Non-traditional yusheng dishes that are anything but ordinary

Non-Chinese restaurants are cashing in on the Year of the Snake with a selection of festive dishes, as well as their own souped-up interpretations of lo hei.

Handroll bar Rappu offers the best of both worlds with a Japanese-style handroll that meets yusheng.

Then there are beefed-up renditions decked with slices of wagyu from the likes of modern Japanese steakhouse Fat Cow at Camden Medical Centre and wood-fire grill concept Fireplace by Bedrock at One Holland Village.

Some play on the crunch factor, such as with tortillas at Canchita Peruvian Cuisine in Dempsey and Japanese ice fish tempura at tempura chain Tempura Makino, while others jazz up the customarily sweet sauce with ingredients like ginger flower, yuzu and beer.

Whichever variant of the auspicious raw fish salad you choose, a good number of them feature the number eight in their price tag, and all of them promise to start your Chinese New Year on a prosperous note.

Here are 12 yusheng alternatives to try.

Yusheng Roll ($16)  

What: This is the most handy way to consume yusheng.  

Handroll bar Rappu’s seasonal yusheng roll features a base of vinegared sushi rice layered with the quintessential shredded carrot, radish and cucumber, dressed in a yuzu sauce. 

For the raw fish component, the roll is topped with salmon sashimi, hotate (Japanese scallop), uni and gold leaf flecks for a prosperous finish. 

Rappu also offers a more conventional yusheng platter ($30 for two, dine-in only; $88 for six to eight, dine-in, takeaway or delivery) with salmon sashimi, hotate and akami (lean tuna), as well as ice plant sprigs, Japanese pickles and tempura crumble for extra crunch. 

Where: Rappu, 52 Duxton Road

When: Till Feb 12

Info: Go to rappu.sg or order at rappu.sg/order-1

Lohei Shirauo Salad ($18.80)

What: Shirauo or Japanese ice fish tempura is the star ingredient in Tempura Makino’s Japanese-inspired yusheng. 

It combines salmon sashimi, Japanese mustard green, daikon, onion, red and yellow peppers, shavings of golden mullet roe and a sweet and tangy mandarin orange dressing. 

A takeaway version is available at $22.80 nett. 

Where: Tempura Makino outlets, including 01-223 Jewel Changi Airport, 78 Airport Boulevard; and B1-112/113 Great World, 1 Kim Seng Promenade 

When: Till Feb 12

Info: tempuramakino.com.sg/promotions

Huat The Fish Prosperity Yusheng ($26)

What: Beetroot-cured salmon, crispy silver fish and fish floss tossed with Korean sweet potato noodles – this dish has all the makings of a refreshing Western-style noodle salad at home-grown cafe chain Surrey Hills Grocer.

This spin on yusheng (good for two to four people) includes fresh greens, fried yam, pomelo and green mango with yuzu plum sauce.  

Where: Surrey Hills Grocer outlets including 01-52/53 Woodleigh Mall, 11 Bidadari Park Drive; and 03-02 VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk  

When: Till Feb 12 

Info: surreyhillsgrocer.sg 

Prosperity Yusheng ($98 or $138) 

What: Sashimi lovers will drool at modern kappo restaurant Oumi’s decadent take on yusheng, featuring five types of sustainably sourced sashimi – salmon, tuna, scallop, yellowtail and jellyfish. 

For extra pops of flavour, there are dribbles of gold, orange, green and black tobiko, hazelnuts, edible flowers and housemade Japanese plum sauce to finish. 

The yusheng set is available for takeaway ($128+ or $168+ at Oumi at 1-Arden, or FLNT at 1-Atico). 

The elegant package is dressed in a vibrant red cloth with a wooden handle – the ultimate showstopper at reunion parties. 

Where: Oumi at 1-Arden, 51-01 CapitaSpring, 88 Market Street; FLNT at 1-Atico, 55-01 Ion Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn 

When: Till Feb 12 

Info: Call 9837-8248, e-mail reservation@oumi.sg (for dine-in) or order at 1-at-home.oddle.me/en_SG two days in advance for takeaway 

Lo Hei & Crunchy Tacos ($72)

What: Instead of the usual pok chui crackers, Peruvian restaurant Canchita’s playful yusheng spin features crisp corn tortillas for the crunch factor. 

For the seafood component, this lo hei layers on prawns, octopus, red snapper and Peruvian uni. The elements are tossed in a Peruvian-Cantonese trio of spicy mango sauce, spicy plum sauce with smoked chipotle chilli, and housemade guacamole. 

Where: Canchita Peruvian Cuisine, 9A/B Dempsey Road

When: Till Feb 12, closed from Jan 28 to 30 

Info: Call 8028-1994 or go to canchita.sg 

Lohei Prosperity Toss ($68 or $88) 

What: Some unusual ingredients are tossed into Peruvian-Chinese restaurant Chifa’s version of lo hei. 

These include yellow corn kernels, canchita (toasted Peruvian corn) and quinoa, alongside abalone, scallop, salmon and crispy fish skin. 

The salad, tossed in a yuzu sour plum sauce, is also part of Chifa’s set menus (minimum two to dine), priced at $168++ or $228++ a person. 

Where: Chifa, Level 2 Crockfords Tower, Resorts World Sentosa, 8 Sentosa Gateway

When: Jan 18 to Feb 12 

Info: Call 6577-6558 or e-mail chifa@rwsentosa.com

Gyu Sheng ($68)

What: Modern Japanese steakhouse Fat Cow reprises its signature gyu sheng (dine-in only, order two days in advance) – in which thin, marbled slices of sous vide Toriyama Umami Wagyu are the star replacing the conventional raw fish. 

The meat crowns a medley of chuka kurage (seasoned jellyfish), chuka wakame (seasoned seaweed), ikura, radish, carrots and pickled ginger – drizzled with a wafu sesame dressing. 

Where: Fat Cow, 01-01/02 Camden Medical Centre, 1 Orchard Boulevard 

When: Jan 22 to Feb 5

Info: Call 6735-0308 or go to fatcow.com.sg

Citrus-fed Wagyu Yusheng ($88) 

What: Never mind that the Year of the Ox passed four years ago.

This luxurious twist on yusheng (dine-in and takeaway) features slices of wood fire-grilled citrus-fed Sir Harry Wagyu beef, pistachios, mandarin oranges, a medley of julienned carrots, cucumber and white radish, and a tangy plum sauce. 

The beefy salad is also part of Fireplace by Bedrock’s Prosperity Set Menu ($388++ for six to seven people), which includes housemade candied bacon-style bak kwa and dishes from its Bountiful Barbecue Platter, such as crispy pork knuckle and grilled whole red snapper. 

Every order of this set menu comes with a bottle of Beronia Tempranillo Elaboracion Especial 2022 wine to complete the joy.

Where: Fireplace by Bedrock, 03-27/28 One Holland Village, 7 Holland Village Way 

When: Jan 20 to Feb 12

Info: fireplace.sg

Kerabu Lobster Yusheng ($88)

What: A kerabu-inspired yusheng takes centre stage at contemporary Asian restaurant Cafe Quenino at the Artyzen Singapore hotel. 

Kerabu means salad in Malay, and this version’s dressing is infused with South-east Asian elements, from makrut lime (kaffir lime) to ginger flower. 

It is topped off with poached lobster and macadamia for a crunchy finish. 

It also features at the hotel’s Villa Marie’s $268++ a person menu (minimum six to dine). The $198++ a person (minimum six to dine) version uses Hokkaido scallop sashimi instead of lobster. 

Where: Cafe Quenino, Level 1 Artyzen Singapore, 9 Cuscaden Road

When: Jan 20 to Feb 13

Info: WhatsApp 9851-2147 or go to www.artyzen.com

Abundance Yusheng ($88)

What: Modern Japanese bistro Ginkyo by Kinki serves up a contemporary take on yusheng (dine-in only, order three days in advance) with salmon, tuna and swordfish sashimi on a bed of shredded daikon, deep-fried crab stick, wakame and pickled daikon, topped with ikura and tobiko. 

The ingredients are framed by pink Japanese fish floss, then tossed with truffle oil and sesame dressing. 

Where: Ginkyo by Kinki, 03-01 to 04 One Holland Village, 7 Holland Village Way

When: Till Feb 12 

Info: Call 6248-0943 or go to ginkyo.sg

LeVeL33’s Signature Lo Hei ($88)

What: Yusheng gets a LeVeL33 touch with the microbrewery-restaurant’s Stout crisps – made from its house-brewed Stout – and a drizzle of its Blond Lager and orange dressing. 

Other ingredients include housemade pickles, pomegranate, spiced nuts and sustainably farmed Australian ocean trout and kingfish sashimi. 

You can also elevate the dish – and bill – with additional Yarra Valley salmon roe (add $48++ for 50g) or Antonius Caviar Siberian (add $118++ for 30g, order two days in advance). 

Where: LeVeL33, 33-01 Marina Bay Financial Centre, Tower 1, 8 Marina Boulevard 

When: Till Jan 30 

Info: level33.com.sg

Yusheng Prosperity Toss ($68 or $148) 

What: Mediterranean-inspired Artemis Grill & Sky Bar’s two luxe lo hei sets (dine-in only, order one day in advance) feature salmon and ikura ($68++), with the option to add on hamachi and Hokkaido scallops ($148++). 

Both sets include tapioca crackers, pickled wakame, red cabbage, carrot and daikon – complete with a festive gold leaf flourish. 

If you are feeling extra prosperous, add on a 30g tin of Kaluga caviar for $158++. 

Where: Artemis Grill & Sky Bar, 40-01 CapitaGreen, 138 Market Street 

When: Till Feb 12

Info: artemisgrill.com.sg

This article was originally published in The Straits Times.