The 7 Best Chilli Crab in Singapore 2022 [Official Review]

Image: Red House Seafood

If you are looking for the most typical and enjoyable dish for your trip to Singapore, it is hard to look past chilli crab. Basically, chilli crab is a seafood dish in which stir-fried crab is coated with sweet, savoury, and spicy tomato-based sauce. This dish is often accompanied by steam or deep-fried buns (also known as mantous).

Chilli Crab is listed at number 35 on the World’s 50 most delicious foods, compiled by CNN Go in 2011. So this Singaporean iconic seafood dish is a must try to complete the culinary exploring journey of any traveler. And here are the five best seafood restaurants in Singapore for you to have the 7 best chilli crab [updated 2022].

1. JUMBO Seafood Restaurant

Image: JUMBO Seafood Restaurant

Best for

Chilli crab by the riverside

Price

S$50 per pax

Address

20 Upper Circular Road
#B1-48 The Riverwalk
Singapore 058416

Phone

[phone]

Opening hours

Daily 12:00 – 15:00, 18:00 – 00:00

Table reservation

JUMBO Seafood is famous for its live seafood, prepared in Singapore style. With more than twenty-year experience in serving local and international foodies, Jumbo Seafood is able to touch customers’ pulses and continuously creates distinctive menu items to satisfy any tastes. Jumbo’s award-winning chilli crab is strongly suggested by many locals.

Highlights

• Classic chilli crab: The thing that defines the style and tastes for chilli crab at a seafood restaurant must be the chilli sauce. No doubt, the chilli sauce of Jumbo lives up to its reputation – a classic version, which is thick, sweet, and slightly spicy. Its spiciness level is at the lowest one, compared with its other counterparts, so it might be just nice for Western palates.
• In a classy ambience: The high-quality chilli crab in a classy ambience makes passed-by people jealous. Jumbo seafood at Boat Quay is located by the riverside, overlooking the splendid Singapore River. At the outdoor seating area, you can get a good view of Singapore’s old port, plentiful modern skyscrapers, iridescent reflection on the river, running twakow boats and the stylish people of all kinds. The air-conditioned dining area inside is nicely set up for a chilled-out night. Jumbo is definitely a fashionable seafood restaurant in Singapore.

RECOMMENDED DISHES:
Jumbo is famous for its delicious seafood but it does not mean that meat and vegetable dishes are not worth a try. The below list carries the restaurant’s dishes, highly recommended by many local and international foodies.

• Black pepper crab
• Herbal drunken live prawns
• Cereal prawn
• Salted egg prawn
• Fried rice with diced chicken and salted fish
• Steamed bamboo clam
• Chilled shredded roast duck salad
• Sambal kangkong
• Mango desserts

Image: Jumbo Seafood

PRICING:

• Crabs are charged by weight; prices vary slightly by season
• Average price/pax: S$50

NOTES:

• Reservations are recommended since Jumbo Seafood is always packed out during dinnertime.
• The peanuts, wet towels, and tea served upon arrival are not complimentary. If you do not want them, tell the staff to remove them from your table.
• Don’t forget to ask the size of your crab and the cost per kilo before ordering.
• Be prepared that your hands will get messy with the sauces. Don’t worry! The restaurant provides a water bowl with lime for each table and big sinks nearby your seat for you to clean your hands.

ALL JUMBO SEAFOOD RESTAURANT’S LOCATIONS:
@ The Riverwalk
Address: 20 Upper Circular Road, #B1-48 The Riverwalk, Singapore 058416
Tel: [phone]
Daily lunch: 12:00 – 15:00 (last order at 14:15)
Daily dinner: 18:00 – 00:00 (last order at 23:15)

@ Riverside Point
Address: 30 Merchant Road, # 01-01/02 Riverside Point, Singapore 058282
Tel: [phone]
Lunch: 12:00 – 15:00 (last order at 14:15)
Dinner: 18:00 – 00:00 (last order at 23:15)

@ East Coast Seafood Centre
Address: Blk 1206 East Coast Parkway #01-07/08, East Coast Seafood Centre, Singapore 449883
Tel: [phone]
Mon to Fri: 17:00 – 23:45 (last order at 23:15)
Sat, Sun & P.H: 11:30 – 00:00 (last order at 23:15)

@Dempsey Hill
Blk 11 #01-16 Dempsey Road, Singapore 249673
Tel: [phone]
Daily lunch: 12:00 – 15:00 (last order at 14:15)
Daily dinner: 17:30 – 23:30 (last order at 22:30)

@ION Orchard
2 Orchard Turn #04-09/10 ION Orchard, Singapore 238801
Tel : [phone]
Weekday Lunch & Dim Sum: 11.30 – 15:00 (last order at 14:15)
Weekday Dinner: 17:30 – 22:30 (last order at 21:30)
Weekend: 11:00 – 22:30 (last order at 21:30)
High Tea & Dim Sum: 14:30 – 17:30 (last order at 16:45pm) on Weekends and Public Holidays only

@JEWEL Changi Airport
#03-202/203/204, 78 Airport Blvd, Singapore 819666
Tel : [phone]
Daily: 11.30 – 22:00 (last order at 21:15)

2. Long Beach Seafood Restaurant

Image: Long Beach Seafood Restaurant

Best for

Chilli crab by the beach

Price

$50 per pax

Address

1202 East Coast Parkway, #01-04 East Coast Seafood Centre

Phone

[phone]

Opening hours

· Mon-Thu: 14:30 – 00:15
· Fri: 13:30 – 00:15
· Sat: 11:30 – 01:15
· Sun & PH: 11:30 – 00:15

Website

longbeachseafood.com.sg

Long Beach Seafood Restaurant has long been a seafood paradise for Singaporeans. This famous restaurant has gained a number of culinary awards for serving the finest and freshest seafood ever. Although its main restaurant at 1018 East Coast Parkway is no longer in existence, the chilli crab and black pepper crab legend is still alive at its other outlets.

Highlights

• A spicy version of chilli crab: Long Beach’s chilli crab is granted to be the highest rank of seafood feast, especially for chilli – seafood lovers. The higher level of spiciness sets this restaurant apart from others. The gravy is an impeccable combination of spiciness, sweetness and saltiness, complementing perfectly with man tou. And how is the crab? Absolutely, it is the best in your dish with very juicy and fresh flesh.
• Best place to have black pepper crab: This legendary dish was firstly created by a talented chef of Long Beach. Since then, black pepper crab has become Long Beach’s signature dish and obtained a remarkable reputation amongst restaurants. As such, crabs are served up on your table with a perfectly coated layer of fragrant and delicious black pepper sauce, making the fresh and succulent flesh tastiest.

HOW BIG IS THE CRAB ?
Crab is ordered in kilogram. Minimum weight of mud crab is 1 kilogram while Alaskan king crab and Australian king crab have the sizes from 3 kilograms to 10 kilograms.

OTHER MUST TRIES:
Besides crab, Long Beach offers numerous other impressive seafood dishes as well as noodles, rice, vegetable, soup, chicken, duck and dessert dishes. Here are some Long Beach’s specialties that are worth trying:

• Deep fried whole grouper in Shanghai style
• Steam live Scottish razor clams with minced garlic
• Deep fried crawfish
• Live golden stripe lobster
• Crispy duck
• Durian pudding
• Sweet yam paste with ginkgo nuts

Image: Long Beach

AVERAGE PRICE PER PAX: S$50

NOTES:

• Peanuts and towelettes given to you upon arrival are not complimentary. Peanuts are charged at S$2.00 and a towelette costs S$1.00.
• Be prepared that your hands will get messy with the sauces
• Reservations are recommended as the restaurant is always packed out.

QUICK FACTS:

• Long Beach was firstly set up in 1946 at Bedok Rest House.
• There are many Singaporean brilliant dishes created by Long Beach such as Black Pepper Crab, Drunken Prawns with VSOP Brandy, BBQ Golden Phoenix Fish, Renowned Crispy Duck, Golden Stripe Lobster, and House Speciality Prawn.
• Long Beach has warmly welcomed many local and international Presidents, Prime Ministers, former Presidents, ministers, and heads of state with its specialties.
• Long Beach has also perfectly served international celebrities like Lady Gaga, Morgan Freeman, Brendan Fraser, Michelle Yeoh, Low Kar Ying, Liza Wang, Charmaine Sheh, Myolie Wu, Wakin Chau, Jay Chuo, Raine Yang, Show Luo, Stephanie Sun, and Lee Min Ho as well as local celebrities.

ALL LONG BEACH LOCATIONS:

Use ctrl + scroll to zoom the map

Map data ©2022 Google

Terms of Use

Report a map error

Long Beach KING Seafood
Address: 220 Stadium Boulevard, Singapore
Tel: [phone]
Opening hours: Daily 11:00 – 15:00; 17:00 – 01:15

Long Beach UDMC Seafood Restaurant
Address: 1202 East Coast Parkway, #01-04 East Coast Seafood Centre
Tel: [phone]
Opening hours:

• Mon-Thu: 14:30 – 00:15
• Fri: 13:30 – 00:15
• Sat: 11:30 – 01:15
• Sun & PH: 11:30 – 00:15

Long Beach @ DEMPSEY
Address: 25 Dempsey Road, opposite Singapore Botanic Gardens
Tel: [phone]
Opening hours: Daily 11:00 – 15:00, 17:30 – 13:30

Long Beach IMM Seafood Restaurant
Address: Jurong East St 21, Level 3, IMM Building, Next to Rooftop Garden
Tel: [phone]
Opening hours:

• Mon to Fri: 11:00 – 15:00, 17:45 – 23:00
• Sat, Sun & PH: 11:00 – 15:00, 17:00 – 23:00

3. No Signboard Seafood Restaurant

Image: No Signboard Seafood Restaurant

Best for

Chilli crab in a vibrant night spot

Address

414 Geylang, Singapore 389392

Phone

[phone]

Opening hours

Daily 11:00 – 23:00

Website

www.nosignboardholdings.com

In the early days of No Signboard, only about 3 crabs were sold a day. However, Mdm. Ong Kim Hoi - a dedicated chef and her partner treated it as an opportunity to nurture their culinary passion. As a result, white pepper crab was created and made the restaurant famous through word-of-mouth advertising. These days, No Signboard is one of the best places in Singapore for seafood with the specialty of chilli crabs.

Highlights

• Chilli crab with various levels of spiciness: If you order chilli crab at No Signboard, you are best served with the level of spiciness of your own taste. A No Signboard’s chilli crab plate is always in tantalization; appearance may sometimes be pretty messy, though.
• Home to best white pepper crab: No Signboard 'invented’ Singaporean white pepper crab, in fact. No other places provide better white pepper crab than No Signboard. The restaurant possesses a perfect recipe for this dish. The peppery taste is strong but doesn’t overwhelm the sweetness of crab’s flesh. Served with some vegetables, this pepper sauce-coated crab dish goes well with fried rice.

AMBIENCE:
No Signboard in Geylang is the original branch of this restaurant chain. Geylang outlet reminds diners a lot about Singapore dining ambience in the past. If you wish to feel a vibrant Singapore at night plus a touch of the country in the old days, choose to dine in the outdoor area. It is a true crab-by-the-roadside experience. And if you want to avoid the sweltering weather, the air-conditioned area inside is a good choice.

OTHER MUST-TRIES:
Crabs could be the star of the night, but you may need some more dishes to complete your meal. Why don’t you try the recommended dishes below, they are favorites of No Signboard’s patrons.

• Cereal prawn
• Razor clam (also known as bamboo clams)
• Drunken shrimp
• Baby squid
• Yang Zhou fried rice

Image: No Signboard

PRICING:

• No Signboard at Geylang offers the cheapest prices for an array of dishes in comparison with its other outlets

NOTES:

• Water, peanuts, and towelettes are not complimentary
• Small baskets are provided for each table to keep personal belongings
• Reservations are highly recommended
• Be prepared that your hands will get messy with the sauces
• Valet parking is available

MORE OUTLETS:
@ Esplanade
Address: 8 Raffles Avenue, #01 – 14/16 The Esplanade, Singapore 039802
Tel: [phone]
Opening hours: Mon – Fri: 11:00 – 14:30, 17:30pm – 22:00 | Sat, Sun & Public Holiday: 11:00 – 22:00

4. Red House Seafood Restaurant

Image: Red House Seafood Restaurant

Best for

Chilli crab + seafood from all over the world

Price

$45 per pax

Address

68 Prinsep Street, S188668

Phone

[phone]

Opening hours

Mon to Fri: 11:30 - 14:30, 17:00 - 23:00
Sat, Sun & PH: 11:00 - 15:00, 17:00 - 23:00

Website

redhouseseafood.com

Promotion

Get 20% off with Red House's dining voucher

Table reservation

Red House Seafood has forged a loyal following for its great food and bonding ambience since 1976. This restaurant always offers the best seafood dishes with freshest supplies from all over the world, including abalone from Australia, mud crab from Sri Lanka, and geoduck from Canada. To locals, Red House is among the best seafood restaurants for family reunions, business affairs, or romantic meals.

Highlights

• A sweet sauce version of chilli crab: Red House’s chilli gravy is sweet rather than savoury and this luscious sauce goes well with crab meat and deep-fried mantous. The restaurant’s less spicy crab dishes are just ideal for when you want something new for your palates rather than something classic.
• Comfortable ambience for all kinds of gatherings: Red House Seafood on Prinsep has a bright, modern look with wooden tables and chairs. In that unpretentious ambience, everyone finds their own 'comfort zone’ for their seafood feast. The restaurant’s 6 private rooms are the right choice when there is a business meeting or family gathering.

MUST TRIES:
Diners at Red House Seafood are impressed by not only chilli crab but also many other seafood dishes. Here comes the list of recommended dishes for a perfect seafood meal.

• Garlic Bamboo Clams
• Fried Prawns
• BBQ Sotong & Jellyfish
• Codfish with Terriyaki Sauce
• Black pepper crabs
• Salted egg yolk crab
• Lobster in creamy custard sauce

AVERAGE PRICE/PAX: S$45

NOTES:

• It is always worth calling ahead to make a booking.
• The peanuts and wet towels served upon arrival are not complimentary.
• Be prepared that your hands will get messy with the sauces.

5. Mellben Seafood in Ang Mo Kio

Image: Mellben Seafood in Ang Mo Kio

Best for

A feast of various crab dishes

Price

$35 per pax

Address

#01-1222, 232 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3

Phone

[phone]

Opening hours

Daily 16:30 - 23:30

Website

mellben.com.sg

Mellben Seafood has made its way from a humble stall along Alexandra Road to a largely well-known seafood place with three outlets in Singapore. Its menu features a wide selection of crab dishes such as chilli crab, black pepper crab, claypot crab vermicelli soup, butter crab, salted egg yolk crab, and shimmering sand crab.

Highlights

• Delicious chilli crab: Chilli crab at Mellben is one of the best in our Lion city. You can always get very big crabs in thick, spicy and slightly sweet chilli sauce. Just request for a less spicy plate if you cannot bear high level of spiciness.
• Best place to have claypot crab bee hoon: Claypot crab bee hoon (also known as claypot crab vermicelli soup) is basically a noodle soup dish, highlighted by milky broth, which is rich with the aroma and sweetness from crabs. For many locals, Mellben is the best place to enjoy claypot crab bee hoon – a crab dish that may be new to your culinary dictionary but can make you melt from the first spoon of soup.
• Outstanding butter crab: Close your eyes and imagine a big crab coated with thick, buttery, sweet, and slightly spicy sauce. The combination of seafood and butter may not be something out of your world, but Mellben’s recipe is really out of this world. It is a dish to die for.

AMBIENCE:
Mellben Seafood at Ang Mo Kio is far away from the bustling centre of Singapore, but the atmosphere herein is never quiet. Situated at a kopitiam in one of the HDB estates and adorned with decorated crab shells on the walls, Mellben provides an intimate dining ambience for crab lovers.

AVERAGE PRICE/PAX: S$35

NOTES:

• There are no nearby MRT stations so public transport accessibility is by bus.
• It is recommended checking prices of all the dishes before ordering as they are not listed on the menu.
• It is always worth calling ahead to make a booking.
• Be prepared that the service of the store is almost at food court standard.

ALL MELLBEN SEAFOOD’S LOCATIONS:
1. Mellben Seafood in Ang Mo Kio

• Address: 232 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, #01-1222
• Tel: [phone]
• Opening hours: Daily 16:30 – 23:30

2. Mellben Seafood in Toa Payoh

• Address: 211 Toa Payoh Lorong 8, Toa Payoh, S310211
• Tel: [phone]

6. Dancing Crab @ Orchard Central

Image: Dancing Crab

Best for

Seafood boil

Price

S$55 per pax

Address

Orchard Central #07-14/15, 181 Orchard Road, Singapore 238896

Phone

[phone]

Opening hours

Daily Lunch: 11:30 – 15:00 | Dinner: 17:30 – 22:00

Promotion

Get 43% off with Dancing Crab (Orchard Central)'s dining voucher

Table reservation

Dancing Crab prides itself on being the best Louisiana seafood restaurant in Singapore, complete with a homey, festive ambiance, an exciting lineup of alcoholic beverages, and, of course, deep respect for cooking seafood.

Dancing Crab menu features a combination of old-fashioned Louisiana dishes such as their signature seafood boil, Lobster Roll, and Crab Cake; and traditional Chinese seafood dishes such as Black Pepper Crab and Crab Fried Rice.

Highlights

• Louisiana classics: The state of Louisiana, U.S. is known for its rich seafood tradition, and Dancing Crab aims to bring that experience to Singapore. Starting from its Cajun flavors, down to its loud jazz music, hefty beverage lineup, and homey atmosphere.
• Build-a-combo: If you’re feeling adventurous, you can choose to build your own seafood boil combo that perfectly suits your taste. Choose your main seafood (crab, Dungeness crab, or Boston lobster), secondary seafood and other ingredients, and sauce (signature Cajun, zesty garlic butter, or Beurre blanc).
• Decadent desserts: An excellent seafood meal must always be capped off with an equally excellent dessert. Louisiana’s official state donut, Beignet, is on the menu, of course!

AMBIENCE:
Dancing Crab at Orchard Central is one of those places that play loud music but to the enjoyment of the diners. Staying true to its Louisiana theme, lively jazz music plays background to the sounds of shells being cracked, Cajun sauce being licked off the fingers, and satisfied tummies. It has unimposing decors that won’t make you feel embarrassed to make a delicious mess.

OTHER MUST TRIES:
Although highly famous for their assortment of signature seafood boil, there is a long list of must-tries on Dancing Crab’s menu of seafood, sides, single plate, and desserts.

• Crab Cake
• Live Lobster Roll
• Exploding Crab Fried Rice
• Seafood Gumbo
• Ice Cream with Crispy Waffle Biscuit

NOTES:

• Island-wide delivery available
• Complimentary dessert for birthday celebrants
• Offers frozen beer in 7 delicious flavors including French vanilla, Watermelon, and Bubblegum
• Reservations are encouraged.
• Use your hands—it’s the only way to enjoy!

MORE OUTLETS:
@ VivoCity
Address: #03-10 Vivo City, 1 Harbourfront Walk, Singapore 098585
Opening hours: Daily 11:00 – 15:00, 18:00 – 22:00

@ The Grandstand
Address: 200 Turf Club Road, #01-20/21 Singapore 287994
Opening hours: Daily except Monday 11:30 – 15:30, 17:30 – 22:00

7. HolyCrab

Image: HolyCrab

Best for

Chilli crab

Price

S$40 per pax

Address

2 Tan Quee Lan St, #01-03, Singapore 188091

Phone

[phone]

Opening hours

Daily Lunch: 11:30 – 14:30 | Dinner: 17:30 – 22:30

Table reservation

Chances are high that “HolyCrab!” is the first thing that comes out of your mouth when you see the restaurant’s best-selling Chili Crab laid out in front of you. Massive and filled with fleshy meat and heavenly roe, HolyCrab doesn’t scrimp on its efforts to source Sri Lankan crabs that are of the finest quality and free of antibiotics. Even just one claw will have you drooling in delight.

Highlights

• Choose your level of spiciness: Some like it hot; some prefer just a little, light kick to keep the spotlight on the crab. HolyCrab has 5 levels of heat to accommodate every diner’s spice preference.
• 12 crab dishes to choose from: It’s always great to have choices, and diners are spoiled for choice at HolyCrab. Choose from 12 exquisite crab dishes including Green Mumba (signature green sauce with strong Oriental flavors), Devil’s (creamy butter sauce with curry flavors), and Orgasmic (just like Devil’s but with the luxurious addition of brown salted egg yolks).
• Immersion classes by the renowned Chef Elton Seah: Fancy yourself a chef? Take HolyCrab’s affordable immersion classes taught by no less than Head Chef Elton Seah. Learn traditional Singaporean dishes such as Red Chili Crab, Black Pepper Crab, and Minced Pork Omelet.

AMBIENCE:
HolyCrab’s interior has a no-frill elegance to it. Sure, the black walls and red accents will surely catch your attention, but not too much that they distract you from your main agenda: huge, succulent crab cooked to perfection.

OTHER MUST TRIES:
Of course, diners come for the famous Chili Crab, but HolyCrab also boasts an arsenal of notable non-crab dishes.

• Mini Squirters
• HolyCrab Fried Rice
• Hooked on Mee
• Oh My Cod!
• Fried/Steamed Mantou

NOTES:

• Reservations are encouraged.
• Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty!
• Vegetarian-friendly options available
• Car park charges
• Find HolyCrab on WhatsApp for promos and announcements.