Restaurants are reporting bumper bookings for the coming Chinese New Year, with many saying they are already full or close to it, signalling that the last shadows of the pandemic have finally been dispelled.

In Chinese culture, the reunion dinner is one of the most significant traditions of the year, when loved ones gather to celebrate and share hopes for the future. The meal typically includes dishes with symbolism representing blessings like wealth, progress, and abundance, among others.

From family reunion dinners to companies’ year-end banquets, a representative of Law Yi Restaurant in Setapak, which specialises in Chinese cuisine, said the demand for these was finally back to the levels prior to the world-stopping events of 2020.

“Things have improved a lot from back then; I’d say it’s back to as it was before,” the spokesman said.

Rather than lower demand now, however, the person said the pressure was from rising prices.

Over at Hakka Restaurant, or popularly known as HakkaKL, the family-run restaurant has chosen not to impose a time-limit for dinners despite the high demand for tables.

Instead of restricting diners to 90 minutes — a practice that became common due to reduced seating capacity during the pandemic — a staff member said patrons were welcome to keep their tables for as long as they need.

The employee who asked to be identified as Chong said the restaurant has two dinner sessions daily, one starting at 5.30pm and another at 7.30pm, with the first being indoors and air-conditioned while the second was outdoors.

“Diners, whichever slot they belong to, can stay as long as they want,” said Chong.

Hakka Restaurant will close on the first day of the Chinese New Year and reopen for dinner from the second day of Chinese New Year.

Like Law Yi, Chong said HakkaKL was also grappling with rising prices, but noted that the restaurant has not increased its own in recent years.

“Our Yee Sang is still kept at the same price, and our regulars will always order our popular signature dishes such as the roast duck, while some also prefer to custom order their set meals — they prefer to pick their own a la carte dishes,” said Chong.

Over at the Oriental Group of Restaurants, the situation was similar: most of its restaurants were at capacity for the eve of CNY and close to full for the days after.

According to chief executive officer Emily Chiam, there has been increased demand for tables on the eve this year.

“We also noticed an increase of bookings for the Chinese New Year eve lunch session as well.

“This may be due to families having reunions on the same day for both sides of the family. Other than that, the other popular dates during Chinse New Year such as Renri (Yan Yat or the birthday of humankind), and Chap Goh Mei are usually fully booked but bookings will usually follow right after the eve or the first two days of Chinese New Year,” said Chiam in an email interview.

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/202...-dinners/164079

Rich or poor, still have to eat...

https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5505965

yet someone say sales doing bad

Yep all chinese restaurant all fully booked wan during dinner time. No ala carte all set. Min spending RM1888++

Over at Hakka Restaurant, or popularly known as HakkaKL, the family-run restaurant has chosen not to impose a time-limit for dinners despite the high demand for tables.

Damn the Hakka Restaurant

Not the best, not the most authentic but if got visitor will bring them to eat there.

birthday of humankind? 1st time hearing it?

Yeah its on the 7th day of CNY. Its a custom, supposedly mankind was created by one of the deities on the 7th day

Which is ironic as on the 7th day the biblical god rested kek

Nothing new. Pay, eat & GO.

Being a host, cooking, serving by one particular household is no more the tradition. Ta Sau marah lo, why year year me?

This post has been edited by jojolicia: Jan 24 2025, 10:35 AM

since december most place already sold out.

we booked since nov.

no 1 to reunion dinner wif.... =( =)

Chor chat, yan yat.

Either location issue or income disparity getting wider, or both

ah i see. any relation to the yee sang? Since yee sang require 7 ingredient? is it referring to this event?just curious .

Lol, come on la. Higher sales got nothing to do with pandemic going off. Just face the facts that nowadays newer gen duno how to cook, especially those traditional cny dish, so they got no choice but to eat outside.

And lazy also another factor. Go out eat is much more easier.

Is this even news?

Very good for the economy. More tax collection for the Government.

Kong Xi Fa Cai.

and some ktard says economy bad lar, everything price hike lar. all salah madani pmx bla bla

POssibly

Yee Sang was invented here in MY actually fairly recently so i think they might have tied it in with the 7th day

But definitely the custom came wayyyy before Yee Sang

overseas rest at imbi also fully booked liao.

because it's a tradition and people still have to eat

but look at what they ordered

Time to raise service charges, food prices & buy a new Alphard/Velfire. 🤣

splurge

Huat ah

wow so lansi.

True story, cause i call everywhere to book restaurant dinner with my family on Chor 4. Everywhere also full, last last i manage to call 1 ngam ngam got ppl cancel table so i take.

Eh eh eh? I tot all cibai boikot? Bodoh!

Try to ronda Chinese restaurant then you know the fact

economy never bad, just depends on your circle, and whether you want to go out from your circle and stop blaming economy when your business can't beat the market

Some people always negative. Either always say economy no good, or just wishing the economy to go bad just to "teach the rich a lesson".

my supplier trying to book those restaurant with karaoke room for dinner, really fully booked around my area.

Most restaurants are busy during festivals else either the restaurants is closing down or the country is in severe economic recession.

Reconnect with your sister lah bro.

she dont 1 to even talk...same wif me too.....

got 20% service charge or not?

They are too busy & running out of staffs. No way they can take ala carte order. As the consumer, we need to be considerate also.

Hope KFC won't be full when I dapao

ya, usually few months ago already fully booked. my neighbour was a chef in those chinese restaurant

wtf which barbarian kampung is this

Rich will get richer, poor B40s will be pushed genocided if this continues to happen to our society.

Looks like restaurant cheap publicity stunt viral advert not for eating. All of them seem wearing chef/waiter uniform.

Had sao gong lunch today at this price for 10 person
The food is ok, but not even decent (1 man 1 prawn kek), definitely not worth it.

Inb4 top up sikit got hotel buffet