16 Delicious Zi Char in Singapore That Won’t Hurt Your Wallet
Amidst the hype about cafes and Korean dessert spots, Zi Char is something that never dies out. While the influx of western food culture provided a sense of novelty and excitement, Zi Char meals tie us down and bring us closer to home. And so, with much love I’ve compiled 16 great places for zi char around Singapore.
It holds a significant ground in our local food culture and never fails to invoke nostalgia over a warm and hearty meal. Best of all? It is extremely wallet-friendly, great for groups from all walks of life!
We often see teenagers bursting with laughter over a table of deep fried seafood, families sharing quality time, and adults nursing their newly acquired beer belly while they tell of their escapades – Zi Char sure brings vibrancy to the mundane hawkerfare. So go on, feast away.
16. Wang Ji Seafood
In close proximity to Jalan Besar lies this gem of a Zi Char place. You know it’s a recommendation that comes straight from my heart when I say I’ve been frequenting Wang Ji Seafood since they were first nestled in a corner of Sims Avenue.
I love their Salted Egg Yolk Calamari because they somehow manage to nail the perfect ratio of salted egg sauce to crisp batter to springy calamari. On a cold day, I also like the wine-rich, slightly herby broth that comes with their Wine-steamed Chicken. Having stewed in the wine sauce for a while, the chicken meat falls right off the bone and is souper comforting.
Wang Ji Seafood: 45 Syed Alwi #01-01 Wang Fa Coffee Shop, Singapore 207636 | Tel: 93856196 | Opening hours: 3:00pm to 1:00am on all days
15. Chui Xiang Kitchen
Chui Xiang Kitchen is a little Chinese zi char joint along the short Casuarina food stretch. It was formerly located at Commonwealth, but has since moved to Thomson. They have interesting, unique offerings for a zi char place, such as Marmite Pork Ribs and Lobster Porridge, which are all nicely executed. The Lobster Porridge, in particular, uses a really delicious, rich seafood-y stock that had me sweeping the bowl for the last remnants of porridge.
That being said, Lobster Porridge is not an everyday affair, so my favourite item would be their humble Beef Hor Fun. The beef slices are tender, the dark stewed sauce which drenches the kway-teow noodles is savoury and meaty. Sometimes, I consider having this Hor Fun for all three meals.
Address: 126 Casuarina Rd, Singapore 579514 | Tel: 6458 4567 | Opening hours: 11:00am-2:30pm and 5:00pm-10:30pm
14. Hong Yun Seafood
Hong Yun Seafood is a reliable place for zi char — not too pricey and the food is of a pretty good standard too. I’ve tried Hong Yun more than once because it’s located near our office, and it didn’t disappoint.
Its specialties are its White Bee Hoon and Garlic Pork and Pork Floss with Brinjal. Being averse to Brinjal, I obviously didn’t go for the last of the three dishes, but I can vouch for the other two.
Hong Yun stirs up a rather tasty White Bee Hoon with the right amount of bite to each strand, though their version slights towards the drier side of all the White Bee Hoons I’ve tried. Their Garlic Pork, contrary to its charred appearance, is actually tender and soft on the inside. Kind of like popcorn pork, with a mild garlic flavour to it.
Address: Block 124, Toa Payoh Lor 1, #01-459, Singapore 310124 | Tel: 8463 8011 | Opening hours: 10.30am – 1.15pm and 3.30pm – 10.15pm on all days
13. Hong Kong Street Zhen Ji
Okay, I know many Hong Kong Street Zhen Ji branches exist, but they’re not all born equal. Between the two found in Ang Mo Kio, the one at Avenue 5 definitely takes the cake in terms of the standard of their food.
You’d think that their rather plain looking Sam Lau/Sliced Fish Hor Fun is bland, but in reality, it’s superbly fragrant. Hong Kong Street Zhen Ji chefs have some strong technique because their Sam Lau Hor Fun exudes a rich, smokey wok-hei that adds flavour and depth to the noodle dish.
The stall’s other accompanying dishes are great too!
Address: Blk 158 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5, # 01-590, Singapore 560158 | Tel: 6453 8484 | Opening hours: 11:00am-2.30pm and 5:00pm-10.45pm on all days
12. Two Chefs
Two Chefs! Originally located at Commonwealth, this popular Zi Char joint started a branch at Sin Ming and I’m so glad they did. This branch of Two Chefs actually occupies an entire kopitiam’s space, so it can accommodate quite a number of hungry families at once.
If you can only try one item at Two Chefs, it’s got to be their Butter Pork Ribs which are salty, soft and juicy in the centre and covered in sweet milk powder. It’s an absolutely unbeatable combination that gets me. Every. Time. Their Chilli Sauce Clams are also pretty yummy and come in a very generous portion. The briny, slightly spicy sauce is perfect over rice.
Address: Blk 409 Sin Ming Ave, #02-01, Singapore 570409 | Tel: 6451 3812 / 9435 4197 | Opening Hours: 11:00am – 10:30pm on all days
11. Hualong Fishhead Steamboat
No guesswork is needed to figure out what’s Hualong Fishhead Steamboat’s specialty. Located in Ang Mo Kio, the zi char joint serves up a delightfully savoury Fishhead Steamboat.
I love the soup stock, which has a very slight herbal flavour, and the addition of chunks of yam and grouper in the broth really add a satisfying bite. Also worth trying are their White Beehoon and Salted Egg Calamari.
Address: Hualong Fishhead Steamboat: 347 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, #01-2142, Singapore 560347 | Tel: 64572275 / 96965663 | Opening hours: 11:00am – 02:30pm and 04:30pm – 11:00pm on all days
10. Siang Hee Seafood
Why pay $30+ in restaurants when you can get equally good pork knuckle at $18? This deep fried pork knuckle got me squirming in my seat and I can safely say this was worth every single cent – the best way to spend $18. The crispy skin enveloped layers of juicy, well-seasoned, and extremely tender meat, definitely a must-try.
Other than the insanely good pork knuckle, the Pumpkin Sauce Prawns are heavenly as well. The rich and creamy sauce partnered the juicy and chewy meat perfectly, trust me, you will only end up craving for more.
Don’t pass on the Spinach with Mushroom, that was one of our favourites as well. The mushrooms were really fresh and juicy, and the dish was just well seasoned in general.
Situated opposite the busy famous food centre – Chomp Chomp, Siang Hee is a good alternative to avoid the crowd and have a hearty meal without all the waiting time.
Address: 49A Serangoon Garden Way, Serangoon Garden Market & Food Centre, 555945 | Tel: 9736 4067 | Opening hours: 12pm – 10pm on all days, closed on Mondays
9. Ban Leong Wah Hoe
Ban Leong Wah Hoe has been around for a long time, and established itself as a trusted zi char spot for those who live along Thomson and Yio Chu Kang. I live around the area, so I always head to Ban Leong Wah Hoe when I’m craving some good old Chinese dishes.
Their crab dishes feature big, hulking Sri Lankan crabs for a price tag more reasonable than other zi char and seafood places (*cough, Melben, cough, New Ubin, cough). I love their Chilli Crab gravy, which is thick and eggy and perfect with their crispy golden-brown mantou.
Other pretty yummy items are their tasty Prawn Paste chicken and Fried Mee Sua, which all hit the spot when I’m craving Singaporean flavours.
Ban Leong Wah Hoe: 122 Casuarina Rd, Singapore 579510 | Tel: 6452 2824 | Opening hours: 5:00pm-1:30am on all days
8. Kam Jia Zhuang Seafood
This store can be quite empty on weekdays but don’t let this fool you because they serve one of the best zichar ever! However, do note that it can get crowded on weekends and when it’s full, the waiting time is really really long.
Their signature dishes include the Chrysanthemum Fried Grouper and Fried Pumpkin Prawns which are must-gets. The fish is dipped in thai-style sweet and sour sauce, served with a generous portion of mango salad. Seasoned to perfection, this dish will surely tingle at your taste buds.
The Pumpkin Prawn has a thick flavourful sauce that complemented the juicy meat and crunchy crust so well, it had me reaching for more. We had this a couple of times actually and it is always just as good!
The Blackcurrant Pork Ribs is also one of its specialty. The sauce had an interesting flavour but nothing too special, the meat however, was really tender and juicy. We especially loved the Mushroom Tofu! This dish may look simple but it is quite unlike the other fried tofus we’ve tasted!
Kam Jia Zhuang’s one had a fragrance that we can’t quite put a word to and the thick sauce was so crazy addictive, it really is one of the best we’ve had. If you need something spicy every meal, then go for the Kangkong which has a thick well-seasoned gravy to accompany your white rice.
Address: 202 Ang Mo Kio Ave 3, 560202 | Tel:9151 6798 | Opening hours: 3pm – 11:30pm on all days
7. Yeo Keng Nam Chicken Rice
Known for authentic and delicious chicken rice, Yeo Keng Nam’s chicken rice never fails to bring a hint of nostalgia. A small cozy spot tucked away at the end of Braddell Heights Estate, this place is always bustling with business. Having joined the foodpanda app, my comfort food is literally one call away!
Yeo Keng Nam has a Zi Char menu – which also has one of the widest variety out of all the places – and the Nonya fish head definitely deserves a mention. My favourite dishes have got to be the Chinese Spinach with Assorted Eggs, Salted Egg Sotong, and the Hainanese Pork Chop.
I especially liked the broth of the Chinese Spinach as the assorted eggs provided texture and a strong punch of fragrance that made the dish so tasty. Out of the many dishes we’ve tried, the only disappointment was the Herbal Drunken Prawns that really lacked flavor.
No doubt the soup was well-seasoned, unfortunately, the prawns were bland and tasteless. The Cereal Prawn proved to be a way better option. Extremely generous with the proportion of salted egg and flour coating, this deep fried seafood dish will surely satisfy your taste buds, a must-get for salted egg fans.
Address: 8 Braddell Rd, 359898 | Tel: 6285 4153 | Opening hours: 10:30am – 10pm on all days
6. Melben Seafood
Melben is always bustling with business no matter the day, I would definitely recommend making a reservation before coming down. Otherwise, do it the Singaporean kiasu (fear of losing out) way and make sure to get someone to come down early and chope seat to beat the dinner crowd.
This little seafood restaurant is a place we frequent and I can safely say that consistency is there as they never fail to serve up a perfect meal for us.
The star of the night – Claypot Crab Beehoon Soup. Gosh, this is really the best way to have your crab. The soup is unbelievably flavourful and so very addictive, don’t be surprised if you see people finishing up this gigantic bowl. In fact, we always order an extra serving of soup and noodles because it is simply that heavenly!
Amongst all the other different ways to have your crab here at Melben, this is certainly our favourite. If this doesn’t interest you in the least bit, then the Black Pepper Crab and Salted Egg Crab are pretty good alternatives.
We also particularly liked the Homemade Beancurd with Assorted Mushrooms for its perfect mix of textures, and flavours. Just the right amount of mushrooms, tofu and pork floss, this dish was simple yet delicious. The Salted Egg Pork Ribs (not pictured) were crazy good as well. The meat was tender and well seasoned fried in a good amount of salted egg coating.
Address: 211 Toa Payoh Lor 8 #01-11/15, 310211 | Tel: 6353 3120 | Opening hours: 4pm – 10:45pm on weekdays, 12pm – 10:45pm on weekends
5. 136 Hong Kong Street Fish Head Steamboat
Famous for its Meetaimak (a kind of noodle made with rice flour, commonly known as rat noodles or silver needle noodles), 136 also boasts a pretty good Zi Char menu that had the best value for money dishes.
Needless to say, the Meetaimak is a must-try and it sure did not disappoint. It featured chewy noodles drenched in a thick, well-seasoned gravy that could do with a little more meat but was delicious nonetheless.
That aside, my favourite dishes of the night were the Salted Egg Pork Ribs, Fried Tofu, and the Deep Fried Fish. (all pictured)
Once again, the Salted Egg dish left a major salted egg fan like me feeling extremely satisfied. Perfectly seasoned coating and tender ribs, I have no complaints at all. The Deep Fried Fish cooked sweet and sour style was surprisingly tasty and really worth a try.
The skin was extremely crispy without the meat being too dry. We also thought the Fried Tofu provided an interesting change to the usual yam used to make a dish like that. It had a nice silky texture with just the right tofu to egg ratio.
Address: Blk 19 Lorong 7 Toa Payoh #01-264, 310018 | Tel: 9437 8260 | Opening hours: 11am – 2pm, 5pm – 10:45pm on all days
4. Julia BBQ
If you are like me and have a thing for noodles drowning in gravy, then the Crayfish Beehoon is something you cannot miss out on.
The crayfish was fresh and chewy, and the fragrant gravy complemented it perfectly. The Deep Fried Ngoh Hiang also deserves a mention.
Stingray is a must-order at Zi Char outings and this one was pretty awesome. Slightly different from the usual stingray, the seasoning was stronger on acidity and may not appeal to everyone. I personally enjoyed it because it really tingled my taste buds, but for the rest who preferred more spice and a thicker sauce, this dish did not do it for them.
Like the Stingray, the Kang Kong was more sour than spicy and again I was the only one who loved it. I’m definitely not complaining though because this means I get to eat their portions, greedy as charged.
Located right opposite Siang Hee Seafood, don’t forget to order a Deep Fried Pork Knuckle to complete the meal!
Address: 49 Serangoon Garden Way #01-23, 555944 | Tel: 8493 1288 | Monday – Sunday : 3:00 pm – 10:00 pm
3. Fushan Seafood
This place can get pretty busy at night but the food was worth the wait. Like usual, we ordered spinach, pork ribs and prawns.
The omelette was really thin and rather unsatisfying. The Salted Egg Prawns on the other hand, were really good and I would definitely recommend the Spinach with Assorted Eggs for its tasty soup!
The one here isn’t so heavy on the eggs unlike the ones we tried at other restaurants and we adored the refreshing soup. Fushan’s one pretty much matches up to the one we had at Yeo Keng Nam Chicken Rice.
Address: Blk 21 Toa Payoh Lor 7 #01-298, 310021 | Tel: 62522858 | Monday – Sunday: 3pm – 1230am
2. Quan Ji Seafood
Headed here for the Signature Lotus Leaf Duck but to our disappointment, it was sold out. We even considered heading somewhere else but the super friendly Auntie recommended some dishes and woohoo I’m glad we stayed because they all turned out to be really delicious.
We went on a weekday night and it wasn’t crowded at all so we didn’t have to wait too long for our dishes to be served. They also do delivery services and the Auntie mentioned that the duck usually sells out before dinner time.
We decided to be adventurous and try the Coffee Pork Ribs. I was very surprised at how well the strong and distinct coffee taste blended with the texture of the meat but it was a tad bit too sweet for my liking. The beehoon was slightly lack lustre as compared to everything else, which was stellar.
The tofu had a nice thick sauce and bits of meat provided a good texture. The Salted Egg Fried Fish Skin is perfect if you want something light but we would have liked it better with more salted egg. We especially loved the steam fish for its tender and juicy meat.
Address: Blk 18 Toa Payoh Lor 7, Singapore 310018 | Opens daily: 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 11pm
1. Hwa Seafood Restaurant
Hwa Seafood is my favourite zi char spot. I used to frequent it when it was at the Tagore industrial estate area, but it has shifted closer to Thomson, now housed in a swankier, air-conditioned location.
Since their relocation, Hwa Seafood has gone under-the-radar, and I love it because I don’t have to squeeze with crowds of people to enjoy a good meal.
My top orders when I’m there are their Spinach with Triple Egg, Prawn Paste Chicken, Sliced Fish Beehoon Soup and Hokkien Mee. The prawn paste chicken is fragrant, crispy and really distinct in its prawn paste flavour. The spinach is soft and soupy, and the three types of egg add different textures to each mouthful.
The Sliced Fish Beehoon Soup has a delicious soup stock that contains cooking wine and evaporated milk for that extra gao flavour. I usually request it with thin Bee Hoon rather than the normal thick one.
Hwa’s Hokkien Mee is not done white and yellow Singapore-style. Rather, the yellow noodles are done Malaysian style in thick, syrupy dark sauce. If you’re someone who likes zhup, please don’t skip out on Hwa Seafood’s Hokkien Mee.
Address: 8 Jln Gelenggang, Sembawang Hills Estate, Singapore 578190 | Tel: 6552 1925 | Opening hours: 11:30am-3:00pm and 5:00pm-10:30pm on all days
This article was co-written by Gloria Sim & Zhu Yong Qing
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