Here in Las Vegas, you can find Asian grocery stores across the valley bustling with activity as the Lunar New Year preparations begin. But if you’re not planning to cook at home, there are still ways to get a little taste of the festivities. For one, check out this list of parades and parties around town. And two, here’s a small sampling of traditional LNY dishes and where you can try them.
Tang Yuan (Sweet Rice Balls) From Hong Kong
These rice balls can be savory or sweet, plain or stuffed with black sesame paste, and are often served in a bowl of sweet, floral, tea-like “broth.” I like the tang yuan at Sweethoney, a Hong Kongese dessert shop in Shanghai Plaza, where you can choose from tang yuan in red bean soup, almond soup, or sesame soup. My friends and I have given Sweethoney some of the highest praise an Asian can give any dessert: “Not too sweet.”
Tteokguk (Rice Cake Soup) From Korea
In Korea, where Lunar New Year is known as “Seollal,” eating a bowl of rice cake soup is a must. The rice cakes in this soup are said to resemble coins and symbolize prosperity, and some families serve a version with mandu (dumplings) added in. You can find this version at E Jo Korean Restaurant on East Sahara. E Jo is known for its beef soups and excellent broth, made by boiling beef bones for hours until the stock turns milky white.
Banh Chung/Banh Tet From Vietnam
Lunar New Year is called “Tet” in Vietnamese, and one of the most popular foods is banh chung (also called banh tet). It’s a dense, sticky rice cake steamed in banana leaf with a savory layer of mung bean and pork inside, a filling and fragrant delight. According to legend, creating the banh chung recipe helped a poor, young son win the emperor’s throne. Banh chung is often available seasonally in Vietnamese restaurants around the valley — Dakao Sandwiches on Spring Mountain and Jones confirmed that they have a box of 60, but they sell out fast before the holiday weekend.
