To put it simply, the direct Hokkien translation of ‘zi char’ is “cook and fry” and zi char stalls in Singapore offer a wide range of dishes that are much like home-cooked meals.

Zi char is a perennial favourite dining style when we plan big gatherings. The idea of sharing plates of Chinese food in a boisterous setting is really quintessentially Singapore! It is relatively simple and cheap as opposed to a posh restaurant and the loud chatter and bursts of laughter over the eating make up the ambience.

We’ve gathered a list of the more popular spots for zi char in the far West of Singapore. Here are 9 zi char eateries in Jurong to take your gatherings to.

Photo Credit: teosheewee

BIG EATER SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

Gather around the crabs at Big Eater Seafood Restaurant and you’ll do good to choose between salted egg yolk and black pepper. Otherwise, opt for the easy way out and order both. Get their KL Hokkien Mee for sharing too along with a Crispy Fried Tofu.

964 Jurong West Street 91, #01-342
Singapore 640964
Tel: +65 6397 0480
Daily: 4pm – 2am
Nearest Station: Pioneer

Photo Credit: noobwifethecook

HONG GUAN COOKED FOOD

Hong Guan Cooked Food opened its first stall in 1986 and has been serving zi char with a signature Claypot Assam Curry Fish Head for three decades since. Though sweet and sour meat is usually prepped with pork, Hong Guan uses chicken thigh meat. Order it with their Sambal Sweet Potato Leaves.

3 Yung Sheng Road, #03-139/140
Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre
Singapore 618499
Tel: +65 6265 8860
Tue to Sat: 11am – 2am, 4:30pm – 9pm
(Closed on Sundays and Mondays)
Nearest Station: Lakeside

Photo Credit: Kelvin Tham

HUALONG FISHHEAD STEAMBOAT

Hualong Fishhead Steamboat was, for a long time, deeply rooted in Ang Moh Kio before they expanded out with their ever popular Charcoal Fish Head Steamboat as their reigning dish. The newest outlet was only just launched in late March in Jurong East but it’s unique because its dishes are a combo of zi char and mala (spicy numbing stir-fry).

Blk 526 Jurong West St 52
Zhen Wei Coffee Shop
Singapore 640526
Nearest Station: Lakeside

Photo Credit: jt6263

KAI XIANG SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

Head to Kai Xiang Seafood Restaurant with a group of four and more to gather around their Fish Steamboat. Their signature Fried Eggs With Oysters is an absolute must. Though it’s pricier than the average, it impresses with generous portions of plump and briny oysters over crisp eggs that are fried without starch.

349 Jurong East Ave 1
Singapore 600349
Tel: +65 6563 7798
Daily: 8am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Chinese Garden

Photo Credit: starstuddedx

LEGACY SEAFOOD

Legacy Seafood might sound more familiar if you knew it was previously called Uncle Leong Seafood. Despite the name change, their recommendations remain the same with Chilli Crab or Shimmering Sand Crab Delight as their top crustacean dishes and Guinness Pork Ribs as their must-have main.

10 Science Centre Rd, #01-23
Singapore 609079
Tel: +65 6897 2881
Daily: 11am – 10:30pm
Nearest Station: Jurong East

Photo Credit: wild_biao_catch

QI LIN XUAN KITCHEN

The signatures at Qi Lin Xuan Kitchen are their Teo Chew Style Steamed Red Groupa, Curry Fish Head, Ginger Onion Deer Meat, and for greens, H.K. Kai Lan with Silver Fish. For crustaceans, their popular crabs are Chilli Crab and Salted Egg Yolk Crab. Qi Lin Xuan has a number of outlets so besides Jurong West, you can find another branch near Jurong East MRT Station.

442 Jurong West Ave 1, #01-758
Singapore 640442
Tel: +65 6569 2540
Daily: 3pm – 11:30pm
Nearest Station: Lakeside

Photo Credit: ahungrywes

SINGFOOD STALL

Help yourselves to halal zi char dishes at SingFood Stall when you take your group gatherings to Jurong. Besides Curry Fish Head, try their creamy Cheese Prawn Bee Hoon that comes in a claypot. Their Hot Plate Chilli Snapper that’s not too spicy and has a sweet aftertaste.

504 Jurong West Street 51
Singapore 640504
Tel: +65 9815 2768
Daily: 12pm – 10:30pm
Nearest Station: Lakeside

Photo Credit: winnie_photography_

SUM KEE FOOD

Opposite Superbowl Jurong is where the second outlet of Sum Kee Food sits. You might find fish eggs in their signature Curry Fish Head that is meaty with smooth and tender flesh. Order their Ultraman Chicken which is popcorn chicken coated in salted egg yolk sauce.

19 Yung Ho Rd
Singapore 618592
Tel: +65 6873 3069
Daily: 11am – 2:30pm, 5pm – 10:30pm
Nearest Station: Lakeside

Photo Credit: michelin guide

ZAI SHUN CURRY FISH HEAD

For a hugely popular spot amongst West-siders that also received a Michelin Bib Gourmand Award in 2017, Zai Shun Curry Fish Head is the spot for steamed fish and Teochew porridge. You’ll want to bring your family down early for Zai Shun closes by the early afternoon and you don’t want to miss them just because you couldn’t beat the lunch crowd.

253 Jurong East Street 24, #01-205
Singapore 600253
Tel: +65 6560 8594
Thu to Tue: 7am – 3pm
(Closed on Wednesdays)
Nearest Station: Jurong East

Thanks to the downtown line, it is easier for us to explore other parts of Singapore in search of hidden food gems. And when it comes to hidden gems in Singapore, who can deny that Beauty World is amongst the top of most foodies’ lists? A secret food haven brimming with cosy cafes and eateries that serve tasty, affordable nosh, this enclave has it all.

We have here a list of great places that sell mouth-watering food. These places are located 5 minutes away from the MRT, so all you need to do is hop on the train, get off at Beauty World and then walk there!

Photo Credit: Buta Kin

BUTA KIN RAMEN 

Never would you expect to find good quality ramen in Singapore for under S$10. However, Buta Kin has managed to do just that. They sell restaurant-quality ramen in generous portions for S$6.90 a bowl, and we love how they are not stingy with their ingredients. Each bowl comes filled to the brim with thick slices of chashu, black fungus, nori, and a soft boiled egg.

144 Upper Bukit Timah Road, #04-28
Singapore 588177
Daily: 11.30am – 8.30am
(Closed on Mondays)

CARPENTER & COOK

This is probably the most popular at Lorong Kilat that is both a vintage home store and cafe, with some of the prettiest cakes. This is the ideal spot to rest and relax with a nice warm cup of coffee and a book.

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19 Lorong Kilat, #01-06,
Singapore 598120
Tel: +65 6463 3648
Mon to Fri: 10am – 10pm
Sat: 9am – 10pm
Sun: 9am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Beauty World

G7 SIN MA CLAYPOT LIVE FROG 

To some, the idea of eating frog porridge may sound a bit squeamish. However, don’t dismiss it too quickly because frog porridge is actually really delicious! If you’re a first timer looking for a good place to try frog porridge, this would be a great place to try. The frog here is very sweet and tender, and tastes just like chicken — if not better!

5 Cheong Chin Nam Road
Tel: +65 64677317
Singapore 599730
Daily: 12pm – 3am

Photo Credit: Eatalltheyumz

HE ZHONG CARROT CAKE 

Tucked away in Bukit Timah Market and Food Centre is He Zhong Carrot Cake, which hands down sells some of the best white carrot cake in Singapore. For just S$2.50, you get an incredibly generous portion of chunky, springy and fragrant carrot cake that is great to chow down by yourself or to share around. For an extra kick, you can dip it in their tangy homemade chili sauce.

Bukit Timah Market and Food Centre
#02-185, Upper Bukit Timah Road
Singapore 588215
Thu to Tue: 6am – 8.30pm
Wed: 6am – 1am

Photo Credit: Jew Kit

JEW KIT CHICKEN RICE 

This place sells some really great chicken rice, and is a great place to go to when the chicken rice cravings hit you hard. The chicken served here is incredibly tender and silky, and it goes really well with their fragrant rice. Order a whole chicken to share around if you’re planning on going in a big group!

Bukit Timah Shopping Centre
170 Upper Bukit Timah Road, #B1-16/17/18
Tel: +65 64632637
Daily: 10am – 9pm

Photo Credit: Limpehtakemeto

JOO SENG TEOCHEW PORRIDGE AND RICE 

Joo Seng Teochew Porridge is one of our go-to places when we need to have our Teochew porridge fix. They have a plethora of ingredients to choose from, and it’s all very affordably priced. This place is great for a gathering with family and friends as you can order and try more dishes to share around.

14 Cheong Chin Nam Road
Singapore 599738
Tel: +65 64630768
Daily: 10am – 4am

KINDRED FOLK 

Tucked away in the new KAP Residence Mall is Kindred Folk, a charming double-storey ice cream cafe that serves a decent selection of unique homemade ice creams such as Roasted Rice Milk Tea and Wasabi. Besides ice cream, they also sell mains such as pasta and chicken drums.

9 King Albert Park
#01-09, King Albert Park Shopping Mall
Singapore 598332
Tel: +65 69283043
Daily: 12pm – 10pm

Photo Credit: Remintheeatingplace

PROSPERITY SEAFOOD WHITE BEE HOON 

Seafood White Bee Hoon is becoming a popular food item for a lot of Singaporeans these days, and it’s not hard to understand why. There is something incredibly satisfying about a steaming plate of white bee hoon that’s accompanied by a copious amount of seafood. Prosperity Seafood Bee Hoon does this job well and sells must-try white seafood bee hoon.

Bukit Timah Hawker Centre
51 Upper Bukit Timah Road, #02-182
Singapore 588215

Photo Credit: Jessalynnnhoe

SIN CHEW SATAY BEE HOON 

Satay Bee Hoon is one of the less raved about dishes here in Singapore, and we feel like it deserves more attention because it’s so sinfully good! Sin Chew does a good job of making a plate of satay bee hoon, and its hard to resist their plate of rice vermicelli smothered in a copious amount of sweet and savoury satay sauce.

Bukit Timah Market and Food Centre
51 Upper Bukit Timah Road #02-162
Singapore 588215
Wed and Thu: 5pm – 10pm
Sat and Sun: 11am – 2.30pm, 5pm – 10pm
(Closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Friday)

Photo Credit: Kianzoid

XIE KEE HOKKIEN MEE  

Xie Kee Hokkien Mee is hands down one of the best Hokkien mees we have ever tried in Singapore, and its never-ending long snaking queues can attest to that! What makes them special is that they use flat noodles instead of the usual yellow noodles. The noodles soak up the gravy really well and have that satisfying touch of wok hei to it.

51 Upper Bukit Timah Road, #02-174
Singapore 588215
Daily: 11.30am – 11pm

Photo Credit: Platgal 

ZHONG ZHONG FINE SPICE  

If you’re looking for a stall that specialises in ngoh hiang, this is the place to be at. They have a decent variety of ingredients here such as crispy prawn fritters, you tiao, yau kwa, whole stuffed squid and pink sausages. We love dunking it in the pink sweet sauce for a sweet touch!

51 Upper Bukit Timah Road, #02-149
Singapore 588172

Photo Credit: The.coolbean

ZHOU PIN PORRIDGE  

We feel that Zhou Pin porridge does not get as much credit as it deserves. This humble stall sells a wide range of porridges that are great for a rainy day or if you’re looking for some comfort food. Each bowl comes with a long, crunchy stick of you tiao, and the owners are very generous with their servings of porridge. 

51 Upper Bukit Timah Road, #02-149
Singapore 588172

Read: Beauty World Food Centre Guide – 8 hawker gems to try