9 Vancouver Restaurants Celebrating the Lunar New Year with Auspicious Specials

The Year of the Dragon is upon us, and Vancouver restaurants are here to join in on the celebrations. What better way to start off the Lunar New Year than sharing a great meal shared with family and friends? (Though eating a full banquet feast by yourself is big Dragon Energy.)

Read on for a list of local eateries offering special meals and treats in celebration of the Year of the Dragon. From full meals to fun cocktails, there’s something for any kind of party.

Mott 32 x Fairmont Pacific Rim

In The Lobby Lounge and RawBar, Fairmont Pacific is offering an exclusive Dim Sum menu created by Mott 32 in partnership with Oakridge Park. This menu is available from January 25 to February 25.

Guests can look forward to traditional and signature dim sum creations, including dumplings, steamed buns, and crispy spring rolls, alongside their Signature Applewood Peking Duck served with crepes, hoisin, and cucumber. To accompany it, try a drink from their Lunar New Year-inspired cocktail menu.

Price: $16-$24. These menus are available daily between 11:00am and 3:00pm. Book a reservation.

 

A.Bento

To celebrate the auspiciousness of the Year of the Dragon, Taiwanese restaurant A.Bento is offering a Dragon Gift Box—a ready-made, vacuum sealed festive spread of dishes to bring home and share with up to six friends or family and available to pre-order between January 25 to February 9.

This gift box includes a variety of dishes that represent the spirit of the new year, including a hearty seafood soup to signify abundance and loved ones, herbal lamb stew to nourish your body for the cold winter months, a whole pork knuckle for ease of fortune and unity, and lastly sticky rice and Kabayaki eel for unity and harmony with family, as well as vitality and luck.

You can also dine-in for the same meals plus Spicy Bean Paste Braised fish offered between February 9 and 16. If you’re looking for a bit extra, Dragon Gift Box B includes pineapple chilli sauce and garlic sauce, as well as a tea pairing and sweet treat to compliment your celebration.

Price: $68-$238. Ensure you pre-order your box by calling 604-423-9585 and pick it up by February 14, or make a dine-in reservation 24 hours from of your celebration.

Notch8

Starting January 4 to February 25, Notch8 at the Hotel Vancouver is offering a Lunar New Year themed Afternoon Tea, including a kid-friendly themed menu.

Expect Char Siu pork belly, duck confit, among other savoury options, as well as dragon ball cream puffs made with oolong pastry cream, Black Sesame Macarons, and a matcha and red bean paste opera cake for your sweet tooth. Pair these selections with exclusive teas, including Lucky Dragon Hyson, Quanzhou milk oolong, and bamboo temple Yunnan.

Price: $69 per adult, $34.50 per child (12 and under). These exclusive menus will be available select dates until February 25. Book a reservation here.

Beaucoup Bakery

The Parisian-inspired café is open for pre-order from their Year of the Dragon Collection until February 11. Iindulge in auspicious and sweet treats such as cookies inspired by the Dragon’s beard, a Sesame Tang Yuan Cruffin, and Osmanthus peach Tiramisu.

If sweets aren’t your thing, Beaucoup Bakery is also collaborating with Chinatown BBQ on a beef brisket curry cheese Lunar New Year croissant as part of Taste of Chinatown. The croissant includes fresh mozzarella and is topped with cheddar and gruyere, available only during Taste of China on February 9-10, 11:00am.

Price: $7.99-$38. Pre-order these special treats from their website.

Dicky’s Dumps x Rosie’s BBQ

This Lunar New Year will see what happens when Chinese dumplings meets Texas BBQ in this tasty collaboration. Dicky’s X Rosie’s new year collab is occurring over four dates: February 3 at Batch Vancouver, February 10 and 11 at Dalina on Main, and February 17 at Parkside Brewery. Availability is first come first serve so plan to arrive early to try the crispy dumplings and brisket, brisket and dumplings ramen, and the dumplings and brisket noodle plate.

Price: $14-$16

Fanny Bay Oyster Bar and Shellfish Market

Red is a lucky colour, so what better way to start your year than with a bright red whole Dungeness crab? From February 9 to 11 this fried crab is served with XO-chili sauce, scallion-cilantro, and stir-fried vegetables alongside The Dragon Hart Lunar New Year inspired cocktail.

Price: $80

 

The Victor

The Victor is offering four Year of the Dragon inspired cocktails for the month of February. Will you partake in the Hongbao, with cazadores blanco, raspberry, and blood orange? Or are you partial to Jade City, mixed with jasmine and lavender infused green tea, Tito’s Chinese happy wine, melon, and soda? Return of the Dragon (with Royal Dragon vodka, Ketel One grapefruit, and rose orange liquer) and the Gong Xi Fa Cai (with Mount Gay rum, Licor 43, and caramel schnapps) are also on the menu.

Price: $19-$34

Glowbal Restaurant

If Red Star Er Guo Tou Baijiu, dragon fruit infusion, Junmai Taru Sake, yuzu, and lychee liquor sounds like a party to you, you’ll want to head to Glowbal Restaurant during the month of February to try this Lunar New Year inspired drink chilled with their Jetchill dry ice system.

Price: $18

Honey Salt

Ending on a blue note, this last cocktail to begin your Lunar New Year right is available at Honey Salt for the month of February. Their special, Dragon 6, is mixed with Empress gin, Cointreau, blood orange syrup, pear syrup, lemon juice and egg white. Cheers!

Price: $18