This Friday (February 16) is Chinese New Year. We don't really think you need an excuse to eat Chinese food. But if you did – this is it.Here are 10 great places to see in the new year with a bang, recommended by our readers.

This Friday (February 16) is Chinese New Year. We don't really think you need an excuse to eat Chinese food. But if you did – this is it.

Here are 10 great places to see in the new year with a bang, recommended by our readers.

East Ocean, Ipswich

This is one of the town's oldest Chinese restaurants, but you'd never guess. The interior is slick, elegant, and ideal for a date night. Diners really rate this place for its consistency, tasty food and cleanliness. The menu has all your favourites, and a few interesting additions such as prawns with celery and water chestnuts, and fiery Szechuan lamb. There's loads for veggies too.

Pearl River, King's Lynn

A huge, exotically decorated restaurant serving Chinese food with a contemporary twist – including some European touches. At lunch there's a bento box offer, where you can pick and mix dishes for a set price. While the a la carte menu offers everything from tom yum in a clay pot, to the decadent Peking duck, which needs three days' notice before ordering. Diners like the buffet, which allows you to order as many starters and main courses as you like for a fixed price.

92 Noodle Bar, Ipswich

A relative newcomer, opening just last year, this place isn't open on February 16, but reopens the following Monday. Handmade noodles are the order of the day, and dishes are brought out as and when they are cooked, to ensure freshness. The menu is packed with real Chinese food, from beef brisket braised with cumin powder or poached in chilli oil, to bean curd in black bean sauce with green pepper. The noodle dishes are enormous so go with a big appetite. The set lunch is very good value.

Baby Buddha Teahouse, Norwich

Such has been the popularity of this city centre restaurant that the owners had to expand it in 2011. Dim sum are a speciality, as is a range of expertly served teas.

Pile your table with barbecued roast pork buns, beef and chive dumplings, Thai-style chicken claws and pork-filled turnip cakes.

There are daily specials and homemade puddings.

Ming's Oriental, Bury St Edmunds

The food here is superb. And with a much smaller than average menu, you can be assured everything is cooked fresh to order. In fact, if you sit downstairs you'll be able to hear and see the chef at work. Lunchtime visits are a must for the fabulous dim sum. But we adore the savoury main course dish of spicy hot minced pork, served with rice from the a la carte menu. It's only for the brave and tastes amazing.

Tham's at The Duke's Head, West Rudham

A country pub serving very nice Asian fusion food with a steer towards Cantonese and Malaysian dishes. Takeaway is available – handy to know if you're holidaying around this area in spring and summer. The menu includes deep fried aubergine with sweet and sour sauce and pan fried monkfish with ginger and spring onion. Readers have said they find the food very fresh and say it's a 'nice surprise' compared to the average pub offering.

Banquet Chinese, Colchester

Diners absolutely love this spot for the sheer amount of choice available. It's under new management but the new folk seem to have kept the gigantic dim sum offering – ideal for sharing between a group. Dare to try the beef tripe in black bean sauce, or chicken feet. Or stay on familiar territory with prawn and chive dumplings or pork, ginger and spring onion buns. There's a gluten-free menu available.

Wanfo Pavilion, Norwich

A real favourite of our readers who rate the totally authentic menu, which is filled with delicious dim sum. Chinese diners will delight in the real tastes of home such as jelly fish, shredded beef, triple and tongue in spicy chilli oil sauce. Customers give it the thumbs up for superb flavours and large portions.

Trongs, Ipswich

Diners travel for miles to this small family-run restaurant, where loads of families celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and more. The reason? Service is fantastic. Nothing is too much trouble. And the food is spot-on. We rather like the fish dishes and the superb crispy duck. Booking really is essential as it's hard to get a table.

Happy Palace, Diss

Friendly service and high quality food keep our readers going back to this place. There's nothing unusual on the menu, just the classics you love, made well. Think spicy salt and pepper spare ribs, spring rolls and stir-fired Szechuan prawns.