more.
3. Albergue 1601 (12-3pm & 5:30-10pm Monday to Friday; 12-10pm Saturdays & Sundays) – a traditional Portuguese restaurant in the St. Lazarus’ Parish neighbourhood. The interior is beautifully decorated.
4. Portucau (12-3pm & 5:30-10pm Monday to Friday; 12-10pm Saturdays & Sundays) – a casual retro-style restaurant serving Macanese and Portuguese food
5. A Lorcha (12:30-3pm & 6:30-10:30pm; closed Tuesdays) – a Michelin-recommended Portuguese restaurant near A-Ma Pier.
6. Restaurant Litoral (12-2:45pm & 5:30-9:30pm) – also near A-Ma Pier in Macau. There’s also a location in Taipa Village.

Taipa & Coloane

1. A Petisqueira (12-4pm & 6-11pm) – my go-to Portuguese restaurant in Taipa. Love the traditional interiors and authentic food. Make a reservation or go early.
2. O Santos (12-3pm &. 6:30-10pm; closed Tuesdays) – a traditional restaurant on Taipa Food Street. Lots of classic dishes to choose from.
3. Portugalia (12-10pm) – a cozy Michelin-recommended restaurant in Taipa Village.
4. Banza Restaurant (12-2:30pm & 6-11pm) – another excellent Portuguese restaurant in Taipa. Not as busy as the ones in Taipa Village.
5. Restaurante Litoral Taipa (11:30am-3pm & 6-9:30pm) – try various Macanese and Portuguese food at this Michelin-recommended restaurant. There’s another location in Macau Peninsula.
6. Manuel (12-3pm & 6-10pm; closed Wednesdays) – a Michelin Portuguese restaurant just outside of Taipa Village.
7. Miramar (11am-10pm; closed Tuesdays) – if you are in Coloane, have lunch with a beach view at this popular Portuguese restaurant.

Hong Kong-Style Cafes in Macau

Macau Peninsula

1. Sun Hung Fat 新鴻發咖啡美食 (6am-6pm) – I really like this HK-style cafe. I thoroughly enjoyed the thick french toast.
2. Sing Lei Cha Chaan Teng 勝利茶餐室 (7:30am-10pm) – a popular HK cafe for pork chop bun, french toast and other HK-style classics.
3. Estabelecimento de Comidas Man Kei 文記咖啡美食 (8am-6pm) – always a long queue for this HK-style cafe but worth waiting.
4. Nam Ping Cafe 南屏雅敘 (6:30am-6pm) – try various cafe food at this retro HK-style diner.
5. Sei Kee Cafe 世記咖啡 (10am-7pm) – very popular for its pork chop bun. There are two locations in Macau and two in Taipa.

Taipa

1. Sei Kee Cafe 世記咖啡 (10am-7pm) – opened since 1965. This HK-style fast food joint has seating and serves delicious egg sandwiches and, of course, pork chop buns. Other locations in Macau and Taipa.
2. Tai Lei Loi Kei 大利來記豬扒包 (9am-6:30pm) – a busy HK-style cafe in Taipa Village with many classic cafe food like pineapple bun pork sandwiches, fish bun and many more.

Street food and Desserts in Macau

Macau Peninsula

Many food vendors and shops line Rua de São Paulo, which is the narrow street when you walk towards the Ruins of Saint Paul’s. Also, follow Travessa da Se, a small street nearby with many street food stalls. Travessa dos Anjos is another street with many food shops.

1. Kam Wai Beef Offal (9am-1am) – the popular beef offal stall is on Travessa da Se.
2. Margaret’s Café e Nata 瑪嘉烈蛋撻店 (8:30am-4:30pm Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays; 10am-6pm Saturdays & Sundays) – always a long queue for this pastry shop. Everyone wants an egg tart, including me!  
3. Manteigaria Macau (8am-8pm) – the newest pastry shop that sells egg tarts only. The shop is very popular in Portugal.
4. Chak In Kei 澤賢記 (11:30am-8:30pm; closed Wednesdays) – the wait for the Portuguese Tart Egg Waffle can be long, but it is so delicious!
5. Yee Shun Milk Company 義順牛奶公司 (11am-9pm) – local dessert shop serving a variety of steamed egg and milk pudding desserts. There is also a dessert shop in Hong Kong.
6. Cotiz (11am-7pm) – order an Instagrammable steamed milk pudding with milk soft serve. You can even keep the retro glass!
7. Coconut Ice Cream 洪馨記椰子雪糕 (10:30am-5pm) – they only sell coconut ice cream. A bit expensive but really good if you like coconut.
8. Lai Kei Sorvetes 禮記雪糕飲冰專家 (11am-7pm) – a retro cafe that only serves desserts. I love the waffle ice cream sandwich!

Taipa

Most food vendors and shops line both sides of Taipa Food Street, which is Rua do Cunha in Taipa Village.

1. Lao Day Beef Offal (?) – always a long queue for this beef offal stall on Taipa Food Street.
2. Lord Stow’s Bakery (9am-7pm) – you don’t have to go to the original bakery in Coloane to try their Michelin egg tart. They have other locations, including Taipa Food Street, Venetian Hotel, and the newest one at the Londoner.
3. Gelatina Mok Yi Kai (9am-11pm) – this Michelin dessert shop is known for its durian desserts. But you can also try the serradura pudding here.
4. Digreen (10am-8pm) – before you get on the hydrofoil back to HK at Cotai Ferry Terminal, get an original egg waffles or one with cheese, pastel de nata, Portuguese sausage, or salted yolk

Food Souvenir Shops in Macau

Macau

1. Pastelaria Chui Heong 最香餅家 (11am-6:30pm; closed Wednesdays) – the most famous almond cookie bakery in all of Macau. You can see how they make the cookies. And the retro packaging is quite awesome.
2. Pastelaria Koi Kei 鉅記手信 (10am-8pm) – many locations in Macau and Taipa for all your souvenir shopping needs.
3. Beef and pork jerky shops on Rua de São Paulo – there are many shops offering free samples before you buy.

Taipa

1. Pastelaria Fong Kei 晃記餅家 (9am-8pm; closed Wednesdays) – a very popular pastry shop in Taipa Village selling Michelin Chinese cakes and biscuits, including almond cakes and egg rolls.

What and where are you going to eat in Macau?

If you are in Macau for a day or two, you can easily try many of these local specialties, especially the street food and snacks. And make sure to buy some food souvenirs to bring home.

So the big question is – which of these Macau foods are you interested in trying? Let me know in the comments. And if you found other places to eat that are not mentioned in the post, let me know as well.

Ready to plan your trip to Macau? Here are some of my go-to travel planning resources:
* Book your flight: find flight deals on Skyscanner 
* Book accommodation: find the best Macau accommodations on Agoda or Booking
* Buy insurance: Safetywing is my go-to provider for travel insurance, as it covers many things. I will never travel without the Nomad Insurance Package because it protects me against unforeseen events. Get a quote today.
* Order a SIM card: order a SIM card in advance, collect it upon arrival, and set up your mobile phone before arriving at your destination.
* Join tours: check Klook or Get Your Guide for the best tours in Macau.

Thank you for reading my Macau food guide

For more HK travel inspiration, check out my Hong Kong page for more posts on solo travel in Hong Kong. Here are some posts you might enjoy.

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• 6 boutique hotels: where to stay in HK for solo travellers
• Best places to watch sunset in Hong Kong
• HK off the beaten path: 11 hidden gems
• How to get to Lamma Island
• Short and easy hikes in Hong Kong
• Macau itinerary: things to do for Solo traveller
• My honest review of HK Express, HK budget airline

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queenie mak

Hi, my name is Queenie, and I’ve been a solo traveller for 20+ years and currently based in Hong Kong. Follow me on my adventures through Instagram and my blog!