5 Lunar New Year Foods That Bring Luck and Prosperity, According to Chefs

New Year's Day is in the rearview mirror for many, but for billions of people in East and Southeast Asia, and worldwide, 2026 doesn't truly begin until the arrival of the Lunar New Year. This year, it falls on February 17th and marks the Year of the Fire Horse. Spanning 15 days, the annual holiday period is rich in rituals, including time-honored culinary traditions, many of which signify good fortune for the months ahead. We connected with chefs at high-end Asian restaurants to learn more about the special foods that bring good luck and augur a promising year. They also shared how to celebrate Lunar New Year at home.

Lunar New Year Explained

Based on the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar, which combines the moon's phases with the sun's position, the Lunar New Year falls on a different day each year, between late January and mid-February, on the Gregorian calendar.

New season: Marking the beginning of spring, this festive holiday period, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, is celebrated with fireworks, street parades, red envelope exchanges, temple visits, feasting, and family gatherings.  

Zodiac animal: According to the Chinese zodiac, 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse. Rotating through a 12-year cycle, each Lunar New Year spotlights a new zodiac animal and its associated traits. The Year of the Fire Horse, for example, foretells a year infused with dynamic, fiery energy and powerful momentum.

The Year of the Fire Horse

"Zodiac signs don't typically correspond to specific dishes, but this being the Year of the Fire Horse, foods may lean towards chiles or red accents to evoke fire," says Mark Yu, executive chef at 53, a contemporary Asian restaurant in Manhattan. "In Chinese culture, red is the most auspicious color, symbolizing happiness, good fortune, and prosperity," he adds. (Hence, those aforementioned red envelopes, which are filled with money and bestowed on younger generations).

What to Eat for Lunar New Year

The dishes served at holiday feasts vary across cultures and regions, from China to Korea, Vietnam, and beyond, but the timeless symbolism doesn't waver. "Lunar New Year food is always about meaning as much as flavor—every dish on the table carries a wish for the year ahead," explains Emily Yuen, executive chef, Yingtao, a fine-dining contemporary Chinese restaurant in Manhattan. The shape and color of traditional foods, as well as the method of preparation, are all tied to those dreams and hopes, Yu adds. 

Some of the holiday's most significant classics include:

Whole Fish

Wherever the Lunar New Year feast, you're likely to find the banquet table laden with a whole fish, a universal dish that's also one of the holiday's most important. "The traditional whole steamed fish stands for abundance throughout the year," Yu says. In Chinese culture, the word for fish sounds the same as the word for 'surplus,' Yuen explains, so serving a whole fish symbolizes prosperity. 

Whether snapper, seabass, or sea bream,  it's usually steamed with scallions, soy sauce, and ginger—and it takes center stage in its whole state. "It's traditionally presented with the head and tail intact to represent completeness, a strong beginning, and a good ending," Yuen says.

Mandarins

Mandarins, including satsumas, clementines, and tangerines, abundant in the winter months, signify luck and wealth, Yu says. Phonetically, the name for 'orange' in the Mandarin language sounds like the words for fortune in Chinese dialects, plus their brilliant color, symbolizing gold, and round shape, representing unity, lock in their lucky charms.

Longevity Noodles

Long noodles, traditionally called "longevity noodles," are associated with long life and good health. Stir-fried with condiments like soy sauce, sesame oil, and oyster sauce, or slurped in light, brothy vegetable soups, the strands are never broken. "They're meant to be eaten long and uncut, which represents continuity and a wish for a long, uninterrupted life," Yuen says.

Sticky Rice Cake

Nian gao, or sticky rice cake, is especially meaningful, Yuen says."The name sounds like 'higher year,' symbolizing growth, progress, and advancement in the year ahead," she says, adding that its sticky texture also represents closeness and family unity.

Sweet or savory: "Food traditions vary across Asia," Yu points out. This auspicious holiday staple, for instance, can be sweet or savory. Cantonese-style nian gao, made with brown sugar syrup, coconut milk, and glutinous rice flour, is steamed, sliced, then pan-fried. "Koreans celebrate with tteokguk (rice cake soup)," Yu says, noting another variation. The clear broth represents a fresh start for the year, while the sliced rice cake symbolizes coins and wishes for success.

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Dumplings

Dumplings represent prosperity, Yu says. As with other festive foods, their status as a holiday standby is rooted in history and folklore. "Their shape resembles ancient Chinese gold ingots, so they represent wealth and good fortune," Yuen points out. "Growing up, making dumplings together was just as important as eating them; it's a moment of family connection and togetherness," she says.

Variations Abound

Culinary interpretations vary, but the symbolism holds steady.

Wheat wrappers: For instance, in Northern China, where wheat is the primary staple, families traditionally eat dumplings made with wheat flour wrappers, meat, and vegetables, Yuen explains. Savory dumplings are typically stuffed with pork, bok choy, chives, ginger, and garlic, then steamed, pan-fried, or boiled. 

Rice balls: In Southern China, where rice is more common, she says, families often eat tang yuan, sweet, chewy glutinous rice balls (also considered sweet dumplings) that symbolize reunion and harmony. Fillings might include red bean or black sesame paste.

Fish salad: Raw fish also heralds a promising year. "Singaporeans and Malaysians prepare dishes like yee sang (raw fish salad), rooted in symbolism," Yu says. The featured catch, usually salmon, signifies abundance, and it's tossed with shredded vegetables and a sweet sauce. 

Celebrating Lunar New Year at Home

Preparing your own Lunar New Year feast for family and friends seems like a surefire way to kick off 2026 on the right foot. And it can be epic, without being fancy. "When celebrating at home, simple dishes go a long way: whole steamed seabass with soy sauce, ginger, and scallions, stir-fried long noodles, and homemade dumplings," Yu suggests.

Yuen's home-cooked feast might also include nian gao for a sweet finish. "What matters most isn't how elaborate the meal is—it's the intention behind it," she says. "Lunar New Year is about gathering, sharing food, and welcoming the new year with wishes for abundance, health, and connection."