Unlike our SAR neighbour Macau, Hong Kong does not claim any historical ties to Portugal, yet Portuguese and Macanese cuisines, with the latter fusing traditional Portuguese recipes with local Chinese culinary traditions, remain popular in Hong Kong.
Check out Foodie’s list of the top Portuguese and Macanese restaurants in the city, when you’re searching for a taste of the vibrant, flavourful dishes of this southern European nation and its former territory of Macau.
Note that there is a Portuguese private club in Hong Kong, Club Lusitano in Central, that is not mentioned on this list; although it boasts a fine range of bona fide Portuguese dining options, they can only be booked by members, who must be of Portuguese heritage.
The best Portuguese & Macanese restaurants in Hong Kong
1. Casa Lisboa
Casa Lisboa is the grandaddy of Portuguese restaurants in Hong Kong, founded back in 2009. Remaining as warm and welcoming as a family kitchen in Portugal, a visit to Casa Lisboa is destined for orders of the clams “bulhão pato” (HKD168) swimming in a delicious broth flavoured heavily with garlic, butter, lemon, and white wine, duck rice (HKD290), slow-roasted suckling pig (HKD390), and serradura (HKD80), otherwise known as “sawdust pudding,” for dessert. To complete this authentic Portuguese fare, the restaurant offers a noteworthy range of Portuguese wine, port, and Madeira.
Casa Lisboa, 2/F, Parekh House, 63 Wyndham Street, Central, 2905 1168, book here
2. Mike’s Chicken Comida de Portugal
Mike’s Chicken is a casual Portuguese bistro in Tsim Sha Tsui that’s also been popular for yonks, owned by Portuguese native chef Michael Franco. Chef Michael has quite the pedigree; it’s said that his grandmother is a descendant of Portugal’s first queen, whilst his grandfather is related to the first president of Portugal! The peri-peri chicken (HKD168) is a must-order here, with the bird’s-eye chilli in question imported from Africa, as are the bolinhos de bacalhau (HKD48/2pcs) salted cod fritters and braised oxtail in port wine (HKD218) – a cherished family recipe.
Mike’s Chicken Comida de Portugal, Shop D, G/F, Sovereign Mansion, 15–17 Pine Tree Hill Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2392 3328
3. Flaming Frango
At Flaming Frango, flame-grilled peri-peri chicken, marinated for 24 hours in a blend of piquant house spices, has been the order of the day for the past decade. The peri-peri chicken is priced from HKD88 on its own or from HKD138 with two sides and comes in three spice levels: mild, spicy, and flaming spicy (this last one packs a real punch). We also rate the finger-licking-good peri-peri chicken wings (HKD78/HKD148) and peri prawns with lime and mint (HKD148).
Flaming Frango, G/F, 55 Elgin Street, Soho, Central, 2556 7555, book here
4. Macau Portugal Milk Restaurant
A no-frills cha chaan teng in Sham Shui Po, Macau Portugal Milk Restaurant is where to head for tasty, filling, and inexpensive Macanese eats. Order the Macau pork chop bun (HKD39) followed by a double dessert of Portuguese egg tart (HKD12) and hot or cold double-skin milk pudding (HKD28) and thank us later.
Macau Portugal Milk Restaurant, G/F, 278 Yu Chau Street, Sham Shui Po, 3568 1230
5. Macau Tsui Yuen Restaurant
Nestled amongst the chaos of the Mong Kok Cooked Food Market is Macau Tsui Yuen Restaurant, most well known for its Portuguese curry farmer’s buns. These are oversized crispy buns filled with rich Macanese-style curry sauce and a choice of fillings. The Macau curry brisket bun (HKD68) is the winner for us in terms of the comfort-food factor. Macau Tsui Yuen opens bright and early daily at 7AM for a true breakfast of champions!
Macau Tsui Yuen Restaurant, Shop 8, 2/F, Mong Kok Cooked Food Market, Mong Kok Complex, 557 Shanghai Street, Mong Kok, 3514 4348
6. Macau Restaurant
Macau Restaurant is another recommended spot serving up quality Macanese dishes at prices that won’t break the bank. This cheap and cheerful eatery in Tsim Sha Tsui serves up a Macau pork chop bun (HKD34) made with delightfully crispy bread, savoury, salty Portuguese-style fried rice with shrimp (HKD79), and a Portuguese egg tart (HKD13) that’s as legit as it gets in Hong Kong.
Macau Restaurant, B/F, Tsim Sha Tsui Mansion, 40–46 Lock Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2628 1990
7. Casa do Vasco
A guide to Portuguese dining in Hong Kong is not complete without a mention of Casa do Vasco. We’re enamoured by the warm hospitality of the owner and the restaurant’s comfortable, charming ambience. The Portuguese kale soup (HKD68), duck rice (HKD228/HKD398/HKD598), sardine spaghetti (HKD198), and secret homemade peri-peri chicken (HKD285/HKD360) are our recommendations for classic Portuguese flavours at their finest. Although Casa do Vasco is technically a private kitchen, it does accept public bookings if there’s availability.
Caso do Vasco, 1/F, 23 New Street, Sheung Wan, WhatsApp 9167 7571, book here
