Join billions of people around the world celebrating Lunar New Year, one of the most anticipated events in the East Asian cultural calendar, in Sydney’s geographical heart, Parramatta. The Year of the Ox forecasts an abundance of diligence, positivity and honesty for the months to come.
The City of Parramatta is encouraging everyone to mark this special occasion with a self-guided dining tour of the area’s many wonderful Asian restaurants. From sprawling seafood banquets to lucky longevity noodles, the fare at these eateries will ensure you begin the year with a full belly.
Start the festivities with a visit to Church Street’s Centenary Square, where a beautifully lit walk-though installation will inspire plenty of new year cheer. While you’re there, snap a selfie with the Lunar Lantern and pick up a handy map that’ll show you the way to more than 25 delicious restaurants.
At Parramatta Square, the buzzy new restaurant from the Nour team, Lilymu, is serving a special $88 Chinese New Year banquet that includes eight treasure chicken and salmon sashimi yee sang, a traditional holiday dish that’s tossed for good luck. Diners will also be delighted with a raucously fun lion dance performance from Jin Wu Koon Dragon and Lion Association. Over at Tingha Palace in the Parramatta Leagues Club they’re doing all the Cantonese classics, ordered either à la carte or in a lavish banquet filled with deluxe seafood including lobster and crab.
For a more casual, hearty get-together, Temasek always delivers, serving Malaysian and Singaporean favourites that include some of the best rendang and laksa in Sydney, while JC Dragon Fusion is your destination for bouncy noodles and juicy dumplings that’ll please a crowd.
The Parramatta Chef’s Gallery in the Westfield is doing three deluxe Year of the Ox banquet menus: a Prosperity Set, a Fortune Set and a Pen Cai – where you can expect abalone and other delicacies. The unique Indian Chinese restaurant, Dragon House, serves spicy Szechuan-style Chinese food of the kind you get in Chinese restaurants in India – check out their good value banquet meals for a memorable feast this Lunar New Year. And gelato maestros Rivareno Gelato are getting into the festive spirit by including two new Asian-inspired flavours – Black Sesame and Matcha Green Tea.
To see the full guide of things to eat, see and do, check out the City of Parramatta’s Lunar New Year hub online.