Red House Seafood (Esplanade)

Red House Seafood (Esplanade) is the Marina Bay branch of one of Singapore's oldest seafood restaurants. It is on the ground floor of Esplanade Mall, along the waterfront promenade. The brand calls its cooking Singapore Nanyang-style seafood.

Red House began in 1976 on Upper East Coast Road. It is a family business now in its third generation. The Esplanade branch opened in October 2022, bringing the brand back to the waterside. The other two outlets are at Grand Copthorne Waterfront and Clarke Quay.

What to order

The menu blends early Chinese cooking from Canton, Fujian and Hainan with Malay, Indian and Peranakan touches. Fresh shipments come in each week, with seafood from the North Sea, the Indian Ocean and Oceania. The kitchen makes its sauces from scratch, and crab is cooked to order.

• Chilli crab: the house flagship. Crab also comes with black pepper, white pepper, salted egg yolk or typhoon shelter style with garlic and chilli.
• Lobster in creamy custard sauce: one of the restaurant's own signature dishes.
• Crab meat pao fan: rice cooked porridge-style with fresh crab meat and topped with crispy rice.
• Braised fish meat noodles: another signature on the menu.
• From the grill: this branch has a barbecue section, a nod to local street food. Look for chicken satay, grilled lobster and chargrilled wagyu steak.

Smaller plates include bamboo clams steamed with garlic and vermicelli, cereal prawns and sambal kangkong with sakura shrimp. Set menus suit larger groups.

The setting

It sits right on the Marina Bay waterfront promenade. Inside, the design has Nanyang-style touches. There are two private rooms for family dinners and business meals. The Esplanade lists it as family-friendly.

Good to know before you go

• Book online through TableCheck or by phone. Links are on the official website.
• Live seafood is priced by weight and the price changes daily. Ask the staff for the day's price before you order.
• Pork is on the menu, so tell the staff about any dietary needs.
• The group also runs chilli crab cooking workshops for those who want to learn the dish.

Getting there

The restaurant is in units #01-14 to #01-16 of Esplanade Mall at 8 Raffles Avenue. The Esplanade names Esplanade and City Hall as the nearest MRT stations.

Nearby

After dinner, walk along the bay to Merlion Park or cross the Helix Bridge. Our one-day Marina Bay walking route passes close by. Mandarin Oriental Singapore is one of the nearest hotels.

For more choices, see our chilli crab and seafood restaurants, all restaurants in Marina Bay and the CBD, and our seafood guides.