Lunar New Year arrived February 1, ushering in the Year of the Tiger. In many cultures around the world, Lunar New Year is celebrated as the biggest holiday of the year, and in the Bay Area there are plenty of ways to mark the occasion, especially by eating your way through some of the best Asian food in the country.

SAN FRANCISCO

After a two year hiatus, San Francisco’s spectacular Chinese New Year Parade returns February 19, 5:00-9:00pm, complete with dancing dragons, walking puppets, elaborate floats, exploding fireworks, and marching bands. Considered one of the most dramatic parades in the world, celebrate Asian culture at this enthralling event, then find out why San Francisco is still one of America’s preeminent Chinese food cities at this collection of greatest hits.

Sam Wo Restaurant This iconic, century-old restaurant has reopened in a new spot with much of the same food, but in an updated environment and a menu that is easy to eat your way through—fish jook, Chinese donuts, stir-fried noodles. 

Good Luck Dim Sum At this popular Clement Street dim sum spot, don’t be surprised if there’s a long line out the door for siu mai (pork dumplings), har gow (shrimp dumplings), char siu bao (pork buns), and lo mai gai (lotus leaf-wrapped sticky rice) at jaw-dropping prices. 

Mister Jiu’s This Michelin-starred Chinatown restaurant survived the pandemic reemerging with their famed Dungeness crab cheong fun, squid ink won tons, and Peking-style roast duck with peanut butter hoisin sauce. 

WALNUT CREEK

Creek House Dim Sum This Parkside gem has all the Cantonese classics, but dim sum is the way to go. Forty years and three restaurants later, the Chows came out of retirement to fill Walnut Creek's dim sum void. Choose from shrimp dumplings, pork shumai, and piggy egg custard buns.

Dragon’s Pond Consistently good Chinese food year after year. Hot and sour soup with ribbons of whisked-in eggs, General Tsao’s chicken spiced to order on a bed of crisp, fresh broccoli. Other favorites are mango chicken, honey walnut prawns, and duck chow mein. Plenty of vegetarian items grace the menu too. 

Dumpling Hours This new Main Street hot spot specializes in a variety of Chinese dumplings, from boiled and pan-fried to the wildly-popular steamed bao or soup dumplings, which arrive still steaming in a bamboo basket.

Kevin's Noodle House High energy and bold flavors make this casual restaurant a worthy destination. Pho (classic Vietnamese noodle soup) is offered in three sizes and 18 variations. A tasty mix of meat, chicken, or seafood in robust broth with basil leaves and noodles. Spike it with plenty of sriracha sauce.