8 Lucky Foods for Chinese New Year and Where to Eat Them

Chinese celebrations surely must involve food. For Chinese New Year, some delicacies are considered especially important because they are believed to bring a year of good fortune and health. We are not experts on luck and you can find many lists of Lucky Foods for Chinese New Year. We are merely food bloggers and we think enjoying a good meal with loved ones is the luckiest thing. If you are eating out in Singapore though, finding restaurants open during CNY and are not fully booked may take a bit of luck. Our list of 8 Lucky Foods for Chinese New Year and Where to Eat Them in Singapore may help you to find good fortune and health or at least some good eats.

8 Lucky Foods for Chinese New Year

1. Fish 鱼 (Yu)

Fish 鱼 (Yu) is symbolic of 年年有余(nián nián yǒu yú) which means having abundance every year. For traditional steamed fish, Kai Garden in Marina Square comes to mind.

Kai Garden 嘉苑
6 Raffles Boulevard, #03-128A/B, Marina Square
Singapore 039594

Tel: +65 6250 4826

Fish cooked in non-Chinese style should do just as well. Have fish & chips at The Mad Sailors in Haji Lane.

The Mad Sailors – British Kitchen
24 Haji Lane
Singapore 189217

Tel: +65 8248 2853

Opening Hours:
Monday to Thursday – 12pm to 10pm
Friday – 12pm to 11pm
Saturday – 9am to 11pm
Sunday – 9am to 10pm

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2. Long Noodles

Noodles are symbolic of longevity. Long Life Vegetarian Noodles are on the menu of Chopsuey Cafe, with outlets in Dempsey Road and Martin Road.

Chopsuey Cafe
Block 10, Dempsey Road
#01-23
Singapore 247700

Tel: +65 9224 6611

Chopsuey Cafe
38 Martin Road
Singapore 239072

Tel : +65 8188 6177

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3. Jiaozi (Dumplings)

Jiaozi (Dumplings) look like ingots, the currency of ancient China, and so having jiaozi symbolises having wealth. Very good dumplings are served at Imperial Treasure Fine Teochew Cuisine in the heart of Orchard Road. Alternatively, try some modern ones with truffle oil at Xiao Ya Tou.

Imperial Treasure Fine Teochew Cuisine
ION Orchard, #03-05
2 Orchard Turn
Singapore 238801

Tel: +65 67362118

Xiao Ya Tou
6 Duxton Hill
Singapore 089592

Tel: +65 6226 1965

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4. Spring Rolls

Fried spring rolls look like gold bars – enough said. Yhingthai Palace Restaurant serves delicious fried spring rolls.

Yhingthai Palace Restaurant
36 Purvis Street #01 – 04
Singapore 188613

Tel: +65 6337 1161

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5. Fatt Choy Ho See – Black moss with dried oysters

Fatt Choy (black sea moss), which sounds like “strike it rich” in Cantonese, and Ho See (braised dried oysters), a Cantonese term signifying “good things”, are so potently good that Singaporeans of all dialects have made it a staple for the Chinese New Year meals. Baba Chews in Katong has on its menu Pork Knuckle Pongteh with Fatt Choy and Dried Oyster. The Peranakan at Claymore Connect also has Fatt Choy Chap Chye.

Baba Chews Bar and Eatery
86 East Coast Road
#01-01 Katong Square
Singapore 428788

Tel: +65 6723 2025

The Peranakan Restaurant
Claymore Connect, #02-01
442 Orchard Road
Singapore 238879

Tel: +65 6262 4428

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6. Chicken

The Chicken served whole symbolises family unity and a good marriage. Old School ‘Yuk Lan’ Chicken is available at Empress.  Dragon Phoenix restaurants in various locations serve tasty chicken.

EMPRESS @ Asian Civilisations Museum
Empress Place, 01-03
Asian Civilisations Museum
Singapore 179555

Tel : +65 6238 8733

Dragon Phoenix Grand Chinese Restaurant
Temasek Club
131 Rifle Range Road
Singapore 588406

Tel: +65 6463 3628

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7. Tāngyuán 汤圆 (Sweet Glutinous Rice Balls)

Tāngyuán is one of the lucky foods for Chinese New Year because the pronunciation and round shape of tāngyuán are associated with reunion. Try the Sweet Glutinous Rice Balls with a variety of fillings at Din Tai Fung (with many branches all over Singapore) or the Sweet Glutinous Rice Balls in Pulot Hitam at Taman Manis – Desserts in Wild Market Food & Bar.

Din Tai Fung at Suntec City
3 Temasek Boulevard #02-302
Singapore 038983

Tel: +65 6338 2422

Wild Market Food & Bar
#01-27 Shaw Towers,
100 Beach Road
Singapore 189702

Tel: +65 9247 5319

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8.Nian Guo 年糕 (Rice cake)

Nian Guo 年糕 (Rice cake) sounds like 年高 (nián gāo); and 年年高 (nián nián gāo) means getting higher every year, which is of course a good thing most of the times. Special new year glutinuos rice cakes are available at Si Chuan Dou Hua, which has branches in UOB Plaza, ParkRoyal at Beach Road, ParkRoyal at Kitchener Road and Tampines Hub.

Si Chuan Dou Hua
80 Raffles Place, #60-01 UOB Plaza 1,
Singapore 048624

Tel: +65 6535 6006

Si Chuan Dou Hua
Parkroyal on Beach Road
7500A Beach Road
Singapore 199591

Tel:+65 6505 5722

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Restaurants open during Chinese New Year 2017

If good luck to you simply means finding a place that is open on the 1st and 2nd day of CNY and serving a decent meal, here is a list of places open during the Chinese New Year 2017 holidays. Do call and check their operating hours, which may differ from their usual opening hours.

Basilico in Regent Hotel

Blu Kouzina in Dempsey

Equilibrium in Capitol Piazza

Gallery & Co in National Gallery Singapore

Margarita’s in Dempsey

Open Door Policy in Tiong Bahru

Peach Garden in Chinatown & various other locations

Peony Jade in Clarke Quay & Keppel Club

Prego in Fairmont Hotel

Prive at CHIJMES

Ristorante Da Valentino in Tuft City

Rubato Italian at Greenwood Avenue

Spize Rifle Range at Temasek Club

Spuds & Aprons on Mount Faber

Supply & Demand in Orchard Gateway

The Coffee Academics in Scotts Square

The Song of India at Scotts Road

Zaffron Kitchen in Westgate and East Coast

Food Courts at Bugis Junction, NEX, VivoCity and ION Orchard.

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年年有余 (niánnián yǒu yú) 年年高升 (niánnián gāoshēng)

The Ordinary Patrons
Singapore Food Blog by Ordinary People looking for Places to Eat