Skip the hassle of shopping and cooking—hotel takeout New Year’s dishes are convenient and delicious

▲ The Regent Taipei features aged Shaoxing wine-infused New Year’s dishes. (Photo / Provided by Yunlan Tourism Group)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Every Lunar New Year's Eve, preparing traditional reunion dishes is a tedious process, and with more people choosing not to cook, the trend of dining out at hotels or ordering takeout New Year’s meals has become popular in urban areas. As the holiday approaches, major hotels are competing to offer a variety of takeout New Year’s dishes and promotions. For example, The Regent Taipei highlights aged Shaoxing wine-infused dishes using a secret recipe from Yunlan Tourism Group CEO Chang An-ping; The Westin Ximending offers a limited edition of 150 classic reunion meal sets; and Taipei Fullerton offers an early-bird 10% discount on New Year’s meal takeout.

Hotels under Yunlan Tourism Group each have their own specialties. The Regent Taipei features aged Shaoxing wine-infused dishes using a secret recipe from Yunlan Tourism Group CEO Chang An-ping, developing six cold dishes; The Hanlin Xinzhuang offers the award-winning and must-try signature dish “Premium Roast Pork Belly”; The Regent Taichung presents the “Abalone, Sea Cucumber & Shark’s Fin Chicken Pot” slow-cooked for 36 hours. Meanwhile, The Lalu Hot Spring Resort’s “Paper-Wrapped Chicken,” made with premium Puli Shaoxing wine, Nu’er Hong (daughter red wine), and free-range chicken, is steamed and roasted for 1.5 hours and is a new dish introduced after this year’s culinary competition. Official website of Yunlan Tourism Group: http://www.ldcgroup.com/

▲ Taipei The Westin offers a value-packed New Year’s meal set with eight classic reunion dishes. (Photo / Provided by Taipei The Westin)

Taipei The Westin offers a value-packed New Year’s meal set with eight classic reunion dishes, including a Prosperity Platter, Premium Fish Maw & Abalone Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, Premium Soup Lobster, Reunion Claypot, Dongpo Pork, Sweet & Sour Grouper, Red Rice Steamed with Glutinous Rice, and Blooming Prosperity. Suitable for six people, only 150 sets are available, each priced at NT$12,888.

▲ Taipei Fullerton Pearl Hall’s Cantonese-style New Year’s meal set. (Photo / Provided by Taipei Fullerton)

Taipei Fullerton offers an early-bird promotion for New Year’s meal takeout. Purchase any of the three Chinese set menus priced at NT$9,888, and enjoy a 10% discount if ordered and paid before January 18. Ordering Chinese set menus online via the Fullerton website comes with a NT$500 cash discount and a NT$500 dining voucher (limited to 40 sets per menu). Additionally, using a credit card to purchase New Year’s meals also grants discounts: 15% off with the Fullerton co-branded card, and 10% off with cards from Fubon Bank, CTBC, and Citibank.

▲ Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza offers a lavish Japanese New Year’s feast box. (Photo / Provided by Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza)

In addition to traditional New Year’s dishes, Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza offers a rich and exquisite Japanese New Year’s feast box. Since Japanese New Year traditions include a three-day fire taboo, all dishes are marinated in sauces and vinegar for preservation while maintaining flavor. Dishes in this set, such as Blackthroat Seaperch in Wakasa Style, Cod in Saikyo Glaze, Roast Duck Breast, and Starry Moray Eel Yawata Rolls, all feature this distinctive festive preparation.