The Best Places to Eat With Kids on Chinese New Year

Celebrate Lunar New Year with the whole family this year and make the most of Sydney’s vibrant cultural diversity, and all the delicious food that goes with it. It's the year of the PIG after all! 

The Chinese New Year officially begins with the new moon that appears between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20 every year — with this year’s falling on Feb. 5. Officially here in Sydney the festival goes for 10 days, from Friday 1 February to Sunday 10 February 2019.

Whether you like the excitement of food delivered on trolleys for your picking with Yum Cha, set menus offering Lunar Feasts and banquets, the sensory experience of the Lunar Markets or even if you just love Asian food, there’s a way for every family to celebrate the Year of the Pig. Now trot to it. 

Our Favourite Asian Spots

Nu Bambu located in the Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL are celebrating the year of the pig with a 7 course degustation. Expect things like beef tartare with caviar, smoked soy, and seaweed cracker, massaman curry, and jasmine tea panna cotta. This delight is happening on Friday 8 February, book here. If you would prefer something more relaxed, the inner west family favourite are also doing a Chinese New Year celebration with 2 courses and a glass of wine for just $40. Available between 6-16 February for lunch and dinner (book here). We love the ambient space (pictured above), and trust us, it doesn't feel like an RSL at all. 

If you think dumplings should never end, book an all-you-can-eat dumpling experience at Sydney Tower Eye! It costs $45pp and this includes entry to the Observation Deck which is adorned in red and gold lanterns - this is truly a next level experience. On from 1-10 February, book here.

And if you like cute parcels of deliciousness, Din Tai Fung (located in the CBD, World Square, Chatswood, Broadway and Miranda) are making the cutest piggy buns ever! The pig bao buns are steamed, stuffed with chocolate and served on a bed of Oreo 'soil'. Yum!

If you need a loud, lively place your kids can rambunctiously ring in the New Year, then head to Mr Wong’s! Their 5 piece menu includes king crab puffs, abalone and mushroom dumplings, longevity noodles, snowcrab, and deboned ‘8 treasure’ chicken. Available 1-14 February.

For a traditional Chinese food experience, check out Hong Kong Restaurant Newport, for a family friendly dining experience. Start with prawn crackers (always a hit with kids) and let them spin around the lazy Susan full of spring rolls and prawn cutlets, topped off with fresh fruit and fortune cookies. They have $33 and $35 per heard banquet menus available.

The Best Yum Cha

Yum Cha, with trolleys of delicious food for picking and choosing is an exciting way to eat Chinese food for the whole family (especially when it’s time for the dessert cart to make its way around). Some of our favourite places include Marigold, in the heart of Sydney’s China Town, offering reasonably priced Yum Cha every day of the week. Last year, Zilver and The Eight in Chinatown literally sold more than a tonne of live lobster between them! Hint: try the lotus rice balls that taste like peanut butter, and the mango pudding! Also located in China Town, head to East Ocean for the best seafood dumplings around as well as a fantastic atmosphere. Check out ellaslist’s top yum cha spots in Sydney for more options.

 

Lunar Feasts

Some of Sydney’s top restaurants are offering set price menus to ring in the Lunar New Year in delicious fashion. From dumpling specials to full banquets, there’s a Lunar Feast to suit every palate and pocket. For something a little glamorous, head to the Sydney Opera House where your eyes can feast on the glow of the Lunar Lanterns and listen to the Sydney Symphony Orchestra whilst your tastebuds enjoy dumplings at Opera Kitchen and oysters at Opera Bar or check out the dumpling station at the nearby Calyx in the Botanic Gardens. Check out more ways to eat this Lunar New Year here.

Lunar Markets

Sydney Fish Market will transform into a bright, multi-coloured night market, with shops open late for a festive feast-y celebration. Lanterns will illuminate the wharf and boardwalk, and a range of delicious seafood delights will be on offer. Catch the markets on Friday 8 February 2019.

The Rocks will transform its weekend markets into a Lunar New Year celebration. From 10am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday between February 1–10, expect lantern displays, traditional lion dancing, dumplings from Mr Bao and Let's Do Yum Cha and even pig-shaped fairy floss!

 

For more activities and the low-down on events across Sydney, check out our Chinese New Year guide here.

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