Ring in the Year of the Snake with symbolic dishes, festive cocktails, and exclusive dining experiences at South Coast Plaza’s renowned restaurants. From special prix fixe menus to creative collaborations and limited-time offerings, here’s where to celebrate:
TERRACE BY MIX MIX
Chef Ross Pangilinan presents a three-course prix fixe menu with Asian fusion flavors, available through February 9 for $60 per person (exclusive of tax and gratuity).
First Course: Crab & Shrimp Toast with brioche, herbs, spicy aioli, sesame seeds, and Asian vinaigrette or Pork Belly Bao Buns with hoisin, Korean chili cucumber, and chives.
Main Course: Chilean Seabass with soy ginger chicken broth, bone marrow, glass noodles, mushrooms, Chinese broccoli, and crispy chicken skin or Five Spice Honey Duck Breast with scallion pancake, chili garlic asparagus, citrus, and orange duck jus.
Dessert: Coconut Panna Cotta with tropical fruit, passion fruit gelée, mango sorbet, and ube ice cream.
Make Reservations: 657.231.6447
DIN TAI FUNG
Starting January 21, Din Tai Fung partners with renowned Taiwanese American artist James Jean for a special Lunar New Year celebration:
Red Envelope Gift: Every dine-in and takeout guest receives a red envelope with a seaweed and bean curd salad appetizer certificate—a cherished family recipe from Din Tai Fung’s matriarch, Pen-Mei Lai.
Golden Ticket Giveaway: Five lucky guests will receive a Golden Ticket for VIP Reservation Concierge Service, offering guaranteed reservations for parties up to six throughout the year.
Takeout Exclusive: Orders of $175+ (pre-tax) on dtf.com will receive a limited-edition reusable tote bag designed by James Jean (while supplies last).
Make Reservations: 714.549.3388
WATER GRILL
The celebrated seafood destination embraces Lunar New Year with symbolic à la carte dishes:
- Whole Crispy Black Sea Bass with cilantro, tangerine, radish, and XO sauce (symbolizing harmonious family life).
- Wok-Fried Local Spiny Lobster with long beans, Fresno chile, and black bean sauce (representing prosperity).
- Garlic Noodles with Crab with green onion and crisp garlic (for longevity and joy).
Make Reservations: 949.208.7060
VACA
Top Chef Amar Santana’s Lunar New Year tapa special features five steamed Iberico Pork and Shrimp Dumplings with chorizo and XO sauce.
Snake Eyes Cocktail: Master mixologist Renée Griego crafts a festive cocktail featuring Ming River Sichuan Baijiu, Dry Town Gin, Lazzaroni Amaretto, cherry preserves, ginger, and lemon—served on the rocks in a unique ceramic snake vessel.
Make Reservations: 714.463.6060
ANQI BISTRO
AnQi Bistro celebrates Tết (January 29–February 2) with its six-course Heaven & Earth Prosperity Good Luck Menu ($108 per person, tax and gratuity not included). À la carte options are also available.
- Signature Dishes Include:
- Money Bag Shumai – Lobster, black truffle, quail egg, tobiko caviar, and 24K gold.
- Melting A5 Wagyu Puffs – Whipped potato, black winter truffle.
- An’s Famous Garlic Noodles with 24K Gold – Served with Hokkaido uni (+$15).
- "The Snake" Shortcake – Strawberry gel, chiffon cake, whipped vanilla chantilly, dehydrated meringue.
Make Reservations: 714.557.5679
KNIFE PLEAT
The Michelin-starred Knife Pleat offers exquisite Lunar New Year experiences:
Lunar New Year Afternoon Tea – Featuring a mini mooncake, black sesame ball with mandarin filling, chocolate gold coins, and more. Available January 25, February 1 & 8 for $115 per guest (excluding tax and service charge).
Louis XIII Cognac Collaboration (from January 28) Limited-Edition Louis XIII Cognac with an exclusive design by Chinese artist Liu Li Hong.
Bespoke Culinary Pairings crafted by Chef Tony Esnault.
Personalized Louis XIII Decanters customized by a gold leaf artist.
Take-Home Treats:
- Boxed Signature Macarons with flavors like pomelo & mandarin, passion fruit, and black sesame ($28).
- Handcrafted Mooncake with adzuki red beans and lotus bean paste ($68 for a box of four).
Make Reservations: 714.266.3388
PARADISE DYNASTY
Singapore’s Paradise Dynasty offers six exclusive dishes through February 7 ($10.88–$89.88), including:
- Crab and Silken Tofu Bisque
- Singapore Style Black Pepper Lobster Noodle
- Steamed Chilean Seabass with Premium Soya Sauce
- Crispy Prawn with Spicy Sweet and Sour Glaze
- Paradise Braised Black Truffle Chicken
- Paradise Eight Treasures Sticky Rice
Make Reservations: 714.617.4630
MIÀN
Dine at MIÀN January 25–31 and receive a certificate for a complimentary order of their signature Zajiang Noodles for a return visit (valid February 1–March 31). Limited-edition snake-inspired car air fresheners will also be available (while supplies last).
Make Reservations: 714.265.7997
LUNAR NEW YEAR SWEETS & GIFTS
Yu Cake: Limited-edition gift boxes of matcha, original, and red velvet cookies, plus snowflake chewy cubes flavored with matcha and cranberry. 714.760.4441
Läderach Chocolatier Suisse: Premium pralines and truffles in elegant Year of the Snake packaging. 949.594.2280
Sugarfina: Festive red and gold candy gifts, including yuzu caramels, lychee blossoms, prosperous pineapples, and lucky mandarins. 714.472.9529
See’s Candies: Lunar New Year-themed chocolates and treats, including milk chocolate gold coins for good luck. 714.850.1529
Gift With Purchase
Receive an exclusive LIULI Crystal Art Tea Set with a qualifying purchase (while supplies last; exclusions apply).
The Latest from greer's oc
Newport Dunes Celebrates Labor Day Weekend With Live Music, Beach Movies and Waterfront Fun
Summer isn't over yet. Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina is keeping the season going with a full lineup of live music, beach movies, food trucks and water adventures from Friday, Sept. 4, through Monday, Sept.…
Marriott Irvine Spectrum Offers Shuttle Pass for Daisy Chain Fields Festival
If you're headed to the Daisy Chain Fields Festival at Great Park on Saturday, Aug. 29, here's a way to skip the parking headache.
Marriott Irvine Spectrum is selling a Festival Shuttle Pass through Eventbrite that lets guests…
VOX Kitchen Brings Modern Chifa Flavor to Aliso Viejo
Kei Concepts is opening a third VOX Kitchen location in Aliso Viejo on Wednesday, Sept. 2. The new restaurant brings the brand's Modern Chifa cuisine to South Orange County for the first time.
VOX Kitchen opened in Fountain Valley…
Chef Turned Author Launches New Thriller Series
Thomas Curran is a friend of mine, and he's the kind of person who is always creative and always looking for a new challenge. He spent three decades as a chef before he decided to walk across the country.…
Follow Greer on Pinterest
from the blog
- 08.26.26 – Newport Dunes Celebrates Labor Day Weekend With Live Music, Beach Movies and Waterfront Fun
- 08.26.26 – Marriott Irvine Spectrum Offers Shuttle Pass for Daisy Chain Fields Festival
- 08.26.26 – VOX Kitchen Brings Modern Chifa Flavor to Aliso Viejo
- 08.26.26 – Chef Turned Author Launches New Thriller Series
- 08.25.26 – Landers Supply House Celebrates Grand Opening at The LAB Anti-Mall
- 08.24.26 – Sushi Roku Debuts New Small Plates and Signature Sushi
- 08.23.26 – Cozy Earth’s Biggest Sale Comes to Corona del Mar
- 08.20.26 – Europa Village Unveils Lucia at the Cave, a New Wine Cave Cocktail Lounge
- 08.20.26 – Mercado González Brings Mexican Marketplace Experience to La Habra
- 08.20.26 – Righteous Brothers to Headline Charity Concerts at Lido Theater
- 08.17.26 – Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Returns to Segerstrom Center for the Arts
- 08.17.26 – Habana Turns the Lights Down for Weekly Candlelight Dinners
- 08.16.26 – Prince St. Pizza’s Black Currant Big Apple Pie Lands in Costa Mesa
- 08.14.26 – Jonathan Alcala Named Executive Chef at Temecula Creek Inn
- 08.11.26 – Anaheim White House Marks 39 Years With Italian-Style Anniversary Dinner
- 08.11.26 – Rent The Runway Warehouse Sale Comes to Tustin
- 08.08.26 – Silver Oak Comes to the Pier: 21 Oceanfront’s One-Night Wine Dinner
- 08.07.26 – 8th Annual Gourmet by the Bay Returns to Newport Beach
- 08.07.26 – Library Foundation Brings the Voice Behind Williams’ Music to Witte Hall
- 08.06.26 – Alisal Ranch Marks 80 Years with a Summer of Celebration
More Daily Doses
- 08.26.26 – OCAPICA’s Tastemakers of Orange County Celebrates 10 Years of Community-Driven Cuisine
- 08.24.26 – Katella Commons Adds Five More Reasons to Get Hungry at OCVIBE
- 08.24.26 – Telefèric Barcelona Brings Spanish Flavor to Fashion Island
- 08.20.26 – Pacific Wine & Food Classic Returns to Newport Beach in September
- 08.18.26 – Dream Glow Festival Returns to Celebrate the Beauty of Chinese Culture
- 08.17.26 – Sweet Arrival: Levain Bakery Opens First Orange County Location at Fashion Island
- 08.13.26 – Z SUPPLY Pops Up at Lido Marina Village With New Denim Collection
- 08.11.26 – Inside Eichholtz’s New SOCO Showroom
- 08.10.26 – Good Together House: Laguna Beach’s Home for the Extraordinary and Unexpected
- 08.06.26 – Kei Concepts Expands ROL Hand Roll Bar with New La Habra Location
- 08.04.26 – Anaheim’s Sixth Annual World Taste Returns to the Packing District
- 08.02.26 – ‘Gala of the Stars’ Returns to Segerstrom for 17th Year
- 07.24.26 – LJ’s Lounge Brings Soul-Infused Dining and Music to Triangle Square
- 07.19.26 – Inside Reecess, Newport Beach’s New Wellness Destination
- 07.14.26 – Life Time Opens Resort-Style Athletic Club in Brea
- 07.14.26 – Flea Style Brings Its Hat Bar Concept Home to Laguna Beach
- 07.13.26 – Gordon Ramsay Opens The Carnaby at Downtown Disney
- 07.08.26 – Noble Ace Debuts in Laguna Beach’s Historic Heisler Building
- 07.05.26 – Pageant of the Masters Returns to Laguna Beach With ‘The Greatest of All Time’
- 07.05.26 – Earl of Sandwich Opens New Flagship at Downtown Disney
