[Review] Celebrate CNY 2026 with Orchid Live Seafood’s Set Menu From $488, Featuring Tank-to-Table Freshness Assorted Lobster Dishes

For seafood lovers, Orchid Live Seafood has launched their Chinese New Year (CNY) set menu for 2026, featuring tank-to-table fresh assorted lobster dishes, with prices starting from a reasonable $488.

Known famously for their Lobster Porridge, this Teochew-style seafood institution has cemented itself as one of the major direct importers of lobsters and crustaceans in Singapore. We recently visited their Jalan Kelulut outlet, a cosy location nestled in the private estate near Seletar Hills, to see how they are elevating their prized live catch for the upcoming festivities.

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The atmosphere at Jalan Kelulut strikes a balance between a bustling neighborhood gem and a serious dining establishment. It feels welcoming and unpretentious, which is exactly the vibe you want for a boisterous family gathering. Their CNY menu will be available from 2 February to 3 March and are designed to cater to various group sizes, but the focus remains firmly on premium ingredients prepared straight from the tank.

Our tasting began with the quintessential festive starter, the Boston Lobster Yu Sheng. While many restaurants rely on salmon or abalone, Orchid Live Seafood plays to its strengths by incorporating chunks of sweet, poached lobster.

The crustacean meat adds a delightful bounce and luxury to the salad that pairs beautifully with the crisp vegetables and plum sauce. It is a refreshing and auspicious start that sets a high bar for the courses to follow.

Following the toss to prosperity, we were served the Braised Whole Shark’s Fin Soup with Alaskan King Crab Meat. This dish is unapologetically traditional. The broth is thick, savoury, and brimming with ingredients.

The addition of Alaskan King Crab meat provides a sweetness that cuts through the richness of the soup, adding a layer of texture that speaks to the kitchen’s generosity. It warms the stomach and prepares the palate for the heavier dishes.

To share and spread the joy, the Signature Platter has a little bit of everything to go around. It comprises their crowd favourite and house signature Steven Chicken, marinated fried chicken wings served with a sprinkling of sesame seeds and their house Ngoh Hiang, a meatroll accented with water chestnut and shrimp, wrapped in paper-thin crispy beancurd skin and served with sweet sauce. Pickles in the middle add an extra kick.

This was served alongside the Braised 2-Head Greenlip Abalone with Broccoli. The abalone was braised to perfection, maintaining a tender chewiness that absorbs the savoury brown sauce, while the broccoli provided a necessary crunch to balance the plate.

The star of the show, however, was undoubtedly the LIVE Australia Lobster steamed with heady Chinese wine to fully bring out its natural sweetness and exquisite aromas.

Since they import their own stock, the freshness is unparalleled. The meat pulls away from the shell with ease, firm and succulent. With lobsters this fresh, you do not need to overdo with the seasoning which will distract from the natural goodness.

Moving away from crustaceans, the kitchen displayed their skill with fish through the H.K. Steamed Wild Coral Trout. Hong Kong-style steaming relies on high heat, superior soy sauce, and scallions to let the fish shine. It is a clean and elegant dish that provides a nice counterpoint to the more intense flavours of the lobster.

To add variety to the seafood-heavy menu, the Fiery Stir Fry Wagyu Beef arrived with theatrics, served in a mock book which opens up with a fiery reveal. The beef was tender, and the bold seasoning made it a hit among the meat lovers at the table.

We rounded off the savory portion of the meal with the Five Treasures Lotus Leaf Rice with Alaskan King Crab Meat, where fragrant glutinous rice is folded in with five flavour treasures of dried mushrooms, premium dried scallops, lap cheong (Chinese sausage), salted egg, and dried shrimp.

To finish, the Premium Bird’s Nest Soup with Peach Gum was served as a soothing dessert. The peach gum adds a pleasant, jelly-like texture, and the sweetness is kept at a moderate level, making it a nourishing conclusion to a heavy feast.

For those planning your reunion dinners, these CNY set menus start from $488++ for four people, offering significant value given the inclusion of premium live seafood.

It is worth noting that joining their free membership program grants immediate perks, including a $10 voucher for the next visit and additional vouchers for subsequent trips.

Logistically, do note the different operating hours for the festive period. Their HomeTeamNS Khatib outlet will remain open throughout CNY. However, the Jalan Kelulut outlet where we dined will open on CNY Eve (16 February), close for a break on February 17 and 18 February and resume operations on 19 February.

Orchid Live Seafood Locations

HomeTeamNS Khatib

Adddress: 2 Yishun Walk #03-01, Singapore 767944
Tel: +65 6756 0311
Operating Hours: Daily, 11am to 2.30pm, 5pm to 10pm

Orchid Live Seafood Signature
Address: 16 Jalan Kelulut, Singapore 809033
Tel: +65 6484 2495
Operating Hours: Daily, 11am to 2.30pm, 5pm to 10pm

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