# Zi Char in Lavender

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: 31
- Median years in business: 2

## 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)
- [Scaled by Ah Hua Kelong](https://lookup.sg/biz/scaled-by-ah-hua-kelong), Lavender · 8 Hamilton Rd · 5 min walk from Bendemeer MRT
- [Thai Din Pub](https://lookup.sg/biz/thai-din-pub), Lavender · 5001 Beach Rd · 4 min walk from Nicoll Highway MRT
- [Founder Bak Kut Teh](https://lookup.sg/biz/founder-bak-kut-teh-lavender), Lavender · 500 Jln Sultan, #01-19 Hotel Boss · 4 min walk from Lavender MRT
- [Qi Ji](https://lookup.sg/biz/qi-ji-lavender), Lavender · 10 Kallang Rd · 1 min walk from Lavender MRT
- [San Low Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/san-low-restaurant), Lavender · 23 Kallang Ave · 5 min walk from Bendemeer MRT · registered 2011
- [Choon Kee Roasted Delights](https://lookup.sg/biz/choon-kee-roasted-delights), Lavender · Raffles Hotel S189673, 1 Beach Rd · 4 min walk from Nicoll Highway MRT · registered 2024
- [Flourful Delight 知味面点](https://lookup.sg/biz/flourful-delight), Lavender · #01-85 Golden Mile Food Center · 4 min walk from Nicoll Highway MRT · registered 2024
- [Yan Chuan Roaster](https://lookup.sg/biz/yan-chuan-roaster), Lavender · 809 French Rd, #01-43/44/45 Kitchener Complex · 2 min walk from Lavender MRT
- [新悅來肉骨茶 Xin Yue Lai Bak Kut Teh](https://lookup.sg/biz/xin-yue-lai-bak-kut-teh), Lavender · 64 Horne Rd · 4 min walk from Lavender MRT
- [Crab Wang Imperial Dining](https://lookup.sg/biz/crab-wang-imperial-dining), Lavender · 500 Jln Sultan, #01-10 Hotel Boss · 4 min walk from Lavender MRT
- [Golden Mile Food Centre](https://lookup.sg/biz/golden-mile-food-centre), Lavender · 505 Beach Rd · 4 min walk from Nicoll Highway MRT
- [Chun Tat Kee](https://lookup.sg/biz/chun-tat-kee), Lavender · 10 N Bridge Rd · 2 min walk from Lavender MRT
- [Guan Lee Sen Seafood](https://lookup.sg/biz/guan-lee-sen-seafood), Lavender · 803 King George's Ave · 2 min walk from Lavender MRT
- [Ah Sai Pork Rib Prawn Noodle](https://lookup.sg/biz/ah-sai-pork-rib-prawn-noodle), Lavender · 10 N Bridge Rd · 2 min walk from Lavender MRT
- [Heng Lee](https://lookup.sg/biz/heng-lee), Lavender · Blk 861 North Bridge Rd · 2 min walk from Lavender MRT
- [Rong Hua Hot & Cold Drinks](https://lookup.sg/biz/rong-hua-hot-and-cold-drinks), Lavender · 505 Beach Rd, #B1-05 · 4 min walk from Nicoll Highway MRT
- [Dragon Bowl](https://lookup.sg/biz/dragon-bowl-lavender), Lavender · 12 Kallang Ave · 4 min walk from Bendemeer MRT
- [One Prawn Noodle](https://lookup.sg/biz/one-prawn-noodle), Lavender · Golden Mile Food Centre, 505 Beach Rd · 4 min walk from Nicoll Highway MRT
- [Chuan Ji Bakery Hainanese Delicacies 川记](https://lookup.sg/biz/chuan-ji-bakery-hainanese-delicacies), Lavender · #01-464 Blk 464 Crawford Lane · 3 min walk from Lavender MRT
- [吃了吗 Steam Fish](https://lookup.sg/biz/steam-fish), Lavender · 505 Beach Rd, #01-87 · 4 min walk from Nicoll Highway MRT
- [阿坤肉骨茶lavender](https://lookup.sg/biz/lavender), Lavender · 119 Lavender St · 3 min walk from Bendemeer MRT
- [Ke Shuan Xing Fried Carrot Cake](https://lookup.sg/biz/ke-shuan-xing-fried-carrot-cake), Lavender · Blk 861 North Bridge Rd · 2 min walk from Lavender MRT
- [Taiwan Fan Bao 台湾饭包](https://lookup.sg/biz/taiwan-fan-bao), Lavender · 505 Beach Rd, #01-102 · 4 min walk from Nicoll Highway MRT
- [DuDuXiang Foods](https://lookup.sg/biz/duduxiang-foods), Lavender · 70 Jellicoe Rd, #01-09, V Hotel Lavender · 1 min walk from Lavender MRT
- [Cow Car Water Soya Sauce Chicken and Roast Meat](https://lookup.sg/biz/cow-car-water-soya-sauce-chicken-and-roast-meat), Lavender · 1 Beach Rd · 5 min walk from Nicoll Highway MRT
- [Hua Mei Zhen](https://lookup.sg/biz/hua-mei-zhen), Lavender · 861 N Bridge Rd, #01-119 · 3 min walk from Lavender MRT
- [Weidao Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/weidao-restaurant), Lavender · Citylights, 90 Jellicoe Rd · 2 min walk from Lavender MRT
- [B's Hakka House](https://lookup.sg/biz/bs-hakka-house), Lavender · Hamilton Road · 3 min walk from Bendemeer MRT
- [来发海鲜](https://lookup.sg/biz/business-61), Lavender · 5 min walk from Lavender MRT
- [老曾記](https://lookup.sg/biz/business-35), Lavender · 1 min walk from Lavender 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.