Macao is a popular travel destination for several reasons—the main allure being the massive casino scene, but where we are concerned, we are more drawn to the acclaimed Portuguese egg tart and pork chop buns. Little do most people know that this former Portuguese authority is actually a paradise for foodies with so much more in store than just egg tarts.

Each November, Macao plays hosts to an annual food festival that collaborates with hundreds of local food merchants. Better yet, international restaurateurs are also invited to this prestigious event, presenting authentic flavours from back home.

The Macao Food Festival is a popular event that gives local residents and tourists alike the opportunity to savour a vast variety of local and foreign delicacies in a lively, carnival-like environment. Spanning over two weeks from 10 November to 26 November 2017, it is time to do away with those diet plans (temporarily of course) and let the feasting begin!

The Macao Food Festival is one of the biggest annual events held in the territory. Located over five zones at the massive Praça do Lago Sai Van (Sai Van Lake Square) near the Macao Tower, this food festival is not something that can be fully explored in one day.

Making your way down to the Macao Food Festival 2017 is a breeze. You can choose to get there either via a taxi or the free shuttle buses that depart from three separate locations—Luso Bank Main Branch, OCBC Wing Hang Bank (Hak Sa Van Branch) and opposite Taipa Altira Macao.

Michelin stars and the city’s unique Macanese cuisine have finally put Macao on the culinary map. While the 17^th Macao Food Festival is just one of the many monumental events to take place this year, the collection of food on display is bigger than ever.

The festival will be segregated into “streets”, each dedicated to a particular cuisine, making it much easier for you to pick and choose the food that you would like to try. You can expect to find a few notable local bakeries setting up shops there to promote their products too.

And if you are indeed planning to buy traditional cookies and snacks in Macao back home as souvenirs, you will be delighted to know that there are many that are worth getting them at the festival itself. The goodies are sold at promotional prices which beats paying more for the same quantity of goods.

The event is great for kids and adults alike as you can expect street food stalls and traditional funfair rides. Let your little ones indulge in some sweet treats from Malaysia such as the Potong ice cream that comes in an assortment of flavours. This cool creamy dessert really takes the edge off the heaty foods.

The food festival is enlivened by a series of live performances—from live bands to dance performances. Nothing gets better than munching on your favourite snack, sipping on a cold beer and having good music to keep you entertained.

It is also important to note that cash is no good here. You would, instead, have to purchase food vouchers in order to buy food, which is available at the numerous booths scattered all over the event space.

The Macanese seem to enjoy eating lobsters a lot given that there are several stalls selling cooked lobsters at the event. The grilled garlic lobsters are a must-try, but despite having long queues for them, we dare say that if you are a lobster lover like us, you should be more than willing to wait for it.

Savouring the beautiful combination of fragrant garlic and sweet lobster, surrounded by the subtle smoky charred flavour is really a remarkable experience.

Seafood lovers will feel like in heaven at the Japanese Village, as many stalls offer sushi, sashimi, various grilled seafood ranging from squid, scallops and even pan-fried crab legs. Wagyu is also a popular item here, served in the form of burgers and teppanyaki.

With the cool evening breeze accompanied by an ice cold beer, nothing pairs better than some form of grilled meat—which is why we would recommend stopping by for some of the many barbecue offerings above all else. Think hearty meat skewers and grilled chicken wings fresh off a blazing charcoal grill.

Plan your Macao food adventure with Dynasty Travel by filling up the enquiry form at https://goo.gl/3AwM2Z, and receive MOP 200 food vouchers to be spent at the festival when you confirm your booking with them! Whether you are a true-blue foodie or not, you are bound to leave with something memorable—which we hope for your sake is not a couple more pounds to your waistline.

17th Macao Food Festival
Sal Van Lake Square
10 November to 26 November 2017
Mon to Thu: 5pm – 11pm
Fri to Sun: 3pm – 12am

All photos are credited to MGTO.

This post is brought to you by Dynasty Travel.

Macau, also known as the Monte Carlo of The Orient, is a renown gaming destination in Asia. With its economy based largely on tourism and gaming dollars, Macau is home to more than 30 casinos, and even more integrated resorts (IRs) and hotels – including many big names like Las Vegas Sands, Galaxy, Wynn and Sheraton.

You need not be a Blackjack fan to like the bustling city. Just a tour around the big IRs and there will surely be something to attract you – daily performances, shopping belts, popular restaurants and whatnot.

My favorite has got to be The Venetian, by the Las Vegas Sands group. Modeled after the Italian city, the interior is that of blue skies (ceilings), complete with canals and gondola rides, an array of shops and restaurants of different sorts to cater to every kind of taste buds. And oh, do not forget to queue up for Macau’s most popular Lord Stow Bakery Egg Tarts – agreed by majority that they bake the best ones.

Another lush IR is Wynn, one of the oldest yet ever popular among locals and tourists alike. Its signature nightly Performance Lake and luxury shopping attract huge crowds on a daily basis.

For the sophisticated lot, do not miss a trip to Galaxy, one of the newest and biggest IR in Macau. Set to treat every patron like a royalty, Galaxy is a full-fledged IR with a huge casino, various room categories, a prestigious spa house, outdoor waterwave pool and sun-tan areas, and a whole directory of restaurants. Do a dimsum feast over at Laurel’s and treat yourself to an exotic Northern Indian cuisine at Spice Garden.

The best part about Macao is that you will never go bored and hungry at ungodly hours. Hungry at 2am? Sure, there are so many 24hrs eateries everywhere. Can’t sleep at 5am? Take a walk outside and be dazzled by the iconic neon lights and highways of the city that never sleeps.

And in case you are wondering about getting around, you will be glad to know that most of the hotels and IRs provide free shuttle bus service to and fro the common ferry terminal, and selectively from hotels to hotels. Just be sure to check the timings as not all of them operate 24hrs.

Words and photographs by Melody Yap and ladyironchef