Best Chilli Crab & Seafood in Singapore

Chilli crab & seafood in Singapore: what to know

A big seafood dinner is a favourite Singapore treat for locals and visitors alike. Chilli crab & seafood in Singapore is usually eaten at a round table, with everyone sharing. The places on this list range from casual neighbourhood restaurants to smart dining rooms by the water. Most serve crab in several styles, plus prawns, fish and shellfish.

What to order

• Chilli Crab: crab stir-fried in a thick, sweet and mildly spicy tomato-chilli sauce with egg. Order mantou, which are fried or steamed buns, to mop up the sauce.
• Black pepper crab: crab fried with plenty of cracked black pepper. It is drier than chilli crab, with more of a kick.
• Salted egg crab or prawns: coated in a rich, golden sauce made from salted egg yolks.
• Cereal prawns: prawns fried with crunchy, buttery cereal flakes.
• Crab bee hoon: crab cooked with thin rice noodles, sometimes in a milky broth.
• Steamed fish: a whole fish steamed with soy sauce, ginger and spring onion. It balances the richer dishes.
• Oysters and steak: for a Western-style meal, try Luke's Oyster Bar & Chop House in the Marina Bay and CBD area.

How crab is priced

Crab is usually sold by weight, and menus often say 'market price' or 'seasonal price'. The price depends on the type and size of the crab. Many restaurants offer mud crabs, and some also offer larger crabs or king crab.

• Ask the price per kilogram before you order.
• Ask how heavy your crab is. Staff can often show it to you before cooking.
• Plan on roughly one large crab for two people, plus a few side dishes.
• A crab dinner for two often costs from around S$100 upwards. Prices change, so check when you book.

Where to eat chilli crab and seafood

Marina Bay and the river

Jumbo Seafood (Riverside Point) sits on the Singapore River, across the water from Clarke Quay. Palm Beach Seafood and Majestic Bay Seafood are also in the Marina Bay and CBD area. You can pair dinner with an evening walk by the bay.

Katong and Joo Chiat

In the east, Roland Restaurant and Joo Chiat Ban Chong both serve seafood. Combine dinner with a look at the area's heritage shophouses. See all Restaurants in Katong & Joo Chiat for more.

Neighbourhood favourites

Locals often head out of the centre for crab. Mellben Seafood (Ang Mo Kio) is in Ang Mo Kio and Bishan. Uncle Leong Seafood and House of Seafood are in Serangoon and Punggol. These areas take longer to reach, so a taxi or ride-hailing car is often easiest at night.

Dempsey and HarbourFront

Long Beach Seafood (Dempsey) is in leafy Dempsey, Tanglin and Holland. Seafood Paradise is in the HarbourFront area, handy before or after a trip to Sentosa.

Many zi char kitchens, which cook home-style Chinese dishes to order, also serve crab. Browse Zi Char for more ideas.

Tips for a seafood dinner

• Book for groups. Big tables at popular places fill up at weekends.
• Be ready for mess. Crab is eaten with your hands. Restaurants usually give out bibs, crackers and wet towels.
• Watch the extras. Peanuts, wet towels and rice may be charged. Menu prices marked '++' will have a service charge and GST added.
• Mention allergies. Tell staff about any shellfish allergy before you order.
• Check halal status. Not all seafood restaurants are halal. Look for the MUIS halal certificate on display if you need it.

FAQs about chilli crab & seafood in Singapore

Is chilli crab very spicy?

Not usually. The sauce is more sweet and savoury than hot. You can ask for it less spicy if you are sensitive to chilli.

How do you eat chilli crab?

Use the crackers to open the shell, then pick out the meat with your fingers. Dip mantou buns in the sauce. Expect to get a little messy.

What is the difference between chilli crab and black pepper crab?

Chilli crab comes in a thick, sweet tomato-chilli sauce. Black pepper crab is drier, with a strong pepper flavour.

How much crab should I order?

One large crab usually feeds two people, alongside a few other dishes. For a group, order a couple of crabs in different styles to share.