The battle for Chinese New Year profits is won in October and November—not in January.
If you run a restaurant, café, or catering business, now’s the time to plan your moves. From menus to manpower, every decision you make before the festive rush can determine how successful your CNY 2026 will be.
This guide breaks down five (5) strategic tips to help Malaysian F&B owners maximise profits, stay organised, and deliver an experience customers will remember—all while keeping operations smooth behind the scenes.
Before you start printing posters or posting promotions, lock in your menu first. A strong CNY menu should strike a balance between tradition and profitability—dishes like Prosperity Toss (Yee Sang), Treasure Pot (Poon Choi), and Whole Fish are must-haves because they symbolise luck and abundance.
Keep your offerings clear, festive, and easy for customers to choose from.
(For a detailed breakdown of the dishes themselves, check out this article: [The Top CNY Dishes for 2026] and know what kind of menus you should include this year.)
A little secret for you: customers love having options, but not too many. The ideal setup? Three set menus at different price points—for example, a ‘basic’ RM19, a ‘standard’ RM29, and a ‘grand’ RM59 per pax.
The psychology is simple: most diners will go for the middle option, which gives you a steady margin while still feeling premium. Balance your “wow” dishes like prawns or fish maw soup with lower-cost favourites like vegetables or tofu dishes to control costs.
Pro tip: This is also where smart ingredients help manage your food cost. For soups, braised dishes, or gravies, using a reliable base like AJI-NO-MOTO® PLUS and AJI-MIX™ delivers a deep, consistent flavour without needing long hours of prep. It’s rich, time-saving, and keeps your dishes tasting great even in high-volume service.
Cash flow is king, especially during festive season planning. An ‘early bird promotion’ (like 10–15% off for bookings made before 31 December) can help lock in revenue ahead of time.
You can also bundle value-added perks—for example, offer free Yee Sang for tables above 10 pax or complimentary dessert for takeaway sets. Early reservations also give your kitchen team a clearer idea of prep and portion planning. And that’s VERY important.
Chinese New Year isn’t just dine-in anymore—takeaway and delivery are booming. Consider offering premium takeaway sets for Poon Choi or Yee Sang, designed for families celebrating at home.
Set up a pre-order system with clear pickup times and limited delivery slots to keep things manageable. Don’t forget packaging—sturdy, leak-proof containers and festive sleeves add value and presentation.
Customers are willing to pay more when food feels special and convenient, especially for family gatherings.
And one final point—don’t cut corners on your takeaway packaging. For Chinese New Year, the box is part of the experience. A flimsy plastic container can make your premium Poon Choi look cheap. Instead, invest in high-quality, sturdy boxes with a festive red and gold sleeve or a nice branded sticker. When a customer picks up a heavy, beautifully packaged set, it feels special and more premium. This presentation is what allows you to confidently charge a higher price, as it shows you care about quality from the kitchen all the way to their home. That effort is definitely worth it.
Manpower can make or break your festive season. Start by mapping out staff leave and hiring part-timers early. Assign key roles ahead of time—who’s handling prep, frying, plating, or customer service—so everyone knows what to expect once the orders flood in.
To make kitchen training smoother—especially during the CNY rush—standardise your flavour base. A little help from the SERI-AJI® range goes a long way. For example, Kampung Style Fried Rice Seasoning brings that familiar homestyle comfort Malaysians love, while Yong Chow Fried Rice Seasoning gives your rice or noodle dishes a vibrant, festive lift. With these two in your line-up, your team can deliver consistently tasty results, even with new or temporary staff. It’s the quick & easy way to keep quality steady when orders start flying in.
And if you’re planning to go bigger, explore even more festive-ready ideas on our Recipe Biz page—your one-stop hub for CNY inspiration that works beautifully in real kitchen conditions.
To ensure everyone is on the same page before the festive rush begins, hold a compulsory staff briefing one week before the CNY menu launches. Here’s your checklist to cover to ensure there’s no confusion when service gets busy:
Set the Expectation: Remind them that during the festive season, service needs to be fast, but it must still be friendly. A smile, even during a crazy rush, is what makes customers feel welcome and want to come back next year.
The festive atmosphere starts with your space. Simple touches like red lanterns, golden table runners, or prosperity banners instantly lift the mood. Play light CNY background music and keep things cheerful but not overwhelming.
Ask yourself: “What is CNY to me?” The answer will come naturally.
On the service side, train your staff to upsell smartly—suggest festive drinks, premium add-ons, or signature desserts when taking orders. A friendly nudge like “Would you like to add a pot of premium Chinese tea to complete your meal?” can raise the average bill per table.
A profitable CNY doesn’t happen overnight—it’s built through careful planning, smart menu engineering, and efficient kitchen management months before the first firecracker goes off.
While you focus on the marketing and operations, Ajinomoto products help you keep your flavours consistent and crowd-pleasing throughout the rush.
Explore our range of F&B solutions today and make your CNY 2026 both profitable and stress-free.
Ajinomoto Food Biz Partner
