Lucky Dragon

The dynamic celebration of the Lunar New Year in the DC area is almost upon us. As we embrace the Year of the Dragon, the city comes alive with vibrant events, parades, and activities. Immerse in cultural performances, traditional dragon dances, and mesmerizing lantern displays. Savor all the delicious offerings at local eateries featuring iconic Lunar New Year specialties that promise to tantalize your senses and bring you some luck.

龙马恭祝，岁岁有余 (Lóngmǎ gōng zhù, suì suì yǒu yú) - With the dragon's blessing, may you have abundance year after year.

There are so many festivals, classes, and dining events happening throughout the month of February - don't miss a single one, in our events calendar. 

Chang Chang: The famed chef's first and only restaurant in the District has a special menu of Lunar New Year dishes available now through the end of February. The Lunar New Year menu includes a Chinese New Year Six Delight Sampler (crispy flounder roll, shrimp har gao, vegetable dumpling, red chili wonton and char siu bao), Stone Pot Pickled Curry Beef or Chicken, Claypot Lion's Head Meatballs, Tofu Money Pockets, and more. The menu is available a la carte and can be found here. Chang Chang will also be offering Lunar New Year banquet dinners on February 8 and 22. Reservations can be made via Tock.

Fried Rice Collective: The Fried Rice Collective, founded by chefs Danny Lee and Scott Drewno, invites you to join in the vibrant celebrations of Lunar New Year 2024, marking the Year of the Dragon. The festivities will run from Friday, February 9th, to Saturday, February 17th, varying among each of their three locations featuring a series of unique events and special menus, including a ChiKo dumpling class, a Lunar New Year dinner at The Shell, and more. Look for their kick-off event on February 9, along with these other special events in our calendar this month. In addition, all ChiKo locations and Anju will offer a Tangsuyuk special on February 13. Tangsuyuk is a Chinese sweet and sour pork or beef dish adapted for Korean taste. On February 16, ChiKo Capital Hill will offer a Lunar New Year tea service, featuring Cap Hill Jill and Sweets by Caroline. All Chikos will serve a cocktail special (Tteogyuk) from the 10th through the 17th. Plus, explore Lunar New Year catering packages with special offerings for lunch drops, dinner, and reception packages featuring dumplings and dim sum. Celebrate the spirit of Lunar New Year on Monday, February 12th, with ChiKo's exclusive Lucky Package, available for both take-out and dine-in. Immerse yourself in a culinary journey that brings prosperity, longevity, and good fortune to your festivities. For $75, indulge in an array of symbolic dishes carefully crafted to usher in good luck and abundance, including dumplings, chicken spring rolls black bean clams, shrimp toast, spicy beef noodles, and gold chocolate coins. As a special treat, 10 random guests will receive a red envelope containing a $25 ChiKo gift card. For more information, menus, and reservations, visit ChiKo’s website.

Ice Cream Jubilee: Ice Cream Jubilee is celebrating the Year of the Dragon and Lunar New Year by launching four new Asian-flavor inspired ice cream flavors. They are offering either scoops or tasting flights of these Lunar New Year flavors so you can try them all. The tasting flights cost $11.95 and come in either scoops or mini cones and can be enjoyed in either of their shops. Featured flavors include Red Bean Almond Cookie, Strawberry Matcha Latte, Mango Sticky Rice, and vegan sorbet, Mega Mango. Lunar New Year flavors will be available for local delivery as well as in-store, at 301 Yards Street SE and Ballston Quarter.

MGM National Harbor: Celebrate in a variety of ways at the MGM National Harbor. At The Conservatory – The Lunar New Year-inspired display was designed to wish good luck, strength and health to all who enter. You can experience the festive display through March 17. And, celebrate the Year of the Dragon with a special lion and dragon dance on Saturday, February 10 at 6:00 p.m. The performance will begin in the Casino Valet and continue throughout the Conservatory, casino and National Market. The lion dance is a traditional celebration for the holiday bringing prosperity and good luck for the upcoming year. At Ginger – MGM National Harbor’s signature pan-Asian restaurant invites you to celebrate the Year of the Dragon with a special Lunar New Year menu available February 8-18. Highlights include crispy fried crab claws, shrimp and scallops, golden egg yolk lobster and more. 

Nue & Chasin’ Tails: Sibling restaurants Nue and Chasin' Tails will be offering Lunar New Year fun through February 29,as both restaurants will feature five different dragon-themed cocktails for each of the elements: fire, water, earth, metal, and wood. They will also offer $24k in prizes. Guests that spend $202.4 or more at each restaurant will receive a li xi, which is a red envelope with "lucky money" that will hold their prize. Li xis are offered as part of the lunar new year tradition in Vietnam to offer good luck and prosperity. 

Philippe Chow: In addition to their February 9th celebration featuring dragon dancers and drummers, Philippe Chow will be offering a special cocktail in honor of the New Year. Sip on the Kiss of the Dragon Sidecar, made with Hennessey VSOP, Grand Marnier, Cocchi di Torino sweet vermouth, agave, and lemon. 

Tiger Fork: Hong Kong-inspired Tiger Fork in Blagden Alley is once again celebrating Lunar New Year from February 9 through February 18. Tiger Fork will serve a special a la carte menu of symbolic Cantonese dishes for both dine-in and takeout, each representing a specific virtue to bring good luck for the coming year. And during dinner service on two Saturdays, February 10 & 17, the restaurant will host traditional Lion Dancers, performing ceremonies to bring prosperity and good fortune in 2024. In addition to most of Tiger Fork’s regular menu offerings, Executive Chef Simon Lam has created several dish specials, each designed to bring good luck in the New Year (traditional examples include dumplings symbolizing wealth, noodles for long life, and fish bringing surplus). Available either a la carte (ranging from $9-$35) or as a tasting menu for two ($136).