The Shrekfast Experience in Macau! Getting to Know the Dreamworks Gang Over Buffet Breakfast!

One of the most sought-after items in the menu is Po's anko-filled steamed buns. Po is the main protagonist from the Kung Fu Panda film series produced by Dreamworks.

Macau, the Las Vegas of the East, is China's Special Administrative Region that is best known for its towering skyscrapers, luxurious hotels and state-of-the-art casinos. Truly, it is a playground tailored for adults with time on their hands and money to burn. However, at the Holiday Inn along the Cotai strip, one of the country's family-friendly resorts, there's an attraction that is all smiles and good vibes-- for people of all ages, children and adults alike.

Panoramic shot of God of Fortune.

To the 4th floor we go for Shrekfast! Whether you have an advanced reservation or not, you need to present yourselves to the receptionists. 

The beauty of having a pre-booking is that they'd give you the best seats in the house. One of the ushers led us to our table which is at the very front and directly beside the stage on the right. When I mentioned while pre-booking that we have a two-year old princess with us, we arrived to a table set with two different types of high chairs, both with a Madagascar-theme plate set. We appreciated this sentiment and thought the staff were very thoughful!

There are three ways to secure a reservation: the first is when you're staying at a Sands property (i.e. The Venetian, Holiday Inn, Sheraton, etc.) and you've stated an intent to avail of Shrekfast. These hotels will be happy to arrange them for you. The second way is by e-mailing them. They would send you via e-mail a copy of the Credit Card Authentication form wherein you'll be required to send them the details of your credit card and a copy of the front and back of the card including the security code. I've blatantly refused this method because of the dangers of credit card fraud that might happen. The third is by e-mailing or calling them directly to secure a slot which needs to be paid for with cash/credit card directly at the Dreamworks Shrekfast booth located beside the God of Fortune. This needs to be done at least three days before your given date. This is the method that I used as it seemed the safest for me.

The interior decoration and those amazing artworks that hung on the walls! Very impressive! 

The dim sum station is right underneath the gorgeous portrait of Po and the Furious Five.

Next: the food. My parents and my brother commend the food for being delicious without any strong hints of herbs and spices. But for me, the star of the banquet are the Mini Egg-tarts (Portuguese Egg Tarts) from Far, Far Away! These were even better than the tarts they sell in famous booths and shops in Senado Square or in Macau's airport, or even the ones I had in Canada!

Piping hot, with a crispy and crunchy pastry base that tastes like buttered cookies, and a filling that's not too sweet it's basically TO DIE FOR!

Salad, cheese, and cold cuts station.

The card says "Fried Rice with Shrimp and Assorted Vegetables".

Vegetable spring rolls, vegetable samosas, Naan, and vegetable curry.

I think this is for pancake-flipping.

Mmmmm, buttermilk pancakes and waffles!

Wow, real-life dragon eggs from Berk!

Egg station.

My little princess peels off the paper from her Po-shaped red bean steamed buns.

Mmmmmm, ham!

Fried potatoes, cherry tomatoes, sauteed mushrooms and uttered vegetables with lotus root.

Lastly, the performances. They were very entertaining. Kids and adults (ahem, myself included) alike were squealing with delight when their favorite characters took the stage. Personally, I was excited by all the performances especially when the cast of Madagascar and How to Train Your Dragon's Toothless and Astrid danced to the music. After their performances, the characters go from one table to the other for a meet-and-greet and a quick photo stint. Depending on the number of guests, however, some characters will stay on stage while the guests are encouraged to queue up for the meet-and-greet for the sake of finishing the program on time. Seriously, though, you should line up because it'll be worth it to have your photo taken with Po, Tigress, Toothless and Astrid-- the opportunity doesn't come by as conveniently as this!

Shrek and Puss in Boots.

Po and Tigress.

King Julien for the win!

Our friends from Madagascar: King Julien, Skipper, Private, and Alex the Lion.

Toothless and Astrid with the twin Vikings.

After all the food have been eaten and all the pictures have been taken and all the hands (and paws) have been shaken, it was finally time to leave. I asked my dad and mom what they thought of the whole experience, and they testified that it was the best buffet in Macau they have ever been to so far. They said that the food was amazing because, as I've previously stated, there were no strong hints of herbs and spices typical of Chinese cooking. Even as adults, they still testify that the performances and character quips were very delightful! Up until now, they still think that Shrekfast was the most enjoyable thing they did on our to-do list. I knew I shouldn't expect a coherent answer from my two-year old, so I asked my twelve-year old Dreamworks-loving brother what he thought of the whole thing. His eyes sparkled as he excitedly said, "I want to do it again!"

Far Far Away shoppe.

Before heading out, be sure to stop by the merchandise shop to grab your souvenir photos (MOP 138 each). We bought a Kowalski plush doll (MOP 128) along with our photos, too! 

Truly, Shrekfast is not something to be missed when in Macau-- whether you are a kid or one at heart. I highly recommend it!

**Shrekfast is held at the 4th floor URUMQI Ballroom in Holiday Inn, Sands Cotai Central along the Cotai Strip in Macau.

**Ticket prices as of the time of writing: Adults: MOP 238; Children (4-12 years of age): MOP 138; Children (below 4 years of age): free; Family package (this is the one we availed; it's good for three adults and one child): MOP 688. Please note that these prices do not include 10% tax.