Hello Kitty Obrigado Macau gives local delicacies a feline twist
If pork jerky cut into the shape of the Japanese cartoon cat is your thing, or macarons with Hello Kitty posing amid Macau scenes, here's where to go
Although Hello Kitty has been around since 1974, the cartoon character is the muse for all types of trends throughout the world. Hello Kitty Obrigado Macau officially opened in May, after a six-month soft-opening period.
This kiosk serves mini Hokkaido milk egg tarts (10 patacas per tart, 56 for six tarts, 108 for 12), with a smooth egg custard filling with a rich texture, a perfectly burnt top crust and crisp pastry.
There are treats such as pork jerky in the shape of Hello Kitty (48 patacas), almond cookies for 98 patacas a box and assorted large butter cookies (10 patacas each). The butter cookies come in strawberry and green tea and are baked fresh daily. They are crumbly and delicious.
There are 13 flavours of macarons, from cashew nut to pistachio, which cost 28 patacas each — not much less than what you would pay for Pierre Hérme or Ladurée, and not entirely worth the calories. Each macaron is decorated with a print of Hello Kitty posing next to Macau's Unesco heritage sites and motifs, including St Paul's ruins and A-Ma Temple.
Last year saw the 40th anniversary of Hello Kitty and the theme of the celebration was "Arigato", so the Hong Kong-based owners decided to use the Portuguese for "thank you" for Hello Kitty Obrigado.
Long queues snake down the little alley, and there is a small standing counter where you can gobble down your egg tart. You can also sit on the marble benches just outside the store. Hello Kitty plush toys dressed in traditional Portuguese costumes and other collectibles are not directly for sale, but can be redeemed with purchases.
Their signature drinks run the gamut from cappuccino to rose latte, and there are Chinese variations of fruit teas including longan tea and pomelo ginger tea. We washed down our snacks with an ice-cold strawberry guava soda — a real thirst quencher.
