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Be one of the first 100 people through the door and get a lucky red envelope. | Photo by Mecha Noodle Bar

Where to Celebrate Lunar New Year in Denver 

There are so many ways to ring in the Year of the Snake with celebrations across the Denver metro area.

BY Rebecca Treon

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Imagine getting the opportunity to shed your skin and be born anew. That’s the meaning behind the serpent, one of the 12 animals represented in the Chinese zodiac. As we welcome the Lunar New Year on Wednesday, January 29, it’s time to embrace adaptability, fuel wisdom, and celebrate the Year of the Snake.

The Lunar New Year takes place in Asian countries and in Asian communities around the world. Traditionally the start of the holiday includes 15 days of parties, feasts, family affairs, and more. Celebrations often include fireworks, decorating doors with auspicious ornaments, dragon and lion dances, gifting friends money in red envelopes, and eating special foods. For example, whole fish for long-lasting prosperity, dumplings to usher in a new year and banish the old, spring rolls for money, sticky rice balls for family unity, and longevity noodles for luck and long life.

To help roll in the year of the wood snake, Denver has scores of options from grand feasts to outdoor extravaganzas to cozy celebrations.

Lion dancers for Lunar New Year. | Photo by Far East Center
Lion dancers for Lunar New Year. | Photo by Far East Center

Lunar New Year at the Far East Center 

For 34 years this Asian shopping and dining complex has celebrated the Lunar New Year with plenty of fanfare. The landmark, easily recognized by its paifang gateway, sits at the heart of the Little Saigon area on Federal Boulevard near Alameda Avenue. 

On February 1 and 2, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the complex hosts a free event complete with lion and dragon dances, cultural performances, ice carving, pop-up vendors, K-Pop dancing, martial arts, and traditional music performances. 

Food too is a big part. Nosh on banh mi from Vinh Xuong Bakery, Hong Kong egg tarts from Celestial Bakery, bun bo hue at Viet’s Restaurant, and pho from Saigon Bowl. Hit Vuong An gifts for festive Lunar New Year decor and Little Saigon Market for the ingredients to make your own feast at home. The event is free but ticketed, sign up via eventbrite. 375 S. Federal Blvd., Denver, littlesaigon.com

On Havana Street Lunar New Year celebrations. | Photo by Simply Hao Hao Hoang 2
On Havana Street Lunar New Year celebrations. | Photo by Simply Hao Hao Hoang 2

On Havana Street in Aurora

On Havana Street, a business district that runs four miles through the Aurora suburb, hosts a Lunar New Year celebration at the Stampede on January 26 from 12 to 6 p.m. Inside the behemoth country music dancehall, expect plenty of celebratory vendors. The free event also has a full lineup of entertainment. Enjoy live music, K-Pop performances, martial arts, drummers, lion and dragon dances, crafts, and fireworks. 

Then head outside for the traditional food vendors and food trucks. Seoul Restaurant Group is even making a gargantuan bibimbap that will serve over 75 people. Of course, if you want a normal-sized portion, Seoul K BBQ and Hot Pot will be on hand too. Other food vendors include dumplings from Seoul Mandoo, Korean fried chicken from Angry Chicken, Korean hotdogs from Mukja food truck, Hong Kong-style street snacks from Ten Seconds Denver and Japanese mochi from Taeko-san Takeout. 2430 S. Havana St., Aurora, visitaurora.com

MAKfam owners celebrate Lunar New Year with their family, and all the guests coming in for the special dinner. | Photo by Lucy Beaugard
MAKfam owners celebrate Lunar New Year with their family, and all the guests coming in for the special dinner. | Photo by Lucy Beaugard

Support Colorado Asian Pacific United at MAKfam 

Baker neighborhood favorite MAKfam is known for dishing out modern takes on traditional and American Chinese favorites. However, for Lunar New Year, chef Ken Wan and his wife Doris Yuen will host a dinner fundraiser to support Colorado Asian Pacific United (CAPU). 

CAPU’s mission is to unearth the narratives of Colorado’s Asian communities. The dinner will be held on February 6 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. MAKfam will serve a special Lunar New Year menu showcasing a mix of Chinese-American and traditional Cantonese fare. No walk-in service will be available on that day. Reservations available now via the website. 39 W. 1st Ave., Denve, makfam.co

Chinatown Dumplings at MAKfam. | Photo by Jeff Fierberg
Chinatown Dumplings at MAKfam. | Photo by Jeff Fierberg

A Prix Fixe Feast at Stellar Jay 

Denver’s newest hotel, the eye-popping Populus, is home to a sleek rooftop restaurant, Stellar Jay. The restaurant’s general manager Raya Kellenberger was adopted from China, and she wanted to celebrate both her own roots and the Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI)  community with traditional and symbolic dishes served for Lunar New Year. 

With that in mind, guests can ring in the Year of the Snake with a four course prix fixe menu on Wednesday, January 29th with two seatings at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are $100 per person, reservations recommended. 240 14th St., Denver, stellarjayrestaurant.com

Inside the restaurant. | Photo by Casey Wilson
Inside sắp sửa. | Photo by Casey Wilson

Vietnamese Lunar New Year With Pho King Rapidos 

Pho King Rapidos celebrates the new year with a  kitchen takeover at Colfax’s award-winning Vietnamese enclave, sắp sửa. On January 28th from 5:30 to 9 p.m., guests can enjoy a five-course Vietnamese dinner and celebration.

Expect traditional dishes commonly enjoyed during the Lunar New Year, with a focus on celebrating the 50th anniversary of America’s first Vietnamese immigrants arriving in America. Guests are invited to wear traditional áo dài dresses or something red. 2550 E. Colfax, Denver, sapsua.com 

Lucky Foods at Dry Storage 

Boulder’s artisan grain mill and bakery is throwing a special Lunar New Year celebration on Wednesday, January 29th from 5 to 9 p.m. Join pastry chef Holly Clarke, fermentation director Mara King, and chef Egan Ma from Hey Kiddo for a menu of lucky foods inspired by tradition.

The idea is to add abundance, prosperity, and joy into the year, through food and friends. The menu includes dumplings, wonton soup, bao, steamed fish, and long life noodles. No reservations or RSVP needed. 3601 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, drystorageco.com

The main dining room in Le Colonial. | Photo by Lucy Beaugard
The main dining room in Le Colonial. | Photo by Lucy Beaugard

Dragon Performance and Dinner at Le Colonial

Cherry Creek’s newly-opened Vietnamese restaurant will also ring in the new year on Wednesday, January 29. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., diners can enjoy a traditional dragon dance performance while indulging in delicious plates of traditional foods. For example, shaking beef with caramelized filet mignon, garlic confit, snow peas, organic watercress salad, Vidalia onions and kaffir lime. Or, ginger-marinated sablefish prepared with Fiber of Life’s shiitake mushrooms, Rocky Mountain tomatoes, herbs and fresh jalapeños. 255 Fillmore St., Denver, lecolonial.com

Get a Lucky Red Envelope at Mecha Noodle Bar

Head to RiNo and celebrate Lunar New Year on Wednesday, January 29 for a chance to get a lucky red envelope. The shop opens at noon, and the first 100 guests through the door will receive said envelope containing a $7 gift card. The act symbolizes good fortune and prosperity for the year ahead, and a good excuse to come back the restaurant. 2801 Walnut St, Denver, mechanoodlebar.com

Lion Dance at Chi Lin Asian Eatery

Welcome the Year of the Snake at Stanley Marketplace and Chi Lin Asian Eatery with a Lion Dance performance. Hosted by the Colorado Asian Cultural Heritage Center (CACHC), the event takes place on Sunday, February 2 at 3:30 pm. Festivities start outside with a drum performance and continue inside the restaurant, where guests can enjoy traditional dishes such as noodles for long life and dumplings for prosperity. 2501 Dallas St., Aurora, chilindenver.com

Olive & Finch’s Lunar New Year Celebration

Celebrate the Lunar New Year for the whole month at chef Mary Nguyen’s cozy Olive & Finch eateries. From January 29 to February 28 , the restaurant group welcomes the Year of the Snake with the Snakebite cocktail. Plus, guests who order the Snakebite will receive a small red envelope containing $2 of Olive & Finch cash that can be redeemed on their next visit. Multiple locations, oliveandfinch.com

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rebecca Treon

Rebecca Treon is a Colorado-based food and travel writer and former DiningOut editor. Her work has appeared in AAA, AARP, AFAR, BBC Travel, Eater, Time Out, Thrillist, Travel + Leisure, Wine Enthusiast, and many others. Follow her adventures on Instagram @RebeccaTreon.
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