Affordable yu shengs options under $50 for Chinese New Year 2023

By PUTIEN Restaurant, available till February 5

This Heng Hwa restaurant needs no introduction. The regional Chinese cuisine here is always on point and the ingredients are, without a doubt, fresh. So you can expect a time-tested harmony of freshly shredded vegetables and abalones when tossing to the year of the Rabbit. Balancing the act will be the signature sweet and sour sauce that binds the appetizing starter altogether. At just $38.90, the party platter packs enough to feed a small family. Available in all stores islandwide.

By Hainan Story, available till February 5

A riff on the well-loved Hainanese steamed chicken, this yu sheng is as local as it gets. Succulent steamed chicken takes centerstage, accompanied by a salad of assorted shredded vegetables flavoured with red sweetened ginger, white ginger, sweetened lime, peanuts, sesame seeds, biscuits and five spice powder. The finishing touches of fragrant Hainanese pineapple sauce add vibrance to the entire dish and supersize the auspicious luck meter. It comes in two sizes: small ($28.80, feeds four to six persons) and large ($38.80, feeds eight to ten persons). Order online and skip the queues by picking it up yourself or getting it delivered. 

By Sushi Tei, available till February 5

The popular Japanese sushi chain hops in with a Japanese-influenced yu sheng that boasts fresh quality cuts of sashimi without burning an actual hole in your wallet. Familiar Japanese favourites include exactly 16 slices of salmon, porcelain-like scallops, and textural jellyfish. Surrounding the ocean treasures are shredded carrot, green and white radish, pickled ginger, chuka wakame, brown melon, cucumber strip, preserved leek, crushed peanuts and of course, crunchy crackers. There are two sizes available: medium ($43.80, serves two to four persons) and large ($49.80, serves five to seven persons). Like to do it yourself? Opt to Create-Your-Own Yusheng at just S$25 for medium and S$31 for large.

By PizzaExpress, available till February 5

You didn't read wrong. Some might call it unconventional. Some might call it straight up blasphemy. But if you ask us, we think this is mighty bold – certainly cut from a different cloth. It all starts with a crispy thin pizza crust as base. Then, homemade tomato passata and Spanish red onions are combined with the usual suspects of smoked salmon, red radish, daikon, carrot, cucumber, red chilli thread, candied winter melon, crispy golden pillow crackers and a lively calamansi plum sauce. It is still a pizza after all, so expect stringy mozzarella cheese that helps bind it all together. And there's no right way to eat this so wild out. Available for dine-in and takeaway at all PizzaExpress outlets islandwide.

By Swensen’s, available till February 5

For ardent fans of the Canadian-based family restaurant, the Abalone Prosperity Yu Sheng returns by popular demand with two sizes: six abalones ($38.80, feeds three to five persons) and ten abalones ($49.80, feeds six to ten persons). Expect a vibrant assortment of 18 ingredients from luxurious baby abalone and smoked salmon to shimeji mushrooms paired with an uplifting sweet and sour plum sauce. Too extravagant? There's the classic Prosperity Yu Sheng that starts from just $29.80. Find them both at any Swensen’s or Earle Swensen’s outlets islandwide or simply order online.

By Menya Kokoro, available till January 31

The well-loved Tokyo mazesoba specialist dabbles in lo-hei culture with an innovative twist on the classic. Instead of golden crackers, the crunch factor is provided by crispy mazesoba made from scratch. Each platter comes with amaebi (sweet shrimp), shime saba (cured mackerel), jellyfish, wakame (Japanese seaweed), yellow preserved daikon, fukujinzuke (red Japanese pickles), tamagoyaki strips, shredded white daikon, chopped lettuce, and shredded carrot. Final step, drizzle on plum sauce for a tangy burst of yuzu, sesame and crushed peanuts. This is available in two sizes: two persons ($16.80) for an intimate toss with your significant other ranging to another that feeds four hungry folks ($26.80).

By Jumbo Seafood, available till February 5

The bright orange hues of salmon slices are a staple in most yu shengs around town and Jumbo Seafood knows better than to mess about with the classics. Available in three sizes, the smallest toss starts from just $48, and features 15 auspicious ingredients – julienned white radish, sweet potato crisps, shredded candied winter melon and more – to complement the luscious strips of salmon. Call it whatever you want but it beats shelling out for an entire shared portion of their world-famous chilli crab. It also helps to know that you can easily find them at all Jumbo outlets islandwide.

By Soup Restaurant, available till February 5

Famed for its steamy aromatic Samsui Ginger Chicken, this family restaurant is also a reliable source for your annual yu sheng. There's plenty of abundance and prosperity to go around with baby abalones and fresh salmon slices studded in the quintessential mix – you're getting the best of both worlds here. Each auspicious bite is a refreshingly sweet affair all thanks to the house-made citrus sauce made from mandarin orange and plum.