Lunar New Year is officially Wednesday, Jan. 29. Ring in the Year of the Snake with these sweet and savory options — all of which are available for a limited time.
Artizen by MW: Three-course prix fixe
Artizen by MW is offering a three-course prix fixe menu ($45 per person) from 5 to 8 p.m. until Feb. 1.
It includes your choice of starter (shrimp bisque, Ho Farm tomato panzanella salad or jidori chicken wings), choice of entrée (fried Mountain View pork chop atop Spam fried rice, Ludovico Farms chicken milanese, miso butterfish karaage or seafood gumbo), and choice of dessert (almond “float,” orange creamsicle “shave ice,” malasada “sundae” with black sesame ice cream, or triple chocolate cake).
Artizen by MW, 888 Kapiʻolani Blvd. Ste. 102, Honolulu, 808-524-0499
Asato Family Shop: Limited-time Lunar New Year sherbet
Asato Family Shop is offering Lunar New Year flavors until Jan. 29. Choose from Almond Float, White Rabbit and Lucky Candy (all pints are $11.99). The specialty Year of the Snake flavor is a sweet, spicy and sour combo that features the business’s li hing lemon sorbet flavor with ginger and li hing chili pepper sauce.
You can get the Year of the Snake flavor with preorder packs or free with an in-shop purchase of $50 or more.
Asato Family Shop, 1306 Pali Hwy., Honolulu, asatofamilyshop.com
Big Island Candies: Almond shortbreads and decorated snake gift boxes
You can find these special Year of the Snake gift boxes and 2025 snake square gift boxes at Big Island Candies. These boxes are available online at both Big Island Candies’ retail locations, while supplies last.
The 2025 snake square gift box ($12.50 at the Ala Moana location) includes almond shortbread, white dipped almond shortbread and macadamia nut toffees. Meanwhile, the larger Year of the Snake gift box ($25 at the Ala Moana location) includes the same flavors in larger quantities.
Big Island Candies, Ala Moana Center, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd. Ste. 1230 Honolulu, 808-946-9213, bigislandcandies.com
Choco leʻa: Lunar New Year truffles
Choco leʻa’s nine-piece Lunar New Year truffle boxes ($34.99) feature freshly made gau from Sing Cheong Yuan. The gau is covered in the business’s dark chocolate ganache, and comes in flavors like almond cookie and custard.
The chocolate shop is also offering eight-piece good luck tokens ($5.99) that are packaged in a red envelope.
Choco leʻa, Mānoa Square, 2909 Lowrey Ave., Honolulu, 808-371-2234, chocolea.com
Fujiya Hawaiʻi: Year of the Snake treats
Fujiya Hawai‘i’s special Lunar New Year pack ($15.95) includes gau mochi, lychee chichi dango, white rabbit chichi dango, lychee mochi and longan mochi.
The business’s Chinese New Year seven-piece set is available in-store only on Jan. 24, 25, 28 and 29. Order online.
Fujiya Hawai‘i, 930 Hauʻoli St., Honolulu, 808-845-2921, fujiyahawaii.com
Margotto Hawai‘i: Nine-course Lunar New Year special menu
Margotto Hawai‘i's nine-course Lunar New Year special menu ($200 plus winter black truffle) is available from 5 to 10 p.m. Jan. 28 to Feb. 3.
It includes sweet shrimp and Maui onion mousse with consomme jelly, mushroom tart, sunny side-up toast, lobster and asparagus stir fry with fermented black beans, steamed flounder with soy sauce, creamy oyster pasta, choice of roasted duck or A5 wagyu steak, clear soup noodles and dessert.
Margotto Hawai'i, 514 Pi‘ikoi St., Honolulu, margotto-hawaii.com
Olive Branch Hawai‘i: Chocolate-dipped fortune cookies
Online business Olive Branch Hawai‘i is offering Chinese New Year Sweet Boxes ($15) with three chocolate-dipped fortune cookies, three chocolate-dipped Oreos and three chocolate-dipped pretzels. Dipped fortune cookies are also available in single ($2.50 each, minimum half dozen to order), half dozen ($15) and dozen ($30) quantities.
The Buffet at Hyatt: Lunar New Year buffet
The Buffet at Hyattʻs Lunar New Year buffet is from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Jan. 29 (last seating is at 8 p.m.) It costs $84 per adult (50% off for children ages 6 to 12 years; no cost for children ages 5 and under).
Buffet highlights include chilled Alaskan snow crab legs, ʻahi poke, ʻahi sashimi, Korean magic dusted prime rib, kalbi shortribs, assorted banchan, roasted Hawaiian kanpachi and truffled honey butter Korean-style fried chicken. For dessert, enjoy a chocolate fountain with assorted fruits, brownies and sponge cake, and soft serve ice cream with fun toppings.
The Buffet at Hyatt, Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort and Spa, 2424 Kalākaua Ave., Honolulu, 808-923-1234
Tim Ho Wan Waikīkī: Dim sum specials
To celebrate the Year of the Snake, Tim Ho Wan Waikīkī is offering several dim sum specials ($8.88 each). Choose from pigs feet, steamed egg lava custard bun and pan fried gau (mochi rice cake). These three specials are available until Feb. 4.
On Jan. 29, the restaurant will be giving out red envelopes to the first 88 tables. Envelopes will be filled vouchers for prizes like $10, $25 or $50 off (for use at your next restaurant visit), a free pork bun and a free dessert.
Tim Ho Wan Waikīkī, Royal Hawaiian Center, 2201 Kalākaua Ave. Ste. A-307, Honolulu, 808-888-6088
Umi by Vikram Garg: Three-course Lunar New Year menu
Umi by Vikram Garg is offering a three-course Lunar New Year menu ($88 per person) from 5:30 to 10 p.m. (last seating 8:30 p.m.) Jan. 29 to Feb. 9.
It includes foie gras and duck gyoza with orange and star anise gastrique and chili oil; “seafood hotpot” of lobster, shrimp, fish, mussels and bok choy in an XO Cognac sauce; and rice pudding with coconut milk, cardamom and basil syrup.
Umi by Vikram Garg, Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani 1F, 2233 Helumoa Road, Honolulu, 808-724-4244, umibyvikramgarg.com
Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
