Chinese New Year is coming up, which means restaurants around the UAE will be celebrating the Year of the Tiger with delicious feasts.
Whether it's buffet selections, set menus or family-style meals, in fine-dining restaurants or low-key street food-style eateries, there is something for everyone this spring festival.
Festivities are kicking off in the next week, ahead of Chinese New Year on February 1. Here's a look at where to celebrate in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Abu Dhabi
Hakkasan Abu Dhabi limited edition menu
The fine-dining Cantonese restaurant will welcome the Year of the Tiger with a limited-edition menu including a tiger-inspired beverage. The menu starts with a salad, with house cured salmon and plum dressing, served alongside a dim sum trio of baked truffle duck puff, tiger prawn dumpling and wild mushroom puff. Mains include baked cornfed spatchcock with chestnut, morel mushroom and angelica root and wok-fried wild sea bass with enoki mushroom and spicy sesame soy. Finish it off with a gold tiger-striped orange dark chocolate firecracker with mandarin sorbet.
Monday, January 31 to Sunday, February 13; 6pm-11.30pm; prices start at Dh488 per person; Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi; hakkasan@emiratespalace.ae; 02 690 7739
Nahaam Lunar New Year brunch
Nahaam at Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers will host a Lunar New Year brunch with a specially curated menu of Chinese dishes. Think Cantonese spring rolls with sweet chilli dip, sweet and sour chicken, egg fried rice, Peking duck, Schezwan black pepper beef, Chinese mango pudding and egg custard tarts. The restaurant will have Chinese-themed decor including wall art and hostesses decked out in traditional dress. The brunch will also feature live entertainment.
Saturday, February 5; 12.30pm-4pm; starting from Dh370; Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, Corniche Road, Abu Dhabi; www.hilton.com; 02 811 5666
Dubai
Ewaan's one-night only menu
Ewaan will host a one-night-only exclusive Chinese New Year dinner on January 31. The restaurant will feature themed decor and live entertainment and will also serve a specially curated menu in a buffet set-up that pays homage to Chinese spices and flavours.
Expect dishes such as Peking duck rolls, dumplings and baos, as well as hoisin roast turkey and salmon fillet teriyaki. Mains include steamed ginger soy sea bream and braised beef short ribs in black pepper. For dessert, there's the Year of the Tiger (pear compote and ginger cremeux walnut sponge), Money Bag (red velvet fruit cake) and Gong Xi Fa Cai (strawberry and milk chocolate cream choux).
Sunday, January 31; 6pm-10.30pm; Dh325 per person, children dine for 50 per cent off; Palace Downtown, Dubai; dineatpalacedowntown@addresshotels.com; 04 428 7961
China Bistro's discount
The Indo-Chinese restaurant is celebrating Chinese New Year by offering 10 per cent off to dine-in guests for the the entire month of February. Signature dishes include prawn tempura, crispy potato with lime and chilly, crispy vegetable Konjeenaro, fire-roasted marinated chicken, chicken wings in a choice of Hunan or Hong Kong sauce, and roast lamb. Health-conscious diners can try the vegetable basil dumplings, chicken basil dumplings, stir-fried Asian greens, or vegetable croquette with chilly soy.
February 1 to 28; various prices; Al Karama, Al Barsha, Discovery Gardens and Sharjah; www.chinabistro.co
IMG Worlds of Adventure
The world's largest indoor theme park will celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year with themed decorations, merchandise, food, entertainment and activities. This includes an Ancient Chinese Village, special performances, character greetings and festive street food cuisines. There will also be colourful pardes with Cartoon Network and Marvel superheroes as well as activities for children such as finding the Lunar Zodiac sign and posting wishes on the Doodle Wall.
Until February 10; noon-10pm Monday to Thursday; noon-11pm Friday and Sunday; Dh335; www.imgworlds.com; 600 500 962
Hutong
Hutong will celebrate by introducing a Chinese New Year dim sum platter and new Northern Chinese dishes such as lobster lo hei and wagyu rolls with sichaun chilli sauce, available until the end of February. Those who visit the restaurant can also enjoy traditional entertainment such as a lion and dragon dance. There is also a specially themed drink to mark the occasion, with half the proceeds raised going to WWF-UK to protect all tiger habitats across the world. It will be available throughout the entire month of February.
February 1 to 4; prices vary; noon-2.30pm, 6pm-1am; Gate Building 6, ground floor, DIFC; hutongreservations@aqua-dubai.com; 04 220 0868
Sea Fu special menu
Sea Fu is ringing in the Chinese New Year with a special menu for five days. Located in the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, the outlet will have a number of key dishes on the menu that signify helping bring luck, opportunity and fortune into the new year such as dumplings, xiao long bao, Alaskan King crab and chicken with winter black truffle.
Monday to Friday, January 31 to February 4; 12.30pm-midnight; prices vary; Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, Dubai; seafu.dubaijb@fourseasons.com; 04 270 7777
SHI limited edition menu and brunch
Authentic Chinese fine-dining eatery SHI is celebrating with a limited-edition daily menu as well as a special brunch with traditional and modern Chinese dishes.
The brunch menu will consists of a four-course meal with hot and sour soup and an option of assorted sushi platter. Then there are classic Chinese starters such as crispy duck bao ban, dim sum, crispy soft-shell crab and Cantonese char siu beef. Mains include Wagyu beef in black pepper sauce, wok-tossed lobster and Alaskan black cod with miso sauce. Those with a sweet tooth can finish the brunch off with taro creme brulee and mochi.
Saturdays, January 29 and February 5; 1pm-4pm; starts at Dh420; Bluewaters Island, Dubai; reservations@shirestaurant.com; 04 393 9990
There is also a limited-edition a la carte menu that will commemorate the Lunar New Year. The menu will be available for one week during lunch and dinner with dishes such as black Angus beef char siu boa, duck salad with peanut sauce, coral sea bass with chef’s home town sauce and wok tossed lobster with guilin sauce.
Saturday to Saturday, January 29 to February 5; 1pm-3.30pm and 6pm-2am; prices vary; Bluewaters Island, Dubai; reservations@shirestaurant.com; 04 393 9990
Buddha-Bar Dubai
Buddha-Bar is hosting a special Buddha-Bar Nights event, with a Chinese New Year theme, for four nights. There will be new shows and entertainment as well as a specially curated menu for the occasion. Expect starters such as duck salad, truffle mushroom chicken bao and soft shell crab. Mains include char sui Wagyu short rib and mushroom rice clay pot, sweet and sour sea bream and grilled five spices corn-fed chicken. Finish it off with mango pudding, chocolate or sesame dice. The venue will be filled with colourful flowers, orchids and traditional Chinese decorations.
Wednesday to Friday, February 2 to 5; 7pm-1am on Saturday and Wednesday, 7pm-2am on Thursday and Friday; prices vary; Grosvenor House, Dubai; www.buddhabar-dubai.com; 04 317 6000
Ras Al Khaimah
Manar Mall and Al Hamra Mall
Manar Mall and Al Hamra Mall in Ras Al Khaimah are celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year with daily live shows between 4pm and 8pm. Expect to see Chinese drummers as well as fan and folk dancers as they make their way around the malls. There will also be a dragon dance, symbolising power and boldness, as well as a lion dance, for strength, stability and superiority. The event also includes Kung Fu and acrobat shows.
Runs until February 1; Ras Al Khaimah; www.manarmall.com and www.alhamramall.com
