When the Horse gallops in and hawker centers shutter their doors, these 15 restaurants prove that CNY hunger pangs don’t stand a chance. Here’s my honest take on what’s worth ordering during the festive season, complete with 2026 pricing so you can budget accordingly.
rab with attitude.
The Comfort Food Champions
Soup Restaurant earns its spot on this list by doing one thing exceptionally well: making you feel like you’re eating at a very competent aunt’s house. The Samsui ginger chicken is deceptively simple—poached chicken, ginger sauce, done. But the execution matters, and they nail that tender, silky texture every time. Pair it with their double-boiled soups (waisan with ginseng is my pick), and you’ve got the kind of nourishing meal that feels appropriate for welcoming a new year.
White Restaurant’s white bee hoon is the dark horse dish nobody talks about enough. Thin vermicelli swimming in a light, milky broth with prawns and squid—it’s comfort in a bowl without the heaviness. Their Hainanese chicken rice is solid if unspectacular, but sometimes solid is exactly what you need when you’ve overdosed on pineapple tarts.
The Xiao Long Bao Debate
Let’s settle this: Din Tai Fung versus Paradise Dynasty.
Din Tai Fung is the reliable ex you keep going back to. Those XLBs are engineering marvels—exactly 18 folds, scalding soup that requires patience, thin skin that somehow doesn’t break. A 10-piece serving will run you around $12-16, and they’ve added a viral chocolate mochi version ($12.80 for 6, $15.80 for 10) that’s actually worth the hype. Add chili oil, nibble a hole, slurp the soup, devour. It’s a ritual. Their hot and sour soup cuts through the richness beautifully. Budget $30-45 per person for a satisfying meal.
Paradise Dynasty is the flashy new date who shows up in a sports car. Those rainbow-colored XLBs (foie gras! black truffle! cheese!) are Instagram gold but polarizing. The original pork flavor is excellent, the foie gras is surprisingly good, but the cheese one is… an experience. Not always a good one. They’re fun for novelty, but if you want classic perfection, Din Tai Fung wins. Similar pricing to DTF, maybe $35-50 per head.
The verdict: Tradition trumps innovation here, but Paradise Dynasty deserves credit for audacity.
The Hot Pot Haven
Beauty In The Pot being open 24 hours during CNY is both a blessing and dangerous knowledge. Their signature beauty collagen broth is what you’d get if a Chinese medicine hall and a spa had a delicious baby—thick, nourishing, loaded with ginseng and wolfberries. It’s the kind of broth where you actually drink it by the bowl rather than just using it as a cooking medium.
Premium ingredients here aren’t cheap: US Wagyu runs $29.40-58.80 per serving, Hokkaido pork belly is $13-26, and their signature homemade fish tofu is $3 per piece. But the quality justifies it. Plan for $40-60 per person depending on how much premium protein you’re ordering. Weekday lunch sets at selected outlets start from just $15, though—that’s the insider move.
Pro tip: Order the handmade shrimp paste and beef balls. The bounce factor is real. And if you’re there past midnight (no judgment), the congee they make from the leftover broth is peak comfort food.
The Unexpected Heroes
Ng Ah Sio Bak Kut Teh (Clarke Quay only) serves the Teochew version, which means peppery, herbal, and less garlicky than its Hokkien cousin. The broth is lighter but still deeply flavorful, perfect for those who find traditional BKT too heavy. Their braised items—especially the pig’s trotter and onsen egg—are where they really shine. The trotter is gelatinous without being greasy, the egg yolk runs like liquid gold.
Papi’s Tacos might seem out of place on a CNY dining list, but hear me out: sometimes you need a break from ginger and soy sauce. Their smoked pork belly tacos are messy, flavorful, and about as far from reunion dinner as you can get while still feeling festive. The margaritas don’t hurt either.
True Cost at Suntec’s rooftop is where you go when you want to feel like you’re on vacation instead of in CNY traffic. The view is solid, the vibe is relaxed, and their beef brisket is slow-cooked perfection. Just remember the cover charge—it’s worth it if you’re planning to linger with wine.
The Dark Horse
Tajimaya Yakiniku flips the reunion dinner script entirely. Instead of communal platters, you’re grilling your own A5 Wagyu over charcoal, watching the fat render and caramelize. It’s interactive, indulgent, and the private rooms mean you can have your intimate celebration without the restaurant chaos. The marbling on their Kagoshima beef is obscene in the best way.
What to Skip
While most dishes across these restaurants are solid, a few misses:
- Paradise Dynasty’s cheese XLB remains controversial for good reason
- White Restaurant’s yam ring sounds better than it tastes—too starchy
- PizzaExpress’s Hawaii-Not pizza (ham with pineapple chutney) is exactly as confused as it sounds
The Bottom Line
Price Reality Check (2026 estimates):
- Budget-friendly ($10-25 per person): Umisushi, PizzaExpress, hawker-style spots
- Mid-range ($30-50 per person): Din Tai Fung, Soup Restaurant, Ippudo, White Restaurant, Ng Ah Sio BKT
- Splurge-worthy ($50-80+ per person): Jumbo/Red House seafood, Beauty In The Pot, Tajimaya Yakiniku, True Cost
If you’re celebrating CNY: Go for Red House or Jumbo’s seafood feast ($50-80pp), or gather the family at Soup Restaurant for wholesome comfort ($35-45pp).
If you’re avoiding the festivities: Tajimaya for fancy yakiniku ($60-80pp), Papi’s Tacos for casual Mexican ($25-35pp), True Cost for rooftop drinks with a view ($50-70pp).
If you’re hungover from too much bak kwa and reunion dinner: Din Tai Fung’s consistency will not let you down ($30-45pp), or Beauty In The Pot’s healing broths will sort you out ($40-60pp).
If you’re planning last-minute: Umisushi delivers on all three CNY days, and their bento sets are surprisingly filling ($15-25pp).
The real MVP? Any restaurant willing to stay open when half the city shuts down. But based on food quality, value, and festive appropriateness, Soup Restaurant takes the crown for all-around CNY dining. It’s open everywhere, the food hits that nostalgic comfort spot, and you won’t need to book three months in advance.
Booking tip: Most of these places get slammed during CNY. If you’re serious about Red House, Jumbo, or Beauty In The Pot, call at least a week ahead. Din Tai Fung and Soup Restaurant generally have better walk-in availability.
GST & Service Charge Alert: Most mid-range and above restaurants add 10% service charge + 9% GST (that’s ++), so budget an extra 19% on top of menu prices. Factor this into your calculations or you’ll get bill shock.
Now go forth and eat. The Horse Year isn’t going to feast itself into existence.