Eat & Drink
4 CNY Must-tries to kick off the Year of the Horse—and where to eat them
Posted by SM Supermalls on February 12, 2026
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Eat & Drink
Posted by SM Supermalls on February 12, 2026
The Year of the Horse kicks off on February 17, marking the start of Lunar New Year festivities across Asian communities the world over. Running until March 2, this major cultural holiday, also known as Spring Festival, means coming together with loved ones and sharing good food meant to usher in luck, abundance, and happiness.
So, go all out and gather your family and friends to feast on our lucky eats on this list—all available via the SM Malls Online app. From non-negotiable noodles to savory dumplings, these iconic dishes are delicious ways to ring in the new year—all made to help you gallop into the Year of the Horse on a successful and satiated note.
King Chef
Dumplings (jiaozi) are a classic staple in any Chinese New Year spread and served in large batches for fortune because their shape resembles ancient gold ingots in Chinese culture. They’re small pockets of minced meat and vegetables wrapped in soft dough.
Get your fill at King Chef for P880. Their steamed Dimsum Party Platter 1 is good for two to three persons. Of course, you can order more because remember—the more dumplings, the better the luck.
Hap Chan
No festive table is complete without tikoy or Chinese New Year’s cake (nian gao). This straightforward sticky dessert is made from glutinous rice flour, sugar, and water, symbolizing unity and progress. The word “gao” sounds like “higher” in Mandarin, so eating this sweet rice cake is believed to help one rise in their career or life in general.
Some have it fresh out of the box, but most of us love the fried version cooked with egg, as it tastes more caramel-like. Grab your stash of Original (red) and White Tikoy from Hap Chan starting only at P110 for 500g and P195 for 1kg. They also have a special Ube Tikoy at P120 for 500g and P210 for 1kg.
Chowking
Pao-wer up your Chinese New Year merienda with Chowking’s Snack Savers for as low as P79 until March 31, 2026—letting you save up to P34. Order their bestselling and classic combo of Fried Siopao (baozi) and Pancit Canton solo (chaomian) to hit two lucky birds in one sitting.
Both auspicious treats for the Lunar New Year that symbolize wealth and longevity, Chowking’s fried siopao is lightly crisp on the outside with chunky meaty goodness on the inside, while their stir-fried noodle dish is cooked with fresh egg noodles, real chicken strips, sliced chicken balls, and veggies tossed in a savory canton sauce.
Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-244115, Series of 2025.
Wangfu Chinese Café
If you want a good beginning and end to the year, a chicken (ji) dish is a must in your banquet. We recommend General Tso’s Chicken from Wangfu Chinese Cafe for only P428. Each plate is served with deep-fried chicken pieces coated in sweet, subtly spicy sauce with some broccoli for added flavor and crunch.
Tradition states that chicken should be served whole to signify wholeness, but feasting on a non-whole bird as an alternative is still perfectly acceptable, especially in modern gatherings.
SWIPE to get lucky
Welcome the Year of the Horse with good vibes and good food via the SM Malls Online app by following these easy steps.
Go all out with foodie-approved eats this season when you check out the many places to eat, drink, and be merry at your favorite SM mall via SM Malls Online.
For SM Malling Made Easy, download the SM Malls Online app today, available on Google Play and the App Store.
