# Zi Char in Jalan Besar

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.

## Key facts
- Listings: 60
- Matched to a government licence/register: 5
- Median years in business: 18

## Licences
- **Food Shop Licence (SFA)** (Singapore Food Agency (SFA), required): 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: https://go.gov.sg/sfa-track-records

## How to choose
- 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.

## Listings (top 30)
- [Ming Chung Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/ming-chung-restaurant), Jalan Besar · 67 Maude Rd · 5 min walk from Jalan Besar MRT · SFA licensed · registered 1975
- [Pu Tien Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/pu-tien-restaurant), Jalan Besar · 127 Kitchener Rd · 4 min walk from Farrer Park MRT · SFA licensed · registered 2000
- [Heng Heng Bak Kut Teh](https://lookup.sg/biz/heng-heng-bak-kut-teh), Jalan Besar · 107 Owen Rd · 2 min walk from Farrer Park MRT · registered 1993
- [San Laksa Steamboat](https://lookup.sg/biz/san-laksa-steamboat), Jalan Besar · 147 Kitchener Rd · 3 min walk from Farrer Park MRT · registered 2007
- [Fitra Foods Hainanese Chicken Rice](https://lookup.sg/biz/fitra-foods-hainanese-chicken-rice), Jalan Besar · City Square Mall, 180 Kitchener Rd · 1 min walk from Farrer Park MRT · SFA licensed
- [Fish Soup Paradise](https://lookup.sg/biz/fish-soup-paradise), Jalan Besar · One Raffles Place, One Raffles Place, 1 Raffles Pl, Singapore 048616, Singapore · 3 min walk from Farrer Park MRT · registered 2020
- [Wanton Fu](https://lookup.sg/biz/wanton-fu), Jalan Besar · 380 Jln Besar #01-09 ARC 380 · 4 min walk from Bendemeer MRT
- [Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/si-chuan-dou-hua-restaurant-jalan-besar), Jalan Besar · 181 Kitchener Rd · 2 min walk from Farrer Park MRT
- [Yellow Pot Little India](https://lookup.sg/biz/yellow-pot-little-india), Jalan Besar · 39 Syed Alwi Rd · 5 min walk from Jalan Besar MRT
- [Cheng Mun Chee Kee Pig Organ Soup](https://lookup.sg/biz/cheng-mun-chee-kee-pig-organ-soup), Jalan Besar · 24 Foch Rd · 5 min walk from Bendemeer MRT · SFA licensed · registered 2007
- [Bbhq Pte Ltd](https://lookup.sg/biz/bbhq-pte-ltd), Jalan Besar · 133, Tyrwhitt Road Petain Road, Tyrwhitt Rd, Con Area · 5 min walk from Farrer Park MRT · SFA licensed · registered 2013
- [Hillman Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/hillman-restaurant), Jalan Besar · 135 Kitchener Rd · 3 min walk from Farrer Park MRT · registered 2004
- [Lai Huat Seafood Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/lai-huat-seafood-restaurant), Jalan Besar · 25 Tyrwhitt Rd · 5 min walk from Farrer Park MRT · registered 1982
- [Chong Qing Traditional Steamboat](https://lookup.sg/biz/chong-qing-traditional-steamboat), Jalan Besar · 27 Jalan Berseh · 4 min walk from Jalan Besar MRT · registered 2005
- [Hand In Hand Beijing Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/hand-in-hand-beijing-restaurant), Jalan Besar · 141 Jalan Besar · 2 min walk from Jalan Besar MRT · registered 2008
- [New World Mutton Soup](https://lookup.sg/biz/new-world-mutton-soup), Jalan Besar · 166 Jln Besar · 3 min walk from Jalan Besar MRT · registered 2009
- [Dian Xiao Er](https://lookup.sg/biz/dian-xiao-er-jalan-besar), Jalan Besar · 180 Kitchener Road 03-37 City Square Mall · 1 min walk from Farrer Park MRT · registered 2016
- [Ipoh Tuck Kee 怡保德记炒粉](https://lookup.sg/biz/ipoh-tuck-kee), Jalan Besar · Multi Storey Car Park, 31 Kelantan Ln · 2 min walk from Jalan Besar MRT · registered 2021
- [Middle Road Pork Ribs Prawn Mee](https://lookup.sg/biz/middle-road-pork-ribs-prawn-mee), Jalan Besar · 16 Sam Leong Rd · 3 min walk from Farrer Park MRT · registered 2025
- [喂小宝餐馆 Wei Xiao Bao Chinese Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/wei-xiao-bao-chinese-restaurant), Jalan Besar · 66 Syed Alwi Rd · 4 min walk from Jalan Besar MRT · registered 2025
- [Chen Fu Ji Fried Rice](https://lookup.sg/biz/chen-fu-ji-fried-rice), Jalan Besar · 279 Jln Besar · 4 min walk from Farrer Park MRT
- [Din Tai Fung @ City Square](https://lookup.sg/biz/din-tai-fung-city-square), Jalan Besar · 180 Kitchener Rd, #01-10 · 1 min walk from Farrer Park MRT
- [Jia He Grand Chinese Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/jia-he-grand-chinese-restaurant), Jalan Besar · 1 Farrer Park Station Road, #01-14/15/16 One Farrer Hotel Connexion, Little India · 1 min walk from Farrer Park MRT
- [泉馨園](https://lookup.sg/biz/business-208925), Jalan Besar · 252 Jln Besar · 4 min walk from Farrer Park MRT
- [Lao Sichuan Restaurant 老四川川菜馆](https://lookup.sg/biz/lao-sichuan-restaurant), Jalan Besar · 106 Jalan Besar · 2 min walk from Jalan Besar MRT
- [TamJai SamGor Singapore](https://lookup.sg/biz/tamjai-samgor-singapore-jalan-besar), Jalan Besar · City Square Mall, 180 Kitchener Rd · 1 min walk from Farrer Park MRT
- [Tian Wai Tian Fish Head Steamboat](https://lookup.sg/biz/tian-wai-tian-fish-head-steamboat), Jalan Besar · 638 Veerasamy Rd, #01-101 · 2 min walk from Jalan Besar MRT
- [Fu He Turtle Soup & Delights 福和山瑞，炖汤和小吃](https://lookup.sg/biz/fu-he-turtle-soup-and-delights), Jalan Besar · 166 Jln Besar · 3 min walk from Jalan Besar MRT
- [Bee Hiang Seafood](https://lookup.sg/biz/bee-hiang-seafood), Jalan Besar · 16 Verdun Rd · 3 min walk from Farrer Park MRT
- [China Taste](https://lookup.sg/biz/china-taste), Jalan Besar · 133 Tyrwhitt Road, Jln Besar · 5 min walk from Farrer Park MRT

## FAQs
### 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.

## Sources
- SFA – New Safety Assurance for Food Establishment (SAFE) framework: https://www.sfa.gov.sg/news-publications/newsroom/new-safety-assurance-for-food-establishment--safe--framework--to-strengthen-food-safety
- NEA – Stepped-up enforcement against table littering from 1 June 2023: https://www.nea.gov.sg/media/news/advisories/index/stepped-up-enforcement-against-table-littering-from-1-june-2023

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Source: Lookup (https://lookup.sg) · Data as of October 2026 · Listings compiled from Singapore government open data (data.gov.sg), OneMap and Overture Maps places. Free listings never show contact details; featured listings are labelled.