Let's Talk About Lunar New Year Feasting With Friends, Family & Flavor

Lunar New Year (also called Spring Festival or Chinese New Year) is the biggest celebration of the year across many Asian cultures, from China and Vietnam to Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and communities right here in the U.S.

This year ushers in the Year of the Horse, a symbol of energy, connection, and forward motion, fitting for a holiday centered around coming together and sharing meaningful meals. While parades and lanterns often steal the spotlight, the true heart of Lunar New Year lives at the table, in the rituals, the stories behind every dish, and the way food brings people closer. Let’s explore how consumers celebrate through food and how restaurants can serve up something special during Lunar New Year, especially for those who value thoughtful dining experiences like we do at inKind.

Food during Lunar New Year goes beyond the table, every dish symbolizes hopes for prosperity, longevity, and family togetherness:

• Dumplings (Jiaozi) mimic ancient gold ingots, lucky for wealth.
• Longevity noodles are long and uncut, for long life.
• Whole fish symbolizes abundance and surplus.
• Sticky rice cakes (Nian Gao) stand for growth and progress.

Just like turkey at Thanksgiving or lamb at Easter, these dishes are staples, not just because they’re delicious, but because they carry hope and tradition.

Across households and across oceans, Lunar New Year meals have a few themes in common:

It’s a Family Affair
The biggest meal usually happens on New Year’s Eve, a reunion dinner with grandparents, cousins, and anyone who can make it home. Restaurants often see big booking spikes for early evening dinners because everyone wants that special meal together.

Multiple Courses & Symbolic Portions
A typical feast isn’t a single dish, it’s many. Think:

• Dumplings that represent prosperity.
• Long noodles for longevity.
• Sweet desserts like tangyuan or sticky rice for togetherness.

It’s communal dining at its best, big plates meant to be shared and discussed around the table.

Regional & Cultural Variety
If you’ve been to a Korean seollal feast or a Vietnamese Tết table, you’ll find different specialties, but the intent is the same: connection, comfort, and blessing.

Restaurants that welcome Lunar New Year celebrations tend to do big business, and not just by having tasty food on the menu. Here’s how:

Festival Dining Drives Traffic
Lunar New Year happens during a season when many restaurants struggle with post-holiday traffic, but the festival brings a surge in diners, especially families and groups who want something memorable.

Lucky Menu Items Sell
Think limited-time offerings like:

• Dumpling platters
• Whole fish specials
• Longevity noodle bowls

… all with little cards explaining their symbolic meanings. This not only drives orders, it invites conversation and cultural connection.

Community & Cultural Events
From dim sum brunches with live music to fusion pop-ups that celebrate food and fashion, restaurants are hosting experiences, not just meals, that draw curious locals as well as traditional celebrants.

Whether you’re celebrating at a crowded restaurant or cooking with friends:

• Tradition matters. People want dishes that have meaning, not just flavor.
• Stories sell. Explaining why a noodle is long or why oranges are lucky adds emotional richness to the meal.
• Sharing matters. Lunar New Year is one of the most communal food holidays, almost like an Asian Thanksgiving.

Restaurants that lean into that, offering sharable platters, festive decor, and experiences, usually win big.

Lunar New Year is one of the most joyful food holidays of the year, not just for what you eat, but who you share it with. Whether you’re sitting down with loved ones or enjoying a festive meal out, every bite carries hope, luck, and happiness for what’s ahead.
Be sure to claim your $20 off a $60 meal reward and bring a little extra prosperity to your table this Lunar New Year.

Here’s to feasts that fill your belly and your heart. Happy Lunar New Year!