The Food Lover's Guide To Chinese New Year, 2021 Edition
Our curated list of the best lucky dishes, prosperity menus, takeout and delivery options, food festivals and gift ideas
Have a vibrant and lucky Chinese New Year celebration on February 12, with a table spread with festive and auspicious dishes. We love all the symbolism and traditions associated with the Lunar New Year, a holiday that centers around luck, health and reuniting with family. If you need a little help finding your favorite lucky dishes and traditions, here's our guide. We found many options that allow you to celebrate in the safety of home, as well as dining out options that provide for private dining spaces and that carefully observe safety protocols. After all, safety first! Wishing you all a prosperous New Year, from Metro.Style. Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Lucky Feasts!
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Prosperity Salmon Yu Sheng from Lung Hin
Yu Sheng is a traditional raw fish salad served with ingredients separated on a platter. On Lunar New Year, guests toss the salad up in the air with chopsticks—the higher the toss, the more prosperous the coming year. Enjoy Lung Hin's spectacular Yu Sheng, as well as their Cantonese set menu, available from February 11 to 20. Call (02) 7720-7777. Seats are limited to observe proper social distancing, so make your reservations early. Lung Hin is located at the Marco Polo Ortigas. Follow @marcopolomanila on Instagram.
Photo Credit: @marcopolomanila
Alaskan King Crab at Man Ho
Famous for its delicate texture and rich, sweet flavor, Alaskan King Crabs are considered lucky to feast on during the Lunar New Year, signifying success in business and good fortune. A rare delicacy in Manila, it will be available at Man Ho at the Marriott Manila, if you pre-order by February 10. Available for dine in or takeout. Call (02) 8988-9999 or (0917) 830-6678, or visit @manilamarriott on Facebook or Instagram.
Photo Credit: @manilamarriott
Alaskan King Crab at Man Ho
You can enjoy this King Crab in two ways: steamed or served Singaporean-style. It comes with braised e-fu noodles, and with black truffle sauce, perfect for 2 to 4 persons. Do also check out Man Ho's Lunar New Year Set Menu with Yee Sang, Vegetable Dumplings with Black Truffles, Shredded Chicken with Quail Eggs, and other delicacies, available on February 12 to 14. Call (02) 8988-9999 or (0917) 830-6678, or visit @manilamarriott on Facebook or Instagram.
Photo Credit: @manilamarriott
Braised Abalone at Spiral
Feast on abalone for prosperity and abundance for the rest of the year. At Sofitel's Spiral restaurant, you can get Braised Abalone with superior sauce, available only on February 12, and for Sunday Brunch on February 14. Spiral has a Chinese New Year-themed buffet on February 11 and 12. is Call (02) 8832-6988, or DM @sofitelmanila on Instagram.
Photo Credit: @sofitelmanila
Steamed Prosperity and Fortune Chicken at Crystal Dragon
Crystal Dragon at the City of Dreams offers a prosperous feast of Cantonese dishes and regional Chinese specialties, including this Steamed Prosperity Chicken, as well as Wok-fried Mud Crab in spicy chili bean sauce, Crispy Rice Net Wrapped Tikoy, and Double-boiled Black Chicken Soup with Chinese Ham. Available until February 26. Call (02) 8800-8080 or email guestservices@cod-manila.com, or visit www.cityofdreamsmanila.com.
Photo Credit: @crystaldragonmnl
Novotel Manila's Prosperity Box
Spread good tidings to all with gift boxes filled with lucky food items: nian gao, egg tarts, lo mai chi, ampaw crispies, mooncake, dice hopia, chili sauce and scallops XO sauce in a jar. Order two days ahead. On February 11 and 12, partake of a lucky buffet at Novotel's award-winning restaurant Food Exchange Manila, with all-time Chinese favorites like dim sum, roasted specialties, noodles and other items, capped off with aromatic jasmine tea. Strict IATF-commpliant protocols will be observed. Available for lunch and dinner, though we do recommend making reservations ahead. Call (02) 8990-7999, (0949) 886-5591.
Photo Credit: @novotelmanilaaranetacity
Prosperity Home Dinners from Shangri-La at the Fort
Canton Road's executive chef Wang Wei Xing presents a sumptuous spread of regional Chinese specialties presented in signature menus good for five: The Spring Menu, Longevity Menu and Prosperity Menu. Should you wish to celebrate at home, order the boxed Prosperity Home Dinners (there are 2 set menus) that feature such celebratory dishes as Guangdong Fire-roasted Duck, among other delicacies. Preorder required, with 24 hours lead time. Call (02) 8820-0888 or email cantonroad@shangrila.com.
Photo Credit: Shangri-La at the Fort
Chinese Grazing Box, Diamond Hotel
Graze your way into the Year of the Ox 2021 with #DiamondHotelPh's Chinese Grazing Box. This selection of cold cuts, special Chinese New Year tikoy, and tea will surely give you a taste of the year's bounty. Buy your Chinese Grazing Box via the link below or via bit.ly/DHPChineseGrazingBox.
Photo Credit: @diamondhotelph
Prosperity Toss at Jasmine
Celebrate the Year of the Metal Ox with a grand feast at Jasmine, available for dine-in or pick-up. Choose from several set menus that feature an array of signature dishes such as braised baby abalone, wok fried prawn, deep-fried spareribs and more. View the menus at https://tinyurl.com/NewWorldMakatiCNY202. Call (02) 8811-6888 ext 3679 or Viber (0917) 888-4194.
Photo Credit: @newworldmakati
Lucky Chocolate Trees from The Peninsula Manila
Instead of the usual Mandarin oranges, peanut candy and nian gao, gift loved ones with these limited edition fine chocolate trees created by The Peninsula Manila's senior sous chef Annalyn Soriano. These Mandarin Orange and Golden Fortune Money Trees are made with Auro single Origin Chocolate and painstakingly molded then finished by hand. Everything is made of chocolate, down to the "soil." Every purchase entitles you to 8 red lai see envelopes. Available at The Peninsula Boutique. Call (02) 8887-2888, 8887-5747, email penboutiquepmn@peninsula.com, or through PenChat via bit.ly/PenChatFacebook.
Photo Credit: @thepeninsulamanila
XOXO Luck and Love 2021, Power Plant Mall
A double celebration for Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day will be held at Rockwell's Power Plant Mall from February 5 to 14. The annual Flower and Gift Fair at the North Court, and the Spring Festival Food Fair at the South Court, is slated from February 5 to 14. The Flower Fair will house lush and vibrant bouquets and arrangements from Designer Blooms, The Glass House Flowers, Petalier, Fleur Creatif, and Aruga by Rockwell. Chinese delicacies and home-baked pastries will also be available at the Spring Festival Food Fair. Celebrating at home? Get a hold of these gift and food items with ease by ordering online, as these brands will also be available on shop.therockwellist.com for a limited time only, on February 5 to 14. Plan ahead with The Book-A-Visit Feature of The Rockwell mobile app, to guarantee sure seats at restaurants. Learn more on @powerplantmall on Instagram.
Photo Credit: @powerplantmall
Lion Dance at Okada Manila
The Year of the Ox is shaping up to be a good year to reclaim good fortune and prosperity. Guests at Okada Manila can be a part of traditional events in the resort starting with a lion and dragon dance performance on February 17 at the Pearl Wing Lobby. A Wishing Well Festival will be held at the Crystal Corridor until February 28. Call (02) 8888-0777 or visit www.okadamanila.com.
Photo Credit: Okada Manila
Lucky Pudding and assorted cookies, Kee Wah Bakery
No Chinese New Year is complete without pudding, a lucky food eaten on Chinese New Year’s Eve. In Chinese, eating glutinous rice pudding has the symbolism of “getting higher year on by year” 年年高升 niánnián gāoshēng). It means the higher you are, the more prosperous your business or life in general would be. Kee Wah Bakery’s Chinese New Year Rice Pudding is a family recipe passed down from the founder’s mother. It comes in five variants for every household to enjoy: Original, Low Sugar, Coconut Flavor, Almond Flavor, and Red Dates Flavor. Aside from the rice pudding, check out their assorted snacks and gift boxes arranged in trays. Traditionally, offering guests itms from a candy box signifies a chance for them to choose their own fortune. Order Kee Wah Bakery products via Pick-a-roo, Lazada Official Store, Shopee, MetroMart, GrabMart. Available at The Podium until February 28. Visit @hongkongkeewahproductsph on Instagram for more information.
Photo Credit: Kee Wah Bakery
Chinese New Year Feast, China Mommy
China Mommy never fails to deliver satisfyingly good meals. You know you can trust them to deliver the best, like this spread that includes Crab Sotanghon, Chinese Misua, Lo Ba, Fortune Bags, Curry Crabs and Spring Rolls. Call (0917) 514-8540 or DM @chinamommyph on Instagram. (Photo: @myronepo)
Photo Credit: @chinamommyph
Cantonese Roast Duck at Xiu
Succulent, flavorful duck roasted in the much-loved Hong Kong tradition. Available for dine in or takeout at Viu, Call (02)8650-7189, 8650-8428, (0947) 707-0228, DM @viuph on Instagram.
Photo Credit: @xiuph
Lead photo: Jasmine, Marco Polo Ortigas
