From Prosperity-Packed Plates to Golden Keepsakes, Celebrate the Season in Style

In Orange County, Lunar New Year is more than a celebration. It’s a ritual rooted in heritage, generosity and gathering around food filled with meaning. Tables overflow with longevity noodles for a long life, dim sum for wealth and whole fish to welcome abundance. Between bites, red envelopes are exchanged, gifts of gold are doled out and everyone soaks up special memories made with intention. From meals designed to bring prosperity and culturally-driven shopping stops to vibrant festivities that captivate, these Orange County destinations revel in the spirit of the season with experiences that usher in luck, joy and a whole lot of community.

 

Feasts of Prosperity

Bold Beginnings at BLK Dot Coffee

The Lunar New Year excitement builds early, and BLK Dot Coffee sets the tone. Known for its Asian-inspired flavors and community-driven energy, this is where you can begin your mornings with purpose. While coffee isn’t traditionally symbolic, gathering is, and BLK Dot delivers that sense of connection. Pair your Vietnamese iced coffee with something subtly sweet, then enjoy while sharing a table with friends before the feasting begins. It may not look traditional at first glance, but the feeling you get while gathering around the table tells a different story.

 

Matcha for Growth at Junbi

Matcha isn’t always the first thing people associate with Lunar New Year, but at Junbi, the ritual of slowing down with a warm cup feels like its own kind of reset. Each cup is calm, intentional and quietly auspicious. Use this time to pause between celebrations, sipping something rooted in tradition while setting intentions for the year ahead. Consider it a wellness-inspired way to welcome prosperity, one mindful moment at a time.

 

Longevity & Wealth at Din Tai Fung

Opening Mar. 2 at the Irvine Spectrum, longevity noodles will steal the spotlight during Lunar New Year, and for good reason. Meant to be eaten uncut, they invite a long, healthy life. But at Din Tai Fung, they’re only part of why the meal feels special. They share the spotlight with meticulously crafted xiao long bao soup dumplings, representing wealth and good fortune. Lunar New Year meals feel ceremonial at this renowned Taiwanese restaurant, whether you’re dining with family or hosting a celebratory group dinner. Order generously, share everything and let the symbolism do the rest.

 

Sizzling Prosperity at Pepper Lunch

This Japanese restaurant brings high-energy dining to the Lunar New Year season with teppanyaki-style meals, serving interactive dishes that arrive sizzling. There’s something fitting about cooking your dish tableside during Lunar New Year: a subtle nod to shaping your own fortune. Bold flavors and a lively atmosphere make Pepper Lunch a must for quick celebratory lunches that still feel meaningful, whether you opt for the sizzling beef pepper rice or the chicken karaage curry.

 

Dim Sum & Abundance at Capital Dim Sum – Seafood – Bar

Few things are as much a cornerstone of Lunar New Year feasting as dim sum, and Capital Dim Sum delivers it with intention. From shrimp dumplings symbolizing wealth to seafood dishes representing prosperity, the menu reads like a wish list for the year ahead. Round out the table with a whole steamed fish, a must for abundance and unity, and let the meal unfold family-style, just as tradition intends.

 

Elevated Feasting at Sushi Roku

Serving a whole fish during Lunar New Year symbolizes abundance from beginning to end, something that Sushi Roku does with luxe coastal polish. The menu blends traditional dishes with modern flair, making it ideal for festive dinners that feel elevated yet approachable, whether you’re dining on specialty rolls or luxurious multi course omakase. This is where prosperity meets Orange County style, best enjoyed with shared plates and a celebratory toast.

 

Coastal Abundance at Pacific Catch

Seafood has long been tied to prosperity in Chinese culture. Visit Pacific Catch to bring that symbolism to life with globally inspired flavors. From whole-fish dishes to shareable, family-style platters and a relaxed coastal vibe, this spot is an easy choice for group celebrations. It’s proof that Lunar New Year feasting can feel light, vibrant and perfectly suited to Orange County living.

 

Palette Dim Sum

This Tustin eatery serves up classic dim sum with a creative twist that feels especially celebratory during Lunar New Year. Think har gow and siu mai that pop with bright flavor or bamboo steamers enjoyed around the table. The bustling vibe here makes it feel like you’re part of a bigger party, with chopsticks clacking, laughter rising and plates of jiaozi dumplings disappearing before your eyes. Whether you’re dining in for brunch or an early dinner, the abundance of delicate bites and rich tastes makes Palette Dim Sum a joyous stop for feasting.

 

Golden Goods

Golden Moments at K Photo LaVie

Sometimes, the most golden goods aren’t something you unwrap. Rather, they’re something you keep forever. K Photo LaVie offers a meaningful way to mark the new year by capturing memories with loved ones. Lunar New Year family portraits symbolize continuity, legacy and shared history, making this a cultural stop that feels deeply personal. Dress in shades of red, argue briefly about where to stand, then laugh when someone blinks during the photo. Keepsake prints and photo albums are available to ensure that the casual beauty of the moment becomes a permanent part of your story this season.

 

Get a Golden Glow at Nature Republic

Gifting during Lunar New Year is a sign of care, so Nature Republic’s golden-hued beauty finds feel right on theme. Skin care sets symbolize renewal and well-being for the year ahead. Whether you’re treating yourself or slipping something thoughtful into a gift bag, these items offer a modern take on traditional generosity and a little golden glow to match.

 

Festive Symbols & Performances

Tết Parade

Celebrate the holiday at Orange County’s signature Lunar New Year procession, the Tết Parade, a vibrant swirl of lion dancers, traditional costumes, percussion and music that feels like the whole county marched in. Streets pulse with color, confetti flies and families crowd the sidewalks to catch every moment. It’s theatrical, joyful and deeply rooted in community pride. Feel the lineage of tradition and the energy of a new year taking shape right before you in Westminster on Feb. 21.

 

Lunar New Year Celebrations

Head to the Irvine Spectrum Center on Mar. 1 for an interactive Lunar New Year celebration featuring performances, themed decorations and family‑friendly activities galore. Picture lantern installations, cultural showcases and opportunities to learn traditional arts in between grabbing a bite to eat and shopping for your golden gifts. A backdrop of twinkling lights and giggling crowds gives the experience a fair‑like buzz, making the season feel genuinely magnetic and shareable.

 

Tết Lunar New Year Festival

Santa Ana’s Tết Lunar New Year Festival lands on Feb. 7 this year, bringing the heart of the community together with live entertainment, family activities and market stalls that glitter with lanterns and red envelopes. This festival feels like a full cultural experience, with local artisans, chefs and performers building a space focused equally on heritage and joy. Street food mingles with live music, kids chase bubbles near lion dancers and everyone slips into a warm, festive glow as the lanterns come alive.

 

UVSA Tết Festival

One of the largest and most beloved celebrations in Orange County, UVSA Tết Festival allows Vietnamese culture to take center stage from Feb. 13-15 with traditional performances, fashion shows and a buzzing night market atmosphere. The festival is a feast for the senses with ao dai clad dancers, martial arts demonstrations and epic lion dances that are lively, heartfelt and totally immersive. Food vendors serve up banh ttt, egg coffee and other delights that make wandering lead to delicious discoveries at every turn.

 

The Market Place

Beyond parades and performances, Orange County’s shopping centers and neighborhoods are embracing Lunar New Year with symbolic décor, cultural programming and festive photo moments. In Tustin, The Market Place glows with a colorful lantern of light representing continuity, love and harmony. On Saturday, Feb. 21 from noon to 3 p.m., a Golden Gathering in partnership with the Chinese Irvine School brings lion dancing, martial arts demonstrations, traditional entertainment and family-friendly activities into the heart of the center.

2961 El Camino Real
Tustin, CA 92782

 

Neighborhood and Community Centers

Across Irvine’s community hubs, thoughtful installations invite reflection and celebration. Visitors can set intentions at the serene Wishing Wall in Woodbridge Village Center or snap photos beneath the Lunar New Year-decorated pergola at Culver Plaza. The festivities peak on Sunday, Feb. 22 from 4 to 7 p.m., as a Lunar New Year Night Market takes over Woodbury Town Center, featuring tastings from local restaurants, lively K-pop DJ sets and a drone show lighting up the night sky.

Throughout Irvine, CA

 

Fashion Island

At Fashion Island, the Fire Horse Wishing Workshop unfolds on Saturday, Feb. 28, from noon to 3 p.m., within the Garden of Good Fortune near Nordstrom, offering live calligraphy demonstrations from the Irvine Chinese School, hands-on cultural crafting and bracelet making and a traditional lion dance performance in a serene, olive tree-filled setting.

401 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660

 

Irvine Spectrum Center

The Irvine Spectrum Center layers meaning into its signature energy with festive décor in the Regal Courtyard. A vibrant display of orange trees, long associated with prosperity and good fortune, creates a striking backdrop for photos, encouraging visitors to pause, reflect and capture the spirit of the season amid the buzz of Southern California’s entertainment epicenter. The celebration continues on Sunday, Mar. 1, from noon to 4 p.m., with A Festival of Tradition, a grand, community-favorite event featuring more than 15 traditional performances presented by the Irvine Chinese School, including lion and dragon dances, drum teams, chorale performances and martial arts demonstrations.      

670 Spectrum Center Drive
Irvine, CA 92618

Lunar New Year in Orange County is a celebration of prosperity, heritage and togetherness, all expressed through meaningful meals and golden touches that carry intention. However you choose to celebrate, the details matter: who you’re with, what ends up on the table and how you feel during even the smallest moments.