PUBLISHED January 10th, 2020 05:00 am
Rats, is it Chinese New Year already? The festive feasting just never ends − though it’s hardly a chore to nosh on artful yu sheng, lavish pen cai, and other goodies that our Chinese restaurants are dishing up. If you’re opting for a restaurant reunion over takeaways this Year of the Rat, here’s our stress-free guide to the most auspicious (read: comfortable and luxurious) spots in Singapore.
Greenwood Fish Market
If you’re looking for something else rather than Chinese food, switch up your pen cai for premium crab at Greenwood Fish Market. This charming seafood bistro is offering up their usual trio of Yu Sheng platters studded with ocean gems, from the crowd-favourite Norwegian Salmon (S$68) to the indulgent Boston Lobster (S$88) and Alaskan King Crab Legs (S$128). But since it’s CNY, you might want to splash out on the lavish Three Treasures Yu Sheng (S$168, serves 6 to 8) − a jaw-dropping 1.2kg platter’s worth of fresh catch to pamper your whole family. For those looking to celebrate at home, all Yu Sheng platters and other fresh seafood can also be ordered online, with delivery and self-pickup options available.
Greenwood Fish Market‘s Yu Sheng offerings will be on the menu from 15 January to 10 February 2020, available online or at its Bukit Timah and Quayside Isle outlets. For reservations, visit www.greenwoodfishmarket.com/reservations.
Man Fu Yuan
With Man Fu Yuan’s massive 60-inch Prosperity Yu Sheng – shaped like the character 苑 to symbolize a garden of plenty – how could your 2020 be anything but glorious? The Cantonese dining institution is rolling out no less than eight prix-fixe menus, the better to accommodate anything from intimate meals for two to large gatherings of ten. If you’re planning on a lively family reunion, check out the 8-course Bliss prix-fixe menu (S$1388++ for 10 pax). Featuring delicacies like Signature Smoked Duck and Steamed Tiger Garoupa spiced with Yunnan black garlic, this is sure to put your whole fam in a state of bliss while you count down.
Man Fu Yuan‘s CNY prix-fixe menus are available from 6 January to 8 February 2020, at InterContinental Singapore, 80 Middle Road, Singapore 188966, p. +65 6825 1133.
Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant
Cosy and under-the-radar, Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant makes the perfect spot for reconnecting with your relatives. This Cantonese restaurant is ringing in the Year of the Rat in style with nine set menus. For smaller get-togethers, you can’t go wrong with the 8-course Blissful Menu (S$398++ for 4 pax), starring dishes like Xin’s Gold Leaf Salmon Yu Sheng and a hearty Trio Barbecued Meat Platter of roast pork, roast duck, and soya chicken. Larger reunion crews can tuck into the 8-course Prosperous Celebrations Menu (S$1398++ for 10 pax), starting with a decadent Baby Abalone & Salmon Yu Sheng and slurping your way through Braised Ee-fu Noodles with Roasted Pork, Shrimp and Preserved Sausage.
Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant‘s Lunar New Year set menus are available from 2 January to 8 February 2020, at Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium, 317 Outram Road, Singapore 169075, p. +65 6731 7173.
the kitchen table
With a slew of quirky fusion offerings, the kitchen table is putting the ‘new’ back in Chinese New Year. Available exclusively on 24 January, their Traditional Chinese Menu (S$128++ per pax) begins with a fragrant Truffle-Infused Wild Mushroom Soup and stars elevated favourites like Lobster Braised E-fu Noodles and Five-Spice Braised Wagyu Beef Brisket, before rounding off auspiciously with some unique Bakwa Madeleines. Head down on 25-26 January to feast on their Fun to Table buffet spread (from S$78++ per pax), featuring scrumptious oriental specials like Crisp Chicken with Prawn Crackers and Toasted Almond and Stewed Sea Cucumber. All menus and buffet options come with a Lo Hei set.
the kitchen table‘s Lunar Luxe specials are available from 24 to 26 January 2020, at W Singapore – Sentosa Cove, 21 Ocean Way, Singapore 098374, p. +65 6808 7268.
Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant
Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant is another one of our go-to gems for Cantonese delights, and each Lunar New Year, they outdo themselves with even more decadent creations. Think gold-flecked Lobster, Scallop, Salmon, Alaskan Crab, Caviar and Crispy Fish Skin Yu Sheng with Passionfruit Pearls & Crispy Vermicelli; Wan Hao Imperial Pot of Prosperity packed with Australian 3-head abalone, drunken chicken, and crispy dried oyster; and Pork Ribs with White Peach Honey Sauce, all from the Lunar New Year A La Carte Menu.
Alternatively, take your pick from their delightful range of Lavish Lunar New Year Eve Set Menus and Auspicious Set Menus (priced from S$108.80++ per person for groups of four to eight, and S$2088++ for a table of 10). Staying health-conscious here isn’t a hassle either, not with nutritious numbers like Black Truffle Yu Sheng and Double-Boiled Monkey Head Mushroom with Chinese Herbs. Lunar New Year takeaway delicacies are also available.
Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant‘s Lunar New Year A La Carte Menu and Auspicious Set Menus are available from 3 January to 8 February 2020, while the Lavish Lunar New Year Eve Set Menus are available exclusively on 24 January 2020, at Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel, 320 Orchard Road, Singapore 238865. For reservations, call +65 6831 4605, email singaporemarriott.festive@marriotthotels.com, or visit singaporemarriott.com/cny.
StraitsKitchen
If you fancy a lively, laidback ambience for your family reunion, an indulgent buffet spread is just the ticket. StraitsKitchen is whipping up a splendid Halal-certified reunion buffet lunch (S$68++ per adult) and dinner (S$88++ per adult), filled with all manner of local favourites. Heap your plate high with delicacies like Braised Dried Oyster with Black Moss and Boiled Black Tiger Prawns in nourishing wolfberry soup, then make another round for some hearty Wok-Fried Organic Jasmine Rice with Blue Swimmer Crab and Steamed Black Garoupa with Black Bean Sauce. All buffet options are inclusive of one sustainable Yu Sheng per table.
StraitsKitchen‘s Chinese New Year buffets are available for lunch on 25-26 January and for dinner on 24-26 January 2020, at Grand Hyatt Singapore, 10 Scotts Road, Singapore 228211, p. +65 6732 1234.
Grand Shanghai
Recently refurbished in grand style – think dripping chandeliers and art-deco motifs – Grand Shanghai is welcoming a brand new year with Shanghainese takes on reunion classics. Standouts from the eight- or nine-course menu (priced from S$588++ for 4 pax to S$2888++ for 10 pax) include the rich, nourishing Double-Boiled Shark’s Cartilage soup packed with fish maw, Steamed Soon Hock which melts in the mouth, and the signature Crispy Smoked Duck infused with osmanthus tea-leaf. Be sure to save space for their unique pan-fried Nian Gao, delicately sweetened with organic cane sugar.
Grand Shanghai‘s Lunar New Year menus are available from 17 January to 9 February 2020, at 390 Havelock Road, Level 1 King’s Centre, Singapore 169662, p. +65 6836 6866.
Summer Pavilion
Get your Year of the Rat off to a memorable start with one-Michelin-starred Summer Pavilion. Lo hei doesn’t get much more extravagant than their Black Caviar Yu Sheng, generously dotted with Hokkaido king scallops. Of course, you’ll find a whole parade of spotlight-stealers in their six- to eight-course set menus (priced from S$108 per pax) to follow up. From comforting broths like Double-Boiled Sea Whelk Soup, to contemporary indulgences such as Poached Ibérico Pork Glutinous Rice Dumpling and Sautéed Diced Japanese Wagyu Beef, there’s plenty here to please both young and old.
Summer Pavilion‘s Lunar New Year menus are available from 13 January to 8 February 2020, at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore, 7 Raffles Ave, Singapore 039799, +65 6434 5286.
Park Hotel Clarke Quay
Nothing spells auspicious like yu sheng crowned with red caviar, so Park Hotel Clarke Quay’s Auspicious Abundance Yu Sheng is sure to be a hit with the relatives. The hotel’s four festive set menus (priced from S$388++ for 4-5 pax to S$768++ for 9-10 pax) boast a host of crowd-pleasers like Braised Baby Abalone with Chinese mushroom, sea cucumber, and Chinese spinach, as well as Baked Prawn on a buttery bed of mashed potatoes and bacon bits. As for sweet treats, the Chilled Mango Pudding with Lychee Pearls is an irresistible, silky-smooth classic.
Park Hotel Clarke Quay‘s Chinese New Year set menus are available from 10 January to 8 February 2020, at 1 Unity Street, Singapore 237983, p. +65 6593 8888.
Crystal Jade Palace
A fine-dining flagship by household name Crystal Jade, Crystal Jade Palace is bringing reunion revelry to new heights with a lavish range of set menus (priced from S$98 per pax to S$3388 for 10 pax). Their Hakka Yam Abacus Seeds take the traditional dish up a notch with juicy Boston lobster and black moss ‘fa cai’, while the Pan-Fried Tiger Prawns come slathered with heady prawn paste and Chardonnay cream sauce. It’s worth finding your dessert stomach for their delectable rendition of orh nee, topped with homemade coconut ice-cream.
Crystal Jade Palace‘s Chinese New Year set menus are available from 15 January to 8 February 2020, at #04-19, Takashimaya Shopping Centre, 391 Orchard Road, Singapore 238872, p. +65 6735 2388.
Top Image: Greenwood Fish Market, Norwegian Salmon Yu Sheng