When we talk about Singapore’s culinary landscape, one of the most iconic dishes that has earned itself international acclaim is none other than the famous chilli crab. Having received approval from both locals and tourists alike, most would agree that this is a quintessential Singaporean dish not to be missed. Anyone who argues about its origins is either lying or is terribly misinformed. Period.

While many seafood restaurants in Singapore have their own renditions of this local dish, the gravy is almost always a combination of sweet, spicy and savoury flavours, accented with chilli and tomato sauce. Dig into it with your bare hands to enjoy the full experience—yes, this is a meal that is meant to be messy so don’t be shy about licking the sauce off your fingers!

Hosting your overseas friends for a meal? Here are 12 Best Chilli Crabs In Singapore to introduce to them.

TUNGLOK SEAFOOD

TungLok Seafood’s Chilli Crab is one of the restaurant’s bestsellers. The crabs are cooked to perfection and its plump flesh does not stick to the shell; the outer shell breaks easily hence allowing one to dig into the fresh crabmeat almost effortlessly.

The secret ingredient that lies in the chilli-based tomato sauce is one that gives the viscous gravy an extra oomph, and you would never have guessed that it is freshly squeezed orange juice.

181 Orchard Road #11-05,
Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 6834 4888
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sun and PH: 10am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

BAN HENG

You may have heard of Ban Heng for their ridiculously affordable dim sum buffet but the restaurant’s rendition of Chilli Crab is one you should be taking note of. While other chilli crab recipes outside tend to be sweeter, this one is considerably spicier and it should impress those who enjoy spice.

1 Maritime Square #04-01,
HarbourFront Centre
Singapore 099253
Tel: +65 6278 0288 / +65 6278 1354
Daily: 11.30am – 2pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

BLUE LOTUS CHINESE EATING HOUSE

Known for their Signature Chilli Pomelo Crab, Blue Lotus sources for meaty Sri Lankan crabs that are stir-fried with thick tomato-based sauce that mixed with chopped herbs and spices such as lemongrass and curry leaves for that aromatic flavour.

31 Ocean Way #01-13,
Quayside Isle
Singapore 098375
Tel: +65 6339 0880
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Mon to Fri: 6pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 11.30am  – 10pm
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

SEAFOOD PARADISE

As Paradise Group’s first culinary concept, Seafood Paradise has created a strong branding for itself when it comes to seafood and of course, their Singapore’s Famous Chilli Crab which is on the spicier side—catering more for the local taste buds. If you find the spice too much to handle, have them with deep-fried mantou.

10 Bayfront Avenue #02-03,
Marina Bay Sands (Level 2 Dining)
Singapore 018956
Tel: +65 6688 7051
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Bayfront

GINGER

Swimming in a subtly sweet, savoury and spicy gravy, the much-loved Chilli Crabs is a staple and we particularly love Executive Chef Low’s rendition as it is served with lots of egg stirred into the sauce mixture to give it a luscious and decadent texture.

7500 Beach Road
PARKROYAL on Beach Road
Singapore 199591
For reservations: +65 6505 5710 or dining.prsin@parkroyalhotels.com
Daily: 6am – 12am
Nearest Stations: Bugis / Nicoll Highway

J65

This is undisputedly one of J65’s best dishes and the crabs are stir-fried in garlic, ginger, shallots, tomato paste and chilli sauce. The best part? The succulent and juicy chilli crabs are free-flow at this buffet restaurant!

1A Cuscaden Road Level 1
Hotel Jen Tanglin Singapore
Singapore 249716
Tel: +65 6831 4374
Daily: 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

JUMBO SEAFOOD

Before chilli crabs became ubiquitous at all the seafood restaurants in Singapore, JUMBO seafood was one of the first few to perfect this recipe. Their award-winning restaurant used to be one of the most talked about in town and continues to be one of the top choices among tourists who wish to have a taste of the Singapore chilli crab.

Block 1206 East Coast Parkway #01-07/08,
East Coast Seafood Centre
Singapore 449883
Tel: +65 6442 3435
Mon to Fri: 5pm – 11.45pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 11.30am – 12am
Nearest Station: Bedok

Photo Credit: Palm Beach Seafood

PALM BEACH SEAFOOD

Having been around since 1956, you can only expect the best from this established seafood restaurant. Situated within One Fullerton with a fantastic view of the Marina Bay waterfront, their Sri Lankan chilli crab is indeed worth the splurge.

1 Fullerton Road #01-09,
One Fullerton
Singapore 049213
Tel: +65 6336 8118
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Raffles Place

SPICE BRASSERIE

Spice Brasserie at PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road has one of the most value-for-money seafood buffet spreads in Singapore. We liked that the chefs did their own twist on the chilli crab with a thicker and spicier sauce instead of the traditional and typical Singapore-style chilli crab.

PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road
181 Kitchener Rd
Singapore 208533
Tel: +65 6428 3160
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm to 10pm
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

ROLAND SEAFOOD

The origins of chilli crab are widely associated with Roland Seafood restaurant as it is said that the owner’s father is the founder of the iconic Singapore Chilli Crab. Continuing on the founder’s legacy, the restaurant still serves the original recipe today and it is slightly sweeter than the ones you will find elsewhere.

Block 89, Marine Parade Central, #06-750
Singapore 440089
Tel: +65 6440 8205
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sun & PH: 11am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Eunos

RED HOUSE SEAFOOD

Satisfying diners since 1976, Red House Seafood pays tribute to Asian cooking techniques by incorporating Chinese, Malay, Peranakan and Indian flavours into their dishes. Opt for the Red House Chilli Crab and you get to choose among varieties such as Sri Lankan Mud Crab, Scottish Brown Crab and Alaskan King Crab.

60 Robertson Quay #01-14,
The Quayside
Singapore 238252
Tel: +65 6735 7666
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

NO SIGNBOARD SEAFOOD

Starting out as a hawker stall at Mattar Road Hawker Centre, No Signboard Seafood restaurant is now a leading seafood restaurant chain in Singapore. Apart from the acclaimed White Pepper Crab dish, many loyal patrons visit them time and again for their quality chilli crabs as well.

6 Eu Tong Sen Street #04-63,
The Central @ Clarke Quay
Singapore 059817
Tel: +65 6221 9959
Daily: 11am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

Ban Heng has a dim sum buffet with more than 30 dim sum items at just S$17.60++ per pax.

There is no doubt that Singaporeans take their dim sum seriously—we would source high and low for the best dim sum places in Singapore. What we love even more though, is a great deal that is easy on our pockets without compromising on the quality of the dim sum.

Originally at S$22.80++ per pax (inclusive of S$2 charge for Chinese tea, pickles & towels), Ban Heng has a current promotion of one dines free with every three paying adults. This works out to be only S$17.60++ per person! Yes, you can go for this awesome deal when you visit any of the five Ban Heng restaurants in Singapore during weekday lunch hours.

Here is why you should not miss out on this incredible dim sum deal at Ban Heng.

BAN HENG DIM SUM LUNCH BUFFET

At Ban Heng, there are more than 15 deep-fried dim sum items for you to chose from. We had a hard time deciding what we want from the myriad of choices but we sure aren’t complaining!

Our favourite of the lot goes to the Deep-Fried Shrimp Dumplings. The plump shrimp encased in a crispy shell was so addictive that one plate was not enough for us to share. If you are a fan of shrimps, be sure to get more of this because it is THE BOMB.

Another dim sum dish not to be missed at Ban Heng is the Barbecued Char Siew Pastry with Sesame. This is a timeless classic and we enjoyed the flaky pastry puff roll filled with juicy and tender barbecued pork.

Some other deep-fried dim sum you must try include the Deep-Fried Beancurd Skin, Paper Wrapped Chicken Wings and Baked Mini Egg Tarts. Do note that Egg Tarts are limited to one serving for weekdays only.

Those who prefer steamed dim sum can look forward to a wide selection which will not disappoint your taste buds. These freshly steamed dim sum are little parcels of happiness and were all served piping hot to us.

No dim sum buffet is complete without Steamed Shanghai Meat Dumplings, or more commonly referred to as ‘Xiao Long Bao’. Slurp up the warm broth that bursts out from thin dumpling skins before indulging in the delicious meat!

The Steamed Pork Ribs With Minced Meat may look unassuming, but trust us when we say that it was one of the best dim sum dishes. It was the fragrant black bean sauce which really hit all the right spots for us and gave the steamed pork ribs an extra oomph.

Yes, we know that you are waiting for us to talk about the Steamed Salted Egg Yolk “Liu Sha” Bun. And yes, it definitely lived up to our expectations when the custard lava exploded out upon giving the bun a slight tear. Remember to whip out your phones for that Boomerang video!

If you are looking for alternatives, try the Steamed Siew Mai With Crab Roes, Shrimp Chang Fun, Steamed Shrimp & Water Chestnut Wanton… and the list goes on.

BAN HENG SEAFOOD BUFFET (LUNCH AND DINNER)

Beyond the dim sum buffet, Ban Heng also offers an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet which features Singaporeans’ favourite Chilli Crab, Cold Crab, Steamed Soon Hock and more.

Similar to the dim sum buffet deal, one adult dines free with every three paying adults! With that promotion, Ban Heng’s Seafood Buffet is only S$25.10++ per person instead of the regular price of S$32.80++ per pax (inclusive of S$2 charge for Chinese tea, pickles & towels).

Under the Chef’s Recommendation category, diners will find the best recipes Ban Heng has to offer. These premium items are limited to one serving per dish.

Crabs come in three different flavours—Chilli, Cold and Black Pepper. Ban Heng’s rendition of Chilli Crab is one that will delight all spicy food lovers. While other chilli crab recipes outside tend to be sweeter, this one is considerably spicier and it should impress you.

Ban Heng has also introduced the popular Teochew-style Cold Crabs to its seafood buffet menu since 01 Aug 2017. Nothing fanciful about these crabs, but that is precisely the essence of Teochew Cold Crabs—chilled, fresh crabs that is so sweet with every bite. And oh, that roe. Look at those roe. Every piece comes with an insane amount of rich and creamy roe—the prized part of Teochew Cold Crabs. Who cares about cholesterol?

Ban Heng’s seafood buffet also includes the classic Steamed Soon Hock Fish with Soya Sauce. Served piping hot from the kitchen, the steamed fish was extremely moist and fresh and the flavours were elevated with premium soya sauce.

Of course, we must give special mention to the Barbecued Crispy Duck under the Roasted Meat category too. Kudos to the chefs for roasting the duck so well that the crispy skin was in a glorious dark brown shade. The duck meat had a good layer of fats which added extra flavours to the succulent duck meat.

Diners can also expect other dishes including Shark’s Fin Soup with Crabmeat, Wok Fried Prawns with Cereal, Braised Slice Goose Meat in Teochew Style, Barbecued Pork with Honey and Chilled Prawn with Special Thai Sauce.

Dim Sum Buffet Lunch (A La Carte Prices)
Mon to Fri: Adult S$20.80++*, Child S$13.80++
Sat, Sun & Eve of PH: Adult S$23.80++, Child S$13.80++
PH: Adult S$25.80++, Child S$13.80++

*One dines free with every three paying adults.

Seafood Buffet Lunch & Dinner (A La Carte Prices)
Mon to Fri: Adult S$30.80++*, Child S$13.80++
Sat, Sun & Eve of PH: Adult S$33.80++, Child S$13.80++
PH: Adult S$35.80++, Child S$13.80++

*One dines free with every three paying adults.

Chinese tea, pickles and towels are chargeable at S$2 per pax.

Ban Heng @ HarbourFront Centre
1 Maritime Square
#04-01, HarbourFront Centre
Singapore 099253
Tel: +65 6278 0288 / +65 6278 1354
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

Ban Heng @ The Cathay
2 Handy Road
#02-01 The Cathay
Singapore 229233
Tel: +65 6732 7888 / +65 6732 6623
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station : Dhoby Ghaut

Ban Heng @ Orchard Central
181 Orchard Road
#11-01/02 Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 6238 1516 /  +656238 7816
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

Ban Heng @ Pasir Ris
60 Pasir Ris Drive 3
Singapore 519497
Tel: +65 6585 1770 / +65 6585 1093
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Pasir Ris

Ban Heng @ Boon Keng
Blk 22 Boon Keng Road #01-21
Singapore 330022
Tel: +65 6291 0407 / +65 6298 5285
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station : Boon Keng

This post is brought to you by Ban Heng Group.