Where lemongrass meets longevity: the Thai kitchens that honour Lunar New Year

Lunar New Year may not be an official holiday in Thailand, but in Thai-Chinese households it is deeply observed. From ancestral offerings to chilli-bright feasts, Rowena, owner of Ama in Surry Hills, owner of Chat Thai Pat Laoyont and Trin of Khao Kang Maruay reveal how Chinese ritual and Thai flavour intertwine — carried across generations and continents.

Thaitown is internationally recognised as the second largest Thai precinct in the world, after Thai Town in Los Angeles. Lunar New Year is deeply connected to Thai culture through centuries of Chinese migration, trade, and cultural exchange. As of 2026, Thailand has the world’s largest overseas Chinese community, with an estimated 7 to 9.5 million people of Chinese descent—about 11–14 % of the population—whose traditions, especially food and everyday rituals, are deeply woven into Thai society. In Sydney’s Haymarket, 17.5 % of residents were born in Thailand, according to the 2021 Australian Census, reflecting the strong presence of the Thai community and the area’s cultural vibrancy.

Read the SBS Food story here:
https://www.sbs.com.au/food/article/thai-kitchens-that-honour-lunar-new-year/pfvv2sk6