No one can resist one of Singapore’s national dishes: The chilli crab. Here's where to find it...
Singapore’s number one culinary export to the world is none other than chilli crab. It’s practically cemented its status as one of our unofficial national dishes. It’s said to have been invented by Madam Cher Yam Tian in the 1950s. The original chilli crab was stir-fried with bottled chilli and tomato sauce, then sold from a pushcart. Today, the version of chilli crab we know consists of sambal, vinegar, tomato paste, and egg. An “improved” recipe by chef Hooi Kok Wah, one of the four “heavenly kings” of Chinese cuisine in the 1960s.
Wondering where to eat chilli crab in Singapore? Patronise these seafood and zi char restaurants for the best renditions of the ever-popular dish. Be prepared to get your hands dirty!
Best chilli crab in Singapore
1. New Ubin Seafood
From a humble home on Pulau Ubin serving kampong-style seafood to casual restaurants on mainland Singapore specialising in traditional zi char fare, New Ubin has come a long way. And it’s one of those places where you can’t help but return to time and again. Here, you can eat your fill of mud crabs doused in chilli crab sauce paired with steamed or deep-fried man tous. And let’s not forget the garlic baked crab, smoked pork fried rice, and black angus ribeye for a hearty meal!
New Ubin Seafood, multiple locations including Chijmes and Metropolitan YMCA Singapore
2. Jumbo Seafood
Jumbo Seafood has always been the place to go for the iconic dish since the eatery opened in 1987. Its ever-popular East Coast Seafood Centre is a crowd fave. The gravy accompanying the flavoursome crab at Jumbo has a slightly stronger tomato tinge than elsewhere and is richly layered with egg. Totally a classic! Continue your seafood feast with black pepper crab, scallops wrapped in yam ring, deep-fried tilapia, and salted egg prawns.
Jumbo Seafood Restaurant, multiple locations including Jewel Changi Airport and Riverside Point
3. Seafood Paradise
With a name like that, you know what to expect here. Seafood Paradise is great for colourful family gatherings ‘cos you can order all your favourite dishes to share with the table. Besides the popular chilli crab, we’re shining the spotlight on black pepper, salted egg yolk, and butter crab dishes.
Seafood Paradise, multiple locations including Clarke Quay and VivoCity
4. Red House Seafood
Red House has been serving this chilli-drenched crustacean since 1976 and has justifiably garnered a loyal following. The juicy crab at this stalwart is on the sweeter end of the spectrum. Plus, there’s a touch of vinegar that smoothens the texture of the gravy. Other specialties on the menu include stir-fried lobster with creamy custard sauce and drunken herbal prawn soup.
Red House Seafood, multiple locations including Clarke Quay and Esplanade
5. Keng Eng Kee
With over 50 years in the industry, family comes first at this humble establishment. It’s been so successful that we now see a third generation of owners taking the helm. It’s always a good sign when a place is crowded and teeming with customers! Have no fear, the kitchen is more than well equipped to handle the load of orders, so you’ll fill up in no time. Chef signatures include wok-fried seafood hor fun, butter cereal prawns, coffee pork ribs, and salted egg squid. But we’ll never forget about the chilli crab, which is sweet, sour and slightly spicy – best eaten with a fluffy mantou.
Keng Eng Kee, multiple locations including Bukit Merah and Tampines Safra
6. Palm Beach Seafood
After selling the dish from a pushcart for a number of years, Madam Cher Ya and her husband opened Palm Beach Seafood in 1962 along Upper East Coast Road. Eventually, the couple sold off some of their shares in the restaurant and migrated to New Zealand. But Palm Beach’s chilli crab today is still tender and sweet, with the sauce done just right. Of course, you can’t miss out on the black pepper crab too!
Palm Beach Seafood Restaurant, #01-09, One Fullerton, 1 Fullerton Road, Singapore 049213
7. No Signboard Seafood
This seafood restaurant in Singapore has gone from a humble Aljunied hawker stall in the 80s with no signboard (hence the name) to a culinary treasure in its storied 40-year history for good reason. It has consistently served quality chilli crab over the years. The spiciness of the sauce and the plump, meaty crabs make this one a prime contender on our list. Take your pick from Alaskan king crab, Sri Lankan crab and Dungeness crab, followed by a variety of sauces including white pepper, salted egg, and deep-fried with butter.
No Signboard Seafood, 414 Geylang Road, Singapore 389392
8. Long Beach Seafood
Prefer your chilli crab with more spice? Head to Long Beach Seafood. You’ll mop up every bit of the thick, vermillion gravy with your choice of steamed or fried mantou. The kitchen also does excellent black pepper crabs, FYI. Just in case someone at your dinner party doesn’t like chilli crab (though we would find that hard to believe). Complete your meal with lobsters, prawns, clams and a heaping spoonful of fried rice.
Long Beach Seafood, multiple locations including Dempsey and Robertson Quay
9. HolyCrab
With a moniker like that, you’re definitely in for a crabby treat. The classic chilli crab dish is slathered in a sweet, savoury and spicy sauce with eggs, while the green chilli crab comes with a sprinkle of kaffir leaves. Other crab versions include cream butter milk sauce with curry leaves, salted egg yolk, and balsamic vinegar. Don’t forget to order fried or steamed mantou to mop up all that delicious sauce!
HolyCrab, #01-85, Arcade @ The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore, 13 Stamford Road, Singapore 178905
10. Home of Seafood
For a bang on halal food option, head to Home of Seafood for your chilli crab fix. Even though the pepper crab is the crowning glory, the chilli crab is just as fantastic. For more crabby goodness, order the crustacean with sauces like salted egg, white pepper, ginger and spring onion, or in a soup with bee hoon. Plus, with other dishes featuring prawns, clams, abalone, and more, it’s truly a seafood feast.
Home of Seafood, 1 Joo Chiat Place, Singapore 427739
11. Roland Restaurant
Eating at Roland Restaurant is a blast from the past because the eponymous Roland is the son of Madam Cher (the creator of chilli crab). This eatery serves up the original version of chilli crab, which is lighter and not as rich as other variations. Get ready for a spread filled with black sauce prawns, seafood hor fun, and chilli cockles.
Roland Restaurant, #06-750, 89 Marine Parade Central, Singapore 440089
12. Uncle Leong Seafood
Uncle Leong Seafood whips up one of the meanest chilli crabs in Singapore that’ll turn any bad day into a good one. The crab is bathed in a deep red chilli sauce that’s packed with flavour. If there’s one other dish to try, it’s the Shimmering Sand Crab Delight. It’s a signature that’s drizzled with a special sauce and topped with oats. For a sumptuous seafood treat, pack your order with claypot crab bee hoon soup, cereal prawns, and braised abalone.
Uncle Leong Seafood, multiple locations including Punggol and Toa Payoh
13. Mellben Seafood
The family-run Mellben Seafood is one of our go-tos when crab cravings demand to be satisfied. Their chilli crab recipe is a stunner. But we think the crab claypot bee hoon is the clear winner at this restaurant. Come for big family gatherings and special occasions – everyone’s bound to have a great time when the table is piled high with black pepper crab, creamy butter crab and salted egg crab.
Mellben Seafood, multiple locations including Tanjong Pagar and Ang Mo Kio
14. Hua Yu Wee
Hua Yu Wee is housed in a grand mansion along Upper East Coast Road. It’s the only 1970s seafood restaurant that stayed along the stretch and didn’t relocate to East Coast Park like the others. Snag a table in the open-air backyard and be transported back to yesteryear. Must-tries include the piquant chilli crab, olive fried rice, la la hor fun, and black pepper crab.
Hua Yu Wee, 462 Upper East Coast Road, Singapore 466508
15. Kelly Jie Seafood
Kelly Jie is the prodigy of the famous Mellben Seafood, so you can expect stellar standards. Aside from the crab dishes, you gotta try the claypot crab vermicelli soup that’s perfect for a rainy day. Throw in some scallops, prawns, and fish to feed the whole family.
Kelly Jie Seafood, #01-11/15, Block 211 Lorong 8 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310211
And now you know where to get the juiciest chilli crab in Singapore. Remember not to wear white!
