food

8 places for a prosperous Chinese New Year feast

January 19, 2016

The Lunar New Year is a time for families to come together and dine on symbolic foods that represent wishes for a healthy, lucky and prosperous new year. – Pic courtesy of Shang Palace, Shangri-La, Kuala Lumpur, January 19, 2016.With the Lunar New Year just around the corner, it's time to prepare your belly for all the festive feasting on auspicious delights like yee sang, poon choy and more. After all, nothing brings family closer than a delicious and prosperous meal.

We've narrowed down some of the best places to visit to indulge in a righteous Chinese New Year feast, from breezy seaside dining to exquisite banquet meals.

Latest Recipe, Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur

An elaborately crafted Lunar buffet dinner at Latest Recipe promises a delicious and auspicious meal to bring the family closer together. The buffet is available from February 1 to 22 at RM128 nett per person on Mondays to Thursdays and RM150 nett per person on weekends.

The Chinese New Year Eve buffet dinner, on the other hand, lets guest indulge to their heart's content with a range from festive delights from braised fish maw to steamed abalone and wok-fried smoked duck. Priced at RM180 nett, the buffet includes a salmon yee sang and a complimentary bottle of red wine for every 10 paying adults.

Shang Palace, Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur

Usher in the Year of the Fire Monkey with prosperity, love and a host of delicious goodies at Shang Palace. If an a la carte menu of premium poon choy and hearty braised bird's nest soup with lobster and fish maw doesn't tickle your fancy, there are five different Prosperity menus to choose from.

Featuring eight to nine courses, all meals start with a yee sang with anything from Japanese tuna to Canadian lobster and end with a combination of steamed ninko with nuts and deep-fried sesame balls.

Prices range from RM221 nett per person to RM5,816 nett for a table of 10. Promotion runs from January 8 to February 22.

Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral

Premium eight-course menus of both seafood and poultry, specially crafted by executive Chinese chef Ng Kok Wai, await at Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral.

Featuring a fusion of traditional flavours and contemporary flair, savour the “Firecrackers of Chinese New Year”, aromatic stuffed inari roulade of broccoli, bamboo pith, asparagus, chicken and Chinese parsley.

Set menus are available at RM1888+ for 10 persons, with a minimum booking of 30 tables. Reservations are available from January 1 to February 29.

The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa

Guests are spoiled for choice when it comes to celebrating the Lunar New Year at The Westin Langkawi.

Whether it be a breezy reunion dinner at Seasonal Tastes' poolside buffet or a more traditional four-course dinner at Tide, guests can welcome the new year with style on January 7.

On February 8 and 9, indulge in an enchanting beach buffet dinner starting from RM158+ per person which includes free-flow of non-alcoholic beverages. Alternatively, a special Chinese High Tea at Seasonal Tastes might suit you more.

The Eatery, Four Points by Sheraton

Chinese New Year celebrations at Four Points by Sheraton sees a lively lion dance performance and fireworks show on February 18.

While you enjoy the lively festivities, be enticed by The Eatery's array of delicious goodies with a New Year buffet dinner (RM128 nett per adult) which includes sun-dried oyster dumplings and wok-fried tiger prawns.

And what's Chinese New Year without tossing a yee sang? Guests have five varieties to choose from at and can even pack them home from RM65 nett onwards.

Tao Chinese Cuisine, InterContinental Kuala Lumpur

Yumcha with your family and friends this Chinese New Year with Tao Chinese Cuisine's festive a la carte dim sum menu. Old favourites are given a luxurious twist like the steamed abalone and lobster “har gao” and pan-fried smoked duck with radish cake and golden crabmeat. Available from January 11 to February 22 for lunch, the dishes are priced at RM18 nett onwards.

Otherwise, try their Chinese New Year dim sum set lunch menu (RM1888 nett for 10 persons) which includes a tempura mushroom and Korean sweet pear yee sang, a dim sum combination platter and a five-course menu.

Toss your yee sang high to ring in the new year with five different prosperity toss sets from Tao Chinese Cuisine. Available in half sets for five persons and full sets for 10, the bird's nest infused fresh Atlantic salmon and passion fruit yee sang (RM128 nett for half, RM248 nett for full) comes recommended by the chef. Their sets are available for both dine-in and takeaway from February 3 to February 22.

Exquisite set menus with six and seven-course meals start at RM1888 nett to RM2988 nett for a table of 10.

Tepian Laut, The Andaman Langkawi

Take in the stunning view of the sea as you tuck into a festive feast at Tepian Laut restaurant with dishes like the fatt chai yee sang and roasted “Pi-pa” duck at their laidback Chinese New Year BBQ dinner.

Beginning at 7pm on February 7, this not-to-be-missed holiday fête costs RM220+ per adult.

Four Points by Sheraton Penang

With a beautiful beachfront view of the sea, The Eatery at Four Points by Sheraton Penang is the perfect place to celebrate a casual Lunar New Year with friends and family. 

The Chinese New Year Reunion buffet dinner, taking place from February 6 to 8, feature festive dishes like the salmon yee sang and more. The dinner is priced at just RM88 nett per head (half price for children aged between four and 11) while the buffet brunch on January 7 is RM68 nett per adult.

To get the celebrations into full gear, there will be a lively lion dance at the lobby on January 7 with even more performances scheduled. – January 19, 2016.