Sydney Eat Street: Where to celebrate Lunar New Year 2020
With this year’s Sydney Lunar Festival set to become the largest ever, there will be plenty of places for you to eat your way to good fortune to bring in the Year of the Rat.
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CHUUKA
Clear the table, it’s time to get messy and play with your food. Through to February 9, Chuuka, a chic waterfront restaurant where renowned chefs Victor Liong and Chase Kojima fuse Chinese fare with Japanese flare will be offering Loh Sang, a version of the traditional Lunar New Year Prosperity salad that Victor recalls from his childhood in Singapore and Malaysia.
What starts off as an eloquently presented round platter artfully arranged with salmon, kingfish and Hokkaido scallops in the centre, and surrounded by perfectly divided sections of seven different shredded vegetables, quickly turns into a beautiful mess.
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With chopsticks at the ready, once the dressing has been poured, that’s the cue to dig in … and up.
Victor explains it’s not so much a literal toss as the name implies.
“The gesture is to pick up the mixture and lift it to a height that allows it to rain back down. This is a symbol of how the bountiful fortune for the year will fall on everyone’s plate for all to enjoy,” he says.
For added good fortune “it’s traditional to shout out auspicious chants” such as “abundance throughout the year” and “may you attract wealth and treasures” though Victor recalls how as kids, they’d alter it to something sillier and “just yell ‘huat ah, huat ah!’ which means loosely ‘get rich! get rich!’
Yes indeed, the best memories are made around the family table. ($68)
— Jones Bay Wharf, 26-32 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont; chuuka.com.au
THE ROCKS LUNAR MARKETS & LUNAR LANTERN WALK
By day, the beating drums, clanging symbols and roaring lions turn the streets and foreshore of The Rocks into a lively celebration of traditional Chinese song and dance, fuelled by the many food trucks along Circular Quay and stalls at the Lunar Markets.
By night though, it’s a mystical destination as hundreds of red lanterns glow along the cobblestone alleyways where visitors duck into restaurants such as Wild Ginger for lunar feasts or sit at outdoor tables with take-away plates of pork buns from Mr Bao, dumplings from Let’s Do Yum Cha or Korean-style pancakes from Zizime.
After you’ve had your fill, head down to the waterfront to The Lunar Lantern Walk with its 12 huge lanterns, each one a depiction of the animal signs of the Lunar Zodiac.
From there, head up to higher ground and a harbour view at Hyde Hacienda Sydney Bar & Lounge where you can look out at all the colourful installations that span from the Sydney Harbour Opera House to The Rocks.
In the spirit of the season, imbibe in their special Lunar New Year Bubble Tea cocktail made with white chocolate Mozart liqueur, Frangelico, Baileys, Boba pearls, milk and caramel syrup.
And if good fortune awaits, catch the roving lion dancers performing down below.
— The Rocks Lunar Markets, Thurs-Sun, January 30-February 9; therocks.com; Lunar Lantern Walk, January 31-February 9, sydney.com
DIN TAI FUNG AND WORLD SQUARE
Fresh ingredients, 20.8 grams and 18 folds. This precision gives Din Tai Fung the gold standard in dumplings.
And this Lunar New Year they’re proudly flaunting that bling with their red and gold Wagyu beef and black truffle-filled Good Fortune dumplings.
Theses crescent-shaped dumplings, with their lucky 18 folds, are a traditional Chinese New Year food in Northern China, but here in Sydney, they get the royal treatment with a slight dusting of edible gold leaf flakes. (Five pieces for $21.60 from Jan 23-Feb 9).
These little gems are available at all Din Tai Fung locations, but at World Square, you can also take advantage of other Lunar New Year offerings such as a limited-release White Lotus Seed ice-cream from Oh! Matcha.
Grab your dessert then head out to the courtyard for a selfie with just you, your green waffle cone and a cute 2.5m tall Ratrobat.
Considering there are eight of these brightly costumed plastic sculptures out and about, each performing a different “act” inspired by the ancient tradition of Chinese acrobats and performers, that means seven more waffle cones to complete the troupe.
If you’re keen to join in the action, from January 31 to February 16 see yourself become a Ratrobat live in Augmented Reality on the big screen.
— dintaifung.com.au; worldsquare.com.au
HO JIAK
Home is where the heart is and for families big and small, that’s often the kitchen and at Ho Jiak, the popular Malaysian grill in Chinatown, that couldn’t be truer.
Here, chef/owner Junda Khoo has brought to life his memories of growing up in Penang.
Split over two levels, the ground floor perfectly replicates bustling backstreets complete with the clever addition of colourful corrugated iron awnings that extend overhead giving the impression of being amid hawker stalls.
The dining area upstairs though is calm and refined with one full wall depicting the inside of his grandparents’ home.
Without even knowing the backstories, Ho Jiak has a nostalgic warmth. But it’s in the kitchen where Junda truly connects with his childhood.
Here amid the chaos of the busy kitchen, Junda prepares the dishes that were taught to him by Amah, his grandmother. In fact, most of the items on the rather extensive menu have been passed down from her.
When it comes to Ho Jiak’s annual Chinese New Year feast, Junda pulls together a selection of the more “special” dishes including Yee sang (prosperity salad); steamed whole Barramundi; and Amah’s Chap Choy, wok-tossed vegetables.
“These are the ones that she would make for us for New Year,” Junda says, noting however that one particular dish, the deep-fried tofu topped with spanner crab on a bed of pumpkin puree, was “made for her”.
He’s actually quite upfront retelling the story of how before Amah passed, she was only able to eat pureed food and that pumpkin was her favourite. Food is love.
— 92 Hay St, Haymarket; hojiak.com.au
CHINATOWN AND HAYMARKET
Now that Sydney Lunar Festival has officially launched and the streets of Haymarket have re-opened after a full day’s festivities at the Lunar Lanes Street Party, it’s a good time to take in the festive atmosphere – but without the crowds – of the season and re-acquainted yourself with this ever-evolving area.
Dixon St pedestrian mall and surrounds remains the epicentre of Chinatown and any visit mandates a bag full of warm golden cream puffs from Emperor’s Garden and Yum Cha at any number of places including the iconic late-night destination, Golden Century.
One street over and you come upon Haymarket’s latest precinct, Darling Square, and its lively laneways with 60 dining options.
Through to February 9, check out the ‘Lucky Lunar Lamp Posts’ installation with its bright red gloss sculpted rats climbing illuminated 4m high lamp posts while you sip on a Red Packet watermelon cocktail and share a slice of corn crumble cheesecake at Hello Auntie.
Or head to Made in China for limited-edition rainbow dumplings and ice-cream Dragon Balls then check out the 2.7 metre-tall bespoke Year of the Rat Moon Gates.
— cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/major-events/sydney-lunar-festival
NEW SHANGHAI
Lunar Feasts, while traditionally eaten on the eve of the new year, can be had throughout the festive season, and fortunately for Sydneysiders there’s plenty on offer.
A local favourite, New Shanghai, has a specially curated 8-course Lunar New Year Banquet menu with such lucky dishes as the Boundless Energy Prawns — pineapple with crispy fried prawns with sriracha mayo; Fish to Prosperity — sweet and sour whole Barramundi; and the ever-popular four-colour Make Me Rich dumplings. ($36pp, minimum of four people). Available through to February 9.
— Westfield Sydney, Shop 1017-1020, 188 Pitt St, Sydney; newshanghai.com.au
KOI DESSERT BAR
Only the artisans at KOI could make a rat – the zodiac symbol of wealth and surplus in Chinese culture – look divine, but do it they did and the result is an adorable little critter made with coconut, jasmine, strawberry and almond flavours complete with a cute nose, tail and ears.
A second dessert, the more symbolic of the two is the ‘Wealthy’ cake made with the pomegranate, hibiscus, vanilla, cherry and hints of gold. Through to February 9.
— 46 Kensington St, Chippendale; koidessertbar.com.au
SYDNEY FISH MARKETS
It’s not often the Sydney Fish Markets stay open past 4pm, but when they do it’s quite an event.
On Friday, January 31, the precinct will be open until 10pm to celebrate the Year of the Rat.
Enjoy all your seafood favourites along with entertainment including lion dancing from 6.30-7.30pm and red envelopes for kids.
— Pyrmont Bridge Rd & Bank St, Pyrmont; sydneyfishmarket.com.au
SHANGRI-LA HOTEL
High Tea at this luxury hotel is always an experience and their Chinese-inspired Lunar New Year version is no exception.
In addition to executive pastry chef Anna Polyviou’s sweet and savoury treats, all guests will receive a lucky Red Packet and festive souvenir. ($55pp with sparkling wine on arrival)
Anna’s Year of the Rat cake will also be available in The Lobby Lounge through to February 13. ($8 each.)
— 176 Cumberland St, The Rocks; shangri-la.com
THAI TOWN IN HAYMARKET
Come the last weekend of the Sydney Lunar Festival on February 8 and 9, Thai Town Business community presents Sawasdee Thai Town — a two-day event filled with song, dance, crafts and food. Lots of food.
In fact, all the restaurants and beer gardens in Thai Town will be offering either complimentary dishes or 10-15 per cent discounts.
In two square blocks, you can take a culinary tour through the Northern Southern, North-Eastern and Central regions of Thailand. Plus, there’ll also be a Thai market inside the hall of the Metro Marlow Hotel for a gift and other goodies.
CHATSWOOD YEAR OF THE RAT FESTIVAL
Chatswood’s vibrant multicultural community means that this year’s Lunar New Year celebrations will take visitors all around Asia, one culinary adventure at a time including the Lucky Chatty Lunar New Year Dinner (Wednesday, February 5), a festive menu designed by MasterChef and Chatswood resident Adam Liaw and General Chao’s executive chef Son Sewoo.
Prior to that, take Adam’s self-guided dumpling tour to for his top Chatswood picks. You might just find your new local.
— visitchatswood.com.au/lny2020/
CANTON KITCHEN
New to Bankstown Sports is the stylish Canton Kitchen. Experience the restaurant’s modern take on Cantonese fare with two Lunar New Year Banquet Menus ($98pp or $139pp).
Available through to Saturday, February 8,
— Bankstown Sports, 8 Greenfield Pde, Bankstown; bankstownsports.com
Originally published as Sydney Eat Street: Where to celebrate Lunar New Year 2020
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