Café de Coral (大家樂), one of Hong Kong’s largest fast-food chains, has launched a special, value-focused festive menu featuring premium ingredients like abalone and fish maw, traditionally reserved for elaborate holiday gatherings. Available immediately across all branches during dinner service and while supplies last, this promotion aims to make high-end Lunar New Year fare accessible, starting at an exceptional price point of just HK$74 per person for a two-person feast.
This limited-time initiative, dubbed the “Reunion Abalone and Fish Maw Banquet” series, follows previous promotional successes by the chain and provides timely dining solutions for individuals, couples, and small families seeking auspicious, hearty meals ahead of the holiday period.
Economical Feasts Featuring Premium Ingredients
The core of the promotion is two distinct set meal options, all focusing on the inclusion of luxurious seafood—abalone and fish maw (花膠), prized for their texture and cultural symbolism of prosperity and wealth in Chinese culture.
For couples, the “Prosperity Fortune” Two-Person Set is priced at HK$148 (HK$74 per person). This package includes a choice of one main abalone and fish maw clay pot, accompanied by essential festive items such as barbecued pork (蜜汁叉燒), braised faux shark’s fin soup (紅燒素翅), and a selected side dish, along with two servings of rice and Chinese tea. This option drastically lowers the barrier to enjoying celebratory, quality seafood at a casual dining venue.
The main courses feature two symbolic choices:
- “Golden Rooster Brings Joy” (金雞報喜): A pot of slow-cooked chicken stewed with chestnut, abalone, and fish maw.
- “Wealth Rolls In” (財源滾滾): Juicy braised pork meatballs (Lion’s Head) with abalone and fish maw, symbolizing completeness and abundant fortune.
For solo diners, Café de Coral introduced the “Auspicious Year” Single Set for HK$98. This allows those celebrating alone to enjoy an opulent meal, comprising a choice of the two signature abalone and fish maw pots, the faux shark’s fin soup, rice, and Chinese tea.
Strategic Move to Capture Holiday Market
By integrating precious ingredients traditionally associated with upscale Chinese restaurants into its fast-casual dining format, Café de Coral is strategically positioning itself to address the growing demand for convenient yet meaningful holiday dining solutions. Offering these sets exclusively during the dinner period ensures they cater directly to family mealtimes and pre-holiday gatherings.
“The demand for convenient, high-quality, and symbolically rich meals dramatically increases during the Lunar New Year period,” noted a food analyst specializing in Hong Kong’s quick-service industry. “This pricing strategy, pushing the individual cost below the HK$100 mark for premium ingredients, is highly compelling in the local market, especially for young families or temporary gatherings.”
Important Details for Diners
Potential diners should be aware that the availability of these celebratory meals is strictly based on remaining stock and is limited to Café de Coral’s evening operational hours. Due to operational variations among branches:
- The braised faux shark’s fin soup may be substituted with a traditional Chinese slow-cooked soup at certain locations.
- The selected side dish options explicitly exclude more complex items such as Mouth-watering Chicken (口水雞), roast meat combinations, and steamed fish with fermented black beans.
Given the deeply discounted nature of the promotion and the fixed quantities of premium ingredients, interested customers are strongly advised to confirm availability at their preferred branch. This temporary festive offering by Café de Coral provides a compelling, budget-friendly option for those wishing to partake in the traditional symbolism of a luxurious reunion dinner without the typical high costs associated with fine dining.