[Updated June 2021] This food guide is for the zi char lovers.
These 15 top zi char restaurants are some of Singapore’s favourites, providing satisfying and affordable dishes full of wok-hei that you can enjoy at the comfort of home.
The added bonus?
OCBC 365 Credit Cardmembers can now enjoy 10% cashback* (6% dining CVP + 4% tier up) when you order from any of these selected popular zi char places for takeaway and delivery (if available).
For new signups to OCBC 365 Credit Card, you can also get up to $250 cashback (Please refer to T&Cs at the end of the page).
Valid from 15 June till 31 July 2021, so time to order that zi char feast for your family. Here’s more:
White Restaurant
Waterway Point: 83 Punggol Central #B1-12, Singapore 828761
Sunplaza: 30 Sembawang Drive, #03-12, Singapore 757713
Jewel Changi Airport: 78 Airport Boulevard #B1-245- 246 Singapore 819666 (temporary closed)
IMM: 2 Jurong East Street 21, #02-24, Singapore 609601
Suntec City, 3 Temasek Boulevard, Fountain Court #B1-131 Singapore 038983
22 Jalan Tampang (Opp Sembawang Shopping Centre) Singapore 758966
White Restaurant is best known for its simple yet satisfying White Bee Hoon, originally prepared as a homely dish by their founder Mr Tay.
But they don’t only sell that one iconic dish.
There are other chef recommended food to go along, including Cereal Prawns, Signature Beancurd with Minced Pork, Homemade Fried Beancurd, Salted Egg Squid, Prawn Omelette, and Sambal Sweet Potato Leaves.
End off with a dessert of Yam Paste with Gingko, because why not?
Signature dish – The Original White Bee Hoon
From the same recipe when they first started out as a hawker stall at Chong Pang Market, the Original White Bee Hoon is known for its generous ingredients such as squid and prawns, and vermicelli steeped in flavourful broth for a taste of comfort.
Order channel
1. Pre-order via online: order.whiterestaurant.com.sg, or
2. Order at outlet (Takeaway or limited dine-in options – when allowed again)
Keng Eng Kee Seafood
124 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-136, Singapore 150124
KEK needs little introduction. The restaurant recommended by many Michelin chefs located near Alexandra Village Food Centre is one of those zi char places in Singapore that serves up tasty service AND with good service.
There are a number of dishes that regulars order from this Michelin-recommended restaurant.
The most talked-about dish is the Moonlight Horfun, along with Mingzhu Roll, Prawn Roll, Yam Basket, Coffee Pork Ris, Claypot Pig Liver, Marmite Chicken, and Salted Egg Sotong.
Do you know that they were also featured in Netflix’s “Street Food”?
Signature dish – Moonlight Horfun
The photographic dish where an egg yolk is crack in the middle of wok-fried rice noodles, thus the name.
It reminds me of a cross between dark-sauced fried horfun (like beef rice noodles without the beef) and the local char kway teow especially with the addition of dried lup cheong (Chinese sausages). Give it a good mix before you enjoy.
Order channel
1. Pre-order via call in: 6272 1038
(payment onsite); or
2. Pre-order online: order.kek.com.sg; or
3. Order at outlet (Takeaway or limited dine-in options – when allowed again)
New Ubin Seafood*
CHIJMES – 30 Victoria St, #02- 01B/C Singapore 187996
Tampines – 18 Tampines Industrial Crescent, #01-16 Singapore 528605
New Ubin Seafood is considered as one of Singapore’s favourite zi char restaurant, and has also been listed in the Michelin Bib Gourmand for 2 consecutive years.
Known for its unique dishes such as US Black Angus Ribeye Beef, Heart Attack Fried Rice, Boss Bee Hoon, Chocolate Alexander, Fish Roe Masala, BBQ Baby Back Ribs, Satay Foie Gras, and BBQ Pork Collar, it has a new flagship outlet at Tampines.
Signature dish – USDA Choice Black Angus Ribeye
That’s right. A zi char restaurant with good steak.
Succulent, bold-flavoured beef pieces, served together with caramelised onions, Idaho potato wedges, sea salt flakes, and my favourite… fried rice cooked with beef drippings.
Order channel
1. Pre-order via call in/WhatsApp: 9740 6870 (payment onsite); or
2. Order at outlet (Takeaway or limited dine-in options – when allowed again)
* Exclusive to pre-order/order at outlet only.
Long Ji Zi Char*
253 Outram Road, Singapore 169049
Regulars come here for the Crab Bee Hoon – certainly one of the best in Singapore, but let us not forget about their Chilli Crab, Salted Egg Crabs, and Black Pepper Crab.
While the environment speaks of old-school Chinese restaurant charm, its no-nonsense appetising food is what keeps customers returning.
Signature dish – Crab Bee Hoon
The appeal is the robustly appealing gravy, cooked with crabs, cabbage and oyster sauce with a peppery aroma.
Both the beehoon and gravy are in a light brown colour. That is because Chef would fry the vermicelli all the way till almost to a point of getting burnt. Plus point, no MSG or chicken powder are used in the stock.
Order channel
1. Pre-order via call in: 9790 5682 (payment onsite); or
2. Order at outlet (Takeaway or limited dine-in options – when allowed again)
* Exclusive to pre-order/order at outlet only.
Por Kee Eating House 1996 (Seng Poh Lane)
69 Seng Poh Lane #01-02 Singapore 160069
This zi char restaurant at Tiong Bahru which has stood the test of time has been a favourite for many, especially for family meals.
There is also that nostalgic charm about this place and its food.
It is hard to choose a favourite from Por Kee’s signature dishes, from the likes of the Champagne Pork Ribs, Homemade Beancurd, Cereal Prawns, Crispy Butter Prawns, to Yam Basket with Chicken and Shrimp.
Signature dish – Homemade Beancurd
My personal favourite goes to the Homemade Beancurd with Mushrooms. While deep fried, the inside remains very smooth and silky, poured over by a flavourful sauce with power wok-hei.
Order channel
1. Pre-order via call in: 6221 0582 (payment onsite); or
2. Order at outlet (Takeaway or limited dine-in options – when allowed again)
Mellben Seafood (Ang Mo Kio)
232 Ang Mo Kio Ave 3 #01- 1222 Singapore 560232
Located at Ang Mo Kio, the family-run Mellben Seafood has established itself as a well-known seafood destination in Singapore.
Choose from any of the 15 ways their in-house chef freshly prepares the star crustacean, from the classic Chili Crab to Black Pepper Crab, Butter Crab, Curry Sauce Crab, Salted Egg Yolk Crab, Shimmering Sands Crab, Claypot Crab Vermicelli Soup, Laksa Crab, and many more.
Signature dish – Chilli Crab, Claypot Crab Bee Hoon Soup
Hard to choose, but both the Chilli Crab and the Claypot Crab Bee Hoon Soup aka Claypot Crab Vermicelli Soup are the must-try.
Served piping hot, the milky broth is rich and aromatic with its inherently sweet crabs and smooth glass noodles.
Order channel
1. Pre-order via call in: 6285 6762 / 9232 3449 / 9450 7301 (payment onsite); or
2. Order at outlet (Takeaway or limited dine-in options – when allowed again)
Kelly Jie Seafood (Formerly TPY Mellben)*
Blk 211 Toa Payoh Lorong 8 #01-11/15, Singapore 310211
Located next to Toa Payoh Lor 8 Food Centre, Kelly Jie used to be known as Mellben Toa Payoh, but manager Kelly and Chef Mun have branched out on their own.
Some of its favourites include Shimmering Sand Crab, ‘Kan Xiang’ Mee Tai Mek, Kelly Signature Salted Egg Fried Rice, Yue Guang Hor Fun aka Moonlight Horfun, Italian Style Fried Rice, Longevity Noodles, and “Yuan Yang” Crispy Fried Rice.
The restaurant also offers convenient set meals for the family, which includes 3 types of seafood or meat, and 1 vegetable.
Signature dish – Claypot Crab Vermicelli Soup
The Claypot Crab Vermicelli Soup of vermicelli served in a luscious, savoury thick milky broth with seafood flavours of the crab.
Order channel
1. Pre-order via call in: 6353 3120 / 8123 4156 / 9234 0107 (payment onsite); or
2. Order at outlet (Takeaway or limited dine-in options – when allowed again)
* Exclusive to pre-order/order at outlet only.
Sin Hoi Sai Seafood Restaurant (Tiong Bahru Road)
Blk 55 Tiong Bahru Road #01- 59 Singapore 160055
Located near the Tiong Bahru residential area, Sin Hoi Sai is known for its spacious laid-back surroundings and Singaporean seafood dishes.
The offer a range of live seafood, from different types of fish to shellfish, and you can simply pick what you want from the aquarium tanks.
Must-try is their famous Chili Crab and Black Pepper Crab, while other styles such as Deep-Fried Crab with Chinese Wine, Salted Egg Crab, Butter Crab, Black Bean Sauce Crab, and Spring Onion & Ginger Crab are available.
Signature dish – Pig Trotters Bee Hoon
Because it is a dish that is getting harder to find, and Sin Hoi Sai makes a rather house-style and much saucier version than the usual.
Order channel
1. Pre-order via call in: 6223 0810 / 6224 3905 (payment onsite); or
2. Order at outlet (Takeaway or limited dine-in options – when allowed again)
Sum Kee Food
No.2, Telok Blangah Street 31, Yeo’s Building Singapore 108942
19 Yung Ho Road Singapore 618592
A restaurant that looks like it is caught in time, but can be considered a hidden gem as both outlets are not in plain sight – one at Yeo’s Building, the other at Taman Jurong.
Its food, from Curry Fish Head, XO Sum Lor Horfun, Pig Trotter Beehoon to Braised London Duck, is enough to make people go that extra mile.
Signature dish – Ultra Man Chicken
This is actually a play on the words “xian dan” which sounds both like salted egg and Ultra Man.
A dish of fried, boneless chicken pieces coated in ‘golden’ salted egg sauce with a crispy, addictive touch.
Order channel
1. Pre-order via call in:
• Telok Blangah – 6737 3233 / 6333 8556
• Jurong – 6873 3069 (payment onsite); or
2. Pre-order online: sumkee.oddle.me; or
3. Order at outlet (Takeaway or limited dine-in options – when allowed again)
Nan Hwa Chong Fish Head Steamboat
812 North Bridge Road, Singapore 198779
Nan Hwa Chong Fish Head Steamboat is one of the oldest and most authentic fish head steamboat restaurants found in Singapore.
It is located at an old shophouse at the corner of North Bridge Road and Jalan Sultan, and also serves up other dishes such as Fried Fritters, Homemade Beancurd, Salted Egg Bittergourd and Prawn Paste Chicken Wings.
Signature dish – Fish Steamboat
Only charcoal and not the conventional gas-stove is used for the steamboat, freshly prepared upon order.
The fish comes with choices of grouper, pomfret, Song fish or red snapper, then cooked the classic Teochew way.
Ingredients added include fried yam, mushrooms, chye sim, white cabbage, spring onion and beancurd.
No milk is included and so the sweet-tasting and cloudy soup is purely cooked from the fish, bones and ingredients. Rich and slurp-worthy.
Order channel
1. Pre-order via call in: 8613 2732 (payment onsite); or
2. Pre-order online: nanhwachong.com.sg; or
3. Order at outlet (Takeaway or limited dine-in options – when allowed again)
Tasty Loong by Chef Pung
50 Tiong Bahru Road #01-04 Singapore 168733
81 Lor Chencharu Orto Park Singapore 769198
Tasty Loong by Chef Pung 龙鲜阁 located at both Link Hotel (Tiong Bahru) and Orto Park (Yishun) is helmed by award winning celebrity chef, Chef Pung Lu Tin (He regularly appears in Channel 8’s TV programmes).
What you get is a menu of traditional Chinese dishes with a touch of modern creativity.
You won’t just get the usual dishes here, and expect the likes of Fried White and Brown Rice with Caviar and Sea Treasures, Stewed Rice Vermicelli with Seafood and Supreme Stock in Opeh Leaf, Charcoal Tofu with Minced Pork and Dried Shrimps, to Trio Sauce Chicken in Hot Stone Pot.
Signature dish – Crispy “Dong Tok” Roasted Chicken
Some ‘drama’ in the roasting of the chicken. Rose rice wine is poured over the hanging poultry before setting it to flame for dine in (when allowed).
This gives the outer skin a pleasant crispy texture, and fragrant wine aroma.
Don’t worry about getting your hands dirty as the chicken would be chopped out so you can slowly savour its juicy meat.
Order channel
1. Pre-order via call in:
• Yishun – 6757 7887
• Tiong Bahru – 6909 5700 (payment onsite); or
2. Pre-order online: tastyloong.com; or
3. Order at outlet (Takeaway or limited dine-in options – when allowed again)
Uncle Leong Signatures/ Seafood*
6 Tebing Lane, #01-03, Punggol East, Singapore 828835
Anchorpoint Shopping Centre, 368 Alexandra Road, Singapore 159952
First founded in a neighbourhood coffeeshop in Ang Mo Kio, Uncle Leong Seafood has expanded and that includes full-fledged seafood restaurants at Punggol, Waterway Point and Anchorpoint Shopping Centre.
The family-style concept is known for its Shimmering Sand Crab, Salted Egg Crab, Hong Kong Style Typhoon Shelter Crab, Claypot Crab Bee Hoon Soup, Golden Pumpkin Prawns, and Salted Egg Prawns. Great for seafood lovers.
Signature dish – Claypot Crab Bee Hoon Soup
Its Claypot Crab Bee Hoon Soup (seasonal price) contains broth which is simmered for hours, flavourful and sweet with natural goodness from the crustaceans.
Order channel
1. Pre-order via call in:
• Punggol East – 6441 1848
• Anchorpoint – 6259 9861 (payment onsite); or
2. Order at outlet (Takeaway or limited dine-in options – when allowed again)
* Exclusive to pre-order/order at outlet only.
Geylang Claypot Rice
361/363/365 Beach Road Singapore 199576
Do not be confused, Geylang Claypot Rice has moved from Geylang Lor 33, and is located at 361 Beach Road (opposite The Concourse).
From a humble coffeeshop space, it is now a modern swanky restaurant with 3 shop spaces.
Founded by Mr. Ng Kim Hock, Geylang Claypot Rice has been in business for more than 30 years.
Signature dish – Claypot Rice
Considered by many as one of the most popular in Singapore, Geylang Claypot Rice is also the last few ones that still uses charcoal to cook the rice.
Each pot is served with toppings of pork belly, bits of salted mackerel fish, well-marinated chicken, two types of lup cheong (Chinese sausages), and fresh vegetables.
Order channel
1. Pre-order via call in: 6744 4574 (payment onsite); or
2. Order at outlet (Takeaway or limited dine-in options – when allowed again)
Red House Seafood
Clarke Quay: 3C, River Valley Road #01-02/03, The Cannery Singapore 179022
Grand Copthorne: Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel (Level 2), 392 Havelock Road Singapore 169663
Renowned for its fresh seafood with Asian flavours and signature red lanterns, Red House Seafood is one of Singapore’s oldest and most iconic seafood restaurants.
At its core is high-quality, sustainable seafood, shipped weekly from the North Sea, Indian Ocean and Oceania region.
Its menu, a mix of Chinese, Malay, Indian and Peranakan flavours, represents Singapore’s cultural diversity.
Popular dishes include Lobster with Signature Creamy Custard Sauce, Crispy Seafood Roll, Crab Meat Prawn Roll, Spicy Seafood Combination, Crispy Cereal Prawns and more.
Signature dish – Red House Chilli Crab
No order from Red House Seafood is complete without sampling its signature dish Crab in Red House Chilli Stew, a tangier and slightly sweeter version of the iconic Singaporean dish.
Choose from Sri Lankan Mud Crab, or Alaskan King Crab.
One thing that strikes me was the amount of eggy sauce given – the crabs are literally quite drowned in it. Good for those who loves saucy crabs. If sweet tangy tomato-like sauce without much spiciness is your kind of thing, then you probably enjoy Red House’s version.
Plus point: the dish does not become overly gooey or clog up even if you leave the dish there for a while.
Order channel
1. Pre-order via call in: Clarke Quay 6442 3112 or Grand Copthorne 6735 7666 (payment onsite); or
2) Order at outlet (Takeaway or limited dine-in options – when allowed)
B.K. Forture Seafood 得运海鲜火锅
885 / 887 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 279896
No, there is no typo error there. This zi char restaurant is called B.K Fortune with a “r” for better fengshui and luck.
Families love this place for its Assam Fish Head, fresh and chunky fish drenched in spicy and sour assam gravy to whet the appetite.
Other favourites include the Cereal Prawns, Coffee Pork Ribs, Herbal Chicken, Mongolian-style Beef, Thai-style Fish Head, Red Wine Pork Ribs to Home-style Beancurd.
Signature dish – Yam Ring
One of those traditional Chinese dishes that is getting harder to find now due to the effort needed to prepare, this consist of crispy yam ring with smooth paste, filled with ingredients of prawns, baby corn and crunchy cashew nuts.
Order channel
1. Pre-order via call in: 6469 5957 (payment onsite); or
2. Pre-order online: https://fortureseafood.oddle.me/; or
3. Order at outlet (Takeaway or limited dine-in options – when allowed)
Enjoy 10% Cashback with Zi Char Delights
OCBC 365 Credit Cardmembers can now enjoy 10% cashback when you takeaway or dine-in (when allowed again) at the above “Top 15 Zi Char Restaurants”.
In addition, there are other benefits such as 6% cashback on dining & online food delivery; 3% cashback on groceries, land transport, utilities and online travel; up to 22.1% fuel savings at Caltex and more.
T&C:
– To enjoy the above cashback, OCBC 365 Credit Cardmembers need to spend a minimum of $800 based on posted transactions in a calendar month.
– Promotion period shall run from 15 June 2021 to 31 July 2021 (both dates inclusive).
– Cashback amount is capped at S$80 per calendar month.
– Other T&C applies here
Sign up for the OCBC 365 Credit Card and get up to $250 cashback when you spend $1,000 per month for the first 2 consecutive months.
For more OCBC 365 Credit Card benefits and details (e.g. fees and charges), head over to: https://www.ocbc.com/personal-banking/cards/365-cashback-credit-card
Promotion is valid from 15 June 2021 till 31 July 2021 (both dates inclusive), for the first 800 new Cardmembers who meet the minimum spend per month.
* This post is brought to you in partnership with OCBC 365 Credit Card.
