6 Great Places To Toss Yee Sang In Kuala Lumpur

Written by Jordan Low

Nothing beats kicking off the New Year than tossing yee sang high up in the air with shouts of “lou hey” (move upwards).

The raw fish salad is a Lunar New Year staple and has through the years evolved from a simple dish to one that is complex and exotic.

Fun fact: Malaysians and Singaporeans just can’t agree on the origins of the yee sang but rumour has it that it was conceived in Seremban, a town in the Malaysian state of Negeri Sembilan.

Anyway, with chopsticks at the ready, here are six great places to toss some yee sang platters in Kuala Lumpur to commemorate the Year of the Rabbit:

W Hotel Kuala Lumpur

The W Hotel is offering quite an impressive range of yee sang ingredients to choose from. From the more basic packages consisting of premium jellyfish and korean snow pears, to the more exotic options that include premium caviar and abalone, you will be spoiled for choice.

Depending on what you get, the price can range from anywhere between RM278 to RM478. Additional add-ons are available as well if you prefer, with half portions going as low as RM168.

Other ingredients that you can add-on include Norwegian salmon, soft shell crab, fish skin, Canadian lobster, and more.

Address: W Kuala Lumpur No. 121, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, 50450

Phone: +60 12-347 9088

Element Kuala Lumpur

If you are looking for a slightly cheaper option for yee sang, you can snag a decent meal at Element Kuala Lumpur. You can choose your topping from raw salmon slices, crispy fish skins or whole abalones, and complete the colorful platter with a homemade pineapple dressing. Prices can get as low as RM98 for half portions, to RM188 for full portions with abalone.

Element also offers some poon choy pots that include abalone, sea cucumber, chinese mushrooms, scallops, chicken, oysters, and more, for as low as RM338 for the small platter and up to RM688 for a feast that can serve up to 10 people.

Address: Element Kuala Lumpur, IB Tower, 8, Lrg Binjai, Kuala Lumpur, 50450

Phone: +60 3-2771 3388

Hilton Kuala Lumpur

The Chynna Chinese restaurant, located at The Hilton Kuala Lumpur, is definitely a classic. Featuring an abundance of traditional Chinese dishes, including authentic Cantonese and Shanghainese cuisine, the restaurant also never fails to please with its yee sang offerings.

Ranging from RM148 for half portions and up to RM308 for full portions, you can enjoy great flavours including truffle and Tasmanian ocean trout, smoked salmon with spicy Siam sauce, salted egg fish skin with soft shell crab, and more.

If you want, you can even get some delectable signature dishes such as assorted poon choy, braised bird’s nest with smoked duck, stewed assorted seafood, and wok-fried prime lamb racks with honey sauce.

Address: Hilton Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Stesen Sentral 5, 50470 Kuala Lumpur.

Phone: +60 3-2264 2264

Sheraton Petaling Jaya

Admittedly, the Sheraton is technically not in Kuala Lumpur, but it is rather close by, and the offerings that they have is well worth the trip! The Yue restaurant at the Sheraton offers a gorgeous view of the cityscape and combines that with a menu of both classic and innovative Chinese dishes.

If you want to order some yee sang, the price can range anywhere from RM128 for a small serving to RM368 for a huge sharing platter. Some ingredients you can expect include the traditional smoked salmon and fish roe, pears and dragonfruit, deep-fried soft shell crab, and abalone and ikura.

The restaurant also offers a whole range of Lunar New Year ala carte and set menu options, emphasising the expertly fried and steamed dishes that Cantonese cuisine is known for.

Address: Lorong Utara C, Pjs 52, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Phone: +60 3-7622-8888

Shangri-la Kuala Lumpur

The Shang Palace at Shangri-la Kuala Lumpur offers authentic Cantonese cuisine at its finest, served in a setting that brings you back to the wondrous grandeur of ancient China. The atmosphere at this restaurant is certainly something to be experienced at least once.

Yee sang from Shang Palace can set you back between RM148 for ingredients such as Korean snow pear, or up to RM288 for more exotic topping such as sliced abalone with caviar. They also offer more traditional toppings such as crispy fish skin and jellyfish, as well as smoked salmon,

Full-course set meals and ala carte menu options are also available. You could also try out some of the unique creations by the restaurant’s resident chef, including dishes such as the Shang Palace seafood and truffle trio combination or their wok-fried lobster claw

Address: 11, Jln Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur

Phone: 60 3-2032 2388

Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur

Nestled within the Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur is the Xin Cuisine Chinese restaurant. They are currently holding a promotion from 6 January to 5 February, allowing customers to enjoy an auspicious feast for lunch and dinner. Not only do you have three unique menus to choose from, the traditional yee sang is also included in each set.

Priced between RM98 and RM148, you can pick the fruity yee sang, jellyfish yee sang, fresh salmon with snow pear yee sang or abalone yee sang. Apart from that, you can also enjoy delectable treats such as Hong Kong-style roasted chicken and steamed fresh dragon grouper, all of which are a part of the set courses.

The restaurant also offers an array of waxed meats and poon choy if you so desire.

Address: 2, Jln Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, 50250 Kuala Lumpur

Phone: +60 3-2144-8750

Now you may be wondering the point of such a post especially as we are wrestling with the rising cost of living and a currency that seems to be tumbling to nowhere.

It’s simple: We can still afford to celebrate even if it is just once a year. Happy Year of the Rabbit everyone and may 2023 be a prosperous one for all.

This article was first published in January 2017 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy and comprehensiveness.