Chinese New Year in Hong Kong is a feast for the senses, and above all for the stomach. Every dish on the table carries a wish for the year ahead: wealth, long life, success, or family togetherness. If you are visiting during Lunar New Year, eating your way through these traditional Chinese New Year dishes is one of the best ways to join in.
Here are the Chinese New Year foods you need to try in Hong Kong, what they mean, where to find them, and a few tips for visiting the city during the holiday.
What Is Chinese New Year?
Chinese New Year, also called Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival, marks the start of the lunar calendar. It is the most important holiday of the year for Chinese communities around the world, a time for family reunions, cleaning out the old year, visiting temples, and eating very well. In 2027, Lunar New Year falls on 6 February, welcoming the Year of the Goat.
In Hong Kong, the first three days are public holidays. Expect red lanterns everywhere, lion dances, flower markets, and plenty of red envelopes (lai see) filled with lucky money.
Chinese New Year Dishes to Try in Hong Kong
Nian gao (sticky rice cake)
Nian gao is a sweet, chewy cake made with glutinous rice flour and brown sugar. Its name sounds like "higher every year", so eating it is a wish for growth and promotion. In Hong Kong, it is usually steamed, then sliced, dipped in egg, and pan-fried until crisp outside and gooey inside. Some versions add coconut milk or red dates.
Lo bak go (turnip cake)
Lo bak go is a savory cake made with shredded radish, rice flour, Chinese sausage, dried shrimp, and mushrooms. It is a dim sum favorite all year, but at New Year, families make huge trays at home to share with visitors. Its name is linked to good fortune, and it is delicious pan-fried with chili sauce.
Poon choi (basin feast)
Poon choi is a Hong Kong specialty with roots in the walled villages of the New Territories. Layers of ingredients, such as braised pork, chicken, abalone, prawns, fish maw, mushrooms, and radish, are stacked in a large basin and shared by the whole table. It symbolizes abundance and togetherness. Many restaurants sell poon choi to order around Lunar New Year.
Ho see fat choy (dried oysters with black moss)
This braised dish of dried oysters and fat choy, a hair-like black moss, sounds like "good business" and "getting rich" in Cantonese, which makes it a must on many New Year tables.
Steamed whole fish
The word for fish (yu) sounds like the word for surplus, so serving fish is a wish for having more than enough in the coming year. It is always served whole, from head to tail, for a good beginning and ending. Some families even leave a little uneaten so the surplus carries over into the new year. Seafood restaurants on Lamma Island and in Sai Kung are great places to try it.
Dumplings
Dumplings are shaped like old Chinese gold and silver ingots, so they represent wealth. Northern-style boiled dumplings are traditional on New Year's Eve, while in Hong Kong you will also find them as part of dim sum. Good places to try them include Dim Sum Library and the many dumpling shops in Central and Causeway Bay.
Yi mein (longevity noodles)
These long, springy egg noodles are a symbol of long life, so you should never cut them. They are often braised with mushrooms or crab meat and served at birthdays and festive meals.
Tangyuan (sweet rice balls)
Tangyuan are soft balls of glutinous rice, sometimes filled with black sesame or peanut paste, served in warm ginger or sugar syrup. Their round shape stands for family unity, and they are especially popular at the Lantern Festival, which ends the New Year celebrations on the 15th day.
The tray of togetherness
When you visit a Hong Kong home at New Year, you will probably be offered a round, segmented candy box called a chuen hap. It holds sweets with lucky meanings, such as candied lotus seeds for many children, candied winter melon for health, and melon seeds for prosperity.
Chinese New Year Events in Hong Kong
- Lunar New Year fairs: In the days before New Year, flower markets fill Victoria Park in Causeway Bay and other districts, selling peach blossoms, kumquat trees, and festive snacks. They stay open late on New Year's Eve.
- Night parade: On the first day of the new year, floats and performers parade through Tsim Sha Tsui.
- Fireworks: A big fireworks display over Victoria Harbour usually takes place on the second evening.
- Temples: Wong Tai Sin Temple is packed at midnight on New Year's Eve, when worshippers race to place the first incense of the year. On the third day, many people visit Che Kung Temple in Sha Tin.
Check the Hong Kong Tourism Board for this year's events.
Tips for Visiting Hong Kong During Chinese New Year
- Expect closures. Many small, family-run shops and restaurants close for a few days, especially the first three days. Big restaurants, malls, and attractions stay open, often with special menus.
- Book restaurants early. New Year meals at popular restaurants are booked weeks ahead.
- Bring small, new notes. If you want to give lai see, use crisp new notes in red envelopes.
- Prepare for crowds. The MTR, temples, and parade routes are extremely busy. Download maps and check event times in advance.
- Stay online. An egoViet Hong Kong eSIM gives you data for maps, restaurant bookings, and translation from the moment you land. Heading on to Macau or mainland China? See our Hong Kong eSIM guide and China eSIM guide.
FAQs: Chinese New Year Food in Hong Kong
What do people eat for Chinese New Year in Hong Kong?
Popular dishes include nian gao (sticky rice cake), lo bak go (turnip cake), poon choi, dried oysters with black moss, steamed whole fish, dumplings, longevity noodles, and tangyuan.
When is Chinese New Year in 2027?
Lunar New Year falls on Saturday 6 February 2027, starting the Year of the Goat. Celebrations last until the Lantern Festival 15 days later.
Are restaurants open in Hong Kong during Chinese New Year?
Most large restaurants and hotel restaurants stay open, often with set New Year menus. Many small family-run shops close for the first few days, so plan ahead.
Is Chinese New Year a good time to visit Hong Kong?
Yes, if you enjoy festivals. The city is decorated, and there are parades, fireworks, and flower markets. Book hotels early and expect crowds and some shop closures.