Just when you've finally recovered from your debaucherous New Year's celebrations, along comes another New Year threatening to throw you off the rails.
Luckily, Chinese New Year -- observed on Feb. 8 -- is more about the food than the drink (although there's some of that, too). Ring in the Year of the Monkey at these Atlanta bars and restaurants.
Makan
Get ready for a visual spectacle -- the Chien Hong Kung Fu School will put on a traditional fire dance complete with firecrackers , red envelopes and a Monkey King. And lest your tastebuds feel left out, there'll be a special menu with dumplings, noodles and steamed buns, plus a tap takeover by Athens brewery Creature Comforts. And you can feel a little better about indulging knowing that 15 percent of the event's proceeds go to Athena's Warehouse. Noon-4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 6. $20, kids free. 130 Clairemont Ave. Suite 100, Decatur. 404-996-6504, www.makanatl.com.
Canton House
The National Association of Chinese-Americans Atlanta is ringing in the Chinese New Year with a fundraising banquet, also featuring a raffle and auction. 6-10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6. $40 for members, $80 for non-members. Canton House Restaurant, 4825 Buford Highway, Chamblee. www.naca-atlanta.org.
Sweet Auburn Barbecue
Owner Howard Hsu celebrates his Malaysian-Chinese heritage -- and his Poncey-Highand restaurant's anniversary -- with an event featuring lion dancers from local group Wing Sing Association, a special Monday Night Brewing beer, and menu items including steamed buns, brisket fried rice, barbecue pork and macaroni egg rolls, Mandarin ribs and Chinese doughnuts. 6 p.m.-10 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 9. 656 North Highland Ave. NE, Atlanta. 678-515-3550, sweetauburnbarbecue.com.
Doc Chey's Noodle House and Dragon Bowl
Celebrate from Feb. 8-22 at all locations with special beers and menu items including shrimp rolls, Shanghai dumplings and peanut noodles.
Various locations, doccheys.com and www.dragonbowlatl.com
Mandarin Oriental Atlanta
The Mandarin is celebrating both the holiday and the appointment of Richard Lee as the hotel's executive sous chef with a special a la carte menu offered at The Cafe & Bar. Items include drunken chicken roll, steamed pork dumplings, whole lobster with fresh mushrooms and sea urchin sauce, pan seared scallops and steamed whole fish with ginger, scallions and soya sauce. Feb. 7-10. 3376 Peachtree Road, Atlanta. 404-995-7545, www.mandarinoriental.com/atlanta/fine-dining/.
Tin Drum Asian Kitchen
The Asian chain is celebrating the holiday with a limited-time short rib menu that includes items such as peking short rib noodles, Chinatown short rib tacos and Peking short rib skewers. They'll also feature a different deal every day from Feb. 8-14. Various locations, tindrumcafe.com/.
MORE:
Chinese food lovers guide to Buford Highway
Where to eat dim sum in Atlanta
That new Chinese restaurant in Doraville? You're in luck
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