Chicago's Gangnam Market celebrates Lunar New Year with popular snacks

Before today, we were supposed to prepare for Lunar New Year by cleaning the house, settling debts and honoring ancestors.

But now that the Lunar New Year is here, it's time to maximize your luck, wear red, be with family and eat well.

The backstory:

There are weekend celebrations in store at Gangnam Market, 1001 W. Chicago Ave. The River West grocery store/food court is now known as the place for viral snacks.

Kenny Yang and Matthew Chiu founded the market a year ago. Yang grew up in Chicago's Chinatown neighborhood but has worked in Asia. He curated the Asian snack selection and he celebrates with Chinese and Korean American friends.

"Lunar New Year is very popular in the whole Asia. This is what we eat in Chinese New Year and we do a lot of Chinese New Year shopping," Yang said. 

Popular snacks in Gangnam market include the dozens of flavored Lays potato chips, flavored soft drinks and fruit-flavored Oreo cookies. 

Pikachu from Pokemon makes an appearance this Saturday. 

"Pikachu is our mascot. We’ll be celebrating Lunar New year with everyone, local community and we hope everyone can make it," Chiu said.

The most popular special treat for Lunar New Year has been the handmade tanghulu, fruit on a skewer covered in hardened sugar. 

One tradition at Lunar New Year, children and single adults receive red envelopes filled with cash. It’s definitely a favorite part of the celebration.

The Source: FOX 32's Joanie Lum reported on this story from Gangnam Market in River West.

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