Uncommon crab dishes to try at your next family dinner
Quick question: What is Singapore’s most famous dish? If you answered chilli crab, it’s probably because you were already thinking of crab after clicking on this article. But you wouldn’t be too far from the truth either.
Chilli crab is arguably Singapore’s most popular dish. After all, we even have a chilli crab vending machine for those random cravings at 3am! Too much of a good thing, however, can be bad, which is why we need alternative ways to consume crab. Here are 10 other crab flavours to consider the next time you’re craving for seafood.
1. Korean raw crab
Fans of Korean drama “Let’s Eat” would be familiar with this dish. This traditional Korean dish is made by dunking cleaned raw freshwater crab into a crock filled with a marinade of soy sauce, liquour and red chilli. Reminiscent of prawn sashimi with its smooth texture and a tinge of sweetness, the Korean raw crab is salty and deceptively spicy while possessing no trace of “fishiness”. Order some ganjang-gejang the next time you’re craving for some fresh crabs!
Get Korean raw crab at:
Han Kook Gwan
Address: 26 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088449
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 12am
Tel: 6224 2881
Website
2. Kopi crab
Kopi Crab (seasonal price) may sound like a weird flavour combo, but it actually works. Even though it’s drenched in a sauce that comprises three kinds of coffee beans, the taste of java is somewhat muted with the addition of fruit juices, spices, and apple jam. Just before serving, coffee liqueur and rice wine are poured over the crabs and set on fire. The result is a sticky, caramelised sauce that’s perfect for mopping up pincers with.
Get Kopi Crab at:
Majestic Bay
Address: 18 Marina Gardens Drive, #01-10, Flower Dome, Singapore 018953
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 3pm, 5:45pm to 9pm
Tel: 6604 6604
Website
Check out other delicious but weird flavour combos you can get in Singapore.
3. White pepper crab
Straddling between the spiciness levels of black pepper crab and chilli crab, white pepper crab is great for those who prefer a sweeter alternative with just hints of pepper. Buried under thick white pepper gravy, succulent crab meat creates a nice balance to the dish. Check out JB Ah Meng’s White Pepper Crab (seasonal price), which is fresh, sweet and fragrant.
Get white pepper crab at:
JB Ah Meng
Address: 534 Geylang Road, Singapore 389490
Opening hours: Daily 5:30pm to 2:30am
Tel: 6741 2418
Tung Lok Seafood
Address: 181 Orchard Road, #11-05, Orchard Central, Singapore 238896
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11:30am to 3pm, 6pm to 10:30pm, Sun 10am to 3pm, 6pm to 10:30pm
Tel: 6834 4888
Website
Menus
Long Beach Seafood
Address: 25 Dempsey Road, Singapore 249670
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 3pm, 5pm to 1am
Tel: 6323 2222
Website
4. Cold crab
The Teochew-style cold crab is a unique way of serving the crustacean, and requires extremely fresh crabs. Steamed with wine, spring onion and ginger, flavours here aren’t strong or overwhelming, so the clean taste of crab is all you get with each mouthful. Enjoy the abundant crab roe and chunks of crab meat with your favourite Teochew dishes. Find it at an old-school restaurant, Chui Huay Lim.
Get cold crab at:
Chui Huay Lim Teochew Cuisine
Address: 190 Keng Lee Road, #01-02, Chui Huay Lim Club, Singapore 308409
Opening hours: Mon-Thur 12pm to 3pm, 6pm to 11pm, Fri-Sun 11:30am to 3pm, 5:30pm to 11pm
Tel: 6732 3637
Website
Menu
Check out other old-school restaurants in Singapore.
5. Salted egg yolk crab
If you are a big fan of anything salted egg yolk, then you definitely have to try this. Good salted egg yolk crab should be creamy, salty and slightly spicy due to the chilli padi. Master Crab Seafood is famous for their salted egg crab with its buttery and thick salted egg gravy.
Get salted egg yolk crab at:
Master Crab Seafood Restaurant
Address: Blk 19 Ghim Moh Road, Singapore 270019
Opening hours: Daily 4pm to 1:30am
Tel: 6314 1868
New Ubin Seafood
Address: 63 Hillview Avenue, Level 6 (Canteen), Singapore 669569
Opening hours: Mon 5:30pm to 10pm, Tue-Sun 11am to 2:30pm, 5:30pm to 10pm
Tel: 6466 9558
Website
Menu
Owen Seafood Restaurant
Address: 200 Turf Club Road, #03-03, The Grandstand, Singapore 287994
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 10:30pm
Tel: 6875 1895
6. Steamed crab
A Korean concept, seafood towers consist of steamers stacked on top of each other, and each layer contains various types of seafood including scallops, prawns and crab, as well as a pot of soup at the bottom. Each layer is steamed from top to bottom, with delicious seafood juices dripping into the soup. Instead of the typical Sri Lankan crab, Captain K uses Alaskan crab for their seafood tower, allowing you to indulge in extra sweet and fleshy meat to your heart’s content!
Get steamed crab at:
Captain K Seafood Tower
Address: 30 Prinsep Street, #01-02, Income@Prinsep, Singapore 188647
Opening hours: Mon 5:30pm to 10:30pm, Tue-Thur 11:30pm to 3pm, 5:30pm to 10:30pm, Fri 11:30pm to 3pm, 5:30pm to 11pm, Sat 11:30am to 3pm, 5pm to 11pm, Sun 11:30am to 3pm, 5pm to 10:30pm
Tel: 6255 2270
Website
Menu
7. Salt baked crab
Salt baked crab is made with a blend of salts plastered onto fresh Sri Lankan crab. The crab is then baked for one and a half hours, producing a salt crust that is removed, revealing the tender and moist flesh. With a tinge of smokiness and saltiness, this crab definitely awakens your taste buds.
Get salt baked crab at:
Joyden Treasures
Address: 5 Stadium Walk, #02-42, Leisure Park Kallang, Singapore 397693
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm, Sat-Sun 11am to 3:30pm, 5:30pm to 10pm
Tel: 6446 8488
Website
8. Butter crab
Made with a generous amount of butter, this indulgent dish is definitely not suitable for those with health problems. But for the healthy ones who are craving crab, this rich and creamy dish is one to sink your teeth into. After all, butter can already do such magic to plain old bread, just imagine what it could do when paired with sweet, succulent crab.
Get butter crab at:
Mellben Seafood
Address: Blk 232 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, #01-1222, Singapore 560232
Opening hours: Daily 4:30pm to 11:30pm
Tel: 6285 6762
New Ubin Seafood
Address: 63 Hillview Avenue, Level 6 (Canteen), Singapore 669569
Opening hours: Mon 5:30pm to 10pm, Tue-Sun 11am to 2:30pm, 5:30pm to 10pm
Tel: 6466 9558
Website
Menu
9. Spicy masala crab
If you’re a fan of South Indian cuisine, spicy masala crab is perfect for you. The dry and spicy heat, paired with soft crab, is an experience in itself. While New Ubin Seafood is better known for their US Black Angus Ribeye Steak ($14/100g), this crab is something else worth trying on your next visit.
Get spicy masala crab at:
New Ubin Seafood
Address: 63 Hillview Avenue, Level 6 (Canteen), Singapore 669569
Opening hours: Mon 5:30pm to 10pm, Tue-Sun 11am to 2:30pm, 5:30pm to 10pm
Tel: 6466 9558
Website
Menu
10. Cereal crab
Made with melted butter over low heat, then fried with garlic, curry leaves, chili padi, cereal and sugar, the sauce that lightly coats cereal crab is a crispy mixture that gives you an extra crunch with every bite. If you’re one of those who would rather eat the cereal than the prawns, you can do the same with cereal crab. Unfortunately, due to the popularity of cereal prawns, cereal crab isn’t the easiest to chance upon in Singapore.
Get cereal crab at:
Kim’s Place Seafood
Address: 43 Joo Chiat Place, Singapore 427761
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 1am, Sun 11am to 12am
Tel: 6742 1119
Website
Be adventurous with your crab
Chilli crab might be the safest option when it comes to seafood, but it’s time to come out of your shell and try these other crabs instead. Let us know if you did!
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