The award-winning EQ Hotel is bringing back one of Kuala Lumpur’s most legendary dining icons – Golden Phoenix – in the form of an exclusive annual pop-up for the Chinese New Year season. For those who are familiar with Golden Phoenix’s rich legacy, it’s the much-anticipated return of the beloved restaurant that was once the crown jewel of the former Hotel Equatorial, since the 1970s.
And now, in 2025, it makes a grand comeback to celebrate the Year of the Snake with a menu that honors its 50-year-old culinary heritage while introducing exciting new dishes for 2025.
Yee Sang to Toss for Health, Wealth, Prosperity
One of the highlights of the Golden Phoenix pop-up is the yee sang, the quintessential Chinese New Year dish in Malaysia. This festive salad, a symbol of prosperity and good fortune, features a variety of ingredients, from shredded vegetables to fresh and preserved fruits, crackers, and raw seafood. In 2025, Golden Phoenix offers a variety of yee sang options, each more luxurious than the last. The options include Norwegian salmon and jellyfish with fabulous fruit and red dragonfruit sauce, ten-head abalone, and two exclusive variants—fresh Canadian geoduck and Austrian lobster—available for pre-order. Prices for the yee sang start from RM128 for a small serving, catering to 4-6 persons, and go up to RM668 for a large portion that can serve 6-10 guests.
The Grandeur of Poon Choy
For those looking to indulge in a more extravagant Chinese New Year feast, poon choy is a must-have. This traditional prosperity pot is popular during Lunar New Year celebrations, arranged in layers to highlight a variety of flavorful ingredients. Golden Phoenix’s poon choy put together luxury ingredients such as ten-head abalone, sea cucumber, Japanese dried scallops, king prawns, roasted duck, steamed chicken, sea moss, Pipa tofu, dried oysters, fish maw, and many more. This aromatic, slow-cooked dish allows all the flavors to meld together into a rich, savory stock. Priced at RM688+, this lavish dish serves 6-10 people and is sure to be the highlight of your festive dining experience.
Golden Phoenix’s Signature Peking Duck
Not to forget, a perfectly roasted Peking duck. At Golden Phoenix, the Peking duck (RM288+) is served in two ways. The crispy duck skin is sliced tableside and presented in delicate crepes with cucumber, spring onions, and sweet bean sauce. The meat is then prepared according to your preference, with options such as sautéed with spring onions and ginger in oyster sauce, wok-fried with vegetables, stir-fried in kung poh sauce and served with fried oriental buns, or even as fried rice or noodles. No matter how you enjoy it, this signature dish promises to be a crowd-pleaser.
Pop-up Menu Highlights
Double-boiled chicken soup with matsutake mushroom and fish maw
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.
A selection of traditional Chinese New Year desserts to end the meal. Indulge from special rice cake, baked peony lotus seed paste, or warm ginger tea with glutinous rice balls—each priced at RM18+ per portion.
Special Set Menus for the Reunion Feast
We’re glad to check out Golden Phoenix set menus that are perfect for Reunion dinner, taking the guesswork out of the meal while ensuring that every dish is expertly crafted, thoughtfully include a vegetarian menu too.
The set menus price:
Vegetarian Menu: RM188+ per person
Happy Reunion Menu: RM288+ per person
Prosperous Atmosphere Menu: RM388+ per person
Wealth Treasures Menu: RM488+ per person
Great Prosperity Menu: RM688+ per person
Steamed tiger grouper with cordyceps flower and red dates
Braised whole sea cucumber with dried oyster and sea moss
Wok-fried tiger prawns with dark soya sauce
Braised seafood with noodles and crab meat sauce
Golden Phoenix rice cake Baked peony lotus seed paste
Chilled peach with white fungus and red dates.
Our top favorite goes to the Apple wood-smoked chicken roulade with barbecue sauce, mixed mesclun lettuce – a creative switch from the usual roasted chicken, bringing in a touch of Western. Tender chicken, subtle smoky hint, accompanying barbecue sauce – enhancing the flavors and giving the dish just the right amount of richness.
Stay & Indulge the EQ Way
Aside from the exceptional cuisine at Golden Phoenix, EQ – 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 utilized during the duration of the stay.
In addition to the dining credits, the room rate includes a daily buffet breakfast for two at Nipah, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, which offers a diverse selection of local and international cuisine. Guests will also enjoy complimentary daily snacks and soft drinks in their rooms. Bookings are open from 1 December 2024 to 12 February 2025, for stays between 10 January and 12 February 2025 (excluding blackout dates). Please note that full prepayment is required, and reservations are non-refundable.
Premium Chinese New Year Gifts
For those looking to add a special touch to their Lunar New Year celebrations, EQ Hotel will also be offering a selection of premium Chinese New Year food gifts and hampers. These festive treats are available for purchase on their website, ensuring you can share the joy and indulgence with loved ones during the festive season. These will be available at https://www.eqkualalumpur.equatorial.com/chinese-new-year/
