This Year of the Dragon, some restaurants are celebrating the Chinese zodiac sign quite literally. Shang Palace has composed smoked salmon and jellyfish into the face of the fire-breathing creature. Man Fu Yuan has a 60-inch yu sheng plated with the beast’s head. Entrepot calls its yu sheng Chasing the Dragon, and pairs it with a similarly-named cocktail.
Opulence also surrounds many of the yu sheng in Singapore this Lunar New Year 2024. There is scallop and Boston lobster tail in Crystal Jade’s Prosperity Yu Sheng. Geoduck and black caviar adorn Summer Pavilion‘s rendition. At Xin Cuisine, Boston lobster and salmon roe are in the spotlight.
Then there are less conventional stars. Restaurant Jag does it with vegetables, which are prepared in multiple ways to coax out different textures and flavours. Canchita presents it through the eyes of Peru, with octopus and tacos. Ya Ge does it with crispy eel and yellowtail. From Si Chuan Dou Hua, it is the fugu, or the deadly pufferfish. And it is shaped like a dragon, of course.
(Hero and featured images credit: Xin Cuisine)
5 ON 25 offers a stylish Yu Sheng with sustainability in mind. The vibrant customary dish features sustainably sourced New Zealand King Salmon, topped with fried yam, homemade candied walnuts, and zesty golden plum dressing available for dine-in and takeaways. You also can demonstrate generosity and enhance the Yu Sheng with additional prized seafood toppings like Jade Tiger Abalone, Sustainable Australian King Scallops, or Australian Spiny Lobster.
From S$88. Additional toppings start from S$38. Order now and enjoy 15% off Yu Sheng and Pen Cai options.
Dates: 29 January – 24 February 2024
Address: 5 Fraser Street, Level 25 Andaz, Singapore 189354
Contact: +65 6408 1228
Canchita blends both Chinese and Peruvian influences to create the Lo Hei & Crunchy Tacos yu sheng. Featuring fresh prawns, octopus, Peruvian uni and red snapper with the array of auspicious vegetables, doused in Peruvian Cantonese sauces, and topped off with golden corn tortillas. Available for dine-in only.
S$68++
Dates: Now until 8 February 2024
Address: Dempsey Rd, #9A 9B, Singapore 247698 google map
Contact: 8028 1994
(Image credit: Canchita Peruvian Cuisine)
The star among Cherry Garden’s yu cheng lineup is the Triumph Yu Sheng, which is lavishly decorated with jellyfish, Pacific Ocean tuna, crispy fish skin, and black caviar. Four other variations are available, from the Prosperity Yu Sheng with Arctic clam, salmon, and crispy fish skin, to the wholesome Garden of Health Yu Sheng brimming with fresh fruits and vegetables.
From S$78++
Dates: 22 January – 24 February 2024
Address: 5 Raffles Ave., Level 5 Mandarin Oriental, Singapore, Singapore 039797 google map
Contact: 6885 3500
(Image credit: Mandarin Oriental, Singapore)
Poached Boston lobster tail and torched raw scallops are the crowning glory of Crystal Jade’s Year of the Dragon creation, the Prosperity Yu Sheng. Fresh and dried fruits feature prominently here: red dragon fruit, green mango, jackfruit, and more, which are matched with tomato, purple cabbage, deep-fried yam strips, pickled onions, walnuts, and crunchy Hsin Chu bee hoon. A dressing of scallion oil and Okinawa acerola juice-infused plum sauce turns the yu sheng light and refreshing. Available for dine-in and takeaway at Crystal Jade Palace, Crystal Jade Golden Palace, and Crystal Jade Pavilion.
From S$138
Dates: 19 January – 25 February 2024
(Image credit: Crystal Jade Group)
Entrepot marks its first Lunar New Year with a yu sheng called Chasing the Dragon. The restaurant cures salmon in its own Robertson chai tea, and complements it with salmon roe, candied pecans, popping candy, dragonfruit, and plum dressing. The dish is paired with Chasing the Dragon cocktail shots from Chandu, The Robertson House’s bar, and dine-in customers get to enjoy it with a spectacle of incense-infused dry ice. For takeaway, the dish comes with teacups, a bottle of the cocktail, and instructions on how to toss the yu sheng. Email or call 8380 1689 to order.
From S$58
Dates: 1 to 29 February 2024
Address: 1 Unity St, The Robertson House, Singapore 237983 google map
Contact: 8380 1689
(Image credit: The Robertson House)
Kinki brings back its Ultimate Kinki Yu Sheng, a Japanese-inspired rendition abundant with seafood. It showcases three types of sashimi – salmon, tuna, and swordfish, rolled into rosettes and crowned with pearls of roe for more texture. At the centre are strips of deep-fried crab stick, dried wakame, pickled daikon radish, and thinly- sliced Japanese cucumber. Colourful shredded carrot, daikon, and Japanese fish floss encircle the plate. The yu sheng is dressed with truffle oil and sesame sauce, and sprinkled with diced beetroot.
S$88++
Dates: 1 – 29 February 2024
Address: 70, #02-02 Collyer Quay, Customs House, 049323 google map
Contact: 6533 3471
(Image credit: Kinki Restaurant + Bar)
Usher in good fortune with Man Fu Yuan’s 60-inch Dragon Wealth Yu Sheng. A dragon head breathes over rock lobster, sea urchin, salmon roe, shredded dried Hokkaido scallops, salmon sashimi, and crispy fish skin, finished with honey miso golden peach dressing and shallot oil. It is available for dine-in only, but the restaurant has three other takeaway options including salmon sashimi yu sheng, the Happiness vegetarian yu sheng, and Prosperity Yu Sheng with crispy shredded dried Hokkaido scallops, rock lobster, salmon roe, salmon sashimi, and crispy fish skin.
From S$88++
Dates: 15 January to 29 February 2024
Address: 80 Middle Road, Level 2, Intercontinental Singapore, Singapore 188966 google map
Contact: 6825 1008
(Image credit: Intercontinental Singapore)
Sticking to its vegetable-focused concept, Jag’s yu sheng puts greens in the spotlight with a variety of orange and black carrots, yellow and red beetroots, green and red radishes, daikon, and cabbage. Each component is prepared differently – raw, cured, and pickled, to offer a wealth of flavours and textures. They surround cured Scottish salmon, smoked Hokkaido scallop, and marinated Japanese shrimp, then embellished with watercress crackers, sesame, peanuts, and gold leaf. The dish is finished with a sweet, tart dressing of sea buckthorn and blood orange. Only available in Jag’s Alpine private dining room, which seats 4 to 16 people.
S$128++
Dates: 6 to 25 February 2024
Address: 41 Robertson Quay, #02-02 STPI Creative Workshop and Gallery, Singapore 238236 google map
Contact: 6871 8973
(Image credit: Restaurant Jag)
The showstopper at Shang Palace is the Auspicious Dragon Yu Sheng, offering smoked salmon, jellyfish, and vegetables arranged into this year’s zodiac symbol. Four other styles are available as well, from the Auspicious Yu Sheng with South African abalone, Hokkaido scallop, and Scottish smoked salmon, to the Happiness Yu Sheng with crispy fish skin. While the Dragon Yu Sheng is only available for dine-in, the rest can be ordered individually, as part of set menus, and for takeaway in small and large portions.
From S$69.80
Dates: 12 January – 24 February 2024
From S$98++
Dates: 29 January – 24 February 2024
Address: 22 Orange Grove Rd, Shangri-La Singapore, Singapore 258350 google map
Contact: 6213 4473
(Image credit: Shangri-La Singapore)
Si Chuan Dou Hua claims to be the first restaurant in Singapore to serve fugu, or pufferfish, in yu sheng, and they are stepping up this year by sourcing it from Shimonoseki, a city renowned for the Japanese delicacy. This becomes the Prosperity Fugu Yu Sheng, shaped like a dragon and combined with salmon roe. Available as a set for dine-in at Si Chuan Dou Hua UOB Plaza and Park Royal at Beach Road, and for takeaway (email or WhatsApp 8363 2200 to order).
From S$198
Dates: Now until 24 February 2024
(Image credit: Si Chuan Dou Hua)
The highlight of Summer Pavilion’s Lunar New Year menu is the geoduck clam with black caviar yu sheng, which sits alongside other yu sheng offerings including salmon, abalone, Australian lobster, and vegetarian. All can be ordered individually or in set menus. Alternatively, head to the neighbouring Colony, which has a salmon and sea whelk yu sheng for dine-in and takeaway.
S$208
Dates: Now until 24 February 2024
From S$75++
Dates: Now until 24 February 2024
Address: 7 Raffles Ave., The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore, Singapore 039799 google map
Contact: 6434 5286
(Image credit: The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore)
Celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Dragon in grandeur with Xin Cuisine’s opulent Boston lobster and ikura yu sheng with passionfruit sauce. Or choose from any one of four other yu sheng options, including the signature salmon, vegetarian abalone, sliced two-head abalone, and baby abalone, all available for takeaway. All yu sheng are available in small and large portions, and additional salmon, abalone, and crackers can be ordered.
Takeaway yu sheng: from S$68
Dates: Available now until 24 February 2024
Address: 317 Outram Road, Level 4, Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium, Singapore 169075 google map
Contact: 3138 2531
(Image credit: Xin Cuisine)
Ya Ge’s crispy golden eel and yellowtail yu sheng is an ode to animal puddings. The dish features raspberry-flavoured, dragon-shaped puddings resting atop crispy strips of eel, yellowtail, freshly-julienned carrots, radish and pickled ginger, which are coated in passionfruit and kumquat dressing. Available individually or in the set menu, as well as takeaway.
From S$88
Dates: Now until 24 February 2024
From S$88++
Dates: 15 January – 24 February 2024
Address: 1 Tras Link, Level 3 Orchid Hotel Singapore, Singapore 078867 google map
Contact: 6818 6831
(Image credit: Ya Ge)
This article was first published on Lifestyle Asia
