What To Eat On Chinese New Year in Singapore 2026?
Guide to Chinese New Year 2026 Feast Ideas Loved by Singapore Families
Sarai Fine Thai | 2026
Chinese New Year 2026 arrives with families across Singapore preparing for reunion meals and open house spreads. You gather around the table to welcome the new year with dishes linked to luck, wealth, and harmony. Food plays a central role in how you mark the season. From Yu sheng and whole fish to noodles, dumplings, and festive CNY desserts that are part of most set menu. Each item carries meaning passed down through generations. This guide focuses on feast ideas Singapore families continue to love today. You will find familiar classics and popular modern additions suited for home cooking and takeaway orders. Use these ideas to plan a Lunar New Year table your guests recognize and enjoy.
IN THIS ARTICLE
What To Eat On Chinese New Year in Singapore 2026?
Best Dishes to Eat this 2026 Chinese New Year in Singapore
If you are looking for a fresh way to celebrate the traditional Chinese New Year this 2026, Singapore’s food scene has some truly prosperous surprises waiting for you. While many stick to the usual routines, choosing a unique reunion dinner can symbolise a bold start to the coming year. Sarai Fine Thai is offering a spectacular new year collection of dishes that blend Thai zest with Chinese New Year tradition, making it a top pick for your festive dishes.
A Modern Take on a Classic Tradition
The yusheng is the ultimate centrepiece of any day of Chinese New Year, and at Sarai, they give it a refined twist. Their Prosperity Yu Sheng features delicately smoked salmon and aromatic herbs, designed to bring wealth and good fortune with every toss. It is a must-have for anyone wanting to invite golden fortune into their lives.
2-4 pax: $38
5-6 pax: $48
Your Step-by-Step Guide to Lohei
When the festive dishes arrive at the centrepiece of your table, follow this order to ensure a prosperous year ahead:
Jelly Fish: Add this for abundance. Say Nián Nian Yǒu Yú to wish for surplus every year.
Pepper & Cinnamon Powder: Sprinkle these to attract wealth and good fortune. Say Zhāo Cái Jìn Bǎo.
Oil Dressing: Pour it on to encourage money to flow in from all directions. Say Cái Yuán Gǔn Gǔn.
Sweetened Lime: Squeeze this for good fortune and big luck. Say Dà Jí Dà Lì.
Chopped Peanut: Scatter these to symbolise a household filled with gold and silver. Say Jīn Yín Mǎn Wū.
Sesame Seeds: These represent a flourishing business and new beginnings.
Orange Plum Sauce: Drizzle this over everything for a sweet and loving year ahead. Say Tián Tián Mì Mì.
The Prosperity Set: A Feast for the Senses
For $88++ per pax, you can enjoy a celebration of lucky foods that are as delicious as they are meaningful. This CNY food experience is designed to ensure a prosperous year ahead through a carefully curated new year food journey.
Starters for Good Fortune The meal kicks off with Thai fortune dumplings (Kiao Nam Chok) filled with roast duck, which are shaped to represent wealth. You will also enjoy the zesty Lab Gai in cucumber cups and savoury beef satay, all of which serve as perfect celebratory dishes to start your new beginnings.
The Broth of Longevity The soup course is a fish maw broth with handmade crab meat balls. In many Chinese New Year celebrations, fish maw is a prized delicacy that represents longevity and health, making it a vital part of the dishes served during the festivities.
Main Dishes for Abundance The main dishes are where the celebration truly shines:
Deep-fried Garoupa: A whole fish is a traditional Chinese New Year staple to represent surplus.
Yellow Crab Curry: The bright yellow hue of this auspicious dish mimics the color of gold.
Stir-fried Beef Cubes: A hearty dish that brings energy for the year of the horse.
Shrimp Paste Fried Rice: A vibrant plate filled with dragon fruit and mango, perfect for Chinese New Year feasts.
Best Dessert to Your Lunar New Year Treats
To wrap up your Chinese New Year celebration, the sweet dessert of Bua Loy Chom Mung is served. These flower-shaped glutinous dumplings symbolise family unity and harmony, ensuring your year ahead is as sweet as can be. It is a beautiful finale to one of the most unique CNY meals in the city.
Maximizing the First Day of Chinese New Year: Family Traditions & Fun
Once the plates are cleared and everyone is feeling happy after a wonderful reunion dinner, the celebration is only just beginning! In Singapore, the first day of Chinese New Year is filled with vibrant energy. Here is how you can keep the golden fortune flowing with your loved ones:
Exciting Post-Feast Activities
Visit the River Hongbao & Chinatown Light-Ups To see the city at its most beautiful, take a family stroll through Chinatown or head to Gardens by the Bay. Since 2026 is the Year of the Horse, you will be greeted by massive, glowing lanterns of galloping horses. These displays symbolise strength and speed, making them the perfect backdrop for your family photos. It is a great way to walk off those festive dishes while soaking in the holiday spirit.
The "No-Sweep" Rule for Good Luck While you might want to tidy up after the big feast, traditional Chinese New Year wisdom says: put that broom away! One of the most famous beliefs is that you should not sweep the floor on the first day. Doing so is thought to "sweep away" all the wealth and good fortune that just entered your home. Let the mess sit for a day it is a small price to pay for a prosperous year ahead!
Relaxing with Lunar New Year Treats After your walk, head back home to dive into your stash of lunar new year treats. This is the best time to open those tins of love letters and pineapple tarts. Pair these new year treats with a warm pot of tea and share your hopes for the coming year. These quiet moments of connection are what make a Chinese New Year celebration truly special.
A Quick Checklist for a Lucky Day
Wear Bright Colors: Choose red or gold color clothes to attract golden fortune.
Give and Receive: Keep your red packets (ang baos) ready for the younger ones.
Make this festive season count with a reunion meal that blends tradition with bold flavours. Sarai Fine Thai offers a refined take on celebratory dining, perfect for families who want something familiar yet distinct. Secure your table early, gather your loved ones, and toast to a year filled with abundance, harmony, and shared moments around good food.
Address: Tanglin Mall 163 Tanglin Road #03-122 Singapore 247933