The Lunar New Year festival food is often some of the best at Disney California Adventure. Does the Year of the Horse surpass previous festivals for its new offerings?

Bamboo Blessings

Five-Spice Popcorn Chicken – $9.50

With sweet chile-garlic sauce (Sip and Savor Pass Eligible)

This was delicious. Flavor-wise, it was stellar! The chicken has medium breading and is well seasoned, tasting like a salt and pepper wing from a Chinese restaurant. The sauce was a better version of your typical Sweet Chile-Garlic. Sweet enough but not syrupy, garlicky and zesty without being too acidic.

This is a good portion for the price and easily shareable. The only reason this isn’t a 7 is that the chicken was dry. I noted in the video that this is a soft open sampling, and I did take 30 minutes to eat it. So, if eaten fresh on a day they are cranking these out, it could very well be moist and a 7/7. Definitely recommend for a simple but delicious choice that has no surprises but does what it’s supposed to well.

Review out of 7: 6

Guava Dragon Fruit Sparkler – $8.50

Simply Lemonade, Topo Chico, and guava and dragon fruit syrups garnished with frozen dragon fruit (non-alcoholic) (Sip and Savor Pass Eligible)

This drink is beautifully balanced. Seriously good for a mocktail-style drink. Not too sweet or syrupy. These Flavors marry well, truly better than the sum of its parts. Natural fruit flavors, not a ton of TopoChico bubbles or taste. Toppings didn’t add anything, but also didn’t take away. I actually carried this with me and finished it happily.

Review out of 7: 7

Guava Dragon Fruit Vodka Cocktail – $19

Vodka, Simply Lemonade, Topo Chico, and guava and dragon fruit syrups garnished with frozen dragon fruit

A rare case where the vodka didn’t take away, it only added. I can’t taste it, but I could tell this was a cocktail. It was somewhat sweeter but again in a very natural way. Not as sweet as your typical Vodka cocktail. This is something everyone can enjoy and was universally loved, but still has a more unique flavor profile that was elevated and made this my favorite cocktail of the day.

Review out of 7: 7

Longevity Noodle Co.

Japchae Noodles – $9.50

With kalbi short rib (Sip and Savor Pass Eligible)

These were very impressive at first. Flavor-wise, they’re genuinely quite delicious. The meat was on the drier side but not in a bad way it worked with the dish. We mentioned it reminded us texture-wise of a sturdier corn beef, if that helps anyone. Flavorful and tasty on it’s own but a great pairing to the noodles.

The noodles were also a great flavor, but then got too oily for us. There was a ton of great veggies, carrots mushrooms peppers, cooked well and yummy. The noodles themselves were nice, on the thinner side. We were disappointed with how the oiliness of the noodles got to us because they tasted great and better than most of the noodle dishes at Lucky Fortune Cookery.

Review out of 7: 5

Lucky 8 Lantern

Red Envelope Margarita – $18.50

Tequila, orange juice, sweet and sour, raspberry purée, blood orange syrup, and gold shimmer

Well balanced, tasted orange and lime and tequila first, then mixed and got raspberry. Not sweet, more a gentle tartness. Very nice, refreshing margarita. Fresh and natural flavors, could taste tequila but well mixed in.

Review out of 7: 6

Yuja-Melon Cocktail – $18

Gin, Lillet Blanc, yuja purée, and rock melon syrup garnished with a purple orchid

For a gin cocktail, very good. Fresh, floral, sweet as you stir it, but in a nice, natural, well-balanced way. Not artificial. This is more accessible and user-friendly because it’s not too floral or juniper-heavy; you know it’s gin, but again, it is gentle and smooth.

Review out of 7: 6

Prosperity Bao & Buns

Char Siu BBQ Pork Bao – $9.25

With picked red onions and jalapeno

Great flavor pairings. The meat was the right amount of sauce so it wasn’t dry, sweet enough but not too much with a great BBQ pork flavor. The bun itself was soft but held together well, not too sweet either. The toppings were fresh and a great complement in flavor and texture. the jalapeno was the right size and was enough to have a bit with every bite, the perfect amount. The pickled onions were also the right amount, the briny tang played well with the sweeter pork. A good full portion of meat for a festival. Definitely one of the better bao buns we have had at the parks. Would recommend.

Review out of 7: 6

Year of the Horse Beer Flight – $19.25

Brewery X Grapefruit Citrus Seltzer, Coronado Brewing Co. Nado Premium Rice Lager, Unsung Brewery Company Photo Nuclear Orange Wheat Ale, and Harland Brewing Co. Lucky Horse West Coast IPA

Brewery X Grapefruit Citrus Seltzer

A solid seltzer, refreshing but not super special. The grapefruit was very present but not as harsh and bitter as other grapefruit cocktails we’ve had. The flavor was strong but without the bite. Good bubbles if you care about carbonation!

Review out of 7: 4

Coronado Brewing Co. Nado Premium Rice Lager

A marrying of the strong rice alcohol flavor with the hops of a strong lager, edging even into IPA territory. I tasted citrus as well, maybe lemon? Well balanced and unique. Not your usual comfort lager flavors at all, something out of the comfort zone but not a bad choice of beverage if you want to be festive but aren’t into cocktails.

Review of of 7: 5

Unsung Brewery Company Photo Nuclear Orange Wheat Ale

Our favorite of the bunch. Strong orange flavor without being sweet. Elevated from most wheat ales, nuances even though it’s subtle, but definitely still tastes like a wheat beer. Hazy but not heavy, refreshing but a bit more body than you’re used to with a lager.

Review out of 7: 6

Harland Brewing Co. Lucky Horse West Coast IPA

Lower level hop flavor in the land of IPAs. A very good choice if you are trying to get into IPAs. Not too intimidating, palatable and more universally enjoyable. Not heavy, in body or flavor. Could walk around all day with this if you’re an IPA drinker. It’s a great very enjoyable everyday choice for those that like this profile, but not something super special or something IPA lovers would typically reach for. Basically a nice elevated starter IPA that a novice could handle and an expert wouldn’t scoff at. And for being great for what it does and approachable, we are rewarding it.

Review out of 7: 6

Overall a good choice to sample new things as all the drinks were different flavor profiles. Not anything “must-get” or otherwise spectacular but solid choices and a case of doing what they are supposed to very well. All of these beers are also available individually.

Red Dragon Spice Traders

Honeydew Colada – $18.50

Rum, melon liqueur, honeydew cream, coconut cream, and sweet and sour topped with a slushy made with DOLE Whip Pineapple

Flavors are exactly what the description says. The Dole Whip Slush was delicious on top, but it got lost immediately as soon as it was mixed in. A very melony pina colada, that bitterly tastes like artificial melon. I don’t know how they got the melon to be artificially sweet and bitter at the same time. It was a disappointment after a great melon cocktail earlier.

You must like melon liquor to like this. It’s not off-putting, but it’s not good either. The cocktail is a fun color, and the slushy texture was nice, but overall, I would not recommend it to most people.

Review out of 7: 3

Soju Cocktail Flight – $19.50

Peach Yogurt Soju Cocktail, Mango Soju Cocktail, and Green Apple Soju Cocktail

This flight is shareable, fun to drink, colorful, and approachable as a way to introduce yourself to soju. A solid festival experience that’s on theme and pretty enjoyable overall.

Each of these soju cocktails is also available for purchase individually.

Review out of 7: 5

Peach Yogurt

Strong but decently balanced with the white peach syrup and Sprite. A bit acidic and kinda reminiscent of a “gas station libation,” such as a Four Loko or a BuzzBall. It’s a bit like very cheap vodka and melted Jolly Ranchers. However, if you don’t mind the somewhat artificial peach, the yogurt soju is a nice foundation, and it’s pretty drinkable.

Review out of 7: 4

Mango

I enjoyed this cocktail the best of the three; it did a much better job of balancing the acidity and was less sweet. The soju flavor was a bit more disguised, and the drink was refreshing and more elevated than the peach yogurt one. Mango done right, not artificial.

Review out of 7: 6

Green Apple

I place this right down the middle in terms of flavor profile between the mango and the peach. The green apple flavor is strong but not “syrupy” or intensely artificial. I genuinely don’t know how they got it to be PUNGENTLY green apple without tasting like a sour Kool-Aid Jammer. There is a subtle note of grapefruit or a brighter citrus on the backend. Solid drink, the flavor is a bit much for me personally, but it’s exactly what it says it is and does it well.

Review out of 7: 5

Wrapped with Love

Cold Brew Cocktail – $19.50

Bourbon, Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co. Vietnamese-style Coffee, cocoa powder, and condensed milk garnished with taro chocolate sweet cream and a chocolate wafer stick

At first, I taste everything individually, not super cohesive. Every ingredient flavor is present, least of all the bourbon. Coffee tastes like a typical cold brew, nothing special there, cocoa powder is very present, adding a bitter but enjoyable dark chocolate flavor. No wafer stick because soft open.

The topping of taro and chocolate sweet cream is the only sweet thing about the drink, and it’s still not overly sweet. But it’s thick and took a while to integrate with the rest of the cocktail. Overall good, nothing groundbreaking, but enjoyable as a coffee cocktail. The topping was great, but you have to work hard to get all the flavors together, a contributing factor in the rating. Once fully mixed, by the very end of my tasting, it was something I could happily enjoy.

Review out of 7: 5

Lamplight Lounge

Lunar Cocktail – $17.25

Baijiu, gin, mango purée, lychee syrup and lemon juice

A very unique and direct cocktail. Strong in flavor from the Chinese spirit. It’s sort of smoky and savory as the fruit and citrus sit as lower notes that serve as a supporting role and foundation for the spirit to shine. The drink is well built, balancing nicely. Not really sweet at all, but well-rounded, though that Chinese liquor packs a punch. I am not tasting the gin as a strong flavor, but it may be well buried or integrated into the flavor of the spirit. This is not a beginner’s cocktail, not universally enjoyable, but for the right crowd who like a spirit-forward drink or want to imbibe in something festive and unique, I think it’s a nice, well-curated choice to try.

Review out of 7: 5

Churros at Hollywood Land

Feng Li Su Churro – $7.50

Churro rolled in shortbread sugar, topped with pineapple jelly and cherry-flavored popping pearls

Light but flavorful in the best way. The shortbread sugar isn’t super shortbread-y, but it’s a subtle sweetness that adds nicely to the base churro flavor. The pineapple jelly is very natural tasting and a fruity sweetness.

The popping pearls were shockingly a great texture addition. I was trepidatious they would work but the cherry flavor was light and complemented the heavier jelly and shortbread sugar. An all-in-all great churro that didn’t disappoint. Would recommend anyone would enjoy.

Review out of 7: 6

Hollywood Lounge

Tteokbokki – $8.29

Rice cakes with gochujang sauce topped with cheese, sesame seeds, and green onions

Very one-note in flavor, which is “gochujang spicy.” The cheese isn’t really detectable flavor-wise but I am glad it’s there. The rice cakes are like bigger, denser gnocchi but don’t have much flavor. The green onions and sesame are nice and the former added a bit of freshness but they’re mostly just for show. It’s unique inherently because of it’s ingredients but overall it’s just forgettable.

Review out of 7: 4

Lychee Soju Cocktail – $17.25

Soju with lychee syrup topped with grenadine and club soda

As average as average gets. The uniqueness of the soju and lychee was unfortunately not rewarded by the overall flavors in this cocktail. What’s good is that it’s a nice subtle sweetness that is well balanced, mostly floral less fruity. Refreshing and again, the word of this festival, light! That being said it isn’t memorable, isn’t exciting and isn’t better than most of the cocktails at the booths. However, if you are new to soju, this cocktail is a tame introduction that would be crowd pleasing to the masses.

Review out of 7: 4

Cozy Cone Motel 5 – Popcone

Crispy Chicken Bao – $9.29

Fried chicken coated in sweet chile sauce with cucumbers, carrots, and sesame seeds served in a soft bao bun (Sip & Savor Pass eligible)

Genuinely just delicious. A perfect pairing of sweet from the bun, sweet heat and crispy from the chicken and sauce, and fresh tang and crunch from the pickled veggies. Simple individual flavors that have been mastered here with these ingredients, and done very well in portions together. Spicy enough that sensitive heat people probably couldn’t handle it, but still only about a three to three-and-a-half out of 10 on the heat scale. Highly recommend.

Review out of 7: 7

Aunt Cass Cafe

Year of the Horse Bread – $14.49

Horse-shaped Boudin sourdough bread (plant-based)

Obviously a 7 because it’s fresh-baked Boudin sourdough and it’s adorable. Baked perfectly fluffy on the inside with the golden, slightly crisp, but chewy enough golden crust. Plus it’s cute, it’s festive, and it’s plant-based!

Review out of 7: 7

Strawberry Green Tea Bread Pudding – $8.49

Strawberry and green tea-layered bread pudding with green tea crème anglaise and whipped topping (available through March 5; eligible for redemption with a Sip and Savor Pass through Feb. 22)

This bread pudding offers an interesting flavor combination that doesn’t truly mix while you eat the dish—the flavors overall are not very cohesive. The bread pudding flavor with a bit of strawberry and the stronger green tea flavor are quite distinct as you bite. The strongest flavor here is the earthy green tea. Once cut into it, you can see the dish is 2/3 pink strawberry and 1/3 green tea. It appears to me like they tried to use portions to balance the flavors, as the strawberry is much subtler, truly just tasting like the general mid-level sweet of bread pudding with a bit of strawberry notes underneath.

The texture is a moist bread throughout, the top looks crunchy but isn’t really, just crisped up a bit when baked. The whipped cream was subtle in flavor and a nice addition, topped with a bit of a flavorful green tea sauce and strawberry crunchies like on a strawberry shortcake ice cream bar—those were great, and I wish there were more of them. Overall its a shareable dish and a good size. Unique and mostly tasty flavors in a bread pudding, though not a must-get. I wish the strawberry flavor were stronger. I think it would balance better. It’s a decent choice if you are looking for a unique dessert.

Review out of 7: 5

Almond Cold Brew – $7.29

Almond cold brew with orange cold foam (non-alcoholic) (available through March 5)

This was weird. The topping was orange like orange zest, pungent but not sweet at all, and light. The cold brew itself was fine and the almond flavor was extremely subtle, even when stirred. The only flavor you really get is orange zest, cream (but not sweet), and cold brew. However the bigger problem is the texture. It’s gritty and tastes like we’re eating orange zest, or maybe it’s tiny ground pieces of almonds, but my guess is it came from the topping. Its genuinely off-putting. The positive note is the flavor, it’s weird but original so it gained a point there. It somewhat reminds us of a chocolate orange, but either way making us chew our cold brew puts this one in the “don’t recommend” category.

Review out of 7: 3

Lucky Fortune Cookery

Mango Milk Tea – $7.79

With brown sugar tapioca spheres topped with pineapple cold foam (non-alcoholic)

So. Very. Well done! A cacophony of flavors that all make room for each other and balance beautifully. The pineapple in the cold foam is barely there, just to add a hint of color to the fruit side of this flavor profile. The mango is stronger, but still not making itself the main character. It’s present and natural tasting with a bit of sweetness but not a ton. The milk tea flavor is the strongest and its a great representation. The brown sugar spheres are the only real “sweet sweet” thing and its in the best way. They a cooked well and a great texture, not too mushy not too chewy. This is stellar and we will come back for it. We recommend to anyone looking for a great milk tea with a bit of fruitiness. Nothing artificial, nothing sickly sweet, just delicious.

Review out of 7: 7

Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta

Korean Pork Belly Pizza – $9.49 slice / $53.99 whole

Roasted soy-glazed pork belly with kimchi cucumber, mozzarella, yellow corn, sesame seeds, and kimchi marinara (available through March 5) (available by slice or whole pie)

A lot of flavor that all work decently together. Earthy and veggie-heavy, the kimchi and soy are savory and come through. The sesame seeds are a welcome addition and add a nice flavor boost. Pretty unique and adventurous overall, with unique ingredients that you don’t frequently see together, making up a very complex flavor profile. A pizza for adults that elevates typical Boardwalk Pizza for sure. Not spectacular, but pretty good, festive, and memorable.

Review out of 7: 5

Pandan Cheesecake – $7.79

Pandan-flavored cheesecake, brown butter graham crust, coconut whipped topping, and strawberry jam

A beautiful flavor pairing that just works. Top-down, strawberry liquid gel has a nice strawberry jam flavor; there is only a bit of it, but it plays well with the other components, and a little is enough. The whipped cream is light but solid, with a subtle natural coconut flavor that adds to the overall nuttiness, and is the right amount of sweet.

The pandan flavor is truly unique, though it is best described as vanilla and nutty in this dish. The consistency is a great cheesecake texture, and the graham cracker crust is moist and solid, a better version of past crusts. Overall, cohesive, naturally sweet, an Asian style cheesecake done very well, a crowd pleaser but unique enough to stand out. Not a seven because it had a bit of an aftertaste that I didn’t love, but it isn’t bad. It’s not something I HAVE to have again, but I recommend.

Review out of 7: 6

Paradise Garden Grill

Lemongrass Pork Skewers – $18.49

Grilled lemongrass-marinated pork belly skewers served with fried garlic rice, pickled carrots and daikon radish, and a side salad (available through March 5)

The flavor is very nice, not too salty or garlicky, and the lemongrass flavor is light. The pork belly is on the drier side because of the way it’s cooked, but not “dry,” just a bit more jerky-like than pork belly typically is. Less greasy and softer than some other pork belly preparations, and there is a good ratio of meat to fat. The flavor of the pork is very good.

I enjoyed the rice; the garlic is very present, and overall, it’s quite savory. The pickled vegetables are delicious and a really nice side dish. They are really tangy, not as salty or briny. Each component is good, but together, incredible. An explosion of well-married flavors, I love how they all work together. A light-for-a-full-size-dinner but still hearty dish (I know I’m as tired of writing it as you are of reading it). If you love pork belly, this will be a must-get. The meat is still a bit too greasy and fatty on the whole for me, which is why it’s not a seven, but I still recommend this flavorful and great dish.

Review out of 7: 6

Vietnamese Coffee Roulade – $7.29

Coffee sponge, Vietnamese coffee mousse, coffee cookie crumble, and sweetened condensed milk whipped cream (available through March 5)

This was the easiest seven of the festival, and it was pretty immediate. The cake roll is moist, flavorful, and a coffee lover’s dream. The cake itself is soft and spongy with a light coffee flavor. The mousse filling is fluffy but solid in body, with a stronger coffee flavor, and coffee cookie chunks throughout.

This is sweet in the way affogato is sweet. That’s what this flavor profile reminded me of. Natural, not cloyingly sweet or artificial in any way. That being said, you have to like coffee flavors to enjoy this, more coffee than coffee cake, and probably most tiramisus as well. If you like coffee, dessert, and happiness, get this. 

Review out of 7: 7

Smokejumpers Grill

Bulgogi Fries – $8.99

Fries with marinated bulgogi beef, kimchi cucumber, mozzarella cheese, and gochujang aïoli topped with sesame seeds and green onions

We wanted to love these but they were very salty. The meat alone was delicious but when paired with toppings and sauce it became bright and acidic as well as just a bit too salty. Also inconsistent flavors throughout, some bites were spicy and some weren’t. However, flavors otherwise were very nice. The veggies were welcome texturally and the cheese was great, but wish there was a bit more.

We tried each ingredient individually and the problem was actually the fries. They were super salty alone (which is honestly odd for Smokejumpers), so the toppings actually tamped it down. Therefore, the unique ingredients were good, but the fries bring the score down.

Review out of 7: 5

What dish or drink are you most excited to try for Year of the Horse? Let us know on social media.

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