Lunar New Year Office Catering in London: Ideas, Menus & How to Celebrate With Your Team (2026 Guide)

TL;DR

Lunar New Year office catering in London is becoming a major trend as companies look for inclusive, meaningful team experiences. From dumplings and bao buns to Asian-fusion buffets and bento boxes, London workplaces are celebrating the Year of the Dragon (or upcoming zodiac year) with food that brings people together.

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This guide covers the best catering ideas, menu inspiration, planning tips, dietary considerations, and how to organise everything smoothly using a workplace food platform.

What Is Lunar New Year, and Why Celebrate It at Work?

Lunar New Year (often known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival) marks the start of the lunar calendar and is widely celebrated in China, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Korea and across East Asian communities worldwide, including London, which hosts one of the biggest celebrations outside Asia.

More London businesses now celebrate Lunar New Year because:

• London has one of the largest East and Southeast Asian communities in Europe.
• It promotes cultural inclusion beyond Christmas or year-end events.
• It boosts team morale during the grey winter months.
• It brings unique, symbolic, and delicious food traditions into the workplace.
• It creates a positive shared moment for hybrid teams.

Celebrating with Lunar New Year office catering in London is a low-effort, high-impact way to bring your team together.

Best Lunar New Year Office Catering Ideas in London

Below are the most popular options chosen by London companies for Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year events.

1. Dumpling Stations & Dim Sum Platters (Most Popular)

Dumplings are a symbol of prosperity and luck, making them a perfect centrepiece.

Popular office options include:

• Steamed dumpling platters (vegan, chicken, prawn, pork)
• Gyoza & wonton assortments
• Classic dim sum: siu mai, har gow, bao buns
• Dumpling dipping bar (soy, sesame, chili crisp, black vinegar)

Great for:
- Team lunches, hybrid days, casual celebrations, after-work socials.
- Works especially well with office lunch catering in London.

2. Asian Fusion Buffet

Best choice for 20–200 guests or companies wanting a hearty shared meal.

Example buffet menu:

• Korean BBQ beef
• Teriyaki chicken
• Sweet chili tofu
• Vegetable lo mein or rice noodles
• Jasmine rice / egg fried rice
• Asian slaw
• Mochi bites or fruit platters

Why offices love it:
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✓ Easy for dietary needs
✓ Cost-effective
✓ Scalable for large teams
✓ Highly shareable and festive

Explore Corporate Catering London for more options.

3. Street-Food Pop-Ups (The “Wow” Experience)

Perfect if you want something memorable and immersive right in the office.

Popular pop-up themes:

• Bao Bun Bar
• Build-Your-Own Noodle Bowl
• Korean Fried Chicken Station
• Bubble Tea Pop-Up
• Dumpling Chef Live Station

Pop-ups pair well with office pop-up catering for internal events.

4. Individual Bento Boxes (Hybrid-Friendly)

A favourite for structured office environments, board meetings, or hybrid teams.

Options include:

• Korean bibimbap
• Teriyaki salmon bento
• Chinese-style stir-fry bowls
• Vegan tofu sesame bowls

These can be ordered through Employee Meal Programmes for consistency and convenience.

How to Plan Lunar New Year Catering in Your London Office

2–3 Weeks Before

✔ Choose catering style: buffet, pop-up, or bento
✔ Confirm headcount and diets
✔ Select your caterer
✔ Book your delivery slot

1 Week Before

✔ Finalise menu
✔ Send internal invites or Slack announcement
✔ Add allergens, dietary filters, and order deadlines
✔ Order decorations (lanterns, oranges, red envelopes)

Day of the Event

✔ Prepare space for setup
✔ Add signage, decorations & allergen cards
✔ Take team photos & share on internal channels

Dietary & Allergen Tips for Lunar New Year Catering

To ensure all colleagues feel included:

• Provide halal & vegan options
• Label allergens (soy, gluten, sesame, shellfish)
• Offer gluten-free options like rice bowls
• Consider milder dishes alongside spicy ones
• Use individual packaging for hybrid workers

Add allergen clarity using platforms that support pre-filtering and labelling.

Why Use a Workplace Catering Platform for Lunar New Year?

Modern London teams often prefer ordering via a digital platform because it enables:

• Pre-ordering for hybrid teams
• Allergen and dietary filtering
• Individually labelled meals
• Consolidated delivery
• One invoice only
• Zero-emission delivery (link to Sustainable Catering)

You can also order pantry snacks for the celebration through Pantry Supplies.

Want to order instantly? Order Catering Online

Final Thoughts: Make Lunar New Year a Highlight of Q1

Celebrating Lunar New Year at work is more than a themed office lunch, it brings multicultural teams together, boosts morale, and creates a warm start to the year.

Whether you choose dumplings, an Asian buffet, or a full pop-up experience, Lunar New Year office catering in London can transform an ordinary winter workday into something meaningful, memorable, and delicious.