Do you tend to order the same couple of dishes every time you go to a zi char place? Even though you know it’s a safe choice that always tastes good, it’d be nice to try something new once in a while, wouldn’t it? So we came up with a list of well-reviewed zi char places that have unique and delicious specialty dishes. Dishes like lobster porridge or rice hor fun or seriously good angus beef.
Click on to see all the drool-worthy zi char dishes.
Yang Ming Seafood is a homegrown zi char eatery that serves up premium live seafoodat reasonable prices in the heartlands. Some of the unique dishes they have on hand are the Umami Crab Seafood Pao Fan and Chao Tah Pig Trotter Chee Cheong Fun.
Must try: On top of the usual repertoire of old-school zi char specialties, Yang Ming Seafood is best known for serving up iconic dishes such as the Salt Baked Crab, Andrew Lobster Chee Cheong Fun, and Pig’s Stomach Chicken Soup which are atypical of zi char menus. But if you would like to try something different, the Chao Tah Pig Trotter Chee Cheong Fun (a silky chee cheong fun stir-fried with pig trotter to a smoky ‘chao tah’ char for texture, served atop an egg omelette for extra protein), Dry Shrimp Vegetables (crunchy vegetables, stir-fried with dried shrimp for explosive umami flavours) and the Umami Crab Seafood Paofan are all must-tries for a gastronomic experience.
Where: 71 Ubi Cres, #01-05 Excalibur Centre, Singapore 408571
Next on this list is Orchid Live Seafood Restaurant.
Must try: Lobster porridge. And yes, lobster is affordable now, and it’s not just what you find in Asian-Western fusion restaurants. The lobster is fresh and sweet, the broth rich and savoury, and the generous sprinkling of crisp and juicy scallions add a little bit of freshness.
Where: 1 Bah Soon Pah Rd S769959 and 16 Jln Kelulut, Singapore 809030
Warning, this next dish is soooo addictive, that you’ll be coming back for more.
Must try: Butter pork ribs. Buttery and tender ribs are dusted in condensed milk powder and have curry leaves scattered in for that aroma. If you take a piece with a heap of milk powder on it, let it melt in your mouth and complement how savoury the meat is. Heaven.
Where: 116 Commonwealth Crescent, #01-129, Singapore 140116
Feeling crabby? Don’t worry, we know just what you need. 21 Seafood has the most affordable and tasty crabs out there. With 16 different ways you can order crab, you’re spoiled for choice, each dish’s sauce and style is simply exquisite.
Must try: The salted egg crab. First of all, it’s such a good deal for three small Sri Lankan crabs. It’s $25, with an additional $3 if you want salted egg sauce. To top it off, you need to order the crispy mantou buns. Crisp on the outside but soft within, it soaks up the sauce in the best possible way.
Where: 212 Hougang Street 21, #01-347, Singapore 530212
For a seafood place, you’d be surprised how good the beef is. It’s highly recommended by many reviewers.
Must try: The US Black Angus Ribeye Steak ($14 for 100g). The smoky beef comes chopped into succulent pieces that you can easily scoop and eat with fried rice, noodles, or whatever you like. And best of all, it is cooked medium-rare, so it’s tender and melts in the mouth. Mmm.
Where: 30 Victoria Street, #02-01B/C, Singapore 187996 (CHIJMES), and 16 Ah Hood Road, Singapore 329982 (Zhongshan Park – within Ramada by Wyndham Singapore at Zhongshan Park)
Think of good food at Serangoon, and you’d probably think of Chomp Chomp. Well, it’s time you tried the equally good alternative, Siang Hee Seafood.
Must try: Butter prawns with pumpkin cream sauce ($12). Yep that’s right, pumpkin sauce, and not salted egg yolk. It’s sweet, with just a tinge of savouriness, and mildly spicy from curry powder that kicks in after a few bites. Not to mention, the prawns are very large, juicy and crispy too.
Where: 49A Serangoon Garden Way, #01-20 Serangoon Garden Market, Singapore 555945
Ting Heng Seafood Restaurant can be found in Tiong Bahru, an airy, alfresco dining area. Their wide variety makes sure that there’s something for everyone. Ting Heng has signature dishes like Moonlight Hor Fun, Cuttlefish Sambal Kang Kong and Salted Fish Pork Cheek that’ll keep you going back for more.
Must try: Razor and Bamboo Clams. Known for its fresh seafood, get either razor or bamboo clams as one of your dishes and you won’t regret it.
Where: 82 Tiong Poh Road, #01-03, Singapore 160082
Listed in the Singapore Michelin Bib Gourmand Guide, Kok Sen Restaurant is one of the biggest names in the local zi char business. It’s so famous that despite its coffee-shop-style restaurant, reservations are recommended. The flavourful and rich dishes have people queuing every night for their food. With many well-known dishes like Big Prawn Crispy Noodles with Shrimp Omelette and Thai-style fried rice, it’s no wonder everyone is raving about it.
Must try: The star of the show, however, is no doubt the signature Claypot Yong Tau Foo. It’s usually available only on weekends and is a hot seller, make sure to get there early if you want a taste! We’ve seen regular yong tau foo, and we’ve seen it stir-fried, but claypot yong tau foo takes it to a whole other level. It’s all in the gravy, which is complex with notes of sweetness, salt, smokiness, and a hint of spice that keeps you going back for more.
Where: 30-32 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089137