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As an American born Chinese who grew up in Austin, Texas, I’ve watched the city’s Asian food scene absolutely boom over the past few years. Lunar New Year events now pop up all over town, and I’m here to tell you exactly where you should eat to celebrate.
Before diving in, it’s important to understand the foods that are traditionally eaten during Lunar New Year. While many people default to “Chinese food” in general, there are specific dishes that carry symbolic meaning for the new year.
Dumplings, for example, symbolize wealth so eating as many as possible during Lunar New Year is said to bring prosperity in the year ahead. Noodles represent longevity, and whole meats like roast duck or whole fish symbolize abundance and good fortune.
Without further ado, let’s get into the list.
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Bamboo House
Bamboo House is an excellent place to celebrate Lunar New Year, especially since they serve what I consider the best Peking duck in Austin. While it’s tempting to order the whole duck, I recommend going with the half duck if you’re dining with two to three people. For larger groups, the full duck makes perfect sense.
I also suggest ordering a few additional dishes. Traditionally, whole fish is ideal for Lunar New Year celebrations, but Bamboo House shines across the board and is especially great for group dining. Don’t miss the spicy crispy chicken, and if you’re really going all out, order the lobster and round out the meal with a few side vegetables for a true feast.
DinHo Chinese
Din Ho Chinese is another great option to check out. They’ve been a longtime staple in Austin, serving a wide range of Cantonese style dishes, including barbecue pork, roast pork, and live seafood.
I personally recommend ordering the lobster, panfried beef noodles, and wonton soup, along with an order of their roast duck and char siu.
Sije Special Noodle
When I think dumplings, my instant default will always be Special Noodle. They offer a wide variety of dumplings, along with an extensive lineup of noodle soups.
The must-order here is their pan-fried snowflake dumplings with pork. I also love their soup dumplings, and their pan-fried shengjianbao are another standout, crispy on the bottom and incredibly juicy on the inside.
Their beef noodle soup is also worth ordering. While the broth looks clear, it’s packed with flavor and delivers a solid kick of spice.
Overall, it’s a great spot if you’re looking to load up on dumplings.
Dumpling World
Dumpling World, a newly opened dumpling-focused restaurant in the Triangle, offers a diverse selection of dumplings and noodles. Their menu includes pan-fried soup dumplings, thumbprint dumplings, and Xiao Long Bao. I highly recommend trying their 'Dan Dan Noodles' for a perfect blend of spice and peanut flavor
Julie's Noodles
Julie Noodle is an unassuming gem of a shop that specializes in fresh, hand-made noodles and dumplings. It has become my go-to spot for affordable and delicious Asian cuisine, and it holds a special place in the hearts of the Asian community. When it comes to dumplings, Julie Noodle offers a variety. Their pork soup dumplings are a true treat, bursting with flavor and served piping hot. The boiled pork and chive dumplings are equally satisfying, showcasing the perfect balance of ingredients. And for those seeking something unique, they also offer crab soup dumplings that are sure to impress.
One of the highlights of visiting Julie Noodle is the anticipation of lifting the lid of the steamer basket and being greeted by generously sized and succulent dumplings. The soup dumplings provide both a flavorful broth and tender meat filling. What makes this place even more appealing is the affordability.
Here is their website
Mian & Bao
Mian and Bao recently opened inside The Triangle, serving a mix of Sichuan and Shanghai dishes alongside spicy beef noodle soup and dumplings. We sampled a variety of dumplings. the soup dumplings leaned a little on the sweeter side, though we enjoyed the flavor of the dough and the overall texture. They also offer pan-fried dumplings and spicy wontons, but if you’re visiting, I’d definitely lean more toward their noodle dishes over the dumplings. Still, it’s a solid addition to the area and a good option to have nearby.
Click here for their website.
Lins /Wu Chow/ Little Wu/ Ling Wu
Ling Qi Wu's soup dumplings are undoubtedly the most popular dumplings in Austin, TX, having gained popularity across multiple locations in the city. These soup dumplings have won the hearts of countless Austinites. However, it's worth mentioning that the higher price point may deter some local Asian residents who have other options available to them. But if you're willing to splurge on great soup dumplings, then Ling Qi Wu's establishment is the place for you.
Here is their website
1618 Asian Fusion
1618 is a great spot for Lunar New Year because they offer celebratory dishes like a whole fried snapper topped with their sweet and spicy sauce, as well as Peking duck.
It’s an excellent option for large groups, and they also have a wide variety of dumplings, including their signature soup dumplings, which are juicy, well-executed, and wrapped in thin skins.
There’s truly something for everyone here, making 1618 a fantastic place to celebrate Lunar New Year.
Here is their website
Happy Dragon
Perhaps the best spot on this list for noodles is Happy Dragon. They’re known for their phenomenal biangbiang noodles, along with a really solid sweet and sour fish.
I’ve enjoyed most of what I’ve ordered here, though I usually skip the dumplings and focus on the noodle dishes instead. Other standouts include the spicy crispy chicken, pig ears, and cucumbers.
There are plenty of other great options to celebrate as well, including spots like Breakfast House, Tian Tian Palace, New Fortune, House of Three Gorges, and Mala Chili. That said, I personally prefer the spots highlighted in this article.
