we've sourced for only the best Chinese restaurants in Singapore, and along the way uncover some hidden gems

This January, we gather together with family and loved ones for arguably the most important meal for the year, the Chinese New Year Reunion Dinner. The age old tradition is a perfect opportunity for busy Singaporeans like yourself to throw aside work; and the hustle and bustle of everyday life for a night of catching up with old relatives, laughter, good cheer and of course, to bind it all in one great hearty meal!

With that, we've sourced for only the best Chinese restaurants in Singapore, and along the way uncover some hidden gems, for a great reunion dinner with your family. And as with all occasions, you can't go wrong with great people, great conversations and great food!

Golden Peony

A local pride in Cantonese cuisine, Golden Peony is the Conrad Centennial Singapore's contribution to Asian food for not only traveled guests, but for the locals as well. Among popular dishes are the dim sum, prawn roll in XO sauce and a humble favorite among locals - century egg porridge. Interior is contemporary chic with dabs of oriental floral paintings, not excessively catered for the suit-and-tie diner. Boasting a generous floor space, the restaurant easily caters to family dinners and gathering among friends.

Highlights during this festive season include the house specialty Prosperity Claypot with its onslaught of quality ingredients that includes shark's fin, dried scallops, abalone and more. At $268 for a portion that serves 4, price is steep but well worth it to kick start a new year. This Chinese New Year, the chefs at Golden Peony adds a refreshing list of items, inspired by traditional dishes, to the impressive menu. Leading the new creations by the talented chefs is the Ama Ebi Yu Sheng. Yu Sheng is a raw fish salad that Chinese families toss during this festive season to raise good luck for the New Year. Golden Peony introduces sweet Japanese shrimps into the classic Chinese dish, blurring the lines between cuisines and creating a variation of Yu Sheng that is best described as stunning, while retaining the traditional element of simplicity. For diners with more adventurous palates, be sure to savor the Hoy Sum Lo Hei Yu Sheng with its addition of pan-seared US scallops along with fried crunchy coral weed.

Other choices include the Fortune Ikan Parang Yu Sheng, Abundance Salmon Yu Sheng, Longevity Lobster Yu Sheng, Tropical Fruit Yu Sheng and the Fu lu Shou Yu Sheng.

Jade

Eight Happiness Yu-Sheng

One of the stars at the luxurious Fullerton Hotel, Jade is synonymous with fine Chinese dining at its best. Do check out the Chilled Australian Abalone served with Hua Tiao Granite and Premium Soy Sauce, both for it's great taste and the novelty of the Hua Tiao Granite. Made from frozen Hua Tiao Chinese Wine that is shaved into thin pieces, it makes for an interesting complement to the abalone. Jade also serves a variety of Dim Sum made with premium ingredients that will settle well above your every expectations. Be spoilt with dishes like the XO Scallop dumpling, Vegetable Abalone Dumpling and Sharkfin Dumpling. Not to be missed are also old favorites like the Pork Siew Mai and the Prawn Dumplings.

This Chinese New Year, the tentative chefs at Jade have dedicated a selection of festive dishes during this period. For a start, go with the seven-course Chinese New Year menu. Braised Eight Treasure Pen Cai with its assortment of succulent whole abalone, dried scallops, fish maw, roasted duck, black moss, flower mushrooms and more is a great starter to wet the appetite with it's the complex flavors of each ingredient melting together in a sumptuous pot.

Other items in the seven-course menu include Eight Happiness Yu Sheng, Braised Shark's Fin with Crabmeat in Golden Broth, Trio Treasure Prawns and the fragrant Golden Harvest Claypot Rice with Preserved Meat in Soy Sauce. For dessert, you'll be ending the onslaught of Chinese New Year goodies with the Eight Treasure Sweet Soup with Reunion Dumplings.

And not to be left out is Yu Sheng, the traditional raw fish salad tossed during the season for luck for the year ahead. Jade offers two renditions of it. The more elaborate Eight Happiness Yu Sheng includes a mix of carrot, radish, green apple, tossed with olive oil and plum dressing with slices of salmon and abalone. For those who prefer a more original recipe, there's the humble Salmon Yu Sheng that you cannot go wrong with.

Peach Blossoms

Located at the Marina Mandarin Hotel, Peach Blossoms is the hotel's offering of Chinese cuisine to its guests and to locals alike. Its dining area is typically Chinese with floral partitions separating the tables, giving patrons more privacy during their meals. The staff is commendable for their attentiveness, providing subtle assistance to diners over the duration of their meal without excessive intrusion.

The first thing anyone would probably notice are the cages that houses a few beautiful birds, adding a piece of serenity to your dining experience. Popular among locals for its lunchtime Dim Sum, Peach Blossoms also feature favorites like the Baked Sea Perch, Chilled Crab Meat Salad with Sake and the Double-Boiled Chicken Broth with Crab Claw in Young Coconut.

Peach Blossoms have gone out of the way to bring diners a selective list of 9 set menus this Chinese New Year that will set you back between $68 to $188 per person. Aptly named, try the Harmonious Set Menu with back-to-back dishes that are set to stun even seasoned foodies. With an impressive line-up starring the Baked King Prawns with Butter and Cheese, and the Peach Blossoms Imperial Sea Treasures Pot that bears the mark of the restaurant; you can't go wrong with these.

While most Chinese restaurants would choose to impress with a large choice of Yu Sheng, Peach Blossoms have taken a step out of the ordinary and concentrated on the festive dessert of nian gao. This year, the star of the show would be its Japanese Sweet Potato with Lotus Paste and Coconut Gold Coin Nian Gao. Taking Japanese sweet potato and infusing it with the sweetness of lotus paste and the fresh fragrance of coconut, this is well worth every bit spent and would be a serious contender and a must try for those who have limited calories to spend during this festive season. If you prefer a variety of tastes and flavors in your Nian Gao, go for the Peach Blossom's Four Treasure Nian Gao. This selection of 4 bite-sized Nian Gaos includes Yam Cake, Radish Cake, Pumpkin Cake and Japanese Sweet Potato with Lotus Paste and Coconut.

Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant

Nestled in a corner of Singapore near Vivocity, Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant offers not only authentic Beijing cuisine, but also delivers an incredible view of the sea atop its revolving dining area. Being the lesser known of the two revolving restaurants in Singapore, Prima Tower is a gem that is known mostly by residents in the vicinity. Led by Chef Chan from Hong Kong, the restaurant is known for its Beijing cuisine and that said, dishes like the Peking Duck with its crisp skin sliced with the perfect amount of duck meat wrapped in a thin Chinese pancake and the Shredded Scallops With Fish And Egg white are almost legendary items that patrons must try.

Prima Tower's offering of Chinese New Year dishes during this festive period includes Ala Carte items like the Dried Oyster With Fatt Choy, Deep-fried Four Treasures With Shredded Scallops and the Braised Shark's Fin Supreme With Crab Meat, among many others. For diners having a festive meal among family or close friends, there are Lunar New Year set menus starting with the Spring Blossom set at $458 to the Joyous Celebration, which by its name, promises exactly that with its onslaught of premium ingredients like Prosperity Yu Sheng With Lobster, Buddha Jumps Over The Wall and Bird's Nest With Rock Sugar.

Adding a bit of fusion and instilling tradition with an uplifting twist, Prima Tower is serving a unique rendition of Yu Sheng with it's Wagyu Beef Yu Sheng. Thinly-sliced layers of top-notch Wagyu beef is served with generous portions of orange peel, pomelo, jellyfish, pine nuts, peanuts, shredded vegetables and plum sauce. Put together a daunting array of such varied flavors is a daring attempt at challenging the norm and Prima Towers pulls it off successfully with a well-balanced mix of sweet and savory. Almost as interesting is the sauce for the Yu Sheng. Dressing made with wasabi, wholegrain mustard and mayonnaise is an equally rogue mix of flavors that complements the Wagyu Beef Yu Sheng.

Hai Tien Lo

Seemingly the resident Chinese restaurant of the Pan Pacific hotel, Hai Tien Lo sings to a different tune and offers more than its name might reveal. Its cuisine leans slightly to being fusion while still maintaining a couple of dishes prepared in traditional Cantonese methods - spectacularly. A fine example is the Deep-fried Soon Hock Bathed in Soya Sauce. The fish is fresh and the chef has wisely stuck to the general rule of thumb that when the seafood is fresh, go back to basics and keep it simple with its original flavor intact. Signature dishes also include its Softshell Crab and for dessert, you can't go wrong with the Homemade Bean Curd.
When you are in the mood to be a little more adventurous with your palate, the Beijing Duck with Foie Gras is sure to please with the creamy texture and the rich taste of Foie Gras, complementing the sharp crisp of the duck skin superbly for a blend of east meets west.

If you are dining with the family over reunion dinner at Hai Tien Lo, be stunned by the breathtaking view of the city. The restaurant would be more than glad to guarantee that, seeing all tables are just beside the window.
Master Chef Lai Tong Ping has concocted a range of Chinese New Year set lunch and dinner menus. Featuring dishes like the "Auspicious" Japanese Sweet Prawn and Norwegian Salmon Yu Sheng, "Harmony" Sliced Abalone, Cobia Fish, Surf Clam & Sweet Prawn and the "Prosperity" Surf Clam & Cobia Fish; they all come in 3 considerate sizes to cater to groups of four, six or eight.

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