Celebrate this Lunar New Year with an auspicious reunion dinner at the award-winning Wah Lok Cantonese Restaurant. Soak in the classical yet elegant interior of the restaurant within the Carlton Hotel, conveniently located near the festivities of Chinatown.
As one of the most highly regarded Chinese restaurants in Singapore, guests can expect a culinary feast specially prepared by Master Chef Ng Wai Tong and his team. In celebration of the Rooster year, indulge in their sumptuous set offerings with your family and friends.
Start your reunion dinner with the Alaskan Crab Lo Hei ($138 small, $238 large). Interestingly, Wah Lok serves fresh Alaskan Crab in place of the regular raw salmon that is commonly seen in Lo Hei platters.
What better way to toss to new beginnings with your family members and friends than with Wah Lok’s signature Yu Sheng?
As an alternative to the salmon chunks, the crab meat was not as bland as expected. In fact, it was slightly sweet and went well with the light dressing that, did not overpower the flavour of the crab itself.
We also had the Braised Shark’s Fin with shredded Dried Scallops & Golden Mushroom in Red Carrot Soup- a more traditional type of dish. While some Chinese restaurants have ceased serving shark’s fin, Wah Lok still continues to do so.
The soup had a silky smooth consistency that helped to wash down the taste of the Lo Hei sauce. Generous chunks of shark’s fin and scallops can also be found within each spoonful, adding a nice texture to the soup.
The Baked Barbecued Pork Buns ($7.20 for 4) or Bo Lo Bao is one of Wah Lok’s best dim sum offerings. These are simply delectable and popular with long time patrons of the restaurant.
Baked to a crisp perfection, the buns are light and fluffy on the outside and filled to the brim with char siew on the inside.
Topped with a nice spread of diced garlic, the Baked Tiger Prawns with Garlic was crunchy and tender to the bite. The strong flavours of the garlic made it notably fragrant and enhanced the taste of the prawn itself.
Of course, no reunion dinner is complete without the traditional three-layer Longevity Poon Choi ($408 for 6 pax, $688 for 10 pax). This mouth-watering combination includes premium ingredients such as whole abalone, sea cucumber, scallops, prawns, dried oysters and roast duck with superior stock served in a huge pot. Certainly a luxurious dish to have at the table.
Upon dishing out the ingredients from the first layer, we could enjoy each individual piece in its full glory. Although Wah Lok’s version of the Poon Choi is one of the most traditional ones that I’ve had, you really can’t go wrong with this elaborate classic.
With so many ingredients contained in a single pot, it was incredibly filling by the time we were served those from the bottom layer which contained mushrooms, roast duck and yam, to name a few. For huge gatherings during the new year, this is the perfect dish to order as it can be shared among a whole bunch of people.
The classic Fried Glutinous Rice with Diced Meat & Chinese Sausages is always a pleasure to have. I liked that the sticky rice itself was fried in a way that ensured some bits of the rice are charred and crisp. This made for the perfect combination together with the bits of Chinese sausage, diced meat, spring onions and egg strips.
As a traditional dessert, the savoury Pan-fried Nian Gao ($25 per piece) was a great way to end the meal. To complement the top half which is, the traditional Nian Gao, the bottom half features an almond flavour that strikes a great contrast in terms of taste. Underneath the crisp exterior is a gooey texture that makes this sweet treat all the more appealing.
With delectable creations that stick to the traditional roots of authentic Cantonese cuisine, Wah Lok showcases the very best in their Chinese New Year offerings without having to tweak their menu in any way. Dining experiences at here will never fall short, especially when it comes to serving stellar dishes with impeccable service.
Prices stated are for ala carte dishes. To find out more about their offers and set menus, visit their website.
Expected Damage: $398 for a table of 4 pax, $3,388 for a table of 10 pax
Wah Lok Cantonese Restaurant: Carlton Hotel, 76 Bras Basah Rd, Singapore 189558 | Opening Hours: Mondays – Saturdays (11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm), Sundays & PH (11am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm) | Tel: 6311 8188 or 6311 8189 | Website
