Yee sang, an integral part of the Lunar New Year celebrations (Photo: Makati Shangri-La, Manila)
Cover Yee sang, an integral part of the Lunar New Year celebrations (Photo: Makati Shangri-La, Manila)

Usher in the year of the Wood Dragon with prosperity tosses, decadent roasts, delicious tikoy, and more

Lunar New Year celebrations are deeply rooted in the spirit of togetherness, and what better way to celebrate it than with your family, gathered around some scrumptious food?

To mark the arrival of the Wood Dragon, these 15 restaurants introduce an array of exquisite culinary offerings catering to Chinese traditions. Prepare to indulge in a symphony of flavours as they showcase exclusive set menus and à la carte items available for a limited time only, including the much-awaited prosperity toss or yee sang—an auspicious symbol of good luck for the year ahead. 

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We’ve rounded up the best places in the metro to join in on the celebration. Call up your loved ones and usher in the new year with these restaurant’s specially-curated meals for the season.

1. The Lobby and Escolta, The Peninsula Manila

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Yee sang (Photo: The Peninsula Manila)
Above Yee sang (Photo: The Peninsula Manila)

Available from February 9 to 10, a large platter awaits guests in the middle of The Lobby’s dining tables—all ready for the smoked salmon, carrots, and other colourful components of the yee sang to be thrown in. Pick up your chopsticks and toss them all together, cheering “nin nin yau yu” (“let there be abundance every year”) and “hong wen dong tau” (“good luck”)!

The Peninsula Manila will also offer a Lunar New Year buffet at Escolta, available on February 10 for lunch and dinner where a myriad of flavours will whisk them away on an exciting dining adventure.

Finally, guests can look forward to the traditional Peninsula Lion and Dragon dance, February 10 from 9:08 am to 11:30 am at the porte-cochère and The Lobby.

For inquiries, please call +63 2 8887 2888 ext. 6694. 

See also: New year, new restaurants: The most anticipated openings of 2024

2. Crystal Dragon and Red Ginger, City of Dreams Manila

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Photo 1 of 3 Crystal Dragon’s wok-fried prawns in fragrant oats, with pomelo fruit salad and roasted sesame dressing (Photo: City of Dreams Manila)
Photo 2 of 3 Crystal Dragon’s prosperity abalone salad (Photo: City of Dreams Manila)
Photo 3 of 3 Red Ginger’s version of nian gao (Photo: City of Dreams Manila)

Order your Chinese New Year meals at Crystal Dragon, City of Dreams Manila’s outlet specialising in Cantonese and regional Chinese specialities. For the holiday, they will serve special à la carte offerings for lunch and dinner until February 12. Savour their delectable sea treasures broth, slow-braised pork knuckle with 10-head abalone,wok-fried prawns in fragrant oats with pomelo salad, sesame, and many more. Crystal Dragon will also offer an abalone yu sheng for those looking to participate in a festive prosperity toss and deep-fried nian gao or tikoy with cheese for dessert.

Meanwhile, their Asian bar and bistro Red Ginger presents its own unique twist on the prosperity toss: a prosperity prawn and pomelo salad with nước chấm dressing. Other seasonal specialists include deep-fried whole tilapia with calamansi, ginger and steamed bok choy, crispy orange chicken, and their own rendition of the ubiquitous nian gao, all available from February 8 to 18. 

For inquiries, please call 8800-8080 or e-mail guestservices@cod-manila.com. 

More from Tatler: The best Chinese restaurants in the Tatler Dining Guide 2023

3. The Empress Dining Palace

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Photo 1 of 3 A Chinese spread from the Empress Dining Palace (Photo: The Empress Dining Palace)
Photo 2 of 3 The Empress treasure pot (Photo: The Empress Dining Palace)
Photo 3 of 3 The Empress radish cake (Photo: The Empress Dining Palace)

The Empress Dining Palace has always brought people together with its well-executed Chinese food. This coming year of the Wood Dragon is no exception. To celebrate, they offer four new dishes sure to invite good fortunes: a prosperity toss salad, radish cake, nian gao, and a hefty treasure pot with Peking duck, abalone, sea cucumber, prawn, white chicken, and pork knuckles.

For inquiries, please contact 8292-0807 or +63 915 543 1862.

Read more: 8 auspicious dishes to usher in the new year

4. China Blue By Jereme Leung, Conrad Manila

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China Blue by Jereme Leung’s Nian Gao (Photo: Conrad Manila)
Above China Blue by Jereme Leung’s prosperity toss (Photo: Conrad Manila)

Head to Conrad Manila as they welcome the year with the auspicious yee sang prosperity toss, barbecue whole roasted suckling pig, nian gao treasures, and a specially curated Chinese set menu at China Blue by Jereme Leung. This exclusive set menu will be available until February 10, with two tiers to choose from.

For a table of 10 persons, the menu features a selection of traditional favourites such as roasted duck, steamed live sea garoupa, braised ten-head abalone, and yee sang and money bag, among others. 

For inquiries, please call +632 8833 9999 or email conradmanila@conradhotels.com.

5. Lung Hin, Marco Polo Ortigas Manila

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Chinese New Year set menu by Lung Hin (Photo: Marco Polo Ortigas Manila)
Above Chinese New Year set menu by Lung Hin (Photo: Marco Polo Ortigas Manila)

Chinese executive chef for Marco Polo Ortigas Manila, Waai Hoi Yeung crafts well-loved dishes at Lung Hin for the Lunar New Year. From February 5 to 11, his culinary skills shine in eight à la carte masterpieces and a gustatory collection of nine flavourful courses in one set menu.

Attract luck with the star of the festive fare, yee sang, paired with fork-tender braised pork knuckle and sea moss, savoury fried rice of taro and Chinese sausage, and many more.

Additionally, there will be a live Feng Shui forecast by master Chau Kam Shing over a grand luncheon on February 10.

For inquiries, please call (+63 2) 7720 7777 or email lunghin.mnl@marcopolohotels.com.

In case you missed it: Lunar New Year foods from around the world

6. Summer Palace, Edsa Shangri-La, Manila

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Summer Palace’s Prosperity set menu (Photo: Edsa Shangri-La, Manila)
Above Prosperity set menu (Photo: Edsa Shangri-La, Manila)
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Summer Palace’s Wealth set menu (Photo: Edsa Shangri-La, Manila)
Above Wealth set menu (Photo: Edsa Shangri-La, Manila)

Embark on a gastronomical journey with Summer Palace’s curated set menus by chefs Andy Liew and Boonhoe Bun. Guests can choose from the rich selection of culinary options from the wealth set, prosperity set, and longevity set available until February 12, through which they can savour sumptuous dishes such as the braised supreme seafood soup and pan-fried codfish fillet in apple fruit sauce.

For inquiries, please call (63 2) 8633 8888 local 8803 or e-mail restaurantrsvns.esl@shangri-la.com.

See also: Fish-tok: The tinned fish trend explored

7. Hua Yuan Brasserie Chinoise, Hilton Manila

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Hua Yuan Brasserie Chinoise Chinese New Year set menu (Photo: Hilton Philippines)
Above Hua Yuan Brasserie Chinoise Chinese New Year set menu (Photo: Hilton Philippines)

Indulge in chef Xu Qiao Yuan’s tasty à la carte offerings at Hilton Manila’s Shanghainese restaurant, Hua Yuan Brasserie Chinoise, featuring Lunar New Year favourites for dine-in and takeaway. Highlighting the menu is the abundant luxury poon choi, a dish believed to invite prosperity.

A selection of curated reunion sets is available until February 18: the prosperity, wealth, and grand fortune sets, the latter of which includes a sautéed lobster with garlic butter, whole imperial Peking duck prepared in two distinct ways, and a sumptuous lotus seed dessert.

For inquiries, please call +63 2 7239 7788 or email MNLPH_F&Binquiries@hilton.com.

More from Tatler: What’s next for chef Bruce Ricketts? From Mecha Uma to Iai

8. No.8 China House, The Grand Kitchen, and The Lounge, Grand Hyatt Manila

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No.8 China House (Photo: Grand Hyatt Manila)
Above No.8 China House (Photo: Grand Hyatt Manila)

Grand Hyatt Manila joins the festivities with No.8 China House’s prosperity toss and special set menus for six persons, all meticulously packaged to create enduring memories.

Additionally, The Grand Kitchen prepares a Chinese New Year buffet to indulge in for dinner on February 9 and lunch and dinner on February 10. Meanwhile, at The Lounge, experience a grand Filipino-inspired afternoon tea affair with a touch of Chinese flair for what their special Lunar New Year, merienda cena menu.

For inquiries, please call (63 2) 8838 1234 or email manila.grand@hyatt.com.

9. Shang Palace, Makati Shangri-La, Manila

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Shang Palace’s Lunar New Year set menu (Photo: Makati Shangri-La, Manila)
Above Shang Palace’s Lunar New Year set menu (Photo: Makati Shangri-La, Manila)

At Shang Palace, treat your family and friends to an oriental feast curated by executive Chinese chef Chan Po San. Available until February 18, you can choose from either the harmony, prosperity or good fortune sets. Indulge in classic signatures such as braised e-fu noodles with wild mushrooms and black truffles, braised pork tendon with dried oysters and mushrooms, and, of course, yee sang to bring in favourable blessings for the year ahead. 

All set menus are good for a table of 10 people.

For inquiries, please call (63 2) 813 8888 or send an email to reservations.makati@shangri-la.com.

Read more: Makati Shangri-La, Manila is back at long last: peek into our pre-opening parties for the iconic hotel

10. Red Jade, The Manila Hotel

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Red Jade restaurant’s interior (Photo: The Manila Hotel)
Above Red Jade restaurant (Photo: The Manila Hotel)

A culinary delight awaits foodies with the exclusive set menu at Red Jade, available from February 9 to 11, boasting traditional flavours symbolising good luck and prosperity. 

It features a selection of dishes that include a suckling pig combination, seafood sharks fin soup, stir-fried scallops, braised pata time, roast goose Hong Kong style, braised dried oyster and sea moss with lechon Macau, among others.

For inquiries, please contact +632 8527-0011 or +632 5301-5500.

11. Red Lantern, Solaire Resort Entertainment City

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Photo: Solaire Resort Entertainment City
Above Photo: Solaire Resort Entertainment City

Red Lantern boasts a buffet where you can indulge in timeless Chinese meals like the crispy fried prawn salad, Dong Po-style braised pork belly, steamed dim sum, wok-fried noodles with assorted meat and more. Enjoy premium set menus that highlight the rich flavours of these dishes: yee sang with smoked salmon, steamed rock lobster, stir-fried wagyu beef, and a delicious, pan-fried rice cake.

For inquiries, please call 8888-8888 or email reservations@solaireresort.com.

More from Tatler: These are the best bar openings of 2023

12. Tao Yuan Restaurant, Newport World Resorts

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Shredded Chicken Lohe (Photo: Tao Yuan Restaurant, Newport Branch)
Above Shredded Chicken Lohe (Photo: Tao Yuan Restaurant, Newport Newport World Resorts)

Famous for some of the best Singaporean cuisine in Manila, Tao Yuan Restaurant joins in on the celebration by introducing a Chinese New Year menu, inclusive of abalone lohe, shredded chicken lohe, and poon choi—all good for six persons. 

Diners are encouraged to try out their roasted duck, pork belly, Haianese chicken, mini abalone, sea cucumber, and more as well!

For inquiries, please contact 659 3321 or +63 917 638 3911.

13. Jade Garden

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Jade Garden’s prosperity toss (Photo: Jade Garden)
Above Jade Garden’s prosperity toss (Photo: Jade Garden)

Alongside Jade Garden’s yee sang (served in à la carte and whole) is their Chinese New Year set menu of spinach seafood soup, steamed shrimp, barbecued Peking duck, sautéed whole Lapu-Lapu fillet, braised fish maw, deep fried crabs, braised e-fu noodles, and chilled almond jelly. Their promo is available starting February 1 until the 15th.

For inquiries, please visit their Instagram or Facebook page.

See also: These are the best restaurant openings of 2023

14. Canton Road at Shangri-La the Fort, Manila

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Canton Road ushers in the Wood Dragon in Shangri-La through their various offers (Photo: Shangri-La The Fort, Manila)
Above Canton Road ushers in the Wood Dragon in Shangri-La through their various offers (Photo: Shangri-La The Fort, Manila)

Executive Chinese chef Wang Wei Qing puts forward familiar flavours with modern twists, resulting in an unforgettable culinary experience. 

Their emerald, jade, gold, and diamond set menus are good for groups of 5 to 15 people. They feature enticing dishes such as the succulent crispy tiger prawn with fruits and baked almonds in Osmanthus sauce, and pan-fried mushroom stuffed shrimp paste and celery. Be sure to call well in advance to secure one of the restaurant's stylish and well-appointed private rooms for the best experience.

For inquiries, please email eats.slfm@shangri-la.com.

15. Peking Garden

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Peking Garden’s Chinese New Year set menu (Photo: Peking Garden)
Above Peking Garden’s Chinese New Year set menu (Photo: Peking Garden)

Golden prawns with salted eggs, braised pig’s knuckles with dried scallops and garlic—if these dishes caught your attention, then Peking Garden might be a good place to ring in the new year. You may order either their set with the shark’s fin with assorted seafood and sea moss or the assorted seafood and sea moss with fish lip soup, all good for 12 persons each.

For inquiries, please visit their Instagram or Facebook pages.

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