As Chinese New Year kicks off on Wednesday, restaurants in Abu Dhabi and Dubai have rolled out the red carpet to welcome the year of the snake. A number of eateries are offering limited-time set menus and buffets replete with traditional dishes and authentic ingredients.
With prices ranging from Dh150 per person to Dh20,888 for large groups, there is a dim sum out there with your name on it, no matter your budget. Here are some restaurants to check out between today and mid-February.
JW Kitchen, Dubai
Price: Dh150
If you're looking for a budget-friendly option to ring in the year of the snake in Dubai, consider this JW Marriott Hotel Marina spot. Its dinner buffet features Chinese classics, from steamed chicken and prawn dumplings to hot and sour soup for starters. Cantonese cuisine is in the spotlight, with mains such as honey soy baked cod fish with sweet and spicy sauce, wok-fried sliced chicken with ginger and spring onion; and crispy shredded beef with sesame seeds. Desserts include sweet sago and mango and Chinese cookies.
Until February 5, 6.30pm-9.30pm; Dh150 per person; Dubai Marina; 058 279 7992
Anise, Dubai
Price: Dh199
Also below the Dh200 mark is the dinner buffet at this InterContinental Dubai Festival City restaurant. Live cooking stations are the highlight here, with dishes including crispy Peking duck, dim sum and mooncakes.
Until February 2, 6.30pm onwards; from Dh199 per person; Dubai Festival City; 04 701 1127
Hawkerboi, Dubai
Price: Dh240
If you prefer a set menu to a buffet, this supper club-turned-restaurant overlooking JLT park offers one with three courses. Starters include kung pao bao soup, mushroom spring rolls and spicy beef dumplings. For mains, choose between roast duck or steamed sea bass. Dessert is mango pudding with coconut cream.
January 29; 6pm-midnight; Dh240 per person; Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai; 050 427 5217
Giardino, Dubai
Price: Dh275
The restaurant at the five-star Palazzo Versace Dubai is offering a buffet at its fashion-inspired restaurant, which has been given a Chinese New Year makeover. Options include live hand-pulled noodle soup and steamed grouper fish stations. Dumpling are also on the cards, with the chef recommending the sticky rice dumpling with beef.
Until February 2; 7pm-11pm; from Dh275 per person; Jaddaf Waterfront, Dubai; 04 556 8805
Moli by Shi, Dubai
Price: Dh299
The restaurant at Dubai Hills Business Park has a five-course set menu and a signature drink tailored to each guest's Chinese Zodiac.
Dishes include wok turnip cake, tofu skin and shrimp salad, Angus kimchi dumpling, traditional squirrel sea bass, kung pao chicken and Peking duck. These can be enjoyed alongside the soothing melodies of a Guzheng player on January 28, or a vibrant lion dance on January 29. Diners will also receive red envelopes to write down their wishes, which can be hung on the bonsai trees at the entrance.
January 29; noon-1am from Sunday to Thursday, noon-2am on Friday and Saturday; Dh299 per person; Dubai Hills Business Park; 04 276 3338
Shang Palace, Abu Dhabi
Price: Dh328
In Abu Dhabi, the Asian restaurant at Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri is ringing in Chinese New Year with a limited-time set menu. Chef Qiguo Su will dish out traditional delicacies such as Cantonese steamed chicken with soy sauce, wok-fried yams and black fungus, and home-made chicken dumplings. Sweets include pan-fried glutinous cake with mixed nuts and taro ball with red bean and coconut soup.
Until February 9; 6pm-10.30pm; from Dh328 per person; Shangri-La Qaryat al Beri, Abu Dhabi; 04 405 2760
Ewaan, Dubai
Price: Dh350
The restaurant at Palace Downtown has a Chinese New Year-themed buffet, featuring a seafood and oyster bar, sushi counter, and carvery and grill corners. Live stations aside, the meal includes Asian delicacies and desserts. Guests can also expect themed decorations and live performances including traditional dances.
Until February 2; 7pm-10.30pm; Dh350 per person; Palace Downtown, Downtown Dubai; 04 428 7961
Barfly by Buddha-Bar, Dubai
Price: Dh365
Head to this Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah spot for a dinner buffet. Live stations will serve crispy chicken salad, plus a variety of sushi, spring rolls and baos. Main courses include sweet and sour prawns, cumin beef and classic Peking duck.
February 1; 7pm onwards; from Dh365 per person; Palm Jumeirah, Dubai; 04 230 0073
Lah Lah, Dubai
Price: Dh375
The pan-Asian restaurant at Zabeel House by Jumeirah is serving an elaborate Chinese New Year menu for one day only, for lunch and dinner, on January 29.
Appetisers include crispy prawn with wasabi sauce, xo scallop dumplings, Wagyu foie-gras rolls and fried chicken wontons. This is followed by roasted Beijing duck and crab soup. Mains include golden garlic lobster, Cantonese Wagyu ribeye with honey-pepper glaze, a whole steamed red snapper and lotus-wrapped fried rice infused with dried scallops and prawns. The dessert platter features mango soup with sago and black bean cheesecake.
January 29; noon-midnight; Dh375 per person including drinks for two hours; The Greens, Dubai; 04 519 1111
Dai Pai Dong, Abu Dhabi
Price: Dh388
Th restaurant at Rosewood Abu Dhabi is serving a series of Chinese New Year set menus. The family reunion-themed meal, on January 28 and 29, includes dishes such as lo hei salad; a dim sum platter with har gow, BBQ chicken puff and spicy abalone; clay pot; and steamed yellow fish with soy sauce; plus red bean cake for dessert. The eight-course prosperity menu, served from January 30 to February 11, also includes wok-fried beef striploin and an indulgent Chinese New Year cake. At the lantern festival dinner on February 12, the menu includes sui mai, scallop dumplings, signature roasted duck and a trio of desserts, including tang yuan.
Until February 12; noon-11pm; from Dh388 per person; Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi; 02 813 5588
Mimi Mei Fair, Dubai
Price: Dh528
One of the newest Chinese dining spots in Dubai, this London import is celebrating Chinese New Year with a limited-time tasting menu. Dishes include dim sum basket with prawn coriander, truffle edamame and chicken chive. For mains, indulge in grilled Chilean sea bass, kung pao chicken and stir-fried lobster. The meal ends with a decadent chocolate mousse with raspberry compote.
Until February 12; noon-midnight; from Dh528 per person; Address Residences Dubai Opera; 04 570 0825
Dragonfly, Dubai
Price: Dh568
Chef Reif Othman's latest restaurant at The Lana Promenade by Dorchester Collection is offering an elevated set menu for Chinese New Year. Diners can expect dishes such as Peking duck gyoza with foie gras and cherry hoisin; tempura aubergine; and clay pot Peking duck with sambal rice. Strawberry mochi aside, end the meal with a fortune cookie. A traditional lion dance is also on the cards.
Until February 16; from 8pm; Dh568 per person; Business Bay, Dubai; 04 834 8278
Hakkasan Abu Dhabi
Price: Dh598
For a Michelin-starred celebration in Abu Dhabi, head to this Cantonese restaurant at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental. On the menu are classics such as baked dim sum with king crab, caviar and rice berry, as well as avocado salad for starters. There's also the plum braised beef short ribs with pineapple plum glaze, as well as mango curry mouse with cashew peanut praline and mango passion fruit sorbet for dessert.
Until February 12; 6pm-11.30pm; from Dh598 per person; Abu Dhabi Corniche; 02 690 7739
Hakkasan Dubai
Price: Dh738
The Dubai counterpart of the Cantonese spot at Atlantis The Palm is also offering a Chinese New Year menu. The nine-course set meal includes dishes such as snake fruit salad with persimmon, grapes, nashi pear, barley and kumquat dressing, as well as smoked Silverhill duck breast with maitake mushroom, pickled date and five spice fermented bean sauce. The dessert is the same as the Abu Dhabi branch, a mango curry mouse with cashew peanut praline and mango passion fruit sorbet.
Until February 12; 6pm-11.45pm; from Dh738 per person; Palm Jumeirah, Dubai; 04 426 0752
Mott 32, Dubai
Price: Dh888
Those willing to splurge can check out this Address Beach Resort restaurant's Chinese New Year paired menu, available on one day only. Premium ingredients come to life on the menu, with dishes such as lobster and abalone lo hei salad, crab roe Shanghainese soup dumplings and Cantonese honey chicken puff for starters.
Mains include Qingyuan chicken with black truffle; tiger prawn with Chinese cabbage; lobster with rainbow quinoa; braised Japanese abalone; and wok-fried cauliflower with velvet mushroom and bean curd skin. Dessert is a Mandarin mousse sable base.
January 29; 6pm-1am; from Dh888 per person; Dubai Marina; 04 278 4832
Tang Town, Dubai
Price: Dh1,988
Big groups can check out this Dubai Mall restaurant, which offers fountain views and serves menus ranging from Dh1,988 to Dh20,888. Dish highlights include traditional hits, such as roasted Pecking duck with caviar, braised abalone with mushroom and tofu, steamed grouper with soy sauce, brown sugar rice cake and rice balls in black sesame soup.
Until February 12; 10am-1am; from Dh1,988 for four; Dubai Mall; 04 431 2888
