[Sponsored] Chinese New Year is almost here, and the city is flooded with all kinds of set menus with more or less the same classic dishes. The set meal at Ion Orchard’s casual Thai restaurant, Nara Thai, is pretty different, but has all of the requisite components of a good CNY feast.

1. A nice big fish

The classic: The whole fish, with head and tail intact, represents the new year in its entirety and is a requirement for any Chinese New Year feast.
The jazzy variation: Happily, the Thai chili-lime steamed whole fish is both delicious, fiery and fits the whole fish requirement.

2. A hotpot of abundant seafood goodness

The classic: The pen cai pot is usually overflowing with braised veggies, scallops, clams, abalone and all other kinds of seafood.
The jazzy variation: It’s not overflowing with assorted seafood, but Thai tom yum kung is a fiery, flavor-packed change from usual proceedings and happens to be overflowing with juicy mushroom and tiger prawns, too.

3. The requisite yu sheng

The classic: Nothing says Chinese New Year reunion like lo hei-ing a big ol’ platter full of raw fish and veggies. A pretty key component of the dish, the yu sheng (“raw fish”) symbolizes abundance.
The jazzy variation: Mix things up this year by swapping out the raw fish with some exotic ingredients. Nara Thai has two options: the extravagant Rolling Gold Yu Sheng, with not fish but crispy-fried soft shell crab, and the Prosperity Yu Sheng, with Norwegian salmon, dressed with a spicy and tangy Thai-inspired sauce.

4. Something noodle-y

The classic: Half the fun of chang shou mian (aka longevity noodles) is fishing around for the longest noodle.
The jazzy variation: Ok, so it couldn’t be further from chang shou mian, but who can say no to a solid, comforting, shrimp-laden pad Thai—and those noodles do get pretty long.

5. Sweet glutinous rice goodness

The classic: Traditional nian gao cakes are good fortune in a bite: sweet, starchy, carb-loaded, delicious.
The jazzed-up: Equally delicious and carb-loaded is arguably Thailand’s best dessert: glutinous rice smothered in coconut milk and topped with sweet mango.

Nara Thai’s Chinese New Year set meals are available Jan 23 to Feb 22. Book a table at either the ION Orchard or the Westgate branch.

This post is brought to you by