NagaWorld says Gong Xi Fa Cai with its annual Chinese New Year banquet
NagaWorld is again ringing in the Chinese New Year with its signature luxury and opulence at its flagship dining venue and award-winning restaurant Hall of Golden Chimes (Level 5, NagaWorld2) offering all the traditional celebrations.
The Khmer Nights team went to taste NagaWorld’s Chinese New Year banquet and experience the offerings available to welcome in the Year of the Tiger.
Arriving at Nagaworld the venue has gone all out on the annual lunar New Year celebrations with large-scale installations littered throughout leading from Phnom Penh’s iconic Independence Monument which makes for a lovely entrance.
There is also tiger-themed décor that creates a festive atmosphere as well as a ‘roaming tiger’ mascot that is great to capture some as they say ‘roaring moments’ (yes, the puns don’t stop at Khmer Nights) that can be shared with friends and family on your social media.
Please note: Before you can enter any Nagaworld building you are required to show a vaccination card as well as undergo a temperature check – so don’t forget your vaccine card!
NagaWorld and the Hall of Golden Chimes
Traveling up the escalator and into the beautifully decorated Hall of Golden Chimes (Khmer Nights is still endeavoring to find these ‘Golden Chimes’) we are greeted by a lovely manager that brings us to our table sat around the quintessential Chinese restaurant ‘Lazy Susan’.
The first dish we are brought is Yee Sang, the traditional good luck Chinese New Year appetizer which features some of the best Norwegian fresh salmon we have tried and beautifully prepared vegetables presented by our waiter delivering a traditional Chinese mantra of wealth, health, and happiness.
We are then invited to toss the dish high in the air with long chopsticks while chanting auspicious phrases to welcome abundance and wealth throughout the year. It is believed that the higher the toss, the greater the blessings or so we are told.
After the initial celebrations, we are then brought an assortment of both Chinese and Khmer-friendly dishes to see us through the evening – all washed down with a healthy amount of beer.
The set menu included Braised Dried Oysters with Black Moss and Pig’s Tongue, Steamed Tiger Grouper with Chef’s Signature Sauce, Roasted Garlic Chicken with Herbs and Spices, Double Boiled Pork Loin Soup with Ginseng and Herbs, Seafood Fried Rice and Assorted Fruits to finish.
The Roasted Garlic Chicken was a Khmer Nights’ favorite with that unbeatable combination of crispy chicken skin roasted to perfection and juicy tender meat inside. The Steamed Tiger Grouper was also beautifully presented and a specialty with its unique texture enhanced by the chef’s signature soy sauce.
It must be said… the Braised Dried Oysters with Black Moss and Pig’s Tongue was a harder sell for the western palates – but was a good talking point for the ‘barangs’ at the table.
Expert tip: While the Seafood Fried Rice may seem like the ‘boring’ one in the group – however, it is actually lined with the most amazing caviar along the top – so be sure to get in first.
The more than enough eight-course Chinese New Year set menu will set you back $238 for a table of four ($59.5 per person) with drinks at bar prices (Angkor bottles are $5). While Ala carte dishes are also available from $26 per dish.
If you are looking to go all out there is also the Prosperity Menu for tables of 10 which is 9 courses of even more opulent delights, priced at $588 and features the additional Teochew-style Braised Goose, Stir-fried Mekong Lobsters with Curry Sauce and more.
Chinese New Year in Phnom Penh
Cambodia has its own Khmer New Year celebrations the city is well known for celebrating New Year’s from all cultures and countries and the Chinese New Year is no exception with the city coming to life over the Chinese New Year period.
With many Chinese nationals living in Cambodia as well as many Khmer’s with Chinese ancestry during the key days of Chinese New Year some businesses may be closed and a walk around town will see money being burnt on the streets.
Khmer Nights highlight recommends you also usher in some good health, happiness and prosperity in the auspicious Year of the Tiger with a spectacular selection of dining options, delicious goodies, and festive-themed décor and live entertainment at NagaWorld, daily from 1 to 15 February.
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Author: Leon Havana
A trained chef and sports aficionado with extensive experience across South America and Asia. Leon’s culinary creations celebrate local flavors, while his love for sports like football and boxing connects him with local communities.
