To mark the Chinese New Year, which starts on 17 February 2026, the ninth edition of China Taste will be held from 1 February to 3 March. It is a pioneering gastronomic event promoted by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, the Cultural Centre of China in Madrid, Madrid City Council and the Community of Madrid to celebrate 2026, the Year of the Horse. In 2026, this culinary festival will bring together 24 leading restaurants in Madrid and is rounded off with several showcooking sessions on the China stand at FITUR.
In order to portray and raise awareness of the wealth and variety of Chinese cuisine, these gastronomic workshops are being organised for a month, in which Chinese restaurants known for the high quality of their ingredients, solvent wine lists and efficient staff will participate. They will design a Special Menu or a Special Dish related to the Chinese New Year (Year of the Horse 2026) to delight diners who will be able to savour the dishes at affordable prices.
China boasts a varied gastronomic culture which can be discovered through its eight culinary styles or schools (Sichuan, Shandong, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Hunan and Anhui). In this respect, China Taste aims to bring cuisine from the Asian giant closer through the participating restaurants.
A key date will be Wednesday 28 January with the showcooking with four hands under the name of “Gastronomy that crosses borders". This culinary event will be held as part of Madrid Fusión (IFEMA, Hall 14.1 Experience Hall), between two references of contemporary cuisine: Julio Zhang, chef at Soy Kitchen, will prepare a Discarlux Vacío de Wagyu in Sichuan wok-style / Roberto Martínez Foronda, chef at Tripea, will present a Discarlux Templado de Wagyu in “Jerez garlic”.
Participation in this gastronomic festival has the added value of its collaboration with the Red Cross NGO. For each menu, China Taste will make a donation that will go towards the charity projects developed by this charity.
The most important dinner in China
Chinese New Year coincides with the first day of the lunar calendar, which is different from the solar calendar. Therefore, the date of Chinese New Year varies each year. In 2026, it will begin on 17 February. Chinese New Year celebrations always kick off on the eve of the festival and come to a close with the Lantern Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month. According to the Chinese horoscope, each year is assigned an animal, and 2026 corresponds to the Year of the Horse.
New Year's Day is a very special day for the Chinese, as families gather around the table and the food is full of symbolism. Many people travel from far and wide to return to their parents' homes to share the joy of this special date. Furthermore, New Year's dinner represents hope for a year full of prosperity and abundance.
It is traditional to serve a wide variety of dishes at this dinner. Many of them represent good luck, abundance and wealth, in addition to health and longevity. Fish, served in a single piece, symbolises "unity", long noodles mean "long life" and chicken symbolises "good luck". Each region also has its own "special dish", which is traditionally served on this day. For example, Chinese ravioli, better known as dim sum, are a must in the north, and glutinous rice cakes known as niangao are popular in the south.
Restaurants China Taste 2026:
- Bao Li. C/ Jovellanos, 5. Madrid.
- El Buda Feliz 1974. C/Tudescos, 5.
- El Bund. C/ Arturo Baldasano, 22
- China Crown. C/ Don Ramón de la Cruz, 6
- Chunli Dumpling House (Varios locales: Toledo, 28B - C/ de las Fuentes, 1 / Caballero de Gracia, 22 / Calle de la Luna 12 / Ronda de Atocha 13)
- Cocina Lú. Av. Isabel de Farnesio,27, local 7 (Boadilla del Monte)
- Dim Sum Market. P.º del Gral. Martínez Campos, 40
- Dumpling Go. C/ Jacometrezo 15
- Gran Café Shaghai. C/ Gran Vía, 24
- The Palace Hotel Madrid by El Bund. Plaza de las Cortes 7
- Hutong. C/ Lagasca, 81
- Indochina Brasa. Av. de Luis García Cereceda, 5 (Pozuelo de Alarcón)
- Kököchin. Cmno. de la Zarzuela, 21 (Aravaca)
- Kzen. C/ O´Donnell, 17
- Le Chinois. C/ de María de Molina, 6.
- Lelong Asian Club. Carrera de San Jerónimo, 9
- Soy Kitchen. C/ Zurbano, 59
- T8 Tea Bar (Varios locales: Plaza de España, 18 / Nicolás Sánchez, 69)
- Zhen. Pº de la Castellana 179
- Zeng’s Chicken Soup. C/ Cardenal Cisneros 33
