Saturday, January 25th is the official day of the Lunar New Year, but this town is celebrating all month long. Restaurants are running special menus, offering deals and throwing parties to honor the year of the monkey. Here’s where to get in on all that eating action.

junzi

junzi will be launching a First Rice Bowl in Honor of Lunar New Year. This hearty rice bowl uses millet rice, a traditional northern Chinese combination called Da Xiao Mifan (literally translated to big and small rice), as the base. Sweet and spicy firecracker chicken thigh marinated in chili, garlic, and Sichuan spices is the main protein. Cabbage and leeks, a soy-marinated egg (also a new limited-time topping available for all other bowls), and caramelized shallots and carrots are also served in the bowl. Customers can opt-in for additional chili oil in the end.

Lighting firecrackers is a living tradition celebrating Lunar New Year in China. “The name is a celebration of the new year, of good luck, and of prosperity,” Chef & Culinary Director Lucas Sin introduces the idea behind this festive dish, “We're serving a dish that is, on one hand, an ode to the classic American Chinese chicken dish and on the other, a calling to Firecracker Chicken's traditional Chinese roots by doubling down on seasoning from Sichuan and grains from Northern China.”

RedFarm

With locations in the West Village and the Upper West Side, RedFarm is a farm-to-table inspired modern Chinese restaurant that redefines this beloved cuisine. The brainchild of Chinese food expert and legendary restaurateur Ed Schoenfeld together with Executive Chef Joe Ng. To celebrate Chinese New Year, RedFarm, the farm-to-table inspired modern Chinese restaurant, is offering a special à la carte menu of luxurious dishes from Jan. 23-26.

Delightful fare by Chef Joe Ng includes Gold Coins (Uni Dumplings Stuffed with Spinach & Shrimp), The Dragon & Phoenix (Sautéed Live Santa Barbara Prawns, Duck Egg Aroma), Bounty of the Earth (Slow Cooked Wild Mushrooms with Snow Pea Leaves) and Wealth (Grilled Alaskan King Crab with Fresh Perigord Black Truffle & Corn). 

Little Alley 

Little Alley has a seafood forward CNY menu this year, including Steamed Lobster with Glass Noodle, Lobster with Ginger Scallion, Spicy Crab, Salted Duck Egg Crab, Dry-woked Prawn, Steamed Whole Fish with Chopped Chili, Blanched Clams, and Stir-Fried Clams with Basil. Available from 1/22 - 1/26.

Tang Hotpot

Tang Hotpot will serve exclusively Lunar New Year Prix Fixe on Jan. 24 (CNY eve) and 25 (CNY). It will be $75 per person or $99 per person with three glasses of Wine/Beer/Sake. In addition to the fact that hot pot is an extremely festive dining format, it brings people together and that's all Lunar New Year is about. The prix fixe will include what Chinese must eat on the day -- dumplings. These dumplings will come from Sage Collective, a sister restaurant of Tang Hotpot.

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