10 Essential Chinese New Year Dishes

Flickr/Muy Yum

Chinese New Year feast

Deciphering the meanings of the items around the Chinese New Year table is a lot like a treasure hunt. Each individual dish is steeped in tradition and is a homonym for a particular wish in the upcoming year.

This year, the Spring Festival falls on Sunday, Feb. 10. For 15 days, Chinese families around the globe are returning to their homes for half a month of feasting, money-stuffed red envelopes and much-needed bonding. In China especially, where a migrant working culture is prevalent, the holiday is often the only time of year when people get to see their relatives.

Food is the cornerstone of the celebrations. So in the spirit of the festivities, we've rounded up 10 essential New Year dishes, and included the significance behind them all. All of these dishes can be found in Chinese restaurants, but we wouldn't advise making the trek to the San Gabriel Valley over the weekend -- most of these places will be closed for the holiday.

Flickr/ulteriorepicure

Sweet nian gao

10. Rice cake, nian gao 年糕
The tradition of eating rice cake goes back 3,000 years. The Chinese word for rice cake, or nian gao 年糕, correlates to the phrase "nian nian gao sheng 年年高升," which means "increasing prosperity year after year." Eating rice cakes also celebrates the beginning of the rice harvest in the spring. These cakes come in both savory and sweet variations. Giang Nan, a Shanghainese restaurant in Monterey Park has them in stir-fried form. 306 N. Garfield Ave., Monterey Park; 626-573-3421.

Flickr/ Renée S

Whole fish

9. Fish, yu 魚
The saying that goes with the Chinese New Year fish dish is "nian nian you yu" 年年有餘, which means "may the year bring prosperity." The character for prosperity, yu 餘 is a homophone for the word for fish, yu 魚. Families buy a whole fish, which symbolizes unity, and it is typically steamed with ginger and a light soy sauce. It's also important to leave leftovers for the next day because this signifies that the prosperity will overflow. Whole fish is usually a norm in Chinese restaurants. Try the steamed rock cod at New Capital Seafood Restaurant. 140 W. Valley Blvd., San Gabriel; 626-288-1899.

Flickr/avlxyz

Tang yuan

8. Sweet rice balls, tang yuan 湯圓
These sweet rice balls are typically consumed during the 15th day of the celebration, known as the Yuanxiao Festival. The 15th day is also the first night a full moon is apparent during the lunar year. The dish is made differently depending on the geographic location. In the southern part of China, they're called tang yuan 湯圓 and the stuffing is put in last after the dough is made. In northern China, the rice dumplings are called yuanxiao 元宵. The filling is made first and rolled onto flour in a bamboo basket. The roundness of the rice balls signifies a complete circle of harmony and unity within the family. They are served in a soup and traditional fillings include sesame paste, red bean or peanuts. Wang Jia in San Gabriel serves a great version stuffed with sesame paste and topped with bits of Osmanthus flower. 156 S San Gabriel Blvd., San Gabriel; 626-291-2233.

Flickr/ joyosity

Fried turnip cake

7. Turnip cake, luo buo gao 蘿蔔糕
Turnip cakes, which originate in the Guangdong province, are a must-have for Cantonese people celebrating the New Year. It's also embraced in Taiwan because the Taiwanese pronunciation for turnip cake, 菜頭粿 cai tao gui is a homonym for fortune. It is associated with the phrase, "hao cai tao" 好彩頭, which literally means good luck. The cakes can be served in two ways: steamed or fried. They can be found in any dim sum restaurant in Los Angeles. The versions at Lunasia in Alhambra are fried and massive. 500 W. Main St., Alhambra; 626-308-3222.