Macao has a cuisine that is unique, courtesy the coming together of Portuguese and Chinese as well as Indian and Malay influences that take you on a delightful culinary journey that you are likely to cherish for long. 

Portugal Calling
Having been a Portuguese colony there is a large influence of the culture on the food. There are some excellent restaurants close to A-Ma Temple and in the city centre where you can try the same. Caldo Verde — a green vegetable soup, and Ameijoas (clams) with Chourico (Portuguese sausage) and olives deserves special mention. Most Portuguese restaurants also serve the favourite codfish — Bacalhau that can be made in many ways. Do try the special wines to wash down the food as well as the traditional desserts like Serradura, a sawdust pudding and Doce de Ovos, a homemade egg candy. Macao’s version of the Portuguese egg tart or Pastel de Nata is a must try as well.
  
Macao also has a selection of coffee shops where you can sample Portuguese, Italian and American styles of coffee and organic variants. In fact, you can also have the blends ground fresh and take home possibly one of the best food souvenirs. Rua Pedro Jose Lobo in the city centre, Rua de Nagasaki and the area around Tracessa de S, Domingos are some of the best places where you can try the superior blends and tuck in some delicious pastries too.

Cantonese Cues
Traditional Cantonese fare is a must try too and the areas of Rua do Almirante Sergio and Rua das Lorchas along the Inner Harbour serve fresh morning catch prepared in traditional style. The best part is that most of the restaurants here have both indoor and alfresco dining spaces. During the winters, a must try is the Ta Pin Nou, a fondue with many kinds of seafood, meat and vegetables that are boiled in a dish on the table.
 
Traditional Cantonese fare is best sampled in the NAPE area and city centre. If you love fresh seafood, many restaurants actually display them live in water tanks that are cooked after you place an order. When you are here do try the variety of dim sums that come with all kinds of fillings like shrimp, pork, chicken and mushroom and try the varieties of teas available. A word of caution though, the minute you drink your tea, it is filled again so make sure that you sip it slowly. 

Traditional Tales
When in Macao it is a must to visit some of the iconic eateries to sample the local food. Tai Lei Loi Kei, for instance, is the place where the Pork Chop Bun was first made and dates back to 1968. They use their own secret ingredients to make these delectable buns and you can also hop into the kitchen to see how the dish is made. 
Long Wa Tea House is a vintage restaurant that serves Chinese-style dim sum and teas and has a large collection of antique tea pots and dates back to 50 years. Established in Macao over 30 years ago, Wa Sang Hong is a Chinese herbal specialist known for its Turtle Jelly, Herbal Tea and Double-Boiled Soup. The small space is well known for the Turtle Jelly that is a hit with patrons. Just a word of caution — each portion is huge so you can share it with a group of 4-5 people easily. 
And the best place to taste the Egg Tart is at the Lord Stow’s Bakery, located on Coloane Island. Started in 1989 this place is known to be the origin of the famous egg tart and even today has crowds thronging the place. For a unique dessert, head to Yu Kei Dragon Beard Candy store to sample the delicious Dragon Beard Candy made with crushed peanuts, sesame seeds and crunched coconut and is light and fluffy. 
Macao’s cuisine is a world of discovery and a visit is sure to unlock many of those secrets.