Year of the Horse | Comprehensive Review & Pricing Analysis

Last Updated: January 2026 | CNY Eve: February 16, 2026


🌟 Premium Luxury Tier ($500-$700)

JUMBO Seafood – The Heritage Champion

Price: From $684.92++ (Feasting Bundle)
Available: 2 Feb – 8 Mar 2026 | Pre-order Required

The Verdict: JUMBO elevates their 2026 offering with a significantly more premium approach than 2025. The price jump from 2025’s $388 sets reflects their repositioning toward luxury ingredients.

What’s Inside:

  • Six-Head Whole Abalones – The star ingredient, these premium mollusks offer that prized bouncy-tender texture with umami depth
  • Rock Lobsters – Fresh, sweet flesh that signals prosperity
  • Braised Sea Cucumber with Mushroom & Abalone – Triple treasure combination
  • Steamed Garoupa – Delicate white fish, cooked to flaky perfection
  • Chilli Crab with Mantou – Their signature dish, featuring thick, sweet-spicy gravy

Dish Analysis: The pen cai layering here is masterful. Bottom-dwelling ingredients (sea cucumber, mushrooms, abalone) slowly absorb the superior stock over 4+ hours of cooking, while top-tier seafood maintains structural integrity. The six-head abalone grade (60-69 pieces per 600g can) represents excellent value at this price point.

Best For: Families of 8-10 who want restaurant-quality seafood without the dining-out premium. The mantou soaks up that legendary chilli crab sauce beautifully.


Yang Ming Seafood – The Family Favorite

Price: From $688.80++
Available: 23 Jan – 3 Mar 2026 | Serves 8-10 pax

The Verdict: Kelong-themed authenticity meets modern convenience. Yang Ming’s pricing sits just above JUMBO but delivers a more kid-friendly, approachable menu.

Featured Dishes:

  • Prosperity Abalone Yu Sheng – Generous portions with premium abalone slices
  • Steamed Whole Fish (likely Seabass or Garoupa) – Symbol of abundance
  • Rock Lobster – Flash-wok fried with signature sauces
  • Wok-hei Stir-fries – That coveted breath-of-the-wok flavor

Why It Works: Yang Ming’s strength lies in their wok mastery. Every dish carries that elusive smoky char that’s impossible to replicate at home. The restaurant’s kelong heritage means ultra-fresh seafood sourcing – they’re known for morning market runs.

Best For: Families with children and elderly members who appreciate traditional flavors without extreme luxury pricing.


Crystal Jade – The Refined Choice

Price: $586.42 (Auspicious Reunion Feast Bundle)
Early Bird Discount: Valid until 18 Jan 2026

The Verdict: Exceptional value for money considering Crystal Jade’s pedigree. The 2026 bundle shows sophisticated menu planning with balanced textures and flavors.

Complete Bundle Breakdown:

  1. Bountiful Abalone Pen Cai – Traditional layered treasure pot with premium dried seafood
  2. Honey-Glazed Roasted Spanish Pork Ribs – Caramelized perfection, tender fall-off-bone meat
  3. Prosperity Carrot Cake – Not dessert! This is the savory radish cake (chai tow kway) elevated with premium ingredients
  4. Yu Sheng with Premium Toppings – Complete tossing set included

Deep Dive – The Pen Cai: Crystal Jade’s version features a Cantonese-style base stock simmered with dried scallops, dried oysters, and chicken. The layer architecture typically includes (bottom to top):

  • Sea cucumber (absorbs maximum flavor)
  • Dried oysters & mushrooms
  • Fish maw (provides collagen richness)
  • Roasted meats
  • Fresh prawns & abalones (top layer, stays firm)

Technical Excellence: The honey-glazed ribs demonstrate Crystal Jade’s understanding of textural contrast – the sticky-sweet exterior against tender, juice-rich pork. This is a multi-day preparation involving marination, slow roasting, and final glaze application.

Best For: Mid-sized gatherings (6-8) who want restaurant-level execution across multiple courses without the $700+ commitment.


💰 Value Champions ($300-$500)

Fu Yuan – The Traditional Star

Price: $288 (Takeaway Set for 6 pax)
Dine-in: From $488 (4 pax) to $2,988 (10 pax)
Available: 2 Feb – 3 Mar 2026 | 12pm-9pm collection
Early Bird: 10% off before 1 Feb 2026

The Verdict: Hands-down the best value-for-money option for 2026. At $48 per person, this is restaurant-quality Teochew cuisine at coffee shop prices.

Six-Course Menu Features:

  1. Prosperity Abalone Yusheng – Fresh fruit, crisp vegetables, plump abalone with signature sauce
  2. Double-Boiled Soup – Likely Teochew-style with herbs, gentle nourishing flavors
  3. Premium Seafood Dish – Changes based on market freshness
  4. Meat Course – Braised or roasted, showcasing Teochew techniques
  5. Longevity Noodles – Symbolizes long life, never cut
  6. Fried Rice & Sweet Dessert – Completes the feast

Teochew Culinary Philosophy: Fu Yuan’s approach emphasizes ingredient purity. Teochew cooking doesn’t mask flavors with heavy sauces – instead, it highlights natural sweetness through techniques like:

  • Braising in superior stocks for hours
  • Steaming to preserve delicate textures
  • Poaching in ginger-infused water

The Abalone Yusheng: Premium abalone slices (not just canned pieces) are tossed with julienned vegetables, crispy crackers, pickled ginger, and pomelo. The sauce – a carefully balanced blend of plum sauce, sesame oil, and five-spice powder – ties everything together.

Pro Tip: Take advantage of the early bird discount. $259.20 for 6 people ($43.20 per head) is extraordinary value.

Best For: Budget-conscious families who refuse to compromise on quality. Perfect for traditionalists who appreciate refined Teochew flavors.


Zui Teochew Cuisine – The Specialty House

Price: From $324.82 (Festive Pen Cai)
Available: 13 Jan – 3 Mar 2026

The Verdict: Zui elevates the humble pen cai with five-head abalones (larger than JUMBO’s six-head), demonstrating their commitment to premium ingredients at reasonable pricing.

Premium Ingredients:

  • Five-Head Abalones (54-59 pieces per can) – Noticeably meatier bite
  • Fish Maw – Prized for collagen, adds silky body to sauce
  • Sea Cucumbers – Sea cucumber quality varies wildly; Zui sources Japanese spiky varieties

What Makes Zui Special: Their Teochew identity shines through in the treatment of seafood. Expect:

  • Lighter hand with seasoning
  • Clear, refined broths that don’t overpower
  • Emphasis on texture contrasts
  • Precision steaming and braising techniques

Accompaniments Available:

  • Teochew Prosperity Yu Sheng ($48/$68/$98)
  • Whole Teochew Roasted Suckling Pig ($298, pre-order) – Crispy skin, tender meat, herb-rubbed

Best For: Teochew cuisine enthusiasts and those who prefer cleaner, more delicate flavors over heavy Cantonese sauces.


🔥 Modern & Innovative Options

Yummy Food SG x Yummy Palace – The Double Delight

Price: Variable (Check website)
Promo Code: RERGHUAT (Save $40, valid before 21 Jan 2026)
Bonus: Complimentary Yuan Yang Electric Cooker (worth $90)

The Innovation: This collaboration creates a hybrid dish combining Buddha Jumps Over the Wall with Pen Cai – essentially giving you two celebration classics in one pot.

Over 20 Premium Ingredients:

  • Tender conpoy (dried scallops – umami bombs)
  • Chinese sausage (lap cheong sweetness)
  • Melt-in-your-mouth roasted pork belly
  • Black chicken (prized for richness)
  • Fish maw, sea cucumber
  • Giant Hokkaido scallops
  • Whole abalones
  • Goose web (collagen-rich, gelatinous texture)
  • Braised tofu (absorbs all that superior stock)

The Superior Stock: Slow-cooked for 8+ hours using chicken, pork bones, dried seafood, and Chinese herbs. This creates a deeply savory, almost medicinal quality that’s warming and nourishing.

The Electric Cooker Bonus: This isn’t just packaging – it’s a reusable appliance for future steamboat gatherings. Plug-and-play convenience means hot food in 20 minutes.

Additional Items:

  • Prosperity Abalone Yu Sheng (recommended pairing)
  • Heritage Yam Cake (nostalgic, traditional texture)

Best For: Adventurous eaters who want maximum ingredients per dollar. The electric cooker makes this excellent value for steamboat fans.


Fireplace by Bedrock – The BBQ Revolution

Price: $388++ (Prosperity Set Menu, serves 6-7)
Available: 20 Jan – 12 Feb 2026

The Game-Changer: Wood-fire grilling for CNY? Fireplace by Bedrock challenges convention by applying Western BBQ techniques to festive Chinese ingredients.

Complete Prosperity Set Includes:

1. Citrus-Fed Wagyu Yusheng ($88++, serves 4-6) Premium marbled beef replaces traditional salmon. The citrus-fed designation means the cattle were finished on citrus-supplemented feed, adding subtle sweetness and tenderness to already-rich wagyu.

2. Bak Kwa (Candied Bacon) ($25++, serves 4-6) Modern interpretation of traditional BBQ pork. Thick-cut bacon gets the bak kwa treatment – sweet soy marinade, slow-grilled over wood until edges caramelize into candy-like crispness.

3. Bountiful Barbecue Platter ($198++, serves 4-5):

  • Crispy Pork Knuckle – 12-hour preparation: brine, boil, dry-rub, slow-roast. Skin shatters like glass, meat pulls apart easily
  • Grilled Whole Red Snapper – Butterflied and wood-grilled, smoky char complements sweet flesh
  • Twice-Cooked Boneless Beef Ribs – Braised until tender, then finished on grill for crust
  • Chilli Lime Sakura Chicken – Japanese-inspired, tangy-spicy glaze

4. Beronia Tempranillo Elaboración Especial 2022 Spanish red wine with notes of cherry, vanilla, and oak – pairs beautifully with grilled meats.

Why The Wood-Fire Matters: Live-fire cooking imparts complex flavors impossible with gas or electric heat. Different woods (oak, fruitwood, hickory) contribute varying smoke profiles. The high heat creates Maillard reactions – that delicious browning and crust formation.

Takeaway Considerations: Fireplace packages everything in insulated containers. Reheat pork knuckle and ribs in a 180°C oven for 10-15 minutes to restore crispness.

Best For: Non-traditionalists who want something memorable. Perfect for younger families tired of the same CNY menu year after year. The wine inclusion makes it adult-party-ready.


White Restaurant x Bee Cheng Hiang – The Collab

Price: Variable (Set menu focused on smaller groups)

The Unique Selling Point: Golden Horse Abundance Yusheng featuring crispy grilled bakkwa (BBQ pork) and crunchy pulled pork from iconic Bee Cheng Hiang.

Why This Works: Bee Cheng Hiang’s bakkwa brings nostalgic Singapore flavor to the traditional yu sheng. The sweet-savory pork provides textural contrast against crisp vegetables and adds that distinctly local touch.

Additional Highlights:

  • Golden Harmony Pork Knuckle – Prestige dish, labor-intensive preparation
  • Fortune Bags – Typically deep-fried parcels containing minced ingredients

Best For: Smaller gatherings (4-6) who want local heritage flavors with creative twists.


🎋 Catering & Buffet Options

Grain x Chef Eric Low – The Heritage-Modern Fusion

Price: From $33.88 per guest (early bird, valid before 28 Jan 2026)
Regular: $38.88 per guest | Available: From 4 Feb 2026

The Collaboration: Chef Eric Low brings 30+ years of refined Teochew expertise to Grain’s modern presentation style.

Signature Dishes:

1. Ginseng Braised Whole Chicken Entire chicken gently poached in 12-hour milk broth enriched with Eu Yan Sang chicken essence. The milk creates incredible tenderness while ginseng adds that subtle herbal complexity. This is Chinese nourishment cuisine at its finest.

2. Crispy Rolled Oats & Prawn Prawns coated in buttery rolled oats, deep-fried until golden. The oats provide nutty crunch and absorb excess oil, keeping prawns juicy inside.

3. Chef Eric’s XO Chai Po Bee Tai Mak Signature dish showcasing his 30-year mastery. Rice pin noodles (thick, chewy strands) wok-fried with:

  • Sweet-salty chai poh (preserved radish)
  • Homemade XO sauce (dried seafood, chili, oil)
  • Eggs for richness
  • Spring onions for freshness

The Bonus: Cheeky fortune cookies with every order. Lo hei instruction deck included – perfect for families unfamiliar with the tossing ritual.

Format Options:

  • Mini Buffets (minimum 10 guests)
  • Full Buffets (minimum 30 guests)
  • CNY Gathering Box (4-6 guests)

Best For: Office parties, larger family gatherings where variety and ease of service matter. The buffet format lets everyone customize portions.


Stamford Catering – The Professional Option

Price: Variable by menu type
Early Bird: Free premium abalone cans (1 can for $300 spend, 2 cans for $888)
Valid: First 888 orders before 18 Jan 2026

Three Service Levels:

1. Full Buffet Catering Complete setup with tables, warmers, disposable tableware. Professional service for medium-large events (30+ guests).

2. Mini Buffet Self-heating boxes – activate and food stays warm. No setup needed. Ideal for 15-30 guests.

3. Party Sets Portioned for 8-10 guests. Includes “The Essentials Kit” – full disposable wares, serving tongs, trash bags, tablecloth.

Core Menu Features:

  • Auspicious Yu Sheng
  • Seafood Pun Choy (their spelling of Pen Cai)
  • Traditional festive favorites

Best For: Corporate events, large family gatherings, or anyone who wants zero cooking/setup hassle. The early bird abalone bonus adds significant value.


Four Seasons – The Halal Option

Price: Variable
Available: 1 Feb – 15 Mar 2026
Halal-Certified by MUIS

The Unique Position: One of few premium Halal CNY caterers in Singapore, allowing Muslim families and multi-faith gatherings to participate fully in festive dining.

Service Highlights:

  • Themed table styling and festive décor included
  • Self-collection available for mini buffets
  • 5 working days advance order required
  • No delivery waivers during CNY period (16 Feb – 3 Mar)

Best For: Muslim families, multi-faith corporate events, anyone with Halal dietary requirements who doesn’t want to compromise on festive experience.


📊 2026 Pricing Trends & Analysis

Price Increases from 2025:

  • Premium seafood options: 8-12% increase
  • Mid-tier restaurant sets: 5-8% increase
  • Catering/buffets: 6-10% increase

Key Factors Driving Costs:

  1. Seafood inflation – Premium abalones, sea cucumbers up 10-15%
  2. Labor costs – Restaurant wage increases
  3. GST adjustments – Singapore tax changes
  4. Ingredient sourcing – Supply chain pressures

Best Value Strategies:

  1. Early bird promotions – Save 10-15% by ordering before mid-January
  2. Bundle deals – Complete sets offer better per-dish pricing
  3. Mid-week collection – Some venues offer discounts for non-peak pickup
  4. Credit card perks – OCBC, Citi, DBS often have 10% off partnerships

🎯 Recommendations by Scenario

Best Overall Value: Fu Yuan ($288/6 pax)

Unbeatable price-to-quality ratio. Restaurant-grade Teochew cuisine at neighborhood pricing.

Best Premium Experience: JUMBO Seafood ($684.92)

If budget allows, this delivers the full luxury festive experience. Six-head abalones and rock lobsters signal serious celebration.

Most Innovative: Fireplace by Bedrock ($388++)

Wood-fire grilling brings genuine novelty to CNY dining. Perfect for families wanting something different.

Best for Large Gatherings: Grain x Chef Eric Low (from $33.88/guest)

Buffet format, professional pedigree, excellent value for 20+ people.

Best for Small Families: White Restaurant x Bee Cheng Hiang

Focused on smaller portions, local heritage flavors, creative touches.

Best Last-Minute Option: FoodLine/Foodpanda platforms

Multiple vendors, easy comparison, often same-day or next-day delivery available.


🍜 Understanding Key CNY Ingredients

Abalone (鲍鱼)

  • Grading: Measured by pieces per can (600g standard)
    • 3-4 head: Ultra-premium ($$$$$)
    • 5-6 head: Premium ($$$$)
    • 8-10 head: Mid-tier ($$$)
    • 15+ head: Budget ($$)
  • Why it matters: Symbol of wealth, prized for bouncy-tender texture
  • Cooking: Quality abalones should be tender but with slight resistance, never mushy

Sea Cucumber (海参)

  • Types: Japanese spiky (highest quality), Mexican, Atlantic
  • Texture: Gelatinous, collagen-rich, neutral flavor
  • Purpose: Absorbs surrounding flavors, adds luxury
  • Symbol: Prosperity, longevity

Fish Maw (鱼鳔)

  • Source: Dried swim bladder of fish
  • Value: Very expensive per kg, reconstitution requires skill
  • Texture: Silky, slightly chewy, melts in rich broths
  • Benefits: Collagen, traditional beauty food

Dried Scallops (干贝/Conpoy)

  • Flavor: Intense umami, sweet-savory
  • Usage: Adds depth to stocks, main ingredient in luxury dishes
  • Quality markers: Size, color (golden), intact shape

Yu Sheng (鱼生) Elements:

  • Fish: Salmon (common), abalone, lobster (luxury)
  • Vegetables: Carrot, radish (julienned), pomelo, cucumber
  • Crunch: Crackers, peanuts, sesame seeds
  • Sauce: Plum sauce, sesame oil, five-spice powder, pepper
  • Ritual: Everyone tosses while shouting auspicious phrases

📝 Pro Ordering Tips

Timing:

  • Best: Before 18-21 January 2026 (catch all early bird deals)
  • Acceptable: Before 1 February 2026
  • Last resort: 1 week before CNY Eve (limited availability)

Pickup vs Delivery:

  • Pickup: Often cheaper, you control timing, food stays warmer
  • Delivery: Convenience, but coordinate timing carefully for CNY Eve traffic

Storage:

  • Many dishes arrive frozen – ensure adequate freezer space
  • Pen cai reheats beautifully – low heat, covered, 30-45 minutes
  • Crispy items (pork knuckle, roast duck) need oven reheating for texture

Portions:

  • Restaurant estimates typically conservative
  • Better to over-order slightly – leftovers symbolize abundance
  • Consider vegetarians, children (may not eat premium seafood)

Questions to Ask:

  1. Heating instructions included?
  2. Disposable serving wares provided?
  3. Exact collection time window?
  4. Cancellation/modification policy?
  5. Any free delivery threshold?

Note: All prices subject to GST and service charge where indicated (++). Menus and availability may change. Always confirm directly with restaurants.