Fifteen days of colourful food and fun? Here’s where to go in Dublin to get your fill …
2023 is The Year of The Rabbit and as always, Lunar New Year will be traditionally celebrated throughout South East Asia, and happily, in Dublin too. The festivities kick off on Sunday January 22 and finish on Sunday February 5. Fifteen days of colourful food and fun? Here’s where to go in Dublin to get your fill.
Cantonese Lion Dancing followed by dinner at Good World Restaurant
Originating in Guangdong, the Cantonese Lion Dance is associated with the legend of a mythical monster called Nian. The lion dance is usually performed by two dancers who mimic a lion’s movements to bring good luck and fortune. It will take place in Temple Bar’s Meeting House Square on Sunday January 29 from 12pm – 6pm. Opt for dinner afterwards in the longstanding Dublin favourite Good World Chinese Restaurant. www.goodworld.ie.
Lunar New Year Concert at Chester Beatty Library followed by dinner at NAN Huaiyang Chinese Restaurant
Violinist Chang Liu and harpist Chang Hu will perform contemporary and traditional music in the tranquil settings of the Chester Beatty Library’s Atrium on Wednesday January 25, from 6pm – 7pm. Also in attendance, members of the Qipao Society Ireland will showcase traditional Chinese costumes during the event. After the concert, dinner in Dublin’s newest Chinese restaurant on Stephens Street Lower, NAN Huaiyang Chinese Restaurant (from the people behind Hakkahan) is sure to be a treat for the senses. www.nanchinese.ie.
Asia Market Lunar New Year Restaurant Takeover at Chimac
A secret menu inspired by the cuisine of South East Asia, traditional Chinese lion dancers and drummers on arrival, a specially created welcome cocktail to mark the Lunar New Year celebrations and a goodie bag filled to the brim with some of South East Asia’s tastiest snacks? Yes, yes and yes again. The Asia Market Lunar New Year collaboration sees Chimac’s Garret Fitzgerald and Richie Castillo of Bahay, joining forces with Karen Smith, former pastry chef at China Sichuan, to create a secret menu celebrating South Asian cuisine and we cannot wait. The takeover takes place on February 2 and tickets are €95, available on Eventbrite.
Celebratory Specials at Mama Yo
Mama Yo head chef, Daming Lu has curated a special selection of Lunar New Year dishes to mark the festivities which will be available this weekend. If Zhong pork dumplings in Szechuan sauce or typhoon shelter prawns in spicy panko with garlic appeal, you know where to go. Or perhaps Chinese fried spiced quail with seasonal salad, sour plum and chilli sauce is more your style. The stunning room will be decorated to add to the festive ambiance and each guest will receive a red envelope containing a special New Year wish. www.mamayo.ie.
Fine Dining in China Sichuan
Sandyford’s China Sichuan has been synonymous with fine dining for many years so it makes sense that its Lunar New Year offering would be a good one. The specially devised banquet menu runs until January 28 and includes delicacies such as pan fried rabbit with jasmine tea leaves and almonds, longevity noodles and lotus seed pastry. The banquet menu is designed for a minimum of four people and costs €80 per person with an optional drink pairing priced at €55. www.china-sichuan.ie.
Some other excellent options to indulge in good Chinese food at any time of the year are at M&L Chinese (www.mlchineserestaurant.com) for authentic cuisine on Dublin’s Cathedral Street, CN Duck (www.cnduck.ie) for a casual Chinese feast at home or in house, and Stoneybatter’s Hakkahan (pictured above and main featured image top; www.hakkahan.ie) for tongue tingling, reasonably priced Sichuan food.
