Foodie’s Guide to the Best of Chinese New Year 2023

Header photo: Yuwei Shaw on Unsplash

Chinese New Year is a welcome celebration for us after the inevitable New Year’s comedown – just over two weeks of feasting coupled with firecrackers, flowers, red envelopes and general merriment. In 2023, CNY begins on Sunday, 22 January.

Here’s our carefully curated list of the best ways to ring in this Year of the Rabbit in culinary style, from dining out in grand fashion to Lunar New Year puddings galore:

Afternoon teas

The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong

Bright and airy Lighthouse Lounge at new five-star hotel The Fullerton presents a very festive afternoon set in honour of the Year of the Rabbit. Served with a choice of coffee by local fave Elephant Grounds or tea by JING, the set ups the ante with particularly indulgent savouries such as crab Swiss roll, cured tuna blini and duck-liver pâté sandwich as well as sweet bites infused with classic Chinese flavours – think Sichuan tea mousse, dried tangerine peel cheesecake, macadamia-toffee tart and more.

Where: 1/F, The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong, 3 Ocean Drive, Aberdeen

When: until 31 January 2023 (daily 3–5pm)

How much: HK$688 for 2; HK$888 for 2 to include 2 glasses of rosé

For reservations: phone 2166 7477 or book online

Hjem

This East-meets-West afternoon tea combines the best of Hjem’s Nordic flavours with festive bakes inspired by traditional CNY treats. The three tiers feature the likes of prawn and slow-roasted pork belly smørrebrød, cinnamon and cardamon buns, cupcakes flavoured with pu’er tea and sesame, osmanthaus-honey sponge cake and classic Norwegian-style waffles, this time accented with red bean. The set comes with two glasses of refreshing mocktail Kumquat May, made with kumquat shrub, butterfly pea-infused mandarin and sparkling water.

Where: 161 Hollywood Road, Central

When: 17–29 January 2023 (Tuesday–Sunday 3–6pm)

How much: $528 for 2; HK$588 for 2 to include 2 glasses of sparkling wine

Bonus: each set comes with a scented fabric sachet courtesy of fragrance concept Culti Milano.

To contact: phone 2362 9193

Island Shangri-La

Designed by Executive Pastry Chef Julien Gourmelon, the CNY afternoon tea set at Island Shangri-La – Fortune Rabbit – features a tower of creative concoctions that symbolise good luck and prosperity. The savoury bites include premium ingredients such as abalone and Peking duck, while the sweets are inspired by the CNY symbols of firecrackers, mandarins and the jade rabbit.

Where: 6/F, Island Shangri-La, Pacific Place, Supreme Court Road, Admiralty

When: 21 January–28 February 2023 (weekdays 3–6pm; weekends and public holidays 2–6pm)

How much: HK$838 for 2. A takeaway tea set is available for the same price.

For reservations: phone 2877 3838 or email lobbylounge.isl@shangri-la.com

Kerry Hotel, Hong Kong

Dubbed the “Joyous and Prosperous” afternoon tea, this CNY offering at Kerry Hotel is all about indulgence, featuring truffle and caviar delights by Plantin Kaviari. The sweets and savouries are inspired by the symbols of Lunar New Year, from a “lo hei“ paper rice roll filled with caviar and a deep-fried edible frog-shaped lantern with truffle-herb cream to sweets of mini mandarin (dark chocolate brownie with clementine confit) and vanilla firecracker (pecan sponge with pineapple confit).

Where: 1/F, Kerry Hotel, Hong Kong, 38 Hung Luen Road, Hung Hom Bay

When: until 31 January 2023 (weekdays 2:30–5:30pm; weekends and public holidays 1:30–4pm, 4:15–6pm)

How much: HK$688 for 2 on weekdays; HK$698 for 2 on weekends and public holidays; +HK$188 for 2 glasses of Veuve Clicquot NV. A takeaway tea set is available for HK$588.

For reservations: phone 2252 5237 or book online

The Murray, Hong Kong

Garden Lounge at The Murray is offering a three-tiered set that infuses Chinese flavours into the traditional afternoon tea experience. Highlights include baked pandan leaf and preserved egg puff, red bean soup with mandarin peel, date cake with osmanthus whipped cream, abalone and diced chicken puff and smoked salmon spring poll. Plus, the eatery’s elegant yet relaxed setting is always a treat.

Where: UG/F, The Murray, Hong Kong, 22 Cotton Tree Drive, Central

When: until 13 February 2023 (daily 2:45–6pm)

How much: HK$728 for 2; HK$828 for 2 to include 2 glasses of Saicho sparkling tea or sparkling wine

For reservations: phone 3141 8888 or book online

W Hong Kong

The CNY afternoon tea at glam WOOBAR over at W Hong Kong features special treats with a Lunar New Year slant. Dig into the likes of lemongrass-infused drunken abalone with goji, chilled crystal ham with balsamic pearls, sweet-and sour prawn salad sandwich, shredded BBQ duck and foie gras terrine brioche bun and sesame jellyfish chicken salad vol-au-vent alongside innovative Chinese sweets such as red bean cupcake with osmanthus and hawthorn macaron. The scones come with homemade red date jam and orange marmalade for lashing.

Where: 6/F, W Hong Kong, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon

When: 22 January–5 February 2023 (daily 3–6pm)

How much: HK$828 for 2

For reservations: phone 3717 2889 or email woobar.hk@whotels.com

More CNY goodies

Asahi Super Dry CNY cans

If you’re buying any beer to accompany a feast this Chinese New Year, Asahi Super Dry’s limited-edition cans would be a fun addition to the table. This Japanese beer brand (number 1 in the Land of the Rising Sun) has designed the limited-time cans in collaboration with award-winning Nippon Design Center in Japan in honour of the Year of the Rabbit. We love the bold, geometric design, which reminds us of Japanese origami.

The Chairman x Dashijie radish cake

Theresa Mak, otherwise known as Dashijie (“first disciple”), is a Cantonese cuisine master, and this year, she is collaborating with Michelin-starred The Chairman (ranked at number 5 on Asia’s 50 Best 2022 list) to offer this divine sakura shrimp mala radish cake (HK$398), kicked up a notch with Sichuan peppercorn, dried chilli, Sichuan-flavoured Chinese sausage and waxed meat. Other CNY pudding options by Dashijie include her signature radish cake (HK$348), ginger and brown sugar cake (HK$248) and turnip cake with tangerine peel (HK$478), a collab with the Mandarin Oriental.

Where: APITA (Quarry Bay), city’super (Harbour City, ifc mall, New Town Plaza, Times Square), GUU SAN (TST), House Selection by Saanga (Happy Valley), SOGO (Causeway Bay)

When: while supplies last

To order: order online

Cuisine Cuisine x Johnnie Walker whisky gift box

What goes better with a CNY pud than a dram of whisky? Modern Cantonese restaurant Cuisine Cuisine has come to the rescue with the debut of the Prosperity Premium Whisky Gift Box (HK$1,188), a partnership with Scotch whisky brand Johnnie Walker. Inside the box, you’ll find two of Cuisine Cuisine’s bestselling CNY puddings – turnip pudding with Parma ham and coconut cream pudding with Okinawan brown sugar – along with a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label (200 ml). Cheers!

Where: Cuisine Cuisine (ifc mall and The Mira Hong Kong)

When: until 21 January 2023

To order: order online

Hotel ICON seafood buffet

Hotel ICON always dazzles with its holiday extravagance, and that’s the case again this Chinese New Year. In particular, we want to shout out the seafood buffet event held at the hotel’s Silverbox Ballroom. Executive Chef Danny Ho, Executive Sous Chef Joe Wan, Chinese Chef Raymond Fung, Malaysian Chef Kelvin Lee and Thai Chef Jack Pinkkang have teamed up to offer this slap-up spread of both traditional Lunar New Year dishes and international delicacies. The star of the show is the 35-inch Malaysian-style lo hei, or prosperity toss, with selected guests chosen to do the tossing on stage and each table gifted with their own portion for good luck. Other CNY-exclusive dishes include double-boiled abalone soup, braised dried oyster with pork tongue and bird’s nest Hokkaido milk pudding. Free-flow house wine, sparkling wine, beer, juice and soft drinks are included.

To keep you entertained, the hotel has lined up live martial arts and acrobatics performances, complimentary Chinese calligraphy and a lucky draw.

Where: 1/F, Hotel ICON, 17 Science Museum Road, TST East

When: brunch – 25, 28–29 January 2023 (11:45am–2:30pm); dinner – 18–20, 26–27 January 2023 (6:30–9:30pm)

How much: brunch – HK$668/adult and HK$398/child; dinner – HK$838/adult and HK$498/child

For reservations: phone 3400 1388, email book.restaurant@hotel-icon.com or book online

Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour Hong Kong x Patisserie La Lune palmier gift box

If you’ve overdone it with the new year puddings, switch things up with this palmier gift set (HK$230) offered by Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour. A collaboration with home-grown bakery Patisserie La Lune, each striking gift box, designed by local artist Leon Lollipop, contains 24 of the bakery’s beloved golden, flaky classic palmiers (otherwise known as butterfly crisps). These babies go perfectly with a cup of tea, Chinese or otherwise.

Where: The Farmhouse, 2/F, Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour Hong Kong, 1 North Point Estate Lane, North Point

When: until 25 January 2023, while stocks last

Jiangsu Club Jiangsu-style poon choi

Newcomer Jiangsu Club, a restaurant celebrating Su cuisine, one of China’s eight treasured regional cuisines, is marking its first Chinese New Year with a superior Jiangsu Prosperity Pot (HK$2,280 for 6–8). Otherwise known as poon choi, this traditional Cantonese layered festive dish, here reinterpreted in Su style, features 16 premium ingredients headlined by Jiangsu specialities including braised Ibérico pork meatballs, Hangzhou pork belly with house-made brine and Shanghainese salted meat. All pots come with an extra portion of homemade golden chicken broth for customers to add as they wish.

The chefs at Jiangsu Club have also crafted a selection of CNY puddings – red date cake (HK$138), turnip pudding (HK$168) and a combo gift set (HK$388) of the two puddings plus homemade cashew cookies and Bi Luo Chun green tea – as well as two lavish banquet menus (The Fortune Feast – HK$780/person for 4; The Prosperity Feast – HK$1,280/person for 6+) for those wishing to dine out in style.

Where: 2/F, Alliance Building, 130–136 Connaught Road Central, Sheung Wan

When: until 5 February 2023

To order/book: phone/WhatsApp 6230 8973 or book online

Lady M My Melody gift set

For those gifting to kids (or the young at heart), check out Lady M’s My Melody Lunar New Year Gift Set (HK$688). This adorable box set (definitely a keeper) showcases an interactive 3D pop-up diorama of My Melody and includes six drawers containing festive Lady M bonbons the likes of Golden Tangerine Pearls, Prosperpus Plum Blossoms and Harmonious Matcha Crunch. The gift set also includes a pack of red envelopes in the same design.

Where: all Lady M boutiques around town; click here for locations

When: until 25 January 2023 (redemption available at Harbour City and World Trade Centre shops only from 22–25 January)

The Peninsula Hong Kong artisanal treats

The Peninsula has several recommended options for CNY gifting crafted by Chinese Cuisine Executive Chef Lam Yuk Ming and his team at Michelin-starred Spring Moon, from bountiful hampers to puddings aplenty. We’re particularly keen on the selection of fiery homemade condiments, sure to elevate just about any dish. This year’s offerings include Sichuan chilli sauce (HK$338), Chiu Chow chilli sauce (HK$238) and XO chilli sauce (HK$380). The Sichuan chilli sauce contains Da Hong Pao Sichuan peppercorns, nutmeg and Japanese sakura shrimp, while the Chiu Chow chilli sauce is made with a savoury blend of chillies, spices and salted fish.

Where: Shop MW18, M1/F, The Peninsula Hong Kong, Salisbury Road, TST

When: until 21 January 2023

To order: order online

Tin Lung Heen (The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong) CNY menus

Push the boat out with a refined Cantonese meal at two-Michelin-starred Tin Lung Heen at The Ritz-Carlton. The lunch and dinner menus by Director of Culinary – Chef Paul Lau have been designed to celebrate good fortune and prosperity. Pan-fried Hokkaido scallop with tomato and crispy rice cracker, braised abalone with goose web, double-boiled sea conch soup with superior sea cucumber, goji berry and red date and wok-fried razor clam with chive and garlic are just a few of the many luxurious dishes featured.

Where: 102/F, The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon

When: 22 January–5 February 2023

How much: lunch – HK$768/person; dinner – HK$1,688/person

For reservations: phone 2263 2270 or book online

Zuma CNY hamper

Perennially popular Japanese restaurant Zuma has launched its first-ever CNY hamper (HK$688), and it’s a doozy. Inside the sleek gift box, there’s a bespoke container filled with eight (lucky) chocolates handcrafted in special colours, shapes and flavours, a bottle of a festive cocktail called Yuzu Moon made with yuzu-infused gin, vermouth and maraschino liqueur and – the crowning glory – a bottle of Ruinart rosé champagne for toasting to the Year of the Rabbit.

Where: 5/F & 6/F, LANDMARK, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central