Lunar New Year: Where to Celebrate the Year of the Pig

Dumplings, noodles, and red envelopes aplenty

by Janelle Bitker@JanelleBitker Updated Jan 31, 2019, 10:49am PST

View as Map

by Janelle Bitker@JanelleBitker Updated Jan 31, 2019, 10:49am PST

February 5 marks the official start of Lunar New Year, but given San Francisco’s thriving Chinatown and large Asian population, the city celebrates for weeks. Here are restaurants offering special Lunar New Year dishes or menus to help you ring in the year of the pig in SF and the East Bay.

B. Patisserie

Copy Link

From February 5-17, swing by B. Patisserie for 10 Chinese New Year specials, including black sesame kouign amann, white sesame-red bean kouign amaan, Portuguese egg tart, mango pudding verrine, triple coconut verrine, honey tangerine tart, black sesame strawberry tart, milk tea cake, red bean cheesecake, and coconut peanut macaron.

2821 California St, San Francisco, CA 94115

(415) 440-1700

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Trademark & Copyright

Copy Link

Head to Trademark on Saturday, February 2, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for An Chơi Tết, a Vietnamese New Year pop-up. A la carte dishes include Hanoi vermicelli with chicken, shrimp, and egg soup; Vietnamese pizza; and sticky rice with corn.

Open in Google Maps

1123 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA 94103

(415) 738-8838

Visit Website

The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco

Copy Link

Head to the Ritz for a special Chinese afternoon tea in honor of Lunar New Year, available at The Lounge on Sunday, February 3 from 1 to 2 p.m. Instead of the usual scone action, this high tea will feature steamed pork buns, shrimp with Sichuan pepper, oolong tea madeleines, and caramelized pineapple custard tarts. It costs $88 per person. From February 3-10, folks can also find dim sum on Paraellel 37’s breakfast menu and special snacks and cocktails at The Lounge.

Open in Google Maps

600 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94108

(415) 296-7465

Visit Website

M.Y. China

Copy Link

This year, Martin Yan is pulling inspiration from the Tang Dynasty for his eight-course Chinese New Year menu, intended for six people. Dishes include salted egg yolk shrimp, mushroom-stuffed whole chicken, braised creamy rock fish, and seafood noodles. Smaller groups can get in on the fun by ordering the $55 “piggie basket” of dim sum. Both are available from February 5-23 — with red envelopes, of course.

845 Market St level 4, San Francisco, CA 94103

(415) 580-3001

Visit Website

Also featured in:

E&O Kitchen and Bar

Copy Link

In honor of the Year of the Pig, E&O is going big on the hog for its special Lunar New Year menu, including pork and chive dumplings, braised pork belly salad, roasted pork shoulder with steamed buns, and celebratory desserts.

314 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94108

(415) 693-0303

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Hakkasan

Copy Link

There are many chances to try Hakkasan’s Chinese New Year menu — it’s available from January 28 to February 24. Diners can order a few dishes a la carte, like Peking duck with mango or wok-fried lobster. Ordered as a family-style prix-fixe, the whole meal costs $128 per person for a minimum of two people.

1 Kearny St, San Francisco, CA 94108

(415) 829-8148

Visit Website

Also featured in:

The St. Regis San Francisco

Copy Link

Dim sum, sweets, and teas make up the St. Regis’s Year of the Pig-themed Art of Tea, available in the Lobby Lounge from 2 to 4 p.m. for $69. The hotel also teamed up with Suntory Distillery for a special East-meets-West cocktail menu, featuring ingredients like green tea, candied ginger, and edible orchid. Both the high tea and cocktails are specials for Lunar New Year, available February 4-28.

Open in Google Maps

125 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94103

(415) 284-4000

Visit Website

Also featured in:

The 21 most essential San Francisco hotels

International Smoke

Copy Link

Ayesha Curry’s restaurant is serving a six-course, family-style menu featuring lucky ingredients throughout. Dishes include Singapore street noodles with smoked rock shrimp and madras curry as well as char siu pork ribs with garlic fried rice. The meal costs $75 per person and is available February 5-23.

Open in Google Maps

301 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94105

(415) 543-7474

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Harborview Restaurant & Bar

Copy Link

The restaurant that’s taken over Crystal Jade’s large Embarcadero space is ready to celebrate with two special menus for groups. From February 1st- 23rd diners can choose from a $788 option that serves 10 people, and a $1,188 menu that’s also for 10. Check them out here, plus additions like whole abalone with mustard greens ($70) and roast squab ($25).

Open in Google Maps

4 Embarcadero Center, Street Level, San Francisco, CA 94111

(628) 867-7350

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Third Culture Bakery

Copy Link

The home of the mochi muffin is moving away from glutinous rice flour for a special Chinese New Year offering: black sesame shortbread cookies. A gift-worthy box costs $16 and comes with a red envelope, available February 1-16 at the West Berkeley bakery.

Open in Google Maps

2701 Eighth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710

(415) 735-6699

Visit Website

Also featured in:

The San Francisco and East Bay Matcha Map

Perle Wine Bar

Copy Link

Chef Robert Lam (formerly Butterfly) is serving loads of Dungeness crab to ring in the new year at his Montclair wine bar. Dishes include scallop and crab toast, garlic crab noodles, and crab creme brûlée. The feast takes place Thursday, January 31 and costs $88 per person.