“Huat Ah!” – get ready to toss your way to a year overflowing with abundance and good fortune in the annual Yu Sheng ritual in Singapore. As Chinese New Year 2024 approaches, let’s unearth the delectable Yu Sheng creations available. From masterpieces by Michelin-starred restaurants to gems with surprising ingredients..
Yu Sheng (鱼生 yusheng)
Yu Sheng (鱼生 yusheng in Mandarin; or yusang in Cantonese), meaning “raw fish”, is a salad dish comprising thin slices of raw fish, thin strips of colourful vegetable and various seasonings. It was the custom to have the dish on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, also known as renri (人日). Today, Singaporeans enjoy the ritual of eating yu sheng during Chinese New Year reunion dinner and throughout the festive period. It has become part of the tradition for all the people at the table to toss the salad and say a series of auspicious phrases or simply shout “Huat Ah!” ( 发啊, a Hokkien term for “Prosper”).
Over the years, yu sheng has become increasingly popular in Singapore and is now offered in many zhi char stalls as well as fine dining restaurants. There are so many varieties of yu sheng available, each with its own unique or premium ingredients such as caviar, lobster and wagyu beef.
Opulent Yu Sheng from Xin Cuisine
Celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Dragon with Xin Cuisine’s Boston Lobster and Ikura Yu Sheng with Passion Fruit Sauce ($148 for 5 pax | $188 for 8 pax | $268 for takeaway)
Or choose from other yu sheng options – less opulent but still very delectable – such as the popular Xin’s Signature Salmon Yu Sheng, Vegetarian Abalone Yu Sheng, and Sliced 2-head or Baby Abalone Yu Sheng. Additional salmon, abalone, and crackers are also available for ordering.
Available for Dine-in a la carte or as part of set menus
and for Takeaway from 3 January to 24 February 2024.
Xin Cuisine
Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium
317 Outram Road, Singapore 169075
Tel: +65 3138 2531
Man Fu Yuan’s 60-inch Dragon’s Wealth Yu Sheng
Man Fu Yuan is welcoming the Lunar New Year with a 60-inch ‘Dragon’s Wealth’ Yu Sheng 龙飞凤舞喜捞生 ($888++ serves up to 10 guests). The special CNY dish features a magnificent dragon head and tail that symbolises strength, power, health, and good luck for the New Year. It is adorned with luxurious ingredients including rock lobster, sea urchin, ikura, shredded dried Hokkaido scallops, salmon sashimi and crispy fish skin, completed with a dash refreshing honey miso golden peach dressing and shallot oil. Adding on to the fun element of a Yu Sheng, each ‘Dragon’s Wealth’ Yu Sheng comes with four lucky numbers for an auspicious new year ahead.
Aside from the grand ‘Dragon’s Wealth’ Yu Sheng, diners may also opt for Man Fu Yuan’s three other Yu Sheng selection – Prosperity Yu Sheng 瑞龙呈祥齐捞 ($188++ serves up to 10 guests, $128++ serves up to 5 guests) packed with premium ingredients such as the crispy shredded dried Hokkaido scallops, rock lobster, ikura, salmon sashimi, crispy fish skin topped with the new honey miso golden peach dressing; or Abundance Yu Sheng 合家齐捞起 ($138++ serves up to 10 guests, $98++ serves up to 5 guests) and Happiness Vegetarian Yu Sheng
德高望众斋鱼生捞起 ($118++ serves up to 10 guests, $88++ serves up to 5 guests).
Yu Sheng Available for Dine-in and Takeaway from 15 January to 25 February 2024.
Man Fu Yuan
InterContinental Singapore, Level 2
80 Middle Road, Singapore 188966
Tel: +65 6825 1008
Cherry Garden’s Lavish Triumph Yu Sheng
An array of Lunar New Year festivities awaits with exquisite Cantonese delights at Cherry Garden, including the opulent Triumph Yu Sheng.
The lavish Triumph Yu Sheng 鸿运当头鱼生 ($298.00), featuring jelly fish, Pacific Ocean tuna and crispy fish skin, is adorned with black caviar, while the wholesome Garden of Health Yu Sheng ($78) brims with fresh fruits and vegetables.
Available for Dine-in and Takeaway from 22 January to 24 February 2024
Cherry Garden
Mandarin Oriental, Singapore
5 Raffles Avenue, Marina Square, Singapore 039797
Tanoke’s Prosperity Yu Sheng with Japanese Twist
The Prosperity Yu Sheng of Tanoke features premium Hamachi Sashimi, succulent Scallops, Ikura, and seasonal Truffle Shavings. Each ingredient is harmoniously combined when tossed with Head Chef Rio’s special Japanese Yuzu Honey & Goma sauce. The Prosperity Yu Sheng is available in two sizes: $48 for 3-4 pax and $88 for 6-8 pax. You can also opt to add on A5 Wagyu ($40) for an even more abundant lohei.
Tanoke also presents the Katsuyama Brewery’s Year of the Dragon 2024 Junmai Daiginjo, filled with shimmering gold flakes and a stunning commemorative dragon label. Priced at $98 with orders of Tanoke’s Yu Sheng or Lunar New Year sets or $108 a la carte, this sake boasts delicate floral aromas and a subtle sweetness, symbolising prosperity, and good fortune.
Yu Sheng Available for Dine-in and Takeaway from 2 to 24 February 2024 (order 1 day in advance); Tanoke is closed during the CNY holidays.
To make double sure you say all the right things for a great year of the dragon, Tanoke helpfully provides Your Prosperous Lohei Guide below. It gives a step by step guide to all the auspicious sayings as you toss yu sheng during Chinese New Year.
Tanoke
7 Purvis Street, Level 2
Singapore 188586
Tel: +65 9106 3378
Build-Your-Own Yu Sheng @ Greenwood Fish Market
Greenwood Fish Market (GFM) invites you to build your own yu sheng for 2024. Start off with the base – Salmon Yu Sheng ($138) with traditional vegetables and condiments with Chef Alan’s homemade calamansi plum sauce. Next choose your add-ons –
Salmon 200g thin slices $38.00
Boston Lobster 1pc $79.95
King Crab 300g $88.00
Yu Sheng Available for Dine-in at GFM Bukit Timah and GFM Quayside Isle from 1 February to 10 March 2024.
Also Available for Takeaway from 1 February to 10 March 2024.
Li Bai – Vegetarian Cordyceps Flower Yu Sheng
Toss to greater heights at Sheraton Towers’ Li Bai with the new Vegetarian Cordyceps Flower Yu Sheng Platter with homemade Dragon Fruit Sauce (金花万紫千红火龙果酱捞起) – $88 (small); $138 (large). This herbivorous platter features nourishing cordyceps flowers served atop a medley of quintessential ingredients like pomelo, yam, sea coconut, sweet potato, white radish, carrot and pickled ginger.
Another new Yu Sheng Platter at Li Bai is the Sea Whelk Yu Sheng (美国响螺片捞起) – $158 (small); $238 (large). Boston Lobster Yu Sheng ($168/$248), Six-head South African Abalone Yu Sheng ($138/$238) and Smoked Salmon Yu Sheng ($80/$158) are also available.
Yu Sheng Available for Dine-in and Takeaway from 5 January to 21 February 2024.
Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant
Sheraton Towers Singapore
39 Scotts Road Singapore 228230
Tel: +65 6839-5623
Ultimate Kinki Yu Sheng 2024
Kinki Restaurant + Bar revs up for the Lunar New Year with their Ultimate Kinki Yu Sheng ($88++, good for 4 to 5 persons). Serving tradition with an unconventional twist, this modern Japanese-style Yu Sheng stars rosettes of freshly sliced salmon, tuna, and swordfish topped with glistening ikura and tobiko. Dried wakame and deep-fried crab stick crisps add satisfying crunch; aromatic truffle oil and goma dressing bring it all together.
Yu Sheng Available for Dine-in only from 1 to 29 February 2024 (order 3 days in advance)
Kinki Restaurant + Bar
70 Collyer Quay, #02-02 Customs House
Singapore 049323
Tel: + 65 8363 669
Din Tai Fung’s Yu Sheng for Prosperity & Abundance
Din Tai Fung welcomes the Year of the Dragon with Prosperity Yu Sheng, featuring three enticing options to choose from including their new and lavish Abundance Abalone Yu Sheng 豐收鲍鱼鱼生.
Prosperity Smoked Salmon Yu Sheng 经典发财鱼生 – $58.80 per serving
Vegetarian Prosperity Yu Sheng 富贵素鱼生 – $53.80 per serving
Abundance Abalone Yu Sheng 豐收鲍鱼鱼生 – $88.80 per serving
The Abundance Abalone Yu Sheng 豐收鲍鱼鱼生 introduces a symphony of textures with customary ingredients featuring a mix of freshly julienned carrots, green and white radish, toasted white sesame seeds, roasted peanuts, and Din Tai Fung’s crispy yam strips. The Yu Sheng is further elevated with smoked salmon slices laying the foundation for the star of the show – the succulent abalone.
Available at all Din Tai Fung restaurants for in-store (dine-in & takeaway) and e-store from 26 January to 24 February 2024.
Fat Cow’s Gyu Sheng
Known for its handpicked selection of premium Japanese Wagyu and customised beef experiences, Fat Cow puts a unique spin on the traditional Yu Sheng, redefining this festive dish with their signature touch. the playfully named Gyu Sheng ($68, 4 to 5 pax) offers a platter of luxurious Toriyama Umami Wagyu, chuka kurage, chuka wakame, uni, ikura, complete with white radish, carrots, and pickled gingers, glazed in a wafu sesame dressing.
Available for Dine-in and Takeaway from 12 to 24 February 2024 (order 2 days in advance)
Fat Cow
1 Orchard Boulevard
#01-01/02 Camden Medical Centre
Singapore 248649
Tel: +65 6735 0308
Bedrock Origin’s Abundant Prosperity Toss
The Abundant Prosperity Toss ($68+, good for 3 to 5 persons) showcases premium 28-day aged Albacore tuna slices with accompaniments of green and white radish, carrots, dragonfruit, pickled ginger, peanuts, and sesame seeds, coated in a plum sauce and sesame oil dressing. The vibrant ensemble symbolises wishes for wealth and well-being.
Yu Sheng Available for Dine-in only from 9 to 29 February 2024
Bedrock Origin
#01-02, Oasia Resort Sentosa Hotel, 23 Beach View
Palawan Ridge, Singapore 098679
Tel: +65 6818 3333
Cassia’s Luxurious Yu Sheng with Lobster, Bird’s Nest & Abalone
Elevate your gatherings with Cassia’s Fortune Yu Sheng which includes lobster, bird’s nest, abalone and Norwegian salmon is available from $388 (serves 10 persons).
For more intimate gatherings, the Cassia’s Prosperity Yu Sheng ($95.90) is perfect for two to four persons, and comes with Norwegian salmon, julienned vegetables as well as homemade berries plum sauce.
Available for orders from now through 24 February 2024 (order 3 days in advance)
Cassia
Capella Singapore
1 The Knolls, Sentosa Island
Singapore 098297
Tel: +65 6591 5045
M Hotel’s Prosperity Norwegian Smoked Salmon Yu Sheng 2024 – Halal Version
M Hotel specially presents the Prosperity Norwegian Smoked Salmon Yu Sheng in Halal version ($68+/ $88+) so that everyone in Singapore can toss to good fortune together.
Also available are the basic Prosperity Norwegian Smoked Salmon Yu Sheng ($58+/$78+) and the lavish Prosperity Norwegian Smoked Salmon Yu Sheng with Poached Lobster ($118+/$148+) for the extra ‘huat’.
Yu Sheng Available for Takeaway from 1 to 24 February 2024 (order 3 days in advance).
M Hotel Singapore
81 Anson Road, Singapore 079908
The Ordinary Patrons | Real Dining Experience of Ordinary People
an independent Singapore food blog
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