Celebrating Chinese New Year in the Philippines is an experience that combines vibrant festivities, rich traditions, and, most importantly, a feast for everyone’s taste buds. This guide will navigate you through the best places in the Philippines to immerse yourself during celebrations, focusing on where to enjoy the most delectable Chinese New Year feast.
Binondo: The Heart of Chinese New Year Celebrations
Binondo, Manila’s Chinatown, is the heart of the Chinese New Year in the Philippines every year. As the oldest Chinatown in the world, it serves the festive experience of traditional lion and dragon dances, fireworks, and, most importantly, the finest food through its streets. From the savory dumplings to sweet tikoy, Binondo’s food scene is unmatched but take note, this only comes at an affordable price. Check out recos on the streets of Binondo:
Dong Bei Dumplings
This tiny gem of an eatery serves up authentic, homemade Chinese dumplings that are not to be missed. Though the dining room seats only a handful, it overflows with old-world charm and tantalizing aromas from the open kitchen.
Wai Ying Fastfood
Feast in wallet-friendly Chinese flavors at Wai Ying Fastfood, where cravings meet affordability. This humble spot plates up dim sum baskets with delights like shrimp dumplings, pork and chive dumplings, and siomai.
Sincerity Cafe & Restaurant
Though not strictly a Chinese restaurant, no trip to Binondo is complete without stopping by Sincerity Cafe for their legendary fried chicken. Crispy, juicy, and addictively seasoned, their trademark Sincerity Fried Chicken lives up to its name in freshness and flavor.
Luxury Feasts in Hotel-Based Chinese Restaurants
For a grand dining experience, several hotel-based Chinese restaurants offer set menus for the Chinese New Year. These menus are crafted to provide a luxurious feast that includes traditional dishes such as Peking duck, dim sum, and nian gao, ensuring a memorable celebration but comes with a great price, too!
Great Travel Magazine’s feature on celebrating Chinese New Year with great foods from hotel-based Chinese restaurants highlights the best places in the Philippines to celebrate it. The featured restaurants namely:
Canton Road, Shangri-La at the Fort
The in-house restaurant at Shangri-La at The Fort elevates traditional Chinese cuisine with a modern twist. Their exquisite set menus are ideal for any celebration specifically for Chinese New Year feast.
Jasmine, New World Makati Hotel
Jasmine’s set of menus are perfect for Chinese New feast as well with highlights to their Salmon Yu Sheng salad, pan-fried garoupa, wok-fried beef, and more.
Red Jade, Manila Hotel
You can also celebrate at home but still with bountiful Manila Hotel’s Chinese Takeout Feast Sets. These special offerings allow you to enjoy abundant prosperity dishes this Chinese New Year.
Man Ho, Manila Marriott Hotel
Welcome the Year of the Wood Dragon with Man Ho’s auspicious culinary trio:
- Abundance – Poon Choi: This hearty one-pot dish overflows with ingredients symbolizing bounty and togetherness.
- Prosperity – Lo Hei: Toss this vibrant salad high to uplift prosperity in the coming year.
- Harmony – Tikoy: These sweet glutinous rice cakes signify family unity and bonding.
The celebration of Chinese New Year in the Philippines is a testament that from the historic streets of Binondo to the luxurious settings of hotel-based restaurants, the festivities offer a diverse range of experiences that cater to all tastes and budgets. As we embrace the Chinese New Year feast, we should also be reminded of the beauty and joy of shared celebrations with good food.
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