Gather your friends and family for a hearty meal at Singapore's best zi char restaurants. Think sweet and sour pork, chilli crab, pork ribs and more!
‘Zi char’ means ‘cooked food’ in Hokkien. And these restaurants make for a fantastic communal meal. The menus are embellished with a smorgasbord of Chinese dishes that are perfect for sharing. Think sweet and sour pork, creamy butter prawns, hot plate tofu, prawn paste chicken wings and chilli crab. That’s just the tip of the iceberg! So when you’re in the mood for Chinese, hit up the best zi char restaurants in Singapore for an exquisite home-style meal.
Best zi char restaurants in Singapore
1. 8 Crabs
Want to throw a zi char feast in the comfort of your home? Enter 8 Crabs. It’s the only crab and zi char delivery service in Singapore. On top of serving iconic dishes like prawn omelette, sweet and sour pork, and beef with ginger and spring onion, this online restaurant offers the best Sri Lankan crabs in flavours like black pepper, chilli and salted egg. The secret to its lip-smacking crab creations? Wait for it… AAA grade wild-caught crabs. They’re ammonia-free and much tastier, bigger and meatier than their farmed counterparts. All that to say, you’re getting your money’s worth. Not to mention, it’s also highly raved about by over 30,000 customers and top social media influencers. Enjoy free delivery with a minimum spend of $120!
8 Crabs, order online
2. Sin Hoi Sai Eating House
Available for delivery.
Open daily till the wee hours of the morning (3am!), Sin Hoi Sai Eating House makes for a great supper spot when the hunger pangs strike. Tuck into classic zi char dishes like fish head curry, marmite chicken, Guinness pork ribs and hot plate beef.
Sin Hoi Sai Eating House, 187 East Coast Road, Singapore 428893
3. Jumbo Seafood
Available for delivery.
If crabs are on the agenda, make your way to this long-standing seafood stalwart. Jumbo is famous for two things: chilli and black pepper crab. Complete your crab feast with other signature dishes like scallops wrapped in yam rings, wok-fried codfish in a special spicy sauce and vegetable beancurd braised with fresh mushrooms. For something meaty, the mocha pork ribs won’t disappoint.
Jumbo Seafood, multiple locations including East Coast and Dempsey Hill
4. Two Chefs Eating Place
Available for takeaway.
Run by two brothers from Ipoh, this no-frills eating place is known for its butter pork ribs that are dusted with milk powder – an intriguing and tasty combination. Other standout plates include prawn rolls and tofu with enoki mushrooms. But take note, hungry folks. Having a reservation doesn’t mean you’ll get seated immediately. Expect to wait for about 15 to 20 minutes during busy hours (which is, in fact, all the time). Yes, it’s that popular!
Two Chefs Eating Place, #01-129, 116 Commonwealth Crescent, Singapore 140116
5. Sik Bao Sin
Available for takeaway or call 6744 3757 for delivery.
Famously dubbed as the “air-con version of Sik Wai Sin”, this Cantonese-styled restaurant is your best bet for traditional (read: old-school zi char dishes). Must-tries include the piquant steamed fish head that’s doused in a savoury fermented soybean sauce and the sinful but oh-so-good steamed pork with salted fish. For greens, have your kailan topped with beef, prawn or cooked in garlic.
Sik Bao Sin, 592 Geylang Road, Lorong 36 Geylang, Singapore 389531
6. New Ubin Seafood
Available for delivery.
For something less traditional, this zi char joint in Singapore fits the bill. New Ubin Seafood doesn’t just serve your usual sambal kang kong and sweet and salted egg pork. You can also look forward to novel western dishes like black angus ribeye steak, St. Louis-style pork ribs and foie gras satay. Salivating yet?
New Ubin Seafood, multiple locations including Tampines and Chijmes
7. Ah Orh Seafood Restaurant
Available for delivery.
If old is gold, then this Teochew establishment introduced to us by our parents deserves 24 karats. There’s no menu for you to pore over. But pictures around the restaurant (and our recommendations) should help you decide what to put on the table. Must-tries include lemon chicken, oyster egg, pan-fried crayfish, sliced braised duck with pork belly. Pair ’em with seafood fried rice for a full meal.
Ah Orh Seafood Restaurant, #01-1627, 115 Jalan Bukit Merah, Singapore 160115
8. Jiak Modern Tzechar
Available for delivery.
This is the answer to halal zi char dishes. Don’t let the polished ambience fool you into thinking it’s a middle-of-the-road kind of establishment. The food is as good as the next fuss-free eatery. Menu highlights have to be salted egg prawns, sambal sotong and black pepper wagyu beef. But the piece de resistance? The signature fish head curry — it’s equal parts fiery and flavourful.
Jiak Modern Tzechar, multiple locations including Esplanade Mall and HillV2
9. Hua Yu Wee
Available for takeaway.
Housed in a grand mansion along Upper East Coast Road, Hua Yu Wee is the only 1970s seafood restaurant that stayed along the stretch and didn’t relocate to East Coast Park like its brethren. Snag a table at the open-air backyard and you’ll be transported to the yesteryears of Singapore. The piquant chilli crab and crispy baby squid are just some of the few crowd favourites.
Hua Yu Wee, 462 Upper East Coast Road, Singapore 466508
10. Diamond Kitchen
Available for takeaway, WhatsApp 83070243 (Marine Parade branch) or 83070234 (Buona Vista branch) for delivery.
Diamond Kitchen doles out an array of lip-smacking zi char dishes with a mix of Cantonese and Teochew influences. If you’re looking for something comforting, try the superior stock clam bee hoon – that’s rice vermicelli with fresh clams in a slightly peppery stock. Other noteworthy dishes: sauna prawns (cooked in a bamboo basket over hot stones), champagne pork ribs and salted egg sotong.
Diamond Kitchen, multiple locations including Buona Vista and Marine Parade
Time for a feast at the best zi char restaurants in Singapore!
