BEST SINGAPORE CRABS
Crab Tip 1: For those who are squeamish or lazy about peeling your own crabs, a number of the chain restaurants have service staff who will put on gloves and de-shell it for you.
Crab Tip 2: But it always tastes better when you do it yourself.
(Read here for Best of Brunch in Singapore, or What to Eat for the First Time Visitor in Singapore)
Best for Chilli Crab
(or Chili crab, spelled with one 'L' for my fellow American readers)
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| Tung Lok's Chilli Crab |
Jumbo Seafood read more here
Eat: Their secret ingredient is peanut sauce, making the gravy richer and creamier. They have multiple locations, but I recommend their East Coast outlet.
Address: Blk 1206 East Coast Parkway #01-07/08, East Coast Seafood Centre Singapore 449883
Tung Lok Seafood
Eat: The chef uses the unusual combination of orange juice and tomato sauce for a subtle and refreshing touch to Singapore's famed chilli crab. The crab quality in general is top notch, fresh and succulent. I've only been to their Orchard Central location, so that's the one I'll be listing (the other is in Jurong).
Address: Orchard Central #11-05, 181 Orchard Road, Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 6834-4888
Best for Black Pepper Crab
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| Black Pepper Crab |
Eat: My friends at Appetite magazine and I concluded that the black pepper crab here is more complex and refined than the other major seafood restaurants.
Address: 25 Dempsey Road Tel: +65 6323-2222
or 1018 East Coast Parkway Tel: +65 6445-8833
http://www.longbeachseafood.com.sg
Mellben Seafood read more here
Eat: Likewise, I've found that the black pepper crab here is more complex tasting than competitor restaurants' that generally taste of just plain black pepper and butter. Mellben also never failed to serve us fresh and ultra-meaty crabs in the dozen times I've been.
Address: Blk 232 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, #01-1222 Tel: +65 6285-6762
or 211 Lorong 8 Toa Payoh Tel: +65 6353-3120
Best for White Pepper Crab
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| Long Beach's White Pepper Crab |
Eat: Their Sri Lankan crabs in this dish has that sharp white pepper spice that hits your nose in a way that you can appreciate. Consistently well cooked with excellent service to match.
Address: Orchard Central #11-05, 181 Orchard Road, Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 6834-4888
http://www.tunglokseafood.com/
Long Beach Seafood
Eat: They use Alaskan King Crab for their white pepper dish. The price is outrageously high (we're talking hundreds of dollars per crab), but it won't fail to impress in visuals or on the taste buds.
Address: 25 Dempsey Road Tel: +65 6323-2222
or 1018 East Coast Parkway Tel: +65 6445-8833
http://www.longbeachseafood.com.sg
Other BEST Crabs
(MUST TRY! I prefer these over chilli crab and pepper crab these days.)
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| Mellben's Claypot Crab Beehoon |
Mellben Seafood read more here
Eat: The claypot crab beehoon is unbeatable. I always dream about the spiced, milky broth; a wealth of umami on the palate with what must be crab roe boiled into the stock.
Address: Blk 232 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, #01-1222 Tel: +65 6285-6762
or 211 Lorong 8 Toa Payoh Tel: +65 6353-3120Eat: I've been bringing friends for their Curry Crab the entirety of 2012 and am still not tired of it. I'm surprised how little it's mentioned these days, because the curry crab is something special with its savoury laksa curry. This is a crab listing, but you also have to try the Teochew style cabbage chicken.
Address: 265 Outram Road, Singapore 169059
Tel: +65 6327-2148
http://www.3crab.com
No Signboard Seafood (Geylang) read more here
Eat: Salted egg crab at their Geylang outlet is intense on the salted egg, in a good way. No Signboard used to be one of my favorites for chilli crab, since their gravy is more reminiscent of curry rather than overly tangy with tomato sauce. Unfortunately, the last 4-5 visits to their Esplanade and now shuttered East Coast outlet consistently served me disappointingly meatless crabs. If I go these days, it's for their wonderful deep fried baby squid, cereal prawns, and salted egg crab.
Address: 414 Geylang Road, Singapore 389392
Tel: +65 6842-3415
http://www.nosignboardseafood.com
Majestic Bay Seafood Restaurant read more here
Eat: The "Kopi" Crab is the newest Singapore crab innovation in town. The saccharine glaze is made of three varieties of coffee beans and apple marmalade, then flambéed tableside with coffee liquor.
Address: Flower Dome, Gardens By the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive #01-10, Singapore 018953
Tel: +65 6604-6604, reservations@majesticbay.sg
http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/dining/majestic-bay.html
Lousiana-Style Cajun Crabs
There seems to be an influx of NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana) restaurants in Singapore. Here's the full list.
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If you don't see certain places listed it means one or more of the following:
1. I didn't think it deserved to be there.
2. It slipped my mind! Remind me, please.
3. I didn't have the time/stomach space/cash to check it out yet.
If you think a place deserves to be considered, please message me, twitter me or leave a comment below.