PUBLISHED January 20th, 2020 10:48 am | UPDATED February 6th, 2020 09:59 am
Red lanterns in every corner, lion dance drumbeats in the distance – we’ve officially hit Chinese New Year season. As always, Kuala Lumpur’s restaurants and hotels are busily whipping up our reunion dinner essentials, from luxurious yee sang to premium poon choy. If you’re dining out with the fam this Year of the Rat, these set menus and buffet spreads are sure to have you feasting in style.
Pullman Kuala Lumpur City Centre Hotel & Residences
The city centre’s trendiest hotel is set to paint the town red this Lunar New Year, with a splendid trio of set menus by in-house restaurant Red Chinese Cuisine (from RM2,088+ for 10 pax). Decadent highlights on the menu include the Australian Wagyu Beef and Edible Gold Yee Sang and the Prosperity Abalone Treasure Pot, alongside Cantonese classics like Claypot Waxed Meat Rice and Double-Boiled Fish Maw Soup brimming with dried scallops. You can also put together your own feast with their range of a la carte specials, including Braised Atlantic Cod deliciously infused with truffle oil and Smoked Black Angus Beef Striploin. Alternatively, if a buffet experience piques your fancy, head down to Sedap Restaurant for a scrumptious spread of Asian favourites (from RM120+ per pax).
Red Chinese Cuisine‘s CNY specials are available from 2 January to 8 February 2020, at Pullman Kuala Lumpur City Centre Hotel & Residences, Jalan Conlay, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, p. +603 2170 8888. Sedap Restaurant‘s buffet lineup is available from 13 to 26 January 2020.
ATAS, The RuMa Hotel
Gastronomic adventures await at stylish The RuMa restaurant ATAS, with a Chinese Eight-Course Journey (RM288 nett per pax) that breathes new life into traditional flavours. Forget your bog-standard roast duck – the Ten Day Whiskey Dry Aged Duck Breast packs a deep umami punch, accented with kumquat preserve and prickly ash powder. Feast your way through ‘Typhoon Shelter Style’ Tiger Prawns and Gently Steamed Seabass Fillet laced with barrel-aged black vinegar, before finishing off beautifully with a zesty Mango Parfait.
ATAS‘ Chinese Eight-Course Journey is available from 6 January to 8 February 2020, at The RuMa Hotel and Residences, 7 Jalan Kia Peng, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, p. +603 2778 0888.
YEN, W Kuala Lumpur
Known for its avant-garde Cantonese cuisine, YEN’s Lunar New Year menu promises fun, fresh spins on festive classics. The lineup this year involves four Chinese New Year set menus (from RM188+ per pax), alongside a range of a la carte specials. Toss to a cracking year ahead with their Salted Egg Fish Skin Yee Sang, packed with crispy goodness from The Golden Duck. Other luscious gems that’ll have your family dining like royalty include Braised Imperial Bird’s Nest with whole crab claw and minced prawn, and Steamed Layered Traditional Ninko topped with a gold ingot.
YEN‘s Lunar New Year Menu is available from 1 January to 8 February 2020, at W Kuala Lumpur, No. 121, Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, +60 12-347 9088.
Lai Po Heen, Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur
If you’re feeling more like yum cha than yee sang this festive season, Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur has got you covered. Lai Po Heen’s Longevity Dim Sum Set (RM188 per pax) and Happiness Dim Sum Set (RM238 per pax) will feature delightfully auspicious bites such as gold-leaf-trimmed prawn and water chestnut dumplings, seafood-filled spicy charcoal dumplings, and double-boiled abalone soup. Of course, there’s a sumptuous trio of traditional set menus as well (from RM288 per pax), filled with premium ingredients like Japanese sun-dried scallops.
Lai Po Heen‘s Chinese New Year menus are available from 1 January to 29 February 2020, at Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur, +60 (3) 2330 8798.
Yun House, Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Chinese New Year is a time for family, and what better way to pamper your relatives than with homemade favourites? Chef Jimmy Wong of Yun House has curated three festive set menus (from RM388+ per pax) showcasing gems from his treasure chest of family recipes. Think rich Toro Fish Yee Sang and ten-head abalone-stuffed Braised Money Bags that’ll have your new year brimming with abundance, along with elevated classics like Fragrant Roasted Duck with Osmanthus. Round off on a sweet note with Black Glutinous Rice with Ice Cream, served in a whole young coconut.
Yun House‘s Chinese New Year Set Menus are available from 2 January to 8 February 2020, at Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur, 145 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, +603 2382 8888.
Hilton Garden Inn Kuala Lumpur
Whether it’s a hearty buffet or a swanky rooftop shindig you’re after, Hilton Garden Inn KL has festive fun in abundance. Kick off your Prosperity Buffet Dinner (RM98 nett per adult) at The Garden Grille with a lively yee sang toss, then heap your plate high with comfort dishes like pineapple fried rice, kam heong chicken, and Szechuan-style stir-fried beef. For reunion feasting with a view, head up to Rooftop Bar and Lounge to tuck into a sizzling dinner lineup of salted egg seafood, live-grilled meats, and more (RM88 nett per adult).
The Garden Grille’s Prosperity Buffet Dinner is available on 24 January while Rooftop Bar and Lounge’s CNY Celebration Dinner is available on 25-26 January, at Hilton Garden Inn Kuala Lumpur, 449 Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, 50100 Kuala Lumpur, +603 2778 8888.
Top Image: Pullman Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Sedap Restaurant