A Lorcha: Must-Try Portuguese Restaurant in Macau – Book in Advance!

A Lorcha: One of Macau’s Must-Try Portuguese Restaurants – Reservations Highly Recommended!

This restaurant is one of the must-try Portuguese eateries in Macau. It’s best to make a reservation in advance rather than walking in, as chances are you might not get a table otherwise. On the day we visited, the lunch slots were fully booked, leaving no room for walk-ins except for takeout or waiting for a table, which the staff couldn’t guarantee. The main reason is the restaurant’s limited space, with only a small number of seats available. Moreover, there’s no time limit for dining, making it a perfect spot for friends to gather and chat. By lunchtime, many guests were already enjoying glasses of Portuguese wine—it’s definitely a place to savor a drink!

The storefront is unassuming, and the interior is small, but it has a charming Western ambiance. The tables are closely packed, making the space slightly cramped, so the staff must navigate carefully when serving dishes to avoid bumping into anything.

The freshly baked bread with butter was soft and delicious—such a shame we couldn’t have more!

The Portuguese-style fried codfish balls are a great choice as a snack or pairing with wine, offering a heavier seasoning profile.

The Portuguese seafood rice is a must-try—it’s tasty and full of fresh flavors absorbed into the rice!

As for the codfish dish, you must pair it with the accompanying potatoes and salad. Otherwise, it’s too salty to enjoy on its own.

The curry crab was aromatic and flavorful, though I found the sauce more impressive than the crab itself. Cracking the crab is a hassle, but the sauce pairs perfectly with noodles or rice. We opted not to order dishes like Portuguese chicken or garlic clams this time since we had them at another Portuguese restaurant the day before. Instead, each of us chose one dish we wanted to try, with recommendations from the staff.

The staff was attentive and helpful in confirming portion sizes, ensuring that we had enough to share without over-ordering. They were friendly, polite, and even offered to take photos for us. Overall, it was a pleasant dining experience.

Admittedly, the prices here are slightly higher, but the food and service make it worth it. The fact that my parents would want to revisit this restaurant during their next trip to Macau is quite an endorsement, as they usually prefer to try new places unless they really like one.