Behold the CHILLI CRAB.
Locals never stop craving it, foreigners are dying to try it. I actually don't know of a single Singaporean who doesn't enjoy this heavenly dish. Just by looking at photos or thinking of it we already start drooling.
Here's the start of a compilation of my chilli crab and seafood adventures on this food-crazed island. I will review various seafood restaurants and specifically chilli crab dishes as we go along and hopefully present to you a nice guide on where you can get your chilli crab fix in Singapore.
There are so many ways to cook crab dishes, some prefer it fresh without sauce, some love the black pepper or butter crab, but my favourite (and I believe the majority's) has to be the chilli crab!!! What makes it soooo good is none other than the chilli crab sauce itself- a little sweet, a little spicy, a little eggy and thick.. Perfect!
Here's a list of popular chill crab restaurants you can go to that I promise won't disappoint!
1. Jumbo Seafood Restaurant (East Coast)
Jumbo @ East Coast Park (East Coast Seafood Centre)
Who hasn't heard of Jumbo! It's everywhere!
Jumbo Seafood Restaurant is one of the most famous seafood restaurants in Singapore, popular amongst both tourists and locals, especially for their crab- Chilli crab to be more specific.
They have outlets at popular spots such as East Coast Park, Dempsey, Clarke Quay, and NSRCC.
The outlet at East Coast Park is pretty nice and relaxing, since it's located along the coast, with great ambience if you want to enjoy some good seafood away from the city noise. However, it can still get pretty packed so better to make a reservation beforehand especially on weekends, just to play safe.
Chilli Crab @ Jumbo
I really like the chilli crab at Jumbo, the spiciness level of the sauce is just nice for me- not too overwhelmingly spicy yet not too mild either. It's also really thick which is what I would generally prefer. The best part is that the crab (that we had) was really really fleshy, which is ultimately what's most important when you're paying high prices for it.
The deep fried mantous here were also really nice, crisp, and fragrant so I give this dish extra bonus points!
Drools
The other dishes at Jumbo are also generally good as well, Jumbo dishes rarely disappoint.
What to order:
-Salted egg yolk prawns (Award winning)
-Steamed bamboo clam
-Black pepper crab
-Drunken prawns
-Baby Squid
-Mee Goreng
Hotplate Beancurd
Sweet & Sour Pork
Sambal Kangkong
Drunken Prawns
Overall, I enjoyed the food at Jumbo, and especially the chilli crab. I would recommend the East Coast Park outlet because of its really pleasant surroundings (the park) as well as interior- chill yet classy.
Jumbo Seafood Restaurant (East Coast Seafood Centre)
Address: 1206 East Coast Parkway
#01-07/08 East Coast Seafood Centre, 449883
Nearest Mrt Station: Bedok (Take bus 196 from station)
Phone: 6442 3435
Open Daily: 5pm-1145pm (12pm-12am on Sundays)
Cost/pax: ~$50
Food: 8/10
Chilli Crab: 8.5/10
Website: http://www.jumbogroup.sg/en/home
2. Mellben Seafood (Ang Mo Kio)
Mellben Chilli Crab
Mellben Seafood Restaurant is insanely popular, with outlets at both Ang Mo Kio and Toa Payoh. It's insanely popular because even at 5pm you will be able to spot a crazy long queue at the restaurant. Yes, Singaporeans queue for good food, nothing surprising. Typical waiting time during dinner timings can even go up to 2 hours so be prepared! (They don't take reservations).
Waiting time aside, their crabs are really good! Their most popular crabs are the chilli crab, claypot crab beehoon soup, and butter crab.
I highly recommend you give the claypot crab beehoon and butter crab a try because they're absolutely flavourful and not many places can pull them off so well.
Surprise surprise but my fave dish here would actually be the claypot crab beehoon because of its very rich and milky broth. I found the chilli crab sauce a tad too sweet & sour-ish and not as thick as I'd like it to be (but still enjoyed it a lot).
Mellben Seafood (Ang Mo Kio)
Address: #01-1222, 232 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, 560232
Nearest Mrt Station: Ang Mo Kio
Phone: 6285 6762
Open Daily: 430pm-1130pm (GO EARLY to avoid overly-insane queues)
Cost/pax: ~$38
Food: 8/10
Chilli Crab: 8/10
3. Punggol Seafood (The Punggol Settlement)
Located at The Punggol Settlement, Punggol Seafood is one of the pioneer seafood restaurants in Punggol.
Punggol Settlement in itself is such a great place to hang out. Yes, it may be 'far from civilisation' but isn't that the whole point..of travelling to Punggol to begin with..to get away from the crowd.
There are countless number of cafes, eateries, and restaurants (even bike rental shops) here that it will definitely take up one entire article but the point is, The Punggol Settlement is a really cosy and chill place to hang out, amongst nature and along the coast.
It is also situated at the entrance of Coney Island, one of the greatest places to cycle and hike in Singapore.
I haven't tried the other seafood restaurants at TPS such as House of Seafood and Leong Ji (although I heard they're pretty popular as well) but I got to dig my hands into some good chilli and black pepper crab at Punggol Seafood!
Overall, I'd say the seafood at Punggol Seafood is of reasonable quality, nothing spectacular- but still considerably good.
What to order:
-Chilli Crab
-Black Pepper Crab
-Baby Squid
-Mee Goreng
Well, it isn't always 100% about the food, sometimes the ambience of the place can do the food justice, like in the case of The Punggol Settlement.
I recommend you to check out The Punggol Settlement the next time you want to venture somewhere far off (ulu-land) for a meal. You'll be definitely be spoilt for choice.
Punggol Seafood
Address: #01-08/09 The Punggol Settlement
3 Punggol Point Road, 828694
Nearest Mrt Station: Punggol
(Take bus 84 from Bus Interchange at Station to The Punggol Settlement)
Phone: 6448 8511
Open Mon-Fri: 1130am-230pm, 530pm-1030pm
Sat-Sun, PH: 1130am-1030pm
Cost/pax: ~$35
Food: 7.5/10
Chilli Crab: 7.5/10
Website: http://www.ponggolseafood.com.sg
http://www.punggolsettlement.com
And there you have it! My current compilation of Chilli Crab experiences, stay tuned for more updates to come in the future!
Till then, happy hunting for your fave Chilli Crab place! If you know of any great Chilli Crab places, please share thanks!!
Cheers!
Gabs
