Now that January came and went and February is now ascending, it’s also one of the most important and festive holidays in East and Southeast Asian culture: the Lunar New Year! The traditions and ways in which we celebrate Lunar New Year vary from country to country, culture to culture and even family to family. Whether you’re celebrating with your family, or with your friends in New York City, here are a few of some stylish and delicious places to try out as part of your celebration of this huge festive season.
Mama Fina’s
A favorite of mine at the heart of the East Village is this Filipino restaurant that’s most famous for its sisig — a sizzling fried pork dish that’s rich in flavor that comes still freshly crackling in its cast iron pan, topped with chicharron and sunny side-up eggs, shallots and garlic. There are a wide variety of options in their menu that feature traditional dishes: not just limiting to their famous pork sisig, but they also serve tapsilog, lumpia (a Filipino-style spring roll), palabok (a childhood favorite of mine), as well as popular desserts which you can typically find in many Filipino parties and households such as gulaman and bicol express.
This restaurant will definitely fill you up, so if you’re looking for a big feast then look no further than Mama Fina’s! Check out their full menu here.
TsuruTonTan
The unique name is a union of three “sounds” from the Japanese language: tsuru meaning the sound of slurping noodles, ton the sound of kneading and shaping udon and tan which is the sound of cutting udon. Originally founded in Japan, with its first restaurant opening in Osaka in 1979, TsuruTonTan is an authentic udon noodle restaurant that serves traditionally handmade udon noodles. Last time I came here, I had this delicious wagyu beef truffle dashi that was just so flavorful. Like Mama Fina’s, it’s also on the heavy side, but they also have small bites like sushi and dumplings.
This restaurant has a great ambience and is perfect for romantic dates — the dim lights and open bar, the sleek and modern design and the cool, jazzy music make it the perfect place to have an intimate dinner and conversation with your significant other. Since Valentine’s Day is pretty close, you can add this to your list of date ideas!
Wakuwaku
Deep into Brooklyn by Industry City is this great izakaya —a form of Japanese bar that serves small bites to accompany alcoholic drinks — called Wakuwaku. My friend and I stumbled upon it after an ice skating lesson, and it’s not the best when you’re coming in hungry! But they have a great alcoholic selection with great cocktails and Japanese beers along with a wide selection of small dishes including skewered foods, gyozas and sushi, as well as desserts like ice cream and frozen mochi.
This is a great place to go with a big group of friends, as they also have private rooms where you can sit on the floor and enjoy rounds of drinks, snacks and small bites! There’s an uplifting and very energetic vibe inside the restaurant, especially with how lovely the staff are. I just won’t recommend coming in with an empty stomach, unless you’re looking to get tipsy from the drinks!
Kings Co Imperial
I’ve never been to the actual place, but I’ve had food delivered from them through DoorDash, since they offer free delivery. The dishes I always get are either the Dan Dan Mian — a noodle dish served with preserved mustard stem, chilli oil, sichuan pepper and pork, dusted with crushed peanuts — or the Hong Kong style noodle, which is a thin wheat noodle with barbecue hanging pork and charred scallion. But they do have a wide selection of meals and dishes including dumplings, stir fry and vegetarian options.
They have two locations: one in Williamsburg and one in the Lower East Side. They have many amazing and traditional dishes that are worth the try, whether you’re ordering food at home or going to experience the vibe of the restaurant. Since the snow has taken over New York City this week, ordering from the comfort of your home is more ideal — their service is fast and it’s free delivery!
Do you have any restaurants or great food places you would go to, or have been as an annual tradition? Share your traditions with your friends and family by sharing a meal this holiday season!