Restaurants throughout the Northeast will be celebrating Lunar New Year with traditions, family and delicious cuisine. Superstitions, symbolism and festivities are at the forefront of one of the most popular Asian holidays around the world, and it all starts with food.
The lunar calendar is represented by 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac; 2024 is the Year of the Dragon, which symbolizes change, new opportunity and vitality.
This year, the holiday starts on Feb. 10 and runs for two weeks.
Connecticut
New Haven
Gather friends and family to enjoy the Lunar New Year package at Chef Jiang where you’ll be treated to traditional Chinese dishes like whole peking duck, chicken and pork soup, eight treasure sweet gluntinous rice, conch slice in XO sauce, pumpkin cookies, sesame balls and so much more. Packages range in price from 8-9 guests or 10-12 guests. Book in advance.
Massachusetts
Boston
Myers + Chang, in Boston’s South End, has one of the most popular dim sum brunches. The eatery has a hip diner feel to it with a menu made up of Asian-infused comfort foods. With items like tea-smoked spareribs and crispy marinated tofu bao, this is a perfect Lunar New Year restaurant. They’ll be offering takeout and delivery, in addition to indoor dining.
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Nashua
In business for over 40 years, Lilac Blossom is an old-school Chinese restaurant with two locations in Nashua. Run by husband-and-wife team Harry and Sophia Ku, Lilac Blossom’s popular dishes include General Tso’s chicken and Hunan spicy beef. Preordering your celebratory meal is encouraged.
New Jersey
Montclair and Denville
Enjoy your Lunar New Year feast at this local favorite. Family-owned since 1986, the menus at both Hunan Taste locations are similar, but the decor at the Montclair location is more modern compared to Denville’s traditional red and gold dragons and lanterns.
New York
Mandarin Oriental New York
The AAA Five Diamond Designated Mandarin Oriental is ringing in the Year of the Dragon with a curated booking package that includes late checkout, complimentary breakfast and a unique welcome gift. Dine at the hotel’s MO Lounge during your stay for a stunning view overlooking Central Park.
Manhattan
The MaLa Project, a Chinese restaurant and hotspot in midtown Manhattan, will be offering a special menu to celebrate the Lunar New Year that includes dragon prawns, peppercorn fish and tofu soup and shredded pork and chives.
Leland Eating and Drinking House
Brooklyn
Usually offering Mediterranean cuisine and fresh baked bread, Leland will be overhauling its entire menu during the week of Feb. 12 to 18 for Lunar New Year. Owner Randi Lee and Chef Delfin Jaranilla have curated a menu that features Asian dishes inspired by their childhood, like long noodles, chicken jook porridge and char siu pork shoulder. The in-house bakery Leland Baking House will be churning out favorites like almond cookies, steamed bao and sesame balls. At the end of the meal, guests can expect to receive lai see (red envelopes), a gift that symbolizes good luck and health and keeps the bad spirits away.
Rhode Island
Providence
If you’d like to celebrate the New Year with lucky noodles, then Y Noodle and Bar is the right spot. It is said that noodles symbolize long life – the longer your noodle, the better. Order the classic ramen noodles and juicy soup dumplings with decadent add-ons like wagyu beef or truffles. One of the restaurant’s most buzzed-about dishes is its pork belly with cotton candy; braised for 12 hours, the dish is served with hot braising liquid on the side, so you can pour it over the cotton candy and watch it melt.
Providence
In the mood for something spicy? Cheng Du Taste specializes in Sichuan cuisine, which is known for its heat. The menu has a spice level scale of one to three next to each spicy dish. If you want to go bold, get the whole spicy fish, a three on the spice scale and a symbol of prosperity for the new year. For a milder option, try the shredded pork with garlic sauce.
Share your Lunar New Year traditions in the comments below.
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Really, nothing in Connecticut
Seems like CT,especially northern Fairfield County is left out of many AAA services and activities. We need more inclusion
I notice that Connecticut is often overlooked and , especially in New Haven, there is a wonderful restaurant selection, among them
several extremely good Chinese restaurants
Nothing in Philly? Really?!
Seriously? Nothing worth mentioning in the entire state of Connecticut?