20 Places to Eat Dumplings and Noodles for Lunar New Year - Atlas Obscura Lists

20 Places to Eat Dumplings and Noodles for Lunar New Year

Where to go for luck, longevity, and very good eats.

Every Lunar New Year, billions of people gather to celebrate with their families—and to feast. While the holiday is most closely associated with China and the global Chinese diaspora, it’s a joyous occasion celebrated from Vietnam to Tibet to Malaysia and more. Traditions vary from country to country, but food is always at the core of the festivities. Among the many dishes that have a place at the table are dumplings—which are thought to bring good fortune, since they look like small money pouches—and noodles—the longer, the better, since they represent long life.

Luckily, there are incredible places to grab these auspicious staples all over the world. From the oldest dim sum restaurant in the United States, which has been serving up bamboo steamers of har gow since 1920, to a dim sum parlor in Hong Kong that’s hopping from early morning to the wee hours of the night, the best options have atmosphere to spare. You can also dine on dumplings in a grand old theater or slurp up noodles at a Singaporean hawker stand.

Editor’s note: This piece originally ran on February 3, 2023. It was updated, with the addition of more restaurants, on February 7, 2024.