Lunar New Year 2024: 11 Chicago restaurant events and specials to roar in the Year of the Dragon
While Lunar New Year celebrations begin Saturday this year, Chicago restaurants are welcoming the Year of the Dragon all month long, with luxurious shrimp and sea bass, a dragon fruit-flavored ale, a family-friendly dumpling-making class and more.
Lunar New Year is observed in many Asian countries including China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea. This year’s zodiac sign, the dragon, symbolizes strength, independence and good fortune — and is the only mythological creature on the Chinese zodiac. After devouring a rejuvenating meal, take to the streets of Uptown Feb. 17 or Chinatown Feb. 18 to watch those dragons soar in a Lunar New Year parade.
Have an upcoming holiday special at your Chicago-area restaurant or bar? Email Food editor Kayla Samoy at ksamoy@chicagotribune.com.
Big Bowl
Lunar New Year specials available for dine-in and carryout Thursday to Monday include blood orange sangria, braised short rib potstickers, Sichuan shrimp and pork noodles, crispy ginger cod, mango cheesecake and banana cashew spring rolls. Multiple locations, bigbowl.com
Chiu Quon Bakery
Chicago’s oldest Chinese bakery is serving crispy sweet fried dumplings filled with coconut, peanuts, sesame and sugar, nian gao sticky year cakes and steamed brown sugar fortune cakes, which are said to bring wealth and prosperity for the new year. 2253 S. Wentworth Ave., cqbakery.com, 312-225-6608
Deerfields Bakery
The north suburban bakery is whipping up red and gold cakes, cupcakes and cake pops for the holiday, as well as cookies in the shape of lanterns, dragons and sakura blossoms. 201 N. Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove and 813 N. Waukegan Road, Deerfield, 847-520-0068; deerfieldsbakery.com
Guinness Open Gate Brewery
A limited-edition dragon fruit and orange ale ($13) is available at the taproom in honor of their Lunar New Year event on Friday, which will also feature a lion dance performance and traditional decor. 901 W. Kinzie St., 312-521-0900, guinnessbrewerychicago.com
Hing Kee Restaurant
The Chinatown Square restaurant is the host of a dumpling-making dinner with Mongolian beef and vegetarian options. The evening will also feature storytelling and lion dancing. The Chinese Cultural Institute is putting on the educational event on Feb. 17 and 18. Tickets range from $38 for children ages 12 and under to $50 for adults. 2140 S. Archer Ave., eventbrite.com
Nine Bar
Celebrate the new year at an Asian-inspired night market Monday hosted by Nine Bar at Marz Community Brewing. Novel Pizza, Nine Bar and Marz Brewing will collaborate on food and beverage options available for purchase, and patrons can shop from Asian American and Pacific Islander vendors such as Trinkets by Ting and Sugoi Sweets, all to the tune of DJ Francine Almeda. 6-10 p.m. Monday at 3630 S. Iron St., eventbrite.com
Then on Tuesday, the bar is hosting its annual Lunar New Year party. Tickets include a Johnnie Walker welcome cocktail, appetizers and a pour of Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of the Dragon chilled through a dragon-shaped ice sculpture. Guests are encouraged to wear red for good luck, or movie premiere attire drawing inspiration from Wong Kar-wai’s films. 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Tuesday at 216 W. Cermak Road; tickets are $30 at eventbrite.com and 312-225-4081
The Peninsula
Shanghai Terrace chef Elmo Han’s six-course Chinese New Year menu features golden shrimp, Chilean sea bass, lemon chicken, beef tenderloin in XO Sauce and finishes with a strawberry chocolate mousse. The menu is available through Sunday, and is $168 per guest. You can also toast the holiday with a Chinese New Year-inspired cocktail of chili and goji berry-infused Grey Goose, mandarin clementine, lime and grapefruit bitters ($24), or head to The Lobby for a Chinese New Year-inspired Afternoon Tea ($140) from Friday to Sunday. 108 E. Superior St., 312-573-6744, peninsula.com
Sunda New Asian
Throughout February, Lunar New Year dinner specials at the River North Asian fusion restaurant include cumin lamb dumplings ($23), seafood lo mein ($32), pan-seared rainbow trout ($30) and a cookie assortment with oranges for the auspicious $8.88. A featured holiday cocktail ($18) blends St. George Pear Brandy, orange bitters and sparkling sake. 110 W. Illinois St., 312-644-0500, sundanewasian.com
Sun Wah BBQ
The venerated Uptown Hong Kong-style restaurant is once again hosting a family-style Chinese New Year’s Feast on Feb. 16 and 17 at 6:30 p.m. for $80, with drinks and gratuity billed separately. 5039 N. Broadway, 773-769-1254, sunwahbbq.com
Wow Bao
Wao Bao’s Chicago locations will be giving away hong bao red envelopes with every purchase Friday and Saturday that will include coupons for free menu items and free boxes of bao at select grocery stores. Customers born in one of the Years of the Dragon can also snag a free meal up to $15 Feb. 10. Multiple locations, wowbao.com
