The 9 Best Chilli Crab Restaurants in Singapore (2026)

Updated October 2026 · 9 picks

The best chilli crab in Singapore in 2026 is at JUMBO Seafood (Riverside Point), Roland Restaurant in Marine Parade, Keng Eng Kee Seafood in Bukit Merah and Long Beach Seafood at Dempsey. Red House, Palm Beach and New Ubin are good central picks, and Alliance Seafood at Newton Food Centre is the hawker option.

Chilli crab is mud crab stir-fried in a sweet, tangy, mildly spicy tomato-and-chilli sauce thickened with egg, eaten with your hands and fried mantou buns to mop up the sauce. Crab is priced by weight (live mud crab ran from around S$100–150 a kilo at restaurants in 2026), so ask for the price and have the crab weighed before it is cooked. East Coast Seafood Centre, long the classic crab destination, lost its two big names when JUMBO closed its flagship there and Long Beach moved out in September 2026.

1. JUMBO Seafood (Riverside Point) — Clarke Quay (Riverside Point)

The name most visitors know, with a consistent, crowd-pleasing chilli crab.

$$$ Upmarket

JUMBO is Singapore's best-known seafood brand, and its chilli crab — thick, sweet, tangy and not too hot — is the version many first-timers measure others by. The Riverside Point outlet sits on the river opposite Clarke Quay, with outdoor tables on the water.

Order chilli crab with fried mantou, plus cereal prawns or black pepper crab if there are more of you. It suits first-timers, families and groups; other outlets include Dempsey Hill, ION Orchard and Jewel Changi Airport.

Good to know: Book a riverside table for the evening, and ask for the crab's weight and price before it's cooked.

#01-01/02 Riverside Point, 30 Merchant Rd, Singapore 058282

Google Maps Website

2. Roland Restaurant — Marine Parade, Katong

A big, old-school banquet hall run by the family credited with inventing chilli crab.

$$ Mid-range

Roland occupies the sixth floor of a car park block in Marine Parade, and the setting is pure Singapore: a large, bright Chinese banquet hall full of families. It is run by the family of Cher Yam Tian, generally credited with creating chilli crab in the 1950s.

The chilli crab here is less sweet than most and good value, especially when there's a two-crab promotion. Add fried buns and a few zi char dishes, and book for weekend dinners.

Good to know: Take the lift to level 6 of Blk 89; it's a short taxi ride from Katong.

#06-750 Blk 89 Marine Parade Central, Singapore 440089

Google Maps Website

3. Keng Eng Kee Seafood — Alexandra Village, Bukit Merah

The zi char shop locals choose for crab, at fairer prices than the big brands.

$$ Mid-range

Keng Eng Kee (KEK) has been cooking in Bukit Merah since 1970 and is one of Singapore's most loved zi char restaurants. Its coffee-shop setting at Alexandra Village is casual and noisy, and its crab is sold at a flat price per crab rather than by weight.

Order chilli crab with mantou, then the moonlight hor fun and coffee pork ribs. The SAFRA outlets in Tampines and Punggol are easier to book but less atmospheric.

Good to know: Reserve by phone for dinner; crab is cooked to order, so expect a wait.

#01-136 Blk 124 Bukit Merah Lane 1, Singapore 150124

Google Maps

4. Long Beach Seafood (Dempsey) — Dempsey Hill

A long-running crab house in leafy Dempsey, best known for its black pepper crab.

$$$ Upmarket

Long Beach is one of Singapore's oldest seafood restaurant names, and its Dempsey outlet occupies a large, airy building on Dempsey Road. Black pepper crab is its signature, but the chilli crab is solid and both cost the same.

Order one of each with mantou and some cereal prawns. It suits families and groups; the East Coast outlet has moved to Coastal PlayGrove, and there's another at Robertson Quay.

Good to know: Bigger crabs jump a price band — ask before you choose.

25 Dempsey Rd, Singapore 249670

Google Maps Website

5. Red House Seafood (Clarke Quay) — Clarke Quay

A central, polished seafood restaurant with a chilli crab that suits all palates.

$$$ Upmarket

Red House has been around since 1976 and now runs three outlets, including a Nanyang-style dining room at Clarke Quay and another at the Esplanade. The chilli crab is well balanced, and service is slicker than at most zi char places.

Order chilli crab with mantou plus a lighter steamed fish to balance the meal. It suits visitors staying around the river and the CBD.

Good to know: The Esplanade outlet is the better pick before a show at the theatres next door.

#01-02/03 CQ @ Clarke Quay, 3C River Valley Rd, Singapore 179022

Google Maps Website

6. Palm Beach Seafood — One Fullerton, Marina Bay

Chilli crab with a front-row view of Marina Bay Sands.

$$$$ Splurge

Palm Beach sits at One Fullerton on the waterfront, looking across the bay to Marina Bay Sands. It is a long-established seafood name, and the view makes it a natural choice for a special-occasion crab dinner.

Crab is priced at market rate, so ask first. Order chilli crab with mantou and ask for an outdoor table to catch the light show over the bay.

Good to know: Book a terrace table for 8pm to watch the Spectra light and water show across the bay.

#01-09 One Fullerton, 1 Fullerton Rd, Singapore 049213

Google Maps Website

7. New Ubin Seafood (CHIJMES) — City Hall (CHIJMES)

Zi char with a cult following, now in the CHIJMES courtyard and open late.

$$$ Upmarket

New Ubin started as a kampong seafood restaurant on Pulau Ubin and built a following in the heartlands before moving to CHIJMES, the restored convent complex by City Hall. It is open until 1am.

Order chilli crab, then its signature steak with caramelised onions and fried rice, the dish regulars come back for. Look out for its regular multi-crab deals.

Good to know: City Hall MRT is a five-minute walk; it's a good late-night option.

#02-01B/C CHIJMES, 30 Victoria St, Singapore 187996

Google Maps Website

8. Alliance Seafood — Newton Food Centre

Michelin Bib Gourmand chilli crab at hawker-centre prices.

$$ Mid-range

Alliance Seafood is a zi char stall at Newton Food Centre and is on Michelin's 2026 Bib Gourmand list. Its chilli crab is rich and spicy, and you eat it at an open-air table among the evening crowds.

Order chilli crab with mantou, barbecued stingray and cereal prawns. It suits travellers who want crab without restaurant service charges.

Good to know: Crab is priced by weight and season — get the price before ordering.

#01-27 Newton Food Centre, 500 Clemenceau Ave North, Singapore 229495

Google Maps

9. Hua Yu Wee — Upper East Coast

An old bungalow seafood restaurant — the last taste of the old East Coast crab night.

$$$ Upmarket

Hua Yu Wee has been serving seafood from a bungalow on Upper East Coast Road for decades, with tables in the garden and a refreshingly old-fashioned feel.

Order chilli crab and fried buns, and come with a group. It is dinner only and best suited to a relaxed evening in the east.

Good to know: It opens only for dinner, from 5pm — book for weekends.

462 Upper East Coast Rd, Singapore 466508

Google Maps

Frequently asked questions

How much does chilli crab cost in Singapore?

Expect around S$100–150 per kilo for live mud crab at restaurants in 2026, plus 10% service charge and 9% GST. A crab of about 1kg feeds two, so budget roughly S$120–180 for two with buns and rice. Zi char shops such as Keng Eng Kee are a little cheaper.

Where was chilli crab invented?

Chilli crab is generally credited to Cher Yam Tian, who sold it from a pushcart in the 1950s; her family later ran Roland Restaurant in Marine Parade, which still serves it.

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

Chilli crab comes in a sweet, eggy tomato-chilli sauce; black pepper crab is dry-fried with butter and plenty of coarse black pepper. Most crab restaurants cook both — order one of each to share.

Do I need to book a chilli crab restaurant?

Yes for dinner at JUMBO, Long Beach, Palm Beach and Roland, especially at weekends. Keng Eng Kee and hawker stalls like Alliance Seafood take walk-ins, but queues build after 7pm.

Where can I eat chilli crab at a hawker centre?

Alliance Seafood at Newton Food Centre is on Michelin's 2026 Bib Gourmand list. See our guide to the best hawker centres in Singapore.

1. JUMBO Seafood (Riverside Point) — Clarke Quay (Riverside Point)

2. Roland Restaurant — Marine Parade, Katong

3. Keng Eng Kee Seafood — Alexandra Village, Bukit Merah

4. Long Beach Seafood (Dempsey) — Dempsey Hill

5. Red House Seafood (Clarke Quay) — Clarke Quay

6. Palm Beach Seafood — One Fullerton, Marina Bay

7. New Ubin Seafood (CHIJMES) — City Hall (CHIJMES)

8. Alliance Seafood — Newton Food Centre

9. Hua Yu Wee — Upper East Coast

Frequently asked questions

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