Words Tedrick Yau
Photos courtesy of City of Dreams Manila
January 28, 2025

It’s almost the Lunar New Year! City of Dreams Manila commences its Year of the Wood Snake festivities with auspicious and vibrant Lunar New Year rituals. To usher good fortune on January 29, guests are bound to enjoy the spectacular lion and dragon dance by the skilled artists of the Ling Nam Athletic Association in front of the main casino entrance at 5 in the afternoon. At the main casino lobby, on display is an imposing installation of this year’s intriguing Chinese zodiac, resplendent in sapphire hues that coincides with the celebration of the luxury resort’s tenth year anniversary.

More than the festivities, dining offers that symbolize prosperity and good fortune are already available at the hotel’s premium dining outlets

The award-winning Cantonese restaurant Crystal Dragon presents its auspicious and curated specialties that reflect the significant culinary traditions of the Lunar New Year. The menu is headlined by the indulgent rendition of the traditional prosperity toss salad, levelling it up with Prosperity Abalone Yee Sang. To beget luck, the colorful and auspicious salad ritual consists of sliced abalone symbolizing abundance, colorful julienned papaya for youthfulness, pomelo and carrots for good luck, radish for swift progress, onion leeks for wisdom, chopped peanuts and deep-fried flour crisps for prosperity, drizzled with oil for a smooth sailing year, and sweet plum dressing lastly for a sweet and harmonious family relationship. The Yee Sang is an integral celebratory fare shared by a group gathered around the table, mixing and tossing the ingredients high up with chopsticks while reciting auspicious phrases to bless all present with well-wishes.

Completing Crystal Dragon’s symbolic specialties are delectable dishes like the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall in Rich Golden Broth, Poached Yellow Skin Chicken with Chinese spices and Szechuan pepper oil, Live Green Lobster in duo flavor, Deep-fried Three Layered Salted Egg Yolk Nian Gao, and many more.

World renowned Nobu Restaurant is not one to disappoint on culinary offerings. Nobu Manila highlights luxe Chinese New Year ala carte dinner specials featuring premium turbot and rock lobster platters that are a rare feast for up to four persons. The Whole Turbot Fish Sashimi and Sushi Platter consists of sashimi enhanced with matcha soy salt and dry miso in yuzu lemon juice, sushi served with konbu in yuzu lemon juice and turbot liver, and a cut roll of turbot tempura with eel sauce. The Whole Rock Lobster Sashimi and Sushi Platter consists of sashimi of new-style lobster in yuzu soy sauce and dry miso in capsicum yuzu and cut roll of lobster tempura, avocado, masago, and chives, primed with steamed lobster roe. 

Contemporary Asian bar and bistro Red Ginger infuses Southeast Asian flavors to its Lunar Festival menu. The special ala carte menu includes a “Prosperity” Salmon Curry Puff, “Longevity” Crispy Noodles with seafood and gravy, “Wealthy” Braised Pork Belly with Asian spices, “Lucky” Golden Crispy Chicken, as well as “Fortune” Nian Gao or the glutinous rice cake. 

For inquiries and reservations, call 8800-8080 for the or e-mail guestservices@cod-manila.com, or visit www.cityofdreamsmanila.com.