Soak up the beer

This article first appeared in the Jan/Feb 2012 issue of World Gaming magazine.

The Panda is always open to trying a wide variety of different foods and it doesn’t always have to be served on a silver platter. Sometimes, simple fare wins out over the more complex, especially after a few beers.

Recently one sunny afternoon I got a phone call from The Stallion who was keen to hit downtown Macau for a few beers. A bear can’t live on food alone so who was I to object? A few beers turned into a few more until suddenly we’d hit dinner time.

The Stallion is an expert when it comes to having a good time but when it comes to sniffing out food options my suggestions are highly trusted. I don’t want anything fancy when I have been drinking. Usually I just want some noodles, pizza or maybe a kebab. But I have recently stumbled onto the perfect little place to quench one’s hunger when carrying a belly full of beer.

Sanshiro is situated two blocks away from the MGM casino on Avenida Dr. Sun Yat Sen. It is directly opposite the waterfront that separates Macau and Taipa and sits in the middle of a row of bars and restaurants that include the famous MP3 bar. Sanshiro open their doors at 6pm and they have an excellent 2-for-1 happy hour all the way through to 9pm. This is as good a reason as any to put this little bar on the map for any big night. There is no need to book just make your way down there as they are open every night.

This is an Asian bar with a Western twist. There is an impressive array of judo memorabilia on display from back in the day when the owner was quite interested in throwing people over his shoulder. Hanging on one of the walls is a buffalo or cattle skull complete with horns reminiscent of a seedy American hillbilly bar. The only thing missing is the flashing neon Budweiser sign. There is always music playing unless there is live sport, which takes priority on the many TV screens. This is not a high class joint but it is friendly and warm and you aren’t there for cocktails and caviar.

Mary, the bar manager, has been around Macau for well over 10 years and originally hails from the Philippines. She is friendly, fast and always good for a chat. She is the boss when it comes to food and drink and her staff make sure you are well looked after. The first thing you can expect in the way of food is a bowl of roasted peanuts. Admittedly, peanuts are not the most exciting fare but Mary’s secret peanuts (that she roasts herself) will have you moving back to the bar, bowl in hand, like Oliver Twist. She won’t tell me how she does it but this is a secret peanut recipe worth protecting.

Resistance is hard but I try not to fill up on nuts as I am always looking for something else to eat. With my keen eye for menu reading I am usually very meticulous in working my way through every option. At Sanshiro the menu is limited and I always know exactly what I want; fried chicken wings and roasted pork skewers. They are brought out to your table piping hot but there are three key ingredients to add. A squeeze of lemon, plenty of salt and a heavy drizzling of Tabasco sauce. Then and only then, will you have all the ingredients for a perfect beerdrinking snack.

The cooking oil is always fresh which is very important for a good fry-up. It takes a while for the pork to come out but it’s worth the wait. There are also noodles and other simple fare that I am told do equal justice to “the beer-fuelled feast” genre.

This is not the place to go for a romantic dinner. What Sanshiro do, they do well and in my book that deserves credit. The snack style menu is high on grease and flavor and it is expertly designed to keep the drinks flowing until the early hours of the morning.