The 2024 Lunar New Year Festival celebration is officially underway at Disney California Adventure! With plenty of new and returning treats available during the festival, we’ve compiled a helpful guide of reviews for every location available during the celebration. For each location you’ll find our thoughts, rankings, and photos to help you decide which treats you should grab, and which we recommend you stay away from.
Lunar New Year Table of Contents
Bamboo Blessings
Food:
Strawberry Milk Tea Macaron – $5.75- Mickey-shaped Hot Dog Bun – $7.50
Beverages:
- Taro Vietnamese-style Iced Coffee – $7
- Lunar Punch Cocktail – $17
- Lunar New Year Punch – $7
*NEW* Strawberry Milk Tea Macaron – $7.75
Strawberry Buttercream with Milk Tea Center
Rank out of 7: 7
The macaron has the same classic appearance, but the strawberry buttercream filling is creamy and light. It’s one of the best macarons we’ve had at a festival here.
Mickey Mouse-shaped Hot Dog Bun – $7.50
Brioche-style Mickey-shaped Bun stuffed with Hot Dogs and finished with Sesame Seeds and Scallions
Rank out of 7: 4
This was fun and clearly geared toward kids. We enjoyed the “hidden Mickeys” on it. The pizza was pretty big and looked heavy, but it was light on the inside.
Kids would love this as long as they don’t mind a subtle chive flavor. The hot dogs were normal hot dogs, though seasoned with a bit of sesame and onion. For the price point, it was not outstanding, but it would be a fun snack to munch on or please a kid. Plus, it was photogenic.
*NEW* Taro Vietnamese-style Iced Coffee – $7.00
Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co. Vietnamese-style Coffee, Cocoa Powder, and Condensed Milk, garnished with a Taro Chocolate Sweet Cream
Rank out of 7: 5
It’s not our favorite coffee option, but it has a strong and interesting flavor that’s well-balanced by the taro cream.
*NEW* Lunar New Year Punch – $7.00
Mango Nectar, Tangerine & Grapefruit Juices, Banana & Coconut Syrups, garnished with Mango Jellies
Rank out of 7: 4
This is overwhelmingly mango with a trace of grapefruit on the end. The jellies are boba-like in texture and sour. It’s not terrible, but we wouldn’t get this again.
*NEW* Lunar Punch Cocktail – $17.00
Coconut Rum, Mango Nectar, Tangerine & Grapefruit Juices, Banana & Coconut Syrups, garnished with a Purple Orchid
Rank out of 7: 5
This is on the lighter side as far as alcohol goes, but it reminded us of something you might find at Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar. The mango is the strongest note with banana on the tail end. It’s very sweet. Given the light alcohol, this isn’t worth the price if you prefer a stronger drink.
Longevity Noodle Co.
Food:
- Shrimp Lo Mein Noodles – $9
- Garlic Noodles – $8
Beverages:
- Dragon Cocktail – $17
*NEW* Shrimp Lo Mein Noodles – $9.00
Rank out of 7: 3
None of the items in this dish are very good, and they don’t get any better when combined. The very fishy shrimp combined with the greasy noodles makes for a disappointment.
Garlic Noodles – $8.00
Long Noodles tossed in a zesty Garlic Butter with Parmesan
Rank out of 7: 7
This dish almost tastes like something one might find in an Italian restaurant rather than a Lunar New Year Festival. Overall, these were fantastic, with a heavy garlic flavor. We would definitely get them again!
*NEW* Dragon Cocktail – $17.00
Dragonberry Rum, White Rum, Lychee Nectar, Dragon Fruit & Chinese 5 Spice Syrups, Lime Juice, and House-made Coriander Tea, garnished with a dried Dragon Fruit Wheel
Rank out of 7: 5
This is a great option on a warmer day and plays heavily into the lychee and dragonfruit. However, given the ratio of alcohol to serving size, we felt it wasn’t worth the price.
Lucky 8 Lantern
Food:
- Quesabirria Eggroll – $9
- Mandarin Orange Mousse Cake – $6.75
Beverages:
- Mango Melon Cocktail – $17
- Hibiscus Apple Soju-rita – $17
Quesabirria Eggroll – $9.00
with Guajillo Pepper Consomé
Rank out of 7: 4
We were apprehensive about trying this one at first. The fusion dishes that have come out of this festival have been somewhat disappointing (see: pizza bao), so we weren’t expecting much from this. What we did not expect was for the egg roll wrapper to be so much like a fried chimichanga wrapper that the dish lost its Asian influence entirely.
This does taste just like a tiny chimichanga with extra crispy wrapping, and the consommé dipping sauce just goes to reinforce that connection as a salsa. So, that being said, this is a delicious tiny chimichanga. We thoroughly enjoyed the shredded beef and cheese, crunchy exterior, and delicious roasted salsa consomme dipping sauce. However, if you’re looking for a traditional eggroll experience, we have to recommend you look elsewhere.
Mandarin Orange Mousse Cake – $6.75
Layers of Mandarin Mousse with Vanilla Cake and Clementine Compote, finished with White Chocolate Crunch Balls and a Tangerine Glaze
Rank out of 7: 7
This might be our favorite sweet treat from the festival! It’s delicate and jiggly, which is very satisfying to cut into. Between the mousse and compote inside and the glaze, it has that very specific tangerine citric oil flavor that you find in a fresh Mandarin, as opposed to a sweeter and less sharp orange.
The fact that they were able to replicate that scent and sensation in this treat is enough for us to be impressed, but then it’s backed up with a delicious, sweet, and delicate flavor that makes it a real winner for us.
*NEW* Hibiscus Apple Soju-rita – $17.00
Blanco Tequila, Grapefruit Liqueur, Soju, Green Apple & Hibiscus Syrups, House-made Hibiscus Tea, and Lemon Juice, garnished with a dried Apple Chip
Rank out of 7: 6
This is the lighter of the two cocktail options here, but you do get the tequila on the end notes. The strongest flavors are the tea and apple, and it’s a good option for a milder drink.
*NEW* Mango Melon Cocktail – $17.00
Overproof Rum, Baijiu, Mango Nectar, Rock Melon Syrup, and Lime Juice, topped with Grapefruit Soda and garnished with a Lime Wheel
Rank out of 7: 6
This is another drink we wouldn’t be surprised to find at Trader Sam’s. It’s strong and very rum-forward.
Prosperity Bao & Buns
Food:
- Kung Pao Bao – $9
- BBQ Pork Bun – $9
Beverages:
- Tsingtao with Frozen Mango Beer Foam – $15
- Dragon Beer Flight – $18.50
- Brewery X Grapefruit Panda Pool Party – $14
- Harland Brewing Co. Tangerine Dragonfruit Hefeweizen – $15.25
- Stereo Brewing Co. Jasmine Tea Lager – $15.25
- Eagle Rock Brewery Lychee IPA – $15.25
*NEW* Kung Pao Bao – $9.00
with Plant-based Chicken, Toasted Peanuts and Scallions
Rank out of 7: 5
This is one of the better plant-based options but could use more flavor. The sauce is almost a tease with a tiny hint of heat. The bun is soft, and the plant-based chicken is decent.
*NEW* BBQ Pork Bun – $9.00
with Kimchi Mayo and Garlic Chile Crunch
Rank out of 7: 5
In contrast to the Kung Pao Bao, this was far spicier than expected. While the bun is soft and the pork generous, we wished the oil and aioli were on the side.
*NEW* Brewery X Grapefruit Panda Pool Party, Anaheim, CA – $14.00
Bamboo Rice Lager, 4.5% ABV, 8 IBU
*NEW* Harland Brewing Co. Tangerine Dragonfruit Hefeweizen, San Diego, CA – $15.25
Hefeweizen, 5.2% ABV, IBU
*NEW* Stereo Brewing Co. Jasmine Tea Lager, Placentia, CA – $15.25
Lager, 5% ABV, IBU
*NEW* Eagle Rock Brewery Lychee IPA, Los Angeles, CA – $15.25
IPA, 7% ABV, 70 IBU
Tsingtao with Frozen Mango Beer Foam – $15.00
Tsingtao with a Frozen Mango Beer Foam (ABV 4.8%)
Red Dragon Spice Traders
Food:
- Red Spice Friend Chicken Bites – $8.75
- Spicy Fried Rice – $6
Beverages:
- Guava Whiskey Cocktail – $16
- Peach Basil Collins – $17
*NEW* Spicy Fried Rice – $8.00
with Tofu and Crispy Peas
Rank out of 7: 3
This was like a poor dish from a fast food restaurant. It was drenched in sauce, leading to a soggy meal. The vegetables did not seem fresh. We’d skip this.
Red Spice Fried Chicken Bites – $8.75
Fried Chicken Chicharrones in spicy Red Chile Sauce
Rank out of 7: 3
We weren’t particularly impressed with these. They’re spicier than they need to be, and very chewy. If you’re someone who doesn’t handle spice very well, we recommend skipping these before they blow out your palate, and you can’t try some of the other better dishes available at the festival.
*NEW* Peach Basil Collins – $17.00
Gin, Ginger Liqueur, White Peach Purée, Lemon Juice, and House-made Thai Basil Syrup, topped with Topo Chico® and garnished with a Purple Pansy
Rank out of 7: 7
This is a nice twist on a classic cocktail. It’s light and refreshing, and the flavors complement each other well.
Guava Whiskey Cocktail – $16.00
Whiskey, Ginger Liqueur, Guava Nectar, Coconut Cream, and Lime Juice, garnished with a Lime Wheel
Rank out of 7: 4
This was a unique cocktail that managed to marry the flavors of guava and whiskey in a way we had not yet experienced. However, that doesn’t make this a great drink. We needed another flavor to bring this drink to the “delicious” level. If you’re looking to try something new and interesting, then this may be the drink for you, but to us, this wasn’t particularly special.
Wrapped with Love
Food:
- Fried Lemongrass Chicken Dumplings – $8.75
- Steamed Pork & Vegetable Dumplings – $8.75
Beverages:
- Yuja-Pineapple Cooler – $7
- Raspberry Oat Milk Tea – $6.50
*NEW* Fried Lemongrass Chicken Dumplings – $8.75
with Plum Sauce
Rank out of 7: 2
The dumplings were served cold with congealed plum sauce, which is a shame because it might have made the bland chicken more palatable. The gyoza wrap was hard. We don’t recommend this.
*NEW* Steamed Pork & Vegetable Dumplings – $8.75
with Black Garlic Sauce
Rank out of 7: 3
The texture is better than the lemongrass chicken dumplings, but the pork is flavorless, and the bitter garlic sauce does not save it.
*NEW* Yuja-Pineapple Cooler – $7.00
Pineapple Juice, Yuja Purée, Rice, and Condensed Milk, garnished with a Cherry & Coconut Foam
Rank out of 7: 6
This is a great non-alcoholic option. The pineapple and yuja are excellent complements. We couldn’t taste the coconut, though. It’s a heavy drink and would be perfect for sharing.
Raspberry Oat Milk Tea – $6.50
Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co. Ceylon Tea, Raspberry & Demerara Syrups, and Oat Milk, garnished with skewered Raspberries
Rank out of 7: 7
This drink was one of our favorites when it debuted at the 2023 festival, and we’re so happy to see it returned. If you’re looking for a smooth, creamy tea with that hit of raspberry sweetness, we can’t recommend this drink enough. It’s a stellar option, and probably our favorite non-alcoholic beverage available during Lunar New Year.
Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta
Food:
- Bulgogi Pizza – $9.49 for a slice, $47.49 for a whole pizza
- Milk Tea Taro Cheesecake – $6.79
*NEW* Bulgogi Pizza – $9.49 (slice), $47.49 (whole pie)
Marinated Beef and Spicy Corn, Cheese Sauce topped with Green Onion (Available by slice or whole pie)
Rank out of 7: 5
Despite the description, nothing on this pizza is spicy. It’s fairly good overall, and the meat is tender and flavorful. However, nearly $10 for one slice of pizza is not a great value.
Milk Tea Taro Cheesecake – $6.79
Milk tea cheesecake with a taro mousse
Rank out of 7: 6
This was delicious! It has a very taro-forward flavor, which is wonderful. Taro is usually so subdued and mellow in sweet treats like this, but this one presents it front and center as the main flavor. It’s quite vibrant, with an almost tropical twang to it. We found the cheesecake to be sweet and almost caramel-flavored, which provides a great base for the extra potent taro cream on top.
Cappuccino Cart
Food:
- Dalgona Coffee Bundt Cake – $7.25
Beverages:
- Green Tea Horchata – $7
Dalgona Coffee Bundt Cake – $7.25
Coffee Bundt cake filled with sweet milk and topped with dalgona foam
Rank out of 7: 6
This is one of the best specialty coffee cakes they have at the cappuccino cart. The dalgona foam on top is strongly coffee-flavored but without any of the bitterness coffee typically has. It’s delicately sweet, but so strong in flavor that it doesn’t overwhelm you with sugar.
The coffee bundt cake is the standard bundt cake this location uses for its specialty offerings. We usually get a stronger coffee flavor from it, but in this dish, it’s more subdued by comparison thanks to the dalgona foam. The sweetened condensed milk in the middle is nice and sweet, providing a creamy aspect to sweeten up the whole dish and make it a more exciting treat. Overall, this is very well-balanced, making it thoroughly enjoyable.
Green Tea Horchata – $7
Rank out of 7: 5
This was surprisingly better than we thought it was going to be. The flavored horchata drinks here at the cappuccino cart are often underwhelming, with the flavored addition cheapening the horchata character. This one commits to the green tea aspect with only a slight hint of cinnamon and rice milk to back it up. It’s not as sweet as we would expect, but still sweet enough to be enjoyable. We liked this one a lot more than we were expecting, and we could see ourselves returning for it again soon.
Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill
Beverages:
- Blood Orange Cocktail – $16
*NEW* Blood Orange Cocktail – $16
Baijiu, Orange Liquor, Yuja purée, and Blood Orange syrup, with a Spicy Sugar Rim
Rank out of 7: 6
With the heavy yuja and blood orange flavors, this is less sickeningly sweet than most of the festival drinks. It’s refreshing, and the alcohol is very subtle.
Lamplight Lounge
Food:
- Spicy Dan Dan Noodles – $27
- Milk Tea and Taro Donuts – $11
Beverages
- Lunar New Year Cocktail – $19
*NEW* Spicy Dan Dan Noodles – $27
Crispy Pork Belly and Noodles tossed in Spicy Szechuan sauce paired with Carrots, Cucumber, and crispy Shallots garnished with Green Onions and Micro Cilantro
Rank out of 7: 6
The portion is generous, and the dish is appropriately spicy, with fresh vegetables to cut the heat. The pork is cooked well and full of flavor.
*NEW* Milk Tea and Taro Donuts – $11
Warm, fluffy donuts dipped in Milk Tea, drizzled with Taro Icing, garnished with Boba with Milk Tea dipping sauce
Rank out of 7: 7
The donuts here are always great, and these are no exception. The sweetness is secondary to the milk tea. We enjoyed these with and without the dipping sauce, which adds a nice texture. The boba pearls add nothing to the donuts but they don’t detract, either.
*NEW* Lunar New Year Cocktail – $19
Han Soju, Ancho Reyes Ancho Chile Liqueur, Dragon Fruit syrup, Lemon juice, Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, and Firewater bitters with Mint garnish
Rank out of 7: 7
This is the best cocktail at the festival. The Mezcal gives it the perfect smokiness, balanced by the subtle sweetness of the dragon fruit.
Lamplight Lounge – Boardwalk Dining
Kung Pao Bao – $22
Kung pao-glazed crispy pork belly, soft bao bun, red peppers, toasted peanuts, and green onions
Rank out of 7: 7
This is an unforgettable entry for the festival. This is hands down, far and away, one of the best dishes to come out of not only the festival but maybe even out of the Lamplight Lounge itself. The bao is soft and delicious, and the crispy fried pork belly is unbelievably decadent.
With the spicy Kung Pao sauce that’s subtly sweet but not overpowering and a hefty dose of spice, this dish is perfectly balanced and supremely satisfying. One simply cannot relate, in the confines of a short review, to how amazing this Kung Pao Bao dish is. It must be tasted to be believed.
*NEW* Lunar New Year Cocktail – $19
Han Soju, Ancho Reyes Ancho Chile Liqueur, Dragon Fruit syrup, Lemon juice, Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, and Firewater bitters with Mint garnish
The cocktail from Lamplight Lounge is also available at Boardwalk Dining.
Paradise Garden Grill
Food
- Bulgogi Fried Rice – $14.49
- Korean-style BBQ Chicken – $17.99
- Pork Banh Mi Sandwich – $14.49
- Shrimp Lo Mein – $15.49
- Whole Fish – $29.99
- Mango Pudding – $6.99
Beverages
- Yuja Makegeolli Cocktail – $17
- Tiger Milk Boba Tea with Brown Sugar Boba – $6.99
- 4 Sons Brewing, Lucky Dragon IPA – $14.25
Bulgogi Fried Rice – $14.49
with kimchi, egg, pickled cucumber, green onion, and sesame seeds
Rank out of 7: 6
This is a delicious option with a great presentation. Over the bed of rice is a hefty portion of well-cooked bulgogi, and some kimchi to add some acidity and spice. If you’re familiar with Korean food, this may not be the most exciting dish, but we promise you, it’s still delicious.
*NEW* Whole Fish – $29.99
with steamed rice, stir-fried vegetables, and black vinegar and soy sauce with sugar, garlic, and red Fresno chile (Served family-style for sharing for two)
Rank out of 7: 5
The rice is unremarkable, but the fish is tender with a well-spiced sauce. The vegetables are fresh and flavorful.
Shrimp Lo Mein – $15.49
Lo mein noodles tossed with shrimp, mushrooms, cabbage, corn, and bell pepper
Rank out of 7: 3
We found that garlic is the only real discernible flavor beyond the shrimp, and the noodles are sauced but not particularly well. This is a simple and plain dish. However, it’s a dependable dish, that you know exactly what it is before you take a bite. We weren’t unimpressed, but we don’t know that we would revisit it either.
Pork Banh Mi Sandwich – $14.49
Grilled pork belly with pickled carrots and daikon, cucumber, and jalapeño with spicy mayo
Rank out of 7: 4
The BBQ pork belly was well-cooked and crispy, which went well with the crunchiness of the bread. The vegetables complimented the meat, providing some spiciness to the dish. However, we recommend eating this sandwich quickly as the vegetables can make the bread soggy.
Korean-style BBQ Chicken – $17.99
served with steamed rice, kimchi, and pickled cucumber
Rank out of 7: 3
It’s not a bad take on Korean BBQ, but there’s nothing that stands out about this dish. The kimchi added a bit of acidity, but overall this felt a bit plain. If you’re picky, this is your meal. If not, the Banh Mi is the better option.
Korean-style Chicken (Disney Check Kids Meal) – $8.49
Marinated chicken served with steamed rice and broccoli
Rank out of 7: 2
This is plain, bland chicken with bland rice and bland broccoli. Picky eaters and kids may find it acceptable.
Mango Pudding – $6.99
with a hint of Coconut Milk topped with Mango and Chocolate décor
Rank out of 7: 7
This is the best thing on the menu here. The chunks of real mango add a great flavor and texture, and it’s well complemented by the coconut milk.
Tiger Milk Boba Tea – $6.99
with Brown Sugar Boba
Rank out of 7: 5
This is very well done. It’s not overly heavy on the tea, which can sometimes be too tannic for many drinkers. We found the flavor of this one to be middle of the road, with a good balance of sweet and creamy, with a subtle dash of tea. The brown sugar boba is just sweet enough and perfectly chewy. Overall, this great treat doesn’t overpower you with sugar but still satisfies a sweet tooth.
*NEW* Yuja Makgeolli Cocktail – $17
Citrus-flavored rice wine, soju, and a splash of Sprite
Rank out of 7: 6
This is refreshing and grapefruit-forward. It’s not too sugary, as the citrus notes cut the sweetness. If you like palomas, you’ll likely enjoy this.
Four Sons Brewing Lucky Dragon IPA – $14.25
Pym Test Kitchen
Beverages
- Almond Cold Brew – $6.79
*NEW* Almond Cold Brew – $6.79
Almond cold brew, almond milk, and red foam with blue and gold sugar
Rank out of 7: 5
This is very, very sweet. If you prefer a traditional cold brew, stay away from this. The red foam was flavorless. This was like an extra-sugary chocolate milk.
Sonoma Terrace
Food:
- Gochugaru Shrimp Roll – $9.75
*NEW* Gochugaru Shrimp Roll – $9.75
Gochugaru-marinated shrimp on a potato roll with kimchi slaw, gochujang mayonnaise, spicy pickle spear
Rank out of 7: 6
This is a very generous portion and well worth the price. Ours was packed with shrimp, which was well-spiced. The fresh vegetables add a nice texture, and the bun holds up to the weight of the filling.
Studio Catering Co. and Hollywood Lounge
Food:
- Char Siu-style Ribs – $8.49
*NEW* Char Siu-style Ribs – $8.49
Char siu-braised pork ribs with Asian-inspired glaze topped with roasted peanuts and scallions
Rank out of 7: 7
While this is a messy dish, it’s one of the best at the festival. The meat is incredibly tender, and the sweet, sticky glaze pairs well. The peanuts are a great addition.
Terran Treats
Food:
- Strawberry Green Tea Churro – $7.25
*NEW* Strawberry Green Tea Churro – $7.25
Green tea-cinnamon sugar-dusted churro with strawberry cream sauce topped with freeze-dried strawberries
Rank out of 7: 4
This is essentially a regular churro with a tiny hint of green tea. The strawberry is tasteless. Between the powder and the strawberry crumbles, this was very dry. The drizzle of cream sauce doesn’t do much to save it.
Churros near Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
*NEW* Orange-Ginger Churro – $7.25
Churro rolled in ginger sugar topped with orange sauce, candied ginger, and black and white sesame seeds
Rank out of 7: 3
The potential is here, but the sour ginger and orange just don’t mesh with the sweet churro base.
Willie’s Churros
Food:
- Dragon Fruit Churro – $7.25
*NEW* Dragon Fruit Churro – $7.25
Churro rolled in coconut-dragon fruit sugar topped with a dragon fruit icing
Rank out of 7: 6
This is a better choice for your churro cravings. The dragon fruit gives a subtle flavor like fruity cereal. The coconut added a nice texture but little to the profile.
The Lunar New Year Festival is taking place at Disney California Adventure from January 23 to February 18, 2024.
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