Portuguese Food Guide

(Last updated: May 24, 2026)

Portuguese restaurants in Macau tend to be a cut above for a very simple reason.  Many of the chefs who run them are Portuguese and were trained in Portugal, before crossing the ocean to set up restaurants here.  In fact, the majority of Macau’s most well known restaurants are Portuguese joints that have been open for 20 or 30 years, a true testament to their consistency, quality and class.  They’re often very good value too, far more economical than the gouging that typically goes on when sampling International fare in the big name casino hotels.

Menus in Portuguese restaurants tend to be about 40% meat and 40% seafood.  Cod is a signature dish and is prepared in a multitude of ways, while octopus, sardines, squid, lobster, shrimp and prawns are also heavily featured.  Paella, or seafood rice, is another popular option, with some restaurants serving it more in a soupy form.  If you’re more of a meat lover, pork, beef, chicken and lamb are all standard offerings that are easy to find everywhere.

Without further ado, here are some of my favourite Portuguese dishes in Macau.

1. Caldo Verde @ Fernando ($60)

The most classic of all Portuguese soups, Caldo Verde (vegetable soup) is a staple offering in every Portuguese restaurant in town.  Extremely simple, it’s made with potatoes, onions and kale, and sometimes topped off by a slice of smoked pork sausage.

A good Caldo Verde soup needs to be thick and hearty, which is why I like the bowl at Fernando’s so much.  They do it right, unlike so many other joints in town that serve something that’s as thin as water, with no substance or soul.

2. Codfish Cakes @ Dom Galo ($60)

Another classic Portuguese appetizer, cod fish cakes are a tasty snack to start meals with, often prepared with potatoes, bread crumbs and parsley.

I’m a big fan of the ones at Dom Galo because they’re crispy, smooth, and actually quite heavy on the cod, which you don’t always get.  In many places they’re closer to potato cakes instead, completely cheap and inappropriate.

3. Pata Negra ($128) at Military Club

Pata Negra is one of Spain and Portugal’s great luxury ingredients, made from specially raised Iberian black pigs and aged for years until the fat practically melts into the meat itself.  The 24-month version at Military Club is absolutely superb, beautifully marbled with the kind of texture that almost dissolves once it hits your tongue.

At just $128, it’s also one of the great bargains in Macau dining.

4. Steamed Sea Bass with Clams ($218) at Military Club

The Military Club’s menu is a mishmash of Michelin-starred chefs’ signature dishes, and my current favourite is Chef Vítor Matos’ Steamed Sea Bass with Clams.

Putting aside the beautifully handled fish, it’s the clam rice that steals the show. Bright with lemon, deeply savoury, and infused with the essence of the sea, it’s the best rice I’ve had anywhere in Macau. With the menu set to change soon, let’s hope this one survives into spring.

5. Grilled Codfish ($228) at O Santos 

Bacalhau is one of Portuguese cuisine’s defining ingredients, but it’s also a dish Macau restaurants constantly mess up. Too salty, too oily, too heavy. O Santos avoids all of that. 

The cod remains soft and fresh tasting throughout, while the potatoes, bread, garlic, and olive oil support the fish instead of smothering it. Simple food done properly.

6. Octopus Salad ($240) at Antonio

Octopus Salad rarely sounds exciting on paper, but António’s version completely shattered my expectations. The octopus is absurdly fresh, backed by a beautifully balanced dressing combining olive oil, acidity, herbs, and just a touch of sweetness. 

Most importantly, they show restraint with the onions, allowing the seafood itself to stay front and centre. One of the freshest tasting dishes I’ve had anywhere in Macau.

7. Mirandesa Steak @ Fado ($260)

Steak prices in Macau can be oppressive, but this rib eye at Fado is great value for money, costing only $260.  Much closer in texture to braised beef that’s been slow cooked for hours, the meat is extremely soft and tender, covered in a mouthwatering olive oil and garlic sauce.

Free range Mirandesa cows are renowned for providing the best cut of beef in Portugal, so just count yourself lucky that it’s also available in Macau too.

8. Suckling Pig @ Antonio ($318)

The Portuguese have a love affair with pork that’s well known and suckling pig is one of their few traditional pork dishes that’s readily available all over town.  The key is the texture and how well the (hopefully) crispy skin makes sweet beautiful music with the soft tender meat.  If that’s done right, then everything just flows and the full flavour of the slightly smoky pig just comes right through.

António makes a great Suckling Pig. Shatteringly crisp skin, succulent meat underneath, and deep pork flavour throughout. One of Macau’s great Portuguese dishes.

9. Seafood Rice @ Dom Galo ($568)

Portuguese Seafood Rice differs quite a bit from the drier Spanish paellas many people are familiar with. Instead of crisp rice, the Portuguese approach leans heavily into the liquid itself, creating something closer to a deeply seafood-infused stew. 

Dom Galo’s version is enormous, overflowing with shellfish and bold ocean flavour in every direction. Elegant? Not really. But when a dish tastes this good, elegance becomes completely irrelevant.

10. Serradura @ Litoral ($38)

For desserts, be sure to try serradura, which literally translates as “sawdust”, and is generally made with whipped cream, condensed milk and crushed biscuits.  Sometimes it has a harder consistency similar to ice cream, while other times, it’s softer and creamier, more akin to a pudding.

Castico had made the best serradura in town for a number of years before falling off the rails sometime in late 2017.  That means the title has reverted back to Litoral by default, very welcome news considering it’s the superior restaurant by far and the White House of Macanese cuisine.

Portuguese Restaurant Recommendations

Truth be told, the Portuguese food in Macau isn’t as good as it is in Portugal, but that’s quite a big ask. It’s still pretty awesome nonetheless, with these 5 restaurants a cut above the rest.

A Petisqueira

Remarkably consistent, A Petisqueira might be the most popular restaurant on this list, with reservations essential every day of the week.

Location: Rua de S. Joao, no. 15, Taipa Village
Phone number: (853) 2882 5354
Price: $400/person

Dom Galo

Straight out of Iberia with love, this fun colourful restaurant never disappoints.  And with a menu as big as a phone book (remember those?), you’re bound to find something you like at Dom Galo.

Location: 32 Avenida Sir Anders Ljungstedt
Phone number: (853) 2875 1383
Price: $300/person

Solmar

Anyone interested in trying Macau’s oldest Portuguese restaurant?  Yes, I thought that would get your attention!  Solmar has stood the test of time for a reason, serving food that’s consistent, delicious, and relatively cheap.

Location: Avenida da Praia Grande 512
Phone number: (853) 2888 1881
Price: $300/person

Fernando

For years, I completely underrated Fernando. I was wrong. 

Now that I know exactly what they do well, it’s impossible not to list Fernando among Macau’s essential restaurants.

Location: Hac Sa Beach, Coloane
Phone number: (853) 2888 2264
Price: $500/person

O Santos

O Santos has never had the fame of places like Fernando or António, but recent visits suggest that gap is shrinking quickly.

Friendly, relaxed, and increasingly excellent when it comes to seafood and lamb, it’s become one of the easiest Portuguese restaurants in Macau to recommend in 2026.

Location: Rua do Cunha No 20
Phone number: (853) 2882 5594
Price: $400/person

Keep reading to learn all about Cantonese Food in Macau!