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A tabletop with noodle and meat dishes, decorated with Lunar New Year decorations and red envelopes
A festive Lunar New Year tablescape at Phat Eatery
Isabel Protomatir

Where to Celebrate Lunar New Year in Houston

Ring in the Year of the Rabbit with great ceremony

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A festive Lunar New Year tablescape at Phat Eatery
| Isabel Protomatir

Lunar New Year is upon us, with the city offering plenty of ways to properly ring in the Year of the Rabbit. The start of the year is marked by the first new moon, which falls on January 22, and concludes two weeks later on February 5 when the full moon appears. Festivities are vibrant and lively, often commemorated by spirited lion and dragon dances, fireworks, gift-giving, and epic feasting. In Houston, Asiatown has long served as a popular destination to gather, but restaurants, malls, and museums are putting their own thoughtful twists on the occasion.

Whether you’re looking for a spirited family-friendly event or an exclusive multi-course dinner with performances by one of Houston’s top dance troops, here are 9 exciting ways to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit.

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Top Sushi

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The Soaring Phoenix dance troop will return to Top Sushi’s Woodlands location for its second annual Lunar New Year celebration. Festivities ensue on January 28 at 7:30 p.m. during which the dancers will take to the dining room, and the restaurant’s regular menu will be offered.

Katy Mills

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Lunar New Year celebrations return to Katy Mills again this year. The festive holiday event, which the whole family can enjoy between roaming the outlet mall, features a tradition lion dance by dance troop Soaring Phoenix in the food court on Saturday, January 14 at 12:30 p.m.

Phat Eatery

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Phat Eatery is honoring Lunar New Year with a special five-course tasting menu, offered family style and individually, during four different seatings — Sunday, January 22 at 6 p.m.; Friday, January 27 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, January 28 at 11:30 a.m.; and Sunday, January 29 at 11:30 a.m.

Menu highlights include traditional dishes, like the interactive Yu Sheng, or Prosperity Toss, a traditional Malaysian dish symbolizing abundance, beef rendang, and Chilean sea bass. The cost is $88 for adults, and $28 for children ages 4 to 12.

Chinese Community Center

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The longtime tradition of celebrating Lunar New Year at the Chinese Community Center continues this year on January 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free, outdoor event will feature a variety of cultural and family activities, raffle prizes, a photo booth, food trucks, Lunar New Year merchandise, and dragon and lion dance performances.

Viet Hoa Center

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Two full days of honoring Lunar New Year are planned at the Viet Hoa Center in Houston’s Asiatown. On January 28 and 29, guests are invited to enjoy live music, lion and dragon dance performances with lucky firecrackers and martial arts demonstrations. Partake in festivities, then stick around to explore the neighborhood’s bountiful restaurants and markets.

Le Colonial

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The Soaring Phoenix dance troop is taking to Le Colonial’s patio for a performance on January 22 beginning at 6 p.m. In addition the Lunar New Year menu specials, the whimsical dragon and lion dancers will journey through the dining room, which will feature festive décor, including hanging red envelopes, filled with $1, for guests to “feed” the dragons and lions. The traditional offering symbolizes good wishes and luck for the new year.

Kin Dee Thai Cuisine

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Kin Dee is hosting a lion dance performance by Lee’s Golden Dragon Dance Association on Saturday, January 21 at 7:30 p.m. The costumed performers will take to the dining room, creating a multi-sensory celebratory dining experience for guests. Reservations are encouraged.

A group greeting lion dragon performers in honor of Lunar New Year.
Lee’s Golden Dragon Dance Association will appear at Kin Dee in a Lunar New Year celebration.
Alan Lee

Lúa Viet Kitchen

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Go for the heaping vermicelli bowls, and stay to ring in the Year of the Rabbit at Lua Viet Kitchen in Montrose. A winding and hypnotic dragon dance performance will kick off the festivities at 5 p.m. on February 1.

The Ion

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The Have A Nice Day pop-up market will host its Lunar New Year celebration at the Ion on January 29 from 4 to 8 p.m. Like the group’s other annual events, festivities will include a lively market made up of local AAPI small businesses, food vendors, and Have A Nice Day merchandise. A performance by the Nu Vuong Hoa Binh dance team, beginning at 6 p.m., will round out the evening.

Asia Society Texas Center

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Asia Society will keep its annual tradition of welcoming guests to its free Lunar New Year festival. The event takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m on Saturday, January 28, and will feature arts and crafts for all ages, lion dance performances presented by Shaolin Kung Fu Academy, zodiac games, and a food and retail market made up of local AAPI small business owners. While the event is free, RSVPs are requested.

Top Sushi

The Soaring Phoenix dance troop will return to Top Sushi’s Woodlands location for its second annual Lunar New Year celebration. Festivities ensue on January 28 at 7:30 p.m. during which the dancers will take to the dining room, and the restaurant’s regular menu will be offered.

Katy Mills

Lunar New Year celebrations return to Katy Mills again this year. The festive holiday event, which the whole family can enjoy between roaming the outlet mall, features a tradition lion dance by dance troop Soaring Phoenix in the food court on Saturday, January 14 at 12:30 p.m.

Phat Eatery

Phat Eatery is honoring Lunar New Year with a special five-course tasting menu, offered family style and individually, during four different seatings — Sunday, January 22 at 6 p.m.; Friday, January 27 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, January 28 at 11:30 a.m.; and Sunday, January 29 at 11:30 a.m.

Menu highlights include traditional dishes, like the interactive Yu Sheng, or Prosperity Toss, a traditional Malaysian dish symbolizing abundance, beef rendang, and Chilean sea bass. The cost is $88 for adults, and $28 for children ages 4 to 12.

Chinese Community Center

The longtime tradition of celebrating Lunar New Year at the Chinese Community Center continues this year on January 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free, outdoor event will feature a variety of cultural and family activities, raffle prizes, a photo booth, food trucks, Lunar New Year merchandise, and dragon and lion dance performances.

Viet Hoa Center

Two full days of honoring Lunar New Year are planned at the Viet Hoa Center in Houston’s Asiatown. On January 28 and 29, guests are invited to enjoy live music, lion and dragon dance performances with lucky firecrackers and martial arts demonstrations. Partake in festivities, then stick around to explore the neighborhood’s bountiful restaurants and markets.

Le Colonial

The Soaring Phoenix dance troop is taking to Le Colonial’s patio for a performance on January 22 beginning at 6 p.m. In addition the Lunar New Year menu specials, the whimsical dragon and lion dancers will journey through the dining room, which will feature festive décor, including hanging red envelopes, filled with $1, for guests to “feed” the dragons and lions. The traditional offering symbolizes good wishes and luck for the new year.

Kin Dee Thai Cuisine

Kin Dee is hosting a lion dance performance by Lee’s Golden Dragon Dance Association on Saturday, January 21 at 7:30 p.m. The costumed performers will take to the dining room, creating a multi-sensory celebratory dining experience for guests. Reservations are encouraged.

A group greeting lion dragon performers in honor of Lunar New Year.
Lee’s Golden Dragon Dance Association will appear at Kin Dee in a Lunar New Year celebration.
Alan Lee

Lúa Viet Kitchen

Go for the heaping vermicelli bowls, and stay to ring in the Year of the Rabbit at Lua Viet Kitchen in Montrose. A winding and hypnotic dragon dance performance will kick off the festivities at 5 p.m. on February 1.

The Ion

The Have A Nice Day pop-up market will host its Lunar New Year celebration at the Ion on January 29 from 4 to 8 p.m. Like the group’s other annual events, festivities will include a lively market made up of local AAPI small businesses, food vendors, and Have A Nice Day merchandise. A performance by the Nu Vuong Hoa Binh dance team, beginning at 6 p.m., will round out the evening.

Asia Society Texas Center

Asia Society will keep its annual tradition of welcoming guests to its free Lunar New Year festival. The event takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m on Saturday, January 28, and will feature arts and crafts for all ages, lion dance performances presented by Shaolin Kung Fu Academy, zodiac games, and a food and retail market made up of local AAPI small business owners. While the event is free, RSVPs are requested.

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