5 Must-Have Delicacies for a Heavenly Food Adventure in Macao

Gastronomy has been a distinctive element of Macao’s culture. Titled by UNESCO as the City Of Gastronomy, Macao is renowned for its unmatched flavour-blending food. Macao’s East-meets-West culinary game is as strong as it gets. Mimicking Portuguese flavours, spices and ingredients are sourced from Portugal and the regions colonized by Portugal such as Africa, Southeast Asia and India. This list of authentic ingredients used includes: curry, coconut milk, cloves and cinnamon - all combined using Chinese culinary technique in a wonderful potpourri of tastes and aromas, giving birth to the flavoursome Macanese cuisine of today.

Being a gastronomic heaven, it’s only fair that the food here gets the credit it deserves.

Check out the 5 must-have foods that make up the Macanese food landscape a spectacular adventure!

• Egg Tarts:

It is said that, a trip to Macao isn’t complete without trying one of its highly-praised egg tarts. They have become the city’s own edible icon. Lord Stow’s Bakery has become the oldest home to the original and fresh Macao Egg Tarts. With their flaky pastry crusts, delicious egg custard centres and crispy crème tops, they taste twice as nice when piping hot. The egg-custard stuffed pastry with a bitter caramel essence really captivates everybody’s soul.

• Pork Chop Bun:

A Macao-style burger is different from a regular hamburger as it doesn’t have vegetables or sauce but just meat. The crispy baked baguette is stuffed with thickly sliced grilled pork in between. It is different from a regular hamburger as it doesn’t have vegetables or sauce, but just meat and a heavy grilled charcoal flavour that make for a great combination.

• Almond Cookies:

These are some of Macao’s most popular traditional cookies. They have a lot of almonds, which means every bite is crunchy, but it’s recommended that you eat it with a drink because it’s dry

• African Chicken

A traditional Portuguese preparation of grilled chicken topped with piri piri sauce, which is a mix of pepper and herbs and has its own unique taste. The cooking style varies according to the restaurant, with some places having a slightly spicy curry sauce than the true piri piri, and some places pouring the sauce on top of the fried chicken.

• Serradura or Sawdust Pudding:

A soft whipped cream with cookie crumbs layered on top to be eaten with a spoon, the Serradura, is one of the best snacks of both Portugal and Macao. The taste varies according to the texture of the cream, so it’s recommended to try it in a Macanese/Portuguese restaurant that’s rated above average.


Find the real taste of Macao at the corner of an old snack shop or somewhere on the street. Leave your stomach empty and peer into the alley.


The stunning variety of distinctive cuisine available in Macao makes this international city a paradise for food lovers. The rich cultural history of the place can be credited to the delicious palate it has on offer. With plenty of fresh ingredients and many restaurants to choose from, you’ll find a variety of flavour to tickle your taste buds. Enjoy the best of Macao, one delicacy at a time.

Disclaimer: This article has been produced on behalf of Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) by Times Internet’s Brandwire team.