Year after year, Chinese New Year traditions become routine. Visiting, gambling, endless eating — you get it. Why not switch things up for your reunion dinner this time by having modern Chinese food? We don’t necessarily mean everything fusion food, but East Asian cuisine with refined touches. Below, the restaurants to visit to welcome the Year of the Rat!
1. LOKKEE
By now, you must have heard of LOKKEE, the restaurant under Tunglok Group that takes a witty spin on Chinese takeout in Western countries. However, the quality of their food definitely goes beyond what takeout offers. This Lunar New Year, indulge in special CNY offerings like Fish Maw with Seafood Bisque, Char-Grilled Kurobuta Pork Rib and Ee-Fu Noodle with Boston Lobster. If their CNY menu isn’t up your alley, you can always opt for LOKKEE originals like Bakkwa Bacon Salad, Awesome Flaming Pineapple Beef and Fried Durian. From $228++ for 4 pax.
Location: Plaza Singapura, #03-01, 68 Orchard Road, Singapore 238839
Opening hours: 11am-3pm, 5.30pm-10pm
2. Forbidden Duck
Treat yourself to food by ‘Demon Chef’ Alvin Leung, the Hong Kong chef with three Michelin stars to his name. At Forbidden Duck, expect Cantonese dishes done right. Their festive offerings include Prosperity Salmon Yu Sheng, Baked Boston Lobster with Ginger and Scallions, Stir Fried Scallop with Black Truffles and their signature Slow Roasted Duck. Depending on the set menu of your choice, desserts range from Coconut Red Bean Cake to Bird Nest with Rock Sugar. From $298++ for 4 pax.
Location: 8A Marina Boulevard #02-01, Marina Bay Link Mall
Opening hours: 11am-3pm, 6pm-10pm
3. Chopsuey Cafe
Chopsuey Cafe is P.S. Cafe’s first foray into Asian cuisine, and judging by the crowd as well as P.S. Cafe’s standards, the food should be worthy of a reunion dinner. Try Suzy’s Spaghetti Crab ‘Mee Goreng’, a splendid Western take on Indonesian spicy noodles that’s served with fresh crab, king prawns and silver sprouts. They also have whole fish and meat dishes like pork collar that’s great for sharing with the whole family. And since Chinese New Year is not complete without oranges, take a chance on their Crispy Orange Beef that’s served with a zesty sweet orange sauce.
Location: Block 10, Dempsey Road, #01-23, Singapore 247700
Opening hours: 11.30am-11pm
4. Full of Luck Restaurant
Before you tuck into Full of Luck’s sumptuous Chinese New Year spread, you’d want to whip out your phone and snap lots of pictures to bless your feed. Embrace tradition with the exquisitely-prepared Divine Aubergine Lantern, creatively prepared by moulding sliced aubergine stuffed with minced pork and prawns into beautiful lantern shapes. An auspicious New Year is guaranteed with their Abundance Money Bag Stuffed with Dried Oyster, topped off with gold flakes and crunchy tobiko. The highlight, however, is their rat-shaped Prosperity Lo Hei with Salmon and Yuzu Sauce. Apart from its unique design, this yusheng stands out with ingredients like passionfruit and strawberry with pomegranate seeds that burst in your mouth. From $118++ for two pax.
Location: 243 Holland Avenue, Holland Village
Opening hours: 11am-11pm
5. Xiao Ya Tou
Don’t worry about ordering an obnoxious amount of food at Xiao Ya Tou, the restaurant bar tucked away at Duxton Hill that serves up modern Asian cuisine with a “naughty” touch. Here, local flavours are transformed into innovative dishes. Think Lobster Kueh Pie Tee ($15), Mala Fish ($30) and Truffle Roast Duck ($26). Opt for the XYT Hokkien Mee ($24) to share, and finish off the meal with Coconut Tau Huay ($9).
Location: 6 Duxton Hill #01-01, Singapore 089592
Opening hours: 12pm-11pm (Mon-Thurs), 12pm-12am (Fri), 10am-12am (Sat), 10am-5pm (Sun)
6. Yì by Jereme Leung
You know it’s going to be a good year if your reunion dinner is prepared by celebrity masterchef Jereme Leung, one of the most influential chefs in the modern Chinese culinary movement. Lunar New Year offerings include a Crab Meat Salad that’s served with durian and avocado; Yu Sheng with Asian Live Lobster and Specialty Yunnan Rose Dressing; Conch Sea Snail with Fermented Rice Wine Brine Dressing; and Crispy Osmanthus Flavoured Nian Gao. Prices are a little steep at $138++ per person, but not only do you get to sample the finest Chinese cuisine, you get to dine in style with yì’s beautiful interior.
Location: #03-09, Raffles Arcade, 328 North Bridge Road
Opening hours: 6pm-9.15pm
7. V Dining
V Dining was initially opened by Swiss luxury home appliance brand, V-ZUG, to showcase the brand’s professional-grade kitchenware. So good is their technology that V Dining is now one of the most renowned modern Chinese restaurants in town. Their Chinese New Year menu has a cosy spread that consists of Roast Pork Belly, Duck Confit, Drunken Chicken and more — all prepared by V-ZUG’s state-of-the-art Combi-Steam oven. Additionally, dine with a fantastic view of Orchard Rd with floor-to-ceiling windows. From $128++ per pax.
Location: 6 Scotts Road, #03–13, Singapore 228209
Opening hours: 12pm-2pm (Tues-Fri lunch), 6pm-9.30pm (Tues-Fri dinner), 12pm-2pm (Sat lunch), 6.30pm-9.30pm (Sat dinner), 12pm-2pm (Sun lunch).
