1. New Ubin Seafood
Nestled in the leafy upper Bukit Timah, New Ubin Seafood is wowing crowds with its reasonably priced menu offering good quality seafood dishes. Most foodies come hunting the salt baked Sri Lankan X large crabs and the establishment prides itself in a variety of cooking styles for its crabs – pepper, garlic, butter – but the chilli version still comes up top. They’re all delightful to eat with noodles, rice or mantous!
Address: 63 Hillview Avenue, Level 6
Opening hours: Daily 11am–2.30pm and 5.30pm–10pm
Website: New Ubin Seafood
2. Keng Eng Kee Seafood Restaurant
Located at the sleepy precinct of Bukit Merah is a Teochew restaurant that prides itself with delish zi char dishes. Folks who love crabs make a beeline for Keng Eng Kee’s chilli crabs. Fried at a very high temperature and doused and tossed with its signature chilli sauce, the cracked crustacean’s firm meat is the perfect foil for the gooey, spicy, sweet and savoury concoction. This dish deserves seconds and begs you to mop up the sauce with fried mantous.
Address: 124 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-136
Opening hours: Daily 12pm–2.30pm and 5pm–10pm
Website: Kian Eng Kee Seafood
3. Blue Lotus
Not only is it located on the picturesque Sentosa Cove – Quayside Isle to be accurate, this establishment has its legion of fans and is known as the “King of chilli crab”. Here at Blue Lotus, the giant crabs sit in fragrant gravy that has none of the ketchup flavour we normally taste. Instead, the chef elevates the dish by creating a special gravy concocted with herbs, lemongrass, spices and chilli. The Sri Lankan crab is cooked just right so that the meat stays firm and sweet, garnished with pomelo sacs, making it even more unusual and appetising.
Address: 31 Ocean Way, Quayside Isle @ Sentosa Cove, #01-13, Sentosa Island
Opening hours: Monday–Friday 6pm–10pm, Saturday & Sunday 11.30am–3pm and 6pm–10pm
Website: Blue Lotus
4. No. 3 Crab Delicacy Seafood Restaurant
The owners of No. 3 Crab own a seafood stall in Tekka Market, so it comes to no surprise that they are experts in choosing the best and largest Sri Lankan crabs for their diners! The laksa crab version comes with thick vermicelli but its chilli crabs are undeniably tasty and spicy. The sticky gravy is redolent of many spices primed to assault the tongue. Expect large pincers, firm meat and a tongue-happy experience when you’re having a chilli crab meal here.
Address: 50 Tiong Bahru Road, Unit 01-04 Link Hotel
Opening hours: Daily 12pm–2.30pm and 5pm–11.30pm
Website: No. 3 Crab Delicacy Seafood Restaurant
5. Hua Yu Wee
Housed in a pre-war bungalow that was situated along the shores of a beach long ago, Hua Yu Wee is recognised for its famous Chinese zi char dishes as well as its own signature chilli crabs. The chilli crabs here are famous for its gargantuan size while the thick eggy gravy is flecked with chillies and onions to lend some heat.
Address: 462 Upper East Coast Road
Opening hours: Daily 4pm–11.30pm
6. Ban Leong Wah Hoe Seafood
Situated in Upper Thomson, Ban Leong Wah Hoe, or more popularly known as “Ban Leong” has a steady stream of dinner patrons all thanks to its expertise in dishing out sumptuous zi char dishes such as prawn paste chicken and salted egg pork ribs. The standout dish is chilli crabs. The meat is dense with natural saltiness from the sea. It’s paired with chilli gravy that has the right balance of spiciness, savouriness and sweetness.
Address: 122 Casuarina Road
Opening hours: Daily 11am–2.30pm and 5pm–11pm
7. G7 Sinma Live Seafood
G7 started its humble beginnings in 1998 with just a handful of staff. Renowned for its dong po meat and frog porridge, G7’s chilli crabs are also to die for. The chilli gravy is particularly spicy, definitely not for the faint hearted. The gooey gravy makes dipping the man tous so enticing, especially after you sink your teeth into the firm crab meat.
Website: G7 Sinma Live Seafood has 3 outlets, find out more at G7 Sinma Live Seafood for addresses and opening hours.
8. Uncle Leong Seafood
This family-friendly restaurant has a new branch tucked in the quiet idyll of Punggol, making it a nice respite from the hubbub of city life. The crustacean sits in the middle of the plate surrounded by thick, eggy chilli gravy that looks tantalising. The dish excels in being spicier than other eateries, complemented with a sweetness that isn’t cloying but just right.
Address: 6 Tebing Lane, #01-03, Punggol East
Opening hours: Daily 4.30pm–11.30pm
Website: Uncle Leong Seafood
9. Kian Seng Seafood
As the evening arrives, this old-fashioned Chinese zi char is greeted by droves of diners turning up. Set up in the 1960s, Kian Seng Seafood is synonymous for its own brand of chilli crabs and other Chinese stir-fry dishes. Its chilli crabs are some of the island’s choicest and plumpest crabs delectably paired with more sweet-than-spicy gravy. Its sticky consistency is attributed to the chef’s deft hands in balancing eggs and starch without becoming too gelatinous.
Address: Block 4013 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10, Industrial Park 1
Opening hours: Daily 11am–2.30pm and 5pm–11.45pm
Website: Kian Seng Seafood
10. Sin Hoi Sai
A foodie institution in the quiet enclave of Tiong Bahru; Sin Hoi Sai’s fans and clientele head here for the tasty Chinese zi char dishes, and of course, its reputable chilli crab. The establishment is not the cheapest for zi char as one can expect to pay a princely sum. Achieved through the copious usage of egg with a touch of starch to thicken the sauce, the chilli crab gravy here is amazingly gooey. Its flavour has top notes of onions and chilli with a tinge of sweetness.
Address: Block 55, Tiong Bahru Road #01-59
Opening hours: Daily 5pm–5am
Website: Sin Hoi Sai
Satisfy your tastebuds by hunting down the best chilli crabs in Singapore, or embark on that foodie holiday soon! Book cheap flights, hotels and car rental via Skyscanner or check out and download our free mobile app for easy browsing and booking on the go.
Originally published on 3 June 2015 and updated in September 2017. Any prices are lowest estimated prices only at the time of publication and are subject to change and/or availability.
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