Welcome the Year of the Wood Dragon, a sign associated with strength, health and prosperity for the coming year. We've rounded up some rather special places to celebrate.
The Chinese Cricket Club
Housed in the Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars, the Chinese Cricket Club's talented head chef Tony Truong has curated a spectacular sharing menu for a minimum of four diners. Kick off the celebrations with appetisers featuring a traditional dish of Prosperity Salad with tuna, salmon & yellowtail, and a classic Peking duck. Standout main courses include steamed whole seabass with spring onion & ginger and roasted BBQ pork with jellyfish.
Available: 7th February - 17th February
Price: from £128pp
Book here.
Ping Pong Restaurants
The Ping Pong Restaurant group has created a range of special menu items to celebrate Chinese New Year 2024: delicious Crispy Dragon Balls (king prawn wrapped in a crispy, shredded pastry served with spicy mango sauce), Aubergine Oriental Salad (aubergine slices marinated in signature oriental sauce, sprinkled with roasted sesame seeds and served with freshly chopped green onion and chilli), Giant Soup dumpling (traditional large soup dumpling with pork wrapped in wheat flour pastry, served with oriental sesame soy sauce) and Green Tea & Mascarpone Dorayaki (two light and fluffy golden pancakes with a green tea, red bean and mascarpone cream filling, served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream).
There's also a limited edition cocktail, Dragon Punch, in partnership with VIVIR Tequila to mark the occasion: VIVIR Tequila mixed with lychee sake, lychee juice and homemade agave chilli syrup, served with chia seeds and a dash of lime, garnished with dragon fruit crisps.
Available: 6th February - 5th March
Price: Various
Book here
Pan Pacific London X Bun House Lunar Afternoon Tea
Enjoy a gorgeous selection of sweet and savoury buns curated by Executive Pastry Chef Francesco Mannino and Bun House’s co-founder and Chef Z He. There's a signature lamb and bamboo shoot bun, a black chocolate bun and a Mandarin filled with custard, which symbolises good luck in Chinese cultures. There are also two sui mai baskets and some very Instagrammable patisserie.
Available: Daily 12.30pm-4pm, from 8th February-25th March
Price: £68pp
Book here
Chop Chop at The Hippodrome
Celebrate at one of London’s most acclaimed Cantonese restaurants, Chop Chop by Four Seasons at The Hippodrome. Ring in the Year of the Dragon with a selection of exquisitely crafted bite-sized buns and dumplings, Chop Chop’s signature dish of Cantonese-style roast duck and desserts made in collaboration with acclaimed Japanese patisserie Sakurado, including their signature pistachio mille crepe cake and yuzu cheesecake.
Available: Daily
Price: Various
Book here
[Items in this article may have been gifted to Chatting Food. No financial payment has been made to feature in this article, and entries to the feature are made independently by members of the Editorial Team. This page contains affiliate links and we may receive a small commission for purchases]
Deputy Editor, Chatting Food London: Amanda David
Amanda David is a freelance food writer specialising in London’s restaurants, bars, exhibitions and events. She is the Events Editor and a contributing writer for London Cheapo and a regular contributor to Palate Magazine
Follow Amanda at:
Instagram: @LondonGAT