As the Lunar New Year approaches, Dublin is gearing up to mark the occasion with a vibrant celebration of food, culture, and community. From traditional feasts to modern twists, we’ve rounded up the very best food events that showcase the rich flavours and customs of this festive season. Whether you’re craving authentic dumplings, spicy noodle dishes, or simply want to experience the fun atmosphere, these food events promise a delicious way to welcome the Year of the Snake.
The Lunar New Year festivities, which are traditionally celebrated throughout the entire South East Asia region, encompassing China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, and Vietnam, begin on Wednesday 29th January 2025 and continue for 15 days – ending on Wednesday 12th February 2025.
Dumpling Making Masterclasses with Janet’s & Eva Pau

Saturday January 25th (Asia Market – Drury Street, Dublin 2)
Asia Market’s Drury Street store will play host to an afternoon of Dumpling Making Masterclasses co-hosted by chef, Jianan Liu of Janet’s @ Eatyard – winner of RTÉ’s Takeaway Titans 2022 – and Asia Market’s very own TV chef, and commercial director, Eva Pau.
The class has been specially designed to suit participants of all ages (children must be accompanied by an adult). Janet and Eva will begin by introducing you to the traditions of dumpling making, which are shaped like ancient Chinese gold or silver ingots to symbolise wealth and prosperity for the coming year.
You’ll then enjoy an engaging demonstration from the dynamic duo, who will show you how to make two delicious types of dumplings from scratch, before you roll out, fill, and shape your own, with the promise of devouring dumplings aplenty during the hour-long masterclass.
There are three different time slots available for you to choose from on Saturday January 25th; 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm. All of the ingredients and equipment are provided, and the Dumpling Making Masterclasses are suitable for vegans too.
Tickets are priced at €30.00 per person + booking fee and can be booked online via Asia Market’s listings on Eventbrite.com.
Dumpling Rolling Masterclass at Lucky Tortoise

Saturday 25th January, Saturday 1st, 8th and 15th February
This dumpling making class is perfect for individuals and small groups looking for a unique experience. Upon your arrival, you’ll be warmly welcomed with a refreshing drink to kick off the culinary adventure. Each participant will be provided with an apron, and as the class commences, you’ll be assigned your own cooking station, fostering a space for hands-on learning and collaborative fun.
Guiding you through the art of crafting delicious dumplings will be the skilled chef from Lucky Tortoise, sharing the secrets and techniques that make these treats truly delectable.
The cost for this experience is €59 per person (excluding booking fees), which covers the dumpling making class, welcome drink and a full meal, and exciting prizes. You can book tickets via Eventbrite here.
Jean-Georges at The Leinster – Lunar New Year Exclusive Menu

Wednesday 29th January (Jean-Georges at The Leinster, 7 Mount Street Lower, D2) from 5pm – 10pm
Celebrate Lunar New Year with an exclusive menu by Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, inspired by his NY restaurant, House of The Red Pearl. Indulge in a four course sharing menu (we’re already drooling at the Fortune Cookie Sundae) inspired by The House of the Red Pearl, Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s acclaimed fine-dining gem in New York City.
Known as one of New York’s best-kept secrets, The House of the Red Pearl is celebrated for its innovative modern Chinese cuisine, masterfully blending bold Eastern flavours with Jean-Georges’ signature touch of culinary artistry.
This exclusive event marks the unveiling of a new, exciting concept at Jean-Georges at The Leinster, brought to life just in time for the Lunar New Year.
Tickets for the four-course menu cost €98 per person and you can get them via Eventbrite here.
Chinese New Year Lion Dance & Dim Sum at Kaizen Restaurant

Wednesday 29th January (Unit 453, Blanchardstown Centre, D15) at 4pm.
Kaizen Restaurant in Blanchardstown will host a special Lion Dance performance for diners at 4pm on Wednesday 29th January – the perfect excuse to visit and get some authentic Hong Kong Dim Sum.
Kaizen is known for their delicious and expertly made Dim Sum menu, which includes custard puff pastry swans; pan-fried radish cake; a variety of handmade dumplings, both steamed and fried; soup dumplings; BBQ pork buns and plenty more. There’s also a full menu of Chinese cuisine plus signature cocktails to enjoy.
You can book your table via their website here.
‘Snake In The Glass’ Cocktail Making Class In Collaboration With Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin


Thursday January 30th (J.T. Pim’s, South Great George’s Street, Dublin 2) at 7pm.
During the course of the evening, Drumshanbo’s cocktail connoisseurs will teach you how to make two different Asian-influenced drinks. Each one will be crafted using either one of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin’s four different editions, or Nikka Japanese Whiskey, plus a mix of other oriental ingredients. Afterwards, participants will be given the chance to make, shake, and savour their own cocktail creations.
And, to round off your Lunar New Year experience, you’ll get to hand-pick your own choice of botanicals from the twelve that are used to produce Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin. Your favourite flavours will be infused together in a teapot and then added to their gin to create your own personalised cocktail – a memorable way to end the evening.
All of the equipment and ingredients required for the class will be provided, with participants getting to make and enjoy three cocktails each, and dine on sweet and savoury canapés.
Tickets are priced €50.00 per person + booking fee and can be booked online via Asia Market’s listing on Eventbrite.com.
The Allure of Tea: Exploring the Many Facets of the World’s Most Compelling Leaf at Chester Beatty

Friday 31st January (Chester Beatty, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2) at 1.10pm.
Blanca Valencia in conversation with Mei Chin
Did you know that tea – China’s longest guarded secret – arguably sparked the Opium War? Tea has been a source of pleasure for so many of us, but there are many worlds brewing inside of one cuppa. While its history can be wondrous, there is also poverty and heartbreak.
The hosts will hunt for memorable depictions of tea in paintings and literature, examine some of its most important and intriguing varieties, and delve into myriad tea cultures and tea vessels in East Asia, Ireland, England, and elsewhere. They will look at tea for aristocrats, the clergy, and the common people, and tea made from snow and infused by being placed in blossoms before they close at night.
They will also explore the modern world of cold brew and cheese and boba tea, tea sommeliers, and 75 euro tea pairings at chic restaurants like London’s The Clove Club and Berlin’s Oukan.
About the Speakers:
Mei Chin is a multi-award-winning writer and New York City native. She was co-founder and co-host of the podcast Spicebags, which explored the international food community in Ireland. Her work has appeared in Saveur, Gourmet, Lucky Peach, Bomb, and Rolling Stone, and she contributes regularly to the book and food sections of the Irish Times. She authored the “catalogue/fairytale” for the 2021 Helsinki Biennale’s So Long, Thanks Again For The Fish, a collective exhibition of contemporary Hong Kong artists, and is currently at work on a novel about mushrooms and ghosts.
Blanca Valencia is speaker, writer, and event curator. She has a Grand Diplome from London’s Le Cordon Bleu and an MA in Gastronomy and Food Studies from TU Dublin. She was the co-host of the Spicebags podcast (IFWA winner 2021 and 2023), and is the author of Blasta Books 5 Soup with Dee Laffan and Mei Chin. She is the co-founder of ArtPlate, a collaboration that highlights the intersection between food and art in Ireland. In 2023, the Irish Examiner selected Blanca as one of the top 50 New Irish food heroes.
This event is free to attend and no advance booking is required.
‘Chinese Whispers’ Afternoon Tea Experiences

Saturday February 1st & Saturday February 8th (Bewley’s, Grafton Street, Dublin 2) at 1pm.
Asia Market has collaborated with the historic Dublin café – and Ireland’s first tea importer – to create a unique ‘Chinese Whispers’ Afternoon Tea experience on Saturday February 1st and Saturday February 8th (1pm start time) that will transport your senses and take you on a journey of discovery.
Upstairs, away from the hustle and bustle, the James Joyce Room, steeped in heritage and filled with delicate artwork including the original 19th century Japanese-themed wallpaper, will provide the perfect ambience for an afternoon of relaxation and indulgence.
Against a backdrop of traditional Chinese music and cherry blossoms, you’ll be presented with a tower of scrumptious sandwiches, freshly baked Roasted Apple & Chinese Five Spice flavoured Scones, and Asian-inspired patisserie works of art from Bewley’s bakery. In keeping with Bewley’s time-honoured traditions of tea brewing, these delicious delights will be accompanied by master-blended teas sourced from China, or a coffee of your choice if you so prefer.
Tickets are priced at €59.00 per person + booking fee (please note that a minimum booking of x2 people applies), which includes a three-tiered afternoon tea, plus your choice of tea, or coffee, and an Asia Market goodie bag filled with treats to take home. Book your place online via Bewley’s Eventbrite.com listing.
Asian Food Stalls at Meeting House Square

Sunday 2nd February (Meeting House Square, Temple Bar, Dublin 2) from 12pm-6pm.
Experience a taste of Asia from two of Dublin’s finest Asian food stalls: Drop into Seoul Kitchen, Ireland’s first Korean street food market stall. Offering an authentic South Korean cultural experience using fabulous Korean sauces directly from South Korea.
Swing by Bahay, known for their authentic and incredible Filipino street food. Their menus tend to focus on locally grown, seasonal Irish produce with Filipino flavours and cooking styles.
This event is free to attend (food available for purchase).
Lunar New Year Banquet at Good World Restaurant

Thursday February 6th (Good World Restaurant, South Great George’s Street, Dublin 2) at 7pm.
Diners wishing to explore Good World’s ‘secret’ menu and take a deep dive into tradition will be served an elaborate 11-dish homestyle feast. It will include dishes like Prawn-Stuffed Crab Claws, Roast Duck, BBQ Pork Char Siu & Crispy Pork Belly, a Whole Steamed Seabass with Ginger & Spring Onion, ‘Bei Fung Tong’ Chill & Garlic Tiger Prawns, and a sweet Red Bean Dessert Soup.
Throughout the evening, the team from Asia Market will be on-hand to guide you through the Lunar New Year Banquet dining experience and etiquette, helping you to explore exciting new flavours as you eat heartily and try a little bit of everything.
The Lunar New Year Banquet dining experience at Good World Restaurant, South Great George’s Street on Thursday February 6th (7pm start) is priced at €75.00 per person + booking fee, which includes an 11-dish homestyle sharing feast, plus your choice of a glass of white or red wine, or a bottle of beer, to begin your evening. Tickets can be booked via Asia Market’s listing on Eventbrite.com.
Family-friendly Carnival Celebrations

Sunday February 9th (Asia Market’s Drury Street Store, Dublin 2) from 12pm-5pm.
Asia Market, working in collaboration with city partners, will host a family-friendly Lunar New year carnival celebration outside its city centre store, which is free to attend for all.
Attracted by the sounds of oriental music and the scents of Asian aromas filling the air, shoppers on Drury Street, Dublin 2 will be tempted towards an outdoor market selling a variety of traditional arts and crafts. They will also find stalls offering authentic Asian cuisine for sale and tuk tuks offering complimentary dumplings to passers-by. And, everything from freshly steamed grab-and-go Bao Buns, Bubble Tea, Mochi, and more will be available to purchase at the entrance into the store.
A series of eye-catching traditional Chinese lion and dragon dance performances are guaranteed to whip onlookers into a festival frenzy as they marvel at the focal point for the day’s celebrations.
Families attending on the day will also be able to avail of a range of free kids’ entertainment that is set to include the likes of face painting, balloon artists, and Chinese calligraphy.
This event is free to attend (food available for purchase).