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25+ Easy Asian Appetizers for a New Year's Party

Published: · Modified: by · 25 Comments

Spice up your party with these 25+ Easy Asian Appetizers. We have compiled a few of our favorite Asian finger foods from Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, and China to rock your next New Year party or anytime gathering.

Our family’s holiday tradition is to serve a few healthy appetizers as the main course on New Year's Eve. It’s a delicious and fun way to eat your way around the Orient at home. From finger-licking air fryer Chinese-Style Garlic Ribs to light and refreshing Thai-styled Chicken lettuce wraps, we have an Asian appetizer to whet your appetite. Let’s get this party started.

25 Asian appetizers for a New Years party with lettuce wraps, spring rolls and more.

Chinese Dim Sum Appetizers

Chinese cuisine is all about sharing food with the ones you love. Little plates called Dim Sum literally translates as “touch the heart” because they are small plates usually served with endless cups of tea (cha). If you have ever tried dim sum or yum cha in a traditional Cantonese restaurant, you know how fun it is to enjoy all the savory and sweet treats that come around on a wheeled cart.

At home, we prefer a more casual approach. We choose a few delicious Chinese appetizers and display them on an Asian Charcuterie board. Don’t forget the dipping sauces and chopsticks for all to enjoy.

Serving Chinese Asian appetizers for a New Year party is an interactive and fun way to ring in the new year with family and friends. By the way, we will be serving something a little stronger than tea on New Years eve… just saying! Here are a few of our favorites…

Homemade Chinese Dumplings (Jiaozi 饺子)
Homemade Chinese Dumplings are the ultimate comfort food! Wrapped in silky dumpling skins and served with a tangy black vinegar sauce, these savory dim sum treats are sure to hook you with just one bite!
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Plate of pan fried and boiled Chinese dumplings on black plates.
General Tso Chicken Wings
Get ready to dig into our finger-licking Crispy Baked General Tso's Chicken Wings! Bursting with savory, tangy, and sweet flavors and just the right amount of heat, these wings are the perfect New Year's Eve appetizer. Coated in a 5-spiced gluten-free sauce so be sure to grab those extra napkins!
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Gluten free baked General Tso's chicken wings served up on a parchment paper lined plate.
Asian Steamed Scallops with Garlic Vermicelli
Impress your guests with Asian Steamed Scallops with Garlic Vermicelli starter. These succulent scallops are served on the half shell, topped with delicate glass noodles and Chinese garlic sauce.
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Scallop Boats with Vermicelli Noodles
Air Fryer Spring Rolls
Addictively crispy Cantonese style Air Fryer Spring Rolls are one of our family’s favorite appetizers! Wrappers are filled with shrimp, ground pork, and vegetables, then air-fried for a healthier dim sum treat. Serve them with a spicy dipping sauce for an extra kick! (Baking Instructions Included)
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Air fryer spring rolls on a white plate with one cut in half and tea and Chinese New Year decorations in the back.
Asian Tofu Vegetable Pancakes
Tender on the inside and crispy around the edges, these savory Asian Tofu Vegetable Pancakes are vegan, gluten-free with an impressive 16 grams of protein per serving. Dip this vegan Asian appetizer in our quick and easy dipping sauce fora festive and healthy way to start the new year.
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A stack of savory Asian tofu vegetable pancakes on a blue and white plate on a red serving platter.
Spicy Pan-Fried Beef Bao
Spicy Pan-Fried Beef Bao are stuffed with tender Sichuan 5 spiced ground beef inside a crispy, light bun. Each bite delivers a flavorful kick. While these tasty Asian appetizers are cooking, your home will smell like a top-notch Chinese restaurant!
Get this recipe
Spicy Pan Fried Beef Bao / https://www.hwcmagazine.com
Chinese Eggplant with Garlic Sauce
Grab your chopsticks and dive into these tender Chinese Eggplant with Garlic! Inspired by the Michelin-star Crystal Jade restaurant, this healthier treat uses air frying to keep it light instead of traditional frying. It’s ready in under 20 minutes and perfect for any home chef!
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Air fried eggplant with garlic sauce topped with green onions and chilis on white plate.

Japanese Snacks

If you have been following us, you know that we used to live in Yokohama, Japan. Our taste buds still crave a good ole fashion 7/11 Sakano No Cheese (yep – that is fish flavored cheese) – don’t knock it until you try it. Perfect with a cold Asahi or Sapporo cold beer and a tuna mayo onigiri.

But the Japanese appetizers and snacks do not stop there. One of our favorite late-night restaurants was a little 9 seat yakitori restaurant less than a 5-minute walk from the Ishikawa Cho station. You can’t go wrong serving up delicious hot food on a stick with a little Shichi-mi tōgarashi (seven-flavor chili pepper) for dipping.

Now, you can enjoy the same fun ambience at home sipping on a little umeshu (Japanese plum wine) or a little sake to get the festivities rolling. Warm Japanese appetizers served on a cold and blustery party day is always a hit.

Crab Sushi Bake
Satisfy your sushi cravings with this easy Crab Sushi Bake recipe! This cozy appetizer features the delightful flavors of a California Roll, served warm in a delicious casserole. Serve it up with crispy nori sheets.
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Crab sushi bake assembled and getting topped with Japanese pickles.
Grilled Shishito Peppers
Discover how to grill Japanese Shishito Peppers to perfection! In under 10 minutes, you can enjoy these blistered peppers with a smoky, chargrilled flavor that makes them an irresistible low carb Asian appetizer.
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How to Cook Shishito Peppers on the Grill / https://www.hwcmagazine.com
Isobeyaki Mochi
Meet your new favorite Japanese snack: Isobeyaki Mochi! This Asian appetizer is crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.  Made with just four ingredients and ready in 10 minutes - perfect for baking, grilling, or frying!
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Isobeyaki mochi on a Japanese plate served with green tea.
Sesame Miso Chicken Meatballs
Experience the delicate flavors of our baked Sesame Miso Chicken Meatballs rolled in crunchy toasted sesame seeds. Dip it in our zesty ponzu sesame dipping sauce for a quick and easy two bite treat.
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Ses
Japanese Egg Roll (Tomagoyaki )
Japanese Egg Roll, or Tomagoyaki, is a light and fluffy omelet made with multiple layers of cooked egg, offering a delightful balance of sweetness and savory flavor. Grab one with your chopsticks - perfect bite sized Asian appetizer.
Get this recipe
Japanese Egg Roll Tomagoyaki / https://www.hwcmagazine.com

If you want to reduce the last-minute party preparations, serve these make ahead COLD Japanese Asian appetizers.

Tuna Mayo Rice Balls (Onigiri)
This must try onigiri Japanese snack is filled with tuna mayo and wrapped in crispy nori.
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Onigiri served 2 ways one with sprinkles and one in wrappers with a side of hot green tea.
Curried Tuna Salad Roll Ups
Try these cold Curried Tuna Salad Roll Ups for a fun finger-friendly make ahead snack. The iconic flavors of Japanese curry tuna salad and Japanese Daikon pickles are wrapped in a gluten-free tortilla. Ready in 20 minutes, these pinwheel mini sandwiches are creamy, crunchy, and bursting with flavor!
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Delicious roll up sandwich garnished with Japanese pickles and radishes and green onions on a wooden board.
Sesame Burdock Root Salad
Sesame Burdock Root Salad combines braised Japanese gobo root and carrot in a light, creamy sesame mayo dressing. This cold Asian appetizer offers a wonderful balance of sweetness, savory flavor, and a satisfying crunch with a hint of spice!
Get this recipe
Sesame Burdock Root Salad / https://www.hwcmagazine.com

Thai Appetizers for a Crowd

Thai cuisine appetizer recipes are always the first to disappear from the serving table. Brimming with savory, spicy, sweet, sour and umami flavors.  It’s like a party in your mouth.

Be sure to ring in the new year with our Royal Thai Cuisine Blue Elephant Chili Cocktail. It’s made simply with orange juice, vodka, and chili to spice up your party.

These Thai Appetizers can be made spicy or mild to suit your tastes. Here are some of our favorites…

Healthy Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Kick off the New Year with these Easy Thai Style Healthy Chicken Lettuce Wraps. Crisp veggies, fresh herbs, and roasted peanuts along with our signature Prik Nam Pla dipping sauce make this Thai appetizer a favorite.
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Healthy chicken lettuce wrap topped with fresh vegetables, herbs, roasted peanuts of a wooden plate with prik nam pla sauce next to it.
Grilled Firecracker Shrimp
These easy grilled Firecracker Shrimp are the new party poppers of the New Year.  Perfectly spicy grilled shrimp with a squeeze of fresh lime juice. 
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Thai Shrimp Pancakes
Gluten-Free Thai Shrimp Pancakes are savory pancakes filled with sweet shrimp, aromatics and served with a light and flavorful Thai dipping sauce.
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shrimp pancakes
Thai Firecracker Shrimp Party Appetizer
Thai Firecracker Shrimp Party Appetizer is made with marinated shrimp wrapped in a spring roll wrapper and then pan-fried until golden. Serve it with Prik Nam Pla dipping sauce for a tasty treat!
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5 Thai Firecracker Shrimp appetizers laying a a lined white plate with limes.

Vietnamese Finger Foods

Vietnamese Cuisine is fresh, light and filled with flavor. With loads of fresh herbs, a kick of spice, savory, and umami flavors it’s sure to win you over.  Let’s get the festivities rolling with a tropical rambutan cocktail.

Rice Paper Dumplings
Enjoy these crispy rice paper dumplings, packed with a flavorful mix of sweet potato and shiitake mushrooms. Served with a zesty homemade dipping sauce, they’re the ideal gluten-free and vegan hot appetizer!
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Gluten-free rice paper dumplings on a white plate with dipping sauce.
Fresh Spring Rolls with Chili Lime Dipping Sauce
Lighten up with these vibrant Vietnamese fresh spring rolls, filled with crisp vegetables, shrimp, and rice vermicelli. Paired with a spicy chili-lime dipping sauce, they make a refreshing appetizer!
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Three summer rolls on a wooden blackboard with a small bowl of dipping sauce.
Vietnamese Crab Pizza
Introducing your new favorite rice paper snack: crispy Vietnamese Crab Pizza! Topped with eggs, imitation crab, and homemade chili crisp, this quick and easy treat cooks in just 5 minutes, making it perfect Asian snack.
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Crispy grilled Vietnamese pizza sliced and holding a slice.

Asian Fusion Appetizer Ideas

Venison Meatballs with Asian Zing Sauce
These 30-minutejuicy Venison Meatballs with Asian Zing Sauce are an American-Asian fusion appetizer. Made with lean ground deer meat, pork, tofu, and potsticker aromatics, they’re tender and flavorful. Toss in a tangy, sugar-free sauce or enjoy plain for a tasty low-carb treat.
Get this recipe
Juicy venison meatballs slathered in a homemade Asian zing sauce in a pan.
Korean Kimchi Rice Balls
These bite-sized Kimchi Korean Rice Balls pack big umami flavors—spicy, savory, and tangy. Enjoy them chilled or at room temperature, making them the perfect make ahead appetizer. Plus, we’re sharing a recipe for homemade Japanese furikake seasoning!
Get this recipe
Kimchi Korean rice balls on a white plate coated in homemade furikake rice seasoning.

Ring in the New Year

Celebrate the New Year with our collection of 25+ Easy Asian Appetizers for a New Year's Party! From Vietnamese rice paper dumplings to juicy venison meatballs with Asian Zing Sauce, these delicious recipes are perfect for satisfying your guests' cravings. Cheers to a new year and new Asian inspired appetizers that are sure to impress at your celebration!

More Appetizers/ Snacks

About HWC Magazine

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  1. Eha Carr says

    New Year's morning 2025 in the Southern Highlands south of Sydney! Bobbi - how on earth did I miss these beauties way back then 'cause I was already enjoying your posts! Well, am more than 'making up' for it now . . . there is not one I would not love to try!!! Have a happy, happy, happy year dearHeart when 'IT' reaches you 🙂 !

    Reply

    • HWC Magazine says

      Happy New Year Eha! Thank you so much much. Wishing you a happy and healthy year ahead filled with plenty of delicious Asian appetizers.

      Reply

  2. Helen @ Scrummy Lane says

    Hello Bam ... Happy New Year!
    Now I really wish I'd seen these ideas before new year as I was looking for appetizer ideas. I love the sound of the baked spring rolls.
    Looking forward to following along with you in 2016 🙂

    Reply

  3. Mira says

    Love this recipe collection! Have a healthy and happy new year Bobbi!

    Reply

  4. nancyc says

    Yum–thanks for sharing this great collection of recipes! And Happy New Year! 🙂

    Reply

  5. Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says

    Were you surprised to learn that Australia doesn't have coupons like Americans do? I don't know how companies get people to try new products without some sort of incentive but they do. I went to the coupon page and clicked the Coles grocery link and all I got was a .jpg 🙂 Not surprising.

    I love your top ten appetisers - I like ALL your food full stop. (notice I didn't say period)

    Happy New Year, lovely one!

    Reply

    • Healthy World Cuisine says

      Hello Maureen, I am sorry the link was not working for you on their CupONation site. I have just rechecked and if you click here http://www.cuponation.com.au/coles-promo-code the top coles coupon listed works and it gave me 10 percent off my "Testing" total order. You have to click onto the coupon and then hit command C and then when you go to check out it asks you if you have a promotional code- paste the code and then it deducts this amount from your order. I just did a search for Coles at the top of site and it listed all of the coupons. Please let me know if you are still having issues and I will check with the Cup o Nation Team. Thanks so much for letting me know. I love your recipes too! Wishing you a happy, healthy and delicious 2016!

      Reply

  6. The Gourmet Gourmand says

    Great suggestions for new years! 🙂 Happy Holidays!!

    Reply

  7. Kristi @ mysfkitchen says

    Here I am, scrambling for last minute NYE appetizer ideas. Thanks for this post! 😀 Happy New Year!!

    Reply

  8. Monica says

    There is no shortage of delicious eats here. Thank you for everything you've shared this year and wishing you much happiness and success in 2016! I'd like any of these rocking appetizers!

    Reply

  9. cheri says

    Hi Bam, delicious round-up, I can see why they were all so popular. I try and eat one big salad everyday for lunch, however this holiday season has been a little hit and miss. happy New Year's to you and your family.

    Reply

  10. bentodays says

    Love all these suggestions you've given! Happy holidays!

    Reply

  11. Kristy says

    Happy New Year Bam! I hope you have enjoyed the holiday season. Look forward to more delicousness in 2016. Cheers!

    Reply

  12. hotlyspiced says

    That's an Aussie company yet I have never heard of it! Lovely recipes for New Year - I think I'd like the chicken wings and then the nectarines xx

    Reply

    • Healthy World Cuisine says

      Hello Charlie, I am so glad that I could introduce you to a new Aussie company. Wishing you and the family a happy and healthy 2016

      Reply

  13. Evelyne@cheapethniceatz says

    I will have to try that Gluten-Free Thai Shrimp Pancakes. Wishing you happy Holidays and all the best for the New Year. I just revealed my blog new name.

    Reply

    • Healthy World Cuisine says

      I love those little Thai Asian fusion pancakes and so delicious hot off the griddle. My little adaptation for eating with dietary issues. I can't wait to see your updated site. Wishing you an super 2016.

      Reply

  14. Anna @ shenANNAgans says

    I'm still working my way through all the Christmas recipes. Ha!
    Love all your ideas, will close the Christmas files and open the New Year book, sounds a whole bunch more fun. 🙂
    Hope you and yours are having a wonderful holiday season.
    Lotsa love and hugs from down under headed your way. xo

    Reply

    • Healthy World Cuisine says

      Happy holidays to you Anna...I am sitting on top of the rooftop pool in Bangkok thinking
      I need to do lots more pool laps to counteract all the holiday festivities. Lol I have a super exciting plan for the next few months and many delicious but healthy recipes coming your way.

      Reply

  15. kitchenriffs says

    Lot of great looking dishes here to celebrate the new year. Thanks so much. And Happy Holidays! See you next year. 🙂

    Reply

    • Healthy World Cuisine says

      Looking forward to celebrating the New Year with you...Well at least your cocktail selection...as so many of them would pair perfectly with these appetizers. Here is a toast to you and Mrs. Riff.

      Reply