The Lunar New Year begins on Wednesday, Jan. 29, ushering in the Year of the Snake, the sixth animal of the Chinese zodiac. The self-sufficient snake comes prepared to tackle and conquer any challenge. Snakes are also associated with intuition, wisdom, growth and transformation, and even elegance.
Celebrated in countries like China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, communities throughout Atlanta will gather together for two weeks of Lunar New Year festivities. Food plays a significant role in these celebrations, where dumplings, longevity noodles, steamed fish, and sweets like nian gao (New Year cake) are typically found at the holiday table.
Here are a few restaurants and food events around Atlanta to kick off the Year of the Snake. Check back for updates.
We Love Buford Highway restaurant and community events
A multitude of Lunar New Year events, including dinners, traditional dance performances, and community gatherings, will take place at restaurants, parks, and other spaces all along the Buford Highway corridor and beyond this year. Check the We Love BuHi Instagram for more details on various Lunar New Year events and dinners to attend.
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Sweet Auburn BBQ x Kamayan ATL x Xi’an Gourmet House
656 N. Highland Ave., Poncey-Highland
Jan. 28, 5 p.m. until sold out
It’s a restaurant trifecta for Lunar New Year, when Sweet Auburn BBQ joins forces with Kamayan ATL and Xi’an Gourmet House for a celebratory dinner on Jan. 28. The menu will feature Sweet Auburn’s barbecue, hand-pulled noodles, dumplings, and other dishes to bring good luck and ring in the Year of the Snake. Reservations highly encouraged.
Lucky Star
Star Metals, 1055 Howell Mill Road
Jan. 28 – Feb. 2
The new Taiwanese cafe and cocktail bar from Brush chef Jason Liang will serve a Lunar New Year menu for dinner serving dishes like lu rou fan (braised pork and rice) with uni, ikura, and a tea egg, beef shank wrapped in a duck fat scallion pancake, and tangyuan (sweet rice balls stuffed with black sesame) accompanied by parmesan ice cream topped with candied peanuts and cilantro syrup. Reservations highly encouraged.
The Sparrow
950 W. Peachtree St.
Jan. 29
The new Midtown Chinese restaurant will celebrate its first Lunar New Year in the heart of Atlanta with food and drink specials all day on Jan. 29.
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Commune
6 Olive St., Avondale Estates
Jan. 29, starting at 6:30 p.m.
Listening room and wine bar Commune will celebrate Lunar New Year with dumplings and other traditional dishes from Candy Hom (Soup Belly ATL), while Jeni Wang spins jazz fusion, progressive rock, and soul music on the turntable. Reservations highly encouraged.
Talat Market
112 Ormond St., Summerhill
Jan. 29, starting at 6 p.m.
James Beard-nominated chefs Parnass Savang and Rod Lassiter will host Talat Market’s annual Lunar New Year dinner on Jan. 29. Both chefs were born in the year of the snake. Expect Thai-Chinese dishes inspired by Savang’s parents’ recipes. His mother and father — the former owners of Danthai in Lawrenceville — will also be in the kitchen that night. Check out the full menu here. Tickets are $100 per person for a three-course menu of multiple dishes.
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JenChan’s
186 Carroll St., Cabbagetown
Jan. 29 – Feb. 2
The Cabbagetown neighborhood restaurant, owned by Emily and Jen Chan, will offer dim sum cart service during the first week of the Lunar New Year celebrations. Expect dishes like dumplings, cabbage wraps, longevity noodles, and whole fish.
Hopstix
3404 Pierce Dr., Chamblee
Feb. 1, starting at 3:30 p.m.
The Chamblee Asian brewpub will host its annual Lunar New Year celebration featuring food specials, games like the marshmallow chopstick challenge and ping pong, live music, and a dragon dance performance. Expect red envelopes for children in attendance.
Food Terminal
Chamblee, Marietta Street Artery, Sandy Springs, Alpharetta
By location Feb. 1 – Feb. 10
All four locations of Chef Amy Wong’s Food Terminal will ring in the Year of the Snake with traditional lion dances and fireworks during the first two weeks in February. Remember to bring red envelopes to hand out to kids in attendance.
Sweet Auburn BBQ x Dhaba BBQ
656 N. Highland Ave., Poncey-Highland
Feb. 3, 5 to 7 p.m.
Expect an Indo-Chinese menu during this special Lunar New Year edition of Neighborhood Supper Club at Sweet Auburn BBQ featuring Indian barbecue pop-up Dhaba BBQ. Look for cocktails and tea drinks from Minhwa Spirits and The Chai Box.
Lunar New Year Cultural Dinner
Buford Highway, Doraville
Feb. 8, 6 to 9 p.m.
Natalie Keng — aka The Sauce Maven — will once again help host a multi-course Lunar New Year dinner on Feb. 8. The evening includes traditional and regional Lunar New Year dishes served banquet style, a chopsticks relay race, trivia with prizes and a raffle, and a signed cookbook from Keng. Tickets start at $99 per person.
Atlanta Taiwanese Association of America
Culture Center of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office
5377 New Peachtree Road, Chamblee
Feb. 8, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
The popular Lunar New Year celebration returns on Feb. 8 for an afternoon of food, fun, and festivities. $15 for non-members. $10 for members. Kids eight and under are free.