The Year of the Dragon has arrived at Disney California Adventure with the start of the Lunar New Year Festival! While you’re spending your time visiting the park, meeting special characters, and collecting all of the merchandise, don’t forget that there’s a ton of specialty food available throughout the park, as well. To help you sift through what’s new and what’s old, we’ve created a guide to all of the new food and beverage items available for the festival. Below you’ll find our honest thoughts and rankings for all of the new items!

Bamboo Blessings 

Strawberry Milk Tea Macaron – $7.75
Strawberry Buttercream with Milk Tea Center

Rank out of 7: 7

This macaron is spectacular. The strawberry buttercream inside is light and airy, but still offers so much flavor and creamy texture. This is probably one of the better festival macarons we’ve had. It is a little crumbly, but that’s to be expected with this treat.

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

This offers a really interesting flavor. The coffee is quite strong, and the tarot cream balances out that intensity. This probably isn’t our favorite festival coffee option, but this is still solid. If you like Vietnamese iced coffee or tarot flavors, we’d suggest giving this a try.

Lunar New Year Punch – $7.00
Mango Nectar, Tangerine & Grapefruit Juices, Banana & Coconut Syrups, garnished with Mango Jellies

Rank out of 7: 4

This non-alcoholic drink is definitely more mango-forward than anything else, with just a hint of grapefruit coming through on the back end. The mango jellies on top are almost like boba in consistency. We also find it to be a bit on the sour side, but the sweetness of the mango balances that out a touch. Overall, we’re unsure if we’d get this again.

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

The Lunar Punch Cocktail reminds us of a Trader Sam’s drink. The mixer here is coconut rum, so it’s on the lighter side as far as alcohol content. The mango comes through quite strong, followed by the banana appearing for the finish. With that, if you’re not a fan of sugary drinks, we would suggest skipping this one.

In addition, for the price point, we don’t think this is the best bang for your buck as far as alcohol, and you’re likely better off trying something stronger.

Longevity Noodle Co. 

Shrimp Lo Mein Noodles – $9.00
Pan-fried Lo Mein Noodles with Sautèed Shrimp, garnished with Green Onions

Rank out of 7: 3

The individual elements of this shrimp lo mein just don’t come together. The noodles are greasy and too thick, and the shrimp is overcooked and overly fishy, with a spice that didn’t add much to the dish.

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 cocktail is refreshing and heavy on the lychee and the dragon fruit — in a good way. Unless you don’t enjoy dragon fruit, this is a great option, especially on a warmer day. The only downside is that $17 is pretty expensive for what you’re getting.

Lucky 8 Lantern

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

If you’re looking for a tequila-based drink, this isn’t a bad option. We mostly get the flavors of tea with a hint of apple, but the Blanco tequila comes through on the end. It’s the lighter of the two alcoholic options at Lucky 8 Lantern, so it’s worth it if you want something mild.

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 drink would fit right in on the Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar menu — it’s heavy on the rum and a tad sweet. It is certainly on the stronger side, but the mango nectar does come through. We found that because of the strength of the drink, the $17 price tag felt a bit more worth it than the Hibiscus Apple Soju-rita.

Prosperity Bao & Buns

Kung Pao Bao – $9.00
with Plant-based Chicken, Toasted Peanuts and Scallions

Rank out of 7: 5

This is a decent plant-based option at the festival. The bun is soft, and the plant-based chicken has the right texture and flavor. The sauce has a hint of heat that works really well, but we could have honestly had a bit more kick.

BBQ Pork Bun – $9.00
with Kimchi Mayo and Garlic Chile Crunch

Rank out of 7: 5

This bao is spicier than we were expecting. The inside has a generous portion of pork, and the bun itself is super soft. The chili oil and aioli on top would work better served on the side so that you could control the level of spice.

Brewery X Grapefruit Panda Pool Party, Anaheim, CA – $14.00
Bamboo Rice Lager, 4.5% ABV, 8 IBU

Harland Brewing Co. Tangerine Dragonfruit Hefeweizen, San Diego, CA – $15.25
Hefeweizen, 5.2% ABV, IBU

Stereo Brewing Co. Jasmine Tea Lager, Placentia, CA – $15.25
Lager, 5% ABV, IBU

Eagle Rock Brewery Lychee IPA, Los Angeles, CA – $15.25
IPA, 7% ABV, 70 IBU

Red Dragon Spice Traders

Spicy Fried Rice – $8.00
with Tofu and Crispy Peas

Rank out of 7: 3

Our serving of this dish had way too much sauce, which made it quite soggy. It is on the spicier side, so we’d suggest avoiding it if you don’t like spice. The fried rice also has tofu, so vegetarians have another option to enjoy during the festival. To us, the vegetables taste as though they were previously frozen, and don’t add much to the overall flavor. We’d compare it to something you’d find at Panda Express.

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

Those who enjoy more classic cocktails will definitely gravitate toward the Peach Basil Collins. The gin mixes well with the lemon and Thai basil flavors, and reminds us of a mule. It’s a super refreshing and light cocktail.

Wrapped with Love

Fried Lemongrass Chicken Dumplings – $8.75
with Plum Sauce

Rank out of 7: 2

We really wanted to like these Fried Lemongrass Chicken Dumplings, but our serving was cold, and the plum sauce had congealed. Despite the change in texture, the plum sauce is still good and adds some needed sweetness to the otherwise flavorless chicken dumplings. The texture of the gyoza wrapping is quite hard and almost inedible. We’d suggest skipping this.

Steamed Pork & Vegetable Dumplings – $8.75
with Black Garlic Sauce

Rank out of 7: 3

The Steamed Pork & Vegetable Dumplings are also quite underwhelming. Like the chicken, the pork was flavorless. The black garlic sauce did help a bit, but it’s not enough to save this dish. The sauce has an overall bitter flavor. While the texture of these dumplings is better than the previous option, we don’t think it’s worth trying unless you’re really wanting dumplings.

Yuja-Pineapple Cooler – $7.00
Pineapple Juice, Yuja Purée, Rice, and Condensed Milk, garnished with a Cherry & Coconut Foam

Rank out of 7: 6

The Yuja-Pineapple Cooler is a solid non-alcoholic offering. It’s nice and photogenic, and the pineapple and yuja combine for an explosion of flavor. We didn’t get any of the coconut in our serving, though. This is a bit on the heavier side, thanks to the condensed milk, so we’d suggest sharing it with a friend or family member.

Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta

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

The bulgogi pizza is an interesting spin on Asian fusion. The meat is well-marinated and tender. Though the corn is labeled as spicy, there isn’t anything that’s actually spicy on the pizza. This one gets dinged a point because, at nearly $10 for one slice, it’s not a great value for your money.

Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill

Blood Orange Cocktail – $16
Baijiu, Orange Liquor, Yuja purée, and Blood Orange syrup, with a Spicy Sugar Rim

Rank out of 7: 6

This cocktail was quite good, and far less sweet than the drinks we had at the various festival marketplaces. It’s heavy on the yuja and blood orange flavors, making it super refreshing. We could not taste the alcohol in this, which could be a plus for some. Those wanting a less sugary cocktail will likely enjoy this. The sugar rim doesn’t add much flavor-wise, unless you use it to cut the citrus.

Lamplight Lounge

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 Spicy Dan Dan Noodles are probably the weakest offering at Lamplight Lounge for Lunar New Year, but that doesn’t mean they’re bad by any means. We find this dish to be on the spicier side, and it’s served in a huge portion. The noodles are well-cooked, and the pork is crispy and flavorful. Be aware that there are also peanuts in this dish, in case you have an allergy. The included fresh vegetables cut the spice well.

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

Consistent with the donuts you can usually find at Lamplight, these donuts are just as amazing. Like a lot of Asian desserts, the sweetness is not overpowering at all, and the milk tea flavor enhances the donut. The boba pearls don’t add much, but are easily picked off if you’re not a fan of the texture. The dipping sauce isn’t entirely necessary, but does amp up the milk tea flavor while adding a nice texture. Overall, this is a great size to share and enjoy.

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

The Lunar New Year Cocktail is a real highlight of the festival. It is perfectly balanced, with a spiritual of Mezcal that makes it smokey, but not too smokey. The dragon fruit makes it subtly sweet, but the liquor still comes through nicely. This one is an easy seven out of seven.

Paradise Garden Grill 

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

This dish is a pleasant surprise. The fish is tender, and the sauce has a nice spice that really adds to the dish. Though the ride is nothing to write home about, the vegetable side is full of flavor and well-prepared.

Korean-style Chicken (Disney Check Kids Meal) – $8.49
Marinated Chicken served with Steamed Rice and Broccoli, and choice of small Beverage

Rank out of 7: 2

The Disney Check Kids Meal option was incredibly underwhelming. Despite the photo making the chicken look like it is topped with some sort of glaze, it is not. The chicken itself offered no flavor, and we would compare the taste to something right out of a grade school cafeteria.

Mango Pudding – $6.99
with a hint of Coconut Milk, topped with Mango and a Chocolate Deco

Rank out of 7: 7

This was our favorite item of everything we tried from Paradise Garden Grill. It’s quite flavorful with a good texture. The real chunks of mango throughout add a nice touch. The coconut milk also comes through and pairs well with the mango.

Yuja Makgeolli Cocktail – $17
Citrus-flavored rice wine, soju, and a splash of Sprite

Rank out of 7: 6

This was refreshing. It’s heavy on the grapefruit flavor with other citrus notes while not overly boozy. Fans of palomas will enjoy this, or if you want a citrus drink that is not heavy on sugar or syrups.

Pym Test Kitchen 

Almond Cold Brew – $6.79
Almond cold brew, almond milk, and red foam with blue and gold sugar

Rank out of 7: 5

This cold brew is meant for those with a sweet tooth. If you’re a cold brew purist, you may want to steer clear of this option. It reminds us of a mocha or chocolate milk drink. We did mix in the red foam, but didn’t notice any added flavor from it. We think this is worth a try alone for the nice photos you’ll get of it.

Sonoma Terrace 

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

The Gochugaru Shrimp roll offers a huge portion for the price, and our serving was overflowing with shrimp. The shrimp itself is chilled but well-cooked, with the right amount of spice that enhances all of the flavors without overpowering them.

The kimchi and fresh vegetables add some crispiness, as does the “pickle,” which tastes more like a cucumber doused in sauce to us. The roll holds up well to the toppings without falling apart. This is a solid dish worth grabbing, but be sure to head to Sonoma Terrace early if you want to try it — the location sold out of this offering on the first day of the festival.

Studio Catering Co. and Hollywood Lounge

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

These off-the-bone tender ribs are an amazing dish. They have a sticky glaze that’s on the sweeter side. The roasted peanuts on top work well with the glaze. The meat is good quality, and while messy, these are a great festival option.

Terran Treats

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

The green tea flavoring on this churro is present, but not overpowering. It primarily tastes like a regular cinnamon churro with a touch of green tea. The strawberry flavoring doesn’t come through at all. As far as texture, unfortunately, the added green tea powder makes this even drier than the average churro and ours felt a bit on the stale side. If you’re a big green tea lover, this may be worth a shot, but if not, we’d say to skip.

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

We find the flavor combination here really doesn’t work. The ginger and orange flavors are sour and don’t mix well with the cinnamon sugar of the churro. On the plus side, the churro itself is fresh and not the worst we’ve ever had, but not one we’ll be reaching for again.

Hollywood Land

*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 really well-done churro that’s definitely worth a try. The overall flavor is a subtle fruit taste, similar to Fruity Pebbles. The coconut on top didn’t give much flavor, so don’t let that deter you if you’re not a big coconut fan. More than anything, it adds a unique texture to the churro.

The Lunar New Year Festival is taking place at Disney California Adventure from January 23 to February 18, 2024.

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