Chinese restaurant sees business return to pre-pandemic levels for LNY reunion dinner

A manager of a Chinese restaurant in Mong Kok said Friday that tables have been fully booked for tonight's reunion dinner but expects business is neither increasing nor dropping on Lunar New Year's Eve. 

The manager surnamed So pointed out that this year’s reunion dinner is fully booked and is expected to have a 50 percent table turnover rate, similar to pre-pandemic levels. 

However, due to inflation, the cost of ingredients and labor has increased by 10 percent, leading to fewer diners choosing the more expensive set menus. 

Over concerns of losing customers to other restaurants, the restaurant dares not increase their prices significantly and raised them only by about 5 percent. 

He said that the reservations for the first day of the Lunar New Year (Feb 10) are full and there are still a few places for the second day of the Lunar New Year (Feb 11). 

Various groups and associations will also hold banquets every night after the 16th day of the first lunar month.