January 22 heralds in the Year of the Rabbit, and there are plenty of ways to celebrate the Lunar New Year in London. Here's what you need to know about the Year of the Rabbit, and how to ring it in style, thanks to the Chinatown team. 

Year of the Rabbit Zodiac Characteristics

People born in the Year of the Rabbit are usually soft and gentle, with a modest attitude and affable relationships with the people around them.

In Chinese culture, the rabbit has the unique characteristic of waiting for an opportune moment and then leaping into action. 

After the tumultuous past few years, Chinatown, a melting pot of East and South East Asian culture, will host a traditional Lunar New Year celebration once again, embracing the idea of togetherness.  

Read More: Year Ahead: Fun Things & Stuff To Look Forward To In London 2023

Symbolic Dishes & Where To Find Them

Many restaurants in Chinatown will serve celebratory dishes, each with their own traditional symbolism over the festive period, as well as their own limited edition creations.

Tangyuan

Tangyuan, aka soup ball, is associated with reunion and family togetherness, particularly popular in Southern China. It's made from glutinous rice flour and served in boiling water or sweet syrup and comes with many fillings, both sweet and savoury.

Where to find Tangyuan: Dessert Alley's Pretty March, or See Woo Supermarket has a selection you can enjoy at home. 

Lobster

A popular treat for Lunar New Year family feasts, lobsters are thought to resemble dragons, which are a significant symbol during the festivities. When cooked, they turn red which is known as the colour of luck.

Where to find Lobster dishes: Try braised lobster with ginger and spring onions at Plum Valley or fresh steamed lobster at Lotus Garden. 

Jiaozi dumplings 

In Northern China, dumplings are traditionally eaten on the eve of Lunar New Year, however most people enjoy this comforting dish throughout the celebratory period. It is believed that the more dumplings you eat during LNY, the more money you will make that year - so get eating. Jiaozi dumplings in particular are considered to be lucky thanks to their boat-like shape resembling Chinese Ingots.

Where to find Jiaozi dumplings: Chow down on as many as you can at Tao Tao Ju or Orient London.

Nian Gao

Also known as Chinese New Year cake, nian gao symbolises progress, advancement, and growth. Chinese families will buy or make this treat for new year celebrations in the hope of having a better year ahead. It’s also a popular gift to give when visiting family and friends during the festivities.

Where to find nian gao: Chinatown Bakery.

Chicken

In Chinese, the pronunciation of chickens is the same as prosperity, and so chicken dishes are very popular and usually served on Lunar New Year eve for dinner, which is one of the most important meals during the fortnight of celebrations.  

Where to find chicken dishes: Try Four Season’s whole soya chicken.

Yu Sheng

A staple in Malaysian Lunar New Year celebrations, Yu Sheng salad is a symbolic sharing dish bringing longevity, peace and prosperity, and the ritual of eating it is as important as the dish itself. Families and friends gather around the dining table and toss the ingredients into the air with chopsticks while shouting out auspicious wishes to usher in prosperity for the New Year.

Where to find Yu Sheng: Try it at Rasa Sayang. 

Whole Fish

Traditionally the centrepiece of the table, you'll find this dish across Chinatown during celebrations. Fish symbolises an increase in prosperity and so when served it should be placed with the head facing towards the distinguished guests.

Where to find whole fish dishes: Jin Li serves a whole steamed seabass with ginger, spring onions and black bean sauce.

Noodles

Noodles are a staple of all Chinese diets, but at Lunar New Year they get longer. Longevity noodles are considered the key to a long and healthy life.

Where to find long noodles: Kung Fu Noodle serves hand-pulled noodles in soups and dishes from Gansu province in Northwest China.

More Restaurants For Chinese New Year Celebrations

The Ivy Asia, Mayfair

Partnering up with Ki No Bi gin, the extravagant Asian-inspired bar has created a selection of limited-edition cocktail and dessert, each menu inspired by The Year of the Rabbit. Look out for the eye-catching installation outside the venue, created to bring luck, peace and prosperity to visitors and passers-by.   

Address: 8-10 North Audley Street W1K 6ZD

Website: theivyasiamayfair.com

Tattu London

Tattu has a limited-edition pan-Asian lunar new year menu, running from January 21 - February 5. To finish the campaign up, Tattu will host a party brunch (Saturday Feb 4) that comes with live entertainment including Lion dancers and deep house DJs. 

Address: The Now Building Rooftop, Outernet, Denmark Place WC2H 0LA

Website: tattu.co.uk

Park Chinois

This luxurious restaurant is putting on a feast from January 19-29 that comes with show-stopping dishes like the whole suckling pig. On the weekend Jan 19-22 the Salon de Chine room is hosting live entertainment such as Chinese drumming, a silk string quartet and lion dancing. 

Address: 17 Berkeley Street, Mayfair, W1J 8EA

Website: parkchinois.com

Daddy Bao

The popular neighbourhood Taiwanese restaurant is putting on an auspicious eight-course menu for two nights (Jan 23-24) in celebration of the new year. Tuck into the likes of pork jiaoziu, grilled scallop with umami butter and crispy seaweed, fragrant fish bao, and eight treasure duck.   

Address: 113 Mitcham Road SW17 9PE

Website: daddybao.co.uk

MiMi Mei Fair

MiMi Mei Fair is putting on a lucky spread, to be enjoyed under the restaurant's floral installation - a tree adorned with golden lunaria, gilded cages and red envelopes containing wishes and gifts of money for a prosperous year ahead. 

Address: 55 Curzon Street Mayfair W1J 8PG

Website: mimimeifair.com