Ringing in the Chinese New Year 2025 with a sumptuous spread is ritual by now, but getting a table is an exercise of the extremes, even for a city filled with the best dining choices. The bigger the family, the more criteria to consider—the perfect location, a menu that accommodates varied palates, an atmosphere that nails the vibrant celebrations, and the list goes on.
Prefaced by a resplendent family reunion dinner that is believed to pave the way for the year, it is tradition to put forth a table full of dishes carrying different symbolisms, such as Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, and steamed fish. We can’t forget a local favourite too, the Yee Sang—the year is incomplete without a few tosses and uttering profound adages as we usher in fortune for the lunar new year. As we bid farewell to the old and welcome the new, we put together a list to narrow down the overwhelming smorgasbord of seasonal offerings around the city to save you the hassle.
The Best Restaurants for Chinese New Year 2025
Shang Palace, Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur
The old way is the new way. At Shang Palace, set menus with eight or nine courses are decked with dishes that are all-time favourites such as Double-boiled Chicken with Chinese Herbs and Figs soup, Crystal Noodles, and the luxurious 6-head Abalone with Sea Moss and Sun-dried Oyster. Go big or go home with the traditional menu by adding Poon Choi, a symbol of abundance and unity in the culture. This rich-flavoured dish is available for dine-in and takeaway, featuring a delightful mix of prime ingredients like abalone, sea cucumber, Japanese conpoy, goose web, and more. The best way to end the meal? Nian Gao: a traditional sweet rice cake commonly served as dessert for New Year celebrations.
We are also on an annual quest for Yee Sang that is actually delectable, and Shangri-La has four. With prices starting from RM 148 nett, pick between the abalone, smoked Scottish salmon, crispy salmon skin and jellyfish, and Korean winter snow pear.
Date: 6 January to 12 February 2025
Address: 11, Jln Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Price: from RM228 per person
Tao Chinese Cuisine, InterContinental Kuala Lumpur
Not one but seven menus are available at Intercontinental: The Fortune Set if you want to splurge, the Longevity Vegetarian Set if you are looking for a table full of green goodness, and the Mystic Set if you are looking for a dinner that serves your small family of two, just to name a few. An award-winning Muslim-friendly Chinese restaurant, Tao Chinese Cuisine rolls out a feast with mains such as the Kirin-style Roasted London Duck donned with Mandarin Orange, Steamed Giant River Prawns with Sea Urchin, Egg White, and Shredded Ginger—some of the familiar dishes you would find in an establishment rooted in Cantonese cuisine. Chef Tommy’s healthier take on Cantonese cuisine, however, is what stood out for us. Our favourites from the menu have to be the Waxed Meat Rice that replaced glutinous rice with Canadian Wild Rice, or the Sticky Rice dessert that features a mochi-like texture instead of the usual sticky and tough chew.
Date: 26 December 2024 to 12 February 2025
Address: 11, Jln Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Price: from RM588
Yen, W KL
Under the lead of Chef Tan Kim Weng, Yen at W KL is well known for its authentic good ol’ Cantonese delicacies. To celebrate the year of abundance, lavish menus are crafted to accommodate groups of varying sizes accordingly. Expect to be floored by some of the no-frills goodies like Roasted Chicken with Lin Seed, Wok-fried Beetroot Rice with Prawns and Crab Meat, and also Steamed Tiger Grouper Fish prepared in the authentic Teo Chew Style. A staple on every table, patrons also get to enjoy a prosperity toss, spoiled with four different Yee Sang, either a refreshing Premium Jelly Fish Yee Sang with Korean Snow Pear to prep your palate or a swanky Abalone Yee Sang that features premium ingredients like caviar, truffle oil and gold flakes.
Date: 2 January to 12 February 2025
Address: Level 11, W, 121, Jln Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Price: from RM208+ per person
Phone: 012-357 4788
Jade Pavilion, Pavilion Hotel
Refined Cantonese dishes, we heard you say? Jade Pavilion is here to serve us six varieties of Yee Sang and two eight-course menus: the Fortune and the Prosperity Set menu. Not sure about everyone else, but the roasted duck at Jade Pavilion has always been a highlight—at least for us. Taking the classic dish to another level of greatness, the Fortune menu invites patrons to the Slow Oven Roasted Duck with Black Summer Truffle Sauce. To complement the dish, numbers like Steamed Sabah Lobster with Golden Garlic and Sweet Basil Leaf and Braised Premium Dried Seafood with Sun-Dried Oyster and Fatt Choy too, are served.
Yee Sang at Jade Pavilion is all about balance, in terms of ingredients used. The Salmon Yee Sang with Octopus and Organic Heirloom Cherry Tomato, for example, is composed of fresh ingredient that levels out each other. For those who want an auspicious toss—it’s all about the symbolism after all—the Salmon Yee Sang with 16 Head Abalone and Alaskan Scallop spells nothing but prosperity.
Date: 2 January to 28 February 2025
Address: 170, Jln Bukit Bintang, Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Price: from RM 238 per person
Phone: +60 3 2117 2823
Ignis
We all know by now that Ignis serves some of the best modern wood-fired dishes but also experiences in town. Plus, grilled food for Chinese New Year? Who could say no? Unveiling three exclusive dishes crafted for the occasion, Ignis is setting the new year on a fiery start.
Grilled radish cake is a humble yet staple dish for many, but when paired with tangy pickled Shimeji mushrooms drizzled with prawn oil, the dish works perfectly as an appetizing starter. A feast for both the eyes and the tastebuds, the Chicken Stuffed Cabbage—topped with truffle and simmered in rich mushroom broth—and the hearty Crab Claypot rice call back to the nostalgic warmth that most Malaysian Chinese families are familiar with. Ending the night—or starting the year—on a high note, the grill also reveals a special Chinese New Year cocktail, Sippin’ on Soy. Doing what they do best, the glass gives the Old Fashioned a festive twist with savoury soy sauce, adding a touch of unexpected umami to the classic.
Date: 13 January to 12 February 2025.
Address: G-02A, Ground Level, The Sphere, No. 1, Avenue 1, Bangsar South City, 8, Jalan Kerinchi, 59200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Price: from RM 38
Lai Po Heen, Mandarin Oriental
Leave it to Lai Po Heen, the Cantonese cuisine expert to hit the mark when it comes to a classic Poon Choi. A flavourful one-pot dish, Poon Choi has “all the good stuff”: prawns, abalone, scallops, roast meat and more, you name it. A must-have for many families, Lai Po Heen offers two different pots, the Chinese New Year Treasure Pot (priced at RM 1,588) and the Chinese New Year Supreme Treasure Pot (priced at 3,318), both come in portions that serve six.
It’s common for us to think about the reunion dinner, but for those who are planning on a reunion lunch instead, the Cantonese establishment is also open for business as usual, serving impeccable dim sum dishes like the Abalone Chicken Siew Mai with Fish Roe, Lobster Dumpling with Fish Roe and Gold Leaf, and more.
Pre-order from the 6 to 28 January to enjoy an early bird promotion.
Date: 6 January to 12 February 2025.
Address: Kuala Lumpur City Centre, P.O. Box 10905, 50088, Kuala Lumpur
Phone: +60 (3)2380 8888
Oversea Restaurant
Yee Sang, Poon Choi and Claypot Waxed Mixed Rice, Oversea Restaurant is where you can find the authentic trinity of Cantonese dishes without frills. While Yee Sang is available in five different varieties you get to pick from, the Poon Choi is a bowl of greatness featuring premium ingredients. The Claypot Rice, on the other hand, is prepared using the traditional method of cooking in a clay pot. Not only will that add a layer of smoky aroma to the dish, but the pot also locks the moisture and the essence of the ingredients, making the Mixed Rice moreish than ever.
With four different nine-course menus, the Cantonese establishment highlights some of the classic dishes such as Shark’s Fin Soup, Hong Kong Style Roasted Goose and Steamed Turbot Fish. These set menus are available in all the outlets including Genting and Ipoh, those who are looking for pork-free options can proceed to make a reservation at the EMP and Oversea Seafood outlets.
Date: 3 January to 12 February 2025
Address: Various Outlets
Price: from RM 1088++ per person
Sunway Resort Hotel
Headlined by Sea Moss Abalone En Croute, the Grand Ballroom Eve’s exclusive features a succulent abalone encrusted with a truffle-infused layer that adds texture to the chewy sea offering. Specials like Steamed Whole Mangrove Jack Snapper, and Lobster Bisque with Crispy Rice too, are some of the numbers that are unmissable. To top it all off, you will also be serenaded by live performances by an award-winning Guzheng artist.
If eating with a view speaks to your ears, the Sunset Terrace menu is your go-to. Aside from the aforementioned Sea Moss Abalone En Croute, this curated menu also includes precisely prepared highlights such as the Typhoon Shelter Tiger Prawns, Steamed Barramundi Fillet and more.
Date: 15 January to 12 February 2025 (CNY Dinner Set Menu at Sunset Terrace) / 28 January only (Reunion Dinner Set Menu at Grand Ballroom)
Address: 1, Persiaran Lagoon, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Price: RM2,688.00+ per table of 10 persons
Sichuan Kitchen
If a delightful spread of Sichuan dishes for Chinese New Year sounds like music to your ears, the Sichuan Kitchen at the Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur, City Centre is your go-to. With three varied menus that cater to a minimum of two to ten, the establishment offers dishes amplify the heat and vibrancy of the celebration. While the Exclusive Private Dining Room Set Menu offers a generous amount of 17 courses, the Auspicious Individual Set Menu features 12 courses that are sensorial feasts. A medley of spicy and non-spicy dishes are available to cater your group, from Sichuan Fragrant Spicy Stir-fried Crab to Chinese Yam with Blueberry Sauce. Those with a smaller-than-four family too, can take the wild spicy journey with the Propsperity Hot Pot Set Menu—a reputable way of enjoying food in the region. Early birds who made a reservation from 1 to 24 January are entitled to a 15% discount.
Date: 1 January to 12 February 2025
Address: Corner of Jalan Sultan Ismail, &, Jln Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 WP
Price: from RM228 per person
Phone: 03 2706 9099
The Brasserie, St. Regis
As much as we appreciate the rich and flavourful spreads, some of the light-eaters have fresher and subtler preferences when it comes to Chinese New Year dinners, and The Brasserie at St. Regis ticks all the boxes. The Michelin Select establishment rolled out an elaborated eight-course menu, along with a vegetarian option that looks equally inviting. Dishes such as the Deep-fried Sea Prawns, for example, are prepared with Creamy Yuzu Sauce & Pomegranate Pulps, utilising the freshest condiments to weigh off the greasiness from the deep-fried prawns. As for vegetarians, dishes like Braised Tau Kan, and Fatt Choy with Vegetables Golden Broth are proof of premium ingredients finding their way to the best pairings.
Big groups such as company dinners that are looking for an intimate setting can consider the hotel’s private dining rooms that are spacious enough to accommodate groups of eight to 50 pax. A 72-hour pre-order is required to secure yourself a spot.
Date: 6 January to 12 February 2025
Address: 6, Jalan Stesen Sentral 2, Kuala Lumpur Sentral, 50470 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Price: from MYR432+ nett per person
Phone: +603 2727 6696
Thyme Restaurant, PARKROYAL COLLECTION
Have you ever wondered why dishes that feature seafood are always indispensable on the Chinese New Year reunion dinner table aside from its versatility? While the pronunciation of the word “fish” in Chinese sounds like “surplus”, representing abundance, the word “prawn” in Cantonese is pronounced as “ha”, symbolising laughter. So what sounds better than a seafood buffet dinner for a family reunion dinner? Find yourself digging into the literal sea of greatness featuring offerings like the Singapore Chili Crab, paired with deep-fried mantou, Braised Dried Oyster with Black Moss, Poached Whole Dish with Preserved Vegetables, Glass Noodles with Tiger Prawns, and more.
Date: 28 and 29 January 2025
Address: ln Sultan Ismail, Bukit Bintang, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Price: MYR218 nett per adult, MYR109 nett per child
Phone: +603 2782 8388
Element Kuala Lumpur
Hosting a large group can be a hassle, especially for reunion dinners; it’s not easy to put a smile on all the faces. With two nine-course menus—Auspicious Set and Prosperous Set—to choose from, The Element KL has everything for everyone, from the Signature Chicken Roulade, to steamed fish—pick between Grouper or Red Snapper, hearty double-boiled chicken soup, and more. Health-conscious eaters will also appreciate the selection of Yee Sang available on both these menus as they mainly consist of fresh fruit slices such as Mango, Jackfruit, Rose Apple and more, topped with Raw Salmon Slices, Crispy Fish Skins, or Whole Abalones, drizzled with House-Special pineapple dressing.
Those who are interested will need to make a reservation three days in advance, with a minimum of three tables that can accommodates 10 pax each.
Date: 6 January to 12 February 2025
Address: Ilham Tower, 8, Jln Binjai, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Price: from RM2388
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