Gather your friends and family for a hearty meal at Singapore's best zi char restaurants. Enjoy 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! 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. Kok Sen Restaurant
While there are plenty of exciting restaurants in Keong Saik, we always find ourselves in Kok Sen whenever we’re in the enclave. This no-frills eatery, which has earned a place on the Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand list, serves Cantonese-style zi char with a twist. Hungry diners can enjoy its famous big prawn hor fun, claypot yong tau foo, and spring onion beef.
Kok Sen Restaurant, 4 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089110
2. The Dragon Chamber
If you’ve been to Circular Road, you’ve probably passed this unassuming speakeasy. Venture inside the “kopitiam” and you’ll discover a whole new world behind the fridge door: zi char done in guerilla style. The older folks might baulk at the description, but tell them to give this a chance. What can you expect? Modern creations such as tea-smoked chicken, sauteed king prawns, and red coral trout fillets stir-fried in XO sauce.
The Dragon Chamber, 2 Circular Road, Singapore 049358
3. Sin Hoi Sai Eating House
Open daily till the wee hours of the morning (3am!), Sin Hoi Sai Eating House is 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
4. Jumbo Seafood
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 signature dishes like scallops wrapped in yam rings, wok-fried cod 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
5. Two Chefs Eating Place
Run by two brothers from Ipoh, this no-frills eating place is known for its butter pork ribs 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, multiple locations including Commonwealth Crescent and Sin Ming Avenue
6. New Ubin Seafood
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 Chijmes and Stevens Road
7. Sik Bao Sin
Famously dubbed 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 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 34/36 Geylang, Singapore 389531
8. Jiak Modern Tzechar
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 include salted egg prawns, sambal sotong, and black pepper beef. But the piece de resistance? The signature fish head curry — it’s equal parts fiery and flavourful.
Jiak Modern Tzechar, #02-04, HillV2, 4 Hillview Rise, Singapore 667979
9. Ah Orh Seafood Restaurant
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, and 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
10. Diamond Kitchen
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 – it’s rice vermicelli with fresh clams in a slightly peppery stock. Other noteworthy dishes include 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
11. Hua Yu Wee
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
12. 8 Crabs
Want to throw a zi char feast in the comfort of your home? Enter 8 Crabs. 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? AAA-grade wild-caught crabs. They’re ammonia-free and tastier, bigger and meatier than their farmed counterparts. All that to say, you’re getting your money’s worth.
8 Crabs, order online
Time for a feast at the best zi char restaurants in Singapore!
[This article was originally published in 2015 and updated in 2024 by Sufyan Saad.]
