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Where to Celebrate the Chinese New Year

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Don't put away the champagne and party hats just yet, because this Friday marks the Chinese Lunar New Year. Lasting for fifteen days, there is ample time to celebrate and partake in the festivities going on around the city. Some restaurants and venues are serving traditional Chinese New Year's dishes while others are highlighting Chinese traditions and performances. Check out the map to find out where you can ring in the Year of the Horse.


Eater Chicago intern Aimee Gasior contributed to this story.

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Phoenix Restaurant

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To celebrate the year of the horse, this Bridgeport spot has an eight-course banquet, performances, and more on February 11 for $75 a person.

Lao You Ju

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Ring in the New year at Lao You Ju and consume a traditional three-course Chinese menu for $35 a person. Not only are cash prizes available, but diners can partake in the traditional game of musical chairs throughout dinner.

New Furama Restaurant

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Ring in the New Year in style with a bountiful Chinese service and special performances, including a traditional Lion Dance, at New Furama. $35 a person for members and $50 a person for non-members.

Hing Kee Resturant

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Making homemade dumplings, listen to ancient Chinese stories, indulge in a family-style dinner, and participate in a Chinese lantern festival at Hing Kee. The celebration begins at 3 p.m. on February 3; $35 a person

Shanghai Terrace

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Shanghai Terrace offers an extravagant eight-course dinner menu through February 2 including double-boiled seafood soup, stuffed crab claws, abalone fried rice, and dim sum. $128 per person.

8000 Miles

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From January 30-February 2, drop into this Chinese-Japanese fusion concept for numerous Chinese New Year celebrations featuring a five-course wine dinner, a traditional lion dance, and special menu selections such as the special "jiaozi dumpling."

Sun Wah BBQ

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Following Uptown's New Year parade on February 1, Sun Wah is offering its annual 10-12 dish, $40 New Year's dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Chinese-American Museum

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Bring your family to the Chinese-American Museum on February 1 from 2-4 p.m. for many Chinese traditions. Families can check out traditional Chinese tea, sweet dumplings, sweet and savory sesame balls, and New Year cakes. $12 for non-members, $10 for members, and $5 for children.

The Crystal Gardens

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As an alternative to the standard evening New Years plans, The Crystal Gardens at Navy Pier continues to celebrate the Chinese New Year with a lantern festival on February 16. The Chinese New Year lantern celebration will feature live music, dance performances, Chinese cuisine, calligraphy, kids' crafts, and folk art provided by local groups and businesses. Free admission.

This Chinatown dim sum eatery is hosting the Notre Dame Club of Chicago's New Year's brunch celebration. The event begins at 11:30 a.m. on February 9; $15 per person.

Big Bowl

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Both Gold Coast and Lincolnshire Big Bowls are hosting their annual New Year dumpling class on February 1 at 9 a.m. For $15 a person ($5 for kids age 13 and under), each attendee can work with a chef, sample their food, and take home a gift bag with the recipe.

Sunda's special New Year's menu, available through Friday, puts a modern spin on traditional dishes such as stuffed crab claws, whole fish "off the hook," mu shu duck and more.

The Terrace

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Start the New Year up in the sky inside Terrace Restaurant. Available from January 31-February 12, try their take on salt and pepper shrimp and szechuan chicken.

The Garage

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The new Yum Dum food truck will highlight dumplings on Saturday from 2-4:30 p.m. at this food truck haven. Partake in a hands-on dumpling class and a family-style feast with freshly-made dumplings for $45 per person.

Phoenix Restaurant

To celebrate the year of the horse, this Bridgeport spot has an eight-course banquet, performances, and more on February 11 for $75 a person.

Lao You Ju

Ring in the New year at Lao You Ju and consume a traditional three-course Chinese menu for $35 a person. Not only are cash prizes available, but diners can partake in the traditional game of musical chairs throughout dinner.

New Furama Restaurant

Ring in the New Year in style with a bountiful Chinese service and special performances, including a traditional Lion Dance, at New Furama. $35 a person for members and $50 a person for non-members.

Hing Kee Resturant

Making homemade dumplings, listen to ancient Chinese stories, indulge in a family-style dinner, and participate in a Chinese lantern festival at Hing Kee. The celebration begins at 3 p.m. on February 3; $35 a person

Shanghai Terrace

Shanghai Terrace offers an extravagant eight-course dinner menu through February 2 including double-boiled seafood soup, stuffed crab claws, abalone fried rice, and dim sum. $128 per person.

8000 Miles

From January 30-February 2, drop into this Chinese-Japanese fusion concept for numerous Chinese New Year celebrations featuring a five-course wine dinner, a traditional lion dance, and special menu selections such as the special "jiaozi dumpling."

Sun Wah BBQ

Following Uptown's New Year parade on February 1, Sun Wah is offering its annual 10-12 dish, $40 New Year's dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Chinese-American Museum

Bring your family to the Chinese-American Museum on February 1 from 2-4 p.m. for many Chinese traditions. Families can check out traditional Chinese tea, sweet dumplings, sweet and savory sesame balls, and New Year cakes. $12 for non-members, $10 for members, and $5 for children.

The Crystal Gardens

As an alternative to the standard evening New Years plans, The Crystal Gardens at Navy Pier continues to celebrate the Chinese New Year with a lantern festival on February 16. The Chinese New Year lantern celebration will feature live music, dance performances, Chinese cuisine, calligraphy, kids' crafts, and folk art provided by local groups and businesses. Free admission.

Cai

This Chinatown dim sum eatery is hosting the Notre Dame Club of Chicago's New Year's brunch celebration. The event begins at 11:30 a.m. on February 9; $15 per person.

Big Bowl

Both Gold Coast and Lincolnshire Big Bowls are hosting their annual New Year dumpling class on February 1 at 9 a.m. For $15 a person ($5 for kids age 13 and under), each attendee can work with a chef, sample their food, and take home a gift bag with the recipe.

Sunda

Sunda's special New Year's menu, available through Friday, puts a modern spin on traditional dishes such as stuffed crab claws, whole fish "off the hook," mu shu duck and more.

The Terrace

Start the New Year up in the sky inside Terrace Restaurant. Available from January 31-February 12, try their take on salt and pepper shrimp and szechuan chicken.

The Garage

The new Yum Dum food truck will highlight dumplings on Saturday from 2-4:30 p.m. at this food truck haven. Partake in a hands-on dumpling class and a family-style feast with freshly-made dumplings for $45 per person.

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