Snake-Themed Yu Sheng & Other Creative Options For Your CNY Lo Hei
Usher in the Wood Snake this Lunar New Year by tossing up these snake-styled yu shengs, and other exotic and creative lo hei platters with refreshing twists
By Priyanka Elhence -
Reunion dinners or Chinese New Year celebrations in Singapore aren't quite complete without the quintessential lo hei (or tossing up of good fortune) and a platter of yu sheng.
Known for its intelligence, adaptability and artistic flair, the Wood Snake has been symbolised (and immortalised) with intricate, snake-themed yu sheng creations, exotic premium seafood arrangements to toss up, as well as one with a wagyu twist, for you to herald in the Year of the Snake and auspiciously toss your way to prosperity, abundance and good fortune this Chinese New Year. Huat ah!
Unique Yu Sheng For Your Lo Hei
Up the ante on indulgence at the Shangri-La Singapore with Shang Palace’s limited-edition Auspicious Golden Snake Yu Sheng ($268++ for 6-8 pax) by Executive Chinese Chef Daniel Cheung and his team.
Available a la carte or as the opening act on their Imperial Indulgence Set Menu, this brightly hued and intricate snake-themed yu sheng is adorned with 10g of caviar, Scottish smoked salmon and jellyfish. The design also seamlessly blends symbolism into the culinary masterpiece, where a snake head made from half a mango rears over a body of dragon fruit wrapped with alternating ribbons of green and yellow zucchini, before being finished with a fried beancurd skin tail, surrounded by Scottish smoked salmon and jellyfish, along with the usual medley of yu sheng accompaniments.
Pre-ordering with one-day lead time is required. Available for dine-in only. Visit Shang Palace’s website to order, reservations or for more information.
Executive Chinese Chef Aaron Tan and the Michelin-starred Man Fu Yuan have earned themselves a reputation of always coming up with one of the most innovative and unique yu sheng arrangements over the years — and this year is no different either.
Measuring 60 inches in circumference, Man Fu Yuan celebrates the Year of the Snake with its Blazing Snake Fortune Yusheng ($988++ for up to 10 pax), with deep symbolism lying at the heart of the snake-inspired platter for a prosperous start to the new year.
The lavish yu sheng platter features eight intertwining snakes, with each representing one of the blessings from the Chinese character for fortune (peace, joy, health, prosperity, harmony, wealth, support and good fortune) for the new year.
For a special touch, Chef Tan adds grilled unagi flambeed with Chinese rose wine to symbolise renewal and prosperity. The creation is complemented with premium ingredients including abalone, rock lobster, ikura, Hokkaido crispy shredded dried scallop, salmon sashimi, and crispy fish skin, before being drizzled over with golden wafu roasted sesame dressing and fragrant shallot oil.
Available for dine-in only, from now to Feb 16, 2025. Smaller versions of this yusheng (without the snake design) are available for takeaway (from $98).
Visit Man Fu Yuan’s website to order, reservations or for more information.
Welcome new beginnings with Fat Cow’s Signature Gyu Sheng ($68++ per set, serves four to five pax) for a unique premium Japanese Wagyu twist on traditional yu sheng.
Indulge in premium Toriyama Umami Wagyu, along with chuka kurage (seasoned jellyfish), chuka wakame (seasoned seaweed), and ikura (salmon roe). These premium ingredients are complemented with assorted vegetables such as white radish, carrots, and pickled ginger, and dressed in a wafu sesame dressing.
Two days advance pre-order required. Available for dine in only from Jan 22 to Feb 5, 2025. Visit Fat Cow’s website to order, reservations or for more information.
Usher in the Lunar New Year at home with Tablescape’s snake-shaped Seafood Yu Sheng ($188 nett, serves up to 10 pax), brimming with Josper-grilled octopus and local lobster, a special twist to symbolise abundance and surplus.
Apart from grilled octopus and lobster, the takeaway-only, snake-themed seafood yusheng platter also boasts tuna maguro loin, salmon sashimi and crispy fish skin, accompanied by fish skin, golden crackers, an assortment of winter melon, leek, lotus root and pomelo. The creation is finished with a touch of Avruga caviar, ikura and gold leaf, before being drizzled over with a sweet and savoury honey sesame dressing.
Available from now to Feb 9, 2025, for take-away only. Visit Tablescape’s website to order, reservations or for more information.
If you’re a fan of octopus and the lucky number eight it symbolises, contemporary Sichuan eatery Birds of a Feather has created an auspicious Octopus Yu Sheng ($88++ for 4 pax) to toss to good fortune, surplus and abundance this Lunar New Year.
Octopus legs are cooked sous-vide and lightly charred before being sliced and served with a medley of vegetables, microgreens, caramelised ground peanuts, fruit and edible flowers. The vibrant creation is finished with a dressing of homemade yu xiang and crispy ma hua flakes, as a nod to classic Sichuan flavours.
Available from Jan 20 to Feb 9, 2025 for dine-in only. Visit Bird of a Feather’s website to order, reservations or for more information.
This Lunar New Year, Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant’s Executive Chef Hoo Chee Keong has created a first-of-its-kind yu sheng, inspired by the spirit of renewal that the Year of the Snake symbolises.
Indulge guilt-free in the contemporary Signature Snake-styled Pufferfish Yu Sheng ($218++for 6-8 pax) comprises over 30 varieties of fresh organic greens, cresses and edible flowers, some of which are growing in the restaurant’s new indoor farm. The creation is topped with premium fugu (pufferfish) sashimi flown in Shimonoseki prefecture (Japan’s fugu capital) before being finished with a zesty, homemade yuzu sauce.
In support of the arts and disability causes, Si Chuan Dou Hua has also collaborated with autistic artist Lee Jun Le to create red packets featuring auspicious calligraphy for diners to receive during the festive period.
Available from now to Feb 12, 2025 exclusively at the flagship UOB Plaza branch only. Takeaway is also available, but will not be in the snake-shape arrangement. Visit Si Chuan Dou Hua’s website to order, reservations or more information.
For the fourth consecutive year, Canchita celebrates CNY with its vibrant Chifa-inspired Peruvian-Chinese twist on yu sheng (and other new year creations) for the whole month of January, blending the best of distinct Cantonese flavours with bold Peruvian accents.
Herald in the CNY festivities with Canchita’s Lo Hei & Crunchy Tacos ($72++ for 3-4 pax). The platter features prawns, octopus, fresh red snapper and Peruvian uni, drizzled with a sweet, sour and slightly spicy Peruvian sauce. The creation is playfully topped off with crispy crisp corn tortillas instead of the usual golden crackers.
Available throughout January for dine-in and takeaway. Visit Canchita’s website to order, reservations or for more information.
Prosperity Yu Sheng, Eden restaurant, Pullman Singapore Orchard
Eden Restaurant’s snake-shaped Prosperity Yu Sheng ($128++ for 6-9 pax) comes bursting with a kaleidoscope of fresh, premium ingredients, elevated by succulent abalone and smoked salmon.
A modern twist for the snake-shaped Yu Sheng rendition comes with the restaurant’s signature yuzu chia seed dressing for a zesty and refreshing pop of flavour with each mouthful.
A minimum three-day advanced reservation is required for every Yu Sheng order. The snake-shaped creation is also available for takeaway, at a 25% discount.
Available from Jan 20 to Feb 9, 2025. Visit Pullman Singapore Orchard’s website to order, reservations or more information.
Toss to a prosperous new year with Bedrock Bar & Grill’s cured Citrus-fed Wagyu Yu Sheng ($88++/ for six to eight pax) for a refreshing mix of mesclun, carrot, cucumber, white radish, topped with crispy shoestring potatoes, pistachio nuts, and a drizzle of plum sauce.
Available from Jan 27 to Feb 12, 2025 for both dine-in and takeaway. Visit Bedrock Bar & Grill’s website to order, reservations or for more information.
Canchita has lent Peruvian-inspired flavours to its yu sheng this Chinese New Year. The Lo Hei & Crunchy Tacos ($68) spotlights fresh prawns, octopus, Peruvian uni and red snapper drizzled with Peruvian Cantonese sauces. And to top it all off, golden corn tortillas in place of crackers to represent the scattering of gold (man di huang jin).
Available for dine-in, from Jan 9 to Feb 8, 2024. Visit Canchita's website for reservations or more information.