Unconventional restaurants to celebrate Chap Goh Meh 2024

On the last socially acceptable day to toss yee sang with loved ones, why not do so at Coast by Kayra? The latest seafood-focused venture of Kayra  has created a left of centre yee sang spotlighting cuisine-specific ingredients and preparations. Alongside the restaurant’s innovative festive centrepiece, find elevated street food options from dosa tacos to dahi puri shooters and substantial South Indian plates— perfect for the year’s final reunion meal. 

A stone’s throw away from the peninsular’s most vibrant Chap Goh Meh celebration, Norm Micro Roastery in Penang will offer you the tiniest bit of respite before hurling oranges towards a potential partner. Open from 9 am, you’ll be able to visit for a Chap Goh Meh brunch fortified by coffee roasted in-house, Niko Neko Matcha, or Mörk hot chocolate. When the sun sets, the coffeehouse transforms into Open Minded, a speakeasy serving bespoke cocktails and homestyle dinner plates, in case you’d like a pre-celebration tipple. 

Tang yuan is a dish best served warm (and on the last day of Chinese New Year). Symbolic of familial connection and unity, glutinous rice balls with varieties of flavoured broths and fillings traditionally make appearances on Chap Goh Meh spreads. To preserve the custom while making it your own, opt for tang yuan’s distant cousin—mochi. Intricacy helms Bukit Bintang’s mochi crafters, Yu Wagashi. The sweet shop celebrates mochi as an art with an impressive selection of decorative treats and offers mochi-making workshops. To honour family the way the ritual of eating tang yuan does, spend the day making (or eating) these desserts together.

From pengat to orange throwing, regional Malaysia is home to some of the most unique Chap Goh Meh customs on the planet. If you’re looking for an unconventional way to spend the day that still pays homage to local tradition, celebrate with one of Malaysia’s provincial delicacies. Devil curry or curry debal’s origins lie along the quaint streets of Malacca’s Portuguese settlement, but the dish is also a mainstay of the Kristang or Eurasian community in Penang. Devil curry can be found in Kuala Lumpur at Kumi Cafe, alongside a selection of Kristang heritage dishes from buah keluak curry to amibilla kacang.  

Fook’s menu is a showcase of contemporary Malaysian cuisine peppered with East Asian influence. The ambience epitomises romance, with glowing lanterns illuminating intimate dining spaces. Romantic table preparations can be requested in advance to complement the restaurant’s expansive offerings. Find steamed sea bass with lime and asam boi, smoked duck masak lemak, chilli crab meat with fried mantou, and wok hey beef kerabu. Farm-to-glass cocktails, organic wines, Asian spirits, and a curated selection of liquors can also be found here. 

Famed for its buckwheat fried chicken, this neighbourhood favourite is the perfect spot for family meals. Its menu is soulful and inviting, spotlighting down-to-earth plates done well. Offering a festive yee sang for the season, you'll also be able to indulge in pork ribs with pineapple glaze, confit duck leg accompanied by mustard greens, and whole roast fish with harissa sauce. 

Focused on contemporary Thai cuisine, Kompassion has been coined as one of the best Thai eateries in the city. Its menu houses unique Thai fare, relatively unknown in Malaysia. In the same vein of uplifting this year’s Chap Goh Meh celebrations but taking the road less travelled, opt for plates you’ve yet to try. Expect a festive exclusive of sea tiger prawns served alongside yellow chilli and lime and crab yee sang, as well as mainstays including spicy seafood po taek, sea snail curry with miang kam leaves, and gaeng som with Norwegian salmon. 

The Hungry Tapir is a favourite among the local plant-based community for redefining Malaysian cuisine with sustainability and accessibility. While not a traditional dining venue for the occasion, if you aren’t able to attend a conventional Chap Goh Meh celebration, The Hungry Tapir’s interior proves a fitting alternative. A highlight of the restaurant’s interior is its hanging lantern chandelier, reflective of one of the holiday’s most significant customs. The warmth radiating off its centrepiece, coupled with its selection of cocktails, makes the Chinatown eatery an excellent spot for date night, while its family-friendly menu will be able to cater to larger groups.

A favourite for ferments, Fafaba is hosting its very own Chap Goh Meh eve celebration with a menu designed for two. Whether you’re celebrating a late Valentine’s day or an early Chap Goh Meh, make your way to REXKL for an evening of natural wine and sweet courses. Diners will be able to share a menu of one of Fafaba’s wines, The Rex Bar’s beer or cocktails, and homemade desserts.