Snacking in Macau

Macau is famous as Asia's Las Vegas; a wonderland of gambling and entertainment. There's plenty to do without having to step out of your hotel, but I wouldn't be me if I didn't at least try to find some food that Macau is known for. Whether you're on the Macau peninsula or on Taipa, try and make some time to explore the city and do some tastings. The road to St. Paul's Cathedral is lined with a seemingly endless supply of dried beef, almond cookie, and Portuguese egg tart shops. Taipa Village is also filled with Macanese restaurants and snacks. All you have to do is go looking.

Egg cookies ($20MOP, ~$3.30AUD)

After stepping into Senado Square, I could smell delicious egg cookies so I followed my nose and found the source. Tucked behind the façade of the Holy House of Mercy is an ‘uncle’ selling golden cookies made of egg, butter, sugar, and flour. For 20MOP, I have a bag of buttery treats to nibble on while I wander around Macau’s historical centre. The cookies are cooked by being pressed in between two very hot plates until they are flat and crumbly. His hawker cart is usually on the right side of the Square as you enter from the main road.

Double layer steamed milk pudding ($38MOP, ~$6.30AUD ea)

I’ve heard that you absolutely have to try steamed Chinese milk pudding. I personally love my desserts to be cold, so I order the cold double layer steamed milk pudding from Leitaria I Son. There’s an entire fridge behind the counter filled with the bowls! It’s wobbly and has a delicate milk taste to it. A mix of milk and egg white, it is such a simple dessert.

Pork chop bun ($55MOP, ~$9.15AUD), egg bun ($21MOP, ~$3.50AUD)

Tai Lei Loi Kei is touted as having the most famous pork chop buns in Macau and some say, even the original version. A tender, bone-in, fried pork chop in between a soft bun is the product of genius. Looks can be misleading, the buns seem crispy on the outside but are really soft. Between the fried egg bun and pork chop bun, I would definitely prefer the pork. As Anthony Bourdain said “pork, good; pork on sandwich, better.”

Egg tart ($9MOP, ~$1.50AUD)

Lord Stow’s Bakery is legendary. Since opening in 1989, their Portuguese egg tarts, or pasteis de nata, have become a Macau icon. Unfortunately, I have such limited time in Macau that I’m unable to visit their original store in Coloane. Instead, I find their Bakery & Café in The Venetian. It tastes best straight out of the oven; fluffy puff pastry crust and a hot, sweet custard filling. I wish I could bring about 10 boxes of these home but Australian customs would confiscate the boxes of deliciousness.

Macau is just a short one hour ferry ride from Hong Kong so if you're already there, set aside a day to make a day trip. You won't need a visa and they take Hong Kong dollars! Even if you can't go food hunting, exploring the old city and seeing two hundred year old architecture is worth it in itself.