Duo Choi Palace Restaurant, a nearly 30-year fixture in Hong Kong’s Shek Kip Mei district, is celebrating the Lunar New Year with a unique homage to tradition, launching a range of limited-edition, handmade dim sum and substantial celebratory feasts aimed at preserving authentic Cantonese culinary craftsmanship. Running from February 15 to February 23, 2026, the venerable establishment, known for its commitment to “old Hong Kong” flavors, introduces specialty items like the auspiciously named “Fortune Pig Head Bun” and the luxurious “Hair Moss and Dried Oyster Siu Mai,” alongside attractive early bird discounts on its grand reunion dinners and classic Poon Choi platters.
The Craftsmanship Philosophy: Honouring Authentic Techniques
Since its opening in 1998 near the Shek Kip Mei MTR station, Duo Choi Palace has maintained a rigorous standard for traditional Cantonese cuisine, a commitment exemplified by its dim sum kitchen. Central to this dedication is the master craftsman, known as “Fai Gor,” who has been perfecting his trade since 1989. Fai Gor and his team start their day at 3 a.m., operating on a strict “zero pre-made dishes” philosophy.
This dedication manifests in techniques rarely seen outside of heritage kitchens, such as the demanding “tapping skin” method used to create the delicate, translucent wrappers for their signature Duo Choi King Prawn Dumplings. Each dumpling is painstakingly folded with 13 precise pleats and stuffed with five fresh prawns, a process Fai Gor asserts cannot be replicated by modern machines. This insistence on manual skill ensures every steam basket delivered to the diner carries the warmth and texture of human artifice.
Seasonal Specials Emphasize Luck and Tradition
The Lunar New Year menu, tailored to celebrate the upcoming Year of the Horse, features several festive items designed for good fortune.
Highlighting the limited-edition offerings is the Thousand-Layer Sponge Cake (Malai Go), which is layered with rich custard filling and topped with a symbolic “horse” pattern, representing leadership and success. Other equine-themed treats include the savory Jinhua Ham Horse Cake and the refreshing Water Chestnut Cake.
The celebration continues with a range of novelty and premium dim sum that symbolize prosperity:
- Fortune Pig Head Bun: An irresistibly cute, sweet bun with a molten custard filling, meant to symbolize good fortune arriving at your door.
- Hair Moss and Dried Oyster Siu Mai: A luxurious take on the classic pork dumpling, incorporating precious dried oyster and fa cai (black moss), ingredients associated with wealth and prosperity.
- Golden Shrimp Toast and Sesame Fried Rice Balls: Deep-fried delicacies that symbolize gold and silver.
Reunion Feasts and Value Deals
For family gatherings, Duo Choi Palace is offering substantial banquet options. The highly-anticipated Fortune Abalone Poon Choi (traditional Cantonese festive casserole) is available for HK$888 for six people. The dish features 19 premium ingredients, including whole abalone, premium dried oysters, crispy roast duck, and Hakka braised pork belly, all simmered in a rich abalone sauce. Patrons ordering the Poon Choi can also add a side of glutinous rice with preserved meats for a reduced price of HK$68.
Furthermore, diners can opt for the “Star of Fortune Banquet,” featuring a comprehensive eight-course menu that includes dishes like whole roasted suckling pig, baked lobster with E-fu noodles, and steamed garoupa. The full banquet is priced at HK$4,288 per table, with early bird bookings made one day in advance receiving a saving of HK$300 per table.
To accompany the feasts, the restaurant is providing a selection of homemade New Year Puddings (including turnip, taro, and water chestnut), which are bundled at HK$178 for two boxes, along with an additional HK$100 in dining vouchers for future use.
The restaurant’s unwavering commitment to hand-made classics, from its meticulously prepared dim sum to its daily limited-supply Crispy Skin Roast Pig, ensures that patrons enjoy not just a meal, but a genuine taste of Hong Kong’s fading culinary heritage, making it an ideal destination for celebrating the Lunar New Year.
Duo Choi Palace Festive Promotion Details (2026)
- Festive Dim Sum Period: February 15 – 23, 2026
- Abalone Poon Choi: HK$888 (6 persons) / HK$1,688 (12 persons). Requires 2 days advance booking.
- Star of Fortune Banquet: HK$4,288 (Full table). Early bird booking (1 day prior) receives HK$300 deduction.
- Address: G/F, Mei Choi Building, Nam Cheong Street, Shek Kip Mei (near Exit A)
- Telephone: 2778 0278