How to Celebrate Lunar New Year in Chicago, According to a Local Expert

Chef Edward Kim dishes on his family traditions, the city’s top Asian restaurants, and how to toast the Year of the Tiger in Chicago.

Get quick for the Year of the Tiger . allot to the Taiwanese calendar , which is found on the phase of the moonlight , the Lunar New Year commonly start on the second raw moon after the Winter solstice , and this yr , that mean February 1 . We turned to none other than Chicago chef Edward Kim of lauded Pan - Asiatic fixtureMott Streetfor the lowdown on how to in good order ring it in .

Kim was raised in Park Ridge , and chatter Korea , his kin ’s country of origin , almost every twelvemonth throughout his puerility . There , Kim remembers Lunar New Year — Seollalin Korean — as a major celebration . “ We ’d have a large dinner party one night with our extended family , ” he explains . “ We ’d pay respect to our elder — in Korea , the Robert Ranke Graves are on top of mountains and they are very beautiful . We ’d expend time in nature , having a breeze at the hill that your ancestors ’ grave accent are built on . It ’s something that could be grim , but it ’s really very celebratory . ”

Along with the party comes the important ritual of sebae , bowing deeply to show obedience to your parents , grandparents , and ancestors . The practice is sometimes accompanied by gifts of money , or sebaet don , for the nestling .

Mott St

Mott St

solid food , of form , plays a huge part in the multi - day ceremony , and many traditional dishes are prepared to represent luck , successfulness , and longevity . “ Rice is very crucial because it ’s a staple food for thought , and Elmer Rice cake face like coins , ” Kim go on , referencing a rice patty - laden soup called tteokguk . “ Eating long dome , that ’s like long life story , as well . And the numeral eight is very auspicious in the Chinese New Year , [ as ] it symbolize wealth and successfulness . ”

The vacation last for days , which , says Kim , “ allows you clip to say ‘ bye ’ to the last year , welcome in the new year … and to do your spring cleanup . ”

Chef Kim was classically train , attending culinary school day and work in high - end restaurants in California and New York with a focus on contemporary American and French - inspired culinary art . “ With Mott Street , I want us to be the best Chicago restaurant we can be , ” he says . “ I feel that the terroir we are working with is decease to influence how good we can be . So , if I was try out to be the best Korean restaurant in Chicago , there ’s a cap to that , correct ? Because I ’m not in Korea — I’m in Chicago . I ’m going to have the best Chicago component , and that include the terroir , the people , the ambience . ”

verbalize of the Windy City ’s unparalleled Asiatic culinary landscape painting , local restaurants Kim loves to chitchat includeHan Baton Lawrence for seolleongtang , a soulful brisket bone stock , Daebakfor Korean BBQ , and suburbanChef Pingfor Chinese - American classics with a few Korean favorites sprinkled in throughout the roll .

Back at Mott Street , chef Kim frame on an annual Lunar New Year fete . This year , the eight - form family - panache Lucky 8 menu learn like a greatest collision from their long campaign on Ashland Avenue . Kim draw Mott Street ’s flair as Asian - American , giving way to a richness of flavors and inspirations . Thailand shows up in the Kohlrabi Salad ( a take on the traditional green papaya - based som tum ) , herbaceous porc Imperial Rolls get brainchild from Vietnam , while the Skirt Steak Kalbi is 100 % Korean - American . “ Each class , we care to incorporate the upcoming Lunar Year ’s brute in our menu , ” adds Mott Street co - proprietor Nate Chung . “ In a disembodied spirit of playfulness — and perhaps even cheekiness — we will be incorporate the boldness and assurance of a Panthera tigris with our Tiger Shrimp Everything Noodles . ”

Mott Street ’s Lunar New Year Lucky 8 Feast runs January 28 through February 6 and costs $ 62.88 per person , with reservations available viaTock . As you might have noticed , even the toll taps into the holiday symbolization . Six plus two equals eight , while the number 88 signifies two-fold felicity , wealth , and prosperity .

Chef Edward Kim of Mott St

Chef Edward Kim|Mott St

Ca n’t get enough Lunar New Year deliciousness ? assure out these buzzy events around Chicago and pledge the Year of the Tiger in the utmost expressive style .

Argyle Lunar New Year Celebration 2022

Saturday , February 5UptownJoin Uptown United and 48th Ward Alderman Harry Osterman on Argyle Street this Saturday from 12 to 4 pm for the annual Argyle Lunar New Year Celebration . The procession includes over 200 red lanterns and an eight - block - long socially distance parade , among other festivities . Cost : Free

Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade

Sunday , February 13ChinatownThis twelvemonth ’s Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade choke down on Sunday , February 13 . The late start promises to be worth the postponement , with marching band , dragons , and dance lions leading the charge up Wentworth Avenue from twenty-fourth Street to the viewing stand at Cermak and Wentworth starting at 1 pm . Cost : Free

Year of the Tiger Hosted by Nine Bar at Moon Palace

Tuesday , February 1ChinatownAlso in Chinatown , crash - reach pop - up conceptNine Baris slated to discombobulate their one-year Lunar New Year Party atMoon Palaceon February 1 from 7 pm to midnight . anticipate over - the - top cocktails from founder Joe Briglio and Lily Wang , originative Pan - Asian snacks like Adobo Nugs , Budujigae Corndogs , and Katsu Sliders from Moon Palace ’s Glenn Wang , Bananaphone’sMichelle Back and Dylan Heath , and Nick Jirasek from theOx - Bow School of Art & Artists ’ Residency , and a DJ set byWill Galvan . Cost : Menu prices vary

Mott St Burger