There’s no denying that one of the best things about holidays is the food. And the Lunar New Year is no exception. In addition to spending time with family, honouring ancestors and welcoming the arrival of spring, the 15-day festival is a time when eating and sharing food is a must in many Asian countries.
If you’re in Brisbane and looking for a great place to celebrate the Lunar New Year, look no further than Sunnybank! There are plenty of excellent restaurants to choose from that will help you ring in the Year of the Rabbit with authentic cuisine. The festival runs from Wednesday, January 18th to Saturday, January 22nd, and it’s a great opportunity to explore all the different flavours that the holiday has to offer!
Chef and Sunnybank insider Tony Ching knows a thing or two about authentic Lunar New Year experiences – he’s sharing his top five dishes to help make your celebration one to remember. So get the family and friends together and get ready to feast on these delicious Asian dishes.
Have you ever feasted on a whole fish with the head, tail and fin intact? Well Lunar New Year is the perfect time to order this popular Chinese dish, which is a staple meal during the celebration period. Traditionally, a whole fish is eaten during the Lunar New Year as it symbolises prosperity for the year ahead. It is believed that if you eat the whole fish over two days it will create an overflow of prosperity – so make sure you get that doggie bag! In China, a popular way to cook a whole fish is to steam it first and then pour hot oil on top, which creates succulent, juicy meat with delicious crispy-skin. At Luo’s Place (pictured) The charcoal grilled fish is a unique dish. They use various pungent spices and seasonings. The fish is coated with cumin powder and chili pepper, and roast until crispy. Sunnybank’s Golden Lane is a foodie destination when it comes to fresh seafood, so it’s the ideal place to order your new year whole fish. Try their barramundi steamed with dried orange peel, Chinese herbs and chilli. Or head to Parkland and choose your own fish from their live seafood tanks. We recommend their steamed coral trout with ginger and shallots.
Luo’s Place, Sunny Park. P:07 3323 3759
Golden Lane, Shop 109 Sunnybank Plaza. P: 3344 1361
Parkland, Shop 38 Sunny Park, Sunnybank. P: 3345 4588
Dumplings are a must during the Lunar New Year as their shape is similar to ancient Chinese gold ingots – a symbol of wealth. Traditionally, on New Year’s Eve, family members get together to make dumplings as it symbolises the family working together to gain money. The dumplings are then shared and eaten at midnight. So if you want to make more money in 2023, make sure you invest in these delicious dumplings from Ho Chia, a renowned Taiwanese pick in Sunnybank. The chefs hand-make each dumpling with a variety of different fillings and flavors, so you’re guaranteed to find something you like. Order their infamous salt and pepper chicken, and pork and vegetable buns – no matter which you choose, they’ll be delicious.
Ho Chia, P: 0416 504 623
View Restaurant
Ever heard the saying ‘the longer the better’? Well, when it comes to eating noodles for Lunar New Year, it’s definitely the case. Long noodles symbolise health and longevity and a wish for a long life, so are typically eaten during the 15-day new year celebrations. There are no rules with what type of noodle you eat and whether they are fried or boiled and served in broth – the only important thing is that they’re long and not broken or cut during the cooking process. Another rule: make sure you slurp the noodles up without biting the strands. Delve into steaming bowls of noodle soup with flavoursome sides at Sunnybank’s Zen Corner. Must tries are their signature Wonton Noodle Soup filled with egg noodles and juicy wontons made with succulent minced prawn, pork and fish roe, and their Slow Cooked Beef Brisket Noodles made with beef brisket topped with sauce, egg noodles and served with steamed greens.
Zen Corner, Shop 32C Sunnybank Plaza. P: 0426 262 599
Love these crispy, deep-fried parcels of goodness? Then make sure you devour them during Lunar New Year and you may be blessed with wealth. The cult favourite snack is typically eaten and shared during the new year as it symbolises piles of gold bars. While spring rolls are typically filled with minced pork, shredded carrot, bean sprouts and other vegetables, filling choices are endless! Vietnamese foodie hotspot Pho An serves up some of the best spring rolls in Sunnybank. Opt for their crispy Vietnamese spring rolls or go the extra mile and order their fresh and flavourful vermicelli salad that’s topped with their delicious spring rolls.
Pho An, Sunnybank Plaza. P: 07 3323 3668
View Restaurant
The Lunar New Year is a time for family, friends and of course, food! A classic dish served during this festive period is a whole chicken or duck. Togetherness and family unity are represented through this dish, and it is usually served with the head, neck and feet still attached to the chicken or duck – which also symbolizes rebirth. If you’re looking to get your hands on a whole chicken or duck to share at home, Sunrise BBQ & Butcher is the place to go. At Yum Cha restaurant Parkland, their signature dish is the roasted barbecue duck. The duck is prepared and cooked in-house in their special Chinese oven, and marinated in their special sauce which makes the skin crispy. Every customer love their duck because it is juicy and full of flavour.
Parkland, Shop 38 Sunnypark, Sunnybank. P: 3345 4588
View RestaurantYou’ll find a range of activities and entertainment on offer throughout Sunnybank Plaza & Sunny Park from Wednesday 18 – Sunday 22 January, to herald in the Year of the Rabbit!
