Celebrate the Year of the Snake with the Iconic EQ's Golden Phoenix

Last month, I was invited to EQ Kuala Lumpur to media preview of their Chinese New Year menu. Just like previous year, EQ is once again bringing back the legendary dining icon in the form of an annual pop-up for one season in January and February 2025. Golden Phoenix, once Kuala Lumpur's most famous Chinese restaurant, originally opened in the 1970s at the former Hotel Equatorial.

I've been told that Golden Phoenix is serving a menu which draws from its 50-year-old culinary heritage, as well as debuting new dishes for the Year of the Snake.

Key among the offerings is a selection of yee sang (festive new year salad comprising shredded vegetables, fresh and preserved fruit, crackers and an element of raw seafood).

Golden Phoenix's yee sang

The yee sang choices this year are Norwegian salmon and jellyfish, fabulous fruit and red dragonfruit sauce, ten-head abalone, and two advance order variants – fresh Canadian geoduck and Austrian lobster. Portions start from RM128 for a small serving for four to six persons, to RM668 for a large portion for six to ten featuring imported Austrian lobster.


Discover Treasure This Lunar New Year
Poon choy, which is a prosperity or treasure pot dish, is a luxury treat that appears to have gained popularity during Chinese New Year. Arranged in layers, with multiple flavourful ingredients, the pot is then slow cooked, allowing the essence of prawns, abalone, scallops and assorted meats to produce a rich, aromatic stock. Golden Phoenix’s poon choy features ten-head abalone, sea cucumber, Japanese dried scallops, king prawns, roasted duck, steamed chicken, sea moss, Pipa tofu, dried oysters, fish maw, top shell slices, sea moss, baby cabbage, mushrooms, white radish, yam and money bags. Priced at RM688+, the portion serves between six to ten, making it an extravagant, delicious centrepiece to the lunar feast.

Golden Phoenix’s poon choy

Golden Phoenix’s traditional Peking duck

Another main highlight is Golden Phoenix’s traditional Peking duck (RM288+) served two ways. The crisp skin is sliced tableside, then served wrapped in a delicate crepe with cucumber, spring onions and sweet bean sauce. The meat is then prepared in the guests’ preferred way: sautéed with spring onions and ginger in oyster sauce, minced and wok-fried with vegetables, stir-fried in kung poh sauce and served with fried oriental buns, or in fried rice or noodles.

Braised whole five-head abalones

Braised whole sea cucumber with dried oyster and sea moss

Wok-fried tiger prawns with dark soya sauce

Steamed tiger grouper with cordyceps flower and red dates

Aside from that, the pop-up menu will also feature rich, clear soups, a selection of prime abalone and dried seafood including braised whole five-head abalones, sea cucumber and sea moss priced at RM228+, stewed fish maw and sea cucumber in superior stock at RM188+, Shunde-style Boston lobster at RM48+ per 100 grams, prime grouper and cod served in a choice of four preparation styles - steamed with superior soya sauce or with cordyceps flowers and red dates, deep-fried with superior soya sauce or with pickled cabbage and minced chicken.

Some dessert selections at the Golden Phoenix

For those with sweet tooth, the dessert selections will feature Golden Phoenix’s special rice cake, baked peony lotus seed paste, and hot ginger tea with glutinous rice ball, all at RM18+ per portion.


Set for the Celebrations
For those who are looking for Reunion meal, the culinary team at Golden Phoenix has also put together some stunning set menus which take the guesswork out of a meal, and allows diners to savour the mastery of perfectly prepared Cantonese cuisine. Selections include the vegetarian menu, priced at RM188+ per person, Happy Reunion menu priced at RM288+ per person, Prosperous Atmosphere menu priced at RM388+ per person, Wealth Treasures menu priced at RM488+ per person, and Great Prosperity menu priced at RM688+ per person.



Stay and Indulge the EQ Way
Apart from the exceptional cuisine at Golden Phoenix, Malaysia’s Best City Hotel is also offering a special Chinese New Year room and dining promotion for those wanting to usher in the Year of the Snake in elegance and luxury. Guests who book a minimum of two nights at the special rate of RM888+ per night will receive RM200 F&B dining credits per night for use at the Golden Phoenix restaurant pop-up. The F&B credit will need to be utilised during the duration of the stay.

The room rate also includes a daily buffet breakfast for two at Nipah, the all-day dining restaurant which offers a delectable variety of local and western cuisine. Each room also comes with complimentary daily snacks and soft drinks. Bookings are open from 1 December 2024 to 12 February 2025, for stays from 10 January to 12 February 2025 although blackout dates apply. Full prepayment is required and is non-refundable once reservations are made.

Last but not least, EQ will also offer premium Chinese New Year food gifts and hampers for the festive season and you can check them out here.

.: Peace Out :.

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