Ring in Lunar New Year with good luck foods from 7 Phoenix eateries

As the Lunar New Year – the Year of the Horse – gallops in on Tuesday with celebrations taking place for 15 days, communities across metro Phoenix and worldwide are practicing traditions that promise prosperity, health and happiness.

Also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, these two weeks find many Valley residents stocking up on symbolic “good luck” fare that holds deep cultural significance. Whether you’re looking for extra-long noodles to ensure a long life, sticky rice cakes to sweeten your year, dumplings to bring wealth or oranges to symbolize good fortune, all parts of the Valley offer plenty of places to help you celebrate in style.

Here are six local gems where you can shop for these favorable bites and honor tradition.

Kofu Dumpling House

1948 W. Broadway Road #106, Mesa
Located in Mesa, Kofu Dumpling House serves delectable dumplings that symbolize wealth and prosperity. Known as jiaozi in China, these boiled or fried dumplings are a must for Lunar New Year celebrations. Many families cook them at home and enjoy dumplings at midnight on Lunar New Year’s Eve. But if you’re looking to enjoy these tasty parcels, and let the pros handle the cooking, head to Kofu. 

Each handmade dumpling has savory options like pork, minced beef, chicken and mushroom or cabbage and tofu. The Signature Dumplings, stuffed with pork and shrimp, are a crowd favorite and come by the dozen for $13.99. The restaurant also offers soup dumplings, which are popular for their satisfying burst of broth with every bite.

Hao Hao Chinese Restaurant

9210 E. Vía de Ventura, #106, Scottsdale
At this Scottsdale spot, a whole chicken is the star of the Lunar New Year menu, symbolizing abundance and prosperity. Known as Tong Gong Special Chicken, the dish is served chopped yet retains its full shape, ensuring maximum good luck. It’s seasoned with salt, pepper, and flavorful broth, and you can even request to keep the head and tail intact for extra fortune.

Hao Hao also serves crispy shrimp, another auspicious dish. Shrimp translates to “ha” in Mandarin, representing laughter and fun – perfect for starting the new year on a joyful note.

Shaanxi Chinese Restaurant

67 N. Dobson Road, #109, Mesa
This Mesa favorite offers handmade noodles for longevity and spring rolls for prosperity. Shaanxi’s biang biang noodles, which are hand-pulled and super long, come in either thin or thick styles and are cooked to perfection, seared with hot oil or stir-fried. Large bowls, priced between $16 and $20, include toppings like braised beef and pork, cumin lamb, tomato soup or mixed vegetables.

For a crunchy bite, try their veggie spring rolls. These golden, crispy appetizers resemble bars of gold, making them a delightful addition to your Lunar New Year spread.

Lam’s Market

Multiple locations
With three locations across metro Phoenix, Lam’s Market is the go-to spot for oranges and tangerines, symbolizing wealth and good fortune. The fruits’ round shape and golden hue resemble coins. Visit the international supermarkets at their Phoenix locations on Indian School or Camelback Road, or their newest store on Van Buren Street in Avondale to stock up on these lucky fruits.

Mekong Asian Market

66 S. Dobson Road, # 132, Mesa
Nestled in the heart of Mekong Plaza on Dobson Road, this Asian supermarket is a treasure trove of Lunar New Year staples. Their sweet rice cakes, or nian gao, symbolize growth and progress and come beautifully packaged – ideal for gifting or enjoying at home with family. Mekong Asian Market also offers tang yuan (sweet glutinous rice balls), which can be steamed at home. These ball-shaped treats are believed to bring happiness and unity, making them a favorite for family gatherings.

P.F. Chang’s

Multiple locations
The Scottsdale-born national chain P.F. Chang’s is celebrating the Year of the Horse with specials running through Feb. 24. Crafted for the holiday, the special menu includes Long Life Noodles, pork belly Bao and dumplings filled with miso and lobster or butternut squash. The restaurant is also offering limited-time cocktails, such as the Midnight Gallop, made with blackberries, black cherry, lemon, vanilla, and a choice of tequila or bourbon. Each customer will also receive a traditional red envelope with offers for future visits to the restaurant.

Ling & Louie’s

9397 East Shea Blvd., #125, Scottsdale
Ling & Louie’s has a calendar full of festivities to ring in Lunar New Year. For the entire month of February, the restaurant will feature decorations, a special food and drink menu and red envelopes for app users. On Feb. 19, the restaurant will host a special three-course cocktail dinner with Rémy Martin Cognac and Valley mixology pro Jason Asher. The dinner is $85 per person, and tickets are available online. At 7 p.m. on Feb. 20 and 27, the restaurant will welcome Golden Phoenix Lion Dance for a live performance in the dining room.