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Zi Char in Singapore: 2,665 zi char stalls, typically 12 years in business

Updated October 2026How we rank
Zi char stalls cook Chinese dishes to order for sharing, mostly in coffeeshops and hawker centres where prices are nett. Seafood such as chilli crab is often priced by weight at 'market price' – ask for the per-kg rate and the weight before it is cooked. Each stall holds its own SFA licence and SAFE grade.

12 of the best-documented zi char stalls in Singapore

Businesses with the most complete public records first, photos, licence matches, hours and track record. Never ordered by payment.

Peach Garden

Peach Garden

Upper Thomson

23+ years in business

1 min walk from Upper Thomson MRT

Roland Restaurant

Roland Restaurant

Katong

54+ years in business

2 min walk from Marine Parade MRT

Imperial Treasure Cantonese Cuisine

Imperial Treasure Cantonese Cuisine

Singapore River

19+ years in business

1 min walk from Great World MRT

Lai Wah Restaurant

Lai Wah Restaurant

Kallang

53+ years in business

7 min walk from Geylang Bahru MRT

Long Beach Seafood Restaurant

Long Beach Seafood Restaurant

Dempsey Hill

44+ years in business

11 min walk from Napier MRT

Ming Chung Restaurant

Ming Chung Restaurant

Jalan Besar

51+ years in business

5 min walk from Jalan Besar MRT

Pu Tien Restaurant

Pu Tien Restaurant

Jalan Besar

26+ years in business

4 min walk from Farrer Park MRT

Tung Lok Seafood

Tung Lok Seafood

Jurong West

26+ years in business

6 min walk from Joo Koon MRT

Ah Yat Seafood Restaurant

Ah Yat Seafood Restaurant

Bukit Timah

24+ years in business

10 min walk from Sixth Avenue MRT

Tang Tea House

Bedok

20+ years in business

7 min walk from Tanah Merah MRT

Jing Hua Restaurant

Jing Hua Restaurant

Bugis

35+ years in business

1 min walk from Bugis MRT

Chin Lee Restaurant

Chin Lee Restaurant

Bedok

17+ years in business

9 min walk from Bedok Reservoir MRT

Ordered by verifiable signals, licence matches, track record and completeness of public records. Featured placements are labelled and never change this order.

Show all 2,665

Compare 8 zi char stalls side by side

Location, MRT walk, years in business, licence and published hours, facts from public records.

What licence should a zi char stall have?

  • Food Shop Licence (SFA)

    Singapore Food Agency (SFA) · Required by law

    Every restaurant, cafe, bakery, stall and food court outlet selling food to the public must be licensed by SFA. Since 19 Jan 2026 the licence carries a SAFE grade (A, B, C or NEW) based on the outlet's food-safety track record; scan the QR code on the displayed licence to see it.

    Check the official register

How to choose a zi char stall

  • Ask for the per-kg price and the actual weight of crabs, lobster or fish before cooking; 'seasonal price' disputes are a common complaint.
  • Order dish sizes (small/medium/large) to match the group – a small usually serves two to three.
  • Check the stall's own SFA licence and SAFE grade; the coffeeshop and each stall are licensed separately.
  • Coffeeshop zi char is usually nett; seafood restaurants in air-conditioned premises often charge "++".
  • Return trays and crockery or leave them at the stall as instructed – table-littering rules apply in coffeeshops too.

Red flags

  • Seafood priced as 'market price' without a stated per-kg rate.
  • Refusal to show the live weight of crab or fish before cooking.

Questions to ask before you book

  • What is today's price per kg, and how much does this one weigh?
  • How many people does a small portion serve?
  • Is there a charge for rice, peanuts, wet towels or tea?

Questions about zi char in Singapore

Why is chilli crab priced by market price?

Crab, lobster and live fish prices change with supply, so restaurants quote a per-kg 'seasonal' or 'market' price. Always ask for the current per-kg rate and the weight of the actual crab before it is cooked, and get the total confirmed – this avoids disputes when the bill arrives.

What happened to the A, B, C, D hygiene grades in Singapore?

From 19 January 2026 SFA replaced the annual A–D hygiene grade with the SAFE framework. Outlets now get A (more than three years with no major lapse), B (one to three years), NEW (operating under a year) or C (a court conviction for a food-safety offence or a licence suspension under the demerit-points system). Scan the QR code on the SFA licence at the counter to see the current grade.

How many zi char are there in Singapore?

Lookup lists 2,665 zi char in Singapore as of October 2026, with the largest concentration in Downtown Core (254). Listings are compiled from government registers and open map data and refreshed regularly.