Where to Eat
#1 Tai Lei Loi Kei
The pork chop bun.
The single greatest sandwich out of Macau. Tender, well-seasoned pork chop sandwiched by a crisp, buttery bun. Best eaten fresh and hot. But still heavenly overnight, especially for breakfast when the nearest value restaurant is a McDonald’s.
How to get there: From Rua do Regedor in Taipa Village, turn right at Rua Correia da Silva.
#2 Chan Kong Kei
Locals PACK this place, especially during lunch. That’s a testament to how delicious their black pepper roast duck is. And because they serve primarily the locals (in fact, we ordered via turo-turo because our Cantonese server was beginning to raise her brows while we said, “Duck… duck… duck… [Mandarin word for duck]!” again and again), at roughly 180 pesos per order you could literally order a feast here without going broke!
How to get there:Â Take the “San Ma Lo” shuttle to Rua do Dr. Pedro Jose Lobo. Cross Avenida do Infante Dom Henrique to reach the other side of Rua Lobo where the diner is located.
#3 O Santos
This recommendation is borne out of us being duped to eating at Antonio along Rua dos Clerigos instead of trying out the less dramatic, equally authentic Portuguese restaurants in the area. Don’t get me wrong: The food at Antonio isn’t bad; it’s just fvcking expensive. Ordering Portuguese steak and duck rice was equivalent to another night’s stay at our hotel!
In comparison, the rave reviews we’ve heard about O Santos (including how packed it always is) tells us that we could have gotten the same authentic Portuguese food experience at half or maybe even a third of the cost in this down-to-earth, uninflated restaurant.
Sauteed Clams and Duck Rice @ O Santos
How to get there: O Santos is located in 20 Rua do Cunha, Taipa Village.
#4 Margaret’s Cafe e Nata
Tired of Lord Stow’s egg tarts? Margaret’s version is more buttery compared to that of LS, and locals and tourists alike flock the unassuming alley that houses Margaret’s Cafe e Nata, buying boxes upon boxes of egg tarts when we visited in the afternoon. Did I mention that ALL of the staff are actually Filipina?
How to get there: From Chan Kong Kei, walk towards the alley across the diner. These two good eats are literally within 50 meters from each other!
Macau is a rapidly changing city that seeks to draw in more tourists (and gamblers!) to generate more revenue. My wife was particularly excited to bring me to Fisherman’s Wharf because it was THE attraction during her first visit to Macau. We were surprised to see part of the wharf being dismantled to make way for newer constructions. What was new a couple of years ago can become obsolete in a matter of two to three years’ time. As it is, Macau is Asia’s wonderland, and its current incarnation is definitely worth a visit. So When In Manila, it’s time to book that flight and take in what Macau has to offer!
