I often get asked how and why Asians can eat such heavy breakfasts – the sort of food usually meant for lunch and dinner – to start the day, while most around the world eat cereal, eggs or toast and the like; half the calories and grease.
Noodles, congee and glutinous rice snacks have always been a staple breakfast on this side of the world, for the simple reason that they are made fresh daily and are readily available. Macau is a goldmine for a variety of delicious simple noodles that everyone can tuck into.
Macau’s Cha Chaan Tengs (local diners) have menus that offer variations of handmade pulled noodles, and the local favourite of instant noodles topped with beef tripe, pork cutlets or spam, and a fried egg. And the best way to start the day is with a bowl of piping hot noodles alongside a cup of hot milk tea – the pièce de resistance of Cha Chaan Tengs.
Pui Kei (沛记) in Kunya Gai, in Taipa, is a discreet little eatery famous for their egg noodles topped with chicken or deep fried pork cutlet (a delicious rendition of pork Schnitzel), and local confectionary Chinese cupcakes filled with walnuts and raisins.
Kum Lei (金利) is a charming old school diner that looks like a staff canteen from the 1970s, with plastic blue chairs and old Chinese calendars on the wall. The aged menu is written with care on dog-eared paper plastered all over the wall in traditional Chinese calligraphy characters. The fishball curry vermicelli and pork noodles are a hit here with the locals. Ask for a side of their fiery dried chilli paste concoction if you’re a spice lover. Everyone shares tables here and you’ll often find yourself dining with locals and many older folks who seem to like dining here alone.
Homemade silky tofu is another popular dish in Macau and at some Cha Chaan Tengs it is one of their signature dishes. Ving Kei serves tofu with their egg noodles in a rich pork rib broth, as well as a soya bean curd drink and dessert – all made fresh daily. This is definitely a healthier version of the typical spam and egg instant noodles breakfast. Other local favourites include egg and spam sandwiches, a staple breakfast for most Hong Kong and Macau locals.
Pui Kei Cafe: 25 Rua da Cunha, Taipa, Macau ('Kunya gai' in Cantonese)
Kum Lei: Kam Lei Taipa (near the round about of the Jockey Club around the corner from ICBC bank) | Tel: 28841029.
Ving Kei: 47 Rua de tercena | Tel: +853 2892 1152
