We’re all surprised, at least once, when trying food from home in foreign places. Macau is no exception. While some restaurants serve authentic Thai, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Portuguese or American food, it can be difficult to feel the taste of home so far away. As a Portuguese addicted to Portuguese food, here are five places with can’t-miss dishes. But first, there are three important tips to never forget:
- Ketchup is not a Portuguese thing and never will be, so try to get away from steaks, fish or a rice dish filled with ketchup or canned tomato sauce. That is not a Portuguese thing.
- No, fish does not go with rice in Portuguese cuisine. Excluding fish and seafood rice, there is no other sea dish which goes better with rice than with boiled, baked or roasted potatoes.
- Portuguese food is highly seasoned, so expect tasty dishes full of salt and herbs such as coriander, parsley and bay leaves.
Now that you aware of what I call “the principles of Portuguese food”, let’s start with what really matters: where can one eat real Portuguese food?
A Baía
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Everything is good in this place, owned by an Algarve-born man. If you are just looking to try something truly Portuguese, feel free to roam the menu and choose whatever you feel like. However, if you want to try a typical Algarve dish, go for the Cataplana—this is a copper cookware item used to cook several kinds of food, mainly seafood. You have an array of choices, but the seafood options will never let you down. Baía’s chocolate mousse is the best farewell you will ever have, even better when accompanied by a hot espresso.
A Baía GF Wan Yu Villas Building, 88 Rua de Londres, NAPE, Macau, +853 2875 1465, www.facebook.com/abaiamacau
Fernando’s
There is a quirky large-sized restaurant located in Hac Sa Beach featuring two indoor spaces and an alfresco area. Fernando’s serves all day, from noon to 9:30pm and has the most amazing grilled cuttlefish in Macau. What makes the dish is its sauce, made of olive oil, vinegar, a lot of onion, and some herbs. Naturally, this dish completes itself with a side of boiled potatoes and a fresh mixed salad. Also try the roasted codfish and the grilled chicken. Take note: it is one of the few local restaurants allowed to grill alfresco, so the food is truly tasty. The homemade sangria—white and red—goes well with Fernando’s menu, but there is also a wine list.
Fernando’s 9 Hac Sa Beach, Coloane, +853 2888 2264, www.fernando-restaurant.com
Mariazinha
The name of this restaurant—owned by an Oporto local—translates into the nickname of Maria, a very Portuguese name. Its food is as traditional as its designation and you can bet you will experience real Portuguese food in this one. From their acclaimed Francesinha—an Oporto delicacy made of bread, meats and cheese topped with a special sauce—to the Friday daily special of codfish cakes, Mariazinha has it all. However, there is one dish which never ceases to amaze: instead of some everyday vegetable soup, this restaurant’s cook crafts the most beautiful vegetable crème. Besides nourishing your belly, it also takes care of your heart, bringing you a step closer to home with each spoonful.
Mariazinha Tak Fat Building, 8 Rua do Monte, no. 8, Tak Fat Building, Macau, +853 2835 7558, www.facebook.com/Mariazinha
Miramar
Miramar is located in a secluded part of Hac Sa Beach and its vehicle access is easy to miss. Miramar can be pretty random for the most demanding Portuguese, but there are still some must-have dishes. One of them is fish or seafood pasta. It is brought to the table in a huge covered casserole. Once opened, the aroma of fresh seafood fills the restaurant. This dish must be eaten quickly, otherwise the pasta will become mushy and the sauce will lose some flavors. Miramar is also a good place for barbecue since it also has an outdoor grill.
Miramar Zona Norte Praia de Hác Sá, Coloane
APOMAC
It stands for Associação dos Aposentados, Reformados e Pensionistas de Macau, an association created 16 years ago to represent the retired locals. Besides medical and recreational services, APOMAC also features a canteen, where everybody can go. There are discounts for members, but normal prices are pretty friendly. Try their steak, called “Bife à APOMAC”. This piece of gorgeous and tender meat is served with a secret recipe sauce and potatoes. It really is a peculiar place to eat, since there is a perfect mix of cultures. APOMAC is generally a Macanese association. Therefore, one can have lunch while listening to conversations in both Portuguese and Cantonese. If lucky, even some Patuá. The fish fillet and the feijoada are also worth a try.
APOMAC Avenida de Sidónio Pais, n. 49-B, R/C, China Plaza Building, Macau, +853 2852 4325, www.apomac.net
