Lunar New Year is this Saturday, February 10th. The festival celebrates the beginning of a calendar year whose months are cycles of the moon and sun. In Chinese culture, the Lunar New Year is commonly referred to as the Spring Festival. Other East Asian cultures will also celebrate on February 10th, including Korean New Year and Vietnamese Tet. In Portland, these communities are spread throughout the City, most notably along 82nd Avenue, the Jade District, and Old Town. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, consider choosing one of these incredible places below to celebrate love at! Here are just a few small businesses you can support in honor of this day:

  • 82nd Avenue: Hong Phat Food Center sells fresh tropical fruits from Hawaii year-round, quality local meat and fish, fresh Asian herbs and vegetables, and a large selection of spices. If dim sum is what you are after, try Ocean City Seafood, which serves an endless variety of family-style dishes from different regions of China. Chungdam Korean Fusion serves all your favorite Korean dishes complete with Cheesy Corn, Korean fried chicken, bibimbap, and silkworm pupae.
  • Beaumont: With decor that is almost as colorful as the food, Sabiang Thai is the place to go for healthy, authentic Thai cuisine.
  • Foster: One of the many gems on Foster is K & B Bakery, where for 27 years they’ve been making almond cookies and traditional fortune cookies. What’s more, they do walk-up orders Monday – Friday and anybody can ring their doorbell to purchase a bag of cookies.
  • Hawthorne: Tibet Spirit is the dream of Lhekshy Gyatso from the Amdo province of Tibet. All items are hand-selected, one-of-a-kind items for meditation and ritual. Down the street, Road to Tibet Imports carries a diverse selection of items for Buddhist practice, such as Tibetan prayer flags, wheels, bells, dorjes, singing bowls, and more.
  • Jade District: Fubonn is the largest Asian shopping center in Oregon, complete with a grocery store, foot spa, tailor, chiropractor, and food options including Rockin’ Crab and Sokong Dong Tofu. Nearby, check out Master Kong for regional Chinese breakfast and lunch hits, centering on the Tianjin and Guangdong regions of China, and Ha VL, an unassuming Vietnamese eatery popular for its daily changing soups and sandwiches.
  • Lents: Established in 1963, Studio Sign Co. is one of Portland’s oldest continually operating commercial sign shops. The owner, Nick Lee, is highly knowledgeable in digital graphic design but his true passion is using traditional sign painting and gilding techniques.
  • Lloyd: Frank’s Noodle House is a homey, family-run restaurant that serves hand-pulled, Chinese noodles alongside Korean BBQ plates, and beer and wine.
  • Montavilla: Bui’s Natural Tofu is known for being the best place in PDX to get fresh tofu and other fantastic Vietnamese dishes. Make sure to check out one of Portland’s newest gems that four friends opened celebrating the heart of Bangkok, Yao-wa-rat!
  • Midway: Despite its name, Just Tea offers all kinds of treats, from decadent cheesecakes to fresh Belgian waffles– and of course, bubble tea. Phin Caphe is another great spot for boba tea, and their specialty Vietnamese coffee is delicious. Choose your favorite flavor or mix it up with the popular purple ube!
  • Old Town: Visit Lan Su Chinese Garden to experience the most colorful and joyous Chinese festival during their 16-day Lunar New Year celebration. The festival features cultural performances, festival decorations, craft activities, audio tours, Year of the Rabbit Scavenger Hunts, and much more!
  • St. Johns: Known for outstanding Vietnamese cuisine and an array of vegan options, Bahn Mi Up is an amazing spot to check out for lunch and dinner. YuGiNong boasts a beautiful, mod interior with gluten free and locally sourced ingredients in all of their Korean fare.
  • Williams District: XLB is a local favorite, specializing in xiao long bao and their menu also features baozi, buns, noodles, and greens. Kayo’s Ramen Bar serves some of Portland’s best ramen alongside cocktails and their signature cheesecake. 

This list is non-exhaustive. There are plenty of other ways to celebrate Lunar New Year in your favorite business districts. How do you plan to ring in the new year? Show us on Instagram and Facebook.