This ranks our favourite savory snacks and decadent desserts on the 2025 Lunar New 12 months Competition at Disney California Journey. That is Disneyland Resort’s winter particular occasion, honoring honoring Chinese language, Korean, and Vietnamese cultures with a mix of genuine leisure and enjoyable meals.
The 2025 Lunar New 12 months occasion rings within the 12 months of the Snake, and runs by February 16, 2025. Along with all the cultural parts coated in our Information to Lunar New 12 months at Disney California Journey, there are a number of marketplaces in Paradise Gardens Park and past, together with:
- Bamboo Blessings
- Longevity Noodle Co.
- Fortunate 8 Lantern
- Prosperity Bao & Buns
- Crimson Dragon Spice Merchants
- Wrapped with Love
Along with these devoted meals cubicles, the menus all through DCA (and a few past in Downtown Disney and the Accommodations of Disneyland Resort) have added dishes, desserts, and drinks for Lunar New 12 months. It’s positively a giant meals occasion, with one thing for everybody.
We’ve began to style our manner across the 2025 DCA Lunar New 12 months Competition, making an attempt lots of the new and returning dishes and desserts however not all of them. Nevertheless, with this being the shortest seasonal occasion of the yr, we could not get an opportunity to graze our manner by your entire occasion till early February…by which era it’ll be half over. So think about this a piece in progress ‘better of’ Lunar New 12 months meals for now.
The Sip & Savor Cross is again for the 2025 Disney California Journey Lunar New 12 months Competition, providing a commemorative credential, lanyard and tabs redeemable for meals and nonalcoholic drinks on the market cubicles.
This scannable move affords six digital coupons that may be redeemed for choose bites and non-alcoholic drinks from the Lunar New 12 months Marketplaces and taking part eating areas in Disney California Journey. You’ll be able to even use it all through everything of this yr’s pageant.
The passes this yr can be found in three new, limited-edition, collectible designs that pay homage to both Chinese language, Vietnamese or Korean cultures—and have a few of your favourite Disney characters in culturally-inspired outfits. If you buy your move at areas together with Elias & Co., Julius Katz & Sons, and Seaside Souvenirs, let a solid member know which restricted design you need.
We suggest shopping for the Sip & Savor Cross if you’re going to graze across the 6 meals cubicles. It’s a very good worth as long as you purchase solely the most costly (savory) gadgets at every meals sales space. Your per merchandise breakeven value is beneath $8, which is a decrease baseline than a number of of the savory gadgets on our really helpful lists beneath. Ideally, you’d use the Sip & Savor Cross for savory gadgets and pay for desserts out of pocket.
One other piece of recommendation–not less than on busier days–is ordering as a lot as doable at one sales space. Lots of people don’t understand that is doable, however you possibly can order from any of the menus at any of the cubicles, which means that you simply simply save your receipt (DO NOT LOSE IT!) and go to the return line reasonably than ready in line to order once more. We attempt to order from ~3 cubicles at a time, which is in regards to the candy spot. (We’ve accomplished extra earlier than, however regretted it. Seems our eyes have been greater than our stomachs.)
Earlier than we dig into the dishes, I need to begin with a recurrent criticism: the meals cubicles at Lunar New 12 months should not as formidable as we’d like, and play it far too secure.
This has been an ongoing problem with all three DCA festivals over the past couple of years, but it surely’s gotten actually dangerous within the final yr. We didn’t get an opportunity to do a finest & worst listing through the DCA Competition of the Holidays, however we ended up being pleasantly stunned by the delicacies high quality. Nevertheless, it was–as with the opposite occasions–very heavy.
An overabundance of crowd-pleasing consolation meals dishes on the savory facet, and overly-sugary and synthetic desserts has been the pattern for these occasions. Every part has been too heavy, and missing in spiciness and ambition. This is sensible to an extent–there’s loads of Asian delicacies that’s indulgent or decadent, and a whole lot of it’s pretty delicate.
Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless disappointing, particularly as Disneyland Resort has usually gotten extra formidable and creative over the past couple of years, and are doing something however taking part in it secure. Look no additional than San Fransokyo Sq., which has a wide range of attention-grabbing fusion dishes, a lot of which enchantment to adventurous eaters. That part of DCA is extremely standard, which is unsurprising given the visitor demographics of Disneyland Resort.
Disneyland going on this safer course with the meals cubicles at DCA festivals can also be shocking provided that EPCOT’s festivals have accomplished a greater job at providing a spread of attention-grabbing and impressive delicacies, with each lighter and heavier dishes. Given all of this, it’s each perplexing and disappointing that the menus at Lunar New 12 months play issues so secure. If something, we might’ve thought that the momentary meals cubicles would’ve been the proper alternative to push the culinary envelope!
Within the curiosity of full disclosure, we have been invited by Disneyland to attend Lunar New 12 months and given two Sip & Savor Passes. Nevertheless, we even have Magic Key Annual Passes and would’ve gone regardless. We’ve additionally spent a whole bunch (if not hundreds) of {dollars} on meals at Lunar New 12 months through the years. That pattern will proceed this yr after we return to eat extra (and pay for it out of pocket).
With all that out of the best way, let’s dig into our operating listing of the most effective dishes on the 2025 DCA Lunar New 12 months Competition…
Considered one of my favourite gadgets is from the Fortunate 8 Lantern Market–the Quesabirria Eggroll.
The eggroll is unimaginable–flavored equally to the beloved tacos from Cocina Cucamonga–however the worth is $9.50. It’s very exhausting for me to say a single eggroll, regardless of how scrumptious, is price virtually ten bucks. Positively an important use of a Sip & Savor credit score, although.
For what it’s price, the Quesabirria Eggroll is an effective instance of fusion delicacies and not what I’m complaining about above with an overabundance of consolation meals. It is a Disney occasion, so we’re not anticipating excellent cultural authenticity. Not solely that, but it surely’s an occasion in Southern California, a spot recognized for fusion meals. That is precisely what we’d anticipate from Lunar New 12 months dishes, but it surely needs to be the largest “compromise” delicacies.
My different favourite dish on the 2025 Lunar New 12 months is at Wrapped with Love, which serves the Phở Dip with rice noodles, sliced beef, shaved jalapeños, pickled onions, and Phở broth.
Once more, an important instance of the fusion delicacies for which SoCal is known. The sliced beef is tender and scrumptious, and the pho dip together with the toppings made for a scrumptious and satisfying dish.
On the opposite finish of the spectrum, the Fried Lemongrass Rooster Dumpling with plum sauce are terrible. The dumplings we obtained have been chilly and the sides of the wrap have been rock-hard. We thought this may’ve been dangerous luck on our half, however we spoke with others who had the identical downside. Even when the preparation have been positive, that is overpriced at $9. I can barely use an oven, and the stuff I make from the freezer seems higher than this.
Additionally at Wrapped with Love is the Mandarin Orange Cream Puff crammed with citrus cream and Mandarin compote.
I used to be stunned at simply how good this dessert is. The pastry is ideal, with a light-weight crunch on the skin giving approach to a softer inside and creamy citrus and Mandarin compote. It’s candy and indulgent, however not like a whole lot of the drinks at Lunar New 12 months, it doesn’t go too far. It’s extra refined and the tip result’s improbable.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out the fan-favorite Strawberry Milk Tea Macaron at Bamboo Blessings.
Imagine the hype about this. Disneyland does macaroons remarkably nicely, and this one is correct up there (for me, it’s simply behind the model at Meals & Wine). The strawberry buttercream with a milk tea middle is improbable–once more having a extra refined high quality that doesn’t overpower. It additionally doesn’t style overly synthetic. It’s simply excellent.
You’ll be able to’t go fallacious with the bowls at Longevity Noodle Co.
Of the 2, the Shrimp Lo Mein Noodles are the extra formidable and attention-grabbing, whereas the Garlic Noodles are fairly plain–precisely what you’d anticipate primarily based on the title and outline. They’re good, although!
Annual Passholders and locals love the Sip & Savor Cross, however actually, you think about skipping the Sip & Savor Cross for the 2025 Lunar New 12 months Competition. Not as a result of the cubicles are “dangerous” (though I believe the menus are barely weak particularly given the excessive requirements set by San Fransokyo Sq.), however as a result of traces may be lengthy and there are so many nice meals choices round DCA proper now.
That is our favourite menu of the yr at Paradise Backyard Grill, and the 2025 Lunar New 12 months choices there don’t disappoint. The defining dish right here, as all the time, is the entire fish that’s (allegedly) for two. I nonetheless can not consider that is served at a counter service restaurant, not to mention ready so expertly. It’s the must-order menu merchandise.
If that’s a bit too intimidating, the Pork Banh Mi Sandwich (grilled pork stomach with pickled carrots and daikon, cucumber, and jalapeño with spicy mayo) is unmatched. It’s not really all that spicy, making it an unimaginable, crowd-pleasing dish. That is my go-to dish as soon as we end our critiques and begin consuming at Lunar New 12 months “for enjoyable” annually.
You should use the Sip & Savor Cross for a ‘tasting measurement’ portion (pictured above), however simply do your self a favor and order the full-sized factor. The Sip & Savor portion measurement is lower than half the scale of the complete sandwich, and the common model is barely $15. That makes the smaller sandwich a poor use of the credit. Talking of which, I’m additionally actually trying ahead to making an attempt the Bánh Mì Scorching Canine at Award Wieners (speak about fusion delicacies!).
At Paradise Backyard Grill, we additionally love the Spicy Shrimp Lo Mein (Lo Mein Noodles tossed with Shrimp, Arbol Chiles, Mushrooms, Cabbage, Corn and Bell Pepper) and Korean-style BBQ Rooster (Steamed Rice, Kimchi and Pickled Cucumber). Each supply hearty and filling parts with an important mixture of flavors and components. In different phrases, we extremely suggest all the pieces on the menu that we’ve ordered so far.
Then there’s the brand new for 2025 dessert–the Strawberries and Cream Roulade coated in Toasted Almond Slices. Once more, refined is the secret right here, as this scrumptious dessert is mild and fantastic, and doesn’t overdo it with the sugar and even the cream. It received’t blow your thoughts, but it surely’s actually good for a easy and simple dessert. (Talking of almond, we haven’t gotten to the Almond Cookie Bread Pudding at Aunt Cass Cafe but, however their bread pudding is all the time a winner.) The Sip & Savor Cross can also be legitimate on these desserts, however they’re a poor use of credit.
There’s nonetheless a whole lot of different meals we need to strive at Lunar New 12 months. Particularly, the pageant meals served at Lamplight Lounge, Sonoma Terrace, Studio Catering Co, and a few spots in each the Grand Californian and (to my shock) Pixar Place Lodge.
Wrapping issues up (for now), Lunar New 12 months is as soon as once more one in all our favourite seasonal occasions of the yr at Disney California Journey. Coming down from the vacation highs of Halloween and Christmas, it’s not on par with these celebrations. However it’s additionally a lot greater than the medium-tier occasions within the first half of the yr (Lunar New 12 months is healthier than DCA Meals & Wine, for instance), and is a good way to spend winter at Disneyland Resort.
Lunar New 12 months is actually the proper marriage of cultural authenticity and Disney. That’s true of the occasion as a complete–I simply want it have been the case with the meals sales space menus. Regardless, it’s nice to see the group involvement and spend time in Paradise Backyard Park having fun with the reside musicians and different choices again there.
Lunar New 12 months has a improbable vibe consequently–an environment you’ll solely discover throughout this and the DCA Competition of the Holidays. Given the variety of Southern California, extra mini-events like this is able to be an enormous hit with company, and Disneyland Resort clearly has the flexibility to tug off such a stuff. Lunar New 12 months is standard for good motive–extra twists on this components can be improbable!
Planning a Southern California trip? For park admission offers, learn Ideas for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Find out about on-site and off-site accommodations in our Anaheim Lodge Critiques & Rankings. For the place to eat, take a look at our Disneyland Restaurant Critiques. For distinctive concepts of issues that’ll enhance your journey, take a look at What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Trip Planning Information. Lastly, for guides past Disney, take a look at our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seashore, and tons of different locations!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Excited to expertise the 2025 Lunar New 12 months festivities at DCA? Something on the meals cubicles look good to you? Does Lunar New 12 months Celebration appear to be an ideal marriage of cultural authenticity and Disney, or does it look uninteresting to you? You probably have been, what do you consider DCA’s Lunar New 12 months Competition? Any suggestions so as to add? Listening to from you is half the enjoyable, so if in case you have extra ideas or questions, please share them within the feedback!
