When I was in junior college, the place to find me every Tuesday and Thursday evenings would be the zi char stall at Dover street. Twice a week, without fail, that is where my team and I would go to satisfy our post-training hunger. And after two years, it still amazes me that I have not tried every single dish on their crazily extensive menu.
That, to me, is the beauty of zi char stalls – you can satisfy almost any kind of cravings at a single stall without hurting your wallet. Whether you are thinking of fried rice, sweet and sour fish, or even salted egg crabs, you can find them all at one place. In this list, we have found 10 halal zi char places that you can jio your whole squad to!
When I first heard that the owner of Ridhuan’s Muslim Delights is a Chinese man named Muhammad Ridhuan Kho, I was confused. From a simple Google search, however, you will find articles on how Ridhuan, previously Alex Kho, converted to become a Muslim and opened his halal-certified Chinese eatery. Though situated in an ulu location, the stall still draws crowds thanks to his signature Green Chilli Fry Rice ($4), Butter Cream Chicken Rice ($4.50), and Salted Egg Chicken Rice ($4.50)!
Address: 25 Benoi Road, Singapore 629914
Opening hours: Mon-Thur 10:30am to 6:30pm, Fri 10:30am to 1pm, 2pm to 6:30pm, Sat 9:30am to 2pm
Tel: 9679 7444
Website
Ridhuan’s Muslim Delights is a Muslim-owned stall.
If you are a fan of chilli crabs, Segar Village at Sims Way is a must-visit for you. Besides specialising in this classic, the restaurant also serves a wide selection of zi char dishes at affordable prices. Some of their most popular dishes include Segar Claypot Golden Chicken ($9/$17), Minced Chicken Beancurd ($8/15), and Mee Goreng ($5).
Check out our full review of Segar Village!
Address: 19 Sims Way, Singapore 388831
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5:30pm to 11:30pm
Tel: 6547 1031
Website
Segar Village is a halal-certified eatery.
For all the goodness that comes with zi char food, dining at coffee shops can sometimes be unbearably hot. If you are craving for some salted fish fried rice and sambal kang kong but reluctant to brave the heat, Jiak is an air-conditioned restaurant in HillV2 that serves zi char! With close to 60 food items on their menu, including curry fish head, veggies, meat, and noodles, the restaurant can satisfy your entire squad’s cravings.
Address: 4 Hillview Rise, #02-04, HillV2, Singapore 667979
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am to 9:30pm
Tel: 6265 1097
Website
Jiak is a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @atikaxoxo
Type “Kowloon Express” into any search engine and you will find your browser being filled with pictures of their Charcoal Golden Sand Pau ($5.20+) with yellow salted egg custard oozing out. This Muslim-owned eatery serves many dim sum items such as Chicken Siew Mai ($5.20+ for four pieces), Har Kow ($5.40+ for four pieces), and Chilli Crab Pau ($5.20+). For those looking for mains, they also have zi char dishes including Crispy Bee Hoon ($7.90+) and Salted Fish Fried Rice ($6.90+)!
Address: 321 Clementi Avenue 3, Singapore 129905
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Tel: 6250 0833
Website
Kowloon Express is a Muslim-owned eatery.
Image credit: @supiahhashim
When I think of big family gatherings, the picture that comes to mind is of huge round tables that are entirely covered by plates of food. This, is exactly what you will find at Chai Chee Seafood Restaurant. Set up by Mr Abdul Latif, the halal-certified restaurant specialises in Chinese cuisine, serving hot plate dishes, fried rice, and seafood prepared in various styles.
Address: 359 Changi Road, Singapore 419821
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 11:30pm
Tel: 6841 2002
Website
Chai Chee Seafood Restaurant is a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @ahmadayep
If you happen to be craving for dim sum, nasi lemak, and zi char dishes all at the same time, Tang Tea House Hong Kong Cafe is where you can satisfy all your desires at one go. Their dim sum menu alone is extensive, with more than 50 types of dishes including Golden Sand Bun ($4.80 for three pieces) and Lobster Mai ($5.60 for three pieces). For mains, the restaurant also serves zi char favourites such as Pan Fried Crispy Bee Hoon ($11), Sambal Kang Kong ($9), and Salted Fish Fried Rice ($5.50)!
Address: 357 Bedok Road, Singapore
Opening hours: Sun-Thur 11am to 2am, Fri-Sat 11am to 3am
Tel: 6445 9100
Website | Full list of outlets
Tang Tea House Hong Kong Cafe is a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Warong Kim’s
Started off as a stall specialising only in Hokkien mee, Warong Kim’s Seafood expanded over the years to include a large variety of seafood and stir-fry dishes. Besides Sambal Seafood Fried Rice ($5.50/$8/$12/$16), Seafood Mee Goreng ($5/$8/$12/$16), and Hong Kong Seafood Noodle ($5/$8/$12/$16), they also serve meat and seafood done in zi char styles. Known for their generous portions, even the smallest serving can fill you up easily. Some of their must-tries include Cheese Lobster (seasonal price) and Salted Egg Crab (seasonal price)!
Check out more cheap halal food places that offer generous portions!
Address: 94 Pasir Ris Central, Pasir Ris Town Park, Singapore 519637
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 1am, Sun 11am to 12am
Tel: 6583 6488
Website
Warong Kim’s Seafood is a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: West Coz Cafe
During my school days where I used to spend hours mugging at West Coast Plaza, one restaurant that never failed to catch my attention was West Coz Cafe. Located at the fourth level, the restaurant is striking not just for the crowd it draws but also the intense aroma of curry that surrounds the eatery. It is therefore no surprise to find that their signature dish is Curry Fish Head ($20). Besides that, the restaurant also serves a wide variety of dishes including Minced Chicken Beancurd ($10), Oats Prawns ($15), and Oyster Omelette ($10).
Address: 154 West Coast Road, #04-23, West Coast Plaza, Singapore 127371
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 9:30pm
Tel: 6779 1303
Website
West Coz Cafe is a halal-certified eatery.
Most of us would associate zi char with coffee shops or any casual eatery for a simple gathering with friends or families. Smith Marine Floating Restaurant, however, offers an over-the-top zi char experience – dining in the middle of the sea! Smith Marine is Singapore’s first halal-certified kelong restaurant that specialises in seafood. While we were there, some of our favourites were Salted Egg Sotong ($25), Lala Bee Hoon ($28), and Sambal Kangkong ($15). While the prices are slightly higher compared to other zi char stalls, dining at a kelong restaurant is definitely not an everyday experience!
Find out more about our experience at Smith Marine!
GPS Coordinates: 01’23’5″N, 103’57’42″E
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 7pm
Tel: 9792 7609 (WhatsApp or SMS only)
An advanced reservation of at least three days is required.
Website
Menu
Smith Marine Floating Restaurant is a halal-certified eatery.
Whether you are running on a tight budget or simply missing some home-cooked food, nothing warms the heart better than a gathering with your friends and family at these zi char places. For more halal options, check out our guide to cheap and hugely portioned halal food!
Featured image is adapted from Instagram user @atikahxoxo‘s post.
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