- Din Tai Fung and renowned Taiwanese American artist James Jean collaborate to celebrate the spirit of togetherness fostered by Lunar New Year traditions.
- Guests will be gifted lucky red envelopes featuring Jean’s artwork and surprises inside.
ARCADIA, Calif., Jan. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Din Tai Fung®, the family-owned, globally beloved restaurant brand known for the art of Xiao Long Bao and hospitality excellence, will celebrate Lunar New Year 2025 with its first-ever collaboration with renowned Taiwanese American artist James Jean. Tapped to design artwork inspired by the Year of the Snake and honoring the cultural traditions of the holiday, Jean’s creation will be prominently featured on several special, limited-edition gifts for guests who take part in the celebration in-restaurant or at home.
“As someone seeking to deepen my connection to my Taiwanese heritage, collaborating with Din Tai Fung is a meaningful way to celebrate our shared cultural roots and traditions,” said James Jean. “In honor of Lunar New Year and the Year of the Snake, I created a piece that pays tribute to the holiday’s traditions and symbols, as well as our rich culture and the history of the brand. The artwork features two characters holding an auspicious fish, symbolizing abundance, and a lion dance puppet, representing tradition. Flanking them are flowers named after snakes for their resemblance—the snake gourd flower and snake’s head fritillary—alongside other fantastical flora with Xiao Long Bao soup dumplings sitting in the center as a nod to Din Tai Fung’s specialty. I hope everyone who experiences this artwork connects with its themes of harmony and togetherness during this festive season.”
Red Envelopes Bearing Lucky Gifts:
A nod to the traditional custom of Lunar New Year, red envelopes (also known as hóngbāo) designed by James Jean will be distributed to every dine-in and takeout guest beginning Jan. 21, while supplies last, at all Din Tai Fung U.S. locations except for Las Vegas. Inside each envelope is a gift of a Seaweed and Beancurd Salad appetizer*, a beloved family recipe from Din Tai Fung’s matriarch Pen-Mei Lai, and an insert highlighting the lucky dishes favored for eating during the New Year celebration and beloved by Din Tai Fung guests. Five lucky guests at each participating location will receive a Golden Ticket inside the envelope that grants access to Din Tai Fung’s VIP Reservation Concierge Service, which allows guaranteed and easier access to reservations for parties up to six through the end of the year.**
“At Din Tai Fung, Lunar New Year is not just about honoring our heritage, but also about creating a sense of community through the joy of sharing a meal,” said Jessica Chao, Vice President of Brand Marketing and Communications, Din Tai Fung North America. “The partnership with James Jean highlights the beautiful meaning behind the holiday and the artistry of Din Tai Fung’s craft. We’re excited to share well-wishes for the new year and invite our guests to join in on our festivities with their loved ones this season.”
Takeout Exclusive: Din Tai Fung is offering a first-of-its-kind limited-edition reusable takeout tote bag featuring the James Jean artwork to guests ordering $175 or more of takeout items on dtf.com, pre-tax and while supplies last at all U.S. locations, except for New York City and Las Vegas. Each bag will also receive a red envelope like those given to dine-in guests.
Art Installations: Select Din Tai Fung locations will have larger-than-life installations of Jean’s artwork outside to immerse guests in the Lunar New Year experience:
- Bellevue at Lincoln Square (Seattle, Wa.) – 10455 Northeast 8th Street
- South Coast Plaza (Costa Mesa, CA) – 3333 Bristol Street, Suite 2071
- New York at Midtown (NY, NY) – 1633 Broadway
A Menu of Auspicious Foods: Within the red envelopes, Din Tai Fung will share a thoughtfully curated selection of symbolic dishes with guests, highlighting their special significance for the New Year, including symbols of prosperity, longevity, joy, growth and abundance.
* Gift to be redeemed during a future visit and is valid for one (1) time use at participating U.S. Din Tai Fung locations, except for Las Vegas, with a minimum table purchase of $20 for dine-in only. Offer expires March 7, 2025. Offer cannot be copied or transferred, cannot be redeemed for cash, and may not be combined with other offers. Void where prohibited. Consumer responsible to pay all applicable tax. Copying or altering in any way constitutes fraud. Terms are subject to change
** Valid for all participating U.S. Din Tai Fung locations for dine-in only. Service offer expires December 31, 2025. Reservation requests subject to availability and limited to two requests per month. Instructions for redemption included on each golden ticket. Offer cannot be copied or transferred and are not redeemable for cash. Copying or altering in any way constitutes fraud. Terms are subject to change.
About Din Tai Fung
Din Tai Fung, a globally acclaimed culinary icon renowned for the art of Xiao Long Bao, is on a mission to create first-class dining experiences through an unwavering commitment to excellence in food, service and ambiance. Originally founded as a cooking oil retail business in Taiwan in 1958 by Bing-Yi Yang and his wife, Pen-Mei Lai, Din Tai Fung was reborn into a humble dumpling and noodle shop in 1972. Today, the Michelin-recognized restaurant brand continues to be family-owned and passed down through generations, with more than 165 locations in 13 countries worldwide.
Since its founding, Din Tai Fung has become synonymous with quality and consistency and known for its warm hospitality and delicacies with authentic flavors. Entering the North America market in 2000, Din Tai Fung opened its first U.S. location in Arcadia, California and has 16 locations to-date, offering an upscale yet inviting cultural dining experience. With each restaurant, each interaction, and each bite, Din Tai Fung aims to celebrate culture and inspire community around the table. For more information, please visit www.dtf.com, Facebook, and Instagram.
SOURCE Din Tai Fung North America
