Tom Yam Kung
Remember how your mama told you: Eat your soup to grow up healthy and strong? While it might not be the perfect remedy, as our parents said, a hot bowl of soup comes with many health benefits. Moreover, it’s filling, hydrating, warming, and hearty! What’s there not to love? Whether it’s lunch or dinner, a celebration of a casual meal, soup is always a great idea. In the eternal universe of soups and creams, we picked the ones we love most and combined them to make this list of our favorite hearty soups in Macau. Read on to see where to find them.
Tom Yam Kung at Naam Thai Restaurant
(See featured image above)
Thai cuisine has a huge fan base worldwide for its heat, aromatic spices, herbs, and bright colors. Since Bangkok and Phuket are out of reach for a while, Naam at Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau comes to the rescue with its relaxing resort vibes and, most importantly, Thai dishes prepared by Thai chefs. Notably, Naam proudly carries the “Thai Select Restaurant” status given by the Thai government. If that’s not an indication of authenticity, we don’t know what is.
For those who like their soups spicy, Tom Yam Kung should be the soup of choice. This relatively simple recipe has become one of Thailand’s national gastronomy symbols, thanks to its explosive flavor profile. At Naam, they stay true to the traditional recipe that features prawns, tomatoes, and an essential set of galangal, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, lime, and chili. Brace yourself for the level of heat that would make you sweat, totally normal for any Thai diner. When in Rome, do as the Romans do!
Naam Thai Restaurant Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau, 956-1110 Avenida da Amizade, Macau, +853 2856 7888, artyzen.grandlapa.com/naam
Also read: The Best Thai Restaurants in Macau
Seafood soup
Seafood soup at Caffé B
Take a convenient location with a stunning lake view, a Japanese chef with deep Italian cuisine expertise, a casual and welcoming atmosphere, prices that won’t break your budget, and authentic Italian flavors. Blend them all together, and here you have an acclaimed and popular Italian restaurant in Macau, Caffé B. Whatever occasion brings you there, be it an anniversary or hunger, Caffé B’s manager Cris, will always be there to take care of you and make sure your dining experience is memorable.
On the soup section, there is minestrone–an Italian classic, pumpkin soup, and seafood soup. The latter is always our lunch choice when at Caffé B, for its bold flavors and soothing effect. Chef Miki uses shells, fish bones, tomatoes, and garlic to prepare the broth. When it’s ready, seabass, crab, and shrimps go in the pot for a quick cook. Hence, the seafood is not overboiled but juicy and tender.
Caffé B Lake View Mansion Block 1, 744-G-H Avenida Panoramica do Lago Nam Van, Macau, +853 2838 6886, www.facebook.com/Caffe-B
Also read: Cristiano Cannata of Caffé B: How to Turn Challenges into Success
Jerusalem artichoke soup with Giraldo bacalhau and Baikal Baerii caviar
Jerusalem artichoke soup with Giraldo bacalhau and Baikal Baerii caviar at The Manor
When it comes to The St.Regis Macao’s signature restaurant, there is no way to leave the place hungry and disappointed, especially since chef Michele took the lead here. His creative style is based upon the meticulous sourcing of the finest sustainable ingredients worldwide and respecting their unique flavor, not masking or overpowering them with seasoning and spices. An ideal example of such a concept is the exquisite creamed Jerusalem artichoke soup with Giraldo bacalhau and Baikal Baerii caviar.
Despite the name, Jerusalem artichoke is not, in fact, an artichoke, nor does it originate from Jerusalem. It is a root vegetable native to North America with a sweet and nutty flavor that makes a perfect base for a soup. This dish’s star ingredient is the creme de la creme of the cod world, slightly salty and delicate Giraldo bacalhau topped with decadent Baikal caviar from sturgeons indigenous to the world’s deepest lake.
The Manor The St. Regis Macao, The Londoner Macao, Estrada do Istmo, s/n, Cotai, +853 2882 8898, www.stresgismacao.com
Lobster bisque
Lobster bisque at The Ritz-Carlton Café
One of the Ritz’s signature restaurants, The Ritz-Carlton Café, is famous around town for its daily menus and charming design. If you haven’t tried its surf and turf menu, we strongly recommend booking a table for the next Saturday or Sunday when it’s available. Any day of the week, though, Ritz’s a la carte offers brasserie-style dishes paired with French wine.
The soup section only features two options. Let’s say onion soup as a culinary concept is often a subject of gastronomic disputes. However, hardly anyone will reject a bowl of a delectable lobster bisque, arguably the king of seafood soups. The secret is in the broth, the right balance of seasoning, herbs, and spices. Ritz perfected the recipe topping it with airy Pernod foam. The perfectly smooth soup is served in a cup with a lacy slice of crouton on the side. Lobster bisque is also on the degustation menu.
The Ritz-Carlton Cafe The Ritz-Carlton, Macau, Galaxy Macau, Estrada da Baía da Nossa Senhora da Esperança, Cotai, +853 8886 6712, www.ritzcarlton.com
Also read: Best French Restaurants in Macau
Potato and leek soup
Potato and leek soup at Duffy’s Irish Pub
While you can find a cozy local pub on every corner of the UK and Ireland, there is only a handful of them in Macau. The closest to the original pub experience is Duffy’s Irish Pub on Broadway Food Street. To make it an oasis of Irish pub culture, the founders designed the interior in Ireland and shipped it to Macau. Walls decorated with old family photographs, classic brewery theme, vintage Guinness bottles nesting on the shelves, and an Irish bartender offering a refreshing pint and a heartwarming chat, all those elements make Duffy’s the spot to come back to.
Besides the inevitable beers, whiskeys, and shots, Duffy’s also features some Irish specials, from small bites to substantial mains. When the temperature drops or when you feel a bit under the weather, there is nothing better than Duffy’s potato and leek soup. A traditional recipe familiar to all Irish home cooks, it has a creamy texture yet doesn’t contain cream or milk. The veggies are simmered until soft and then blended to get that pleasant smoothness.
Duffy’s Irish Pub Broadway Food Street, Avenida Marginal, Flor de Lotus, Broadway Macau, Cotai, +853 2884 5212, www.galaxymacau.com
Also read: Five Cool Facts About Duffy’s Irish Pub
Caldo verde
Caldo verde at Portugália
A “Portuguese beerhouse”, that’s how Portugalía calls itself. With almost a century-long history, the restaurant opened a Macau branch in 2015, attracting Macau foodies hungry for traditional Portuguese recipes in a relaxing atmosphere. Portugalía’s bestseller is its signature steak with butter sauce and a fried egg. It is also the place to get some of the best caldo verde in town, a comforting soup known to every Portuguese. Cooked with collard greens and potatoes, this soup might not be a candidate for your Instagram photo of the day, but your belly will thank you for the order. A portion of choriço adds a smoky tone, and its fattiness makes the soup even richer. A visit to Macau is not complete without a meal at a Portuguese restaurant so why not try one of the most popular Portuguese soups in Macau, Caldo Verde.
Portugália 5 Rua dos Mercadores, Taipa, +853 6280 3992, www.portugalia.com.mo, www.facebook.com/PortugaliaMacau
Also read: Best Portuguese Restaurants in Taipa Village
Fishermen catch of the day soup
Fishermen catch of the day soup at Antica Trattoria
Sicily, the abundant Southern Italian island boarded by the Mediterranean sea’s warm waters, has always depended on the fishing industry and once even boasted of being the number one fishing region in the area. Thus, fish and seafood historically have been essential elements of local cuisine. One of the iconic Sicilian dishes is fish and seafood soup usually made with whatever catch of the day, local veggies, and herbs. This humble recipe traveled from the South of Italy to South-East Asia to end up on Antica Trattoria menu pages, a family-style Italian restaurant in NAPE run by Bruno Santos and his wife, Roxana.
Antica’s soup is based on monkfish broth. Then the chef adds tomato, pasta, squid, shrimps, scallops, and more monkfish. There is a bit of an Asian twist as coriander is used instead of parsley. Well-seasoned and full of flavors, this soup is delicious and comforting especially when enjoyed with some freshly baked bread.
Antica Trattoria 40-46 Edificio Vista Magnifica Court, Avenida Sir Anders Ljungstedt, Macau, +853 2875 5102, www.facebook.com/anticatrattoriamacau
Also read: Authentically Italian: Antica Trattoria
Pumpkin soup with yogurt and quinoa
Pumpkin soup with yogurt and quinoa at Papa Soup
Tiny and unpretentious, this takeaway shop chain, Papa Soup, offers a bright-colored interior, fast service, and low meal set prices. There is nothing better if you are running errands in the city and don’t have much time to sit and enjoy your long lunch. The variety here is not wide, but just enough to spot something you’d like. On the soup front, there are well-known international options such as Hungarian beef goulash, Unami seafood rice soup, truffle mushroom soup, and garlic minestrone. Don’t expect an extraordinary bouquet of flavors, the food here is simple, some dishes are great, others are basic. But hey, how many spots do you know that do takeaway soups in Macau? We like their pumpkin soup with yogurt, a stomach-pleasing cream-soup where the sweetness of pumpkin is well-balanced with sour yogurt. A portion of quinoa makes it even healthier and adds a crunchy texture too.
Papa Soup Edeficio Mei Pou, 19 Rua Formosa, Macau, +853 6328 2976, www.facebook.com/PAPA-SOUP
