Ringing In the Year of the Pig in New York’s Biggest Chinatown
Chinese New Year, a feast to mark the turning of the lunar calendar, is one of the most widely celebrated cultural festivals in the world. The traditions associated with this 15-day celebration are diverse and held together by a common focus on family, food and folklore.
Lasting for nine days, the celebration—this time welcoming the Year of the Pig—begins on Tuesday, February 5. As the 12th and final animal in the Chinese zodiac, the pig is said to represent wealth and beneficence. Expect to find plenty of pig between your chopsticks as well, as pork remains a favorite challenging seafood and duck in popularity.
Traditional foods associated with Lunar New Year vary depending on region. One common practice throughout China is to gather the entire family for a reunion dinner where food is shared, toasts are made and plans are arranged for the upcoming year. In Hong Kong and Shanghai, for instance, dim sum is a popular and traditional format for ringing in the New Year. Families enjoy sharing large trays of dumplings, or convening over hot pot—though, as Cantonese-American food writer Stanford Chiou notes, “Hot pot isn’t really a Lunar New Year thing everywhere, but it is convivial, and that is a very Lunar New Year thing.”
Flushing hosts its annual Lunar New Year Parade on Saturday, February 9, where music, dancers and elaborate costumes will dazzle onlookers. Whether you choose hot pot, dumplings or dim sum to celebrate the Year of the Pig, ward off its evil spirits and inevitable hunger pangs at these tempting spots.
Asian Jewels
This neighborhood fixture serves Cantonese dim sum without a menu. It is recommended to arrive before noon for the best experience, as dim sum is traditionally a morning affair. For the uninitiated, be prepared for the swarm of waiters pushing carts laden with plates of shareable treats. Some will be pushy, even going so far as to place undesired plates on your table if no resistance is shown, while others you may have to flag down from across the dining room.
The dishes at Asian Jewels are conventional but numerous. Expect to be presented with an array of puffed snacks, dumplings, steamed buns, fried rice and varied meat and vegetable platters. Standout dishes include the shrimp ball, durian puff and fried turnip with green pepper. Asian Jewels’ commitment to quality and freshness makes it a perfect option for those seeking a traditional Cantonese New Year’s meal.
Dun Huang Lanzhou Noodle
This is one of many local shops that specializes in hand-pulled noodles in sauce or broth. They are also known for their lamb, which they serve in a variety of contexts, many of which are spicy.
Dumpling Galaxy
Downtown Flushing is awash in superb dumplings, but only in Dumpling Galaxy can one find such infinite and innovative flavor combinations. Helen You first graced Flushing with her irresistible Tianjin-style dumplings from a stall in the basement of the Golden Mall. She has since expanded into a restaurant of her own, still in a mall, though this time with sleek modern décor and a full dining room.
At Dumpling Galaxy, there is no need to stray from the namesake cuisine. With dozens of combination fillings—pork with lotus root, lamb with green squash, preserved egg with pine nut, sweet hawthorne with white wood-ear mushroom—Dumpling Galaxy is a crowd pleaser.
Leaf Bar
Stop by for drinks and some Taiwanese small plates at this chic lounge on the top floor of the Hyatt Hotel. Stellar views and cocktails infused with flavors like lychee, rose and jackfruit continue to attract locals and visitors alike.
Liuyishou Hotpot
Massively popular hot-pot franchise Liuyishou already has more than 1,000 locations worldwide, but its new outpost in Flushing is only the third to open in the United States. In addition to specializing in spicy Chongqing-style broths, they are known for their Instagram-friendly presentation style in which meat is neatly arranged in a wreath around the pot. Their sauce bar, while not free ($2.95 per person), is one of the most extensive in New York, including salads and fresh fruits in addition to standards.
Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao
For some of the best soup dumplings in New York, look no further than this storied Shanghainese restaurant, which serves not only steamed buns but a variety of dim sum that includes stuffed scallion pancakes and fresh pickles.
Yu Garden Dumpling House
Several blocks down Kissena Boulevard, away from the chaos of downtown Flushing’s commercial center, Yu Garden serves up Shanghai-style dim sum.
Nian Gao, a traditional rice cake, features prominently on the menu here. Eating these chewy, glutinous discs is said to bring wealth and good fortune, as their name is homophonic with the phrase “higher year.” In Shanghai, nian gao are traditionally enjoyed during New Year’s celebrations in stir-fries with sweet and savory accouterments. Pork and preserved cabbage are the crowd favorite.
Asian Jewels | @asianjewelsny
Dun Huang Lanzhou Noodle
Dumpling Galaxy
Leaf Bar | @leafloungenyc
Liuyishou Hotpot | @liuyishouhotspot
Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao
Yu Garden Dumpling House
