The Star Gold Coast, Broadbeach: As The Star’s premier Cantonese restaurant, Uncle Su will be pulling out all the stops to deliver a memorable (and mouth-watering) feast. Over the Chinese New Year period, the celebrated venue is offering a standout Yum Cha special featuring all of your traditional Yum Cha favourites alongside some of its more unusual delicacies such as the exotic braised abalone, beef tongue and prawns. If you’re keen to usher in the Year of the Rabbit in spectacular fashion, Kiyomi is upping the ante with a sensational $888 special seafood platter. Filled with the likes of southern rock lobster sashimi, 30-g Oscietra caviar with condiments, 28 pieces of Toro sashimi moriawase and half-a-dozen Pacific oysters with ponzu, this extraordinary feast is bound to deliver lashings of good luck and tasty memories. Finally, if the budget can’t quite stretch that far, or you’re just a sucker for sweet treats, The Star’s resident dumpling Haus Mei Wei is dishing up mouth-watering moon cakes for just $9. A very happy new year indeed.

Chinatown, Southport: It’s said to be the luckiest of the 12 zodiac signs and you’ll feel pretty lucky if you nab a table at the Lunar New Year celebrations in the Gold Coast’s Chinatown in Southport. The event will be held on Sunday January 22 with festivities kicking off from 3:00 pm on Davenport and Young Street. Revellers can enjoy a jam-packed entertainment line-up of lion and dragon dancers, market stalls, kid’s activities (including paper-cutting and Chinese calligraphy), an interactive wishing tree, fan and umbrella dancing and, of course, a spectacular fireworks finale! Peckish? You’re in luck! Back by popular demand, the $5 food safari will have you hopping around to all the best $5 deals that Southport has to offer, from spring rolls and noodle soup to bubble teas and ice jelly. City of Gold Coast’s Lunar New Year is presented by City of Gold Coast and proudly supported by 102.9 Hot Tomato.

T’Ang Court, Surfers Paradise: If you are really keen to usher in the new (lunar) year in lavish style, The Langham, Gold Coast’s revered Cantonese fine-dining restaurant T’ang Court is treating locals to a taste of tradition for its inaugural Chinese New Year celebrations. From January 21–29, diners can enjoy a set dinner of delicacies and one-of-a-kind flavourful delights, or opt to choose your own adventure with the al a carte dining package. The specially designed set menu features traditional flavours often found in Chinese New Year celebrations, including abalone tartlet, aged duck san choi bao, golden seafood soup and wok-fried live rock lobster. Diners of T’ang Court will also experience a range of traditional experiences in celebration of Luna New Year, with the hotel set to celebrate with a range of lion dance performances and a pop-up cherry blossom tree across the weekend. There’s a minimum of four people required for the set menu, which is $368 per person and includes a welcome drink. Book here.

Harbour Town Premium Outlets, Biggera Waters: If you enjoy your Lunar New Year celebrations with a side of retail therapy, make haste to Harbour Town for a weekend-long celebration of the sights, sounds and tastes of Asia. Kicking off on January 21 and concluding the following day, shoppers can make a wish at the Chinese Wishing Tree and enjoy daily performances from lion dancers and colourful dragons that will weave their way through the centre with three captivating performances (midday, 2:00 pm and 6:30 pm daily). After shopping up a storm, diners can delight in the Asian hawker-style street food precinct, 8 Street, which brings together mouth-watering tastes from Japan, Vietnam, China, Korea, Philippines, India, Thailand and Malaysia, all under one roof, or settle in for a Yum Cha experience. Heads up, bargain hunters – we’re told there may even be a few special Lunar New Year sales at selected stores. What are you waiting for? Hop to it!

Yum Cha Gallery, Burleigh Waters: Celebrate China’s rich history and culinary artistry with a Lunar New Year feast at Yum Cha Gallery at Treetops Shopping Centre. To celebrate the special occasion, the venue will be hosting two special lion shows, a lunch sitting on January 22 from 12:30–2:00 pm and a dinner banquet on January 28 from 6:00 pm. Tickets need to be pre-purchased here.

Southport Sharks, Southport: If your idea of a excellent time is to loosen the belt buckle and feast, Sharks has gone ahead and added a bunch of Chinese-inspired dishes (think spicy Szechuan dumplings, lemon chicken, sweet and sour pork, fried rice and spring rolls) to its renowned all-you-can-eat buffet. The new additions will be available for the dinner sitting from January 20 to 22. To catch a traditional Chinese Lion Dance, be sure to book for Sunday January 22. This event always sells out quick sticks, so if you’re keen, head here to book.

Jasmine Room, Southport: We could probably all do with a little happiness (salt-and-pepper calamari), success (king prawns in truffle sauce) and good fortune (char-sui barbecue pork) so pull up a seat at Jasmine Room for its special Chinese New Year banquet. Available on Saturday January 21 and Sunday January 22, the banquet is $88 per person. There will also be a lion dance and a lucky draw for those feeling extra lucky. Bookings are essential.

Note: Images are indicative only.