Marking the end of the Chinese New Year festivities is the Lantern Festival!
Also popularly known as the Yuan Xiao Festival (元宵节), this lively event is usually best celebrated with friends and family while lighting lanterns, watching fireworks, and eating yuanxiao or tangyuan (汤圆) — glutinous rice balls stuffed with sweet fillings such as sesame paste, peanuts, red beans, fruit, or chocolate. The delicious dessert is typically served in a warm bowl of syrup or water and eaten together with loved ones.
Because of its round shape, tangyuan is often used to symbolize family, reunions, and unity. As a result, eating this delectable dish is considered to be one of the most important traditions during the Lantern Festival.
For those aiming for a true Lantern Festival experience, here are three places across the metro to get some tangyuan:
1. The Great Buddha Cafe
Facebook: @greatbuddhacafe
Website: greatbuddhacafe.com
Contact No: 022419999
Located in Ongpin, Binondo, The Great Buddha Cafe is definitely the place to go for those wanting to try the best of traditional Chinese favorites! Bright, modern, and full of personality, this authentic restaurant offers a wide variety of sweet and savory classics, including their own peanut-filled rendition of tangyuan.
Peanut Balls (P148.00) by The Great Buddha Cafe. Source: The Great Buddha Cafe official website
The Great Buddha Cafe accepts orders in-store or via their website, social media accounts, and GrabFood.
2. Eng Bee Tin
Facebook: @iloveengbeetin
Website: engbeetin.com
Contact No: 0282888888
It isn’t surprising to see that one of the best Chinese delis in town offers this traditional Lantern Festival dish, but did you know that Eng Bee Tin was once actually most famous for it? With a recipe dating back to a hundred years, Eng Bee Tin presents their own sumptuous take on tangyuan with some premium glutinous peanut balls!
Eng Bee Tin’s Peanut Balls are available in packs of 1o (sugar-free), 12, and 25. Source: Eng Bee Tin Facebook page
Eng Bee Tin accepts orders in-store or via their social media accounts, UBE Delivery, Shopee, and Lazada.
3. The Dessert Kitchen
Facebook: @thedessertkitchenph
Contact No: 09954488233
Originally based in Hong Kong, this international franchise is globally renowned for its healthy, high-quality, and innovative Asian-themed desserts. Featuring an impressive menu that includes parfaits, waffles, well-loved HK classics, and more, it’s no wonder that The Dessert Kitchen was able to put out this unique spin on tangyuan.
The Dessert Kitchen’s Sesame Rice Ball in Coconut (P188.00). Source: The Dessert Kitchen official website
The Dessert Kitchen accepts orders and inquiries via their social media accounts and contact details.
