Chinese New Year Meals

Discover traditional and modern Chinese New Year Meals that include classic Chinese new year dish recipes, quick and easy Chinese new year meal ideas, and the typical Chinese new year food along with the meanings behind these festive Lunar New Year dishes.

Why is Chinese New Year Celebrated in the Philippines?

Chinese New Year is a popular holiday celebrated in the Philippines mainly because of the country’s strong historical, cultural, and economic ties within the Chinese community. The Chinese-Filipino or “Tsinoy” population were from Chinese traders and settlers who arrived years before Spanish colonization. Many stayed, married locals, and formed communities. 

Over time, Chinese traditions slowly blended into Filipino culture. Celebrating Chinese New Year has become a way to honor heritage, family, and shared customs. It’s a holiday that even non-Chinese Filipinos join in the festivities, enjoying the festivities, decorations,and especially the food. Chinese New Year is officially recognized in the Philippines as a special non-working holiday, acknowledging the Chinese community’s role in Philippine society. You’ll often see a gathering of people watching colorful events such as dragon dances, fireworks, and food festivals at  Binondo (the world’s oldest Chinatown).

Filipino Chinese New Year Traditions

What to eat on Chinese New Year ?

While there are a long list of dishes and snack many enjoy during the New Year; Here are the more popular choices- 8 chinese new year food symbols and their meanings: 

• Fish – this ingredient symbolizes abundance and surplus. The Chinese word for fish “yú” sounds like “extra”, which means ‘wishing for more than enough in the coming year’.
• Dumplings –  are said to be shaped like ancient Chinese gold ingots. This dish is seen as representing health and prosperity.
• Noodles – are said to symbolize long life and good health. Some even say the longer the noodles are served or eaten the better luck you have.
• Spring Rolls – fried into golden perfection makes them look like gold bars, which represent wealth and new beginnings.
• Sticky Rice Cake (Nian Gao) – has a name that sounds like “higher year”, meaning that it hopes for growth, progress, and success-improvement every year.
• Whole Chicken – eating a whole chicken with the whole family is said to represent family togetherness and completeness.
• Oranges and Tangerines – symbolizes good luck and happiness because of their bright color that represents prosperity.
• Longevity Peaches (Peach Buns) – is said to symbolize long life and good health.

Popular Chinese New Year Recipes Around the World

China 

The most common dishes served in the dinner table are Dumplings ( for wealth and prosperity ), Sticky Rice Cakes ( for growth and success) , and Longevity Noodles ( which are noodles made of wheat and or eggs, served stir-fried or in soups with a colorful array of vegetables, mushrooms, and meats like shrimp, pork, or chicken. What makes these noodles ‘longevity noodles is that the noodles should not be cut or broken since these are beloved to ‘shorten’ one’s luck or lifespan.

Philippines

In the Philippines, you’ll find many households preparing Tikoy ( or Chinese Sticky Rice Cake ) eaten as a family or with neighbors as a snack for good luck, Pancit as the Filipino version of longevity noodles, and Lumpia – Filipino spring rolls that look similar to golden bars that represent prosperity.

Hongkong

At Hongkong Turnip Cake ( Lo Bak Go )-which symbolizes growth and good fortune, and Steamed Whole Fish – is said to represent abundance for the new year. Are eaten with family and friends.

Chinese New Year food in Taiwan

Popular foods eaten are Braised Pork Belly – which represents wealth, a Whole fish, Radish Cake ( or luóbo gāo ) and or Pineapple cakes for prosperity, Steamed Chicken to symbolize unity, family reunion, luck, and abundance, and Longevity noodles for long life.

Chinese New Year food Singapore and Malaysia

Dishes served in Chinese New Year gatherings are Yusheng (Prosperity Toss) – which is a colorful raw fish salad tossed together with the family, which is said to bring luck and success. And Bak Kwa – a festive sweet dried meat similar to jerky.

Vietnam

Vietnam celebrates the Chinese New Year with Bánh Chưng / Bánh Tét -which are sticky rice cakes filled with pork and mungbeans, these symbolize gratitude and prosperity.

Korea

Korea enjoys Tteokguk ( or Rice Cake Soup ) . This warm filling soup is eaten to welcome the new year and symbolize growing a year older with good luck.

Traditional Filipino Chinese New Year Food Recipes

( or Chinese New Year Food Philippines )

Here are a list of  Savory Chinese Filipino dishes – Filipino New Year Food Traditions

1. Pancit

For a filling Chinese New Year dinner, this dish made of noodles representing long healthy life. This dish is made of egg noodles, sometimes bihon-rice noodles,mixed with vegetables like carrots, green beans, and cabbage, with a source of protein like chicken, shrimp, pork, or tofu, tossed in a savory sauce made of garlic, onions, and many other seasonings.

Here are more Pancit options:

2. Lumpia

Or “Spring rolls” symbolizing wealth and prosperity. This special Chinese New Year food, or allover fan-favorite party dish is often made of pork and or shrimp, but can be jazzed up with different meats, vegetables, seasonings, stuffed with cheese or made healthy by using ground chicken or fish. These are also great for anyone budget conscious since these can also be filled up with canned tuna, galunggong, or even corned beef.

Here are more Lumpia options:

3. Steamed or Fried Whole Fish

These represent abundance and good fortune, served any which way from fried or steamed, doused in sweet and sour sauce or stuffed. 

Here are some Fish options:

4. Whole Chicken

A Chinese Lunar New Year food that symbolizes family togetherness and completeness. Chicken is a budget friendly crowd favorite that can be dressed up in so many ways from fried, baked, turbo broiled, stewed, barbecued and more!

Here are more Chicken options:

5. Dumplings (Jiaozi) 

These delicious nuggets which look similar to golden ingots of the time are said to represent wealth and prosperity. Serve these up fried until golden or warm up with a comforting bowl of dumpling soup.

6. Char Siu 

A deliciously addicting sweet barbecued pork that symbolizes happiness and abundance. Char siu is a dish many Chinese Filipinos order at the restaurant. It’s lightly tinted red, sometimes vibrantly red, is slightly smokey,sweet, and especially savory.

7. Kiampong Rice

A well known lunar Chinese New Year food usually made as a replacement to white rice, or served beside it. It’s a filling savory rice dish made of a mix of garlic, scallions, and many other seasonings, with sausage, shrimp, or chicken, simmered in chicken broth, topped with coriander and peanuts.

Chinese Foods in the Philippines – Dessert

Here are popular Filipino – Chinese New Year food dessert and snacks

8. Tikoy (Nian Gao)

These sticky rice cakes symbolize growth, unity, and good luck. A popular delicacy in the Philippines enjoyed all year round with different flavors. It is especially popular during the New Year and Chinese New Year. These are often enjoyed fried as is, coated in egg then fried to give it a nice crisp outer edge, some even coat these in breadcrumbs for an extra crispy touch, or used as filling in Lumpia.

9. Hopia

Another popular pastry filled with mung bean, chocolate, pandan flavored paste, pork filling, or more is enjoyed all year round as a snack, some believe to symbolize good luck. An especially popular snack that is bought by many from provinces visiting Binondo, Manila. This flakey pastry is often shared with family and guests eaten as a snack.

10. Puto or Chinese-style Steamed Cakes

A traditional Filipino snack with Chinese origins that represent growth and blessings. This fluffy, mildly sweet steam rice cake is easy to make with more or less 5 ingredients such as rice flour, sugar, coconut milk or water, baking powder, and sometimes yeast, food coloring, or food flavoring. Steamed or baked with cheese in the middle. 

You’ll find a lot of colorful versions here:

Check out our other Top Food Lists : 

Filipino Chinese New Year Food Menu

Filipino Chinese New Year food is a blend of traditional Chinese and  Filipino favorites, symbolizing luck, prosperity, and family togetherness. Common dishes enjoyed together are pancit for long life, lumpia for wealth, tikoy, a whole fish or chicken, and many more CNY food recipes passed down through generations. This holiday is a celebration full of meaningful and delicious dishes to share with the family as you welcome good fortune for the year ahead. We hope you enjoy this list of Chinese New Year Meals as much as we do!