By The Table desk · Last verified 4 October 2026
The Chinese New Year reunion dinner 2027 falls on Friday 5 February 2027, the eve of the Year of the Goat. The public holidays are Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 February, and because the second day lands on a Sunday, Monday 8 February is a holiday in lieu. Restaurants run the eve as their busiest night: they sell fixed set menus priced per table or per head, split the evening into timed seatings of about 1.5 to 2 hours, and usually ask for a deposit. Bookings for 2026 opened around mid-January at some hotels and filled fast, so plan from December or early January.
Whether it is grandma’s kitchen or a round table in a hotel ballroom, the point is the same: everyone home, everyone fed. Here is how to make the restaurant part painless.
Quick facts
- Reunion eve: Friday 5 February 2027, a normal working day.
- Public holidays: Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 February, plus Monday 8 February in lieu.
- Set menus rule the night: most Chinese restaurants offer only festive sets, not the usual à la carte list.
- Seatings are timed: one 2026 restaurant ran 1.5-hour slots for small tables and 2-hour slots for larger ones.
- Deposits are normal to hold a reunion table; read the cancellation terms.
- Yu sheng day: renri, the seventh day, is Friday 12 February 2027, though people toss it all season.
The 2027 dates that matter
| Occasion | Date | Day | What it means for eating out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reunion dinner (chuxi) | 5 February 2027 | Friday | Peak night; set menus, seatings, deposits |
| Chinese New Year, day 1 | 6 February 2027 | Saturday | Many hawkers and small eateries close; festive surcharges common |
| Chinese New Year, day 2 | 7 February 2027 | Sunday | Visiting day; restaurants busy at lunch |
| Holiday in lieu | 8 February 2027 | Monday | Long weekend ends; more stalls reopen |
| Renri (day 7) | 12 February 2027 | Friday | Traditional yu sheng day; office lo hei season |
| Chap Goh Mei (day 15) | 20 February 2027 | Saturday | Last night of the festive period |
How do reunion dinner bookings work?
Festive menus are usually announced in December or January. For the 2026 season, for example, Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium opened reunion dinner bookings from 15 January 2026, and the Fu Yuan restaurant required a deposit for every dine-in reservation and ran seatings from 11.30am to 11pm on the eve. Expect the same pattern for 2027.
- Agree the headcount and budget with the family first; set menus are priced by table size.
- Watch for menu launches from late November; early-bird discounts often apply only to sets paid by a cut-off date.
- Choose your seating: early slots (around 5pm) are easier to get and suit grandparents; 7pm slots go first.
- Pay the deposit and save the terms: note the cancellation deadline and whether the deposit is refundable.
- Flag dietary needs early: many restaurants offer a vegetarian set, but only with notice.
- Order yu sheng with the set or confirm it is included; it is often a separate line on the bill.
What do set menus cost?
2027 menus are not yet out as of October 2026, so here are published 2026 examples to set expectations.
| Venue (2026 season) | Set | Published price |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium, ballroom reunion dinner (16 Feb 2026, 6.30pm to 8.30pm) | 6 / 8 / 10 persons, with baby abalone yu sheng | $768++ / $988++ / $1,288++ |
| Xin Cuisine, Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium | Ten set menus, including vegetarian | From $108++ per person |
| Fu Yuan | Nine set menus, up to 10 courses | From $488 for 4 persons, up to $2,988 for 10 |
Worked example: the $1,288++ table for 10 becomes $1,416.80 after the 10% service charge and about $1,544.31 after 9% GST, roughly $154 a head. Always check whether a set price is “++” or nett before comparing.
Yu sheng: where it came from and how to lo hei
Roots.sg, the National Heritage Board’s heritage portal, credits four chef apprentices, later called the “Four Heavenly Kings”, with creating the colourful modern yu sheng, which debuted on the second day of Lunar New Year in 1964. Each ingredient carries a wish: raw fish for abundance, pomelo and carrot for luck, crushed peanuts and crispy crackers for wealth, green radish for youthfulness, plum sauce or honey for sweetness, and lime and five-spice for blessings.
- The server lays out the vegetables and adds each topping, saying its lucky phrase.
- Everyone stands, chopsticks ready, once the sauce and crackers go on.
- Toss together and call out “lo hei!” and good wishes; the higher the toss, the better the fortune, as the saying goes.
- Then sit down and share it as the first course.
The WahLiao Verdict
Decide by early December whether you are dining out, then book the moment your chosen restaurant opens its 2027 list; the 5pm seating on Friday 5 February is the kindest slot for older relatives and the easiest to secure. Compare sets on the final nett price per head, not the headline, and confirm whether yu sheng is included. If the eve is fully booked, a reunion lunch on the eve or a family dinner on Monday 8 February keeps the spirit and saves stress.
Questions people ask
Is Chinese New Year’s Eve a public holiday?
No. Friday 5 February 2027 is a normal working day; the holidays are 6 and 7 February, with 8 February in lieu.
Can I order à la carte on reunion night?
Rarely at Chinese restaurants; most switch to festive sets for the period. Zi char stalls and non-Chinese restaurants are more flexible.
Will hawker centres be open?
Many stalls close for the first days of the new year, and some open with higher festive prices. Check our guide to what closes before you count on one.
Can I buy yu sheng to toss at home?
Yes. Restaurants and supermarkets sell takeaway yu sheng sets in the weeks around the new year; keep the raw fish chilled and add it just before tossing.
Sources: Roots.sg (National Heritage Board), Yusheng and Lo Hei; Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium, 2026 reunion dinner set menus; Fu Yuan, 2026 Chinese New Year menus, seatings and deposit terms; MOM, public holidays. 2027 menus and prices will differ; check each restaurant’s own page. The Table explains; it does not endorse.
Read next: Chinese New Year in Singapore: What Closes, What Opens · Singapore Public Holidays 2027 · Zi Char: How to Order · Back to The Table
For what’s worth it this week, with the bill shown, read The WahLiao Week.
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