2017’s 11 Best Chinese New Year Reunion Meals For The Family

PUBLISHED January 8th, 2017 01:27 am | UPDATED December 22nd, 2017 02:33 pm

Celebrating the Chinese New Year isn’t quite complete without a heartwarming – and sometimes rowdy – reunion meal with our families, better still if it’s at a quality Chinese restaurant in Singapore. Whether you’re a couple or a three-generational family looking for a big meal, we find the most prosperous festive feasts this upcoming Year of the Rooster, from out-of-this-world yusheng platters to indulgent pots of pen cai!

Szechuan Court

For fine Cantonese and Szechuan cuisine to spice up your reunion dinner, look no further than Fairmont’s Szechuan Court as Master Chef Mok Wan Lok unveils an abundance of sumptuous dishes for your family – available both as a set and à la carte. We’re talking perennial favourites and festive creations such as Sautéed Maine Lobster with Asparagus and X.O Chili ($60++), Double-boiled Soup with Superior Fish Maw and Lobster ($58++ per person), along with the all-new, exquisite vegetarian creation Stuffed Wintermelon with Superior Mushrooms and Brown Fungus ($32++), ending off with a traditional Osmanthus Flower Nian Gao ($14.80++).

Auspicious Set: $468++ for table of four

Success Set: $728++ for table of six

Fortune Set: $968++ for table of eight

Abundance Set: $1288++ for table of 10

Available from 16 January – 11 February 2017 (book before 15 Jan to enjoy up to 25% off), Szechuan Court, 2 Stamford Rd, Raffles City, Singapore 189560, p. +65 6431 6156. 

Man Fu Yuan

Upholding its tradition of masterful speciality dishes, look out for Executive Chef Kwan Yiu Kan’s nourishing Double-boiled Chicken Soup with Korean Ginseng, Fish Maw, and Bamboo Pith, and Steamed Star Garoupa with Chinese Ham and Mushrooms. We also see modern creations like the Spanish Smoked Honey-glazed Pork with Egg Fried Rice, as well as Double-boiled Hashima with Eight Treasures Tea Served in Whole Coconut for a sweet finish. And if the photo above is anything to go by, you won’t want to miss the Barbecued Suckling Pig with Glutinous Rice.

Prosperity Sets: $128++ to $338++ per person,  $1088++ or $2088++ for table of 10

Available from 2 January – 11 February 2017 at Man Fu Yuan, 80 Middle Rd, InterContinental Singapore, Singapore 188966, p. +65 6338 7600.

Summer Pavilion

Toss to a fresh start at the one-Michelin Star Summer Pavilion with Japanese Sea Urchin and Bluefin Tuna Yusheng. Other favourites from the Lunar New Year menus include the Braised Fresh Prawn with Stuffed Eggplant in Spicy Sauce and the Baked Fortune Chicken with Abalone arrived encased in a gold-dusted charcoal bun. Chef Cheung Siu Kong’s soups never disappoint and you’re in for a nourishing treat with his Double-boiled Chicken Soup, Sea Whelk, Sea Cucumber, and Chanterelles Mushrooms.

Lunar New Year Sets: from $78++ per person to $1288++ for table of 10

Available from Summer Pavilion, 7 Raffles Ave, Raffles Hotel, Singapore 039799, p. +65 6434 5286

Min Jiang

Adding to the Chinese New Year cheer are two new unique yusheng platters: the delicate Prosperity Amberjack ‘Lo Hei’ and fruit-based Fruity ‘Lo Hei’ with Rosemary Plum Sauce; alongside indulgent savoury delights such as Braised Pork Belly with Sea Treasures in Claypot and Braised Whole Chicken with Sea Treasures in Claypot (filled with 10-head abalones, sea cucumber, dried oysters, and flower mushrooms), Double-boiled Wild Chicken Consommé, and a pretty platter of nian gao in three ways – deep-fried ‘yuan yang’ sesame, ondeh-ondeh style, and as a chilled durian roll.

Prosperity Sets: from $98++ and $128++ per person to $538++ (table of six) and $1688++ (table of 10)

Available from 10 January – 11 February 2017 at Min Jiang, 22 Scotts Rd, Goodwood Park Hotel, Singapore 228221, +65 6730 1704.

Golden Peony

The rooster year gets quite literal with Golden Peony’s Fortune 3D Fiery Rooster Yusheng – kanpachi, abalone, salmon, and white bait – as well as modern favourites unique to the restaurant. Think Roast Suckling Pig stuffed with California Maki, Braised Sea Cucumber with Minced Shrimp and Pork, Golden Half Lobster with Spiced Almond Flakes, and the crown glory of Golden Peony: Signature Roast London Duck. Aside from the usual set menus, a number of refined à la carte dishes are also available.

Lunar New Year Sets: from $100++ per person to $1198++ for table of 10

Available from 10 January – 11 February 2017 at Golden Peony, L3 Conrad Centennial Hotel, Conrad Centennial, 2 Temasek Blvd, Singapore 038983, p. +65 6432 7482.

Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant

Bask in endless happiness with a line-up of set menus by the award-winning Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant. Highlights that will tantalise your taste buds include Stewed 10-head Abalone with Dried Oysters, herbish Ginseng Marinated Roast Duck, delicate Double-boiled Chicken Soup with Peach Resin, Steamed Red Garoupa with Black Garlic Sauce as well as a Braised Bird’s Nest Broth with Crab Meat. But that’s not before you dig into the Abalone & Salmon Yu Sheng with Crispy Fish Skin, or even the premium Lobster, Scallop, Tuna, Salmon & Caviar Yu Sheng.

Auspicious Reunions Set: $98.80++ per person

Reunions of Abundance Set:$118.80++ per person

Reunions of Prosperity Set: $1288++ for table of 10

Available from 9 January – 11 February at Wan Hao, 320 Orchard Rd, Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel, Singapore 238865, p. +65 6831 4605.

Mitzo

This season at Mitzo, the ubiquitous pen cai (pots chockful of premium seafood, meat, and vegetables) gets three new looks – the Prawn Fortune Pot, Lobster Fortune Pot, and the Grouper Fortune Pot, all braised in the restaurant’s signature sauce. Look forward to the stunning Pearls of Prosperity Kanpachi Kingfish Yusheng, along with tasty Cantonese delights like Double-boiled Fish Maw Soup, Tea-smoked Crispy Duck, Sea Cucumber with Six-head Abalone, and decadent desserts of Dual Cream of Sweet Potato served with a warm Golden Pineapple Bag and fancy housemade Koi Fish Nian Gao.

Prosperity Delights Set: $128++ per person ($888++ for table of six)

Auspicious Harvest Set: $1388++ for table of 10

Fortune Feast Set: $1288++ for table of 10

Available from 14 January – 17 February 2017 at Mitzo, L4 Grand Park Orchard, 270 Orchard Road Singapore 238857, p. +65 6603 8855.

Yàn

Yàn is all about timeless classics done the same way as they were in the past. Staying through to its Cantonese roots, Master Chef Chan Kung Lai will feature exquisite dishes across eight set menus, including Duet Style Chicken served roasted and in Szechuan ‘Bon Bon’ style, nutritious Double-boiled Chicken Soup with Black Garlic Sea Whelk (prepared for eight hours), and signature Yellowtail Fish Yusheng with elegant gold flakes – befitting of the restaurant’s location at National Gallery. On top of that, you’ll won’t want to miss Yàn’s trademark 3.5kg Suckling Pig, presented in three styles.

Prosperous Sets: from $118++ to $268++ per person

Available from 9 January – 11 February 2017 at Yàn, #05-02 National Gallery Singapore, 1 St. Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957, p. +65 6384 5585.

Li Bai

Named after the famous Tang Dynasty Poet, Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant is best known for its Cantonese cuisine served in the tradition of grand Emperors (amidst superb décor and table setting of jade, silver, and fine bone china.) This Chinese New Year, Executive Chef Chung Yiu Ming curates eight stellar reunion set menus that include highlights such as an Alaskan Crab ‘Lo Hei’ Yusheng; Double Boiled Fish Maw, Chicken, and American, as well as Ee-fu Noodles with Crabmeat and Crab Roe Soup to signify longevity.

Prosperity Delights Sets: from $148++ per person to $598++ for table of six

Chinese New Year Sets: from $988++ for table of 8 to $2588+ for table of 10

Available from 11 January – 11 February 2017 at Li Bai, 39 Scotts Rd, Sheraton Towers Singapore, Singapore 228230, p. +65 6839 5623.

Blue Lotus

Each set menu at the idyllic Blue Lotus starts with the signature (and also rather healthy) Tea-Smoked Norwegian Salmon Yusheng, consisting of 10 herbs and vegatables, three types of nuts, and two aromatic spices. This follows with both iconic and new creations by Chef Ricky Ng, such as the iconic Chili Crab Claw, ever-warming Smoked Pumpkin Crab Meat Soup, Josper Grilled Char Siew Kurobuta Pork Belly, Steamed XL Ireland Oysters with Garlic & Shallots, and a Slow Roast Beef Rib with Daikon. Coming with a big party? Top up $198++ for Blue Lotus’ succulent version of Roast Ibérico Suckling Pig – a real feast for the eyes and stomach.

Harmony Set: $68++ per person

Prosperity Set: $88++ per person

Longevity Set: $108++ per person

Available from 16 January – 11 February 2017 at Blue Lotus, #01-13 Quayside Isle, 31 Ocean Way, Singapore 098375, p. +65 6339 0880.

VLV

Dine in a turn of the century conservation Teochew mansion that is VLV, whose Executive Chef Martin Foo (formerly from Tóng Lè Private Dining) is offering five set menus. Each menu features various VLV’s speciality dishes like the Kagoshima Kurobuta Char Siew and the Black Truffle Roasted Duck, as well as Lunar New Year exclusives such as the Sabah Coral Trout prepared Two Ways. Folks with vegetarian family members can look forward to a feast featuring the likes of Chrysanthemum Soup with Matsutake & Bamboo Fungus.

Blessing Set: $98++ per person

Fortune Set: $138++ per person

Abundance Set: $188++ per person

Prosperity Set: $268++ per person

Vegetarian Set: $88++ per person

Available from 16 January – 11 February 2017 at VLV, Clarke Quay, 3A River Valley Road, #01-02, Singapore 179020, p. +65 6661 0197.