Hong Kong’s dining spots are serving up a tasty banquet of auspicious Chinese New Year dishes
Live 'longevity noodle' pulling at Hutong
Chinese New Year is a time for feasting and celebration. Traditionally, families gather for sumptuous meals with festive dishes such as poon choi, a traditional Cantonese casserole containing layers of auspicious ingredients such as braised meats and seafood.
Lou hei, a tossed raw fish salad traditionally eaten in Singapore and other parts of Southeast Asia, is gaining popularity in Hong Kong and can also be found on many menus. Diners dig their chopsticks into the salad and toss each ingredient high in the air while repeating an auspicious greeting.
If you’re heading out for a Chinese New Year meal, expect to see menus featuring lots of fish (prosperity), Chinese dumplings (wealth), braised or roasted whole chicken (luck), glutinous rice cake (improved career prospects), spring rolls (wealth), longevity noodles (longevity and happiness), prawns (happiness) and fruit and vegetables for energy and wellness, citrus fruit being particularly auspicious.
But above all, Chinese New Year is about gathering together with family and friends to look forward to a prosperous and healthy year to come.
Head to Hutong in Tsim Sha Tsui for a full eight-course Chinese New Year Banquet. The meal is designed for four people and includes traditional items like ‘lo hei’ tossed salad plus noodle pulling displays on January 28. Highlights include crispy-skin chicken with rose tea and ginger, Hutong’s signature flaming Peking duck, crispy Mandarin fish in sweet and sour sauce and seared A5 wagyu beef tenderloin. The banquet runs from January 24 to February 12.
Tuck into traditional poon choi and other delicacies at Hopewell Inn
Chef Larry Ng at Hopewell Inn at the new Hopewell Hotel in Wan Chai has crafted two traditional Hong Kong ‘poon choi’, or ‘basin cuisine’, to celebrate the new year. The abalone and fish maw poon choi and the vegetarian abalone poon choi can be ordered either for take-away or for dine-in. The abalone and fish maw poon choi contains fifteen auspicious ingredients while the fortune-filled abalone poon choi features a selection of vegetarian dishes. Both serve up to four diners. Reservations can be made until 22 January, with availability from 25 January to 2 February.
The Chinese Library at Tai Kwun will be serving an eight-course New Year Tasting Menu with auspicious dishes such as braised South African abalone in oyster sauce, steamed threadfin fillet in Chinese wine and stewed beef shank with Sichuan chilli, plus dim sum bites. The menu is available from January 29 to February 2.
Indulge with a dim sum buffet served from traditional carts at Cafe Marco
Tuck into a Dim Sum Lunch Buffet feast at Cafe Marco, including fresh, plump shu mai, juicy beef balls and crunchy fried spring rolls. This authentic Cantonese experience includes service from traditional Hong Kong dim sum trolleys. The buffet at Tsim Sha Tsui’s Cafe Marco Hongkong Hotel runs until February 28.
Dine with stunning harbour views at Aqua and enjoy the six-course Celebration Tasting Menu. Highlights include duck ravioli, suckling pig with golden apple puree and grilled wagyu beef tenderloin with brandy soy sauce. End proceedings with a ‘firecracker’ seasonal dessert of mandarin mousse and almond fortune cookies. The special menu is available from January 29 to February 2. And don’t forget on January 30 there will be views from the restaurant of the Victoria Harbour New Year’s fireworks display.
Take to the water on board Aqua Luna for a Fireworks Cruise on January 30 including canapes. There’s also a Kid’s Adventure Cruise from January 29 to February 2 where youngsters can learn all about the traditions of Chinese New Year. And if you’re taking a Dim Sum Cruise or Afternoon Tea Cruise between January 29 and February 9, enjoy a traditional ginger and water chestnut pudding from Dim Sum Library.
At Pacific Place, Shiro will be offering a Chinese New Year Set Menu for Two featuring a menu of auspicious ingredients. Dishes include chopped wagyu beef with caviar sushi, seared scallop sushi with mentaiko sauce and pan-fried gyuniku fillet steak with mustard sauce. The special menu is available from January 20 to February 9.
Traditional Turnip and Taro cakes can be ordered from St Regis Hong Kong
For takeaway festive puddings, head to St Regis Hong Kong. The hotel’s two-Michelin-starred chef Hung Chi Kwong will be serving Turnip Cake made with locally sourced dried shrimp and Chinese cured meat and Taro Cake with dried duck leg, five-spice powder and Chinese cured meat. The cakes can be ordered until January 25.
Siete Ocho at Dorsett Kai Tak will be serving a Chinese New Year Set Dinner throughout the Chinese New Year period. The feast begins with traditional ‘lou hei’ tossed salad with scallops, prawns and sashimi. This is followed by braised whole five-head abalone in oyster sauce and steamed cod fish with Jinhua ham. A sweet treat at the end of the meal features red bean cream with sesame glutinous rice dumplings. Reserve tables of six or 12 from January 25 to February 16.
Tea and Chinese treats at Three on Canton
Indulge with a Traditional Chinese Flavours afternoon tea at Three on Canton. The curated tea experience includes savoury and sweet treats made with Jinhua ham and features Chinese teas. Enjoy Jinhua ham terrine, pan-fried Jinhua ham, mushroom risotto cake and pu’er milk tea chocolate tart. The tea is available daily between 3 and 5pm until February 28.
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