Chowking Brings #KungHeiFatCHOW to Chinese New Year 2026 with Kai Montinola and Kim Chiu
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| Kung Hei Fat CHOW! |
The #KungHeiFatCHOW celebration at Chowking Sta. Cruz last February 16, 2026 quickly turned into a full-on Chinese New Year party.
There were fun games for the crowd, simulcast celebrations happening in different Chowking stores nationwide, and a much-anticipated performance by Kai Montinola that had fans cheering loudly. I also got to meet Kai in person, which made the experience even more memorable.
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| Grand CHOWlubong at Chowking Sta. Cruz |
The night ended with fireworks -- a simple but meaningful way to welcome the Year of the Horse alongside families, fans, and fellow guests.
Adding to the celebration, Kim Chiu headlined a special Showtime segment for Chowking’s Chinese New Year festivities, bringing the CHOWlubong spirit to viewers all over the country.
Trying the NEW Coco Mango Halo-Halo
One of the things I was most excited about was finally tasting Chowking’s NEW Coco Mango Halo-Halo. |
| Trying the NEW Coco Mango Halo-Halo for the first time! |
It’s a refreshing twist on the classic dessert, made with nata de coco, fresh mangoes, cheese, creamy milk, and ice. The coconut and mango combination works really well together -- creamy, fruity, and light. It’s different from your usual halo-halo, but still comforting in a familiar way.
If you enjoy trying new versions of Filipino favorites, this one is worth checking out.
My Go-To: Chinese-Style Fried Chicken Lauriat
While the new halo-halo was a nice surprise, I still went for my personal favorite -- the Chinese-Style Fried Chicken Lauriat.This has always been my go-to meal because it already has all my favorites on one plate: Pancit Canton, Siomai, Buchi, Egg Fried Rice, Chicharap, and of course, the Chinese-style Fried Chicken! It’s perfect for days when you don’t want to think too much about what to order, especially when dining with family or barkada.
Welcoming the Year of the Horse with Chowking
To mark the Year of the Horse, Chowking held its nationwide CHOWlubong festivities on February 16, with Kai Montinola leading the celebration at Sta. Cruz, Manila, alongside simultaneous events in regional flagship stores. |
| Kai with some fans |
There were games and prizes, while some lucky fans got to enjoy the NEW Coco Mango Halo-Halo and the Chinese-Style Fried Chicken Lauriat with Kai. The celebration got more exciting when Kai dedicated songs to the audience and even roamed the area to grant the fans some selfies. And just before the night got deeper, the celebration was capped with beautiful fireworks worth capturing. Indeed, it was a wonderful way to welcome the Year of the Horse.. the Chowking way!
