If you’re exploring Senado Square, there are plenty of things to see, do, and, last but not least, taste! Whether you’re marveling at the remnants of Portuguese colonial architecture, taking obligatory pictures in front of the fountain, or shopping at one of the many brand name outlets, when your tummy rumbles, it’s time for a break! Besides being Macau’s number one sightseeing spot, Senado Square is an excellent place for an affordable culinary adventure. So grab some of these fantastic Macau street food and go on your merry way.
Dijun Taiwan Pepper Cake
(See featured image above)
Taiwan is a favored gastronomy destination, especially for the cheap eats and street food. Remarkably, many of the night market food stalls deserved a place in Taipei Bib Gourmand Michelin Guide. Luckily, you can find one of the most delicious Taiwanese street foods at a small stall steps away from Senado Square. A humble but mouthwatering pepper cake is a freshly cooked sesame bun with pork and green onion filling. Just one of those can be satiating enough to help you get through the afternoon.
Dijun’s pepper cakes are cheap and perfectly cooked, with a soft bun and juicy pork. Be careful not to burn your tongue eating it as there is some hot, pork juice inside as well.
Dijun Taiwan Pepper Cake Rua de Santa Filomena, +853 2836 2363
Also read: Street Snacks in the Red Market & Horta e Costa Area
Arabian Kebab
Who doesn’t love kebabs? A famous after-party or middle-of-the-day snack, this Middle-Eastern street food has loyal fans everywhere in the world, including Macau. The fresh vegetables and generous carvings of roast and well-seasoned meat wrapped in flat or pita bread will surely delight your taste buds and keep you satisfied as you roam the streets. Prices range from MOP $35–78 for a jumbo piece!
Arabian Kebab 45–51, Centro Comercial Teatro Capitol, Travessa dos Anjos, Macau, +853 6235 7379, www.facebook.com/arabiankebab
Also read: Snacks on the Go: Sandwiches, Kebabs & Beyond
Xian Guo Dian Fruit Juice
This small, modern and minimal shop specializes in fresh fruit juices, shakes, and Macau’s latest craze, combining anything with Yakult. It can be coffee, mashed fruit, milk, or tea. Xian Guo Dian has a wide range of mixes with this yummy little drink, including kiwi, lemon, strawberry, and more. Among unusual combinations is Yakult with mango and asparagus, avocado milk, or tomato juice. They also have some of the most traditional flavors, such as carrot, apple, mango, and orange.
Xian Guo Dian 53 Travessa dos Anjos, Macau
Loja Lam Kei
Loja Lam Kei is the place to grab some steamed bites, quick and easy. The epitome of street food, be it fish balls, veggies, or other Asian delicacies, almost everything is steamed and served on a skewer. There are also drinks available, including water, beer, soft drinks, and local specialties. Not that adventurous? Go for the usual: a takeaway pack with iced lemon tea and some steamed vegetables to munch on.
Loja Lam Kei 29 Travessa dos Anjos, Macau
Also read: Macau’s Best Street Food
Chachako
Looking for a quick fix of sushi at a fair price? Then Chachako should be your number one option. Opened daily till late, it has an array of different sushi, sashimi, rice bowls, and salmon sashimi to go. They also sell drinks that you wouldn’t easily find around town. The ingredients for their food are delivered directly from their places of origin (65% imported and 35% purchased domestically). Their salmon is imported from Norway, scallops from Hokkaido, and tuna arrives at ultra-low temperatures from the north of Asia. Prices don’t exceed MOP $100, with an average cost for a dish between MOP $20–70. There are more shops across town, including Taipa.
Chachako 21–25 Travessa dos Anjos, Macau
Also read: Great Affordable Japanese Restaurants in Macau
Estabelecimento de Comidas San Veng Kei
Estabelecimento de Comidas San Veng Kei is a must-go place for local, traditional, and cheap food. It is a popular restaurant during lunchtime–especially for students and people working in the area. Moreover, they open early in the day, so you can grab breakfast here before exploring Senado Square or heading to work. If you don’t speak nor read Cantonese, communication can be a challenge, but try looking at the table next to you for inspiration and tips. Chicken with rice and garlic vegetables and noodles (with or without soup) are their most sought-after dishes.
Estabelecimento de Comidas San Veng Kei 17A Travessa dos Anjos, Macau, +853 2838 9282
Hot-Star Taiwanese Large Fried Chicken (豪大大雞扒)
Can you imagine eating a piece of fried chicken larger than your face? Well, that’s what Hot-Star is all about. This Taiwanese snack is making waves globally, and we are more than thankful that they’ve landed here in Macau. Large, flattened chicken breasts are deep-fried until golden and seasoned to perfection. The exterior is crispy, while the chicken remains moist and tender. So addictive!
Hot-Star Taiwanese Large Fried Chicken 6 Beco da Palha, Macau, +853 6345 1924, www.hotstar.com.tw
Hing Yi Waffle
Anyone who has lived in Macau long enough knows Hing Yi as “the waffle place.” It stays traditional and authentic, and the quality is consistent. The waffles made before your eyes are perfectly crispy yet warm and fluffy and then drizzled with copious amounts of condensed milk and peanut butter. It’s simply heaven. We also like their fun-to-eat egg waffles and the delicious banana waffle. There are two locations, both close to Senado Square. The very first location of Hing Yi Waffle still stands today. It remains a popular stall at Patio das Flores Alley, while the other site is at Centro Comercial Teatro Capitol, once a cinema complex. The Capitol stand is now closed until the building renovations finish.
Hing Yi Waffle Stall Patio das Flores Alley
G/F, Centro Comercial Teatro Capitol, Rua de Pedro Nolasco da Silva, Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro, Macau
Also read: Best Dessert Places in Macau
Also read: A Tour of Traditional Chinese Pastries in Macau
This article was originally written by Nisa Reyta in July 2017 and updated by Leonor Sá Machado in March 2019.
