Orchid Live Seafood (HomeTeamNS Khatib)

Orchid Live Seafood is a Teochew-style seafood restaurant on the third floor of HomeTeamNS Khatib, a clubhouse in Yishun in the north of Singapore. Much of the seafood is kept alive in tanks until it is cooked, so it reaches the table very fresh.

The business started in 1999 at Orchid Country Club, and it is often said to have created lobster porridge. It is now run by OLS Holding Group, which also has a calmer second outlet, Signature @ Kelulut, on Jalan Kelulut. The Khatib restaurant is the main branch and has the livelier room.

What to order

• Lobster porridge: the dish most people come for. The broth is simmered for hours with Asian rock lobster and Australian lobster, and the porridge comes out smooth and rich.
• Teochew cold crab: roe crabs that are steamed and then chilled. The cold meat tastes sweet and clean, a classic Teochew way to serve crab.
• Steven Chicken: the house chicken dish. Wings and drumlets are stir-fried in the house sauce and finished with sesame seeds.
• More seafood: the menu also lists white pepper crab, black pepper mud crab, Alaskan king crab, Sabah coral trout and tea-fried prawns.
• Khatib specials: dishes for this branch include Taiwanese white eel, crispy char siew and braised duck with sea cucumber.

Live seafood is usually priced by type and weight, so check with the staff before you order. Most dishes are made for sharing at the table. For more places like this, see our chilli crab and seafood restaurants.

The setting

The main dining hall is large, with round tables for families and big groups. For events it can seat up to 180 guests. The live seafood tanks are in view of the dining room. The furniture is plain wood, the lighting is warm and the mood is relaxed and lively.

There are also VIP rooms and function rooms for private meals. The team can tailor menus for weddings, company dinners and family celebrations.

Good to know before you go

• Booking: you can reserve a table online through the restaurant's website. You can also call or send a WhatsApp message to the numbers on its site.
• Busy times: book early for big groups and festive meals such as Chinese New Year reunion dinners.
• Comfort: the dining room is indoors and air-conditioned.
• Getting there: HomeTeamNS Khatib is about a five-minute walk from Khatib MRT station on the North-South Line.

Nearby

Yishun is a quiet residential town, well away from the main tourist areas. Our guide to the Singapore heartlands explains what these housing towns are like. For more ideas in this part of the island, read our North Singapore guide. Sembawang Hot Spring Park is a short drive away. You can also browse all restaurants in Yishun and Sembawang or more Chinese restaurants in Singapore.